Issei lay on the club sofa groaning in pain; Rias Gremory was laughing as she watched the scene, her anger finally somewhat appeased.
"Issei, I heard what happened at the church." (Rias)
Issei didn't ignore Rias; he stopped groaning to show he was listening to what his mistress was saying.
"You killed all four?? Have you ever killed before??" (Rias)
Rias was curious because the bodies of the fallen angels were in an almost untouched state, looking as though they had been assassinated by a professional.
"I've never killed anyone before; that was my first time." (Issei)
Issei thought of the sound the necks of those four made when they broke, and his mood darkened.
"I can still hear the 'crack' of their bones breaking." (Issei)
"I see." (Rias)
Rias realized the state her pawn was in and became worried. He might look fine on the surface, but he was shaken.
"I heard about the peculiar way you killed Raynare." (Rias)
Issei felt even more downcast when he heard about Raynare's death, but it was something he had done and needed to overcome.
"I was saying goodbye to her, because she was the first girl I truly loved in my life, without lust." (Issei)
"Love..." (Rias)
Rias felt a bit low seeing that Issei had killed the person he loved; the topic she touched upon was very sensitive.
"Can I borrow your card again later??" (Issei)
Issei composed himself, already thinking about taking Rias's card again to buy some things that could be very useful.
"I AM GOING TO KILL YOU!!" (Rias)
Rias emitted her demonic aura as Issei fled the scene to head back home; he had to hurry or he'd be hit by a psychotic Rias.
"I'm going to get that card and buy a gaming PC, a PlayStation, and an Xbox." (Issei)
"Good choice. I'll want to play or watch cool things on the gaming PC." (Qin)
"The problem will be stealing the card again; I'm sure it'll be much harder." (Issei)
"Isn't that Sona Sitri rich??" (Qin)
"You're right..." (Issei)
"We're turning into thieves." (Qin)
"I think we stopped being kings to become thieves." (Issei)
"We have to stop this." (Qin)
"Certainly..." (Issei)
A New "Sister" and a Royal Presentation
Qin and Issei spent their time talking until they arrived home at nightfall, where something peculiar was happening.
"Hello, Issei-san." (Asia)
Asia Argento was at Issei's house and seemed to have already settled in; Issei's parents said she would be his fiancée.
"She's going to be your new 'sister'." (Miki)
"She'll be your sister before she becomes your fiancée." (Gorou)
"What a great day!!" (Issei)
Issei felt happy to share the same roof as Asia and that she was happy about being his fiancée.
"Issei, did you cut your hair??" (Miki)
"And these fancy clothes??" (Gorou)
Issei's parents were curious about his new style of clothing and the short haircut he was now sporting.
"The president of my club is filthy rich and decided to give me some really cool clothes and even get my hair cut." (Issei)
"What a good girl." (Gorou)
"We need to meet her." (Miki)
"You already know her." (Issei)
Issei's parents were happy, thinking that beautiful redhead could also be Issei's girlfriend; their son was finally moving forward in life.
"Asia, have you finished packing your things??" (Issei)
"I'm missing a few things." (Asia)
"Let me help." (Issei)
Issei offered to help Asia set up her things in the new room she would occupy in the Hyoudou household.
...
The next morning, Issei was woken by a very gentle female voice.
"Wake up, wake up, Issei-san." (Asia)
Asia had woken Issei gently, making him a bit more cheerful. He was enjoying his current lifestyle after becoming a devil.
"Get ready, let's go to school." (Asia)
"Okay." (Issei)
Issei put on his school clothes and packed an outfit to wear after school when he went to the Occult Research Club.
"Taking that card was a good idea after all, because now I really look like a King." (Issei)
"The beating you took was funny." (Qin)
"I didn't like that part." (Issei)
"I did." (Qin)
Issei grabbed a blindfold and put it on to go to school with Asia, remembering to take it off, as he always did, once they got close.
The Arrival of the Phoenix
Asia's introduction was a success, and she became one of the most desired girls in school. One thing that shocked everyone was Issei's new style.
"Man, you have a hottie at home and then you turned into this handsome guy girls have a crush on??" (Matsuda)
"I think you betrayed the club." (Motohama)
"I didn't betray anyone; I'm the same as before." (Issei)
"The hell you are! Girls look at you the same way they look at Kiba while they keep finding us disgusting!" (Motohama)
A girl with pink hair approached Issei, blushing deeply while looking at Matsuda and Motohama as if they were vermin.
"When are we going out, Issei??" (Katase)
"As soon as I resolve a few things, we'll have a date, but it won't be in less than a month." (Issei)
Katase left celebrating as Issei confirmed he would still go out with her, leaving several other girls in the class envious.
"See??" (Matsuda/Motohama)
"Don't be so dramatic." (Issei)
Issei continued talking with his best friends while Asia socialized with the girls in class. Time passed, classes ended, and it was time for the club.
"I'm going to change into different clothes, wait for me." (Issei)
"Hai." (Asia)
Issei took some time before putting on more luxurious clothes—something a high-class person would wear—and grabbed a blindfold to put over his eyes again as he arrived at the club.
"Issei-san looks so chic." (Asia)
"That's thanks to Lady Rias." (Issei)
"She's so generous." (Asia)
"Isn't she??" (Issei)
Issei teased Asia as they entered the club talking. The boy had already put on his blindfold and didn't even notice there were many girls in the room, along with a blonde young man and the members of the Occult Research Club.
"Sit down I shall, sit down I shall." (Issei)
Issei totally ignored everyone in the room and sat in an empty spot on the sofa, stretching his legs out onto the table.
