— — — — — —
Inside the Occult Research Club—
"Lady Leviathan?"
Rias looked surprised when Serafall suddenly showed up. She quickly set down her tea and stood up, ready to greet her respectfully.
But Serafall waved her off before she could even speak.
Without any hesitation, Serafall plopped down on the sofa and got straight to the point.
"So, how far have Lynn and Sona gone in their relationship?"
Rias blinked, her expression turning a little strange.
Why is Lady Serafall suddenly asking about that?
She couldn't help but feel uneasy.
Don't tell me… because Lynn's been showing off all that power lately, the Sitri family and Serafall are even more eager to push the engagement forward?
Please no!!
On the outside, Rias stayed calm, but internally she was screaming.
Still, she decided to answer honestly. "Uhm… as far as I know, not much progress."
From what she had seen, and what she'd heard from Koneko...
Sona and Lynn hadn't even met that many times. They barely had any one-on-one interaction at all.
Thinking about that, Rias actually started to feel a little relieved.
She shared everything she knew with Serafall.
...
After a while, Serafall looked serious. "So what you're saying is..."
"Sona's totally crushing on him by herself?"
Rias hesitated for a moment, then nodded. "Yeah... seems like it."
"Whew."
Serafall leaned back on the couch, visibly relaxing.
She had been worried that Sona and Lynn were already at the level of 'passionate couple' like herself and Grayfia (in her dreams).
She couldn't help but chuckle.
Sona really did put on a good act earlier—Serafall had almost been fooled.
---
Meanwhile, watching Serafall suddenly loosen up, Rias couldn't help but give her a curious look.
Something's off here.
Is it just me, or does Lady Serafall look relievedthat Sona and Lynn aren't making progress?
That doesn't make any sense.
Rias thought for a moment, then carefully asked, "Lady Serafall, is the Sitri family getting impatient?"
Serafall waved her hand casually. "Nah, it's just… there might be a change in Sona's engagement situation."
Change?
Rias squinted in confusion.
"Sigh…"
Serafall acted like she had a headache, shaking her head. "You know how Sona's never been happy with her engagement, right?"
"And as her doting big sister..."
She paused, then declared righteously: "For Sona's happiness, I've decided to do whatever it takes to cancel her engagement!"
C-Cancel the engagement?!
Akeno and Koneko both froze mid-motion, eyes wide as they stared at Serafall.
Wait, seriously?!
If this were before, back when Lynn's power wasn't known, canceling the engagement wouldn't have been that surprising.
But now?
He's literally a Maou-level being (for them)!
Would the Sitri family really just let go of a fiancé like that?
Just for the Sona's happiness?
Akeno looked a little awkward.
And come to think of it… Does Sona actually want to cancel the engagement? Did Serafall even talk to Sona about this?
Still, if the engagement really was canceled, wouldn't that be great news for Rias?
Akeno glanced at her.
Rias's face was going through an absolute rollercoaster of expressions.
First shock, then confusion… then joy. Trying to stay composed… but her lips were twitching, and she was clearly holding back a grin.
Akeno quietly clicked her tongue in amazement. That was one hell of a facial performance.
On the sofa, Rias was doing her best to keep her smile down, but anyone could tell how happy she was just from her eyes.
(Sona, you're the one who gave up first!)
Rias knew full well that someone like Sona wouldn't bring up canceling the engagement herself.
But whether it's by choice or not—Rias didn't care.
This was her chance!
If Lynn and Sona were no longer engaged, and she put Lynn's name forward as her new fiancé, her family—and her big brother—would definitely back her up!
As for the Phenex family?
Sure, they were pure-blooded nobles, but they didn't even come close to the value of a young, ridiculously powerful Maou.
But just as Rias was getting excited.
Serafall's eyes lit up with determination as she added: "Even if I have to sacrifice myself!"
"…"
"Wait, WHAT?!"
Rias's grin froze in place.
Sacrifice… yourself?? What the hell does that mean?!
Even Akeno and Koneko looked lost.
Then Serafall slapped her hand on the table and announced righteously: "So, I've decided! I'll take over Sona's engagement and become Lynn's fiancée instead!"
Rias: "???????"
Rias's face was full of question marks.
What do you mean, take over the engagement? Why would you even need to?!
Akeno and Koneko were straight-up dumbfounded.
Wait… is this even allowed?
The entire Occult Research Club fell silent.
Everyone was completely stunned by Serafall's announcement.
It took Rias a while to find her voice.
"So… what you're saying is…"
"From now on, Lynn's fiancée will be you, Lady Leviathan?"
"Yup!"
Serafall nodded without hesitation.
Zero shame. No sense of guilt for "stealing" her little sister's fiancé.
Rias's eye twitched hard.
This wasn't canceling an engagement.
This was adding an even stronger and more dangerous rival!
Damn it!
With this, did she even stand a chance anymore?
Rias opened her mouth, but she didn't know what to say.
Akeno also looked at Rias, clearly worried.
What started as hopeful news just turned into an even bigger nightmare.
Koneko was stunned for a second, but then calmly munched on her snacks while watching the drama unfold.
She even sighed in her heart.
"These devils are so lame..."
Still fussing over who gets to be the fiancée.
Meanwhile, back in the familia, who knows how many girls had already climbed into Lynn-senpai's bed?
She herself had even tasted his sweet white uhh...
Thinking of that made Koneko blush slightly.
Too bad. Because of her sister, she hadn't yet fully experienced Lynn-senpai's warmth.
"Sigh. When will I finally be old enough?"
She wanted to bear Lynn-senpai's child, just like her sister.
Resting her cheek in her hand, Koneko fell into a daydream.
— — —
Meanwhile, at the Fallen Angel HQ—
News had just come in that the Old Satan Faction was completely wiped out by Lynn single-handedly.
"Him again?"
Azazel was in the middle of working on an artificial Sacred Gear when he got dragged out of his lab.
Looking over the report, he couldn't help but whistle.
The Old Satan Faction was one hell of a tough nut to crack. And Lynn crushed them all alone?
Even he wouldn't dare try something like that!
Azazel narrowed his eyes.
Lynn's strength wasn't just about taking down Kokabiel anymore. At this point… he might be beyond Maou-level.
Azazel stared at Lynn's report, deep in thought.
That upcoming three-Factions summit?
Yeah, Lynn was definitely getting a seat at the table.
Nearby, Vali's eyes lit up when he heard the news. Battle thirst kicking in—hard.
But… he also looked a little weirded out.
The organization he just joined?
Totally wiped out.
What the hell?
— — —
In the Underworld – former base of the Old Satan Faction
A young man with silver-white hair and red eyes appeared silently.
He stroked his chin as he stared at the now-empty compound.
"So a major branch of the Khaos Brigade got completely solo'd?"
Lynn Valifer…
Thinking of that name, Siegfried narrowed his eyes.
Someone like that—yeah, Cao Cao would definitely be interested.
— — —
Khaos Brigade – Core Palace
A long black-haired loli sitting on a throne suddenly opened her eyes and murmured:
"The power of the Snake has been fully accepted…"
She could no longer sense a part of it.
What happened?
Ophis tilted her head in confusion.
And more importantly she felt some kind of faint, inexplicable connection to something.
.
.
.