Chapter 187: The Cooperation Begins
After Asia became a servant, the Occult Research Club remained lively for several days.
Haruto soon stopped thinking about Gasper's matter.
The storm stirred by the butterfly's wings grew larger and larger. Without Issei Hyoudou's existence, it was uncertain whether Gasper would even cross paths with the Occult Research Club.
On March 30th, Akeno and Azazel's messenger finally reached an agreement and signed a cooperation contract.
Two days later, the new school year began at Kuoh Academy. Haruto advanced to the second year, and when classes were reassigned, Koneko and Yuuto were placed in the same class as him.
At the same time, Amano, Asia, and Mittelt transferred into his class as new students.
Since two of the transfer students were foreigners, Kalawarna smoothly assumed the position of a specially hired foreign teacher and was assigned as the homeroom teacher for Class 2-A.
This way, aside from the third-year students Rias and Akeno, all members of the Occult Research Club were gathered in one class.
Under Rias's arrangements, all the students and teachers in Class 2-A were also from the supernatural world.
Among them were the gyaru trio—Reina, Mizuki, and Akane—along with Touko, Tsukino, the Sakuramiya Sisters...
The few remaining spots were also mostly filled by Haruto's acquaintances.
Moreover, aside from Haruto and Yuuto...
Well, aside from Haruto, there were no other males in Class 2-A.
Surrounded by a group of beautiful girls with pink hearts in their eyes, Haruto finally understood the meaning behind Rias's meaningful smile during the opening ceremony.
Because of the incident with Yuuto, he had recently been involved in quite a few orgies, and he had slept with all the beautiful girls in his class over the past few days...
Judging by their expressions, many of them were still immersed in it.
"Ahem!!! Sit properly, class is about to begin."
Haruto used a cough to cast a low-level mental magic spell, preventing the sacred classroom from turning into a new venue for orgies.
He specifically targeted Yuuto with it.
Even though he had deliberately assigned her to the farthest seat, she kept clinging to him regardless of the strange looks from those around her...
She's a girl, a big-breasted blonde beauty, a big-breasted blonde beauty, a big-breasted blonde beauty...
After repeating this in his mind for a while, Haruto barely managed to restrain himself.
...
...
On the third day of the new semester, club activities officially began, and the collaboration with Azazel was formally initiated.
The first batch of supplies had already been delivered to the cathedral.
In return, he provided Rias with written materials on the usage and development of fallen angel powers through correspondence.
Azazel's plan to infiltrate their inner circle had failed; this arrangement was the result of discussions between Rias, Haruto, and the others.
In later stages, when face-to-face guidance became necessary, she would lead everyone to the cathedral regularly.
Azazel was initially displeased, complaining about the inconvenience and claiming some things couldn't be explained properly, suggesting he could simply come to Kuoh Academy instead.
He proposed they arrange any living quarters for him, or even let him stay in the clubroom if necessary.
However, under Rias's firm stance, he ultimately failed to get his way.
Both Haruto and Rias had breathed a sigh of relief, hoping to maintain this arrangement until after the Three Factions Summit, when things would become easier.
But just a few days later, Azazel showed up unannounced, arrogantly declaring his intention to take up residence in the Occult Research Club.
April 10th, 3:00 PM.
After ending a call with the Phenex family, Azazel toyed with the Sacred Gear fused with Freed's body and soul, a sinister smile spreading across his face.
Freed had lost Asia, but given the circumstances between both parties, Azazel didn't hold Rias accountable.
Instead, as punishment, he directly used Freed for experimentation.
"So this is Sirzechs's attitude. In that case, I don't need to hold back either."
Casually tossing the enhanced pistol and holy sword onto the table, he locked onto Kuoh Academy's coordinates and began teleporting.
Azazel had maintained contact with the pure-blooded devil family, Phenex.
Having heard that the third son of the Phenex family had taken a liking to Rias, he reached out to them and unexpectedly gained an advantage.
Seeing how resolute Rias had been, he initially thought Sirzechs was backing her, but it turned out to be a bluff.
The third son of the Phenex family had stated that aside from Rias's first time, everything else was negotiable.
Azazel felt a bit regretful, but the thought of the other beautiful girls still excited him immensely.
Originally, Rias was the hardest to obtain, and there was always the risk of retaliation from the Gremory family. But now, with the third son of the Phenex family's assurance, even if he ruined all her servants, it wouldn't matter.
Once Rias became the wife of the Phenex family's third son, her servants would naturally become his subordinates as well.
Having figured this out, Azazel couldn't wait any longer. After teleporting to Kuoh Academy, he activated his senses and detected two locations with relatively strong auras.
"The student council... So it's the little girl from the Sitri family. That violent woman isn't someone to mess with..."
Azazel first checked the closer student council office and spotted Sona and her servants. His eyes lit up briefly, but then he remembered Sona's older sister and immediately dismissed any mischievous ideas.
Sona noticed him as well—it was impossible to miss such brazen scrutiny.
She was aware of the situation between Rias and Azazel but felt it wasn't her place to intervene.
Sensing that Azazel had ill intentions, she immediately took out her phone and notified Rias.
In the Occult Research Club, Rias ended her call with Sona with a grave expression, not yet having the chance to explain the situation to the others.
A powerful, violent aura suddenly blasted open the clubroom door, and Azazel strode in slowly with a wild, arrogant expression.
Rias had no time to explain. With a cold face, she stepped to the front of the group, dark red magical energy swirling around her body.
"Azazel, are you planning to tear up the contract and start a war here?"
"War?" Azazel sneered. "No, no, no. Even if we really fought, it would be nothing more than bullying children."
The others were furious, but with the vast difference in power, they could only endure it.
"Boost..."
Haruto narrowed his eyes, manifesting the Red Dragon Emperor's Gauntlet as he secretly began gathering power.
Just as tensions were rising, Azazel suddenly withdrew his aura and said cheerfully to Rias, "Miss Rias, no need to be so tense. I have no intention of breaking the contract."
Rias stared at him intently without saying a word.
Azazel shrugged, completely indifferent to her attitude, and continued, "I just wanted to see how much your strength had improved with my guidance. It seems that method really doesn't work—there's basically no improvement at all~"
Written guidance was indeed harder to understand and absorb compared to live demonstrations, but the main reason Yuuma and the others hadn't improved was simply the short amount of time.
Azazel knew this perfectly well; he was just making up an excuse.
Seeing that no one responded, he went on, "So, I've decided to guide you personally. Coincidentally, I remember you don't have an advisor yet, so I'll take on that role too. No need to thank me too much."
"No need. We already have an advisor."
Rias looked at him expressionlessly. "We don't need your personal guidance either. Since we're continuing to cooperate, please leave."
"You have one?" Azazel said in surprise. "Who? How come I didn't know?"
"We just hired her after the semester started. Kalawarna, the English teacher for Class 2-A, is also our club advisor."
This time, it was Akeno who answered Azazel, pointing to the blue-haired older sister figure who was taller than everyone present.
"Kalawarna?"
Azazel scratched his head. "Sounds familiar... I think there's a useless subordinate of mine with that name... Oh, she's your servant now."
Kalawarna's face darkened, while Amano Yuuma and Mittelt couldn't help but show angry expressions.
"Miss Rias, what use is having such a useless person as your advisor? What could she possibly teach you?"
"That's none of your concern. Our club focuses on investigating mysterious phenomena, and Kalawarna can naturally help with that."