Devil's Don't Fall in Love, Ch 75-80

Chapter 75 – Tiamat’s Treasure

More than an hour later...

It was already late. In a few more hours, dawn would come.

The Underworld had no sun and no moon, but its flow of time was deliberately synchronized to the human world. That setup existed for the sake of reincarnated devils and the devils who lived in the human world, so the Underworld also had the concepts of day and night. No one had to worry about the two worlds having completely opposite schedules and throwing everything into chaos.

Only now did Leo’s group finally leave the Familiar Forest and make their way back to the forest entrance.

“I didn’t think it’d end up taking this long. So much for planning ahead.”

Leo glanced at the sky and scratched his head with a wry smile.

They still had school tomorrow. At this point, by the time they rushed back and got any sleep, it wouldn’t be much at all.

“But it’s not like we came away empty-handed, right?”

Yukino stroked the ice cat in her arms, her expression uncharacteristically soft.

A lot had happened tonight, but in Yukino’s eyes, it had all been worth it.

Not only had she contracted a familiar she really liked, Asuna and Utaha had also successfully made contracts with familiars that suited them. Both girls were currently playing with them, looking very satisfied.

Asuna was teasing the Fairy perched on her shoulder, while Utaha was playing with a certain owl.

It was pure white from head to toe, with round eyes that gleamed with intelligence and wisdom.

This owl was the familiar Tiamat had helped Utaha find.

Since ancient times, owls had always been considered symbols and incarnations of wisdom. Many gods of wisdom had owls as their sacred or divine beasts, serving by their side. The most famous, of course, was the goddess of wisdom Athena from Greek myth, who practically used owls as her personal emblem.

The Familiar Forest happened to be home to a group of owls originating from Greece. It was said they carried the bloodline of those owls that once served as the sacred or divine beasts of the gods. As a result, they were born with extremely high intelligence and spiritual awareness, making them one of the most intelligent races in the entire Familiar Forest.

They didn’t have much combat power, but they possessed a special ability: they could remember everything they saw and transmit it to others. On top of that, they had the ability to freely enter and leave almost any place. Even the barrier between the human world and the Underworld couldn’t stop them from flying. As long as they wished it, they could move between the human world and the Underworld at will. They were the perfect tools for carrying messages and recording information, adored by everyone who needed to contract a familiar.

They also had a trait that guaranteed they would never get lost. No matter how remote a place might be, they could follow their master’s orders and accurately deliver messages to any destination. If you made eye contact with their eyes, your mind would instantly clear and sharpen, making them practically a holy relic to all writers and artists.

Unfortunately, actually forming a contract with one of them was extremely difficult.

Because of their outstanding intellect, they were only drawn to people as calm and clever as themselves. Idiots and mediocrities would never catch their interest and would even be scorned and rejected. If someone tried to grab one by force, it would immediately slip into the void and disappear, then reappear by that person’s side when they least expected it and exact revenge, directly or indirectly, until they were completely miserable.

So even though this group of owls was the dream familiars of countless people, very few ever successfully gained their favor and formed a contract with them.

And since these owls could freely move through different spaces and even between worlds, simply tracking them down was already incredibly hard, let alone contracting with them.

As a result, even though there were people who knew such owls lived in the Familiar Forest in the Underworld, the number of people who actually managed to take one away as a familiar was extremely small.

Leo hadn’t expected to contract this kind of familiar at all. But when Tiamat heard Utaha’s request, she disappeared for barely ten minutes before coming back with this owl. No one knew what method she used, but she somehow convinced it to willingly recognize Utaha as its master and agree to a contract, leaving even Leo stunned.

What else could he say? She really was the hidden ruler of the Familiar Forest. Her connections were outrageous.

But when he thought about the favor Tiamat had asked in return, Leo’s head started to ache again.

“I want you to help me get one of my treasures back.”

That was the first thing Tiamat said to them after inviting the group into her home.

Tiamat had once possessed many treasures.

Or rather, every legendary dragon had once possessed many treasures.

Some dragons simply had that habit. They loved collecting treasures from all over the world and piling them up in their lairs, turning their homes into treasure vaults. Countless myths and legends mentioned this.

History wasn’t lacking in dragon-slaying heroes who, after defeating a dragon, found mountains of gold and jewels in its cave. That was thanks to this treasure-hoarding habit of legendary dragons.

The most famous case was the Evil Dragon Fafnir, known as the “Golden Dragon King.” His title alone said everything about how much he loved treasure and how rich he was.

In the past, this Dragon King had been slain by the dragon-slaying hero Siegfried, then later resurrected by the Norse gods. From then on, he became the only Dragon King openly willing to form long-term contracts with others. As long as someone offered him a precious enough treasure, they could form a contract with him and command his power.

Tiamat had also collected a vast number of treasures in the past, but those treasures had eventually all been “borrowed” by the Red Dragon Emperor of the Two Heavenly Dragons.

And once they were borrowed, they never came back.

After all, both the Red Dragon Emperor and the White Dragon Emperor had been defeated, their bodies destroyed and their souls sealed into Sacred Gears. The treasures Tiamat lent out naturally ended up lost, scattered across the world—claimed by others or disappearing without a trace.

Over the years, Tiamat had tried searching for those treasures, but it was like trying to put out a wildfire with a cup of water. In the end, the number she managed to recover was pitifully small.

This time, by a twist of fate, she met Leo. That was when Tiamat had the idea of asking him to help retrieve one particular treasure from among many.

“That treasure is called the Tablet of Destiny. It has the power to see the future and record the rising and setting of the stars.”

That was how Tiamat explained it to Leo.

“Among all my treasures, it’s one of the truly special ones. I lent it out twice in the past—once to a Sumerian god named Kingu, and once to the Red Dragon Emperor of the Two Heavenly Dragons.”

