Grayfia Lucifuge.
Strongest Queen in the entire damn Underworld. Wife of Sirzechs Lucifer himself. Standing in my apartment. Having apparently cooked dinner in my kitchen.
And now she was gesturing for me to sit down like this was completely normal.
I moved on autopilot, pulling out a chair at the dining table with hands that weren't quite steady. My body dropped into the seat with all the grace of a malfunctioning puppet. Across from me, Grayfia settled into her own chair with perfect poise—back straight, hands folded precisely in her lap, silver hair catching the light in a way that made her look like she'd stepped out of some classical painting.
Meanwhile, I probably looked like I'd been dragged through hell backwards. Which, considering the Hydra fight, wasn't far from the truth.
My mind raced through possibilities, each one more anxiety-inducing than the last.
Could it be she got some kind of alert from Familiar Forest Master. Now she's going to haul me in front of the Satans for unauthorized monster hunting or destruction of protected fauna or some bureaucratic nonsense I didn't know existed—*
"Yuuto-sama"
Her voice cut through my spiral of panic.
"Thank you for the meal" I said instinctively, years of Japanese politeness overriding my brain's current meltdown. I gestured to the spread of food on the table—actual good food that smelled incredible and was probably leagues better than anything I could make "You really didn't need to go through this trouble, Grayfia-san"
"It was no inconvenience" She inclined her head slightly "You appeared to be away for some time. I thought it would be prudent to prepare something for when you returned"
Right. Because that explained everything. Totally normal behavior for the wife of Satan to break into someone's apartment and cook them dinner while waiting.
I took a breath, trying to center myself in this absurd situation "May I ask... what brings you to my home at this hour?"
I maintained the proper tone for a lowborn Knight addressing the Queen of the Lucifer household. Even if said Queen had apparently decided to moonlight as a chef in my kitchen.
Grayfia's silver eyes met mine directly, replying calmly "What I am about to tell you, Yuuto-sama, I require you to keep secret from Lady Rias and the other peerage members"
I blinked.
Wait.
She wanted to keep something secret?
My brain performed several rapid recalculations. This wasn't about the Hydra. If she was here to bust me for unauthorized monster hunting, she wouldn't be asking me to keep secrets. She'd be professionally dragging me to face whatever consequences existed.
But what information could she possibly have that she didn't even want Rias to know about?
"I understand" I said carefully, watching her expression for any tells. "I won't say a word. Not to Rias, or anyone"
Grayfia studied me for a moment, as if assessing whether my promise held weight. Apparently satisfied, she spoke again.
"Do you believe Lady Rias will win the Rating Game?"
The question caught me off guard. I leaned back slightly, a genuine smile crossing my face despite my exhaustion.
"I have zero doubts about it"
"Why?" Her tone remained neutral, but I caught the faint edge of curiosity underneath "Don't you see the clear disadvantage in peerage members? Riser-sama commands full peerage. Lady Rias has only five, including herself."
"Numbers mean nothing if there's no strength behind them." I met her gaze steadily. "Ten dogs will never be a threat to one lion. Wouldn't you agree, Grayfia-san?"
Something flickered in those silver eyes. Disapproval? Calculation?
"You are too proud," she said flatly. "Too confident in your strength. Such arrogance may lead directly to your defeat in the Rating Game. You should not underestimate Riser-sama's peerage."
A laugh escaped me before I could stop it. "With respect, Grayfia-san, it's not me underestimating them. It's you overestimating them."
Her expression didn't change, but I felt the slight shift in her gaze.
I pressed on anyway "If you hadn't interrupted when Riser and I had our... confrontation at the Occult Research Club, I would have shown you exactly why I consider his peerage no threat to me."
The memory played through my mind—Riser's smug face, his casual dismissal of Rias, the way he'd looked at her like property to be claimed. The rage that had burned through my veins when I'd stepped forward. The wager I'd made in a moment of pure protective and calculated fury.
Grayfia's voice cut through my recollection "What about Riser-sama himself? Would you have defeated him if I hadn't interrupted?"
I paused, actually considering the question seriously.
With just Mist Breathing? Not a chance. Riser was a high-class Devil with literal immortality. I'd have gotten my ass handed to me on a silver platter.
