Riser's attack came so suddenly that Rias and the others had no chance to react, let alone stop him.
Of course, they weren't worried about Jeanne Alter's safety. Among those present, aside from Issei, who had just become a Devil and knew next to nothing, only Riser was unaware of Jeanne Alter's true strength. If he had known he faced someone whose power rivaled that of a Maou, even his supposed immortality would've given him pause.
Yet knowing Riser's arrogance, even if Rias and the others informed him of Jeanne's power, he likely would've sneered dismissively. How could a mere human possess strength comparable to a Maou?
No, Rias and the others weren't worried about Jeanne herself—they were worried because, just moments earlier, they had glimpsed Asia and Koneko standing right behind her.
Koneko was at least a mid-class Devil, specializing as a "Rook" with great defensive abilities, so her survival wasn't a concern. But Asia, despite having a healing-type Sacred Gear, was physically still an ordinary human. Facing the flames of a Phoenix head-on, she wouldn't stand a chance.
The blazing fire surged like a raging river, unleashing terrifying light and heat, incinerating everything in its path into instant ash.
Even knowing this was Gremory territory, even knowing Sirzechs's "Queen" stood quietly observing, and even suspecting that the person caught in his flames was someone important to Rias, Riser acted without hesitation, supremely confident and arrogant.
He was Rias's fiancé, the third son of the Phenex family. Killing a mere human? Even if he slaughtered all of Rias's servants here, he doubted anyone in the Gremory family would truly object.
But things took an unexpected turn...
Amidst the roaring flames, several figures emerged slowly into view.
Unscathed.
Not just Jeanne Alter herself—even Asia and Koneko, despite being visibly frightened and tense, were completely unharmed.
Jeanne Alter wore a mocking smile, clearly ridiculing Riser's weak and pathetic attack. A barrier of transparent, hexagonal magical shields surrounded them, seamlessly joined into a perfect sphere, protecting the trio completely from the intense heat and flames outside.
"…A magician?" Riser's expression quickly darkened. "I see. Not just some ignorant outsider, then…"
Though Riser was an arrogant heir spoiled by his family, he wasn't a complete fool. Sensing something off about Jeanne Alter, his demeanor immediately shifted, becoming far more cautious.
However, Jeanne Alter simply ignored him and turned toward Rias.
"Rias, who is this barking mutt anyway?"
Such words immediately reignited Riser's fury. Rias, meanwhile, struggled to suppress a laugh, hiding her smile behind her hand.
"This is Riser, Riser Phenex, a pureblood high-class Devil and the third son of the esteemed Phenex family," Rias introduced with a faint smirk behind her palm. "And unfortunately, he's my fiancé. Hearing I intended to break our engagement, he rushed here from the Underworld."
"Oh, is that so…" Jeanne Alter tilted her head slightly and flashed another wicked grin at Riser. "So not a dog—more like a turkey."
The Phenex—the 37th of Solomon's 72 Pillars—represented the legendary immortal phoenix, depicted in myths worldwide: the Egyptian Bennu bird, Russia's Firebird, America's Yel, Arabia's Anka, and China's Fenghuang—all birds reborn from flame.
"Turkey?! A mere human dares mock the pureblood Phenex family?!"
Jeanne Alter's repeated provocations pushed Riser beyond endurance. His body ignited with blazing flames, eager to incinerate that contemptuous smirk into nothing but ashes.
But just then, a chilling presence suddenly descended over him, filling Riser with instant dread.
"Repeatedly attacking Lady Rias's friends on Gremory territory…"
Grayfia, who had remained quiet in the background with almost no presence, suddenly spoke up coldly, her eyes glinting with sharp menace, instantly exerting enormous pressure on Riser.
"Lord Riser, shall I interpret your actions as provocation toward the Gremory family?"
Riser cast a wary, fearful glance at Grayfia. Reluctantly but obediently, he extinguished his flames and took a deep breath, regaining composure.
