Bound by Infinity

Chapter 19:

Grayfia's gaze flickered between me and Tiamat. The surprise in her eyes was evident when she noticed Tiamat recognizing her instantly. My killing intent flared again, and Tiamat released her magic to match my pressure. The tension in the room thickened, and I could feel the air crackle with power.

"Should I deal with her, Kouki-sama?" Tiamat asked, her voice calm but laced with a hint of eagerness.

"No, there's no need," I said, dismissing the surge of power in the room as I relaxed and dispelled my killing intent.

"Very well," Tiamat responded, and her magic dissipated immediately, her expression softening.

Grayfia bowed slightly, a gesture that was more respectful than apologetic. "I apologize. I didn't mean to offend you."

"It's fine," I muttered, my voice low. My mind was elsewhere. I could feel Ophis's presence through the wall, her gaze fixed on us. Despite the irritation building inside me, I wasn't going to let things escalate further.

'Ophis, daddy's fine. Just a minor inconvenience is all,' I said to her through telepathy, hoping to calm her down.

'...Understood,' Ophis responded, her presence retreating into the comfort of her room.

I sighed, looking over at Rias, who seemed to be avoiding eye contact with me. "I'll see you tomorrow," I said softly, trying to mask the lingering frustration.

Rias nodded, her expression downcast.

"I'm not mad, just disappointed," I said, my voice flat as I shook my head. "Now, out. I want to sleep."

With a snap of my fingers, I teleported Grayfia, Akeno, and Tiamat out of the house, leaving me in peace.

"Was that wise, Kouki-sama?" Tiamat asked, her voice full of curiosity and concern.

"Trust me, it's better this way. If I really wanted to kill her, I would've had Ophis do it. She was watching the whole time," I said, my tone level as I sat back on the bed, trying to shake off the lingering tension.

"Oh, I see," Tiamat said, her gaze softening as she processed my words.

"Good. Now get out. I want sleep," I grumbled, letting the exhaustion hit me like a wave.

"I'll take my leave now," Tiamat said, with a slight bow before she turned and left, closing the door behind her.

I watched her leave before letting out a long breath, my eyes fixed on the ceiling.

Tomorrow would be... entertaining.

With a tired sigh, I closed my eyes, finally letting sleep claim me.

The Next Day

I appeared in the ORC clubroom, dressed in a black turtleneck, black pants, and a white coat, my hair pulled back into a neat ponytail. As soon as I walked in, I noticed that everyone was present except for Issei. Asia was sitting inside, her expression as neutral as ever. Rias sat behind her desk, Akeno stood next to her, and Koneko was lounging on one of the couches. Grayfia stood in front of them, her presence still formal, but the tension in the room was palpable.

I walked over and sat next to Koneko, who was leaning against the armrest, her eyes watching me carefully. Tiamat and Mittelt stood behind the couch, their postures casual but alert. The room seemed to hold its breath for a moment as I took my seat.

"Morning, everyone," I said casually, trying to break the ice.

Rias flinched slightly, her eyes flickering away from me. I couldn't help but roll my eyes at her behavior.

'Rias, relax. I'm not mad at you,' I said to her through telepathy, hoping she would catch on.

Rias blinked twice, her eyes locking onto mine for a brief moment, before her lips parted to speak.

Before she could say anything, I cut her off with a thought.

'Don't say anything. Just listen to me. Blink twice if you understand,' I said, my voice calm but firm.

Rias blinked twice, a soft understanding passing through her gaze.

'Good. Now listen. I think I understand why you did what you did last night, and I get it. Fear makes people do stupid shit. But I need you to pick your head out of your ass and straighten up. Or was all that power and training I gave you for nothing?' I asked, my words cutting through the silence like a knife.

Rias straightened in her chair, her eyes meeting mine with a mixture of defiance and understanding. She blinked twice again, and I could sense her resolve solidifying.

'Good girl. You can respond with telepathy now,' I said, my tone softening.

'Thanks for the pep talk, Kouki,' she responded, her voice carrying a hint of gratitude.

'Don't sweat it,' I said, dismissing it with a wave of my hand.

'Do you want me to explain?' Rias asked, her tone careful.

'Nope. The answer will come in due time,' I replied, already sensing that the real challenge was still ahead.

Just then, Issei, Asia, and Kiba entered the clubroom.

"Sup?" Issei greeted, a casual smirk on his face.

I nodded at him, barely acknowledging his presence.

Rias got up from her desk, a serious expression now replacing her earlier unease. "Well, everyone's here. Good."

Grayfia, still standing in front of the group, looked at Rias with a slight bow. "My lady, if you don't mind, may I speak openly?"

I overheard Issei whispering to Kiba. "Who's that?"

"That's Grayfia," Kiba answered in a low voice, not realizing how much he had already entered dangerous territory by saying her name out loud.

Rias looked at Grayfia, giving her permission with a nod. "Let's hear her out."

At that moment, an orange glow erupted from a magic circle in the center of the room.

