Rias's mood was indescribably somber.
She had assumed Roy's urgent call at noon would bring good news. Instead, the words from Roy struck her like a bolt from the blue.
In her heart, she had already considered Roy her knight, even though he hadn't agreed to become her peerage member.
She believed that with persistence, she could eventually win him over. Now, however, those hopes were dashed.
The only silver lining was that her group maintained a good relationship with Roy, free of conflict.
The thought of facing the red dragon emperor, one of the Two Heavenly Dragons, as an enemy was daunting.
Even gods feared such an opponent, and Rias wasn't arrogant enough to believe she could challenge them.
Sensing Rias's evident disappointment, Roy understood she had abandoned her efforts to recruit him as a low-class devil.
Akeno broke the silence with a playful grin. "Rias, it's not all bad. Roy is this generation's Red Dragon Emperor. Having such a friend means we can bask in his glory later."
"Now Rias, have you considered pursuing Roy seriously?" Akeno teased, nudging Rias with a mischievous glint in her eyes.
Rias shook her head, her expression tinged with wry amusement. "I'm not in the mood for that right now."
Suddenly, a thought struck her. "By the way, Roy," she asked, "how did you awaken your Sacred Gear?"
Rias was genuinely puzzled. She had encountered other Sacred Gear hosts before, and they typically emitted a faint trace of their artifact's aura, which her strength allowed her to detect, especially before the gear awakened.
Yet, Roy showed no such signs. It was as if his Sacred Gear had manifested out of nowhere.
"Well…" Roy began, recounting the previous day's events when Freed Sellzen and fallen angels invaded his home.
He shared a slightly altered version of the story to avoid unnecessary complications.
"You encountered a stray exorcist and fallen angels?" The group was shocked but relieved that Roy stood before them unharmed.
"I'm sorry, this is my fault," Rias said, her voice heavy with guilt.
"I didn't expect the fallen angels to target you."
She explained, "Some time ago, I noticed fallen angel activity in Kuoh Town, but I thought it was part of their usual schemes and ignored it."
Since the truce between devils and fallen angels, both sides had been focusing on recovery.
While Kuoh Town was Rias's territory, it was still part of the human world, distinct from the Underworld's fiefdoms.
As long as the fallen angels caused no major disturbances, Rias preferred to avoid confrontation.
Her status as the Gremory heiress and sister to Satan Lucifer meant any misstep could spark a larger conflict.
The fallen angels had seemed quiet, so Rias stopped monitoring them.
Her oversight nearly cost Roy his life, and her strong sense of responsibility left her deeply remorseful.
"It's fine. I'm okay, aren't I?" Roy said, scratching his cheek, unsettled by Rias's apologetic expression.
"No, this was my failure," Rias insisted.
"I didn't anticipate that fallen angels would ally with a stray exorcist."
"The exorcist likely attacked you because you carried the scent of devils," Akeno added, her tone apologetic yet tinged with concern.
Their frequent contact with Roy had likely drawn unwanted attention.
"If I killed the fallen angels and the stray exorcist, that shouldn't cause any issues, right?" Roy asked, feigning uncertainty.
"They crossed the line first, acting boldly in my territory," Rias said with confident resolve.
"If the fallen angels complain, they have no ground to stand on. We won't let them trouble you."
Akeno's eyes sparkled with amusement. "This was a blessing in disguise, wasn't it, Roy? Let your friend take a closer look at the you." She reached out playfully, only for Roy to swat her hand away.
"Really, Roy," Akeno pouted, rubbing her hand with exaggerated drama.
"You used to be so friendly with your friend. Now that you're the Red Dragon Emperor, do you look down on me?"
"If you added a tear or two, it'd be more convincing," Roy replied dryly.
Akeno chuckled. "Noted. I'll try harder next time."
Rias, curious, gently took Roy's right hand to examine the Boosted Gear's gauntlet. "This is my first time seeing a longinus up close."
