Because the game space was on the verge of total collapse, even the fixed teleportation gate had become unstable, flickering as though it might disperse at any moment.
Fortunately, before Rias and the others could grow too anxious, movement stirred within the gate. Several silhouettes gradually came into focus as figures began stepping through.
"Cough… Yasaka, I think I can move on my own now. You can put me down…"
Inside the Occult Research Club room, aside from Rias Gremory and Azazel, quite a few unfamiliar faces had appeared.
After learning that Sirzechs Lucifer had remained behind in the collapsing game space, Rias had immediately called in reinforcements from the Underworld.
One of them was Ajuka Beelzebub—also known as Ajuka Astaroth—the genius behind the Evil Pieces system, a prodigy renowned throughout the Underworld. When it came to matters involving game spaces and devil chess systems, bringing him in was the obvious choice.
On the other side, Sona Sitri had also called for backup—her older sister, Serafall Leviathan.
Sona was notoriously bad at dealing with her overly affectionate sister, but considering how much Ren had looked after them before, she couldn't just stand by this time.
And aside from the two Demon Kings of the Underworld, there were other unfamiliar figures present—
An elderly man with a white beard and a monocle, accompanied by a valkyrie with waist-length silver hair.
The old man was no ordinary guest.
He wasn't even part of the Biblical factions—
He was Odin, chief god of the Norse pantheon.
Originally, he had come to the Underworld as a visiting dignitary, with Serafall assigned as his host.
Like Sirzechs, Serafall was an extreme sibling fanatic—if anything, even more so.
Sona usually treated her sister with cold indifference, but this time she had actually asked for help. Naturally, Serafall had dropped all her duties without hesitation and rushed over immediately.
As for Odin, upon hearing about the situation, he found it rather interesting—
and decided to tag along.
And so, the current scene came to be.
—
At this moment, Ren Kuroda felt incredibly uncomfortable.
In full view of all these powerful figures, he was being carried in a princess carry by Yasaka.
As the supreme yokai leader comparable to a Dragon King, lifting him was effortless for her—
but the position itself made Ren want to crawl into a hole and disappear.
Especially with so many important figures present—
He had a reputation to maintain!
How was he supposed to show his face after this?
"Please don't overexert yourself, my dear brother," Yasaka said, her tone firm as she felt him struggling. "Your demonic power is currently weaker than that of a minor yokai. You need proper rest—so stay still."
Before Ren could protest further, she pressed his head firmly against her chest, clearly intending to force him into compliance.
A dangerously soft "omen" loomed over him.
As his face sank into an overwhelming softness, a suffocating pressure followed immediately after.
Yasaka's method of silencing him…
was brutally straightforward.
Under normal circumstances, Ren wouldn't have been so helpless.
But now, every cell in his body was screaming in protest. His energy reserves were completely drained, just as Yasaka had said.
He simply had no strength to resist.
If anything—
Yasaka seemed to be… enjoying this a bit too much.
Her powerful, dependable "big brother" was cool and strong, yes—
but seeing him flushed, weak, and unable to resist in her arms?
That was adorable in its own way.
"…Lady Yasaka, please show some restraint. Ren-sensei has already been through enough—this will only worsen his condition."
Finally, someone couldn't take it anymore.
Rias stepped forward, her expression righteous as she pointed out Yasaka's "misconduct," though her eyes couldn't help flickering toward Ren's conflicted expression—equal parts pain and… something else.
Even Sona, currently being smothered in her own sister's over-the-top affection, nodded in agreement while awkwardly trying to fend her off.
But Yasaka paid no mind to the criticism.
Instead, she looked at Rias with calm seriousness and asked:
"Rias, on what grounds are you criticizing me?"
Her golden eyes narrowed slightly.
"As the Gremory heiress? Or as a student of Kuoh Academy? Either way, I see no reason to heed your lecture."
She tightened her hold on Ren slightly.
"Furthermore, I am his sworn younger sister. Taking care of my brother is only natural. This is simply how we express our closeness. Or are you saying you intend to interfere even in that?"
Seeing the exchange, both Sirzechs and Serafall immediately picked up on something.
The two girls—Rias and Sona—
clearly held a certain affection for Ren.
When Rias shot a pleading glance toward her brother, Sirzechs was just about to step in—
but Yasaka cut him off before he could speak.
"Sirzechs-sama," she said smoothly, "do you believe there is anything wrong with a younger sister showing affection toward her older brother?"
Was there anything wrong with that?
Of course not.
In fact—
both Sirzechs and Serafall were silently envious.
Why was it that their own younger siblings treated them so coldly in comparison?
Expecting a sister-obsessed brother to criticize another sister devoted to her brother—
was clearly unrealistic.
If anything, they felt a sense of kinship.
Seeing how utterly unreliable her brother was in this moment, Rias's frustration finally boiled over.
"I'm the one best suited to take care of Ren-sensei!" she declared, her face flushing red. "After all—he's my fiancé!"
The room fell silent.
Aside from a few who already knew the truth, everyone else stared in shock.
And among them—
the one whose expression changed the most was Yasaka.
Her gentle smile froze.
Given the presence of so many influential figures from various factions, there was no way Rias would joke about something like this.
Which meant—
it was almost certainly true.
"…Brother," Yasaka said slowly, her voice still calm—but carrying a dangerous edge, "I believe you owe me a proper explanation."
Ren immediately stopped struggling.
Because he could feel it—
the strength in Yasaka's arms had changed.
If his body weren't tougher than average, his bones might have already been creaking in protest—
or worse, crushed outright in a rather unfortunate "fatal embrace."
The truth about Ren and Rias was known only to those present in the Occult Research Club at the time. Everyone else had been kept in the dark.
Even Azazel and Michael turned their gazes toward Sirzechs, who stood there with a composed smile.
Who would've thought—
this seemingly upright and noble Demon King had made his move so early?
While they had still been reeling from Ren's ability to fight Ophis and considering how to approach and recruit him—
the Underworld had already beaten them to it.
And judging by the situation now—
Ren was practically already wearing the same pants as the devils.