Chapter 213 Seeking a Contract and the Naruse Sisters
Edited by: Kanaa-senpai
Rias unbuttoned Aki’s coat. Her slender, delicate fingers, wrapped in a pale red aura of Mana, began to trace an ornate and complex contract array across his firm chest.1
A quarter-hour later, the array was complete. As she poured her Mana into it, it flared with a dazzling light.
At that same moment, Aki felt a vague connection forming between him and Rias. Just as he thought they had finally succeeded, the deep blue Mana within him began to churn uncontrollably.
Crack…
The sensation of glass shattering rippled through both Rias’s and Aki’s consciousness. Then, the tenuous link vanished entirely.
Aki looked down; the contract array etched onto his chest had become fragmented and broken.
Rias offered a helpless, bitter smile. “It seems, Aki-chan, that you simply cannot be contracted.”
They had both clearly sensed the flow of Mana within him—just when success was within reach, it had revolted on its own. It was a reflex of the soul, much like a knee-jerk reaction in a human; it was beyond his control.
However, in that instant, Aki instinctively mastered a Talent he had long overlooked: Soul Covenant. He had always assumed it was merely a Summoner’s Talent for contracting Familiars, but it was this very ability that had effortlessly helped him dismantle the near-successful contract. Otherwise, the instinctive Mana surge of his soul would not have been enough to break the array so cleanly.
Reflecting on the sensation, Aki roughly grasped the true nature of his Soul Covenant Talent. It allowed him to maintain mastery over any contract, not just those used for Familiars; as long as the contract was applied to his own body, he held the reins. Conversely, any contract where he did not hold the dominant position could not be formed—unless the other party’s soul, consciousness, and power were so overwhelming that they could force a contract upon him.
To put it simply: if Rias and Aki signed a master-servant contract where Rias was the Master and Aki the servant, it would fail. But if Aki were the Master and Rias the servant, it could be done.
He understood, but Aki didn’t quite know how to broach the subject with Rias, nor did he know if the Underworld would recognize a contract where he held the lead.
After a moment of thought, he decided to voice it. If the Underworld could acknowledge it, they could always annul it with Rias after the Rating Game.
When Rias heard his suggestion, she shook her head. “It’s impossible. It has to be my Peerage.”
The rules for the Rating Game established by the Demon Kings were quite clear: a Peerage member who promotes to King and gains their own Peerage is obligated to continue fighting in Rating Games for their original King as long as they hold their position. However, a King cannot intervene in the Rating Games of their own Peerage who have become Kings themselves.
It was a bit convoluted, but the meaning was clear: if they signed a contract led by Aki, then Aki would be Rias’s King. Rias’s Rating Game could only use her own Peerage; Aki, as King, could not intervene.
”So it won’t work after all…” Aki murmured, his voice neutral and reflective.
Aki wasn’t particularly surprised. Borrowing the power of a Peerage member was one thing, but if the King could personally intervene, it would be nothing more than a blatant game of ‘daddy-warbucks.’
Rias’s eyes suddenly lit up, a thought occurring to her. “Since you can sign contracts, why don’t we just sign a master-servant contract that no one has ever seen before?”
Aki understood immediately. If it were a unique contract, they could decide for themselves who held the dominant position.
”Will that fool Riser?” Aki asked.
”It will. It must. As long as it’s a contract that hasn’t appeared before,” Rias affirmed, her voice elegant and refined. “Or even if it has, as long as it’s obscure enough.”
Creating a completely new contract was a high hurdle, and it couldn’t be one that was useless—if Riser had someone test the contract and discovered it wasn’t actually a master-servant bond, they would be in trouble.
”Right. Let’s do that,” Aki agreed.
Rias grew more confident the more she thought about it. Signing a contract with Aki was something she wanted, too. Regardless of who held the authority, having a bond would allow her to feel his presence at any time—a comforting thought.
”There’s still a week. I’ll keep searching carefully…”
With that, Rias opened a transport circle back to the Underworld. Before leaving, she told Aki to notify Akeno Himejima to handle the matters that had piled up over the past few days.
Aki stood with the white-haired loli for a while, deciding to head to the villa to update the others.
* * *
Somewhere in Neon, a succubus loli in a suggestive leather outfit was dragging a bewildered, red-haired, busty high school girl through the back alleys.
After dodging and weaving to shake off their pursuers, Maria Naruse finally found a moment to speak to Mio Naruse. Yet, no matter how much she explained, Mio—who had lived in the Human World since birth and been raised by Wilbert’s men—refused to believe her, even after witnessing the girl’s power and the magic used by their chasers.