When she got to this part, Tiamat was practically grinding her teeth.

According to her, both times she lent out the Tablet of Destiny, it ended up getting lost.

The first time, it was stolen by the Sumerian chief god Marduk. Tiamat had gone to demand it back personally, and the two sides had fought so fiercely she’d almost died at his hands. With no other choice, she had to ask the then–Heavenly Dragon, the Red Dragon Emperor, to intervene and help her take it back.

The second time was when she lent it to the Red Dragon Emperor. It was taken along with her other treasures, and when the Red Dragon Emperor was later defeated, all the treasures on him vanished. Her treasures never returned.

These days, Tiamat had basically given up hope of reclaiming everything. But if she had the chance, she still wanted to retrieve those treasures that had once belonged to her, one by one.

The Tablet of Destiny was the treasure she most wanted to find recently, and that was why she had set her sights on Leo.

“Come on… you’re the strongest Dragon King. Why ask a newbie High-Class Devil like me to handle something like this?”

Leo really couldn’t wrap his head around it.

But Tiamat had her own reasoning.

“Because the last person to possess the Tablet of Destiny was the previous wielder of Zenith Tempest.”

And that was why Tiamat wanted to entrust this to Leo.

“The previous wielder of Zenith Tempest?”

Leo had been stunned at the time.

Was the world really that small?

“After the previous wielder of Zenith Tempest died, the Tablet of Destiny vanished again. I tried tracking it for a while, but I found absolutely nothing.”

Tiamat had fixed Leo with a burning gaze as she said this.

“You’re that person’s successor. If it’s you, you might be able to find some kind of clue.”

It was basically a desperate gamble.

At least, that was what Leo and the three girls—Yukino and the others—had all thought at the time.

Still, Tiamat was very straightforward about it.

“I really am out of options, so this is all I can do. Just do your best. If you manage it, I’ll fulfill my promise and give you those two children. If you can’t, that’s fine too. We’ll just pretend this never happened.”

From that angle, Leo was actually getting the better end of the deal.

Even if he couldn’t complete the task, Tiamat had still helped his servants obtain some very rare familiars. No matter how he looked at it, he came out ahead.

That said, after hearing Tiamat praise those two “children” so much, Leo was still a little disappointed he hadn’t gotten them.

To make it worse, Tiamat was deliberately keeping him in suspense. She wouldn’t even let Leo see them, only saying that she would introduce them to him once the job was done.

That had Leo itching with curiosity, to the point he wanted to hang this Dragon King up and beat some answers out of her.

“What are you going to do?” Utaha looked like she really had gotten smarter after playing with the owl. She saw right through Leo’s troubles in an instant. “Are you seriously going to help that Dragon King look for some tablet?”

Yukino and Asuna both turned to Leo as well.

“We’ll see.” Leo thought it over, but in the end he didn’t abandon it outright. “I’ll at least try. If it doesn’t work out, then I’ll give up.”

He was feeling pretty lost, but that didn’t mean he had no ideas at all.

Don’t forget, he had already received feedback from the Sacred Gear twice now. Through Zenith Tempest, he had gained the experiences and memories of many previous wielders using it in battle.

Maybe, if this continued, he could obtain even more memories—and maybe one of them would lead him to the Tablet of Destiny.

“Let’s head back.” Leo pushed the matter aside for now. “We’ll talk about it after we get a good night’s sleep.”

The girls all nodded in unison, agreeing with the plan.

*Chapter 76 The Center of Everyone’s Attention*

The next morning, all four members of Leo’s group showed up at school with dark circles under their eyes. No surprise there.

Utaha, in particular, looked like she was about to explode. She’d only just reincarnated as a devil and still wasn’t used to being awake during the day. Add in a night of barely any sleep, and her whole vibe practically screamed feral. Students were already whispering about what on earth she had done last night.

She had just joined the Occult Affairs Club, yet she already looked like she’d pulled enough all-nighters to ascend to godhood. How could people not start questioning it?

And with Leo, Yukino, and Asuna looking only slightly less miserable, the Occult Affairs Club—already a hot topic—instantly became the center of attention again.

Leo was fine. Yukino and the others, on the other hand, absolutely deserved it.

After returning to the manor, Leo had collapsed into bed and knocked out instantly. But the three girls, too excited after receiving their ideal familiars, stayed up playing with them until dawn. Only when the sky turned light did they reluctantly fall asleep. Saying they deserved their exhaustion wasn’t wrong at all.

Leo’s group couldn’t be bothered to deal with the school gossip. They were genuinely exhausted and barely functioning.

They didn’t know that, over in Class 1-A, Mahiru was troubled as well.

"Has Eligos-senpai… already arrived at school?"

Sitting at her desk, Mahiru listened to the surrounding chatter, hesitation clouding her expression.

Yesterday, after fainting in front of Leo, she slept straight through until the next morning. Her illness was gone, her fever disappeared, and even her mood had somehow improved—far better than the gloom she’d carried the day before.

Her own embarrassing problems aside, the sight she witnessed in Leo’s place had burned itself into her memory. Even now, the angel girl wondered if she’d simply been delirious with fever and hallucinating something impossible.

“Devils…”

Remembering that upperclassman spreading three pairs of wings that blotted out the sky, taking her hand, staring straight into her eyes—Mahiru’s heartbeat quickened without warning.

And then, Leo’s voice echoed in her ears.

“If no one wants you, then I’ll take you.”

“Stop being an angel, Shiina. Come be a devil.”

“All that effort you spent on your parents—use it on being needed by me.”

Just three short lines, yet they still tugged at Mahiru’s heart even now.

Mahiru didn’t consider herself someone who was easily moved.

Quite the opposite—she knew she was realistic, even cold.

