The alternate dimension began to collapse.
Only Hikaru and Riser's younger sister remained standing in the field.
The petite girl watched the reddish-brown figure with a somewhat fearful gaze.
Hikaru nodded slightly to her. As he turned around, his figure gradually faded and left that space.
Ravel panted heavily, her gaze shifting from fear to longing.
It seemed…she was in love.
…
"What!? How could the 'host' lose?!"
Serafall looked utterly incredulous.
"In that case, won't it be even easier for that handsome guy to capture my Sona-chan's heart?! No way, I'm going to give him a piece of my mind right now!"
As soon as she finished speaking, Serafall activated a magic circle and disappeared.
"Lord Lucifer, do you want us to stop her?"
Grayfia stood up.
Hearing this, Sirzechs gave a wry smile. "Though Serafall is outgoing by nature, she still knows her limits. But to be safe, Executor Grayfia, I'd like you to go."
With that, the silver-haired she-devil also vanished via teleportation.
Leaning back in his chair, Sirzechs mused in admiration, "I really didn't expect Hikaru to be this powerful."
"With the power of that Longinus, he's at least at the level of an Ultimate-Class Devil."
When he finished, Sirzechs turned his gaze to the seats below.
"Lord Phoenix, do you accept the outcome of this match?"
"No need to say more, Lord Lucifer. Pureblood devils marrying among themselves is certainly a good thing. But it seems our two families were too greedy. Perhaps it's also because we've glimpsed Hell firsthand during the previous war," said a middle-aged blond man from the Phoenix faction as he rose to his feet.
"So that's the boyfriend Rias found in the human world? Actually, I'd like to thank him. My son, Riser, was sorely lacking in the experience of defeat. Relying on our clan's innate abilities, he's always been overconfident. This loss will teach him that even an immortal bloodline is not invincible."
The Phoenix Clan Head spoke, revealing not the slightest dissatisfaction in his tone.
"For him to learn that lesson, the value of this engagement has already been proven, Lord Lucifer."
Then he turned to the Gremory family's area.
The current head of House Gremory also stood to address him.
"Your daughter has found herself a good partner. The Underworld's future should be quite interesting."
"I truly never would have guessed it'd be my daughter… Maybe our Gremory family is simply good at treasure-hunting."
…
Elsewhere…
After the match ended, Hikaru returned to the Occult Research Club in the real world.
As soon as he appeared, everyone crowded around him with congratulations.
"The one who really deserves the congratulations is Rias," Hikaru said, shaking his head.
He felt no exhilaration in defeating Riser, though it wasn't without its rewards—
At the very least, he'd gained quite a few new admirers, right?
"That's right, President! You don't have to marry that jerk now!" said Kiba Yuuto.
"Hikaru, I really don't know how to thank you."
Though the outcome had been decided, Rias still found it hard to believe.
The engagement that had troubled her for years was simply…voided like that?
"Now that you mention it," Himejima Akeno suddenly chimed in, "didn't the Maou say earlier that whoever won would become Rias's new fiancé?"
"So that means Rias is now Hikaru's fiancée?"
"Fi…fiancée?"
Rias's cheeks flushed slightly.
"Of course, Rias did say she hasn't fully decided yet, so…if that's the case, Hikaru, how about letting me be your fiancée instead?"
Akeno beamed, her gaze as though she wanted to devour Hikaru whole.
"Hey! Akeno, I never said anything like—"
Though it did seem sudden, Rias wasn't actually against deepening her relationship with Hikaru.
She wouldn't even mind giving him her first night.
Sona Sitri and Shinra Tsubaki both looked uncomfortable, especially Sona, whose feelings grew increasingly complicated upon hearing that Rias's new fiancé was Hikaru.
Just then, a familiar magical energy drew near.
A voice that made Sona's face fall rang out:
"My Sona-chan, I'm here to see you! And that man over there is the human Hikaru, right? I'm warning you! Stay away from my Sona, or else I'll—"
Serafall raised her small fist, drawing startled gasps from the others.
"Lady Leviathan! Executor! Why are you here?!"
"Sister!"
Serafall seemed about to say more, but Sona shouted sharply, "If you keep this up, I'll really get mad!"
"Uh…"
Serafall froze, gazing at her sister in disbelief, eyes welling with tears.
She had never been scolded by her little sister before.
Sona faced Hikaru with an apologetic expression. "Sorry you had to see that. My sister's personality is a bit…unique. Please don't mind her."
Hikaru shook his head, the corners of his mouth curving into a faint smile.
Just then, from the corner of his eye, he noticed the silver-haired figure who had arrived with Serafall.
Grayfia?
Why would she be here? And the others called her 'Executor' just now?
It made Hikaru curious. Apparently something in the story had changed, so that Grayfia was no longer Sirzechs's wife but an independent figure.
As Hikaru observed Grayfia, she quietly regarded him as well.
Gazing at that handsome face, she inwardly marveled yet also felt an inexplicable sense of familiarity, as if she had known him before.
~~~
Patreon(.)com/Bleam
— Currently You can Read 20 Chapters Ahead of Others!