"If even you, known as the strongest 'Queen', put it that way, even I'd feel threatened. Sirzechs-sama's peerage is notoriously monstrous; I'd rather not make enemies there."
"What, that's all it took to scare you? Pathetic." Jeanne Alter sighed theatrically. "Your flames couldn't even grill a fish properly; it'd probably flop back into the water afterward."
Riser's fragile composure snapped again within seconds, almost reigniting his rage.
"You heard her, Grayfia-sama." Riser turned toward Grayfia with darkened eyes. "This human repeatedly insults me and my family. To restore our dignity, I must kill her. Will you still stop me? Or perhaps…is this Sirzechs-sama's decision?"
With a valid reason backing him, Riser spoke confidently. Without that justification, he wouldn't have dared challenge Grayfia openly.
Grayfia's expression remained unchanged as she quietly closed her eyes.
"This is Gremory territory."
"So, anywhere else is fair game, right?"
Seeing Grayfia nod silently, Riser's lips curled into a malicious smirk.
"You heard her. So, do you dare to fight me?"
Riser sneered triumphantly at Jeanne Alter. "Weren't you acting high-and-mighty before? Keep talking."
Riser assumed Jeanne Alter was merely hiding behind the Gremory name, confident only because he wouldn't act rashly here.
Meanwhile, Koneko watched Riser with pity in her eyes, clearly viewing him as an idiot.
"If I fight you just because you say so, wouldn't I lose face?" Jeanne Alter yawned lazily, looking utterly indifferent.
Seeing Jeanne's reaction only solidified Riser's belief—she was afraid. She was bluffing.
After all, Jeanne was just a magician, merely a human who used magic, a downgraded version of Devil power. He was a Phenex, a high-class Devil with immortality. Unless facing someone at the Maou level, he had nothing to fear!
"Hmph. Typical cowardly human. Only the filthy flames and winds of this world could breed such weak, spineless creatures," Riser mocked. "Now that you realize our difference in power, be afraid. Stay hidden in Gremory territory forever—because the moment you leave, you die. Of course, once Rias becomes my wife, this territory also becomes mine, and your life will end anyway!"
"So smug. Give someone a little paint, and they think they're Picasso," Jeanne scoffed. "If you challenge me, shouldn't you wager something worthwhile?"
"A wager?"
"That's right. If I win, your engagement with Rias is cancelled, granting her the freedom to choose her own husband. How about that?"
A stunned silence fell over the Occult Research Club.
"Jeanne-san…?" Rias was entirely shocked, never anticipating such a development.
As for Grayfia, she remained completely neutral, quietly observing.
"Hahahahaha!"
Riser burst into uncontrollable laughter, as though Jeanne Alter had delivered an absurdly amusing joke.
"So then," Riser mocked, stepping onto a path of no return, "what happens if you lose?"
"You'll kill me—isn't that enough?"
"Ridiculous. Not even close," Riser sneered contemptuously. "Killing a pathetic human magician is trivial. You dare offer something so worthless against my engagement to Rias? Don't make me laugh. Who do you think you are?"
Jeanne Alter nodded, expecting his answer.
"Then let's add another condition: If I lose, I'll personally persuade Rias to obediently marry you. Is that acceptable?"
Her response came instantly, as if she'd already anticipated this scenario and carefully prepared beforehand.
Riser, failing to notice that fact, was momentarily stunned by Jeanne's bold wager.
"You can do that?"
"If I could convince Rias to break her engagement, naturally I have the means to persuade her to marry you instead," Jeanne Alter replied confidently, her smile victorious. "After all, Rias is still the daughter of the Gremory family. Even you wouldn't enjoy the headache if she genuinely refused to acknowledge your engagement, would you?"
"…"
Riser, who until now had regarded Jeanne Alter as little more than an entertaining distraction, suddenly grew serious.
"Interesting. If that's the case, I can't afford to accidentally kill you in battle."
Indeed, if Jeanne Alter died in the fight, she obviously couldn't fulfill her promise.
