Chapter 42 - Red Flag

And Adam left the room without being aware of…

"That ...just isn't fair," Rias covered her face with the blanket as she whispered that to no one in particular, but if one could see her face they'll see that was fully matching her crimson hair.

She was more embarrassed now than what she thought was possible.

An hour later…

Rias walked out of the bedroom after she took a shower and wore her school uniform once again.

"Rias you woke up at the perfect time, want some Strawberry pies?" Adam asked with a smile as he had just come out of the kitchen.

And hearing Adam say that Rias couldn't help but blush since she was reminded of what he said before, but even then….

"I would have some," She knew it would be delicious so she didn't want to miss out on tasting it.

So three strawberry pies later…

'It was delicious,' Rias was drinking some tea that felt similar to Earl Grey, but the taste was quite different.

"Well, then shall we go?" Adam said as he quickly cleaned up the table.

"Are you going to come with me, Adam?" Rias asked and Adam nodded, he was going to follow Rias back to her world along with her.

"If it is a problem that I get seen, I can be invisible when we arrive," Adam said but Rias shook her head.

"No need to worry, No one will question you," Rias opened the door, and as soon as she crossed it.

"Welcome to the Occult Research Club of Kuoh Academy," Rias welcomed Adam as he walked out of the door wearing his normal white shirt and black pants.

"Thank you for inviting me over," Adam said and he moved on to the next topic.

"Should I go and look for the guy named Riser Phenex?" Adam asked and Rias started thinking for a bit before asking.

"Adam, How strong are you?" Rias asked and Adam tapped his chin.

'That is quite difficult to estimate at this point,' Adam thought as most of his Professions were currently sealed and he could only use two of them freely but he already kind of had an answer.

"I am strong enough to fulfill your wish in any way you want," Rias didn't know why but that answer made her chuckle.

'I had a feeling he would answer it that way,' Rias started to think about how to deal with Riser.

'If Adam just kills him he'll most definitely be hunted, he would look suspicious if he appears around me at the same time Riser vanished since it isn't a secret that I don't like this engagement,' Rias kept on thinking till she arrived at one conclusion.

"Adam, you are free to do what you want today, but please come back here tomorrow at 11 A.M. and I'll be ready with the way I want to deal with this," Rias said and Adam nodded, he didn't see any problem with that.

"Sure, I'll just look around the city in the meantime," Adam waved and left through the door while Rias waved back.

And as soon as Adam was gone, Rias took out the same pendant from before and opened it.

The pendant shined and then it dimmed signaling that it was connected to the person it was supposed to.

[What happened Ria? Are you in danger? Should I come over?!] Rias sighed hearing the panicked voice from the other end but she ignored it and spoke her words.

"Onii-sama I need to talk to you about my engagement,"

[Should I send Gra-Oh!] Her older brother who was going on and on about stuff stopped as soon as he heard that and spoke in a somewhat troubled tone, [You know Ria that I can't help you directly with that, but worry not I am talking to father, I am sure he'll listen.]

But Rias wasn't interested in that.

"Onii-sama I don't need your help in breaking my engagement,"

[What?] Rias could hear the confusion in her brother's voice but she didn't stop and continued.

"I want to challenge Riser Phenex to a rating game, if I win I want this engagement annulled along with the right to choose my own partner and if I happen to lose I will marry Riser without making any more problems, Could Onii-sama arrange for this?" Rias had made up her mind and this seemed like the only way for her to achieve what she wanted.

[…I see, That is your right and no one will be able to interfere with it, I'll make sure to arrange things properly,] Sirzechs spoke and Rias didn't know why but she felt like he sounded somewhat proud.

'Whatever, hopefully, nothing goes wrong now,' Rias closed the pendant and sat down on her chair looking at the ceiling.

And that was a splendid red flag.

***

A few hours later,

Rias's entire Peerage arrived in the Occult Research Clubroom and…

"Did something happen President?" Himejima Akeno who was Rias's Queen asked looking at the tired look on her face.

"Well, I need to let you all know something," Rias nodded seriously and Akeno went to the side to prepare some tea as all of the other peerage members sat down on the couches.

"I am engaged," Rias said and everyone in the room was shocked.

But one person was shocked the most.

"W-What? President, what do you mean?" Hyoudou Issei who was the only pawn in Rias's peerage shouted.

'W-wait Engaged?' Argento Asia, the bishop and also the newest recruit exclaimed in her mind.

'No wait if it is like that …then Issei-san is min…. Oh No, what am I thinking, Sorry for the impure thoughts God, Ugh!' Asia grabbed her head in pain.

"It is as it sounds, I have been engaged to someone I don't want to," Rias said as Issei looked angry.

"What? How dare someone do this to President, I'll kick their ass!"

"Well, it was Rias's father, are you sure about that Issei-kun?" Akeno said while looking at Issei as she placed a teacup on the table in front of Rias

"A-Ah, W-Well, I guess I'll sit down, but it is still bad, we need to do something about this!!" Issei sat down nervously while scratching his face as Akeno giggled.

"I am sure President had already thought of the answer," Akeno turned to Rias who nodded.

"Indeed, I have found a way to get out of this engagement," Rias said and Issei looked happy again as she continued, "But for that, I'll need your help."

"Way to go President! We'll help you with everything we can," Issei shouted as he jumped on his feet and Asia nodded with a determined look.

"You've saved me President so I'll do everything I can,"

"It goes without saying that all of us help you, President, you are our king after all," Kiba Yuuto the only knight of the Peerage said while sitting down.

"I'll help as well," The only Rook of Rias, the cute and petite Toujou Koneko also raised her hand with eating some cookies.

"Thank you all of you," Rias smiled looking at her peerage as Akeno placed a hand on her shoulder.

"There is no need to thank us for this,"

Rias nodded at Akeno's words. As she was about to continue a yellow magic circle appeared in the room which caused everyone to become alert quickly as they circled around Rias to protect her.

'That…' Rias looked at the magic circle that spew a lot of flames and soon a blonde-haired man walked out of the flames like it didn't even affect him.

"Well Well, I never thought that you would apply for a rating game My dear Rias," The man said as he looked at Rias with a grin.

"Huh? Who are you?" Issei glared at the man but he was only met with disdain.

"Out of my way low-class devil, you have no place in the talk between us," Riser said and turned to Rias, "So, now why would you do such a thing, my dear Rias?"

"I did it because I do not agree with this engagement," Rias said and Riser just smirked.

"Rias are you really going to ignore your family's circumstances?" Riser sat down on the couch and crossed his legs making himself at home, "Both of us are pure-blooded Devils, such a marriage is made with the interest of both families and the future of Devils in mind."

"Even with that, I do not agree with this," Rias did not care about any of the things Riser was saying and this only made him angry.

"Rias do you really think you can win? I'll just burn down your whole peerage and take you with me by force if I have to," A ball of fire appeared in Riser's hand and the temperature in the room rose.

"W-What?" Issei was surprised since he knew that this ball of flame could reduce him to ashes, he understood that he wouldn't be able to do anything.

"Now I can't allow something like that," A red circle lit up in the middle of Riser and Rias before a cold voice rang out in the heated room.

....

350 stones for the bonus chapter 💀....