Chapter 233 Everyone Exits
Edited by: Kanaa-senpai
Xue, the girl in the Chinese-style qipao, withdrew her fist and furrowed her dark brows as she looked at the cat-eared loli.
”You’re certainly strong,” she said, “but losing your focus in the middle of a fight is a grave mistake.”
”My apologies,” Koneko replied in her usual calm tone. “That was my fault. To make up for it, I will not hold back anymore.”
Although Riser Phoenix and Rias had wagered on the match, the members of their peerages held no deep-seated grudges against one another. They were fighting for their respective kings, nothing more. Aside from the three former Fallen Angels—Amano Yuuma (Raynare) and her companions—few had any intention of trying to kill their opponents from the outset.
Since the battle began, Koneko had deliberately restrained herself, matching her opponents rather than overwhelming them. Xue’s mastery of martial arts, combined with the natural advantages of the Rook piece1, gave her a slight technical edge. Meanwhile, Koneko’s nekoshou bloodline granted superior speed and raw strength, while Isabella’s support allowed Xue to maintain the balance. Though Isabella was the weaker fighter of the two, she was still a capable Rook in her own right.
The battle dragged on in a relentless stalemate. During training, everyone habitually suppressed their true strength in order to polish their technique, and Koneko had initially intended to do the same here. She had not expected the other battlefields to conclude so quickly, however, and there was no longer any reason to hold back.
The moment Koneko released her restraint, both Xue and Isabella stiffened. They had known she was hiding something, but knowing and experiencing it were two different things. The air seemed to tighten around the white-haired girl, and a chill crawled down their spines before either woman realized she had stopped breathing.
When combat skill reached a similar level, victory was decided by physical ability. Once Koneko unleashed the full extent of her power, her movements became too fast for either of them to follow.
Xue managed to fend off the barrage through instinct, experience, and prediction, barely intercepting blows she could no longer properly see. Isabella fared far worse. A flash of silver-white streaked through her vision, followed by a string of crushing impacts that hammered her back, jaw, and abdomen before she could react.
She staggered backward, and before she could regain her footing, another strike snapped her head aside, blanking her thoughts and lifting her clear off the ground.
”Urgh…”
A pained groan escaped Isabella’s lips as she hung helplessly in the air.
THUD!
Koneko launched herself forward, leaving twin craters in the gymnasium floor. Her knee drove into Isabella’s guard and shattered it outright.
With Isabella eliminated from the exchange, Xue suddenly found herself alone.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
Their bodies blurred together in a violent storm of motion. Fists, elbows, palms, knees, and feet collided again and again, each impact unleashing a thunderous shockwave that rippled across the gymnasium. Blocks flowed into parries, parries into counters, and counters into evasive maneuvers as neither side gave an inch.
Xue fought with everything she had.
Under that crushing pressure, she felt as though she had brushed against the threshold of S-Rank. She did not harbor any fantasies of breaking through in the middle of combat, but every additional second spent facing an opponent like this was an invaluable experience she might draw upon later.
Unfortunately, experience alone could not bridge the gap.
Less than three minutes later, the cracks in her defense became impossible to hide. Though only a few minutes had passed, the two had already exchanged well over a hundred blows—far too fast for any ordinary human eye to follow.
”Just who are you…?” Xue gasped.
Her arms trembled uncontrollably. She could not lift them anymore. In truth, it was not only her arms. Every muscle in her body screamed in protest, and remaining upright had already consumed the last of her strength.
”No one gets this strong and stays unknown…”
Himejima Akeno was the famed Priestess of Thunder. Yuuto was the Sword Creator. Asia was known as the Smile of the Virgin. There was no need to mention Aki or the three Fallen Angels, whose reputations under Azazel were already famous throughout the Underworld.
Only Koneko remained an enigma.
And yet this seemingly inconspicuous girl had cornered her completely.
Koneko lowered her stance, her expression as impassive as ever.
”I am merely Buchou-sama’s peerage member.”
Xue stared at her for a long moment before releasing a quiet sigh.
”I surrender.”
[Riser Phoenix’s two Rooks, eliminated.]
”Ah, Koneko, you finally finished them off?”
Mittelt had just arrived at the indoor gymnasium. Watching Xue surrender, she clicked her tongue in disappointment.
”I thought they might actually have someone strong over here. What a waste of a trip. I should’ve gone to watch Amano Yuuma-sama’s fight instead.”
Koneko ignored her entirely. Dusting off her uniform, she turned and headed for the courtyard.
”Hey, Koneko, wait for me! Honestly…”
As the two disappeared from view, Xue finally reached her limit. Her legs gave way, and she collapsed onto the floor, gasping for breath.
Less than an hour into the Rating Game, the fighting was already nearing its conclusion. By the time Yuuto and the others returned to the courtyard, the battles there had reached their own finale.
Following Akeno’s advice, Amano Yuuma (Raynare) had not toyed with her opponents. Despite being the last to engage, she defeated Bishop Minami along with the Knights Colamine and Siris at almost the exact moment Koneko finished off Xue and Isabella.
[Riser Phoenix’s one Bishop and two Knights, combat-incapacitated.]
Grayfia’s mature voice echoed throughout the battlefield. By now, neither the combatants nor the spectators reacted much to the announcement. Similar notices had sounded so frequently over the past twenty minutes that they had begun to lose their impact.
”Impossible!”
Inside the Principal’s office, Riser Phoenix could no longer contain himself.
”How can this be happening?!”
He had expected a swift victory. Instead, his side was on the verge of collapse without having eliminated a single opponent. Arrogant though he was, even Riser had never imagined losing six peerage members while inflicting no losses in return.
And yet that was exactly what had happened.
