Yasaka's decision to come to Kuoh Academy was, for the most part, driven by a simple desire—to stay closer to Ren Kuroda. At the same time, she remained wary of the two girls who had previously visited their home: Rias and Sona.
The Kyoto yokai had finally glimpsed a chance at resurgence, but the existence of those two devil heiresses continued to leave Yasaka uneasy.
After all, "Evil Pieces" were no trivial matter. They were tools capable of turning members of other races into reincarnated devils.
What if her dear brother couldn't resist the temptation of those two devil girls and ended up becoming one of their servants?
Ren was currently the strongest among the yokai. If there was ever going to be a continuation of his bloodline, it should be with their kind first—that was the only way to ensure its purity.
And so, to prevent her brother from being deceived by devils, Yasaka had personally come to the academy—
To guard her brother's chastity.
What Yasaka didn't know, however, was that one of the very people she considered a major threat—Rias—was far too occupied with her own troubles to even think about pursuing Ren.
Today, the Occult Research Club was unusually lively.
Aside from Issei Hyoudou and the rest of Rias's peerage, two unfamiliar figures had also arrived.
One was a man, the other a woman.
The man had flamboyant blond hair styled in a gaudy, almost delinquent fashion, and he wore a deep crimson suit. Reclining casually on the sofa with his arms spread wide, his gaze roamed freely—bold and unrestrained—across Rias's body.
The woman, on the other hand, was a cold, silver-haired beauty whose looks rivaled Rias's without the slightest inferiority.
In terms of figure, she even surpassed Rias slightly—perhaps only Yasaka could truly match her.
But judging from their positions, it was clear that she and the man were not together. Dressed in a maid uniform, the silver-haired beauty stood quietly behind Rias from beginning to end.
"Grayfia, I've already said this, haven't I?" Rias's voice carried clear frustration. "I want to decide my own marriage. When you made this arrangement on your own, did anyone bother to ask for my opinion?"
The silver-haired maid—Grayfia—maintained her composed, professional expression as she replied,
"The engagement between Lady Rias and the Phoenix family was personally decided by the head of the Gremory house. Neither I nor Lord Sazex has the authority to interfere.
"Furthermore, this arrangement was agreed upon by both families long ago. For the sake of preserving the Gremory family's honor, I ask that you refrain from acting impulsively, Lady Rias."
Rias rose to her feet as if to argue further—but the quiet authority in Grayfia's presence was overwhelming. After a brief moment of resistance, she let out a breath and sat back down, her resolve visibly shaken.
"Rias, you understand the situation, don't you?"
The blond man finally spoke, his tone casual, almost amused.
"Ever since the Great War between the Three Factions, the number of pure-blood devils in the Underworld has been… limited."
"And we, as high-ranking devils of the Seventy-Two Pillars, bear a responsibility—to preserve the purity of our bloodlines. That's why the Gremory and Phoenix families arranged this marriage."
He leaned forward slightly, his eyes narrowing as he looked at her.
"To be honest, I was worried my fiancée might be some ugly woman I couldn't stomach… but it seems you've exceeded my expectations."
The man's name was Riser Phoenix—the third son of the Phoenix family, a pure-blood high-ranking devil just like Rias.
The situation within the Gremory family was somewhat unique.
The eldest son, Sazex—who should have inherited the family—had instead become a Maou, leaving his younger sister Rias as the heir.
Although Sazex had a son, he was destined to become a future Maou as well.
As a result, the Gremory family's current state could only be described as… thinly staffed.
For one of the Underworld's most prominent noble houses, lacking even a proper backup heir was nothing short of a critical weakness.
What if something were to happen to Rias—the sole successor?
Would the Gremory family simply decline into obscurity?
Because of this, the current head of the Gremory family—Rias's father—had long been anxious to arrange her marriage and ensure she produced heirs as soon as possible.
It was also the reason Rias had fled to the human world in the first place.
However, the recent incident involving a fallen angel cadre attempting to target her—though it ultimately resulted in no harm—had served as a harsh wake-up call for the Gremory household.
Rias was strong-willed and adventurous. Without leaving behind an heir, her family could never truly rest easy.
And that was precisely why Riser and Grayfia had come here.
To become Rias's fiancé, an ordinary individual would never suffice. As the heir of the Gremory family, her partner would also have to marry into her household.
Pure-blood high-ranking devils were already rare—and among them, those willing to marry into another house were rarer still.
Securing this engagement between Riser and Rias had not been an easy task.
"You've got to be kidding me! There's no way the President is marrying a guy like that!"
The moment Issei heard that Rias was being forced into marriage, he exploded.
He might not know Riser personally, but as someone with a keen eye for these things, Issei could tell at a glance—
This guy was trouble.
Even among perverts, there was a hierarchy.
Issei might be a shameless lecher, but he wasn't the type to toy with women's feelings and discard them.
Riser, on the other hand, was the textbook definition of a playboy—someone who treated women as temporary amusements, a predator who would take what he wanted and move on without a second thought.
You could see it in the way he'd been eyeing Rias just moments ago.
Marrying someone like him would be no different from pushing her straight into hell.
"And who exactly do you think you are?"
Riser's expression turned cold as he looked at the charging Issei, his tone dripping with disdain.
"This is a union between pure-blood, high-ranking devil families. Both Rias and I are nobles of that standing—what right does a lowly reincarnated devil like you have to speak here?"
He waved his hand dismissively.
"Don't tell me… as nothing more than one of Rias's servants, you've started entertaining inappropriate thoughts about your own master? How laughable."
With a casual flick of his arm, Riser sent Issei flying.
Then, flames ignited in his palm—fierce, crackling heat gathering as he prepared to hurl it forward.
But before he could act—
A figure appeared in front of him without warning.
Grayfia.
"Please restrain yourself."
Her voice was calm, but carried an unmistakable edge.
"No matter what, he is one of Lady Rias's servants—and therefore a member of the Gremory household. If your actions become excessive…"
Her silver eyes narrowed slightly.
"I may be forced to take certain measures—to help you regain your composure."
Faced with the silver-haired maid standing before him, even the arrogant Riser hesitated.
Because she was no ordinary servant.
She was known throughout the Underworld as the Silver-Haired Queen of Annihilation—the Queen of the Maou Lucifer himself…
And the strongest Queen in the entire Underworld.