Rias walked back into the meeting room and went straight to the window overlooking the backyard. Through the subtle shimmer of a training barrier, she watched Judai and Endymion.
Endymion rapped Judai lightly on the head with his staff. "You still haven't learned to think before you act," he sighed.
"I know. But her offer makes sense," Judai replied, rubbing the sore spot.
"I understand you care for the girl, but you should have consulted me before agreeing to a match that decides both your life and hers."
Judai couldn't deny it. He'd been reckless, and part of it was because Rias's earnest plea, and yes, her beautiful face had made it hard to refuse.
"And don't think I haven't noticed you've been summoning other beings without my supervision," Endymion added, fixing him with a stern look.
"I summoned a hero to help me test the new summons. I knew you'd say no if I asked."
Endymion sighed, then asked the most serious question of all. "What will you do if you lose the match? You could lose your freedom… or your humanity."
Judai's reply came instantly, with unconscious confidence. "Nah, I'd win."
Endymion sighed again, a sound of weary acceptance. "Then let's continue. I'll try to cram as much as possible into that reckless head of yours."
"Thanks, Sensei."
A small, bittersweet smile touched Rias's lips as she watched, even though she couldn't hear their words. She was glad he was taking it seriously, but a knot of guilt tightened in her stomach. She was manipulating his situation, no matter how well-intentioned.
She returned to her desk and tried to focus on paperwork.
A few minutes later, Koneko teleported into the room, having just finished her client contracts for the day.
"Welcome back," Rias greeted her.
"What did he say?" Koneko asked, noticing the mix of relief and guilt on Rias's face.
"Let's wait for the others first."
Soon after, Akeno and Kiba arrived, having completed their own assignments. Once everyone was seated, Rias delivered the news.
"He agreed to be my fiancé."
A wave of quiet relief washed through the room. It was a desperate plan, but at least it was in motion.
"Now we just need my family's permission… and my brother Sirzechs's approval," Rias added.
"But are you sure Judai can actually beat Riser?" Kiba asked again, voicing the doubt they all shared.
"No… I'm not," Rias admitted quietly. "But there's a possibility he can win. What other choice do we have?"
Silence answered her. They had backed themselves and Judai into a corner with no better way out.
"When are you contacting your brother, Rias?" Akeno asked.
"Tomorrow."
"Let's hope it goes well," Akeno said softly.
"Me too," Rias agreed, the weight of their gamble settling heavily over them all. The others murmured their quiet agreement, the atmosphere thick with a tense blend of hope and dread.
. . . .
April 17th,
Judai come out of his room with a new clothes, as he thought to himself 'I should've ask for Mizuho help gathering money'
He go out of the building, and head to the backyard as he began jogging in circle to increase his stamina.
While he was jogging, his phone rings, it was an unknown number, he pick up the call as he stop jogging.
"My lord, how have you been doing these day?" A female in business suit is calling through a phone wearing glasses calling him.
As he heard that voice, he smiles 'Mizuho'
"I have been doing good. Is there a good news?"
"I have, I have found their original objective, they were gonna take the Gear out of an exiled nun who will be arriving in two days"
"What about bad news?"
"There are more stray exorcist gathering, a lot of them have been gathering in the town and they are determined to find where you are located at"
"Hmm, is there anything else?"
"Thats all from me, my lord"
"How are you doing?" Judai asked her wellbeing since she been doing work as she got to this new world.
"I'm doing perfectly fine" Mizuho on the other side was smiling.
"Then can you gather me money? I need a lot of them, use whatever method you seem fit but at least make sure the target, if you have a target is not innocent"
"Consider it done, my lord"
"Thanks, we talk later"
After the call ended, Judai's motivation felt renewed. He continued his jog, stopping periodically to throw sharp punches and kicks into the air before pushing forward again.
His lungs burned and his muscles protested, but he kept going until around 10 AM. Finally, he dropped onto the grass, guzzling water from a bottle before lying flat on his back, staring up at the sky.
'When did I become this hardworking?' he wondered, a faint smile touching his lips. 'I guess environment really does change a person.'
Just then, Akeno's face appeared above him, blocking his view of the sky with a gentle smile.
"Akeno," Judai said, sitting up.
She took a seat beside him. "I know you haven't eaten yet. I made you something." She pulled two bento boxes from a plastic bag and handed one to him.
Judai sat cross-legged and opened the lid. Inside was rice, shredded cabbage, and bite-sized pieces of Korean spicy chicken.
"I thought you were joking about making this?" Judai said, surprised she'd remembered his offhand comment.
"I wasn't. Try it," Akeno replied, her smile warm as she watched him.
He picked up the chopsticks and took a bite. The flavor was perfect, spicy, savory, exactly what he'd been craving. He gave her a thumbs-up, his mouth still full.
Akeno's smile softened, but a shadow of worry lingered in her eyes.
"You know… you could lose your life fighting her fiancé," she said softly. "He's a High-Class Devil with the power of a Phoenix. His regeneration is formidable."
"But he still has a Devil's weaknesses, right?" Judai asked, already mentally calculating possible strategies.
"Yes… Do you already have a plan to defeat him?" Akeno asked, a flicker of hope in her voice.
"Yeah. I'm confident I can beat him," Judai said firmly. In his mind, he was already picturing Shining Abyss, that have the power of both Light and Darkness, the perfect counter to a Devil's nature. All he needed was to boost his own stats enough to keep up.
Hearing his certainty, Akeno felt a wave of relief. 'I shouldn't have worried so much in the first place.'