To everyone watching, Ryuichi's behavior was practically asking for trouble.
It wasn't like he'd done anything particularly offensive — he was just chatting with Akeno, after all.
But Riser Phoenix, the third son of the prestigious Phoenix family, was a man accustomed to being treated with admiration wherever he went.
And yet, when it came to Ryuichi, he'd been rebuffed again and again — met with nothing but polite indifference and subtle slights.
Even if Riser wanted to make a move, he had no real reason to.
He wasn't stupid enough to start something without justification — not when it would only make him look petty. For a noble like him, acting out over something so trivial would be nothing short of disgraceful.
That was the annoying part about situations like this: you wanted to lash out, but the moment you did, everyone would laugh at you for blowing things out of proportion.
And for a family like the Phoenixes, who prided themselves on nobility and refinement, there was really nothing they could do about someone like Ryuichi.
If they wanted to deal with him, they'd have to do it from the shadows — because the moment they did it openly, whoever lost their temper first would also lose the upper hand.
Suppressing the irritation burning in his chest, Riser narrowed his eyes, forcing himself to stay calm as he turned to Rias.
"Rias, surely by now you understand that your family's situation no longer allows you to be so willful, don't you?"
A confident smile crept onto his face as he spoke. After all, this was a decision made by the Gremory family — one even Rias couldn't overturn.
Rias held her composure and replied firmly, "Of course I understand. I'll marry and produce an heir to ensure my family's safety. But that will only be with someone I truly love."
"Oh? You do realize," Riser said, voice cooling, "that your father and Sirzechs have already made their decision — for the sake of preserving the few remaining pure-blooded Devils who survived the Great War hundreds of years ago."
"I'll convince them," Rias said resolutely. "Even among ancient Devils, we should still have the right to choose whom we love."
Her tone was unwavering.
Riser's expression darkened. His eyes flicked toward Ryuichi, and anger surged through him.
"I feel the same, Rias! I, too, bear the name of Phoenix — a Devil who must never disgrace his family's honor!"
His voice grew sharper, his demeanor hardening.
"You know what your rejection means for my family, don't you? I never wanted to come to the Human World in the first place. This narrow, filthy little place — even the air and the fire here are impure! For someone like me, who commands fire and wind, it's unbearable!"
Whoosh!
Flames burst to life around him, crimson fire swirling violently through the room.
"Even if I have to burn your servants to ash, I'll drag you back to the Underworld myself!"
The overwhelming aura of a High-Class Devil filled the air.
Ryuichi narrowed his eyes and stood up calmly, unfazed.
"Burn us? You sure talk big."
Riser's flames surged toward him — but before they could reach him, a shimmering barrier of light flared to life before Ryuichi. The protective field of the Shield of Divine Weeping blocked the searing wave of heat with ease.
The air crackled with killing intent. Everyone present could feel Riser's hostility pouring out like molten fire.
And Ryuichi's words only fanned the flames of his fury. He'd been restraining himself for too long already.
"Silence!" Riser roared. "You're just a lowly servant! You dare speak to me like that? Mira — throw him out!"
"Yes, Lord Riser!"
The girl named Mira, one of Riser's Pawns, immediately obeyed. She charged at Ryuichi, staff-like weapon in hand, her movements quick and disciplined.
But Ryuichi was no longer the same as before. Within the ranks of mid-class Devils, his power now stood near the top.
Mira, by comparison, was merely average.
As she rushed in, Ryuichi's speed exploded. He moved in a blur — faster than her eyes could track — and appeared by her side. A rush of wind followed as his leg lashed out in a fierce whip-kick that slammed squarely into her ribs.
She barely had time to gasp before her body was sent flying across the hall, crashing hard into the castle wall. The impact knocked her out cold.
"…Huh?"
The entire room froze.
That… ended way too quickly.
For a moment, even Grayfia and Riser's attendants were stunned — realizing only then that Ryuichi's power might not be as simple as they'd assumed.
"You dare harm one of my servants? Fine then…" Riser growled. "Seize him!"
He was about to command the rest of his peerage to attack —
— when a sudden surge of magic interrupted him.
A wave of silvery power erupted, sweeping through the room and dispersing Riser's flames like a gust of icy wind.
Rias's crimson hair fluttered wildly as she glared at him coldly.
"You really don't take me seriously at all, do you?"
Tension sparked between them, their magic flaring. The pressure of their power filled the hall — equal in strength, equal in pride.
Ryuichi stood protectively in front of Rias, Akeno, and the others, the Divine Shield shimmering faintly around him, locking eyes with Riser's peerage, ready to clash.
Just when the confrontation was about to explode, a calm, authoritative voice cut through the air.
"Lord Riser. Lady Rias. Please, calm yourselves. If you continue, I will intervene — and I won't hold back. For the sake of Lord Sirzechs's honor, I cannot allow this to continue."
Grayfia's composed tone instantly doused the fury in the room like cold water.
Both Rias and Riser froze, their magic fading.
Ryuichi tilted his head slightly. He could sense that Grayfia was powerful — incredibly so — though he couldn't quite gauge how powerful. Still, from the way even these two High-Class Devils reacted…
Yeah. She's seriously terrifying.
Her poise alone radiated such authority that it felt like she could crush them both if she wanted. And judging by their wary expressions, they clearly knew it too.
Riser reluctantly withdrew his power, letting out a strained laugh.
"To be scolded by the one known as the strongest 'Queen' in the Underworld… how frightening. I'd rather not make an enemy of a monster like you, for Lord Sirzechs's sake."
Rias said nothing, quietly releasing her own battle stance.
Once both sides had settled down, Grayfia finally spoke again.
"Lord Gremory, Lord Sirzechs, and the Phoenix household anticipated that things might escalate to this point. They've already prepared a final resolution."
Rias frowned. "A resolution? What kind?"
Grayfia's silver eyes flicked briefly toward Ryuichi before she replied evenly:
"The Rating Game."
She had originally come here to mediate, intending to propose that very solution herself — to let Rias resolve her engagement through the Rating Game.
What surprised her, however, was that this unassuming young man, Ryuichi, had already suggested it beforehand.
And after witnessing how easily he'd defeated Riser's Pawn, Grayfia had to admit — perhaps this servant of Rias's wasn't as ordinary as he appeared.
Rias glanced sideways at Ryuichi, a small flicker of surprise and admiration in her eyes.
So he was right after all…
And now, the final decision truly would come down to the Rating Game.
Perfect. Ryuichi's earlier idea had turned out to be exactly what she needed.
Rias straightened, her determination clear.
"Fine. There couldn't be a better opportunity than this." She met Riser's gaze head-on. "Riser Phoenix — let's settle this in the Rating Game!"
Her voice rang out with unwavering resolve.