Chapter 71 - Sirzecks
Underworld, Lilith
The Underworld, sprawled across vast territories with numerous cities.
Within Lilith's heart, a magic circle appeared in the palace of Satan Lucifer, and Grayfia emerged.
Her unique status allowed her to teleport directly to the palace, a privilege few devils enjoyed.
Most had to walk on foot, a practice reinforcing the Satans' majesty and security.
Grayfia navigated the palace with ease, arriving at an office door.
She knocked.
"Come in," a magnetic voice called.
Grayfia entered the office where a red-haired man in ornate attire, bearing a striking resemblance to Rias, sat at a desk, reviewing documents.
"Lord Sirzechs."
This was Sirzechs Lucifer, Rias's brother and the current Satan Lucifer.
"Grayfia, when did you return?" Sirzechs asked, setting aside his papers with a warm smile.
"Just now, after handling matters in the human world," Grayfia replied, her expression calm.
"How's Rias holding up? Still fighting the engagement?" Sirzechs asked, a hint of regret in his voice.
When the Phenex clan proposed the marriage, he and Lord Gremory had agreed without consulting her, swayed by the benefits to the Gremory clan and Riser Phenex's reputation as a capable young devil.
They hadn't anticipated Rias's fierce resistance, which led her to linger in the human world, nearly estranging her from the clan.
If they'd known, they'd have scrutinized the proposal more carefully.
"Riser has agreed to dissolve the engagement," Grayfia said calmly.
"Agreed?" Sirzechs blinked, caught off guard.
Riser's obsession with the marriage made his capitulation unthinkable.
"How did Rias manage that?"
"It's complicated," Grayfia said.
"Rias found a boy she loves at school."
"A boy?" Sirzechs's surprise deepened. "Not a ruse?"
The news felt too sudden, suspiciously timed.
Rias's discerning nature made it unlikely she'd fall for just anyone.
"She's serious," Grayfia said.
"From her demeanor, she's committed to him. Her eyes show genuine affection."
"What's his name? Background? Race? Family? Devil, or another faction?"
"Not an angel or fallen angel, surely?" Sirzechs's questions tumbled out, his composure slipping as his sister's welfare consumed him.
"Lord Sirzechs, calm yourself," Grayfia said, her tone gently chiding.
"Sorry, Grayfia, I got carried away," Sirzechs offered an embarrassed smile.
"Understandable," Grayfia said, her glance knowing.
She was well aware of his siscon habits, despite his Satan title.
"She'll marry eventually," she added.
"I know, it's just surprising," Sirzechs said.
"He must be exceptional to catch Rias's eye."
"He is," Grayfia said, nodding.
"His name is Roy Flott, a human and the host of the Boosted Gear."
"Boosted Gear? The Red Dragon Emperor?" Sirzechs's eyes widened, then softened.
"If he's the red dragon emperor, he's worthy of Rias."
"Did Riser back off because of Roy's status?" Sirzechs asked.
"No," Grayfia said, shaking her head.
"Roy has ties to the Phenex clan."
She produced her phone, displaying the video copied from Roy, and handed it to Sirzechs.
"This explains everything."
Sirzechs watched the short clip with keen interest.
"Roy used Riser's promise to force the dissolution," Grayfia said.
"That's… unexpected," Sirzechs said, half-laughing.
"What a way to settle it."
"Fate brought Roy and Rias together," Grayfia closed her eyes, a rare smile touching her lips.
"So my plan was for nothing," Sirzechs said, shaking his head.
As a doting brother, he couldn't ignore Rias's distress over the engagement.
Bound by his role as Satan, he couldn't break rules outright but had devised a solution within them: a Rating Game, the devils' ultimate contest to settle disputes.
If Rias wanted to end her engagement, she could challenge Riser in a Rating Game and win.
However, her current strength and peerage lagged behind Riser's.
Sirzechs had planned to delay the wedding until after Rias's university graduation, giving her four years to grow strong enough to defeat Riser honorably.
It would've been a long wait, but it would've spared her reputation.
"The Phenex clan won't let this go easily," Grayfia warned.
"They'll likely press you and Lord Gremory."
"Father and I will handle them," Sirzechs said, his tone apologetic.
"I didn't expect Rias to resist so fiercely. She shouldn't bear the burden. As her brother, I owe her that."
"I haven't seen Rias in a while," he mused, looking at Grayfia.
"Maybe I'll visit the human world to meet this Roy."
"Lord Sirzechs, this is a critical time," Grayfia said.
"Leaving Lilith now would cause upheaval, and it wouldn't help Rias. Wait until things stabilize."
"True," Sirzechs nodded reluctantly.
Negotiations with the fallen angels were underway, and his duties were inescapable.
"Grayfia, the Gremory-Phenex engagement stirred much talk among devils.
"Now that it's dissolved, we should clarify why. We can't let others think we bullied the Phenex clan with power."
"Understood, Lord Sirzechs,"
She retrieved the video from his desk and left the office.
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