Chapter 165: Juno Himejima, the Fifth Pillar Rises
For Rias Gremory, the moment of Sona's decision had been a quiet thunderclap. Her lips parted slightly. She was ready.
"I…"
"Apologies," he said, cutting her off without ceremony.
Rias froze.
She'd been rejected.
Somewhere else, two female exorcists, cloaked in robes and bearing holy swords, raced toward a town once familiar—Kuwou Town. Young and determined, their pursuit was urgent.
Yesterday, the Church had been attacked. A sacred sword stolen. Now, the perpetrator seemed to be returning to the scene of past transgressions.
On the distant hillside, a radiant sigil burst to life—mystical and massive, not of any god-system they recognized. Believing it might relate to the sacred weapon, the two women surged forward.
As they reached the luminescence, blinding light engulfed their vision. When their sight returned, they found an unconscious girl clad in ceremonial garb, veiled and unfamiliar.
She looked human… but the mystic aura around her said otherwise.
The gymnasium buzzed with energy. A group of girls warmed up for the day's physical education—today's activity: volleyball. Meanwhile, the boys had been sent to the field for soccer, sparing them the agony of missing Kuoh Academy's most treasured visuals.
Four school queens—Rias Gremory, Juno Himejima, Sona Shitori, and Shinra Tsubaki—shared the class under the same instructor. Different grades. Different cliques. One shared admiration.
Their teacher, Hakutsuki, wasn't movie-star handsome—but possessed a quiet gravity. Girls gravitated toward his gentle demeanor, patient guidance, and mysterious charisma.
"Ara~ Hakutsuki-sensei, would you help me stretch?" came the sultry tone.
Turning, Hakutsuki met the playful eyes of Juno Himejima, whose charms were considered legendary across campus.
She had a mock-troubled expression, her hands supporting her chest—which had long surpassed the academy average in both attention and weight. Her posture made warming up a challenge.
Unlike Rias or Sona, Juno had grown increasingly bold around him. She no longer maintained the respectful distance they did.
"Of course, Himejima-san," Hakutsuki replied, smiling gently as he moved closer to assist.
During the interaction, Juno leaned—subtly, maybe not so subtly—into him. Ordinarily, physical contact wouldn't occur. But Juno was far from ordinary.
Nearby, Shinra Tsubaki muttered to Sona, "Want me to call Hakutsuki-sensei for help?"
"No need. I'm capable."
But Sona's voice betrayed tension. She'd joined his ranks—but her feelings were complicated. Seeing Juno act so freely, almost provocatively, her heart stirred with unease.
Tsubaki glanced toward Rias, sensing the same hesitation—the princess watching the interplay with conflicted eyes, lips trembling with unspoken thoughts.
This Solomon King was more mischievous than he let on.
Yesterday, Rias had made her decision. To become his Pillar. To wield his power. And he'd responded with a mere "Sorry." No ritual. No transformation. Just awkward silence.
Everyone assumed he'd rejected her.
Later, he'd claimed fatigue. That his spirit had been drained and he couldn't perform the ritual.
Perhaps it was true—his body had been visibly weakened.
But today? He seemed perfectly fine. And yet, Rias remained unchanged. Unchosen.
Tsubaki suspected he was playing with her. Testing her resolve.
Now, Rias fretted that if she pressed the issue, it might prompt a true denial.
"Himejima-san, come fetch the volleyballs with me," Solomon suddenly requested.
Juno blinked, slightly startled, yet complied without hesitation. His cheerful expression masked something—something cunning.
Inside the storage room, he halted. A barrier shimmered into place—crafted from Juno's own teachings but perfected beyond her ability.
"Ara~ a private spell? You're making me nervous," Juno teased, still wearing her sultry mask.
She'd spent days observing him, learning his thresholds. As long as she didn't overstep, he wouldn't retaliate. But today… something had shifted.
"Tell me your powers," he said simply.
Seeing the rune-laden parchment in his hand, Juno's smile faltered.
"Is this… are you transforming me?"
"What about Rias?" she asked cautiously.
"Don't you find her indecision amusing?"
Juno blinked. Then laughed. He really was incorrigible.
So, she began listing her abilities—spirit affinity, ghost manipulation, exorcism. Her background as a shrine maiden, born from a line of spirit banishers.
"Very well," Solomon declared. "I name you the Fifth Pillar: Murmur, master of souls and summoner of the departed."
It was a perfect match.
The spell circle activated. A gleaming card representing Murmur floated toward Juno—depicting a warrior atop a griffin, blazing with spectral light.
"You are now Juno Himejima Murmur, of my Seventy-Two Pillars," he said, a wry smirk tugging at his lips.
"Understood, my king," she replied sweetly.
As the card dissolved into energy and merged with her body, the transformation should have ended there…
But it didn't.
Suddenly, an overlapping magic circle flared beneath her feet.
Electric energy surged upward, lightning dancing across her skin. She gasped in surprise. Her body, relaxed and defenseless, convulsed involuntarily.
Not pain—but certainly shock.
She collapsed.
A soft, startled whimper escaped her lips before silence took over.
Chapter 166: Rias Gremory, the First Crowned Pillar
Rias felt the change immediately.
As Juno's original master, her Queen, she sensed something wrong—an echo of imbalance through their link.
She rushed toward the storage room, her crimson eyes burning with concern.
And there she saw them—Solomon and Juno, still enveloped in the barrier.
Juno's clothes had changed, transformed into ceremonial garb reminiscent of shrine maidens. The sigil of Murmur burned brightly on her chest—a griffin-mounted warrior in divine glory.
She'd become one of his Pillars.
Just like that?
But… something was wrong.
Juno was slumped to the ground. Unmoving. Hollow-eyed. Her expression vacant.
Rias's breath caught. It hadn't been voluntary.
She had been forced.
"Calm down, Rias," came Sona's measured voice.
"I am calm," she answered coldly. "Didn't you see?"
Even Sona hesitated. Juno had clearly intended to join—but being pushed ahead, being subjected to this, was too much.
And then… there was something else.
Sona noticed a wet patch where Juno sat.
No…
Had Solomon added some hidden punishment during the ritual?
Rias's gaze darkened. This was no accident.
"Coincidence, you say?" Sona adjusted her glasses, eyes narrowing.
Solomon shrugged. "A small mishap. The page had a second magic circle I didn't notice."
No one believed him.
He insisted Juno was willing—there was even recorded proof of her consent.
Still, he didn't admit to the prank. Not outright.
Now, Juno's strength sat between High-Class Devil and Devil King—another ascended soldier in Solomon's court.
Rias stepped forward.
Her voice was firm. Her words careful.
"I request… that you transform me as well, Solomon-sama."
Honorifics. Formality. She was annoyed. Petulant. But serious.
She'd waited. She'd hoped.
Now, she would no longer accept delay.
The time had come.
To rise.
To reclaim her pride.
To become the First Crowned Pillar.