The grand hall of the Gremory mansion was silent. Magical lights hovered over the central table, casting red reflections across the walls. The air was tense, each breath heavy enough to be felt.
Rias stood before the window. Her fingers intertwined slowly, her expression distant. The wind through the curtains made the candle flames waver.
"Calm down, Rias. Gasper will be here."
Akeno's voice broke the silence—soft, yet edged with caution.
Rias exhaled deeply, turning toward the gathered group.
"I know, Akeno. But I can't help worrying."
Her gaze swept over Koneko, Kiba, and Saji, who waited quietly. Kiba's face remained neutral, but the tension in the air left no doubt—everyone felt the weight of what was coming.
Grayfia had been there earlier. Her words still echoed like a sentence. The wedding was being moved up. Riser Phenex was coming for a formal visit.
Akeno stepped closer, her hand resting gently on Rias's shoulder.
"Maybe he just wants to flaunt himself. It's not like he can force anything here, not while we're by your side."
Rias's smile was brief, but lacked conviction.
"Even so… he's Riser Phenex. And Grayfia wouldn't have come all the way here if it weren't serious."
The sound of Koneko's footsteps drew attention. The girl moved to the window, her gaze sharp.
"Someone's coming."
Everyone turned toward the entrance.
Clack
The main door opened. The echo of footsteps traveled down the corridor until it reached the hall.
Gasper entered amidst the silence. His clothes still carried faint traces of dust, his expression calm, almost indifferent. He stopped before the group, hands in his pockets.
"What's with the faces? Did someone die?"
His teasing tone broke the heavy atmosphere for a brief moment. Saji coughed to hide a laugh, but Rias crossed her arms, visibly irritated.
"Gasper, you're late. You should've been here half an hour ago."
He raised his brows, his tone back to its usual rhythm.
"Sorry, Rias-senpai. Had a few things to take care of."
Rias sighed, rubbing her forehead lightly.
"Those 'things' are always concerning when they come from you."
'Why is she so tense?'
"Rias-senpai, did something happen?"
The redhead hesitated for a few seconds before replying. Her tone came calm, measured.
"Yes. Grayfia was here. The wedding with Riser is being moved up. He's coming personally for a formal visit."
Silence returned. Gasper's eyes grew more serious, and the air itself seemed to grow heavier.
"So he's pushing again."
Rias nodded. "And this time he seems determined to prove something in front of everyone."
Gasper took a step forward, his gaze locking on hers.
"You can count on me, Rias-senpai. In the Rating Game, I'll win for you."
The crimson glow in his eyes contrasted with Rias's restrained smile. For a moment, the tension in the room eased.
"Thank you, Gasper. I know I can trust you."
The air, once heavy, now merely hung dense around them.
Akeno folded her arms, stepping closer with a smile that mixed lightness and mischief.
"Trust him, sure… but that doesn't explain where he's been until now."
Gasper looked away, his teasing tone returning. "Missed your lectures, Akeno-senpai."
She tilted her head, her smile deepening. "Then go on. Tell us—where were you?"
The dhampir took a deep breath, and the air around him seemed to drop in temperature. The levity vanished from his voice.
"A fallen angel attacked me."
The playfulness died instantly. Kiba straightened on the sofa, Koneko lifted her gaze, and even Saji held his breath. Akeno's smile faded, replaced by something darker.
Rias stepped forward, her crimson aura beginning to flicker around her body.
"They attacked you in my territory."
Her voice came low and sharp. The air vibrated in response.
Gasper stayed calm, eyes steady.
His voice was firm, almost icy.
"Don't worry, Rias-senpai. I've already taken care of it."
Silence stretched. Her gaze hardened, tension rising again.
"Took care of it?"
"She no longer exists."
Koneko shifted slightly on the sofa, the sound of her fingers against the wood cutting through the still air. Akeno narrowed her eyes, her smile gone.
"You… killed a fallen angel?"
The dhampir simply nodded.
The hum of magical lights above filled the room for a few seconds. Akeno broke the silence, her tone smooth, laced with quiet irony.
"They always think they can toy with Devils. Seems they never learn."
Her smile was beautiful, but her eyes flashed with something cruel.
Rias inhaled slowly, fighting to steady the tension that still lingered. "I want to know if there are more of them here. And if there are—where."
Gasper kept his tone low. "Most likely in the abandoned church. And they're not just hiding, Rias-senpai. They're killing humans."
His words dropped heavy between them. Akeno crossed her arms, her eyes now cold.
"As if fallen angels needed more reasons to prove what they are."
Koneko stirred on the sofa, her feline ears twitching faintly. "Then it's not over."
Gasper tilted his head, his gaze distant. 'This is my chance—not just to finish them, but to open a path for Rias to recruit Asia.'
Rias stepped closer, her tone firmer. "If that's what they're doing, I can't leave them unchecked. Especially after they attacked you."
"We should proceed carefully," Kiba said, breaking the silence. "If they're killing humans, someone will notice soon."
Rias nodded. "Which is why we'll act before they do."
Saji crossed his arms, trying to sound confident. "So we're heading straight into a church full of fallen angels? Not bad for a first mission."
Koneko looked away, expression blank. "You'll be more trouble than help."
"Hey, that's uncalled for." Saji raised his brows, but Gasper stepped forward before things could escalate.
"Let it go, Saji. She only says that because she cares about me."
Koneko turned her head slowly, her gaze sharp. "No one cares about you."
Akeno stifled a laugh. "Koneko-chan, you really should learn to be gentler. You'll end up hurting our little dhampir's feelings."
Koneko frowned, annoyed. "He's not little. He's irritating."
Gasper crossed his arms, his grin returning. "Didn't know you cared that much, Koneko-chan."
The girl clenched her fists, her face tinged with faint color. "I don't like you."
"So you hate me, Koneko-chan?"
"That's not it." She turned away, words caught between anger and unease. "I just don't like the way you talk."
Akeno stepped forward, her teasing smile returning. "Oh, so it's only his voice that bothers you? That's a shame… I think his voice is quite interesting."
Koneko glared at Akeno, her anger barely contained. "Do you always have to say things like that?"
"Only when someone needs to learn to relax a little."
Rias stepped closer, her tone firm. "Enough, you three. We're not here to argue."
The tension between their gazes dissolved immediately. Akeno rested a hand on Koneko's shoulder, her smile now gentle. "Sorry, Koneko-chan. I was only teasing."
Gasper sighed, scratching the back of his neck. "Sorry too. Guess I went too far."
Koneko held her gaze for a moment before stepping away. She headed upstairs without a word, her slow footsteps echoing down the corridor.
Clack
Rias watched the small girl disappear into the upper floor, her calm expression slowly returning.
"You two need to learn to measure your teasing. Koneko's sensitive, even if she doesn't show it."
Akeno tilted her head with a light smile. "Understood, Rias."
Gasper simply nodded, his eyes settling back into their usual calm.
"Good." Rias folded her arms. "Rest for now. Tomorrow we'll decide how to deal with that church."
She turned toward the door, her red hair swaying under the magical light. The group began to disperse quietly.
The sound of footsteps faded down the corridor.
Clack
In the now-empty hall, the lights flickered softly before stabilizing. The air returned to stillness, though the tension hadn't vanished—only changed form, waiting for the next move.
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