Chapter 193 The Candidate
Edited by: Kanaa-senpai
Grayfia placed her hand on Hyoudou Issei’s forehead, and a faint silver glow appeared where they made contact.
The silver-haired woman’s movements were exceptionally cautious; an ordinary person’s soul is incredibly fragile, and if the Red Dragon Emperor really had left behind any residual consciousness, this was a matter of basic respect.
The girls all watched Grayfia with anticipation, but as time slowly ticked away, that expectation gradually turned into worry.
About half an hour later, the silver-haired woman sighed softly and withdrew her hand.
”Grayfia…” Rias whispered, her voice tight. “Is it… not working either?”
The silver-haired woman nodded gently. “I checked carefully three times. It seems the Red Dragon Emperor has truly abandoned this host, choosing to slumber wholeheartedly within the Sacred Gear, waiting only for the day when Aki-sama’s strength is sufficient.”
It should have been a good thing that the Red Dragon Emperor held Aki in such high regard, but now, they actually wished the Red Dragon Emperor could be a little more suspicious. Since this method of awakening the Red Dragon Emperor had essentially been declared a failure, they had no choice but to try to help Aki with his Breaching1 through Dual Cultivation.
It was unexpected that the excuse Amano Yuuma had used to indulge in pleasure had actually evolved into reality.
Rias’s cheeks flushed slightly as she asked, “Yuuma, Rute, Vana, did you three discover anything when you were doing… cough cough… when you were doing Dual Cultivation with Aki these past few days?”
The three of them—Amano Yuuma and her companions—thought about it carefully, then hesitated. “We feel that Aki is slightly easier to ‘finish’ than before. Does a larger volume count?”
Aki could only passively experience it now; he could not control the Great Dragon, and his natural stamina seemed less than sufficient. However, basically, there was no way he would finish in under ten minutes. The quantity of his essence was for the same reason—every time was an uninhibited release, rather than the way it was before, which was maintained at the level of their maximum absorption.
It made the three of them—Amano Yuuma and her companions—too embarrassed to go out these past few days; it would be too humiliating if there were any leakage.
Rias cast a sidelong glance at them and snorted. “Peh, of course that doesn’t count.”
The three of them looked at each other and shrugged, saying, “Then there is nothing else.”
”According to the information you provided, Rias-sama, if you want to help Aki-sama with Breaching, you need a female with even greater power.”
Grayfia’s expression remained composed, as if she were discussing something very mundane.
”If I may be blunt, aside from you, Rias-sama, the others here likely cannot do it, even if they have retained their first time.”
Yuan-yin essence2 indeed has huge benefits for Dual Cultivation, but the level of one’s cultivation base is more important.
To give a simple example, no matter how much yuan-yin an ordinary girl has, it cannot compare to a single session of Dual Cultivation between Aki and a woman with B-rank strength.
Everyone subconsciously looked at Rias, their expressions changing uncertainly.
If they could, Koneko, Asia, and Himejima Akeno would all be willing to take Rias’s place; they already had feelings for Aki that went beyond friendship.
But according to Grayfia’s judgment, their substitution would not be of much use.
Did they really have to give up their first time just to wake Aki up?
Rias was willing to give herself to Aki—the two of them even had a pact—but to have the relationship occur under these circumstances…
She couldn’t tell if she felt lost or regretful, but she definitely felt uncomfortable in her heart.
At this moment, the silver-haired woman spoke again: “In fact, I do not suggest that you do this, Rias-sama. Aki-sama is currently at the peak of High-Class Devil, and your strength, Rias-sama, is only at that level as well; the probability of success is not high.”
”But this is the strongest wom—”
Before she could finish, Amano Yuuma’s gaze gradually fixed on the silver-haired woman, her expression becoming strange.
”Grayfia-san, as the strongest Queen in the Underworld, you must be very powerful, right?”
As soon as these words were spoken, the others reacted as well, with Rias, in particular, staring at the silver-haired woman in shock.
”Grayfia, you are my brother’s wife, and you even have children.”
Facing Rias’s questioning, the silver-haired, busty woman could no longer maintain the composure on her face, and she responded in a slightly flustered manner.
”That is not what I meant… How could I possibly betray Sirzechs-sama?”
The girls: “…”
Facing this silent rebuttal, Grayfia hurriedly said, “I meant that you should hire a powerful woman. Some powerful women do not care much about having s*x with men, such as a Succubus Queen.”
The stronger one is, the more illusory the definitions of ordinary morality become.
Some female supernaturals keep many lovers, and their private lives are far more chaotic than those of men.
The girls stared at Grayfia suspiciously for a while, but since the other party was Rias’s sister-in-law after all, there were some things that were not easy to continue saying.
The atmosphere fell into a silence, until the silver-haired woman received a call and bid everyone farewell, looking slightly embarrassed.
”Rias-sama, I must return to handle affairs at the Demon King castle.” Grayfia bowed slightly. “The Three Factions Talk will be held in one month. I hope Aki-sama will be able to attend by then.”
Rias nodded, signaling that she understood.
