Chapter 284: Haruto's Own Pieces
Although he failed to break through to Satan-Class in one go, Katerea still brought Haruto significant improvements.
Setting aside the rapid completion of magical power accumulation, during the countless dual cultivation sessions in blurred time, the bloodline talents of the Leviathan lineage, her personal special talents, and some mastered skills all contributed to Haruto's enhanced strength.
Particularly the Devil Bloodline - after incorporating Leviathan's bloodline talents, it became even more powerful, with slight visible changes, though not easily noticeable without careful observation.
...
...
July 12th, less than twenty days until summer vacation.
Haruto was boredly catching up on missed coursework in the classroom.
As his strength grew, his memory improved dramatically. Even though he had missed nearly half a semester, simply reviewing the materials could earn him decent grades.
After all, with this rigid high school exam-oriented education, it was hard to fail as long as you memorized the textbook content... except for mathematics.
With mathematics, even if you memorized formulas and methods, you either got it or you didn't.
Fortunately, Haruto was naturally good at science subjects, combined with his foundation from his previous life, passing shouldn't be difficult.
"Haruto, come to the club room. Your Evil Pieces have arrived."
Rias's voice suddenly echoed through the soul network.
"Understood, President."
Haruto stretched lazily, promptly putting down the boring textbooks while inviting Ravel and Koneko to head to the club room together.
Mystical Research Club.
Haruto received sixteen slightly dark-blue beautiful pieces from the silver-haired beauty. "Grayfia-san, thank you for making the trip again."
"Red Dragon Emperor-sama..."
"If possible, please just call me by my name. I don't really like that title."
Haruto originally didn't have much feeling about this title, but after what Vali and Katerea pulled during the last Three Factions Summit, along with Albion, the White Dragon Emperor, he had grown rather displeased with it.
If nothing unexpected happened, once he reached god-class, he would help Ddraig, the Red Dragon Emperor, resurrect. If that wasn't possible, he'd first help find him a host.
At any rate, he wouldn't use a Sacred Gear that offered him no help and had its own consciousness anymore.
Unless the soul dwelling within was a beautiful girl—well, an older sister type would be acceptable too.
Grayfia smiled slightly. "Indeed, it's somewhat inappropriate to keep addressing Haruto-sama as the Red Dragon Emperor."
"Miss Grayfia, please just call me Haruto." Haruto smiled, feeling somewhat strange being addressed as "sama" by the fully matured head maid.
"Then Haruto, please call me by my name directly too, without always adding honorifics."
"Grayfia... Fia."
Haruto's eyes lit up—this was a perfect opportunity to close the distance between them, and of course he wouldn't miss it.
Not only did he call her by her first name directly, he even used an even more intimate form of address.
"Fia, may I call you that?"
The silver-haired beauty didn't expect Haruto to be so bold and was momentarily stunned, though she didn't seem to dislike it.
For some reason, the elegant silver-haired beauty suddenly recalled the time she had examined Haruto in the bathroom while he was unconscious.
The strongest Queen of the Underworld used her formidable willpower to suppress her chaotic thoughts and responded with a smile: "Though it's a bit embarrassing... if Haruto wishes to address me that way... you may."
Haruto initially entered her and the Underworld's attention due to the Azazel incident, where the Juggernaut Drive of the Red Dragon Emperor's Gauntlet played a key role.
But with Haruto's rocket-like exponential growth in power and the combat prowess he displayed during the Three Factions Summit, anyone with discernment could tell that Haruto himself was more noteworthy than any Sacred Gear.
There had been many successors of the Red Dragon Emperor before, and there would continue to be more in the future.
But Haruto's abilities and potential, particularly his absurd combat strength that made him invincible among peers, were truly one of a kind, completely unparalleled.
Setting aside the Red Dragon Emperor lens, the silver-haired beauty appreciated Haruto even more.
