Chapter 146: Become My Pillar of the Demon God – Gremory
Akeno's call didn't go through, plunging Rias's heart almost to the depths of despair.
Fortunately, Koneko's call connected, and from her tone, it seemed Akeno was truly unharmed.
But when she tried calling again, the line wouldn't go through, nearly sending her heart back into that abyss.
What exactly was happening?
"Please… everyone must be safe!"
A voice laden with unease escaped Rias's lips.
"U-um, I'm sure they're fine. Mr. Renji wouldn't hurt people for no reason," Asia, who was being carried through the air, offered in reassurance.
She didn't think these people were bad, and Mr. Renji didn't seem like the type the Church would indiscriminately purge upon encountering a devil.
As long as no one provoked him, he likely wouldn't harm anyone.
As for why she was being carried—well, it seemed Rias had considered using her as a hostage.
But was Mr. Renji really that legendary figure?
From what Rias had told her, combined with Asia's own observations, everything pointed to that identity.
Because of this, Asia's heart was in turmoil.
He was someone beloved by the Lord—in some ways, even more so than the other Holy Son. Otherwise, why would his treatment be so much better?
That such a figure had awakened after three thousand years was unbelievable.
Unbelievable, too, that she was now so close to the Lord, for His messenger was right beside her.
"It better be that way!!!"
Rias responded coldly.
Of course, she knew this nun was innocent. Taking her hostage might be meaningless.
Suddenly, a thunderous pillar crashed down in the distance ahead—Akeno's attack.
Had the battle begun?
Then, a surge of overwhelming magical energy forced her body to halt mid-flight, overriding her conscious command.
Her instincts screamed of the threat emanating from the erupting magic ahead, triggering this reflexive evasion.
"High-class… no, a Maou-level?"
A trembling voice slipped from Rias's lips.
Among the three, Akeno was the strongest, possessing power comparable to a high-class devil. The other two were only mid-class.
Against a high-class opponent, survival alone would be a feat—let alone a Maou.
At this moment, fear gripped Rias's heart.
Not fear of the Maou-level existence itself, but terror that he might have killed Akeno and the others.
Her pupils shrank—her worst fear had come true.
Layered magic circles stretched across the distant sky, nearly blotting it out.
In an instant, countless bolts of lightning converged upon a single point, plunging Rias's heart into utter despair.
Clenching her teeth, she flew forward with desperate speed.
In less than ten seconds, she could make out the figures.
Only one stood. The other three lay collapsed, smoke rising from their bodies.
Koneko seemed unconscious, her condition unknown.
Kiba was still moving, struggling to rise.
Akeno, however, appeared the most severely injured—yet she was conscious, also forcing herself up.
Then, she did rise—but only because a hand had seized her by the throat and lifted her.
"STOP!!!"
A furious roar tore from Rias's throat as crimson magic erupted from her body.
"Stop? Miss Rias, this isn't a competition where you can just surrender."
The speaker cast a calm gaze her way—so calm it made Rias feel as though she were being stared down by a monster, sending shivers down her spine.
But she suppressed that feeling and met his gaze fearlessly.
"What will it take for you to spare Akeno and the others?"
"Spare them? After declaring war on someone, do you think you can just ask for mercy when you lose? Isn't that too naive? Do you really treat this as a game?"
His words darkened Rias's expression further, but—
"Declare war? I never intended to declare war or make an enemy of you."
Knowing his true identity, how could she possibly be foolish enough to declare war on him?
"Oh? Attacking me—isn't that a declaration of war? Are you joking?"
The moment he finished speaking, his expression truly chilled.
At that instant, the gaze he directed at her carried a tangible weight of killing intent, making her feel as though she had already been killed.
When she snapped out of it, her back was drenched in cold sweat.
What did he mean?
That her side had attacked first?
She had explicitly ordered that no substantial attacks were to be launched against him until she gave the final word.
"I never declared war on you. May I ask what happened?"
Rias's tone softened—now was not the time to be stubborn.
After learning the details from Kiba and Akeno, Rias couldn't help but smile bitterly.
In short, Akeno had overreacted, assuming that once his identity was exposed, he would try to eliminate them.
Faced with that situation, with little chance of escape and none willing to abandon the others, they couldn't just sit and wait for death.
So, they had launched a preemptive strike.
And that preemptive strike had been interpreted by him as a declaration of war.
"Believe it or not, that's what happened."
As she spoke, Rias tensed up—after all, from his perspective, this could just sound like a desperate lie to save themselves.
"Is that so? What an unfortunate misunderstanding. Asia, heal them."
His cold expression relaxed as if nothing had happened.
"Ah? Y-yes!"
The nun hurried over to treat them.
At this, Rias finally let out a sigh of relief.
"However, what should be done about the rudeness of carelessly digging into my identity?"
As he spoke, his gaze bore down on her with oppressive intensity, freezing her in place.
"What must I do to atone?"
Her voice trailed off as she bit her lip slightly, her heart pounding with tension.
She felt like a defendant in court, awaiting the judge's final verdict—uncertain of what punishment awaited her.
And then, he spoke.
"Become my Demon God Pillar—Gremory!"