A few minutes later—or maybe more; I wasn't keeping track of time—Rias finally began to calm down.
Her sobs slowed, her breathing steadied, and the tremble in her shoulders eased.
The tight grip she had on me loosened just slightly, though she still stayed close, leaning against my chest.
Koneko and Akeno quietly withdrew their embrace, giving her space but remaining near, like silent sentinels ready to support her if she needed it again.
I gently rested my hand on her back, letting her feel the warmth and steady rhythm of my heartbeat.
"It's okay now, Rias," I murmured.
"Everything's over. You're safe."
She lifted her head slowly, eyes still glistening with tears but calmer.
I could see the relief, the exhaustion, and the gratitude reflected in her gaze.
My eyes locked onto hers, almost mesmerized by her beauty.
Her gaze didn't waver either, her blue eyes pulling me in like they always did.
For a second, the world around us seemed to fade away, leaving just the two of us.
Our lips inched closer, drawn together by an invisible force.
The air between us grew heavy, our breaths mixing, the distance shrinking until—
A sudden flash of crimson light bathed the room.
The unmistakable glow of a teleportation magic circle appeared, and from it stepped Grayfia, her usual composed expression betraying not even the slightest hint of surprise.
Rias and I immediately jolted apart, faces flushed with sheer embarrassment, as though we'd just been caught committing some grand crime.
Damn it!
I cursed internally, covering my face with one hand.
How do all those couples who flaunt their affection in public do it so casually?
Kissing?
Hugging?
Acting all lovey-dovey like it's the most natural thing in the world?
No way.
It's way too embarrassing.
Meanwhile, Rias wasn't faring much better.
Her face was as red as her hair, her lips trembling like she wanted to say something but couldn't.
Of course, Grayfia's calm gaze swept over us, and I swear, the weight of her silence made the room ten times heavier.
At last, after what felt like an eternity of suffocating silence, Grayfia finally parted her lips.
Her voice carried that same unshakable elegance and calm authority —every word polished, every syllable precise, like a blade honed to perfection.
"Lady Rias… Lord Zevion…" she began, her silver eyes briefly sweeping over the two of us.
Even though she spoke in a professional tone, the weight behind her words made my back straighten instinctively.
"Lord Riser and his peerage have successfully recovered from the effects of the battle," she continued smoothly, not a single flicker of emotion showing on her face.
"Therefore, the match has officially concluded, and it is now time for you to proceed and collect your reward."
Oh, right—how could I forget?
I had some slaves… ahem, I mean, "zero-cost labor" waiting to be collected.
A little smile tugged at the corner of my lips as the thought crossed my mind.
"Alright then," I said lightly, glancing at Rias before taking a step forward.
"Let's go, Rias. Time to pick up our reward."
But just as I moved, Grayfia raised a hand, her expression calm yet absolute, the kind of gesture that made it clear that I had some wrong idea.
"There is no need for you to go anywhere, Lord Zevion," she interjected smoothly.
Her voice carried that dignified, unshakable composure as always, like she was reciting the law itself.
"Lord Riser and his peerage are being brought directly to you."
...Or maybe they just don't want me anywhere near hell anymore?
Before I could question her, the air in the room shimmered.
Another magic circle flared into existence, this one burning with crimson flames.
The ground shook lightly as heat rolled outward in waves, licking at the edges of the room like an open furnace had just been unleashed.
Then, with a burst of fire, sixteen figures emerged one after another.
Riser Phenex himself appeared at the center, his once-proud form visibly diminished, and behind him trailed his peerage—bandaged, bruised, and carrying the heavy air of defeat.
Their entrance wasn't the triumphant arrival of noble devils but more like prisoners being escorted to judgment.
The scent of defeat and resignation lingered faintly in the air, a reminder of just how brutal the match had truly been.
And as they fully materialized, silence weighed over the room, broken only by the faint crackle of dying embers left behind from their fiery arrival.
I had to admit, though, their doctors were impressive.
Astonishing, really.
I remembered impaling their limbs, snapping bones, leaving wounds that should have taken weeks—months even—to heal.
Yet here they were, all sixteen of them, walking into the room on their own feet as if I'd never touched them.
Of course, the traces of battle hadn't vanished entirely.
Even though the major injuries were gone, their movements were stiff, careful.
The kind of posture that comes not from pain, but from the memory of it—like their bodies were healed, but their minds still remembered the agony.
I leaned back a little, arms loosely crossed, eyeing them with mild curiosity.
"Huh. Guess your healers aren't half bad," I muttered under my breath, loud enough for them to hear.
"I impaled half of them, ripped apart the other half, but look—already patched up. If not for the holy field weakening their regeneration, they'd probably be back to full strength already. Annoying, really."
Riser's peerage shuffled under my gaze.
Some glared with shaky pride, others looked down at the floor, their pride shattered.
A few even flinched when my eyes met theirs, the memory of earlier still carved deep into them, no matter how healed their bodies seemed.
…Oh god.
This feeling—this rush!
Is this how villains feel when they're basking in their own glory?
The gloating, the thrill of knowing you're the one holding all the strings?
Damn, it's intoxicating.
No wonder they always laugh so much—this is addictive.
But before I could revel too much in my wicked little high, I felt a sharp, merciless tug on my ears.
"OW! Ow, ow, ow, ow, ow! Rias! It hurts!"
I yelped, flailing like a caught fish as she twisted harder.
Her crimson eyes narrowed dangerously as she leaned in.
"Why didn't you tell me you impaled them—and did all that horrible stuff?!"
Her voice was equal parts outrage and disbelief, like she couldn't decide whether to scold me or faint.
"I-It was just to restrain them, I swear!"
I said quickly, trying to sound innocent—even though we both knew that word didn't suit me one bit.
"Nothing serious! Just… temporary restrictions, you know?"
She released my ears at last, though the glare remained. Her voice dripped with the disappointment only a noble heiress could deliver.
"Then you could have restrained them with binding spells or something less… grotesque."
I rubbed my sore ears, sulking.
"Well… yeah, I could have…"
......................................................................................................................
Get up to 8 chapters ahead—only on Patreon!
Patreon link: patreon.com/zevionasgorath