Highschool DXD.
Kuoh academy.
Riser stepped out of the teleportation circle arrogantly, scanning the occult clubroom and taking in the faces of his future harem. His gaze stopped at a white-haired boy who was drinking tea. His arrogant smile froze and turned into a frown as alarms rang in his head, but unlike Grayfia who noticed Satoru's hidden power, Riser felt displeasure for a single reason... this human was much more handsome than him.
"Rias, Riser needs to know who this man is," Riser said, his voice tinged with displeasure.
Rias smiled composedly, crossing one leg over the other. "He is a member of my peerage."
Riser's eyes became colder. "Does Riser look like a fool to you?"
'Yes. Not only do you look like a fool, you also sound like one,' Rias thought, but she didn't say it out loud.
"I'm not lying to you. If you require proof, you're welcome to ask Grayfia herself," Rias said, her lips curling up slightly.
Riser frowned and turned to Grayfia, who nodded.
"Hmph!" Riser snorted and sat down. His queen—the only one who had followed him to the human world—walked over and stood behind him.
"Riser won't beat around the bush. Riser is here to take you back to the Underworld for our engagement," Riser said.
Rias smiled. "I don't agree."
"Rias, what is the meaning of this? The engagement between Riser and yourself was decided by the heads of the Gremory and Phenex houses. Do you truly intend to disgrace our family by disagreeing?" Riser asked with a frown. Even Grayfia, who stood like a statue, frowned slightly.
"I refuse to be a mere political pawn for the Gremory family name. The one I choose to marry will be someone I love—someone I choose with my own heart, not an arrangement forced upon me by others," Rias said with conviction.
"Listen to Riser, Rias! You're Riser's bride. You must fulfill this engagement, not just for the pride of the Gremory and Phenex, but for the very future of the devils!" Riser said.
"Do not presume to speak of the Gremory pride, Riser. If you truly care about the future of the devils, then you know our law. If you want me as your bride, you'll earn me. I demand a Rating Game! If my peerage defeats yours, this engagement is annulled," Rias said sharply.
Grayfia stepped forward, standing between the two. "The House of Gremory recognizes this request. As the representative of Lord Sirzechs, I find Rias-sama's proposal valid under the Underworld law. Lord Riser, a formal challenge has been issued. Do you accept the terms of a Rating Game to settle this engagement?"
Riser smirked. "You want to battle in a Rating Game with Riser?"
Swoosh!
A magic circle lit up behind him, and out poured fifteen women of different kinds—tall, short, busty, flat, and of different races. There was even one who disturbingly resembled Riser.
Immediately after his peerage arrived, Riser grabbed his queen, Yubelluna, who had been standing quietly, onto his lap. While groping her breast, he kissed her fiercely in front of everybody, his eyes mockingly staring at the flushed face of Rias.
Satoru, who had been drinking tea, paused, his lips twitching.
After seconds of kissing, Riser turned to Rias.
"With your weak and small peerage, do you think you can win against Riser?!" Riser said condescendingly.
"We'll see," Rias said calmly, doing her best to hide the anger that burned in her chest.
"Heh!" Riser smirked in disdain and patted Yubelluna's butt, prompting her to stand, followed by Riser who looked down at Rias. "Then Riser shall wait 10 days! After 10 days, Riser shall come back to claim Riser's bride... together with her beautiful peerage members!"
Swoosh!
A magic circle lit up beneath the feet of Riser and his peerage members. Giving Satoru, who had been sitting and drinking his tea, a condescending smirk, he vanished.
"Then I shall also return to the Underworld to inform Lord Sirzechs of this engagement, Rias-sama," Grayfia said with a bow. A silver magic circle materialized beneath her feet, and she vanished.
Rias slumped weakly in her chair, sighing.
"B-Buchou-san..." Asia called out as she looked at Rias in concern.
"Don't worry, I'm fine," Rias said with a smile. Then she looked at the ceiling and smiled—a smile filled with freedom. "I've spent my whole life being trapped by my family's name and this arranged engagement... But now, because of this game, I actually have a chance to become free. Thank you for standing by me, Satoru," she said with a grateful smile.
"It's nothing," Satoru said, returning the smile.
Suddenly, from behind Rias, a blonde-haired boy, Kiba, stepped forward and bowed deeply to Satoru.
"I've heard from Buchou that you're strong... I hope you can train me in these ten days so I'll become strong enough to fight for Buchou and fulfill my duties as a knight!"
Satoru stared at him for a while, his smile still on his face.
"Don't worry, I'll train you. Not only you, but everyone in the peerage."
....
Underworld.
Grayfia walked through the hallway, the sound of her heels echoing.
She came to a stop in front of the door and knocked lightly.
" Come in"
A man voice came from behind the door and Grayfia pushed it open.
Sitting in the room behind a desk is a man who bore a striking resemblance to Rias.
" So, how did it go?" The man asked with a smile.
" It's as how you predicted Lord Sirzech" Grayfia said as she bowed.
Sirzech smiled, " That's good. Now let's hope Rias's peerage can create a miracle"
" I don't think Lord Riser would win" Grayfia said.
Sirzech blinked and stared at Grayfia, " What do you mean?"
" In the human world as Rias peerage member is a boy who made me feel genuine threat" Grayfia said and Sizrech smiled.
" Oh? Tell me more"
...
A/N: Thanks for reading! Please vote before you go. Thank you!