The next day.
Issei Hyoudou woke up, ready to go to Kuoh Academy. This time, he was carrying a box of chocolates for Rias, he stood up and shouted, "I'm ready!" with energy and bravery, he got dressed, had breakfast, and quickly ran through the streets, determined to find the best chocolate shop.
He was excited, imagining Rias's reaction—blushing and very cute. "I'm a good guy..." he murmured to himself while blushing, and just as he planned, he went through several streets and finally reached the Occult Research Club.
He went up the stairs to the main room, opened the door with confidence and determination, but a slightly different scene was waiting for him.
The room where the girls used to gather had changed, not because of furniture being moved, but because someone else was inside, no, not just someone.
Issei, holding a box of premium chocolates, stepped forward and looked at the new dmons inside, his eyes met those of a blond-haired man with an arrogant face.
"Huh? I can sense the demonic aura of this boy, but it seems far too weak, Is this your new acquisition?, my love" Riser hugged the voluptuous red-haired girl sitting on his lap with more strength.
Rias, however, did not resist, she allowed Riser to hold her tightly by the waist, her eyes were half-closed as she felt something slightly hard yet soft pressing against her rear.
Issei's reaction, however, was different, he didn't get angry, he didn't demand answers, he simply looked at Rias with an apparently emotionless face, he watched her for a long time before letting the box of chocolates in his right hand fall, he felt his heart crack as his eyes sparkled a little too much.
His expression changed from excitement to confusion, and finally he put on a serious face, he quickly shook his head, pushing down the feelings in his heart before asking,
"Excuse me, Who is he?" Issei took a step forward, almost unconsciously—or perhaps consciously—stepping on the chocolate box.
Rias noticed this. She said nothing. She just kept a blank expression as she answered, "He's my fiancé, Riser Phenex, Issei, Could you help Akeno prepare some tea for Riser?" she said, not showing much interest in explanations or what Issei had brought.
The poor boy nodded and quickly walked to the kitchen without even looking at Riser again.
However, the poor boy couldn't stop wondering about many things.
What had gone wrong? Why?
Why didn't Rias Gremory show any expression of discomfort toward Riser?
Why didn't his mother's advice for pick up girls work?
As he thought about this, Issei began to move almost mechanically. Riser observed this with amusement, hugging Rias even tighter and placing his other hand on her soft, firm, yet smooth thigh, gently rubbing it.
Rias Gremory, however, couldn't find the strength to resist, it wasn't that she liked Riser, she simply had too many things on her mind.
"Riser, we're not married yet, you should move your hands away from me," she murmured, however, Riser ignored her.
"Sona has called someone to help us reach an agreement through a Rating Game or a duel," Rias proposed.
...
There was a short silence in the room before Phenex began to laugh loudly.
"Hahaha..." Riser leaned back against the sofa, "Seriously? Hahaha, you, in a Rating Game against me?, I won't even mention a duel," The Phenex found it hilarious, he couldn't help but mock her.
However, before Riser could make another comment, the door to the room opened again, a black-haired, black-eyed boy calmly entered through the doorway, followed by Sona Sitri.
"Huh?" The sudden appearance of Itachi drew everyone's attention, Riser, Rias, Koneko, and the girls in Riser's peerage all turned their heads toward him.
Everyone in the room realized it immediately, Itachi's aura was simply that of a human—not a demon, not an angel, not even a fallen angel, just a human.
Riser squinted his eyes, looked at Rias, then at Sona walking behind Itachi. In his mind, he was genuinely surprised, he narrowed his eyes and stared at the black-haired boy.
"Who are you?" he asked.
However, Itachi did not respond, he had come at Sona Sitri's request and was simply here to do the dirty work.
Even so, Itachi hesitated, his eyes narrowed, his gaze became dangerous as he looked at everyone in the room.
"Should I kill them all and then escape?" he asked himself. After all, the people here, as far as he could tell, were all demons that didn't surpass his power.
"Exposing myself to the high-ranking demon lords like this, huh..." Itachi considered, Sona had asked him to participate in a duel or Rating Game to help Rias Gremory get out of her wedding-engagement.
Itachi understood what this meant—making his existence known in the Underworld, however, he also knew something else.
"Rias and Sona have probably already informed the Demon Lords about my existence, so there's no need..." he quickly came to a conclusion.
He had confirmed that Rias and Sona didn't seem to have any intention of capturing or killing him, instead, they appeared very willing to cooperate, even so, Itachi remained cautious.
"I'm Itachi, Itachi Uchiha. I challenge you to a duel!!, Riser Phenex, if I win, Rias will no longer be your fiancée..." Itachi said, watching Riser, the Phenex demon, to the surprise of his peerage, maintained a serious expression and attitude.
Yubelluna was the first to react, her slightly dilated eyes focused on her master. A strange feeling passed through her veins as she squinted, "What's going on with you today, Riser?" she wondered silently, it wasn't normal for her master to wear a serious expression.
However, Riser simply pushed Rias off his lap, looked at Itachi with the same serious gaze, and leaned forward.
"Itachi Uchiha, Huh?" he repeated, "You know, it's strange, ever since you walked in, I've felt something different in the air, is it some kind of Sacred Gear?" Riser asked.
The Phenex demon focused his gaze on Itachi, his eyes didn't blink, he was paying close attention to Itachi's body, trying to find some way he might be affected by magic. However, everything in his body seemed normal.
"Actually..." Itachi smiled, he knew what Riser meant, when a ninja reached a certain experience, a single look from him could awaken many feelings in the enemy and trigger their most primal fears.
"No, I don't have any Sacred Gear, but that's not important, Do you accept the duel?" Itachi asked. He took several steps forward, placed his hands in his pockets, and didn't take his eyes off Riser.
"A duel, Huh?" Riser repeated again, he stood up from the chair and looked at Itachi, "Sacred Gear wielder... It's incredible that Rias still hasn't recruited you to become a demon," he said, clearly not believing Itachi's words.
"Still, having a Sacred Gear doesn't make you invincible, it seems you haven't seen the world beyond your nose..." Riser took two steps forward. The temperature in the room began to rise.
Yubelluna and the other girls in Riser's peerage went on alert, they didn't say a word, they didn't feel like joking with someone that Riser was taking seriously.
"Ignorance?" Itachi smiled, took two steps forward, and finally sighed.
"Probably. But... Is that something that would stop me from killing you?" The ninja said.
The next moment, Itachi moved at great speed.