”Little girl, I’m going home. You should go back too, don’t worry your parents,” Mio said, her voice neutral as she gently patted Maria’s head. She even curiously tapped the small, cute, and very realistic-looking ram horns on Maria’s head with her index finger.
They’re well-made, look just like the real thing. Wonder where you can buy these… she mused to herself. Ignoring Maria’s protests, she prepared to leave their hiding spot.
The succubus loli stomped her foot in frustration. “Why won’t you listen to me?! I’m tellin’ ya, it’s dangerous!” Maria snapped, her tone mimicking the simple, repetitive patterns of a child.
If she didn’t know that this busty, brainless woman was her half-sister, she would have washed her hands of her. Because of the butterfly effect, Shela had dispatched Maria early, managing to reach Mio before the pursuers. Consequently, Mio hadn’t experienced the death of her parents and didn’t believe a word Maria said.
”If talking won’t work, I’ll have to resort to force,” Maria said.
Before Mio could process what she meant, her body went limp, and her voluptuous, youthful frame collapsed to the ground. Maria retracted her hand, cast a simple illusion on herself and Mio, and hurried toward Tokyo. The Underworld’s chasers had already located the Naruse family’s position in the Human World; going back would be walking into a trap. The succubus loli couldn’t watch Mio fall into danger. As for the demon couple who had raised Mio for over a decade… if Mio didn’t return, they might still have a chance; perhaps the enemy would want to use them as hostages to lure her out. Whether they survived, however, was up to luck—she could barely protect herself, let alone save them.
”Kuoh Town, Kuoh Academy…”
After half a day, Maria finally arrived at Tokyo Station and made a beeline for her next destination. Her mother, Shela, had told her that if she found her, she could look for a man named Jin Tojo, or go to Kuoh Academy to find the eldest daughter of the Gremory family. Either one was capable of protecting her and Mio.
Compared to the Hero Clan, Maria trusted the Gremory family—fellow demons—more. Besides, even if she wanted to find Jin Tojo, she couldn’t find him with just a name. By comparison, the Gremory family’s foothold in the Human World was easy to find; a school that size, with such a reputation, could be located with a simple inquiry.
Mio woke up several times during the journey, but she never managed to get a word out before being knocked unconscious again.
At ten o’clock in the morning, a sleep-deprived Maria finally saw the imposing gates of Kuoh Academy. Looking at the gold-lettered ‘Kuoh Private Academy’ sign, the succubus loli felt her strength desert her, nearly collapsing on the roadside.
No, I haven’t met the eldest daughter of the Gremory family yet…
Maria braced herself, hoisted the sleeping Mio, and climbed over the wall into the academy. She found an empty classroom to settle Mio in, shifted into a normal disguise, and began to inquire about Rias Gremory. Such a cute little loli appearing in Kuoh Academy quickly caused a stir, especially with her constant questions about Rias.
Before the succubus loli could find Rias, the Student Council caught wind of the situation. Sona Shitori immediately dispatched people to monitor Maria, while simultaneously notifying Aki and the rest of Rias’s Peerage.
—
Summary:
Rias attempts to form a contract with Aki, but his unique Soul Covenant talent rejects the connection, revealing his inherent ability to maintain mastery over his own contracts. Rias and Aki resolve to create an obscure, novel form of master-servant contract to bypass the restrictive Rating Game rules imposed by the Underworld. Meanwhile, Maria Naruse successfully intercepts her half-sister Mio in the Human World, forcibly bringing her to Kuoh Academy to seek protection from the Gremory family amidst pursuit by Underworld forces. The situation intensifies as Sona Shitori’s student council begins to track Maria’s arrival at the school.
—
Trivia:
The ‘Soul Covenant’ talent is not merely for summoning; it grants Aki total autonomy over contracts applied to his own body.
Rating Game rules explicitly prevent Kings from interfering in the matches of Peerage members who have promoted to King.
Maria’s intervention is the result of a ‘butterfly effect’ caused by her mother Shela’s early actions.
Maria’s knowledge of the Gremory family’s base in the Human World comes directly from her mother’s instructions.
—
Translation Notes:
Notes:
• Rias – As the red-haired S-Rank heiress of the Gremory family and sister to a high-ranking official, she is a powerful, intelligent, and well-endowed leader. Serving as King of the Occult Research Club, she is a decisive figure who balances her family responsibilities with a fierce drive for independence. She focuses on mastering the Rating Game while navigating her bond with partner Aki.