Riser assumed this was merely Jeanne's tactic to protect herself.
Yet, the wager Jeanne Alter proposed was precisely what Riser desired. While marrying Rias was certainly appealing, her stubborn attitude would inevitably create headaches—after all, her brother was the monstrous Maou Lucifer himself.
Riser was tempted.
He glanced briefly at Rias, who wore a strange expression but remained silent—Riser interpreted this as tacit agreement.
His eyes flashed eagerly.
"Oh, that's right. Let's schedule the fight for tomorrow, shall we?" Jeanne Alter suddenly shifted gears, her tone sounding reluctant but her mocking smile unmistakable.
"After all, I'm just an ordinary human. If by some miracle I win, and a certain noble third son decides to renege, what could I possibly do? It's not like I can storm the Underworld and demand justice from the Gremory or Phenex families. So, I propose we have representatives from both families witness the fight. That way, you can't back out afterward, right?"
"Humph! Unnecessary precautions." Riser sneered, radiating absolute confidence. "Fine, then. Let the two families serve as witnesses. With nobles as direct observers, even you, Rias, can't take your words back."
"I…" Rias stepped forward, clearly wanting to protest, but Jeanne Alter quickly interrupted her.
"Rias, if you object now, you'll only prolong the stalemate around your engagement."
Jeanne Alter reminded her gently, "Unless you can find a better solution than the current arrangement, your resistance is nothing more than futile struggle."
Rias fell silent immediately.
"Excellent, it's settled!" Riser laughed triumphantly. "I look forward to tomorrow!"
With that, Riser activated a magic circle inside the Occult Research Club and left for the Underworld. Grayfia, Sirzechs's maid, departed soon afterward, presumably to inform both families of tomorrow's significant event.
The damage left by Riser had already been repaired, and Rias now sat gloomily in her favorite chair, brooding.
"This is clearly my engagement issue, so how did it end up completely out of my control?"
"Why worry about it so much? As long as things turn out fine, what else matters?" Jeanne Alter scoffed dismissively. "With me here, that turkey's going to beg for mercy tomorrow!"
Rias looked up at Jeanne Alter and became even more frustrated.
Because Jeanne Alter was currently perched casually on top of her desk, arrogantly crossing her legs.
"What's wrong? Do you think I might lose?" Jeanne Alter glanced down at Rias mockingly. "Against that flaming bird?"
Rias shook her head. "Although Riser has immortality and can instantly regenerate from any wound, he isn't invincible. If you knock him unconscious with a powerful enough strike or break his spirit by repeatedly killing him, you can defeat him. And with your current strength, Jeanne-san, you can easily achieve either scenario."
Rias hesitated for a moment before sighing deeply.
"But even if you win, it will only buy me some time. The condition of giving me 'freedom to choose my own husband' has too many loopholes. They'll stay quiet for a while, but if I don't eventually find a suitable partner, they'll pressure me again."
"Isn't that obvious?" Jeanne Alter tilted her head casually. "I never intended to resolve your issue permanently. If you truly want to shut them up, you must grow stronger yourself. Instead of 'Rias Gremory having power because she's a Gremory', make it 'the Gremory family gaining power because of Rias'. If your strength surpasses the Devil race itself, who would dare force you into marriage with a mere turkey?"
Rias wore a strange expression.
Surpassing the Devil race itself? How could anyone say something so arrogant with a straight face?
"I bought you time precisely to grow stronger. Your peerage is also your strength. Use this period wisely—grow powerful enough to control your own destiny."
Though Jeanne Alter's words sounded distant, Rias couldn't help feeling relieved.
At least, a clear path had appeared before her—a thorny path toward freedom, but infinitely preferable to having no options at all.
"Still, why didn't Grayfia stop Riser?"
At that moment, Rias suddenly recalled something odd, stroking her chin thoughtfully. "I already informed my brother about your strength. Grayfia, as my brother's 'Queen,' must've known as well. Yet, she didn't warn Riser when he accepted your challenge…"
While Rias puzzled over this, Jeanne Alter fell silent, turning instead toward Issei Hyoudou, the original protagonist.