Everyone called her an angel, praised her perfect personality, but only Mahiru knew how fake it all was. She kept up the sweet act so her parents would believe she was obedient, socially capable, outstanding.

She smiled every day, but never when she was alone.

She always seemed to be at the center of social circles, close with everyone—but anyone perceptive would realize she kept a careful distance, never letting anyone into her world.

When people talked, she echoed politely but only observed from afar.

When people showed her kindness, she responded gently but never actually cared.

The “angel” was just a mask.

Eriri played the good girl too, but she didn’t keep people at arm’s length. When Eriri made a friend, she genuinely treated them as one. Mahiru wasn’t like that. She had never once regarded anyone as a real friend.

People said she was cute—but Mahiru knew her appearance wasn’t effortless. She meticulously maintained her beauty every day, followed fashion trends, all to preserve her flawless image.

People assumed her excellence came naturally, but Mahiru worked endlessly to maintain her grades, never allowing herself to slack even once.

To her, she wasn’t an angel.

She was a human wearing an angel mask—everything about her was fabricated.

Someone this pragmatic and detached would never be swayed by a few lines from someone else.

Just like yesterday: even drenched in rain and looking pitiful, if someone had tried to take advantage and hit on her, she would’ve brushed them off coldly. If someone who knew her family situation tried spouting the things Leo said, she wouldn’t be moved—she’d be furious, drive them off, maybe even teach them a lesson.

That was Mahiru—the real one, not the so-called angel.

But when those words came from a devil… Mahiru couldn’t stop herself from wavering.

“…Could it be real?”

Was there truly such a thing as devils in this world?

Had she simply hallucinated from fever?

Or… had she been so desperate to be needed, so desperate for her efforts to matter, that she imagined such a ridiculous sight?

But what if…?

What if it had all been real?

“Occult Affairs Club…”

Mahiru whispered the name to herself, deciding she would go check after school.

Coincidentally, someone else had the exact same idea.

“I have to go see what that Occult Affairs Club is up to!”

In Class 2-G, Eriri clenched her jaw as she overheard her classmates discussing Leo’s group again.

She really couldn’t ignore it anymore. Just what had that brand-new club done last night to make all its members look like they’d been out committing crimes?

“That damned Kasumi old hag—talking about being ‘in the same boat,’ about how the club has deep secrets and I shouldn’t pry! Look at yourself! You show up looking like you were doing who-knows-what with people in the middle of the night! How am I not supposed to be curious?!”

Eriri fumed internally.

“I’ll find out what you guys are doing all day long!”

None of this—not Leo, not the others—was known to the Occult Affairs Club.

What they also didn’t know was that it wasn’t only Sobu High talking about them. Far away in Kuoh Town, Kanagawa, people were discussing them too.

…………

Kuoh Town — Kuoh Academy.

It was a school where girls held overwhelming power and outnumbered boys to a ridiculous degree. Boys were the weaker side—practically voiceless.

The reason was simple: the school had been an all-girls academy until a few years ago. Even after switching to co-ed, the sheer dominance of the female population persisted. Boys could only group together for survival.

The lower the grade, the more boys there were. Third-years had the fewest—only two boys for every ten girls. Second-years had slightly more—three boys per ten students. Even in first-year, boys made up barely forty percent. Combine that with the lingering power structure, and nearly every leadership or authority position was held by girls, including the student council.

Right now, inside the student council office, Sona—the president—was receiving two very unusual guests with Tsubaki standing beside her.

“It’s rare for you to visit me.”

Sona sat on one side of the guest sofa. Next to her, Tsubaki stood gracefully as she poured tea, her eyes fixed on the visitor. Even her normally cool face carried the same faint smile she showed only when Leo was involved.

“Are you saying I’m unwelcome?”

The girl seated across from Sona spoke playfully, entirely unfazed even before Kuoh Academy’s famous ice queen.

A closer look revealed she, too, was breathtaking.

Around Sona’s age, she carried herself with a grace and nobility that surpassed even the heiress of the Sitri House. Her figure put Sona’s to shame—almost unreal in its allure, like a living example of what people called a “devilish body.”

With such curves, her face was predictably just as extraordinary. Every feature was shaped to perfection, combining into a beauty so striking that anyone who saw her would feel their heart lurch, falling for her at first glance.

No one could resist the impact of her appearance.

And that beauty was paired with long, flowing crimson hair—an intense shade that should have looked garish on anyone else, yet on her it only heightened her charm. Not a hint of tackiness, not a single flaw—her presence became radiant, impossible to ignore in any setting.

She was the idol of countless Kuoh Academy students, overwhelmingly acknowledged as the school’s number one in both popularity and beauty.

Her name was Rias—the successor of the Gremory House of the Seventy-Two Pillars, Sona’s childhood friend and closest confidante, and the hidden queen of the academy.

Behind this “Crimson-Haired Ruin Princess” stood another girl whose beauty matched hers—long black hair tied in a high ponytail, gentle expression, elegant posture, radiating the aura of a perfect Yamato nadeshiko.

Bringing this lovely girl with her, Rias had come to the student council office for tea with her best friend.

*Chapter 77 Don’t Say That in Front of Him*

If any other students from Kuoh Academy were present to witness the scene inside the student council office, they would probably be losing their minds.

Because sitting here were the four girls unanimously acknowledged as the academy’s top idols—the top four in the entire school’s popularity rankings.

In other words, these four were Kuoh Academy’s untouchable flowers. Unlike Sobu High’s Four Flowers, who were divided by the seasons, Kuoh Academy’s four idols were ranked strictly by popularity, much like Sobu High’s public “Most Wanted as a Girlfriend” poll.

For three consecutive years, Rias held first place. Akeno, standing behind her, had held second for the same three years. Sona had held third all three years, and Tsubaki had remained fourth just as consistently.

