"I'm truly sorry for my brother's behavior at the previous engagement ceremony, Takeyo-sama. We should wait until Rias-san gathers her Evil Pieces before holding the Rating Game."
Ravel maintained perfect aristocratic etiquette as she spoke, her blue eyes earnest.
Ah, yes. All these nobles valued such formalities. Riser had been the same before his attitude changed.
"It's fine. If I'd been there from the start, things wouldn't have gotten so complicated," Takeyo replied with a slight smile.
Never strike someone who's being polite, especially when they're genuinely trying to make amends.
"Oh! That's right!"
Ravel suddenly remembered something important.
She carefully retrieved three delicate vials from her pocket, each containing a single drop of crimson liquid that seemed to glow with inner light.
"Takeyo-sama appeared to be injured earlier. These are a specialty of the Phenex family. I hope they can help you recover, even if only a little."
As she spoke, Ravel's face flushed red once more, her composure slipping.
"Phoenix Tears, correct? Thank you."
Takeyo accepted them with genuine appreciation before storing them away.
Though they wouldn't help his particular condition, they were undeniably useful items. Besides, refusing such a heartfelt gift would be incredibly rude.
Phoenix Tears required an extraordinarily difficult ritual to create, tears shed by a Phenex devil with absolutely no desires, emotions, or attachment. Three vials represented significant value, even among devil nobility.
"No... there's no need to thank me, Takeyo-sama," Ravel replied in a barely audible voice, fidgeting with the hem of her school uniform.
"Takeyo-kun? I'd like to ask you to show her around the academy," Sona said, her eyes calm behind her glasses. "The student council members are quite busy right now, so I can only ask this of you."
Well... at least her expression appeared calm on the surface.
"Sure, leave it to me."
Takeyo nodded. Honestly, he'd wanted some time alone with Ravel anyway.
Though he'd already guessed what had happened with her, he still needed confirmation. Not to mention, she'd just gifted him three bottles of Phoenix Tears, the kind of present that would be considered extravagant even when given to a Maou.
In the original timeline, Ravel's transfer should have occurred after the school trip at the earliest. The fact that this change had happened now... Takeyo was ninety-nine percent certain he knew the reason why.
"Th-thank you for your guidance, Takeyo-sama."
Ravel bowed deeply again. Very sincerely, in fact.
So sincerely that Takeyo couldn't help but notice.
His eyes flickered slightly before he looked away.
Under Sona's watchful, and slightly cold, gaze, Takeyo and Ravel left the student council room together.
"Ravel, why don't you head to your classroom first? You should be in the same class as Koneko."
According to the information Sona had provided, both Ravel and Koneko were first-year high school students. Since Ravel had mentioned she'd be studying here for six years while completing her devil internship, she clearly intended to finish through university as well.
Kuoh Town did have a university, Kuoh Academy extended through higher education.
"Yes! I'll follow Takeyo-sama's guidance," Ravel responded softly, completely different from her earlier proud demeanor.
Perhaps this was the dere side of a tsundere character emerging.
Takeyo could speculate there was only one reason for Ravel's transformation from tsundere to dere: she'd been moved by witnessing him cough up golden blood while defeating her brother.
Just like Rias at the beginning.
Women, even devil women, always fell for that kind of dramatic scene.
"Hm?"
As they approached the classroom Ravel was about to enter, Takeyo's eyebrows rose slightly.
Because he saw an exclamation mark materialize above Ravel's head.
[Ding!]
[Congratulations to the host for triggering a plot sign-in! Sign-in level: Gold!]
[Sign-in plot: Whoever Takes Me Becomes Mine!]
[Plot: Since the young Phoenix lady Ravel took the host's blood, she will use her body to repay the debt! Recruit Ravel Phenex into your peerage!]
[Sign-in time limit: 30 days]
[Remaining time: 30 days]
"Takeyo-sama? Is something wrong?"
Ravel, who'd been watching him closely, noticed his momentary distraction.
