__________________________________________________________________________________________________________
"Edgar, get out of here! He's not someone you can fight!"
Rias's voice trembled with panic as she watched Edgar step forward.
"Relax. I've got this."
He reached out and ruffled her hair like he used to when they were kids, smiling lightly."All you need to do is watch."
The gesture pulled her straight back to her childhood in the Underworld, to those moments when Edgar would shield her from the monsters that lurked in the dark.
Her eyes went hazy with memory.
"Tch. You sure know how to talk big."
Kokabiel sneered, the corners of his mouth curling in contempt."Since you made it in here, you've got some skill, I'll give you that. But someone like you? A nobody? Don't think you can be my opponent."
The moment his words dropped, Kokabiel raised a hand. Blinding radiance flared in his palm.
In the next instant, a massive spear of light—ten meters long at least—descended, aiming to obliterate everyone present.
"Then we'll fight to the end!"
Rias and her friends braced themselves, magic surging wildly around them. They were ready to put their lives on the line.
But someone moved faster.
Edgar simply lifted his hand, calm and unhurried, and gave the air a casual wave.
A low hum split the silence.
A torrent of magic surged skyward, a beam so immense it seemed to pierce the heavens themselves. Its dazzling light turned the battlefield into something brighter than daylight.
The so-called invincible spear of light shattered like brittle glass, crushed effortlessly under the force of Edgar's magic.
And that beam didn't stop—it roared forward, straight toward Kokabiel.
Rias, Souna, and Akeno froze where they stood, their minds blank.
This was Edgar?Wasn't he supposed to be just a High-class Devil?
"...A Maou?!"
Kokabiel's pupils contracted as terror seized him. That overwhelming surge of power bore down like death itself.
What kind of joke was this?Since when had a new Demon King appeared in the Underworld—and why here of all places?
Panic clawed at him, but instinct took over. Kokabiel spread his arms wide, his divine light erupting into existence.
The air shook violently as colossal spears of light materialized, each one dozens of meters long, blotting out the sky. Their destructive force was enough to level the entire Kuoh Academy.
BOOM. BOOM. BOOM!
The spears collided with the magic beam, detonating in a chain of explosions.
Waves of raw force rippled through the night sky, visible even to the naked eye. The barrier surrounding Kuoh Academy groaned, cracked apart, then shattered completely.
Darkness vanished.Sunlight poured through.
Another deafening blast followed. The final spear of light disintegrated into a shower of fading sparks.
"Guh—!"
Kokabiel coughed up a mouthful of blood, spraying scarlet into the air. Without sparing a thought for his injuries, he spun on his heel and bolted.
But Edgar's magic beam never let up.
In the blink of an eye, it swallowed Kokabiel whole.
A violent shockwave ripped through the area, whipping Rias and the others' hair into a frenzy.
"AAAAHHH—!"
Kokabiel's screams echoed, drawn out and desperate, until they were abruptly cut off.
The blast faded.A cool breeze swept across the ruins.
Kokabiel's body, mangled beyond recognition, plummeted like a falling star, crashing into the earth with bone-shaking force.
Blood pooled beneath his body, and all signs of life had already vanished.
For a moment—
Everyone was frozen in shock.
Akeno Himejima, Souna Shitori, and their servants stood stiff, expressions carved into their faces.
A mighty ten-winged Fallen Angel.
And more than that—
Someone who had once fought in the great war of the ancient era.
Just like that… he was dead.
Kokabiel was dead.
And the one who killed him was Edgar.
When… when had he become a Maou?
"Edgar, you…"
Rias stood at his side, staring blankly at the scene, caught between disbelief and a dreamlike haze.
Even now, she still hadn't fully processed it.
"You… are you really Edgar?"
It took her a long moment before she finally turned her gaze toward him, locking eyes with his.
She knew Edgar was a genius—otherwise, he would never have kept pace with her in training.
But this?
When had he managed to leap past the highest-class demons and step directly into the realm of the Demon Lords?
It was absurd.
"Then why don't we go to my place and check? My cat can do backflips."
Edgar said it with a straight face.
Rias instinctively shot back, "Since when do you have a cat?"
"I really do."
He nodded earnestly.
After all, once Leona transformed, she could definitely pull off the role.