"Rias gets all the attention," Akeno teased, her voice laced with mock jealousy.
"Since we nearly got Roy into trouble, maybe you should offer yourself as compensation."
Rias nodded seriously. "I do bear responsibility. Roy, if there's anything I can do to make up for it, just ask."
"I do have one request," Roy said.
Akeno's eyes gleamed with curiosity.
"A confession? Are you asking Rias to be your girlfriend?"
"If I wanted to pursue Rias, I wouldn't force her ," Roy said solemnly.
"Oh? Is our Roy an innocent type?" Akeno asked, her tone teasing yet intrigued.
Innocent? Hardly, Roy thought, keeping his playful intentions to himself.
Rias, pleased with his response, gave a small, appreciative nod.
Bound by her family's engagement, she longed for genuine love.
"When I dealt with the fallen angel and exorcist, I saved a nun," Roy continued. "I'd like your help with her enrollment at Kuoh Academy."
Rias blinked, caught off guard. "Enroll a nun? Roy, you know our school is run by devils. The church and devils don't exactly get along."
"She's no longer a nun of the church," Roy clarified. "She was expelled."
"Expelled?" Rias asked, puzzled.
Roy explained Asia's situation. Asia, a former saint, had awakened Twilight Healing, earning her status in the church. However, her kindness led her to heal a dying devil, resulting in her expulsion.
With nowhere to go, she was manipulated by fallen angels and brought to Kuoh Town. Roy had taken her in temporarily.
"She must be pretty, huh?" Akeno teased, her voice dripping with playful suspicion.
Asia's beauty, combined with her Twilight Healing, had likely contributed to her selection as a saint.
"You've been bewitched!" Akeno declared, eyeing Roy with theatrical scrutiny.
"Definitely bewitched," Koneko Toujou added dryly.
"Why do you all act like I'm some lovesick fool?" Roy sighed. "Is my willpower that weak?"
"Uh… maybe?" Yuuto Kiba chimed in, his tone light but pointed.
"Even Yuuto agrees!" Akeno said triumphantly. "Roy, you're out of excuses."
Rias interjected, "A saint, even a former one, is no small matter. Roy, are you certain her story is true?"
The church-devil enmity ran deep, and Rias couldn't afford to act rashly. While she trusted Roy, Asia's claims were unverified.
"I'm sure," Roy said confidently.
"Totally bewitched," Akeno huffed, feigning exasperation. "You've known her for, what, a night? And you trust her completely?"
"She wouldn't lie," Roy insisted. "Meet her, and you'll understand."
"Alright, Roy. I'll meet her," Rias agreed. "Is she free after school? She could come to the academy."
"I'll call her later," Roy said.
With his promise to Asia fulfilled, Roy said his goodbyes and left the Occult Research Club. Yuuto and Koneko followed.
After Roy's departure, Akeno teased, "A former saint? That's a boy's dream. Rias, if you don't act, Roy might slip away."
"No need to lecture me," Rias retorted, rolling her eyes. "You're no love expert yourself, Akeno."
"I'm just looking out for you," Akeno said with a smug grin. "Roy's one of the few who could match you."
Rias pulled out a special phone and dialed a contact. "I need information on whether the European church recently expelled a saint named Asia Argento."
As a Gremory heiress, Rias had connections in the human world, including Europe. Unlike devils, who hid their identities, church saints were public figures, making them easier to investigate.
"Keeping your rival close, huh?" Akeno remarked, her tone playful yet pointed.
"You're the one who encouraged this," Rias shot back, her lips curving into a sly smile.
Akeno raised an eyebrow. "Your mood's improved awfully fast."
As Rias's childhood friend, Akeno knew her well. It didn't take long for Akeno to realize why Rias's mood had lifted.
"Twilight Healing, wielded by a former saint with nowhere to go," Rias mused, her voice carrying a hint of intrigue.
"Sounds like a perfect candidate."
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