After Rias and the two left, Akeno Himejima and the four other girls exchanged glances.
The atmosphere was strangely silent for a moment. Finally, Yuma Amano spoke first: "Since it's exactly five days, how about one day for each of us?"
Akeno Himejima nodded slightly. "Acceptable."
Mittelt and the other two had no objections. As for Ethan's personal wishes, they were completely ignored.
Ethan opened his mouth, wanting to say something, but the white-haired LOLI sitting on his lap twisted her body, blocking everything he wanted to say.
Five days later, the special training ended successfully.
Ethan and his group packed up and bid farewell to the mountain villa where they had lived for a month.
The results of this special training were remarkable. Not only had Ethan and Rias firmly stepped into the mid-SS-class, but Akeno Himejima and the other four girls had all broken through to S-class.
Even the blonde little nun, who had only recently been reincarnated, successfully broke through from Low-Class Devil to A-class, becoming a Mid-Class Devil.
The only one who hadn't made significant progress was probably Yuuto Kiba. Because of her unique nature, neither Ethan nor Rias could provide her with much assistance.
In the span of a month...
She had worked very diligently and hard, but still hadn't achieved a fundamental change, remaining at A-class strength.
On the way back, even though Yuuto Kiba masked it well, everyone noticed her disappointment.
Ethan and Rias exchanged a look, gently nodding simultaneously.
Yuuto Kiba's body issue needed to be resolved quickly. If things continued like this, even Asia would soon catch up to her.
Even people with the best mentality would eventually break down watching their companions catch up one by one, or even leave them far behind.
In addition to the strength factor, the issue with her body was another aspect.
If Rias hadn't kept the little blonde nun in check, Asia would likely have already taken the initiative to slip into Ethan's bed and use the more efficient cultivation method.
But no matter how much Rias held her back, that day was probably not far off.
By then, Yuuto Kiba would truly be the only one out of place in the Occult Research Club.
If Rias and the others had not agreed to Ethan's previous advances, it would be fine. But if Ethan persuaded them one day into having a "group activity" to deepen their relationship, Yuuto Kiba wouldn't even be eligible to participate.
Outside the Occult Research Club room at Kuoh Academy, a crow suddenly flew skyward.
Ethan frowned, instinctively looking at the noisy crow. The bad premonition he had before the special training resurfaced.
The crow flew into the sky, and he didn't pay it any more attention. After a month of being empty, the club room needed a good cleaning.
The villa where the girls lived also needed cleaning. Only Rias, the white-haired LOLI, and Ethan came here.
Rias had official duties to attend to shortly, and the white-haired LOLI was simply clinging to him.
"Lord Riser, the Gremory Heiress has returned."
In the Devil World, a Devil who had spotted Rias via a familiar reported to Riser Phenex.
"Tch, so she finally showed up? She wasted a whole week of my time."
Riser drained his glass of red wine, looking annoyed. "Inform my elder brother. There's no need to contact Lord Sirzechs."
"Yes, sir."
"Alright. Since she's back, let me go and say hello first."
Riser slicked back his blonde hair, forcing what he considered a rakish smile. He located the Occult Research Club and teleported there.
At the same time, Ethan and the two girls, who had just finished cleaning the club room and sat down for a snack, suddenly felt a wave of intense heat.
A grand, orange-yellow flame appeared before the three of them. Accompanied by a piercing bird cry, a magnificent magic circle appeared in the center of the flame in the blink of an eye.
When the flames dissipated, a tall, blonde young man in a red suit appeared in the Occult Research Club room.
The moment she saw the figure, Rias's smiling expression instantly turned cold.
"Phenex..."
Hearing Rias's murmur, Ethan immediately realized who this blonde man was, who had appeared on someone else's territory without warning.
Riser Phenex, the third son of the Phenex family, one of the Four Great Pure-Blooded Devil families, and Rias's nominal fiancé.
The moment he saw the shock of blonde hair, Ethan instinctively became wary, and at the same time, a feeling of disgust welled up in his heart...
Disgust? Something is wrong...
Ethan was suddenly alarmed. Being wary was correct, but why did he feel disgusted by the blonde man now?
If he remembered correctly, although Phenex wanted to force the marriage, he was eventually redeemed and even gave up his own younger sister...
Moreover, the person hadn't done anything to target him yet. This surge of hostility and killing intent was too strange.
Ethan didn't dwell on it for long. In matters concerning the blonde man, the only thing that could be influencing him, without a doubt, was the Cuckold Template.
It seemed that in addition to provoking hostility and malice from blonde men towards him, the Cuckold Template was starting to take a different approach when dealing with powerful blonde men who weren't entirely evil.
Ethan took a deep breath, dispelling this feeling that resembled a mental influence.
With his current strength, now that he had detected it, the Cuckold Template wouldn't be able to continue influencing him.
At this moment, Riser, who had been facing away from them, striking a cool pose, finally turned his head.
"It's been a long time since I've been in the human world."
Riser sighed, then spoke flippantly to Rias: "I've come to see you, my adorable Rias."
Rias crossed her arms, showing no intention of responding. Ethan and Koneko also ignored Riser.
The atmosphere was awkward. After waiting a moment and seeing no one speak, Riser said stiffly, "Rias, where are your servants? Why are there so few people?"
Rias sighed lightly and rubbed her brow. She first looked at Ethan worriedly. Seeing no hostility on his face, she introduced: "This is Riser, from the Phenex family..."
After listening to Rias's explanation, Ethan and Koneko Toujou both nodded, indicating they understood.
"Riser, why are you here?"
"So this is the host of the Red Dragon Emperor? To think the one who defeated Azazel is a fellow who hasn't even grown all his hair, I really can't tell."
Riser didn't answer Rias's question. While Rias was introducing him, he was also sizing up the other two, with a focus on Ethan, of course.
Information about Ethan had already spread like wildfire in the Devil World.
Although the influence of the Cuckold Template had been neutralized, Ethan still found Riser's tone and casual attitude irritating.
"Whether I've grown all my hair or not, you can ask Rias."
This understated sentence instantly broke Riser's composure. He suddenly widened his eyes, looking at Rias, who was rolling her eyes at Ethan right in front of him.
"Rias... have you already... done it with this guy?"
Rias pretended to cough a few times, then subtly nodded.
Riser looked thunderstruck. He froze in place, muttering, "We have an engagement... how could you..."
Rias said coldly, "Riser, I told you long ago, I will not marry you."
Riser wasn't someone who lost his composure so easily. He suppressed the disappointment and anger in his heart, reverting to his previous casual attitude.
"Rias, I think the terrible situation of your house doesn't allow you to be so willful..."
"I don't intend to ruin my family," Rias interrupted. "I'd accept a male consort, but I will only marry someone I approve of."
"Preventing the disappearance of pure-blooded Devil blood, which greatly diminished in the last great war, is an issue for all Devils. Your father and Lord Sirzechs considered the future when they decided on this marriage."
Riser continued to press Rias with the greater cause, even though Rias had already been claimed by someone else.
Whether driven by his inner desire or by completing his family's assigned task, he still wouldn't give up on facilitating the engagement.
The only downside was that even if he succeeded, he might be ridiculed for this matter forever.
Up to this point, Riser didn't feel that he would fail.
Even though he vaguely sensed that Ethan's strength was formidable, his undefeated record in Rating Games still gave him complete confidence.
"Father, my brother, and the people in the family are all too anxious."
Rias sighed deeply, stating solemnly, "I won't repeat myself, Riser. I will not marry you."