"Who is this lunatic??" (Riser)
Riser was confused seeing a man in black luxury clothes with a blindfold covering his eyes acting like he owned the place. Rias looked at the newcomer with a mix of fury and worry; she hadn't forgotten the card incident.
"What are the plans for today?? Are we having another collaboration??" (Issei)
Akeno smiled along with Kiba seeing that conceited boy in good shape; they really needed his confidence at this moment.
"Who are you?? You didn't answer me??" (Riser)
"Hyoudou Issei, the Future Maou!" (Issei)
Riser laughed as that lunatic spouted nonsense; the girls with him laughed too, but the blindfolded man didn't.
"Riser, Issei is very problematic; don't provoke him, for God's sake." (Rias)
Rias had a headache as she prayed that Riser wouldn't provoke that troublesome man.
"This won't end well." (Koneko)
"Well, I know Issei-kun, and I know there will be trouble." (Kiba)
"Life is much more fun with Issei-kun here." (Akeno)
"Don't you think you're too conceited??" (Ravel)
"I don't give a damn if I'm conceited or not; I will be the Maou one day whether you like it or not, and no one will stop me." (Issei)
Riser grew angry along with Ravel hearing the tone of Issei's speech; it sounded as if it were a certainty.
"Reincarnated devils like you can't be Kings; you can't even become high-class devils like me." (Riser)
Riser sneered at Issei, but Hyoudou wasn't provoked. Rias's pawn thought the blonde man was just an idiot with high status.
"An idiot will always be an idiot, and you are just an idiot with power. It doesn't change the fact that you're an idiot." (Issei)
The Occult Research Club was laughing when Riser exploded in anger. One of his group, a woman with blue hair and a Bo staff, attacked Issei in a fury.
Issei didn't even bother taking off his blindfold; he used his hands to grab the Bo staff and threw the woman and the weapon out of the club window.
"Now the damage is done, but I'm liking this. Continue." (Rias)
"You bast—" (Riser)
"Humility!! It doesn't matter who you are or where I am; the King's throne is wherever I sit." (Issei)
Issei pointed a finger at a fuming Riser after he had been humiliated by a low-class devil.
"Don't be so cocky, you little shit!" (Riser)
"This man is strange... this innate arrogance and pride similar to a monarch, the dignified bearing of a noble." (Ravel)
"I am your mistress's fiancé; respect me." (Riser)
"Pleased to meet you; I'm Rias's boyfriend." (Issei)
Riser grew even more furious at the introduction. Rias was also confused but decided to play along.
"One day I'm going to kill him." (Rias)
The Rating Game Ultimatum
"Enough talk." (Riser)
"I completely agree." (Issei)
Issei stood up as Riser increased his aura and summoned flames onto his own body. He did what he always did when things got serious: he took off the blindfold.
"Here I come." (Riser)
Riser was ready to burn Issei to ash when a magic circle and extreme power emerged in the room to contain them both.
"Better stop that." (???)
A woman with silver hair, a maid outfit, and a very well-built body appeared; she was the owner of that power.
"Grayfia-onee-sama." (Rias)
"Hello, Rias-sama." (Grayfia)
Issei decided to ignore this and put his blindfold back on; the conversation to follow was none of his business.
"I will not marry Riser." (Rias)
"The agreement has already been made, but your brother proposed an alternative: a Rating Game." (Grayfia)
"Rating Game??" (Riser/Rias)
"The strongest will decide the fate of this engagement in the Rating Game." (Grayfia)
Rias was very nervous while Riser was happy; victory seemed to be in his hands. Riser and his group disappeared in a flaming circle, convinced of their win. Grayfia also left after relaying the details.
"Issei!!" (Rias)
Rias shouted in Issei's ear, startling him; the blindfolded boy had been half-napping while sitting.
"What??" (Issei)
"Do you have a chance of beating Riser after what you just saw??" (Rias)
"No." (Issei)
Issei was certain he couldn't beat Riser, which caught the whole group off guard given his previous bravado.
"And all that courage you were showing just now??" (Rias)
"He was being too annoying, and I was sure my mistress would help, so there was a chance for victory, because Lady Rias is much stronger than me." (Issei)
Rias was pleased by the compliment. It wasn't normal for him to say such things.
"When do we train??" (Issei)
"We start training tomorrow; I'll prepare school excuses for all of you." (Rias)
Resolve
Rias dismissed everyone. Issei walked back home with Asia, deep in thought.
"This is going to be difficult." (Issei)
"But we can't lose." (Asia)
"No, we cannot lose at any cost." (Issei)
Issei's brow furrowed thinking about Rias's distress over having her fate in someone else's hands. It was repugnant to him.
"Even if she doesn't stay with me, I want her to be with someone she loves, not that vulgar idiot." (Issei)
"It seems that man has awakened your competitiveness." (Qin)
"He has. I'm going to win this even if I have to break every bone in my body." (Issei)
"Shall we master the animal styles in this training??" (Qin)
"Yes. I must finally equal a high-level devil when I master the two remaining styles, but I don't know if I can beat that guy." (Issei)
"Not everything is solved with raw strength or the amount of power." (Qin)
"Master... I don't want to lose!" (Issei)
"Then we won't lose. We won't allow our pride as kings to be tainted." (Qin)
...
"Issei... Save me, please. I know you see me as someone strong, but even the strong crumble, and I am close to doing so." (Rias)
Rias wasn't lost in sadness, but she was terrified of a life imprisoned by Riser's whims.