Jeanne Alter initially thought that by eliminating the Fallen Angel who threatened Issei, she'd prevent his death and subsequent reincarnation. Seeing Issei here now surprised her deeply.
Is the Gremory family's talent for uncovering treasures really that ridiculous?
Due to Issei's notoriously perverted personality, Jeanne Alter had deliberately avoided him ever since arriving in this world.
Even though she had some curiosity about Ddraig, the Red Dragon Emperor inside Issei, her dislike for Issei far outweighed her curiosity.
In many fanfics, the protagonist arriving in High School DxD would steal Issei's [Boosted Gear]. But Jeanne Alter had no intention of doing so—Ddraig's soul resided within the gear, and with all her secrets, the idea of another soul constantly observing her felt disturbingly invasive.
"I'm sorry, Jeanne-san."
"Hm?" Jeanne Alter turned toward Rias, surprised by the sudden apology.
"You… actually desired a peaceful life, didn't you? Despite your immense power, you chose to live as an ordinary high school student."
Rias lowered her head guiltily, apology evident in her voice. "But tomorrow's battle will expose your strength to both the Phenex and Gremory families. After that, returning to your peaceful daily life will likely be impossible. And all this…is because of me."
Rias's heartfelt apology made Jeanne Alter awkwardly scratch her head.
What's going on? First Asia, now Rias—why does everyone think daily life is so important to me? Did I really come across that way?
Seeing Rias's apologetic expression annoyed Jeanne Alter greatly. Without warning, she reached out and pulled Rias's cheeks lightly.
"Stop thinking so highly of yourself! I already told Asia the same thing. I've already experienced enough peaceful daily life, so even if my strength is revealed, it won't bother me at all."
"Besides, I have my own selfish reasons. If I'm going to reveal myself eventually, why not do it dramatically in front of an audience? Tomorrow's battle is a perfect stage! Two noble Devil families from the Underworld will witness it, maybe even a Maou himself—what an opportunity!"
Jeanne Alter wasn't lying. The scenario of dramatically proving everyone wrong and shocking the world was something she'd long anticipated. Otherwise, given her fiery temper, she wouldn't have held back for this long. Riser would've died four or five times over the moment he first attacked.
She just hoped those pureblood Devils would cooperate as willingly as typical NPCs from cultivation novels.
"Also, I can't stand that flaming turkey. From the moment I first saw him, I wanted to pluck his feathers and roast him whole."
"Helping others? What a nauseating joke! I act only for my own benefit. Just the thought of being selfless or self-sacrificing makes me want to throw up."
"Did you get that? Even without you, I'd still do exactly the same things. So, stop making that disgusting face—it irritates me!"
After saying this, Jeanne Alter released Rias's cheeks and crossed her arms, pointedly looking away under Rias's bewildered gaze.
Their exchange was watched closely by everyone else present.
"Oh my~ Jeanne-san is actually quite adorable, isn't she?" Akeno Himejima smiled seductively, stroking her cheek. "What should I do? Such a cute reaction makes me want to tease her a bit…"
Koneko stood quietly nearby. Although she said nothing, a rare gentle smile appeared on her face.
Asia gazed at Jeanne Alter with sparkling eyes, clasping her hands together admiringly. "Ahh… Jeanne-san truly is amazing—so selfless, so kind! Lord, please watch over Jeanne-san!"
Suddenly, Rias, Koneko, and Akeno—all Devils present—grimaced simultaneously, clutching their heads as though struck by lightning.
"Oh no! I'm so sorry, everyone! I completely forgot you're all Devils now!" Asia frantically bowed in apology.
---
T/N: LMAO
Um, hello everyone! The translator wanted me to let you know that they're really sorry for focusing too much on one translation and neglecting the others lately. To make up for it, they're giving you two extra chapters today and tomorrow! They hope you'll accept this as their sincere apology.
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