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The screen refocused and he saw himself, figure slouched, hands in his pockets as flames licked all around him. It was a suitably dramatic picture. Especially with the menacing hulk of fire and shadow in the background.
"It does have a certain flair to it, doesn't it?" Akeno had moved from her place by Rias's side to peer over his shoulder, "Maybe if you get famous enough, they'll start asking you for interviews."
He ignored her teasing and turned to look at the people around him. Rias's Queen took that time to remove the tablet from his possession.
"Should they not be afraid of me?" he asked "I summoned an Archdemon."
"Many are," Sona answered, "But if there is one thing that will make a devil throw all caution to the wind, it is power. And summoning an Archdemon requires a great deal of power."
He had a sinking feeling in his gut that he knew what the girl meant.
That feeling was confirmed when the student council president tilted her head in the direction of the pile.
"There will be more of those in the future."
"A lot more," Akeno grinned and showed him where the number of viewers for that particular video was displayed. A number far too high for his liking.
He frowned.
"How do I get them to stop?"
"You can't," his frown grew at Sona's response, "It is within a devil's nature to seek out power. Lesser devils constantly look for a high-level devil to attach themselves to and high-level devils constantly search for followers who have the power to help them in Rating Games. It is how the peerage system works. You cannot stop both types of devils from asking to join your peerage or for you to join theirs," she paused, "But you can ignore them."
That was a good thing. Her lips curled slightly upwards at his expression.
"You cannot, however, ignore the Rating Game requests."
There was always a drawback to a good thing, he supposed.
"Will they force me to compete?"
"No one will force you," Sona replied, "but if you continue to refuse Rating Game requests your status as a high-level devil will suffer. Other devils will think you are too weak to participate, or worse, too cowardly, and your reputation will be tarnished."
That was not too bad as drawbacks tended to go.
"I am not worried about my reputation," he stated.
"You might not, but other devils will, and therein lays the issue," the girl pressed her glasses further up the bridge of her nose, "If your status is sufficiently tainted, other high-ranking devils might deem you unfit to be their equals. That means some of them might go after what is yours, your power to summon Personas included."
He blinked at the implication.
"There are devils who would be willing to do that?"
Sona nodded grimly and by her side he could sense the deep disapproval that was emanating from Rias.
"There are always fringe elements of society who would do anything for power, whether that society be human or devil."
That was something he could agree with.
"I am sorry, Arisato-san," Rias spoke when Sona finished, "If only my peerage and I were stronger, we would not have needed your help, and you would not have been dragged into all of this."
"It was my choice to help you," he turned to look at her and was not surprised to see her blush in response, "You should not feel sorry for a choice that was mine."
"That's Arisato-san for you," Issei beamed, "Always willing to help others in need."
For some reason, praise from the boy no longer bothered him as it used to. He shrugged the feeling off and turned to Sona once again.
"What do you suggest I do?"
The student president smiled faintly.
"I see two options before you. One is to participate in the Rating Games. Win enough of them, and your challengers will dwindle. Win them in a manner that was as brutal as your last, and your challengers will decrease all the same."
He raised an eyebrow.
"You are suggesting I flaunt my ability."
She nodded.
"Devils respect power, and being shown power before their eyes will leave a lasting impression other methods will not."
"I think you're just jealous that you did not get to see the Archdemon up close," Akeno smiled as she peered over the tablet. Tsubaki frowned at that, but her superior did not seem at all affected.
"Yes," Sona replied without a hint of shame, "I was busy with personal matters and could not attend the match in person. It has become one of my greatest regrets."
He pondered what she had said. On one hand, showing off was not within his character. On the other, the dangers Sona had described were less than desirable. He would have to hear the rest before making an informed decision.
"What is the other option?"
"Join a peerage," she replied briskly, "That way you do not have to worry about Rating Game requests, only the ones your master chooses to partake," the girl paused, staring at him meaningfully, "There is still room in mine."
His lips twitched. Of course.
"No."
"Ara, ara, to be shot down so quickly," Akeno's gaze flickered to Rias who looked visibly relieved and smiled, "You will have to forgive Arisato-kun. He tends to shoot down a lot of people and leave them wanting for more."
"It was worth a try," Sona shrugged and then inclined her head towards him, "Not recruiting you as hard as I should have is another of my greatest regrets."
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