But with Water Breathing manipulation, Dabi's flames, Killer Queen's explosives? That changed the equation significantly. I could have given him one hell of a fight. Possibly even won, though it would have been brutal and exhausting.
Of course, then I'd have had to explain to everyone why I was suddenly using multiple completely different power sets. The headache of that conversation alone made me grateful Grayfia had interrupted when she did.
"Despite your foolishness in accepting Riser-sama's wager—"
Ouch
"—I admire your courage in standing up for Lady Rias's honor."
That caught me completely off guard. Grayfia offering genuine praise? The apocalypse must be scheduled for Tuesday.
She continued before I could respond "I can tell you a method by which you can secure Lady Rias's victory in the Rating Game."
I straightened in my chair, exhaustion momentarily forgotten "What method?"
My mind immediately jumped to Holy Water. The universal Devil's weakness. But that was out—I was a Devil now, remember? Using Holy Water would hurt me just as much as Riser. So what could she possibly—
"This method," Grayfia said with perfect professional calm "will significantly increase your demonic power for a certain period of time."
She paused, letting that sink in.
"Not only that—your strength and reflexes will receive substantial boosts as well. Your breathing techniques will become far more effective during the Rating Game."
I'd never heard of anything like this. Not in the anime, not in any of the light novel spoilers I'd consumed before ending up in this world. Nothing about some magical power-up method that the Gremory peerage could use.
So why me? Why now?
The answer clicked into place immediately. Sona's peerage. I'd demolished most of them in twenty-five seconds flat. That display had gotten attention—the kind of attention that made the higher-ups take notice.
But here was the thing: even without any special method, even without Assault Mode, I was confident I could wipe the floor with Riser's peerage. They weren't anywhere near my level. But now, with Meliodas's abilities integrated, I could probably handle Riser himself and his whole peerage without breaking a sweat.
"But, Isn't that against the rules?" I asked carefully.
"It is not" Grayfia's response was immediate "It is implied within Rating Game regulations that any form of magic is permitted."
My brain perked up at that. Actually, this could work perfectly. I'd been dreading having to explain Assault Mode to everyone after the Rating Game. My original plan had been some vague explanation about my Sacred Gear evolving during training.
But if Grayfia was offering a legitimate magical method that would allegedly boost my power? That was a much more believable cover story for when I unleashed the full extent of my abilities.
"What sort of method is this?" I asked, trying to keep my tone casual "Do I have to sacrifice part of my soul? My lifespan?"
Please don't be some horrible blood ritual. Please don't involve cutting off a finger. Please don't require me to give up my sense of taste or something equally stupid—
Grayfia closed her eyes.
I waited, muscles tensing slightly as I anticipated whatever hellish ordeal she was about to describe.
She opened her eyes, silver gaze meeting mine with perfect composure.
"It will be through intercourse."
The dining room went absolutely silent.
And, so do I.
"...What?"
The word came out strangled. Disbelieving. Like my brain had just encountered a critical error and needed to reboot.
Grayfia continued in that same professional tone, as if she was explaining new tax law "In this method, both of us will be marked with a magic circle. Through intercourse, I will share my demonic essence with you. The mark will store this essence, and using the verbal command 'release,' you will receive a substantial boost to your demonic power and overall Devil attributes"
I stared at her.
She stared back, expression completely neutral.
What the actual fuck?
I knew this was an ecchi anime. I'd prepared myself for various degrees of absurdity and fan service. I'd accepted that reality here operated on different rules than back home.
But when exactly did we cross the line from ecchi to full-blown hentai?
This had to be a test. It had to be. Grayfia had called me "lowborn" before. She'd been present when Rias tried to take my virginity in a moment of desperation. Maybe this was her way of testing whether I was just using Rias's vulnerable situation for my own pleasure. Some kind of loyalty examination disguised as an absurd offer.
It has to be. How silly of me, to even believe this.
I looked directly at her, forcing my voice to remain steady. "I can't possibly agree to such a thing, Grayfia san. You're the wife of Lord Lucifer"
"It was Lord Sirzechs who gave me permission for this method," Grayfia replied firmly "He has already accepted it. Now you should as well"
What kind of drugs was Sirzechs on?
The man was willing to... what, pimp out his own wife for his sister's Rating Game? Was his love for Rias really that much stronger than his commitment to his marriage? Did he think this through at all?
