"Although I know that my request is quite willful, I still don't believe there's anything improper about it. Establishing a school where all
"Although I know that my request is quite willful, I still don't believe there's anything improper about it. Establishing a school where all devils can learn fairly remains my unwavering wish, and I will not compromise on this point."
The atmosphere in the hall, which had been somewhat relaxed, once again became awkward with Souna's statement. A sense of indescribable stiffness permeated the air, making it difficult to breathe.
Just as the high-ranking devils in the hall exchanged glances, unsure of what to say, Sirzechs's voice slowly rang out, breaking the suffocating silence that hung heavy in the air.
"Let's decide with a Rating Game then. Ms. Souna has also reached the age to participate in Rating Games, hasn't she? It just so happens that my Rias is the same. This could prove to be a rather opportune moment, wouldn't you agree?"
As Sirzechs spoke, the high-ranking devils present nodded in agreement, seemingly finding this to be a reasonable solution. Serafall, brimming with excitement, eagerly chimed in, wanting to finalize the arrangement immediately.
"Yes, yes, that's right! You all don't believe in Souna-chan, so let's do it this way! If my Souna-chan wins the match, then no one will have any complaints, right?! After all, achieving good results in the match will lead to many more things becoming possible! This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, you know!"
Serafall, the Devil King who lacked all semblance of dignity, protested to the high-ranking members with tears welling up in his eyes. His pitiful appearance caused unease to spread across the faces of the high-ranking members, who wished to agree immediately.
"Hehe, in that case, let's proceed with a match. A competition between young people will also serve to liven up the atmosphere, wouldn't you say?" Sirzechs said with a light chuckle. His understated tone caused surprise to ripple across the faces of everyone present, who hadn't expected Sirzechs to agree so readily.
"Rias, Souna, how about you two compete? A match between the two of you would surely be a spectacular and unforgettable sight, wouldn't it?"
As the words fell, the two heavenly daughters of the Underworld looked at each other, their clear eyes reflecting a blinking surprise. It seemed that neither of them had anticipated events to unfold in such a manner.
"Originally, I was planning to hold Rias's match in the near future anyway, so it seems we can move it forward now. Let Azazel gather Rating Game enthusiasts from various factions and have them watch under the guise of a match for young devils before their debut. This is perfect, as it will also attract more attention and popularity. How about Rias and Souna compete? Think of it as a friendly match, if you will."
"But…"
Rias couldn't help but inwardly curse her brother as an idiot. Wouldn't this expose Arthas all over again? It would undoubtedly cause a great uproar and spark widespread speculation.
What should she do with Arthas when the battle starts? Which side should he stand on? It was a seemingly unsolvable dilemma.
Knowing what his sister was thinking, Sirzechs's face also showed a hint of helplessness. It couldn't be helped. Souna would eventually have her own Rating Game; it was inevitable. Arthas, unable to participate, would still be exposed at that time. It was better to prepare now than be caught off guard later.
At this stage, Arthas could only be Rias's familiar. The secret regarding Rias's and Souna's other familiars also needed to be revealed to them at this time. They simply needed to keep it a secret. The fewer people who knew about this, the better.
"Don't worry. To ensure fairness, I won't be participating in the match. I believe your brother is probably thinking the same thing, right? After all, I am a knight sworn to protect both of you."
Arthas squeezed Rias's hand and then squeezed Souna's hand, standing between the two girls as he spoke. His gentle tone seemed to soothe their uneasy hearts.
"Then it's settled. The match time for Rias and Souna is August 20th in the human world. Until then, you may spend your time as you please. The detailed specifics will be announced soon, so please look forward to it."
With that, the match was decided. With just over half a month remaining, preparations from all sides were essential. Time was of the essence, allowing no room for complacency.
The relatively serious meeting finally came to an end, and what followed was the real banquet. The young devils mingled and conversed with each other, and the subject of their conversations was almost entirely Arthas. The attention of almost everyone present was fixated on him.
As the object of all the attention, Arthas seemed oblivious. He sat alone in a corner of the banquet, silently sipping red wine, appearing indifferent to everything around him.
The princess of the Agares family had initially considered inviting him to dance, but upon seeing Rias and Souna seated on either side of him, she wisely dismissed the notion, not wanting to invite trouble upon herself.
At the same time, Azazel, that guy, had somehow snuck into the hall. At this very moment, he was grabbing Kiba, Akeno, and Koneko to lecture them, his stern expression suggesting that something significant had occurred.