Remembering how he had actively intercepted enemies during the Three Factions Summit, allowing her to focus on analyzing the sealing barrier, the warmth in her eyes seemed to materialize into tangible streams, enveloping Haruto completely.
Watching Grayfia and Haruto's "deep gaze exchange," Rias couldn't hold back anymore.
She rarely showed the jealous side of a young girl, interrupting their interaction with a mix of embarrassment and annoyance.
"Grayfia, your business here is done. Please return to the Underworld."
The silver-haired beauty looked at Rias with an amused smile, not exposing her little thoughts.
"Very well, Miss Rias."
A magnificent silver magic circle appeared, enveloping the head maid in a soft glow.
"I look forward to everyone's arrival in the Underworld."
Before leaving, Grayfia left behind words that left Haruto completely puzzled.
"I just received notification too. We need to return to the Underworld during summer vacation. It seems related to that old demon who appeared last time."
Rias briefly explained before moving past the topic.
Compared to this last-minute notice, the Evil Pieces were the main focus this time.
"Haruto, have you decided how to use these pieces?"
"Hmm..."
Haruto fiddled with the exquisite blue crystal-like pieces, unable to resist feeling conflicted.
Before obtaining the Soul Contract ability, he had been quite looking forward to having his own Familiars.
But now... the Evil Pieces seemed somewhat dispensable.
"I'm not really keen on contracting Familiars."
Rias nodded understandingly. Raising Familiars not only required significant effort but also carried certain risks. Many ordinary High-Class Devils made this choice too.
However, overall, raising Familiars still offered more benefits than drawbacks. If one had the capability, it was better to cultivate some.
"Haruto, if you come across suitable candidates, you should still try to contract them whenever possible."
Rias said: "When we advance to the university division, there will be more Rating Game competitions, or rather, resource allocation conducted through Rating Games."
Rating Games were originally competitions for adult demons, so it was normal that they didn't seem particularly useful at the moment.
After Rias's explanation, Haruto came to a realization.
"Alright, I'll carefully select my Familiars."
There were actually many potential candidates, but after spending so much time with Rias's numerous prodigies, he found himself somewhat dismissive of slightly ordinary ones.
As for those he did fancy, most had already been bound by Soul Contracts.
Even without Soul Contracts, he couldn't very well poach from Rias and Sona's circles.
After much thought, there seemed to be only three suitable candidates at present.
Naruse Mio, Naruse Maria, and the golden-haired twin-tailed young lady who had been lost to him by that blond playboy.
The Naruse sisters weren't in the clubroom currently, and they had rejected the Soul Contract last time - he wasn't sure if they would agree this time.
Thus, Haruto's gaze instinctively turned toward Ravel.
Looking at the blushing demon young lady clenching her small fists, clearly very nervous, he couldn't help but smile.
This young lady temporarily registered under Rias's name practically had "Choose me" written in her eyes. He had originally worried that she might be unhappy due to the bet, but it seemed he had overthought it.
Although he had vaguely sensed beforehand that Ravel seemed to have some feelings for him, when everything was confirmed, Haruto still felt physically and mentally pleased.
For Ravel, or rather for the women he encountered later, the effects of the Cuckold Protagonist Template had almost no effect.
Partly because of Haruto's suppression after becoming stronger, and partly because they were powerful enough to resist that influence.
So, Ravel was completely attracted by Haruto's charm, which naturally made him happy.
He actually quite wanted to Soul Contract Ravel too - this somewhat tsundere young lady had both potential and looks that weren't low.
More importantly, she was kind-hearted by nature and genuinely liked him.
Her figure currently wasn't Haruto's preferred "luxury car" type, but judging from other Phenex family members' physiques, Ravel clearly wouldn't remain petite.
And at just sixteen years old, her chest had already developed quite substantially - the future looked promising!
Not letting the somewhat tsundere young lady wait any longer, Haruto said with a doting smile: "Ravel, would you be willing to become my Queen?"
"I do!"
Almost an instant reply.