I looked at Grayfia again. Her expression remained perfectly stoic, as if this entire conversation didn't bother her in the slightest. No embarrassment. No hesitation. Just professional duty.
That's exactly what this was to her, wasn't it? Another task. Another obligation in service to the Lucifer household. Empty sex for the sake of gaining power. Nothing more.
So what should I do?
Go with the flow? Bang the most beautiful woman I'd ever encountered in either of my lives? Just accept this insane offer and enjoy the benefits?
Or refuse? Play the righteous hero role, which I definitely wasn't?
I had morals. Twisted, flexible morals shaped by two lifetimes of questionable decisions, but morals nonetheless.
Grayfia must have noticed my conflicted expression "You don't need to worry about facing repercussions" she said calmly "Sirzechs-sama won't punish you for this"
I sighed, running a hand through my hair "I'm not worried about me, Grayfia-san" as I looked her in the eyes "It's you"
Her eyes widened fractionally—the most surprise I'd ever seen from her "Me? What do you mean?"
"Are you fine with this decision?"
"This is my duty as maid and Queen of—"
"That doesn't excuse the fact that you're being forced to do this with someone you have no feelings for," I cut her off, which seemed to surprise her even more.
"I respect you as much I respect Buchou. And using you as a method to gain more power, won't be honorable, neither for me nor for you"
The words came out firm. Resolute. I met her silver eyes directly, prepared for her to either blast me through the wall with magic or coldly insult me as her teleporting back to the Underworld.
Instead, she reached out to me across the table and pulled my cheek.
"Ow—what the—"
A soft chuckle escaped her lips. Actual amusement colored her voice "You really are a fascinating fellow."
"Uh... thanks?"
She released my cheek and stood gracefully from her chair "I was certain you would agree to my offer. I was preparing myself to proceed with this method under that assumption. And was rather uncomfortable, despite it being an order by 'Sirzechs' sama"
Then, she looked at me with a warm smile.
"But now, I will be perfectly comfortable using this method with you. You don't bear lust toward me. You honor me. That makes this... acceptable."
Something in my chest unclenched slightly. Well, she wasn't feeling forced anymore and it was better than her being treating me as an NPC.
"As long as you're willing to deal with someone as inexperienced as me" I said carefully "I'll go along with this method, Grayfia san"
It's finally happening, part of my brain whispered in disbelief. My first time. With someone infinitely more beautiful than the crush who never even looked my way . Life really does reward you when you least expect it.
"You don't need to worry about inexperience, Yuuto Sama" Grayfia said, that slight smile still present "In fact...I can try everything with you, that I couldn't try with Sirzechs-sama due to his busy schedule as a Maou."
My brain performed another hard reset.
Everything she couldn't try?
With Sirzechs?!
"I'll be in your care, Grayfia-san"
That's all I managed to say while calming my little brother, to not go on rampage.
This day kept getting more interesting. First the Meliodas card from the System—which I'd thought was the absolute highlight. And now this. I was somehow more excited about this "training method" than I was about using Assault Mode against Riser.
"Rest well, Yuuto sama" Grayfia instructed, her professional demeanor sliding back into place "Starting tomorrow, every night we will use this method and train afterward, up until the day of the Rating Game."
A silver magic circle materialized beneath her feet, intricate patterns glowing in the dim light of my apartment.
She smiled at me one more time—genuine warmth in that expression—before the teleportation activated.
Light flared. When it faded, she was gone.
I stood there in my dining room, surrounded by the remains of the dinner she'd prepared, trying to process everything that had just happened.
The Rating Game against Riser was in nine days.
I had Meliodas's full power integrated into my being.
And starting tomorrow night, I would be having sex with the most beautiful woman in the Underworld while she transferred demonic essence to make me even stronger.
"Was this really an ecchi anime?" I muttered to the empty apartment.
No response came, obviously.
I looked down at the food on the table, still warm, still smelling incredible.
Then I sat back down and started eating, because despite everything—despite the Hydra fight, despite Grayfia's insane proposition, despite my entire world getting progressively more bizarre—I was absolutely starving.
Tomorrow night would come soon enough.
For now, I had delicious food and a comfortable bed calling my name.
Life in this world was never boring, I'd give it that much.
I went back to having dinner, with hope, she doesn't turn into a Yandere.
She won't, right?
Right?
. . .
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