A plume of flames shot up from the circle, and a figure appeared. The man had slicked-back dark hair, a well-kept suit, and a face that screamed arrogance. His aura was suffocating—pompous and entitled in every sense of the word.

"And here he is. Riser has arrived in the human realm," the man declared, his voice dripping with self-importance. "I've come all this way to see you, my beloved Rias."

My jaw clenched.

Holy shit. I already don't like him.

"Okay, who is this douche?" Issei asked, echoing my thoughts.

"Gentlemen," Rias said, her voice calm yet firm, "This is Lord Riser Phoenix... a pureblood devil of noble birth. He's the third heir in line to the House of Phoenix."

'Rias, is this idiot...?' I started through telepathy, already knowing what the answer was going to be.

'Yep,' Rias responded with a tone of obvious distaste.

'No wonder you hate him. He's a pompous ass,' I continued.

'That's not even the worst of it,' Rias replied, making me even more wary.

'Well, shit,' I thought, my grip tightening on the armrest of my chair.

"He's also the fiancé of the next head of the House of Gremory..." Rias continued, her voice carrying a weight of finality.

"Fiancé to what?! You're joking, right?" Issei's shocked voice cut through the tension, his confusion palpable.

"I am not," Rias said, her tone now colder than I had ever heard it. "Lady Rias has been engaged to Lord Riser for some time now."

"They're getting married?!" Issei asked, still unable to process it.

'Not if I have something to say about it,' Rias said, her words filled with determination.

'Relax, firecracker. We'll deal with him,' I responded, my voice light but filled with a dangerous edge.

Riser had taken a seat next to Rias on the second couch, messing with her hair in a way that made me want to rip his hand off. Akeno served him tea, and he had the gall to compliment her.

"Lovely… the tea prepared by my Rias's queen is most delicious," Riser said, his voice oozing with condescension.

"Thank you for the compliment, sir," Akeno said with a slight bow, though her tone was tight with restraint.

Riser tried to get all touchy-feely with Rias's thigh, but she stood up, clearly having none of it.

"Enough, Riser," Rias snapped, her voice now cutting through the air like a blade. "Let it go. Why don't you understand? I have no intention of marrying you."

"But, my darling…" Riser's voice took on a tone of false sweetness, "Riser believes your family's circumstances are still such that you cannot be so selfish."

"I will not bring my family to ruin," Rias said, her words sharp and resolute. "I have no intention of denying you your right to our name. However, let me be clear, my husband will be my choice."

'And I'm sitting right here,' I sent to Rias via telepathy, not missing the faint blush that crept onto her cheeks as she glared at me.

"Remember, it's imperative for devils to remain pureblooded… We're still recovering our

numbers from the last war," Riser continued, oblivious to the tension surrounding him.

Oh yeah, Rias had told me about this.

"Both your father and Sir Zechs decided on this arrangement with the future of devils in mind," Riser said, as if trying to justify his presence.

I stored that piece of information away for later.

"My father, my brother, and my whole clan made this decision because they are in too great a rush," Rias said, her voice now cold, unwavering. "For the final time… Riser, I will not marry you."

I leaned back, watching as Rias's resolve stood firm, the tension in the room ready to snap at any moment.

Riser stood up, his hand moving to grasp Rias's chin, lifting her gaze to meet his. "For the final time, Rias… Riser bears the reputation of the House of Phoenix. Besmirching our good name is unacceptable."

"Hey!" Issei shouted, stepping forward.

"Riser doesn't care if he has to incinerate everyone in this room… You will return to the Underworld with me." Riser's words dripped with venom, and his magic flared around him, burning the air.

But Rias and I both started chuckling, catching Riser completely off guard.

"You know, that threat would be a lot more threatening if you know," Rias began, her voice dripping with disdain.

"If you were actually fucking threatening," I finished, my tone dark with amusement.

"Are you mocking Riser?" he snapped, his face twisted in rage.

"No, no. *Fuck* yeah," both Rias and I said in unison, as magic surged from us, filling the room with a blistering intensity.

Our silver, red, and orange auras collided with Riser's, and it was instantly clear whose power reigned supreme. The pressure in the room was overwhelming, and Riser's magic faltered beneath ours.

"There is no need for incineration," Grayfia said, her voice cutting through the tension. She dispelled our auras with a single, effortless wave.

"My lady Rias, Lord Riser… As you know, I'm here by order of Sir Zechs. This means there will be no disruption of peace," Grayfia said, her words calm yet laced with authority.

"When even Riser feels a twinge of fear from the one known as the 'Ultimate Queen,' it speaks volumes," Grayfia added, her usual stoic expression betraying nothing.

'Does this man seriously believe his own hype that much?' I thought to Rias through our telepathic link, already irritated by his arrogance.

'You wouldn't know the half of it,' she replied, her tone biting.

Riser's eyes narrowed as he heard Grayfia's words, his irritation flaring. "My master anticipated there would be conflict… As such, he has assigned me a last resort should communication break down."

Riser was about to speak again when Grayfia interrupted. "If my lady insists on putting her personal preferences above those of her family… She is to settle this via a Rating Game with Lord Riser."