"It's nothing. Let's turn around for a moment."
Takeyo smiled reassuringly.
Ravel really had taken something of his. Otherwise, she wouldn't have given him three bottles of Phoenix Tears. A single vial of Phoenix Tears was considered a magnificent gift among devils.
The production process wasn't as simple as beating Phoenix clan members until they cried. It required tears shed by a Phenex devil in a state of absolute emotional emptiness, no desire, no attachment, no feeling whatsoever.
"By the way, Ravel, I think there seems to be some kind of connection between us. Or am I imagining things?"
Takeyo went straight to the point.
"I... I feel it too," Ravel admitted, her heartbeat accelerating dramatically.
"Ravel..."
When they reached the first floor, Takeyo stopped walking.
Thud.
Smoothly, he raised one hand and pressed it against the wall beside Ravel's head, effectively trapping her.
"Did my blood... end up in your body?"
His eyes narrowed as he asked the question directly.
That's right. Before even entering the student council room, Takeyo had sensed it, the faint trace of his own blood's aura within the room.
Though diminished to an extreme degree, he'd still detected it.
Because of that trace of blood, Ravel's strength had skyrocketed from barely reaching high-class devil level to ultimate-class devil level!
If Takeyo was originally an ocean, Ravel would be like a graduated cylinder by comparison. It was easier for her to grow stronger from a trace of his blood than it was for him, but her upper limit was also much lower.
Of course, this was only "lower" relative to Takeyo himself.
That trace of blood had directly elevated Ravel's potential from its original peak of high-class devil to the transcendent tier!
They must have used some method to analyze the blood he'd coughed onto the wedding dress and forgotten to recover. Then they'd succeeded in getting Ravel to assimilate his essence through some kind of origin substitution ritual.
Facing Takeyo's direct question, Ravel fell silent.
The reason for her hesitation wasn't just the question itself, but also because of being suddenly kabedon'd against the wall. Her heart was racing at maximum speed!
"Y-yes. I did use a secret method to implant a trace of Takeyo-sama's blood," Ravel finally admitted, trembling slightly.
"Our Phoenix family has an ancient secret technique that can only be used once in a lifetime. Through Nirvana in the sacred Phoenix mountain, one can sublimate their origin."
"Of course, very few Phoenix devils actually achieve sublimation, but every Phoenix who succeeds becomes a master at Maou-level, possessing top-tier combat power even among Maou-class beings."
"However, sublimation isn't the only application. The technique can also integrate blood from other races, allowing us to acquire some advantages of those bloodlines."
"So you used my blood, didn't you? Your family certainly knows how to make efficient use of resources," Takeyo said with a knowing smile.
He understood the special nature of his blood, which was why he'd been so careful to avoid losing any. When he'd left the engagement venue, he'd remembered the problem immediately but had been too late to do anything about it.
"Y-yes. Because Takeyo-sama's golden blood seemed so distinctive, my family analyzed it. But they discovered results beyond anything we'd ever encountered. The effect of Takeyo-sama's blood surpassed every other racial bloodline we'd obtained before. So... so I took the liberty of using it to complete my Nirvana without your permission."
Ravel stammered through her explanation, glancing nervously at Takeyo's expression throughout.
She clearly didn't want him to misunderstand her intentions.
"Alright, I understand."
As he spoke, Takeyo removed his hand from the wall.
"So, how many others received the same treatment?"
His eyes narrowed again as he asked the crucial question.
If it was only Ravel, that would be fine. But if there were others, he'd have to take action. He'd directly invoke the power of Black Sky Krishna to devour their origins!
He didn't have the precision to accurately locate and extract only his blood, he'd simply devour most of their origin instead.
As for them losing their lives or having their strength regress after being devoured? They should have prepared for that possibility before doing something like this!
"B-because the material was so limited, I'm the only one. I'm... I'm sorry for using Takeyo-sama's blood without your consent."
Ravel first lowered her head in contrition.