Although she was the one who killed Azazel, no one would forget who the mastermind was. Aki was, in name, her Peerage, and the Three Factions Talk would inevitably involve disputes over this matter. If he were not present, the Devil side would naturally be at a disadvantage regarding this incident.
After Grayfia left, the girls breathed a sigh of relief.
There were many things that were inconvenient to say when an outsider was present, but now they could finally speak.
”Buchou,” Akeno murmured, “are you really considering hiring a woman of unknown origin to help Aki…”
”Of course that is impossible,” Rias interrupted, her voice steel. “I am not at ease letting women of unknown origin near him. Not to mention whether there are any problems with the other party’s body, if she harbors bad intentions while doing it, it will only be more troublesome later.”
Dual Cultivation is the most intimate physical contact; there are many contracts and spells that can only be performed when one is very close. If the person hired harbors ill intent, Aki would be nothing more than a fish on a cutting board, ready to be slaughtered.
”So, do you intend to help Aki yourself?”
Himejima Akeno had grown up with Rias and knew her situation very well, so she could not help but worry: “What if the Phoenix family finds out…”
”Akeno, I will not marry that man. My body belongs to whomever I wish to give it.”
Rias was not a submissive person; regardless of whether the world line had changed, she had never intended to save her purity for when she was forced into marriage. If she could, Rias would also want a romantic and warm first night, but often, reality is not so satisfactory.
After finishing, Rias also felt that she had been a bit agitated; Himejima Akeno had only said this out of concern for her.
”Akeno, don’t worry. If Aki can wake up, the Phoenix family will no longer be a problem.”
She gently tucked her long red hair behind her ear, turned to look out the window, and her voice suddenly became ethereal.
”A Red Dragon Emperor successor who has already grown up and is able to kill a Demon King-class powerhouse is far more valuable than a marriage alliance with the Phoenix family. Lord Demon King knows how to choose…”
The marriage between the Gremory family and the Phoenix family was nominally to maintain the Pure-blood Devil lineage, but in reality, it was because the increasingly weakening Gremory family was forced to agree to the marriage to maintain the family.
The Phoenix family was also one of the four major Pure-blood Devil families, and due to the nature of their abilities, the family’s strength had been increasing at a terrifying rate since the implementation of the Rating Game.
After Rias married over, it would be impossible for her to possess any initiative; she would be a mere fertility machine.
If it were truly to continue the Pure-blood Devil bloodline, no matter how rare suitable Pure-blood Devils were, it would not be Rias’s turn, as the next head of the clan, to marry out.
No one wants their own family’s leader to be reduced to someone else’s fertility machine, and Sirzechs, in particular, did not want his own sister to encounter such a thing.
However, as a Demon King, he could not interfere in the matters below; otherwise, it would be a dereliction of duty as a Demon King.
The Phoenix family was wary of him being a Demon King and did not dare to go too far against the Gremory family, but once he lost the position of Demon King, some things might become even worse.
Neither Rias nor Sirzechs could abandon the family regardless; this was the place that had raised them, and their family and friends were all there, so they could only abide by the rules.
—
Summary:
Grayfia examines Issei, concluding that the Red Dragon Emperor has fully retreated, necessitating a powerful partner for Aki’s “Breaching” via Dual Cultivation. The girls realize the difficulty of the task, leading to a tense discussion about the risks of hiring an outsider versus Rias taking the role herself. Rias ultimately commits to handling the situation to secure her own autonomy and break free from the restrictive Phoenix family marriage alliance.
—
Trivia:
The Red Dragon Emperor’s choice to slumber is interpreted as a sign of trust in Aki’s potential.
Grayfia’s suggestion to hire a Succubus Queen hints at the moral flexibility of higher-rank supernaturals.
The Gremory family is portrayed as historically powerful but currently weakening, justifying the political pressure for the Phoenix alliance.
Sirzechs’s inability to act against the marriage is a matter of strict adherence to his role as a Demon King.
—
Translation Notes:
Notes:
• Hyoudou Issei – A brown-haired Kuoh Academy high-schooler with an average build and mischievous face, Issei Hyoudou is the original host of the Boosted Gear. Infamous as part of the “Pervert Trio” for peeping on girls, he is notably unlucky but maintains close, chaotic ties with his classmates and fellow trio members.
• Grayfia – A high-ranking Devil strategist, secretary to the Demon King, and the strongest Queen in the Underworld, she serves the House of Gremory as a medical examiner. The sister-in-law to Rias Gremory, this poised figure manages administrative updates and possesses a long history of conducting precise clinical examinations, seamlessly balancing her elite demonic standing with rigorous official duties.
• Hyoudou – Issei Hyoudou, a brown‑haired, average‑built high‑schooler with a mischievous face, attends Kuoh Academy. He is part of the “Pervert Trio,” known for peeping on girls, unlucky, and bears the Boosted Gear.
• Issei – Issei Hyoudou is an average-built Kuoh Academy student with brown hair, a mischievous face, and known lecherous tendencies. As a member of the “Three Perverts,” he possesses a Longinus-class Sacred Gear, the Boosted Gear, making him the human host to the Red Dragon Emperor’s consciousness. He is currently held captive by enemies for an extraction ritual, targeting him for a deprivation rite.
