Once the school festival ended, it was finally time for the younger generation of devils to decide the victor in the Rating Game.
Rias's opponent was someone Yoru knew well—none other than the Bael heir, Sairaorg, a battle maniac much like Vali.
Honestly, this was exactly the type of person Yoru hated dealing with most. Guys like him were stubborn to the core—no matter how many times you beat them, they would never concede, always clinging to the belief that one day they would surpass you, constantly seeking another fight.
If he were an enemy, it would be easy—just eliminate him. Unfortunately, he wasn't. In fact, one could say they were practically family. That made it even more troublesome.
Still, troublesome or not, there was no avoiding it. Shortly after the festival, the group boarded the Gremory family's special train once again to head to the battlefield.
"Wow! Amazing! It's really an island floating in the sky!"
Several girls were pressed against the cable car windows, staring excitedly at the sight above. The massive airborne island was surrounded by ancient green forests, with waterfall-like streams cascading down its edges like silver ribbons. The entire floating mass looked as if it were being held aloft by countless columns of water—something out of a fantasy film.
Today was practically a festival for the Underworld—the duel between the strongest of the younger generation: the Gremory heiress and the Bael family's strongest youth.
Their destination was the capital of Grand Duke Agares—the floating city of Agreas. This magical island, built in the era of the Old Maou, had been heavily damaged during the war between the Old Maou faction and the new government. It was only restored thanks to the current Maou Beelzebub, the inventor of Evil Pieces and the Rating Game.
Now, Agreas dominated the local economy and was even a major tourist attraction.
As for entering the city, it was heavily restricted. One way was via teleportation magic circles, but that privilege was generally reserved for VIPs during special events. A second way was to take an airship, but without a pass, any unknown vessel would be blasted out of the sky by a storm of magic projectiles.
The third—and the one Yoru's group was currently using—was the scenic cable car, a popular choice for tourists who wanted to enjoy the breathtaking view. At the moment, the entire Occult Research Club was aboard a luxurious magical gondola. The girls were craning their necks to see everything, while Azazel was discussing the match.
"Apparently, there was some dispute over where this year's match would be held," Azazel said, arms folded and legs crossed.
"You mean it wasn't originally supposed to be on the floating island?"
"Well, the Maou faction's upper echelon wanted it held in Gremory or another Maou territory. But the Bael faction, which values bloodline above all, demanded it be in their own lands. Neither side would back down…" Azazel shrugged.
"Since the current Maou aren't hereditary, the old-blood upper-class devils still see a House like Bael—one of the original 72 Pillars—as more prestigious. Even the Maou can't be too forceful in such matters."
"So they compromised and chose Agreas, the Agares territory?" Koneko asked quietly.
"Exactly. The Grand Duke of Agares holds a position between the Maou and the Great Kings—middle management, you could say. Every generation, it's a tough job."
"So… our match is basically a proxy war between Maou Lucifer and the Bael patriarch?"
"That's what a lot of people are saying. Officially, it's 'the rapidly rising Gremory heiress versus the strongest young Bael warrior,' just to hype up the public. But behind the scenes, politicians see it as a symbolic clash between the two powers."
Azazel spoke with a bored tone. Politics wasn't his thing—he'd rather tinker with Sacred Gears than get tangled in such games, which was one of the reasons he'd left the Fallen Angel headquarters in the first place.
"None of that matters to us. We just need to win," Rias said confidently. With Yoru's overwhelming power and the recently captured Fenrir, they were practically invincible.
"Confidence is good, but don't get careless. A lot of forces are paying attention to this fight—even other mythologies. Representatives from Greece, Mount Meru, Asgard, India… basically all the big ones are here. Some legendary figures, too."
"Then let's finish it quickly. I hate being in the spotlight like this," Yoru muttered.
"Oh, and one more thing—there's a chance that guy might show up. He probably won't try anything here, but still… be cautious."
"You mean… Hades?"
"Yeah. He's made moves several times, but we've never been able to get proof. Of course, he'd never admit any connection to the Khaos Brigade."
Azazel's voice carried a clear note of wariness. Hades's power far exceeded that of a Maou—he was on a level Azazel couldn't even begin to match. In Azazel's mind, the only one who could stand against him was Sirzechs… well, and now, perhaps, Yoru.
The Fallen Angel Governor glanced at Yoru, who was sitting deep in thought, and couldn't help but sigh. He really was getting old—it was the age of the young now.
"I get it. I'll be careful. But if he tries any tricks… I'll be happy to show the so-called ruler of death what true death really is."
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