From the very year they entered, the four of them had dominated the rankings, and no one had ever been able to dethrone them.

Incidentally, fifth place was held by another one of Rias’s servants—the first-year, Koneko.

Well… most of her votes probably came from hardcore lolicons, so that could be set aside for now.

“What brings you here today?”

Sona didn’t bother answering Rias’s earlier teasing question. She didn’t need to.

Anyone who knew their relationship understood that Sona would never be anything but welcoming toward Rias.

The two were very close, but both had their own responsibilities. It wasn’t that they were too busy to sit down for tea together—far from it—but those moments were usually kept private. Dropping by each other’s offices like this was rare.

Which was exactly why Sona asked.

“Convenience, mostly.”

Rias lifted her teacup, taking a sip with her eyes closed. Her posture looked casual, yet her movements were effortlessly elegant—the kind of grace ingrained into a noble from birth. She didn’t need to act refined; she simply was.

“I finished some work earlier and happened to pass by. I didn’t have anything planned afterward, so I thought I’d stop in.” Rias smiled. “But it’s just you two? Where are the others?”

Naturally, the student council consisted of more than just Sona and Tsubaki. Her other servants were also members.

“They all had things to do. It just worked out that we’re the only ones here,” Sona said, looking relaxed—something she only showed after finishing her work and only in front of people she trusted.

“What a shame.” Rias set down her teacup, smiling with interest. “I heard you’ve been keeping an eye on someone lately, so I thought I might see him here.”

“Unfortunately, I’m still evaluating him. I haven’t decided whether to take him as a servant.” Sona adjusted her glasses. “Why? Are you interested?”

“I wouldn’t say I’m not. He’s a hidden Sacred Gear user, after all. But since you’ve set your sights on him, I won’t steal him.” Rias crossed her arms, crossing her legs elegantly as her natural charm radiated. “Besides, with your ability, I’m sure you’ll win him over soon enough.”

“You’d do the same.” Sona brushed off her friend’s teasing. “If you wanted him, I could step aside.”

He might be a rare Sacred Gear user, but he wasn’t outstanding enough to warrant the two heiresses fighting over him.

If he were, Sona wouldn’t still be observing—she would’ve recruited him long ago. She already suspected his Sacred Gear was decent, but not to a degree that compelled her to act immediately.

This was simply who Sona was. She valued compatibility and tactical cohesion over theoretical potential. She didn’t chase people just because they wielded a Sacred Gear.

Most of her servants had originally been ordinary humans. That alone said enough about her selection standards.

So if Rias truly wanted him, Sona wouldn’t mind yielding. She believed Rias needed outstanding servants more than she did.

“That won’t be necessary.” Rias shook her head lightly. “I do want strong servants, but I’m not desperate enough to steal someone from you.”

“Are you sure?” Sona gave her a pointed look. “We’re already adults. It won’t be long before we formally debut as devils and lead our servants into Rating Games.”

“If your roster isn’t full by then, it’ll hurt your standing.”

“Are you sure you have time to take things slow?”

Sona had already used six Evil Pieces and had six servants. Far from full capacity, but she wasn’t in a rush.

Rias, however, had used only four pieces. One servant was sealed due to… issues. Meaning she effectively had only three.

Naturally, she was in a more urgent situation.

“I’m the type to choose quality over quantity. If I can’t find someone I genuinely want, I’d rather leave the slot empty.” Rias smiled sweetly. “Still, I admit I’m a little jealous. You’ve managed to raise such an adorable little man—barely a newly promoted High-Class Devil and already with several excellent servants.”

Hearing that, Akeno—silent until now—glanced curiously at Sona.

This topic had come up many times in recent chats between Sona and Rias.

Akeno already knew Sona, on behalf of the Sitri House, had been secretly supporting him. But every time she overheard anything about him, her curiosity only grew.

After all, judging from Rias’s tone, the icy heiress of the Sitri House seemed to have quite the connection with him.

There was no way she wasn’t going to listen closely.

Unfortunately for her, Sona remained as composed as ever, unbothered by Rias’s teasing.

“Don’t say things like that in front of him. You’ll probably scare him.”

She said it completely seriously.

“Your little man is that timid?” Rias blinked.

“If he were timid, he wouldn’t have tangled with the Church in Chiba for so long, or killed the fallen angel who targeted his servant.” Sona sighed. “But courage or not, even he wouldn’t stay calm meeting someone like my sister.”

With that, Rias and Akeno both froze—then burst into laughter.

Of course they knew what Sona’s sister was like, and they immediately understood her point.

If the term “little man” reached that person’s ears, it would be strange not to see her storming into the human world to cause Leo trouble.

Being targeted by a Maou was no joke. No wonder Sona said it would terrify him.

“Your sister is actually pretty reasonable.” Rias smirked at herself. “Unlike mine, who can’t wait to marry me off.”

Her expression dimmed slightly.

Sona frowned faintly. “Don’t lose hope. You still have time before the engagement must be fulfilled.”

“I know.” Rias inhaled slowly, steadying herself. “Unlike you, I’m not brilliant enough to negotiate. The Phoenix House won’t agree to settle the engagement with something like a chess match. All I can do is recruit strong servants and raise my strength. Once I earn results in the Rating Games, maybe my family will take my wishes seriously.”

This was another reason Sona believed Rias needed excellent servants more than she did.

“Enough about that. Let’s talk about your lit—” Rias caught herself, then smirked. “Let’s talk about the Eligos descendant instead. I heard the higher-ups in the Underworld are quite interested in him. Even my brother has taken notice. My family asked me about him just the other day, hoping I’d provide intelligence.”

“Isn’t that only natural?” Sona wasn’t surprised at all. “His mutated trait is basically confirmed now. His strength increases simply by recruiting strong servants. A trait like that is bound to attract attention.”