"…Heh. Hehehe."
Rias's lips twitched.
Alright, fine. A guy whose brain is full of nonsense like this—how could he be anyone else?
"Anyway, I haven't even finished my meal yet."
Edgar waved a hand casually. "But hey, if you ever want to find me, you're welcome anytime."
The words had barely left his mouth before his figure disappeared into a burst of light.
…
Rias and Akeno sat across from each other.
Akeno poured red tea for the two of them before stepping out to handle matters.
The incident had shaken the entire Occult Research Club—there were going to be a lot of memories that needed erasing.
Souna pushed her glasses up, her expression complicated. "That person… is that really the Edgar I know?"
"As real as it gets."
Rias leaned back into the sofa, looking dazed. "Even I can hardly believe it."
"Edgar… he's become that strong."
"But that's good news, isn't it?"
Souna sipped her tea with a small smile. "After all, he's your childhood friend. Compared to that trash fiancé, he's far more suited to be your partner."
She knew very well how much Rias loathed her arranged marriage. She'd never even met the man, yet her disgust was absolute.
Rias's cheeks flushed crimson. "Souna, what are you even saying?"
"And besides, it's not that simple."
She let out a sigh.
Seeing her like that, Souna couldn't help frowning as well. "True enough. Those old geezers are impossible to deal with. Even a Maou can't easily force their hands."
"Exactly. I don't want Edgar to be in danger because of this."
Hearing that, Souna's smile turned sly.
"My, my… sounds like you really are head over heels for him."
"I was planning, you know—if you truly weren't interested—I might have made a move myself."
Rias's eyes sharpened instantly, her whole posture shifting as if ready to strike.
"Don't you dare."
Souna rolled her eyes. "Relax. I'd never steal a friend's man."
"Well, I'd better get going. If you need help with anything, just call me."
Leaving those words behind, Souna cast a teleportation spell and vanished in a ripple of magic.
Buzz!
A new magic circle lit up in the air.
"You guys? What are you doing here?"
Rias blinked in surprise.
"Our master said you might need some extra help," Shiho Miyano replied with a faint smile. "So, whatever you need—just say the word."
"Hmph. Guess that guy does have a bit of conscience after all."
Rias muttered under her breath, but her expression softened.So Edgar still cares about me, huh…
But almost immediately, her eyes widened in shock as she took a closer look at them.
"Wait… your strength…?"
Was she imagining things? No way, right?
It hadn't even been that long since she'd last seen them, but Akemi Miyano and Vermouth had grown absurdly strong.
And Shiho… Shiho especially.
She was already nearing high-class devil level.
Shiho gave a small laugh. "We just had another breakthrough, that's all."
Rias: "..."
A fluke? Yeah, right.
One person pulling that off would already be insane. But all of them? At the same time?
She opened her mouth, ready to press for answers—but stopped herself.
This wasn't normal.It was basically cheating.Definitely some kind of huge secret.
And asking about it… yeah, that would just be rude.
Still.
She desperately needed to get stronger herself.
That was her only chance. Her only shot at winning the Rating Game against the immortal Phoenix—and breaking off that cursed engagement.
But as things stood, she was only a high-class devil, with just two servants at her side.
Her odds were almost nonexistent.
Shiho, meanwhile, frowned slightly as she studied Rias.
She really does want power that badly, huh?
After all this time with her, Shiho could tell. And considering her master's connection with Rias, it wasn't like it would be a betrayal to share the truth.
…Although… would that basically mean handing myself a love rival?
Her eyes flickered with a complicated light. Childhood friends… seriously, the most dangerous enemy a girl could face.
"Sorry, I lost my composure for a second," Rias said quietly.
Shiho let out a long sigh.Forget it. It's not like it matters. The master's just a lustful devil anyway. Whether Rias ends up his or not, it's only a matter of time.
She leaned closer, whispering into Rias's ear.
"Rias… this stays between us, okay? Not a word to anyone."
"Actually…"
By the time Shiho and the others left, Rias was still sitting there in a daze.
She never expected the reason behind their sudden power-up to be something like that.
Her entire worldview had just been turned upside down.
No wonder—they were all Edgar's servants. And if they'd all grown stronger at the same time… then didn't that mean…?
Her cheeks burned.
