Occult Research Clubroom
"My apologies, Milady. I allowed myself to get a bit... heated."
Grayfia, who had been on the verge of attacking Issei, bowed her head and apologized to Rias. Rias let out a sigh.
"Grayfia. What exactly is your relationship with Issei? I've never seen my brother's Queen get so agitated before."
"!? With that child?" Akeno
"....We just have a bit of a bad history."
=====
The next day,
'Damn it... this is the worst. Why did I have to meet that damn woman...?'
Walking out with Asia, Issei automatically frowned and emitted a dark aura as the image of Grayfia from yesterday flashed through his mind. Unable to easily approach him, Asia felt uneasy.
'Issei-san... are you feeling unwell? Since this morning...'
"Issei-san... if you're not feeling well, you should take the day off from school..."
"Skipping school to avoid that woman?! I'll never do something so cowardly."
"Huh? That woman?"
"...There's a woman. A really annoying, strong woman..."
Issei looked up at the sky, his face showing how much he didn't want to think about it. Moreover, he could sense Grayfia's presence emanating from the Occult Club. Just the thought of having to go there after school made him furious.
'Why is that girl here? And... Rias Gremory, she should just accept the engagement or whatever and stop making things difficult.'
Time passed, and Issei, who really didn't want to go to the club room today, arrived at the club room led by Asia and Kiba. Inside the clubroom were Rias, Akeno, and, as he expected, Grayfia. The moment Grayfia and Issei made eye contact, a terrifying spark erupted.
'Huh?' -Yuto
'.....A fierce stare.'
"Is...Issei-san?"
"What? You're still here?"
"You're the one who's still a demon! You have no pride. God would cry if he saw you like this."
"Say that again!"
"God would cry if he saw you like this, kid."
"I'll blow you away!! You old hag!!"
"Cal...Calm down!! Issei-kun!!"
"Calm down, Issei-san!!"
"Rias.... Akeno.... Let go of him. I'll finish off that arrogant kid today."
"G... Grayfia-san, please... please hold back."
"Yes. Issei-kun is a good boy, even if he's a little impolite."
Issei and Grayfia glared at each other with frightening eyes. Rias was extremely curious about their relationship, but she knew if Issei, whose power was unknown but clearly strong, and Grayfia, known as the Strongest Queen, rampaged here, the school itself would be completely destroyed. Just as they were barely managing to hold the two back, a magic circle began to form on the clubroom floor. Flames erupted from it, enveloping the room in heat.
"Hmm?"
"Phoenix."
Yuto, who was holding one of Issei's arms, muttered. The room was once again covered in the dazzling light of flames, and a man's figure could be seen inside the flames.
The man, who appeared to be in his early twenties, was wearing a red suit. He looked wild, with his shirt unbuttoned to his chest and no tie. While Yuuto's face could be described as refreshingly handsome, the man before them was what one might call a bad boy. He looked around, then chuckled.
"My, my, what's this situation here?"
""Mind your own business.""
Issei and Grayfia, though not looking menacing, simultaneously warned Riser with words. While Issei and Grayfia's words reached Riser simultaneously, he took one lightly, considering her the strongest queen, but the other, a complete stranger, he approached Issei with a fierce look.
"Hey, brat... what did you say?"
"Issei... no."
"I told you to mind your own business."
'Pwoof!'
Riser kicked Issei hard in the stomach, sending him crashing into the wall.
"!! Issei!!"
Akeno rushed over to check on Issei. But Issei looked at Riser with a very cold gaze. Riser chuckled and said,
"A guy who gets knocked out in one hit should know his place. To think you'd pick a fight with Grayfia-sama, the one called the Strongest Queen..."
'....I wonder who really needs to know their place?'
'Issei-kun, just now...' -Yuuto
Yuuto, whose specialty was speed, had barely noticed, but Grayfia had noticed immediately. That there wasn't a single scratch on Issei's body... Just before the foot made contact, Issei had moved his body back and acted as if he'd been hit hard and sent flying. Issei's eyes seemed to have lost their earlier fighting spirit, but Grayfia could see it. Deep in his heart, his fighting spirit was burning even hotter... Meanwhile, Rias, unaware of any of this, glared at Riser with an enraged face, furious that a member of her peerage had been hit. She wasn't the only one. Akeno, after helping Issei to the sofa, was glaring at Riser with eyes even scarier than Rias's.
"Riser!!"
"....I won't let you get away with this."
"My, my, my lovely Rias. My apologies... I acted in a very un-adult-like manner."
Meanwhile, Issei, who was deliberately pretending to be unconscious, was holding back his seething anger. He was definitely not angry on Rias's behalf.
As if understanding his feelings, Ddraig began to soothe him with words.
(He's quite the braggart. But he held back very well. If he'd made a slip-up and thrown a punch, it would have caused a lot of trouble. At least he's a noble of the Underworld...)
'I'd like to blow away that weak, braggart chicken, but... it's not a war... I have to hold back.'
(By the way... that guy seems to be really unskilled.)
'Ah... I deliberately pushed his leg with my hand and stepped back, but he didn't notice it at all.'
"By the way, Rias... are these guys here all your servants?"
"So what?"
"Hahahaha. At this rate, is there even any point in talking? It looks like only your Queen, the Priestess of Thunder, could even stand against my cute servants. Besides, your Pawn is just lying there after taking one hit from me, isn't he?"
'Should I just get up right now and blow that guy away?'
(....Just hold back for now. I'm about to explode too.)