“And his first servant is a Longinus wielder. That alone is enough to draw every set of eyes in the Underworld.”

“Right? A Longinus wielder… who wouldn’t pay attention?” Rias sighed. “To obtain a servant like that right upon becoming a High-Class Devil—it’s honestly enviable.”

“I also heard he recruited another excellent servant recently. And another one during the Stray Devil subjugation. He hasn’t even been a High-Class Devil for long, yet he already has almost as many servants as I do.”

She tilted her head, her tone clearly probing.

Most people, including Rias, only knew about the Longinus user under Leo. As for the other two, very few had any information.

Yukino had once lost control, so her identity as a Longinus wielder couldn’t be hidden. But Asuna and Utaha had never lost control, so aside from a handful of people, no one knew the details about them.

Rias had heard vague rumors from her brother that the two were extraordinary. But she didn’t know how extraordinary.

“If you’re that curious, why not meet him yourself?”

Sona suddenly offered.

“Oh?” Rias’s eyes brightened. “Is that possible?”

“Of course. I’ve been wanting to introduce you two.” Sona nodded. “Let’s set it up now.”

Rias agreed immediately.

So Sona contacted Leo.

*Chapter 78 If Only I Could Recruit Her*

Right now, Leo was still slumped over his desk in class, secretly trying to catch up on sleep.

Lunch break was almost here, and the final period for Class 3-C wasn’t anything important. Leo had simply knocked out on his desk, and Utaha had done the same. More than a few classmates watching them from the corners of their eyes let their imaginations run wild.

When Sona contacted him, Leo was still groggy, barely awake. But once class ended, he dragged himself out of the room and headed for the rooftop, where he summoned a small magic circle in his palm.

“Going to Kuoh Academy?”

Hearing Sona’s request woke him up a bit. He looked noticeably more alert now.

“Why are you suddenly asking me to bring my servants over to Kuoh Academy as guests?”

He slapped his cheeks, forcing himself awake, and asked Sona.

“It’s not sudden. We’ve talked about this, haven’t we? If there’s a chance, our servants should meet each other. They’ll be able to look out for one another in the future.” Sona always acted quickly and decisively. “Rias happened to be curious about you too, so I thought we might as well set up a meeting.”

Leo, Sona, and Rias were the new generation of devils preparing to officially debut. They were the same age, peers who might one day become competitors—or allies. Getting to know each other early wasn’t a bad thing.

The Underworld wasn’t only about fighting. Pureblood devil families valued connections just like the prestigious families of the human world. With the number of pureblood devils shrinking, alliances were more important than ever. Marriage between families was even more encouraged—both Sona and Rias had been bound by arranged engagements since childhood.

Leo, though technically half-devil and half–human exorcist, was still the last heir of the long-fallen Eligos lineage. Now that he’d become a High-Class Devil and received a rank and Evil Pieces, the higher-ups had no choice but to recognize his pureblood status. They needed more pureblood devils—no matter how inconvenient it was.

With the Sitri House sponsoring him from the shadows, the two houses were already seen as budding allies. Naturally, Sona wanted to introduce Leo and Rias, strengthen ties, and perhaps even help with Rias’s long-standing dilemma…

After all, they were the two people closest to her in their generation. Why wouldn’t she help the two of them get along?

Leo could guess her intentions.

“Alright. Let’s meet.” Leo agreed easily. “I’m pretty curious about the Crimson-Haired Ruin Princess myself.”

She was the main heroine of the original story, glowing with every possible spotlight. Pretending not to want to meet her would be a lie.

And beyond that, Rias, like Sona, was the heir of a noble house. Both had close relatives who were Maou. Getting on good terms with her would only bring benefits.

Not to mention, her servants were all absurdly exceptional. Even if Leo’s servants were all promising in their own right, they couldn’t yet compare to the future lineup under Rias’s banner—characters who, in the original timeline, included multiple Longinus wielders, people with special bloodlines, and talents destined to rise to High-Class Devil status and beyond. Some would eventually reach Maou-Class or higher.

Rias might think she was envying Leo, but Leo was the one who truly felt envious.

If he had servants of that quality, he’d take off instantly.

Even as things stood now, Rias’s current servants weren’t inferior to his at all. They lacked a Longinus wielder so far, but they were already impressive.

Leo and Sona arranged a time. He would bring his servants and travel directly to Kuoh Academy through a magic circle.

After that, Leo remembered his agreement with Tiamat and mentioned it.

“You actually met the Chaos Karma Dragon?”

Sona was visibly shocked.

“More like… I might have drawn her in.” Leo scratched his cheek. “I didn’t expect to meet the ruler of the Familiar Forest when I was just trying to catch a familiar.”

“Then your luck is amazing.” Sona sounded impressed. “Everyone knows the Dragon King lives in the Familiar Forest, but few ever meet her. She doesn’t like getting involved with the Underworld. For you to encounter her at all… that’s rare fortune.”

Hearing this, Leo understood—Sona clearly didn’t know that Tiamat and Ajuka Beelzebub were allies. While she appeared uninvolved with devil society, she was actually the underground referee of the Rating Games—one of the most important figures in the Underworld.

But that was to be expected. Even in the original story, barely anyone knew this secret. The number-one Rating Game champion, “the Emperor,” had only heard rumors before eventually confirming it. Sona hadn’t even had her debut yet—there was no way she would know.

Since Sona didn’t know, Leo naturally wouldn’t expose the truth.

“If you have time, help me look into the Tablet of Destiny,” Leo said, revealing his actual reason. “Even just a lead is fine.”

“Alright. I’ll ask my family to keep an eye out.” Sona agreed as readily as always. “If you find it, you’ll not only get two excellent servants—you’ll also build a connection with the strongest Dragon King. That’ll help you a lot in the future.”

