Chapter 211: The End of Training and Phenex
After Rias and the others left, Akeno and the remaining four girls exchanged glances.
An oddly tense silence lingered before Yuuma finally spoke up. "Five days left—how about one day each?"
Akeno nodded slightly. "Agreed."
Mittelt and the others had no objections either. As for Haruto's own opinion? It was completely ignored.
Haruto opened his mouth to protest, but the white-haired loli squirming in his lap effectively silenced him.
Five days later, the training concluded successfully.
After packing up, Haruto and the others bid farewell to the mountain villa they'd called home for the past month.
The results were outstanding: not only had Haruto and Rias solidly advanced to mid-tier SS-rank, but Akeno and the others had all broken through to S-rank.
Even Asia, who had only recently been reborn as a devil, had progressed from a Low-class Devil to A-rank, becoming a Middle-Class Devil.
The only one who hadn't made significant progress was Yuuto. Due to her unique circumstances, neither Haruto nor Rias could offer much help.
Despite her relentless effort over the past month, she hadn't achieved a qualitative breakthrough, remaining at A-rank.
On the way back, though Yuuto tried to hide it, everyone could sense her disappointment.
Haruto and Rias exchanged a glance and nodded subtly.
They needed to address Yuuto's physical issues soon. If this continued, even Asia would soon surpass her.
No matter how strong one's mentality, watching everyone around you catch up—or even leave you in the dust—would eventually take its toll.
Beyond the issue of strength, her physical limitations were another factor.
If not for Rias's intervention, the golden-haired nun would've likely already slipped into Haruto's bed, opting for the more "efficient" training method.
But even Rias's authority wouldn't hold her back for much longer.
By then, Yuuto would truly be the odd one out in the Occult Research Club.
If Rias and the others refused Haruto's wild ideas, that would be one thing. But if they ever gave in and participated in a "group activity" to deepen their bonds, Yuuto wouldn't even qualify to join.
Outside the Occult Research Club room at Kuoh Academy, a crow suddenly took flight.
Haruto frowned, instinctively tracking the noisy bird. The same ominous premonition he'd felt before the training resurfaced.
As the crow vanished into the sky, he dismissed it. The clubroom, untouched for a month, needed a thorough cleaning.
The girls' villa also required tidying, but only Rias, the white-haired loli, and Haruto had come here today.
Rias had official duties to attend to later, while the white-haired loli was simply clingy.
...
"Lord Riser, Lady Gremory has returned."
In the Underworld, a devil who had spotted Rias through his familiar reported to Riser Phenex.
"Tch, finally showed up, huh? Made me waste a whole week for nothing."
Riser downed his glass of wine in one gulp, his face twisting in displeasure. "Tell my brother there's no need to contact Sirzechs anymore."
"Yes."
"Good. Now that she's back, I'll go greet her first."
Riser slicked back his blond hair, flashing what he believed to be a roguishly charming smile, and teleported straight to the Occult Research Club.
Meanwhile, just as Haruto and the others finished cleaning the clubroom and sat down for a snack, an oppressive heat washed over them.
A grand burst of orange flames erupted before them, accompanied by a piercing avian cry. A dazzling magic circle materialized at the heart of the inferno.
When the flames dissipated, a tall blond man in a red suit stood in the middle of the Occult Research Club.
The moment Rias recognized him, her cheerful expression turned icy.
"Phenex..."
Hearing Rias's murmur, Haruto immediately realized who this uninvited blond intruder was.
Riser Phenex, the third son of the Phenex family—one of the Four Great Satans—and Rias's nominal fiancé.
The sight of that blond hair instantly put Haruto on edge, stirring an inexplicable wave of disgust within him.
Disgust? That's odd...
Haruto tensed. While caution was warranted, why did he feel such aversion toward blonds now?
If he remembered correctly, though Riser had tried to force the marriage, he eventually redeemed himself—even offering his younger sister as a peace offering.
Moreover, Riser hadn't done anything to provoke him yet. This hostility and killing intent seemed unnaturally abrupt.
Haruto didn't dwell on it long. The only thing that could influence him like this regarding blonds was the Cuckold Protagonist Template.
It seemed that, aside from inciting blond hostility toward him, the template had found another way to manipulate him—this time by warping his perception of blonds who weren't outright villains but were still formidable.
Haruto took a deep breath, forcibly expelling the mental interference.
At his current level, now that he was aware of it, the template wouldn't get another chance to influence him.
Meanwhile, Riser—who had been posing dramatically with his back turned—finally faced them.
"It's been a while since I last visited the human world."
After this nostalgic remark, he turned to Rias with a frivolous grin. "I came to see you, my adorable Rias."
Rias crossed her arms, offering no response. Haruto and Koneko ignored him as well.
The silence grew awkward. After a moment, Riser cleared his throat and forced a conversation.
"Rias, where are your servants? There are so few of you here."
Rias sighed, massaging her temples. She shot Haruto a concerned glance, relieved to see no hostility from him, then proceeded with introductions.
"This is the third son of the Phenex family..."
After her explanation, Haruto and Koneko nodded in acknowledgment.
"Riser, why are you here?"
"So this is the heir of the Red Dragon Emperor?" Riser ignored Rias's question, his gaze fixed on Haruto. "The one who defeated Azazel is just some brat who hasn't even grown all his hair yet? Hard to believe."
News about Haruto had long since spread throughout the Underworld.
Even without the template's influence, Riser's condescending tone and cavalier attitude grated on Haruto's nerves.
"Whether my hair's grown or not, you can ask Rias."
That casual remark shattered Riser's composure. His eyes bulged as he whirled toward Rias, who was rolling her eyes at Haruto.
"Rias... you've already... done it with this guy?"
Rias coughed lightly and nodded almost imperceptibly.
Riser staggered as if struck by lightning, muttering in disbelief, "We have a marriage pact... How could you..."
"Riser," Rias said coldly, "I've told you before—I won't marry you."
Riser wasn't one to lose his cool easily. Suppressing his fury and heartache, he forced back his usual carefree demeanor.
"Rias, your family's dire situation doesn't allow for such whims..."
"I have no intention of ruining my family," Rias cut in. "I'd even accept a son-in-law, but I'll only marry someone I approve of."
"Preventing the decline of pure-blooded devils after the Great War is an issue for all devils. Your father and Sirzechs arranged this marriage with the future in mind."
Riser continued to pressure Rias with appeals to duty. Even though someone else had already claimed her, whether out of personal desire or familial obligation, he refused to abandon the engagement.
The only downside was that even if he succeeded, he'd likely face endless ridicule over this humiliation.
So far, Riser didn't believe he could fail.
Though he vaguely sensed Haruto's unusual strength, his undefeated record in Rating Games gave him absolute confidence.
"Father, my brother, and the rest of the family are being too hasty."
Rias exhaled deeply, her voice firm. "I won't repeat myself, Riser. I will not marry you."