"Rias, do you like your gift?" Tenra asked, eyes roaming over the girl who was now even more beautiful—and undeniably more powerful. His tone, as ever, was shameless. "Of course, a little something in return would make it perfect."
Rias didn't bother with words. She stepped forward and pressed her lips to his, her answer as fiery as her hair.
That was her gift in return.
The kiss was long and intense, neither of them willing to break away until they were both breathless and satisfied.
"From today on," Tenra whispered, gently caressing her cheek, "I am the Red Dragon Emperor, and you… are my Red Empress."
A dreamy look filled Rias's eyes. "Yes. I'm your Red Empress…"
And she kissed him again, unable to help herself.
—
Later, nestled in Tenra's arms, Rias suddenly looked up, a thought crossing her mind. "Tenra… do you want to become a god?"
A glint of amusement flickered in Tenra's eyes. "So you've figured it out, huh?"
"How could I not? Your servants and familiars have been handing out these flyers all over my territory." Rias conjured a devil flyer between her fingers, its surface laced with hidden codes from the [Codex of Divinitas et Diabolus]. Her tone was equal parts exasperated and incredulous.
She remembered the day she'd discovered Tenra's activities—she, Akeno, and Koneko had been stunned. Aspiring to godhood? Wasn't that ambition a bit much, even for Tenra?
And that so-called "Codex" he'd written to recruit believers… Rias still blushed thinking about it. The things he'd written were shameless, equal parts ridiculous and persuasive. Only Akeno, that incorrigible pervert, devoured every word with starry-eyed devotion.
It was a serious matter—one wrong move could have driven a wedge between her and Tenra. Back then, she'd been torn, not knowing how to handle it. But now that she and Tenra were inseparable, it was time to confront the truth.
Tenra wasn't surprised she'd caught on. As the town's ruler, it would have been stranger if she hadn't noticed.
He met her gaze, lips curving into a wry smile. "Rias, what I'm about to tell you might shake you to your core. Brace yourself."
Under her expectant eyes, Tenra revealed the truth: God was dead. The high-ranking angels, fallen angels, and devils had conspired to keep it secret. The current Church was merely Archangel Michael acting in God's name.
Rias's eyes widened, shock and disbelief etched across her face.
God… was dead? The truth had been hidden by all three factions? The Church's authority was just a front for Michael?
Tenra had no reason to lie about something like this. Rias wasn't just shocked—she was shaken to her soul.
"Does… does Aisha know?" she asked, suddenly anxious. Aisha was so gentle, so devout—if she learned the truth, would it break her?
Tenra smiled, stroking Rias's cheek. "Don't worry. Aisha's known for a while. And she doesn't worship the Biblical God anymore—she worships me."
Rias opened her mouth, then closed it again, lost for words. Too much information, too fast—her mind was spinning.
Aisha worshiped Tenra? No wonder she always looked so adoring when she spoke of her 'Lord.' Rias had always chalked it up to pious devotion, but now… it all made sense.
"So God is dead… and you want to take his place?" She struggled to steady herself, voice trembling.
"Why not?" Tenra's eyes gleamed. "Rias, this is who I really am—greedy, selfish, arrogant. I want to be stronger than anyone, stand higher than anyone. Now that you know the real me… do you still love me?"
He held her gaze, unflinching.
Rias's heart was a storm of emotion—shock, confusion, awe. He was so brazen, so domineering, so… honest. And yet, she didn't hate it. If anything, this side of Tenra made her fall even harder.
"I… I love you…" she whispered, the words tumbling out before she could stop them.
And then, as her mind caught up, her whole face went scarlet. What am I even saying?!
Tenra smiled, gentle and knowing. "So, Rias, will you help me? Even if we end up facing the whole world, will you stay by my side, support me, encourage me—no matter what?"
Rias glared at him, cheeks burning. "Do I even have a choice?"
"No," Tenra replied, grinning.
For a moment, the two just looked at each other—caught in the same current as when they'd first confessed, when they'd first chosen each other.
Rias still thought Tenra's ambition was insane. But she loved him. And if she couldn't refuse him… then she'd go crazy with him.
No more words were needed. Their lips met again, fierce and hungry.
—
Much later, as the heat faded, Rias asked softly, "Do you really want to inherit the Biblical God's will? To create a world of peace and light?"
Though a devil princess, her soul was pure. She'd only ever seen the world Tenra described in his Codex—the same world that had enchanted Akeno and Koneko.
Tenra snorted, lifting her chin with a teasing smile. "Inherit God's will? That's just propaganda for the sheep. Rias, you didn't actually believe it, did you?"
Rias blinked, then suddenly felt a pang of sympathy for anyone foolish enough to worship this man.
After lingering a while longer, Tenra and Rias finally left the room. The moment they appeared, Akeno, Yubelluna, and the other girls rushed over, worry etched on every face.
When Rias had fused with the Sacred Gear, a surge of power had erupted—most of it contained by Tenra's barrier, but enough had leaked out to make everyone anxious. No one had dared interrupt, afraid of ruining something important. Now, seeing the two safe, the girls finally relaxed.
Tenra reassured them, then explained how he'd shared Boosted Gear's power with Rias. The girls gasped in awe and envy. Akeno, never one to hold back, flung herself at Tenra, whining that she wanted a powerful Sacred Gear too.
Tenra just laughed and promised she'd get her turn. He'd already found a Sacred Gear for Akeno—one to rival Boosted Gear and Divine Dividing. When the time was right, he'd share it with her.
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