The door closed behind Rias, and silence once again claimed the room. Gasper stood still for a few seconds, breathing deeply. The thirst that had consumed him was gone, but another sensation still burned within. His entire body throbbed with excitement, impossible to hide or ignore.
His heart raced, veins still pulsing with the freshly drawn blood. The excess heat refused to fade. He raised a hand to his face, covering his eyes for a moment in shame.
'If I stay here… like this… I'll lose my mind. I need to cool my head… literally.'
He rose from the bed in hurried steps, nearly stumbling over the sheets. His trembling body pushed him in one obvious direction. Without a second thought, he crossed the room and went into the bathroom.
Clack.
The door shut, muffling the sound of the corridor. The mirror reflected his pale face, eyes glowing faintly red. His heavy breathing betrayed the state he was in.
In the Underworld, the atmosphere was entirely different. Sirzechs Lucifer's office glowed with streams of magical energy weaving through the air. Maps, documents, and war seals filled the wide table of black crystal.
Grayfia stood tall before him, posture flawless, expression unchanging.
"Sirzechs, Gasper impressed me."
The words came cold, yet heavy with meaning. Sirzechs raised his eyes from the document, surprised.
"The dhampir? That's unexpected. I always thought he was nothing but a burden to Rias."
Grayfia's tone remained steady.
"He is still weak. But he showed natural vampiric instincts, rudimentary shadow control, and courage to use his Sacred Gear even knowing it wouldn't work against me. For someone like Gasper, that is already a remarkable advance."
Sirzechs rested his chin on his hand, thoughtful.
"So you truly see potential in him?"
Grayfia gave a minimal nod.
"Yes. Which is why I intend to intensify the training. He will have no concessions. If he survives the pressure, he will cease to be a burden and become a reliable weapon for Rias."
Sirzechs allowed a faint smile, but it soon faded. His fingers tapped lightly against the desk.
"Speaking of Rias… the Phenex family continues to pressure us to accelerate the engagement process. They don't want to wait for her to prove herself in a Rating Game. They want the contract sealed immediately."
The silence that followed was heavy. The cold lines of Grayfia's face did not shift, but the rigidity in her posture made her thoughts clear.
"This engagement will bring Lady Rias nothing good."
Her words cut the air, firm and absolute. Her silver gaze gleamed sharp as a blade.
Sirzechs sighed, lifting his hand from his chin. His expression hardened.
"I know. But I cannot interfere. If I do, the other Maou will see it as direct favoritism. And House Gremory will be accused of abusing my position to escape a political pact."
Grayfia remained motionless, her voice cold but resolute.
"Then Lady Rias must win. It is the only real way out. And if time is against us, I will forge Gasper to his limit. Even if it breaks him. Better he break in training than be crushed in the arena."
Sirzechs closed his eyes for a moment, reflecting. When he opened them, their crimson glow burned under the magical light of the office.
"You truly believe the boy could be the key?"
"Not alone," Grayfia replied without hesitation. "But he can be the catalyst to give Lady Rias confidence. Gasper is the most unstable, the most unlikely. If he rises, the others will follow."
The Maou leaned forward, placing his hands on the desk.
"Then do what you think is necessary. But do not forget… Rias cannot know we are calculating this. She must believe she's achieving it with her own hands."
"Understood," Grayfia answered with the same cutting serenity as always.
The next morning, the Gremory mansion's training grounds gleamed under the soft sunlight. Cold stone reflected a faint shine, while runes engraved in the ground pulsed with restrained energy.
Rias stood beside Gasper. Crimson hair fell freely over her shoulders, her eyes fixed on the horizon. Her expression wasn't cold, but calm and resolute.
"I'll stay until Grayfia arrives," she said softly. "Then I need to go to school. But I want you to know, Gasper… you're not alone in this training."
He swallowed hard, glancing down at the ground. The memory of last night still haunted him. Her blood had calmed his thirst, but the shame of it lingered.
