"Ah… what a headache."
Adrian let out a low sigh, his silver hair shimmering under the faint light as he observed Rias with a subtle, knowing gaze. Her frustration wasn't exactly unjustified.
Though she hadn't intended to target Mio Naruse, the truth was that Mio's very existence was now shaking the delicate equilibrium of power around her.
If Adrian were to publicly support Mio, even shelter her, it might not just ruffle feathers—it could offend the entire Gremory household.
"So… you want to eliminate her?"
"No!" Rias responded firmly, cutting through the tension before the question could linger. "I came here to ask something else. I want to entrust Mio Naruse to your protection—make sure she isn't kidnapped or assassinated by factions who see her as a threat. I want her to live here peacefully."
Adrian's gaze lingered on her for a beat, more complex now, more intrigued.
He hadn't expected such a response from a pure-blooded devil noble. Most in her position would have sought to destroy a growing threat, not protect it. But Rias was different. Idealistic, perhaps. Soft-hearted, definitely.
Still, her kindness was disarming. Admirable, even.
"You think I can protect her?"
"I don't know," she answered honestly, locking eyes with him. "But you're the only one I can trust."
She wasn't being dramatic. Rias had thoroughly investigated Adrian's past, and what she'd found had left her stunned.
A descendant of the hero lineage. A hybrid with demon blood.
Exiled and left to fend for himself, Adrian had survived through exorcism, demon-hunting, and occult work. He'd been doing it since he was barely twelve.
That resume was enough to make anyone cautious. Respectful.
And after meeting him in person—after feeling the pressure he gave off—she'd only become more certain. Adrian wasn't just strong. He was dangerous.
In fact, she'd even considered trying to make him her own devil servant.
But they weren't nearly close enough for that kind of offer.
Unaware of her hidden thoughts, Adrian finally broke the silence. "Alright. I'll take your commission. But we need to talk about payment."
"How much do you want? I'll provide anything!"
Rias tucked a strand of crimson hair behind her ear, her noble bearing ever present. She wasn't bluffing—her family's wealth, even in the human world, was enough to rival entire nations.
But Adrian shook his head. "I'm not interested in money. I want a set of Evil Pieces."
Rias's lips parted, stunned into silence.
Evil Pieces?
Those weren't just valuable. They were sacred.
Only High-Class Devils from the seventy-two Pillar Houses were granted a set—and even then, only one. No second chances. No replacements.
And once used, they were gone forever.
"You… want to create your own peerage?" she asked, voice a whisper.
Adrian gave a nonchalant nod.
Rias frowned, troubled. "You know how complicated that is. Only devils from the noble houses can receive Evil Pieces."
"Seventy-two Pillar Houses only," he echoed, then smiled faintly.
The next moment, his aura exploded outward—a suffocating wave of magical force that rattled the air and sent even the watching Suo Yuki into a stunned silence.
The pressure vanished as quickly as it came.
But the message was clear.
Adrian Blake wasn't just powerful—he was nearly at the threshold of an Ultimate-Class Devil.
Rias's lips parted slightly. "You're… a High-Class Devil."
Adrian shrugged. "Guess I trained into it."
Rias didn't believe it. Not entirely.
Devil power was in the blood, and Adrian was too young for that level of strength to be natural—unless…
"Adrian… are you the heir of a long-lost noble devil house?"
"Is that so?" Adrian replied dryly, eyes flicking to his system window.
[Trait: Demon Bloodline (Green)]
Ouch. The truth stung.
His bloodline was far from noble.
But if Rias wanted to believe he was some scion of a ruined Pillar House? So be it.
After a long silence, Rias inhaled deeply and nodded.
"I'll try. I'll return to the Underworld and see what strings I can pull. Maybe—just maybe—I can get you a set of Evil Pieces."
It wasn't a guarantee. But she was going to try.
Given Adrian's overwhelming potential and assumed lineage, the old houses might just see value in naming him a successor. After all, reviving a defunct Pillar House was often preferable to letting it vanish entirely.
And Adrian Blake… he was a devil worth backing.
She activated a teleportation circle beneath her heels. In a flash of red light, Rias vanished—back to Kuoh Academy's Occult Research Club.
"Oh dear~" came Yuki Suo's voice, her tone light and teasing. "Your little talk didn't go so smoothly, huh?"
"It wasn't bad," Rias replied thoughtfully. "But there were… complications."
"Complications?"
"Adrian Blake might be the heir of a ruined noble devil family."
"…what!?"
…
Back on the street, Adrian dusted off his coat, watching Rias disappear into the night.
He did care about the Evil Pieces. But not obsessively.
With his Master-Servant Contract Magic, Adrian had no shortage of subordinates.
Still, Evil Pieces were… interesting.
If he could get them, he might be able to experiment. Use them to evolve weaker servants like Anna into true devils. It'd save a lot of time and effort.
If not? He'd grind it out the hard way.
Turning, he met Yuki Suo's curious gaze.
"Enjoy the gossip?"
"Well… I didn't really understand half of it," she admitted, blinking. "Devil families? Evil Pieces? Totally over my head."
Then her eyes lit up.
"But—! You're a noble-born devil hybrid? That's insane!"
"I'm a terrifying demon, Yuki. Shouldn't you be more scared?"
Yuki tilted her head, then giggled mischievously. "A noble devil who protects the heroine from the shadows? That's so hot!"
She draped herself over his shoulder, grinning. "So—who's this Mio Naruse, huh?"
"She's… officially my sister now."
That earned an audible gasp.
"Ugh!! Your sister?! You're protecting her like that? A forbidden romance! A taboo bond! This is the best setup ever!"
Adrian resisted the urge to groan.
Yuki, clearly lost in fantasy, declared with mock jealousy: "This isn't fair! If she's your sister, then I need a chance too! Fine, from now on—I'm your little sister, got it?"
"…Yuki…"
"Say it. Say it for me, Onii-chan~~"
Adrian choked.
He would never admit it aloud—but that last line? That purring, teasing voice?
It hit harder than he'd expected.
Damn it.
He was—shamefully—aroused