• Rias – Rias Gremory (17) is an authoritative, beautiful red-haired High-Class Devil and head of the Gremory family. As leader of the Occult Research Club and her peerage, she orchestrates training and schedules from her office desk. While monitoring group dynamics and managing Aki’s situation, she builds a complex, burgeoning relationship with him, hiding a deep vulnerability about her leadership.
• Aki – Uesugi Aki is a handsome 177cm transmigrated Kuoh Academy student, an Ultimate/SS-Rank Gremory leader of high-class Devil/Fallen Angel lineage. He has crimson eyes, black wings, a barbed tail, azure flames, and the Boosted Gear. Awakening from a year-long catatonic coma with a confident, lewd player persona, this martial god uses dual cultivation to charm and train his devoted schoolgirl harem.
• Amano Yuuma – Yuuma Amano (Raynare) is a Fallen Angel disguised as a transfer student serving in Rias’s Peerage, the ORC, and a barrier maintenance team. Possessive and assertive toward her partner Aki, this bold, proactive member takes the lead in training and desires intimacy. She has long black hair, white skin, a slender waist, and black wings, often wearing a revealing, glamorous leather outfit.
• Amano – Raynare, a fallen angel masquerading as Kuoh schoolgirl Yuma Amano, is a striking, long-haired woman with a commanding presence. An Occult Research Club member with a history of betrayal, she acts as a disciplined leader/mentor figure. Despite an A-Rank status with Aki, a black-belly nature, and instant-change powers, she hides her faction ties while struggling with guilt and fear of abandonment.
• Yuuma – Amano Yuuma (Raynare) is a striking, curvaceous fallen angel with long black hair, violet eyes, and a playful, mischievous personality. A former Grigori operative and master of light magic, she is now a devoted Pawn in Aki’s peerage. While she teases others about their relationships, she serves Aki with obsessive, yielding devotion, sharing a profound physical and spiritual bond with him.
• Y – The first initial/part of the name Y Ddraig Goch.
• Rute – A member of Aki’s peerage.
• Vana – An alias used by Kalawarner, a fallen angel subordinate to Raynare and a member of Aki’s peerage. She often wears mature, seductive outfits or standard human disguises.
• Himejima Akeno – Akeno Himejima is a beautiful, elegant senior of the Occult Research Club and Rias Gremory’s trusted retainer. A hybrid of three races, this tall, large-busted member displays a teasing, black-hearted personality. As a key communicator wielding golden lightning and Azure Flame magic, she masters Aki, providing him a surveillance familiar and overseeing post-clash cleanup.
• Himejima – Akeno Himejima is a tall, graceful senior in Rias Gremory’s Peerage with a mature beauty and long black hair. Dressed as a priestess, this loyal retainer wields golden lightning, manages surveillance, and prepares teleportation. Deeply bonded with Rias, she provides crucial guidance to Aki while also observing him with playful intent, perfectly balancing her poise, strength, and teasing nature.
• Koneko – A petite, white-haired first-year Nekomata and blunt melee vanguard in Rias Gremory’s peerage, this stoic student is highly protective of her classmate Aki. Though shyly interested in him, she clings to him to prevent wandering and mentors him in combat. Silent yet observant of group dynamics, she struggles with training intimacy and expresses petty jealousy by fiercely guarding or stealing snacks.
• Akeno – Himejima is a tall, curvaceous, silver-haired Orc and senior schoolgirl with fallen angel blood. A refined, S-Rank-bound member of Rias’s peerage, she masks a sadistic side with a calm, elegant demeanor, bringing breakfast for the group. She provides efficient magical support, uses seductive recruitment, and holds complex feelings regarding Rias, sharing a dynamic, sparring-filled bond with Aki.
• Asia – A gentle, naive 16-year-old blonde nun who possesses exceptional mana and healing powers. After being saved by Aki, whom she deeply admires and longs for, she was reincarnated into Rias Gremory’s Devil peerage. Now a member of the Occult Research Club adjusting to Kuoh Academy and group activities, this kind, earnest girl views Rias with intense admiration and envy despite her own lack of survival skills.
• Queen – A devil serving Riser Phenex.
• Sirzechs – The current Demon King of the Underworld and brother to Rias, he is a powerful entity whose regal, commanding outward appearance reflects his high status and complex relationships with both allies and rivals.
• Azazel – A decadent, arrogant fallen angel and former Governor General, this middle-aged man in a neon hot-spring yukata pairs a rogue personality with immense power. Pushing for involvement in the Occult Research Club, this formidable antagonist pursues a relaxed lifestyle, researches Sacred Gears, and provides the group with data and training, while being tied to an event influencing their view of Aki.
• Gremory – Rias Gremory, a pure‑blood high‑class devil, sports striking crimson hair, blue eyes, a curvy elegant figure in the Kuoh Academy uniform and a prominent bust. She leads her household, governs the school’s hidden hierarchy, wields top‑level demonic power, and belongs to the prestigious Gremory family—one of the remaining Seventy‑Two Pure‑blood Demon pillars.
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Edited by Kanaa-senpai.
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