My heart surged with anticipation. Violence as an answer? Perfect.

I gritted my teeth as the killing intent surged again, but this time, it wasn't just mine—Rias's aura mixed with mine, and the temperature in the room dropped. I felt Issei and the others step back, their unease palpable.

Issei, ever the fool, needed Akeno to explain what a Rating Game was. As if the tension wasn't enough, Riser, not understanding the gravity of the situation, spoke up.

"Riser has played through numerous Rating Games and has won countless times. Unfortunately, my inexperienced bride has never even qualified for an official Rating Game," Riser said with a smug grin, as if he'd already won.

Akeno's voice cut through the air, smooth and disinterested. "He knows only mature devils are allowed to participate, so it's not like she's had the chance."

"So you're saying we're at a disadvantage?" Issei asked, his voice laced with worry.

I smirked, my confidence unwavering. "I wouldn't say that. If he's the strongest in his peerage, it'll only take Rias… If not, maybe Rias and Index."

Koneko's voice was calm, but there was an edge to it. "We've got more to worry about than that."

The tension reached a boiling point when Riser finally opened his mouth again. "Rias, I have to ask… is this adorable little group the extent of your servants? Are they all you have?"

I chose to stay silent for now, but my irritation simmered just beneath the surface.

"So what if they are?" Rias responded, her voice as sharp as a blade.

Riser laughed, a hollow, arrogant sound, and with a snap of his fingers, a magic circle appeared behind Grayfia. His family crest burned into the air, and fifteen girls emerged from it.

I analyzed them without any discernible emotion. Weak. I expected as much, but still...

Then, I heard Riser's voice again. "H-Hey, Rias... This servant-kun over here is crying a lot while looking at me."

I didn't need to look to know who he was referring to. My suspicions were confirmed when I saw Rias place a hand on her forehead in frustration.

"This boy's dream is to have a harem. I think he was moved after looking at your servants," Rias remarked with a disgusted expression.

"Gross~," she added under her breath, the words laced with distaste.

"Riser-sama, this person is freaking me out~," one of Riser's girls said, a look of genuine concern on her face.

They were all grossed out by Issei's behavior, and I was honestly about to lose my mind over it. I sighed, deciding it wasn't worth my sanity to dwell on it. Riser's peerage members seemed to calm down as he patted them, soothing them with his typical arrogance.

"Don't say that, my cute girls. Looking up to upper-stream folks is what a lowly one does. Let's show them how passionate we are."

Saying that, Riser began to make out with Yumebella in front of us. I stared at the scene with the most deadpan expression, my patience rapidly running out.

And I thought I couldn't hate anyone more than I already did. Well, I was wrong.

"You will never be able to do this," Riser taunted Issei, his smirk smug.

"Don't say what I think you were saying! Damn it! Boosted Gear!" Issei shouted in a blind rage.

Goddammit, Issei.

"Huh? Weren't you looking up to the so-called womanizer?" Riser taunted, his voice full of mockery.

Issei froze for a moment, before stammering, "S-Shut up! That's different from the thing about Buchou! At this rate, you'll just flirt with other girls even after you marry Buchou!"

"Heroes love women. That's a saying in the human world, right? A good phrase indeed. But this is just a close relationship with my servants. Aren't you also getting adored by Rias?" Riser taunted, his grin growing wider.

"No, that's me," I interrupted, cutting him off before he could say anything more.

"Hero, my ass! You're just a bird guy! Fire bird Phoenix? Hahaha! That's the same as yakitori!" I added, snickering at my own joke.

Rias and I burst into laughter at the jab, completely unbothered by the weakling in front of us. Riser's face twisted into a furious expression at my words, his eyes narrowing dangerously.

"Yakitori!? Y-You low-class deeeeevil!" he roared. "Don't get ahead of yourself! That's not how you talk to a high-class devil! Rias, what's going on with your discipline toward your servants?!"

"Like I care," Rias shot back with a bored expression.

"Hey, yakitori-guy! I'll just beat the crap out of you with my Boosted Gear!" Issei shouted, clearly emboldened by his words.

Alright, Issei, calm down. Get off your high horse now.

"We don't need to have a game! I'll just take you all down, right here, right now!" Issei yelled, his gauntlet glowing.

[Boost!!]

The sound rang out, and the jewel on Issei's gauntlet lit up. But Riser merely sighed, unimpressed by his opponent's bluster.

"Mira. Do it," he ordered, clearly bored.

Mira stepped forward in a burst of speed, her staff raised, prepared to strike.

I didn't even flinch. With a flick of my wrist, I summoned Crucifix, shifting it into scythe mode in an instant, and swung it. The powerful strike sent Mira crashing into the wall of the clubroom, knocking her out cold before she even had a chance to react.

I returned the scythe to its true form and casually rested it on my lap.

"What happened?" I asked, a grin spreading across my face.

Everyone froze in stunned silence, staring at me in shock. Riser and his peerage were speechless, and Rias... well, she just gave me the most unsurprised look imaginable.

This is going to be a lot of fun.

End of Chapter 19.