"I heard everything from that guy Sirzechs. It's turned into a match against the Sitri family, huh? This is going to be quite the spectacle. According to the human world's time, it's July 28th now. There are approximately twenty days left until the day of the match. Time is of the essence, you know."
Azazel roughly calculated the time, his brow furrowing deeply, seemingly troubled by the training plan that lay ahead.
"Are we going to train?" Kiba Yuuto asked, his resolute tone suggesting that he was prepared to face any challenge that came his way.
"Of course. I'm your teacher, after all. I'll lose face if you lose, and I'll never hear the end of it from Sirzechs, that sly devil. Starting from tomorrow, I've already devised a training program for each of you. I guarantee it will transform you completely, inside and out."
As Azazel spoke, his entire face darkened, revealing a chilling smile that sent shivers down their spines. The smile seemed to conceal a terrifying plan, hinting at the trials that lay ahead.
"Are you prepared… to face death! My training isn't a game, you know. Don't come crying to me later, now."
"It's not going to be that extreme, is it?" A wry smile appeared on Irina's face, reflecting her apprehension regarding Azazel's training regimen.
"Then it's been decided, nice and easy. Tomorrow morning, gather in the courtyard. I'll tell you each of your training methods then. Be prepared and brace yourselves, as this is directly related to your future destinies, you hear?" Azazel said, his serious tone leaving no room for doubt that he was not joking.
"Yes!"
Although they were somewhat reluctant, the familiars responded with spirit, suggesting that they were ready to face whatever challenges lay ahead.
"And you, Rias, you can't escape either. You have to train too! Don't you dare drag everyone else down, you hear?"
"Eh, do I have to as well?"
Seeing Azazel suddenly turn his attention to her, Rias couldn't help but smile wryly. She had thought she could somehow evade this ordeal.
The banquet came to a peaceful end, and the next day, the courtyard of the Gremory main residence was filled with all of Rias's familiars, with the exception of Arthas.
Of course, Azazel, their instructor, also arrived promptly and was already there, seemingly anticipating the training program that lay ahead with a sense of excitement.
"Alright, everyone's here, so I'll begin explaining the plan."
As he said this, he opened a notebook that looked like a diary in his hand. His serious demeanor suggested that he was about to commence some kind of important ritual.
First, I want to make something clear. The training program I'm about to unveil is designed with the future in mind, so prepare yourselves mentally.
There will definitely be individuals who see immediate results, but there will also be those who won't see any progress without prolonged training. You're all still growing young people, and your futures hold limitless possibilities.
As long as you don't stray from the right path, you should experience significant growth. I have high expectations for all of you. Alright, let's start with Rias.
You're a devil with talent, physical abilities, and magical power that are far above average. You're practically a born genius. Even if you were to simply live an ordinary life, you would still become stronger.
I'm certain that you would be a candidate for the highest-ranking devil by the time you come of age. However, you desire to become even stronger, to reach even greater heights, to become even more perfect. That's your wish, isn't it?
Upon hearing Azazel's question, Rias nodded vigorously, her resolute gaze conveying her unwavering determination.
"That's right. I absolutely cannot lose this match. I must prove myself and show everyone what I'm capable of." Rias said firmly, her tone filled with unyielding confidence.
"In that case, just follow the instructions written on this paper, and I have no doubt that you'll succeed. Don't slack off, not even for a single day, until the day before the decisive battle. Understood?"
Rias tilted her head, scrutinizing the paper that Azazel had handed her. Her puzzled expression suggested that she found the contents of the paper to be somewhat perplexing.
"This, I don't think it's a particularly demanding training regimen. It seems rather simple, doesn't it?"
Of course. That's because it's a very basic training program. For someone like you, that's all you need. You're already quite strong overall, so simply focusing on fundamental exercises will be sufficient to enhance your power.
There's no need for you to engage in high-intensity training. The problem primarily lies in the qualifications of the 'King', which is what you currently lack. For the 'King', the mind is far more important than raw power.
A 'King' needs the ability to overcome any situation, a sharp wit, and sound judgment. Your job is to maximize the potential of your familiar servants and lead them to victory. That's your most crucial task. However, you must also remember this: in an actual match, everything is unpredictable. The battlefield is the same, filled with countless variables.
It had to be said that Azazel's experience was a valuable asset. Hearing his advice, Rias nodded seriously, her earnest demeanor suggesting that she had memorized Azazel's words and would take them to heart.
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