April 22nd.
One day before the match.
A carriage traveled toward the location of the pre-match interview, one of the Underworld's largest media companies, owned by Reid Phenex.
Inside the carriage, the group was dressed for the occasion: Grayfia in her impeccable maid attire, Akeno in her elegant miko robes, Yuuto in a sharp white suit, Koneko in a simple black dress, and Rias in a formal Gremory family gown. Judai, however, wore his usual casual outfit, a red jacket over a black shirt, paired with black cargo pants.
The carriage came to a stop, and Rias placed a hand on Judai's thigh to wake him.
"Wake up," she said softly.
Judai squinted a few times before his eyes focused on the towering building outside. "We're here."
They stepped out and were guided into the building by staff. Rias walked beside Judai, with Grayfia on his other side and the rest following behind.
On their way, they encountered Lord and Lady Phenex. The Phenex couple observed them critically, their gazes lingering on Judai's informal attire.
"A pleasure to see you, Lord Phenex, Lady Phenex," Rias said, offering a slight bow. The others followed her lead.
"Likewise, Rias," Lady Phenex replied coolly, while her husband gave a curt nod. Then Lady Phenex added, "Rias, is my son truly so lacking that you would replace him with a human?"
Rias was taken aback by the direct hostility, framed as a victim's plea. But she composed herself and replied with a poised smile, linking her arm with Judai's.
"I apologize if my words sound harsh, Lady Phenex, but your son Riser could never measure up to Judai."
Lord Phenex's eyes shifted to Judai, his tone laced with thinly veiled hostility. "You must be the human brave enough to challenge the Phenex Clan."
"Well, humanity has challenged gods before. What's a devil in comparison?" Judai replied without a hint of fear, a slight smirk on his lips.
Lord Phenex masked his anger with a tight smile. "I see. But every human who challenged a god is dead."
"Devils aren't gods," Judai countered.
The two stared each other down, though neither unleashed their energy in the crowded building.
Grayfia subtly elbowed Judai in the side, making him flinch and break eye contact. Lord Phenex, noticing Grayfia's sharp glance, also withdrew.
After a tense pause, Lady Phenex spoke. "We will take our leave first."
With that, Lord and Lady Phenex walked away.
The guide, visibly shaken by the exchange, continued leading them to a waiting room before the interview.
"What was that for?" Judai whispered to Grayfia, rubbing his side. "You said I could be a little disrespectful."
"But not that much. What Ojou-sama said was perfect. You, however, overdid it, starting with your choice of clothing."
"My bad," Judai said, rubbing the back of his head.
"It's good that you understand," Grayfia replied. "Both of you, be prepared. They will ask questions laced with subtle insults. Judai, please be more careful with your retorts."
"Alright, I'll tone it down," Judai agreed.
"But," Grayfia added, her voice dropping lower, "if they directly insult any of you, the Gremory family, or Sirzechs-sama… then you have my permission to go all out, Judai-sama."
. . . .
The studio was set, the audience seats filled to capacity, and the cameras focused on the center of the stage. The interview was about to begin.
Standing alone under the bright lights was Reid Phenex, dressed in a high-end executive suit that balanced luxury with approachability. He stood between two plush couches, with a rich mahogany desk behind him.
"Welcome, everyone, to our special broadcast to our live audience here and all viewers at home. I'm your host for today, Reid Phenex. If you're wondering where our usual host is, he's taken the day off because what we're covering today precedes one of the most significant events between two of the Underworld's greatest clans tomorrow." Reid paused, a practiced smile on his face. "By now, most of you are aware of the… let's call it the developing situation."
He gestured warmly to the side of the stage.
"At the center of it all is the Gremory Princess, the Crimson Jewel of their line, the heiress to the Gremory legacy, the remarkable Rias Gremory. Please welcome her."
Reid led the applause, and the audience followed suit as Rias walked onto the stage. She offered a graceful wave and a poised smile before taking the seat Reid indicated to his left.
"Thank you for joining us," Reid said, before shifting his tone. "And now, the human whom Princess Rias has personally chosen, the one who dares to challenge a Phoenix. Our records show his name is Yuki Judai. A simple name… for a man who claims to wield a power not even the Great Satans have recorded: the so-called 14th Longinus."
Judai walked onto the stage. The audience gasped at his casual attire, then broke into murmurs and scattered boos.
"How rude!"
"Who does he think he is, dressed like that?"
"I don't see what Princess Rias sees in him…"
"A human shouldn't even be walking in the Underworld."
As the whispers died down, Reid gestured coolly. "Take a seat."
Judai sat beside Rias, unfazed by the lingering disdain radiating from the crowd.
"But a mortal," Reid continued, his voice rising, "cannot compare to the sun that never dies, the man from the clan that symbolizes undying resurrection. The master of fire, the undying flame, one of the strongest contenders among the Youth Devils in the Rating Game… my brother, Riser Phenex!"
Riser entered from the opposite side, wearing noble attire accented with a military-style frock coat in deep red and gold. His shirt was unbuttoned halfway, showcasing both confidence and physique. He waved arrogantly to the audience before taking the seat to Reid's right, one arm draped casually over the back of the couch.
His eyes flicked to Judai, who looked bored and ready for the whole affair to be over, then to Rias. 'She's going to regret choosing him over me,' Riser thought, a sharp grin touching his lips. 'When the match ends tomorrow, she won't even have time to resurrect him. I'll make sure he's nothing but ash.'