“Yeah.” Leo let out a joking sigh. “If only I could recruit her as my servant.”

“You want the Chaos Karma Dragon as your servant?” Sona laughed. “You really dare to dream.”

If Leo could recruit Tiamat, he wouldn’t need to wait for the future—he’d shoot to the top immediately.

With Tiamat’s unmatched, nearly Maou-Class–surpassing power, any Rating Game involving Leo would be over before it began. The other teams might as well surrender outright.

Leo knew it was impossible… but he couldn’t help it. His Evil Pieces had reacted.

When Tiamat appeared before him, the Evil Pieces in his subspace reacted more violently than ever—especially the Queen piece. Even Yukino, with her Longinus, hadn’t provoked such a response. Back then, the Bishop piece had merely lit up.

But in Tiamat’s presence, the Queen piece shone with blinding light.

If he could recruit her, not only would he secure the most important servant spot—the Queen—but the resulting feedback would probably surpass even what he’d gained from Yukino, potentially boosting him straight into ten-winged devil territory.

Unfortunately, she was the strongest Dragon King. Even the Four Great Maou likely couldn’t recruit her as a servant. Otherwise, Ajuka Beelzebub wouldn’t just be allies with her.

His most important Queen piece would have to wait. Hopefully, one day it would find a suitable match.

Sona ended the communication. Leo dispersed his magic circle and left the rooftop, heading toward the Occult Affairs Club room.

He figured his girls were probably still half-asleep and wondered whether they’d skip lunch and go nap in the clubroom instead.

Thinking this, he entered the room—only to be surprised to find all three girls awake, looking far more refreshed than expected.

“President, you’re here?”

Asuna was pouring tea for Yukino and Utaha. Whatever tea she brewed filled the room with a rich aroma. Yukino and Utaha each held a cup, drinking with utter satisfaction—their dark circles completely gone.

“You all skipped class to nap this morning?” Leo asked as he walked inside. “Why do you look so awake now?”

“Skipped class?” Yukino shot him a sideways glance. “Do you take us for someone like you? As if we’d skip class just because we’re tired.”

Of course not—they were straight-A students. Skipping class casually was unthinkable.

“It’s thanks to Asuna,” Utaha said, no longer looking like the half-dead girl from the morning. She took another leisurely sip. “This tea is amazing. If I’d known something this good existed, I would’ve gone to her right away.”

Tea?

Leo looked at the steaming cups.

Just smelling it refreshed him instantly, wiping away a chunk of his fatigue.

Where did this tea even come from…?

*Chapter 79 The Gathered Ice Queens*

"This was given to me by Sensei. She said it's something from the Underworld."

Asuna clearly wasn't explaining this for the first time—she must have already told Yukino and Utaha earlier. Her tone was smooth and practiced.

The “Sensei” she spoke of was naturally Musashi. Musashi had officially begun teaching Asuna Niten Ichi-ryū, practically handing over her ultimate technique. Calling Musashi her teacher wasn't an exaggeration, so Asuna naturally addressed her that way.

"Sensei said she used this back when she trained. Whenever she practiced so hard she forgot to eat or sleep, she'd drink a cup to stay sharp. It’s a very strong stimulant, but it's only suitable for devils. Humans might suffer brain damage from it."

Asuna poured a cup for Leo as well, her smile soft and lovely.

"President, you should try some too."

Leo took the cup and drank in one go.

And… it was actually pretty good. More than that, it felt strange in a unique way.

Other teas warmed the stomach and left a pleasant aftertaste. But this one didn’t feel like it flowed into his stomach at all—it felt like it shot straight up into his brain. The moment it hit, his head cooled and cleared, like someone had wiped his mind clean, leaving him bright and alert.

His drowsiness vanished. The heaviness behind his eyes dissolved. His gaze sharpened instantly, dark circles fading without a trace.

"Good tea." Leo couldn’t help praising it. "How did I not know the Underworld had something like this?"

If he had known, he would’ve stocked up for daily use—especially for training.

"This tea must be extremely rare. Even in the Underworld, not just anyone can get their hands on it." Yukino saw through it immediately, speaking calmly. "I’ve never seen it mentioned in any book. That means it’s far from common. Musashi-san probably had access only because she’s the servant of a Maou."

"Do you have more?" Utaha wasn’t interested in the background—her attention was entirely on the tea. "I think I'd really need this."

If she could drink a cup every day, she’d never have to worry about being half-dead in the mornings.

Having just reincarnated into a devil, daytime was especially brutal for her. And it would stay that way for a while. It was miserable.

"No more. Sensei only gave me a little, and we used it all here."

Asuna lifted the small pot. There weren’t many leaves left—maybe enough for one or two ineffective brews.

"So it really is rare. Otherwise Musashi-san wouldn’t be stingy about it."

Leo accepted that explanation. He stared at the few remaining sips in his cup with newfound reverence.

Yukino and Utaha had the same look—reluctant to drink any further. If they could bottle the remaining tea, they absolutely would have.

The four of them sipped tea and chatted in the clubroom, the mood warm and cozy.

Just as Leo was about to tell them about Sona’s invitation, someone knocked on the door.

Everyone fell silent and looked over.

"Come in."

The words slipped out of Yukino instinctively—then she froze. This wasn’t the Service Club. She wasn’t the one in charge here. She shouldn’t have been the one to say that.

Leo didn’t mind at all.

What did surprise him was who stepped through the door.

"Um… excuse me, is this the Occult Affairs Club?"

A hesitant voice accompanied a timid entrance. The girl who walked in was no less beautiful than any of the ones already present. Her long, light-amber hair was even brighter than Asuna’s, and her caramel-colored eyes shimmered softly.

Shiina Mahiru.

"You’re…"

"A first-year? Shiina-san?"

