Chapter 98 - Should I Call You Ignorant Or Just Fearless
"If there's trouble, why not solve it together?"
With a calm smile, Mahiro looked at Grayfia and said, "Wouldn't you agree, Miss Maid?"
Grayfia turned her attention to Mahiro. Since they'd left the room, she'd mostly been focused on Rias, only glancing at Mahiro now and then. Now, she took a moment to really look at the guy who had caught Rias's eye.
Mahiro's black hair and dark eyes made him stand out among humans, especially to girls around sixteen or seventeen. But for Grayfia, who was used to the beauty of Devils, Angels, and Fallen Angels, Mahiro wasn't anything special.
Even so, his calm attitude caught her attention and made her give him some respect.
But that was it.
In her long life as a Devil, Grayfia had met plenty of exceptional people, and Mahiro was just one of the better ones.
"I don't know where you get the confidence to say stuff like that," Grayfia said, eyeing Mahiro. "But I have to tell you, this time, the trouble isn't small."
"For your students, maybe fights, school bullying, and that kind of crap are big deals. But this time, the stakes are a thousand times higher than anything you've dealt with before."
"Miss Maid, are you trying to remind me how serious this is?" Mahiro asked, still smiling slightly.
"Yes," Grayfia nodded. "I'm not saying your actions didn't matter, but you were too reckless. You focused on the now without thinking about what comes next."
"Miss Maid, whether you know me or not, I'm not someone who acts without thinking about the consequences," Mahiro replied calmly, not bothered by Grayfia's questioning.
Grayfia was taken aback for a moment, then looked at Mahiro more seriously. "So, you already know what you're about to face?"
Mahiro nodded, staying cool.
"Rias, I'd like to talk to this human boy alone, if that's okay," Grayfia said after a pause.
"Grayfia, what are you planning?" Rias asked cautiously, not liking too much interaction between Grayfia and Mahiro.
"Don't worry, Rias. I'm not going to harm him," Grayfia reassured her.
"It's fine. I want to hear what Miss Maid has to say," Mahiro told Rias, trying to put her at ease.
"Alright," Rias agreed, though she still seemed concerned. "If anything happens, just call for me."
With that, Rias gave Grayfia a warning look before turning and going back into Mahiro's room.
"I'll be blunt," Grayfia said once Rias had left, looking straight at Mahiro. "You're probably going to die."
Rias, in her impulsiveness, hadn't fully grasped the gravity of the situation or how badly things could turn out for Mahiro. But Grayfia, as an outsider, saw it all too clearly.
"Are you talking about revenge from the Phenex Clan?" Mahiro asked, still smiling.
"Seems like you've thought about it," Grayfia said, giving Mahiro a more appreciative look. "In that sense, you're a bit more mature than Rias."
Grayfia sighed. "But even knowing that, you still chose to be with Rias. Should I call you ignorant or just fearless?"
"Why not call it confidence?" Mahiro replied. "Rias is with me now, so it's my job to deal with her problems. I care about her, she cares about me, and I'm not letting anyone take her away."
"Well said," Grayfia nodded. "At least in that regard, I agree with you."
"But talking alone won't cut it."
"So, Miss Maid, are you planning to test my strength?" Mahiro asked, meeting Grayfia's gaze head-on.
As soon as he finished speaking, Grayfia's aura shifted, unleashing a massive pressure.
Mahiro stood his ground, not flinching at all.
"Forget it. I don't want Rias to misunderstand," Grayfia said after a moment, shaking her head and pulling back her aura. She glanced at the door to Mahiro's room before continuing, "This marriage between the Gremory Clan and the Phenex Clan is something a lot of Devils, not just those two clans, want to see happen. But you've thrown a wrench in that."
Grayfia spoke with a hint of warning. "It's safe to say you've pissed off a lot of people."
"Besides the Phenex, who else wants to come after me?" Mahiro asked, a bit surprised.
It seemed the fallout from his relationship with Rias was worse than he'd thought.
"The Phenex Clan has a lot of allies who want to see the marriage between the Phenex and Gremory Clans happen to strengthen both sides," Grayfia explained. "But you don't need to worry about them. This is a matter between the Gremory and Phenex Clans, and even if they wanted to interfere, the Gremory Clan wouldn't allow it."
Grayfia spoke with unshakable confidence, the kind that came from the power and influence of the Gremory Clan, which held the title of Duke and had a current Satan in its ranks.
"But that's all we can do," Grayfia continued. "On the Phenex side, we can't offer you any help. You're on your own with that."
Grayfia looked directly at Mahiro. "Do you get it?"
This situation came from the Gremory Clan's actions, and any further help for Mahiro could damage the clan's reputation and invite scrutiny from other clans. So, the Gremory Clan couldn't step in against the Phenex Clan's direct revenge.
"Understood," Mahiro said, staying calm. He had mastered the Balance Breaker, so he wasn't too worried unless beings above Ultimate-Class got involved.
"I hope you're not just full of yourself," Grayfia said, nodding slightly.
"As Rias's elder, I don't want you to die. But personally, I hope you can deal with this. After all, you're the one Rias chose."
The magic circle under Grayfia's feet began to glow.
She had watched Rias grow up and was an elder to her. Naturally, she wanted Rias to be happy, not just a pawn in some family marriage.
"I won't say goodbye to Rias. Let her know that what happened today can't be kept secret. Maybe tomorrow, maybe the day after, but within the next two days at most, the Phenex Clan will definitely come to confront her. Make sure she's ready."
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