Then, as if feeling that wasn't enough, she bowed deeply from the waist.
This girl really did love bowing.
"Well, that's acceptable. I can accept it if it's only you, Ravel," Takeyo said, his smile returning for the first time since asking that question.
'If... if it's only me, Takeyo-sama will accept it? Is this... is this like an indirect confession?' Strange thoughts bloomed in Ravel's mind, her imagination running wild.
"By the way, Ravel, since you're coming to the human world as a devil intern, that means you'll need to manage your own peerage eventually, right?"
Takeyo shifted topics smoothly.
For high-class devils like Rias and Sona who weren't old enough to participate in professional Rating Games, they generally demonstrated their value either through competitions among elite young devils or through their performance managing affairs in the human world.
"Yes, but I haven't received my Evil Pieces yet. Mother said she'll give them to me when I return to the Underworld during summer vacation."
Ravel nodded eagerly.
"Then promise me something."
Takeyo looked directly into her large blue eyes.
"I'll definitely fulfill any request Takeyo-sama makes!" Ravel patted her chest confidently, making her promise without hesitation.
"When you form your peerage in the future, only accept female servants."
"Eh?"
Hearing those words, Ravel froze in shock.
'Only female servants? What does Takeyo-sama mean by that? Would he be uncomfortable if I accepted male servants? Or perhaps...'
Her mind raced with possibilities, emotions swirling through her heart.
"U-understood..."
Whether she was confused or had reached some conclusion, Ravel ultimately agreed to Takeyo's request.
The campus tour continued.
However, after being kabedon'd and having her use of his blood exposed, Ravel's personality seemed to become slightly more open. She no longer adhered so strictly to noble etiquette.
During their walk, they encountered Koneko. The kitten and the bird engaged in their traditional cat-versus-bird confrontation, though it remained relatively playful.
"Look who's over there."
After walking around for quite a while, Takeyo finally spotted a familiar figure with distinctive crimson hair.
"That's... Sirzechs-sama?!" Ravel gasped softly, covering her mouth.
"Come on, let's go say hello."
Takeyo smiled and headed in that direction.
On Sirzechs's end...
"Sirzechs-sama, this is a document that requires your signature."
Beside the Satan Lucifer, the silver-haired maid handed over yet another file.
"Alright, alright, I understand."
A helpless smile appeared on Sirzechs's face as he accepted the document.
There was no escaping it, the work of managing the Underworld was incredibly tedious. Even though he'd come to Kuoh Academy today to prepare for tomorrow's meeting, Grayfia still delivered documents right on schedule.
"Done signing."
Sirzechs's efficiency remained commendably high.
He'd never had any real leverage against Grayfia's work ethic.
"Thank you, Sirzechs-sama."
With those comforting words, Grayfia produced another document.
"Oh! Isn't that Takeyo-kun? Let's go say hello, shall we?"
Suddenly, Sirzechs noticed Takeyo approaching and practically leaped at the opportunity to escape paperwork. He smiled warmly and walked toward the young man.
"Sirzechs-sama? This should be our first proper meeting. I apologize for my rudeness at the engagement ceremony. Please forgive me," Takeyo said courteously.
"Although you may already know me, allow me to introduce myself. I'm Takeyo Kagutsuchi... a human."
He extended his hand toward Sirzechs.
"Yes, Takeyo-kun. I've known about you for quite some time," Sirzechs replied, shaking Takeyo's hand firmly.
"I am Maou Sirzechs Lucifer, and also Ajuka's friend and Rias's older brother."
"If you don't mind, Takeyo-kun, feel free to call me Onii-san."
Sirzechs made his position clear from their very first official meeting: Though I am a Maou, I'm undoubtedly on your side.
☆☆☆
-> 50 Advanced chapters Now Available on Patreon!!
-> https://www.patreon.co-m/AshenMoon
(Just remove the hyphen (-) to access patreon normally)
If you like this novel please consider leaving a review that's help the story a lot Thank you