'Why doesn't she train too? I know she wants me stronger for the Rating Game, but… wouldn't it be better if she also sought more power? If the risk is this engagement, shouldn't she prepare just as much as I do?'
His breathing grew heavier. His chest rose and fell until words slipped out, timid yet clear.
"Rias-senpai… why are you so intent on training me like this? It feels… more important to you than to me."
Silence lingered. Rias turned her gaze to the runes etched in the ground. The weight of a truth Gasper didn't yet know pressed on her.
"You were sealed away for too long," she said slowly. "You don't know everything. There's an engagement forced upon me… with Riser Phenex."
Gasper's eyes widened the instant he heard the name. The sound echoed in his mind as if for the first time, like a hammer breaking the silence.
"Riser… Phenex?"
His voice trembled, rehearsed perfectly. The wavering gaze and withdrawn posture completed the act. Rias would believe the revelation struck him hard.
Inside, however, his mind was calm.
'I already knew. I've always known about the engagement since I entered this body. But if I want to keep control, I must appear innocent. She needs to think I'm still adapting, that I depend on her. That's the role I have to play.'
He lifted his face, his tone steadier than he expected.
"Then you should train as well, Rias-senpai. If this engagement is something you don't want, there's only one way. You must be ready to defeat him, to free yourself with your own hands."
Rias blinked, surprised. His words struck stronger than she expected. Her gaze softened, but she didn't answer immediately. Silence carried both reflection and pain.
Before she could speak, the air shifted.
Vuuushhh…
A magic circle opened in the air, glowing with silver lines. The runes expanded, flooding the field with cold light. The energy cut through space like winter wind.
Grayfia emerged from the light. Her maid uniform immaculate, her silver gaze sharp as a blade. Her aura spread across the field, making the air heavier.
Silence fell instantly. Even the distant crows ceased their cries.
She walked toward them, her steps firm against stone. Her eyes swept over Gasper, assessing, then shifted to Rias.
"He is right."
The words cracked like a whip.
"Lady Rias, it is not enough to mold Gasper to face this fate. If you wish to free yourself from Riser Phenex, you too must prepare. Not only as King, but as a warrior."
Rias met her gaze. Tension was clear, but her heart did not waver.
Grayfia continued, voice cold and precise.
"Gasper may become useful, even decisive. But if the King is not strong enough, there will be no victory. The peerage reflects the strength of its master."
The weight of her words rang across the field like steel striking stone. Gasper lowered his eyes, realizing he had stirred something larger than he meant.
The silence stretched. A faint breeze stirred the dust, scattering it slowly.
Rias breathed deeply. Her gaze, always filled with confidence, faltered for an instant.
'I always thought it would be enough to gather new members. With the Power of Destruction at my side, I never needed training. Never needed discipline. That… should have been enough.'
Her chest tightened, not from Grayfia's words, but from the gaze fixed on her. Gasper watched in silence, expectation clear in his eyes.
Rias turned away for a moment, as if tempted to refuse. Pride burned, the will to say she didn't need this remained strong.
'I don't believe I need training. But… Gasper must believe he's not alone. He needs motivation. If it's to give him that strength, then… I accept.'
She sighed, long and heavy, before lifting her eyes again.
"You're right. I'll train too."
Grayfia did not react at once. She held her firm expression, assessing the heiress before her. Then, the faintest smile curved her lips. Not tender, but carrying silent approval.
For the maid, Rias's acceptance was not just an answer. It was the first crack in the wall of laziness that had always surrounded her.
Her gaze shifted to Gasper. The boy's eyes stayed on his master, his face lit with relief—and pride.
Within Grayfia, a cold promise took shape.
'If Rias has finally accepted, then I will not allow it to be in vain. I will ensure this training bears fruit. And for Gasper… when the time comes, I'll give him a special gift. Something that will change his place in this game.'
The smile vanished, replaced by her usual icy mask. The wind blew hard, and the training field sank into silence, as though waiting for a new chapter to begin for them both.
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