"That angel-sama?"

Yukino, Asuna, and Utaha each blurted something out.

Especially Utaha’s "angel-sama," which made Mahiru visibly flustered.

"Just call me Shiina, senpai."

Mahiru bowed politely, her manners impeccable—enough to charm anyone.

"What brings you here?"

Leo genuinely hadn’t expected Mahiru to come looking for him.

"I…"

Mahiru’s eyes wavered. She seemed unsure how to speak, caught between hesitation and nerves.

Then another voice called from outside.

"Excuse me—may I come in too?"

Before anyone else reacted, Utaha froze first.

"Why are you here?"

Utaha stood up abruptly, staring in disbelief at the second visitor.

A slender figure, refined features, golden twin-tails, clear blue eyes, pale porcelain-like skin…

Another beauty—one matching any girl in the room.

Sawamura Spencer Eriri.

"Shiina-san? You’re here too?"

Eriri also looked shocked.

Everyone exchanged glances. The room fell into a bizarre, heavy silence.

"Well, well…"

Leo looked at the five gathered girls, a grin tugging at his lips.

Who could blame him?

Mahiru.

Eriri.

Utaha.

Yukino.

Sobu High’s Four Flowers—the school’s seasonal beauties—had all gathered in one room.

Add in Asuna, the transfer student who rose to fame the moment she arrived…

That made five.

Five ice queens, normally never seen together, now united in the tiny Occult Affairs Club.

How could this not be entertaining?

Leo was one second away from sitting down, grabbing a handful of sunflower seeds, and enjoying the show.

Unfortunately, Yukino punished him before he could.

"As the club president, say something."

She reached over and pinched the flesh at his waist with surprising force, her whisper sharp enough to make him wince. Leo nearly jumped from the pain.

The other four ice queens also looked at him, their gazes less than friendly.

"Welcome to the Occult Affairs Club, Sawamura-san, Shiina-san."

Leo gently moved Yukino’s hand away and forced a smile.

"Have a seat. Asuna, pour them some tea."

Truly, Leo was a brave man for daring to speak in this atmosphere.

But he managed to ease the tension, enough for the two newcomers to sit down.

Asuna poured for Mahiru and Eriri—regular black tea this time, not the stimulant tea.

"Thank you, Asuna-senpai."

"Thanks, Yuuki-san."

Both girls thanked her politely.

"No need."

Asuna returned a soft smile—elegant, almost wife-like. Even Mahiru and Eriri warmed to her immediately.

"So? Why are you here?"

Utaha narrowed her eyes at Eriri, tone prickly.

"I came to visit the new club. Is that not allowed?"

Eriri didn’t act as rudely as she did in private; she carried herself with the poise of a refined young lady.

"Visit a new club?" Utaha squinted harder. "Why would the art club's ace visit the Occult Affairs Club?"

Anyone would find it suspicious.

"Because I’m curious," Eriri muttered, shooting Utaha a quick glare, then raised her chin. "A club that managed to attract Yukinoshita-san, Yuuki-san, and Ka— ahem, Kasumigaoka-senpai? Of course people are curious. I’m just one of them."

"So I wanted to see for myself what this club does every day, and whether it’s really that interesting."

That was her stated purpose.

She wanted to find out what this “Occult Affairs Club” actually did to cause such rumors.

"And what about you, Shiina-san?" Yukino turned to Mahiru. "Are you also here to observe?"

"Me?" Mahiru glanced around the room, noting that Leo looked entirely unfazed, as if nothing unusual had happened at all. After a brief silence, she said softly, "May I observe as well?"

She wasn’t here for the club.

She was here for Leo.

She wanted to know if what happened last night… was real.

She also noticed something else—the three girls in the club behaved oddly close to Leo. Their relationships weren’t normal.

So… did they know the truth about him?

Or were they… devils as well?

A club named the Occult Affairs Club naturally made her suspicious about that.

But she couldn’t confront Leo about it in front of everyone.

So she followed Eriri’s lead and requested to observe the club first—to see what kind of activities they actually did.

"Observe the club, huh…"

Leo finally spoke.

He seemed to see right through the two girls’ intentions. A slow smile spread across his face.

"Alright. Then let me show you."

*Chapter 80 Seriously… What a Terrible Sense of Humor*

After school, Leo brought the two girls who wanted to observe the Occult Affairs Club’s activities back to his family estate.

This time, he even had his familiar—his driver—bring the family’s private car straight to the school gate. With a whole crowd of beautiful girls climbing in with him—five of Sobu High’s ice queens—the entire student body froze in shock as the car rolled away toward his estate.

"…Did I see that right? That was Shiina from Class 1 and Sawamura from the art club?"

"W–Why did they get into the same car as Eligos-senpai?"

"And the three members of the Occult Affairs Club—Yukino, Asuna, and Utaha—were all there…"

"W–Wait. Isn’t that all five of the school’s ice queens in one place!?"

"What are they doing? What does this even mean?"

"I…"

Only after Leo’s car disappeared did the entire school explode into chaos.

But no one knew where Leo was taking Mahiru and Eriri.

One question: What is the Occult Affairs Club’s daily activity?

Simple—whatever their devil work required.

At night, it was what Utaha had experienced before: answering summons, signing contracts, fulfilling wishes, collecting payment. Clean, efficient, straightforward.

During the day, however, it was time for Leo’s servants to train and refine their skills.

Some of the girls read in the study, learning more about the supernatural. Others trained in the underground facility to build practical and combat experience.

Today, at Leo’s request, everyone gathered in the underground room for a servant-to-servant combat exercise.

And so, Mahiru and Eriri witnessed something that shattered their understanding of reality.

“—Hoo.”

Yukino suddenly unfurled a pair of bat-like devil wings, lifting herself off the ground. Frigid air surged around her, condensing into a storm of ice and snow that roared toward Asuna.