She knew Edgar wasn't exactly the honest type, but she didn't think he was that outrageous.
Still… she couldn't really call it a bad thing.If it was Edgar, she could accept it.
But to take the initiative herself… that was just too embarrassing.
Biting her lip, she pulled out her phone, opened up a shopping app, and scrolled.
Her finger hovered over something scandalously revealing. She added it to her cart and paid for express shipping.
"Hmph."
Nightfall.
All the chores had been dumped on his servants, leaving Edgar with absolutely nothing to do.
Inside the villa, in the living room, he lounged around, bored out of his mind, until he finally flicked on the TV. Might as well binge some anime. The shows in this world were completely different from the ones in his past life, which only made them more entertaining.
At his side, the trio of Fallen Angels hovered dutifully, balancing trays of fruit and drinks like loyal maids.
Across the room, however, the church girls puffed out their cheeks, glaring daggers at Linali and her crew. Their holy roots made it impossible not to feel natural hostility toward Fallen Angels.
Linali leaned over and handed Edgar a drink, immediately catching the sharp stares aimed at her. The corner of her lips curled into a sly smile—then she suddenly stumbled, pitching forward.
Her full chest nearly smacked right into Edgar's face.
"Mmph…"
Blinking innocently, Edgar popped a grape into his mouth as if nothing had happened. "What's this? Worn yourself out already?"
Linali's gaze turned sultry, her voice dripping honey. "A little. If Master could share some of his magic power, though… I'd feel much better."
Stare—Stare—Stare.
The three church girls glared at once.
This woman.She was utterly shameless.
Maybe it was time they took the initiative too?
They exchanged glances—then all three flushed bright red. Sure, what had to happen had already happened… but because of their personalities, they still couldn't bring themselves to be so forward.
Smack!
Without a shred of hesitation, Edgar slapped Linali across the cheek, leaving a bright red handprint.
"Eat too much, and you'll just end up bursting," he said flatly.
It wasn't that he was unwilling. But even with potions to restore stamina, with the kind of power he had now—beyond even a Demon Lord—he might literally break a toy if he played with it too recklessly.
"Ahhn!"
Linali yelped at the sting, yet instead of retreating, she sank to the floor at his feet, lifting herself in a submissive bow.
"Thank you for Master's reward."
Edgar: "..."
This woman. Was her evolution speed really this ridiculous?
He was about to say something else when Asia suddenly leaned in close.
"Master…"
She burrowed into Edger's arms, looking pitiful and needy.
Now wasn't the time to act shy.
Her master was about to get tricked away by a fallen angel.
"What is it, Asia?"
Edger reached out, one hand sliding around her slender waist, the other ruffling her hair in a playful pat.
"Heheh!"
The moment she felt Edger's touch, Asia let out a silly little laugh, completely melting under the affection.
Rias watched her quietly, lips pressed together.
So that's how it is. Miscalculated.
Could it be… her master prefers this type instead?
Just as Rias was preparing to try another tactic, the sound of the villa's doorbell broke through the tension.
"Her?"
Edger's eyes flashed. "Genova, get the door."
"Yes, Master."
When Genova opened it, she found a girl in a pale yellow trench coat standing outside. Crimson hair spilled down her back in silky waves.
Genova sized her up. "You must be Miss Rias?"
She'd already looked into Rias's background before coming here.
"That's me."
At the sight of Genova, Rias's eyes flickered.
Another unfamiliar woman.
Another of Edger's servants, perhaps?
"I'm here for Edger. Is she in?"
"The Master is inside. Please, come in." Genova stepped aside at once.
As Rias entered the grand hall, a strange nervousness tightened her chest.
Her fingers fidgeted with her coat buttons. She pressed her thighs together, feeling a faint chill run through her legs.
And then—she stopped dead in her tracks.
Three fallen angels… and several more people she didn't recognize at all.
What the hell?
Had Edger already taken all of them in as retainers?
Her small hands curled into fists.
This guy… isn't he afraid of overstuffing himself?
"…Haaah."
No, I have to hold it in.
I'm not the type of woman who gets jealous.
Edger looked at her with a soft smile. "So, what's the matter? Something important?"
"Yeah. I was hoping we could talk… just the two of us."
"..."
________________________________________________________________________________________________________