• Aki – A tall, handsome youth with a commanding presence, this Kuoh Academy student possesses a complex heritage—part Devil, Fallen Angel, and Nekoshou. A middle SS-Class powerhouse, he wields lightning magic, healing abilities, and talent-copying skills. As a pragmatic, detached tactician in Rias’s peerage, he acts as a protector to the ORC and a dominant partner to Akeno while navigating Underworld politics.
• Riser – A tall, golden-haired High-Class Devil from the Phoenix family and Rias’s nominal fiancé. This arrogant, entitled noble wears a crimson suit and relies on flame-based regenerative abilities. Under pressure to marry, he leads an experienced, well-trained Peerage. As a prideful rival devil with an undefeated record, he serves as the primary opponent in the upcoming Rating Game.
• Akeno Himejima – 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 Kuoh Academy senior in Rias Gremory’s peerage. Possessing mature beauty and long black hair, she balances a sadistic, queen-like personality with a poised, teasing nature. A loyal retainer deeply bonded to Rias, this powerful Devil wields golden lightning, manages surveillance, and executes transport magic circles while playfully guiding and observing Aki.
• Akeno – Himejima is a tall, curvaceous, raven-haired Orc-devil and S-Class Vice-Buchou of the Occult Research Club with Queen rank. Masking a sadistic side with calm elegance, this older student handles administration and magical support, including portal transportation. Composed and loyal, she shares a complex, sparring-filled bond with Aki, balancing group decisions with personal desires for his attention.
• Wilbert – The deceased former Demon King, lover of Shela, and father of Maria. Linked to the previous head of the Gremory family, he played a pivotal role in Mio’s upbringing by carefully selecting her kind, anonymous adoptive parents in the Human World.
• Naruse – The family name carried by Mio, her sister Maria, and their parents. This significant lineage is deeply tied to the history involving Wilbert and is central to the current pursuit.
• Maria – Shela’s daughter and a rare succubus lineage survivor, she appears as a petite, white-haired girl due to a seal that hides her mature form. Nimble in combat and skilled in mental magic, this playful yet vigilant student at Kuoh Academy acts as a dedicated tactical aide to Aki and protector of her half-sister, Mio, while navigating her role as a bridge between the Underworld and the Gremory family.
• Mio – A busty, twin-tailed high school heroine with red hair and peach eyes, she is a pure-blooded Devil possessing immense latent mana and fire magic. Unaware of her lineage, she loves her adoptive parents but is now hunted by various Devils. Vulnerable yet inquisitive, the daughter of Wilbert and sister to Maria—who keeps her comatose in a classroom—she is protected by Maria and Aki from rival factions.
• Y – The first initial/part of the name Y Ddraig Goch.
• Shela – Anxious former Succubus Queen and mother of Maria, Mio, and Lucia, this high-status, white-haired figure with curved ram horns orchestrated a plan to protect Mio. Deeply concerned for her family’s survival, she holds vital, secret knowledge regarding the Gremory family, the older generation of Devils, and the current status of the Underworld.
• 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.
• Jin – A handsome, middle-aged man wearing glasses and casual attire. He acts as a guardian for his son, Basara, while navigating a complex web of allegiances within the Underworld. Additionally, he is identified as a potential protector for Mio.
• Rias Gremory – Rias Gremory, a pure-blood high-class devil from the prestigious Gremory pillar, is the influential, commanding, yet occasionally lazy leader of Kuoh Academy’s Occult Research Club and its hidden hierarchy. She has a curvy, elegant figure, a large bust, striking crimson hair, and blue eyes. Wielding top-level demonic power, she expertly governs her household’s affairs and school club members.
• Shitori – Shitori Sona, a pure‑blood devil and Kuoh Academy student council president, sports short black hair, glasses and a stern expression in formal attire. She speaks flatly, leads the Sitri lineage tactically, handles local supernatural issues, and defers to Rias Gremory. The Shitori name denotes a high‑ranking devil lineage.
• Sona – Sona Sitri is a stern, beautiful S-rank Devil, Sitri family heir, and Kuoh Academy’s Student Council President, recognizable by her short black hair and glasses. Connected to a noble household with a high-ranking sister in the Underworld, she manages supernatural issues alongside Rias Gremory. As Akira’s master, she inscribed a family crest on his palm, oversees his training, and seeks his cure.
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Edited by Kanaa-senpai.
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