Asuna stood alone before the incoming blizzard—seemingly delicate and fragile, almost too small to withstand the onslaught. But her expression was steady and unafraid. Instead of retreating, she charged forward. Her hand opened, and a wave of holy power gathered there, taking the shape of a slender Holy Sword.

“Boom!”

Just before the blizzard struck, Asuna swung down with all her might. A blazing wave of fire burst from her blade, colliding head-on with Yukino’s icy gale.

She had created a fire-element Holy Sword—the purifying crimson flame erupting toward the storm and slamming into it with tremendous force.

“Rumble!”

Ice and flame collided, the violent clash shaking the air itself. Freezing wind and scorching heat exploded outward, splitting the room into a battlefield of clashing elements.

High above, Yukino moved again, gathering even more frigid energy and unleashing wave after wave of blizzard-like attacks, bombarding Asuna from every angle.

In an instant, the underground room became a world of raging snow and rolling flame.

Yukino took the sky as a queen of winter, hurling down merciless storms. Asuna, like a holy swordswoman challenging a natural disaster, dashed through the battlefield with her blazing sword, slashing one burning wave after another to meet the incoming frost.

Right in front of Mahiru and Eriri, the two girls fought fiercely—so fiercely that both observers stood frozen, stunned beyond belief.

“Th–Th-Th-This…”

Eriri was completely overwhelmed by the unreal scene before her. Her face twisted in shock, and she stumbled backward as if hit by an invisible force. Her refined lady-like demeanor collapsed instantly.

“What IS this…?!”

She couldn’t comprehend a single thing she was seeing.

And Mahiru wasn’t any better.

Mahiru had already gone wide-eyed the moment Yukino revealed her devil wings, standing frozen in place. When the two devils began clashing with unimaginable power, she was just as shaken as Eriri.

She had mentally prepared herself—unlike Eriri, she had fainted last night after seeing Leo’s devil wings. She just wasn’t sure whether that memory was real.

But she never imagined she would see not only devil wings today… but also this unbelievable battle.

What was this?

Supernatural powers?

Devil abilities?

So the senpai who joined the Occult Affairs Club… were all devils like Leo-senpai!

Watching the two “ice queens” stare blankly with trembling eyes, Utaha looked a mix of amused and exasperated.

"You really just exposed our secret to them?"

She shot Leo a glare. His face was all innocence, as if none of this was his fault.

This man was awful—absolutely doing this on purpose to watch the remaining two ice queens lose their composure.

Seriously… what a terrible sense of humor.

“No choice. They came to observe the club. Of course we have to demonstrate what the Occult Affairs Club can do.”

Leo still looked completely unbothered, making Utaha want to smack him.

Sure, devils weren’t that secretive—after all, humans summoned devils constantly. If devils couldn’t reveal themselves at all, how would contracts even happen?

But the supernatural world also had rules.

Randomly exposing its existence was forbidden. Otherwise human society would collapse into chaos, and all factions—many of which relied on humans to survive—would suffer.

That was why even powerful families like the Yukino Family and Yuuki Family knew nothing about devils. Only financial giants like the Shinomiya Family had enough influence to learn about the underworld.

If Leo flaunted his powers too often, trouble would definitely come knocking.

Utaha had researched this carefully. She had family and friends—she had to know what she could and couldn’t reveal.

Fortunately, the secrecy rules weren’t too strict—immediate family members were allowed to know. That was why Leo could reveal himself in front of the Yukino and Yuuki families.

But showing off in front of unrelated people was dangerous… essentially toeing the line.

If everyone behaved like this, what was the point of keeping secrets?

“It’s fine. You’re overthinking it.” Leo understood what Utaha was worried about and finally stopped teasing. “Mahiru and Eriri were already on my radar. They both have potential to become my servants.”

“Since they’re potential future servants, why wouldn't I show off to recruit them?”

“…Fair enough.”

“Even if they refuse, it just means I failed to recruit them. That’s not a violation of any rule.”

It was the kind of issue that sounded big but was actually manageable. As long as he didn’t reveal himself recklessly in front of crowds, there were always ways to smooth things over.

For example, Yukino had a client who was a fellow Sobu High student—someone who already knew she was a devil. Their relationship had even gotten better after that. If not for concerns about secrecy, she probably would’ve visited the clubroom frequently.

As long as things didn’t spread too widely, no one would come after them.

Even if they did spread, damage control was always possible—just like when Yukino’s Sacred Gear nearly went out of control at the start of school.

An entire street had almost frozen solid. Many people had caught severe colds or suffered frostbite. Yet everything was quietly resolved by blaming it on “extreme weather.” Obviously someone had handled it behind the scenes.

Leo hadn’t even needed to intervene because the Church acted first. But if they hadn’t, he would’ve handled it—either by manipulating news coverage or, less gently, restoring the area and wiping witnesses’ memories.

“For now, let’s focus on our two visiting observers.”

Leo turned toward Mahiru and Eriri with a cheerful smile.

Hearing him speak jolted both girls back to reality.

“W-What… what are you people?” Eriri shrieked, panic flooding her voice. She stumbled back again and pointed wildly at Utaha. “Kasaka—Kasumigaoka! Say something! What is happening?!”

Mahiru calmed down faster. She glanced at the escalating battle, then at Leo, her expression complicated.

“Well then,” Leo said, lifting his hand smoothly, “time for a little explanation.”

A magic circle spun into existence on his palm.

“But don’t blame me—I’m warning you now. Once you know everything… leaving won’t be so easy.”

Before either girl could respond, he activated the magic circle.

A flood of memories surged into their minds, pulling them into another daze.

====
Note: Sorry for the delay. I'll post 14–15 chapters later today or tomorrow.