Reason prevented him from lashing out at the Gremory family or accusing anyone of foul play. The Phoenix clan’s upper echelon was watching the broadcast. If there had been a problem, they would have noticed it long before he did.
No matter how absurd it seemed, he was being forced to accept reality.
His peerage simply could not match Rias’s.
Only Ravel and Yubelluna remained out of the fighting. Rising from his seat, Riser decided to see the battlefield for himself. He refused to believe the match was over.
With his Phoenix bloodline, Ravel’s regenerative abilities, and the two drops of Phoenix Tears Yubelluna carried, there was still a chance to drag the battle toward victory—or at least force a draw.
Sona Sitri switched the monitor feed to Riser, giving the audience a close-up view as he stormed out of the Principal’s office.
Meanwhile, above the courtyard, Himejima Akeno smiled at Yubelluna, her face flushed with excitement as she watched the woman recover for the second time.
”That was the last drop, wasn’t it?” Akeno asked, amusement dancing in her voice. “What a shame. It looks like we’ll have to stop playing now.”
The Bomb Queen glared back warily. Her elegant purple robes had been reduced to little more than tatters, exposing broad stretches of pale skin, while Akeno’s priestess attire remained completely untouched.
Phoenix Tears were one of the Phoenix clan’s greatest treasures. Not only could they instantly heal injuries, but they could also replenish depleted mana. More importantly, they were permitted in Rating Games. Although only two drops could be used per match, their value remained extraordinary. While not especially precious to the Phoenix clan itself, they could be sold to outsiders for staggering sums. Combined with the clan’s natural advantages in Rating Games, Phoenix Tears were one of the primary reasons for the family’s meteoric rise.
”You’ve become a High-Class Devil…” Yubelluna said quietly, narrowing her eyes. “Haven’t you?”
Her purplish-red hair draped across one eye, lending an air of mystery to her already alluring features. Tall and voluptuous, she was undeniably beautiful. Riser Phoenix might have lacked many virtues, but his taste in women was not among them. His peerage members were not once-in-a-generation beauties on the level of Rias or Naruse Mio, yet each was striking in her own right.
As young Queens with considerable pride, Akeno and Yubelluna had never gotten along. More accurately, the Priestess of Thunder had always held a slight advantage over the Bomb Queen.
That was precisely why Yubelluna had always wanted a chance to defeat her.
—
Summary:
The intense battle between the peerages of Riser Phoenix and Rias Gremory reaches a critical turning point. Koneko defeats Xue and Isabella, causing the tide of the rating game to shift decisively against Riser’s forces. Amidst the mounting losses of his subordinates, Riser decides to intervene personally, while in the courtyard, Himejima Akeno faces off against the wounded Yubelluna.
—
Trivia:
Rook pieces in rating games gain specific combat bonuses.
Phoenix Tears are permitted for use during rating games, with a limit of two per match.
Koneko has been deliberately suppressing her strength for combat practice until the fight against Xue.
The reputation of Gremory peerage members is well-established in the Underworld, making Koneko’s anonymity particularly noteworthy.
—
Translation Notes:
Notes:
• Xue – A slender, athletic martial arts expert with a bun hairstyle, she wears a traditional qipao. As a loyal, A+ rank Rook in the Riser Phoenix peerage, she possesses incredible resilience and physical strength compared to others, pushing herself to the absolute limit until she collapses from exhaustion after combat.
• Y – The first initial/part of the name Y Ddraig Goch.
• Koneko – A white-haired, sixteen-year-old Nekoshou with a petite, doll-like physique and cat-like features, this stoic girl serves as Rias Gremory’s Rook. Possessing immense strength and speed, she is currently engaged in a tough gymnasium fight. Initially impassive, her restraint yields to magical resonance, making her intensely physically affectionate with Aki and prone to clear signs of jealousy.
• Amano Yuuma – Yuuma Amano is the alias of Raynare, a Fallen Angel disguised as a school uniform-wearing transfer student with a pure, innocent face, a devilish, slender figure, long black hair, and black wings. She serves in Rias’s Peerage, the ORC, and a barrier maintenance team. Possessive, assertive, and proactive, she takes the lead in training her partner Aki, with whom she desires intimacy.
• Phoenix – The Phenex noble clan, from which Riser and Ravel originate, is known for their unique bloodline abilities and the healing properties of their tears.
• Raynare – Lady Raynare, alias Amano Yuuma, is a voluptuous, dark-haired former Fallen Angel training under Rias at the Occult Research Club. Shifting between an innocent schoolgirl guise and her true, darker nature, she is one of three people under contract with her mentee, Aki. This contract boosts her combat strength to high-end S-Rank, though she still struggles to integrate as a cohesive peerage member.
• 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 and mentor linked to past experiences. Despite her A-Rank status with Aki, a black-belly nature, and instant-change powers, she hides her faction ties, guilt, and fear of abandonment.
• Riser – A tall, yellow-haired High-Class Devil of the Phoenix clan with a punkish appearance, wearing a crimson suit. He wields infinite wealth, fire control, and reckless, near-immortal regenerative abilities in pursuit of Super-Devil status. Driven by obsession and the humiliation of losing his fiancée, Rias Gremory, his arrogance masks a near-death terror and intense hatred for Aki.
• Yuuma – Amano Yuuma (Raynare) is a striking, curvaceous former fallen angel and Grigori operative with long black hair and violet eyes. Reincarnated as a high-class devil, this light magic master and aerial combatant now serves as a devoted Pawn in Aki’s Gremory peerage. Bound by a profound soul contract, she playfully teases others while serving Aki with an obsessive, fierce devotion.
• Rias – An elegant, voluptuous SS+ rank Gremory devil heiress with long crimson hair and green eyes. As future clan head, sister to Demon King Sirzechs, and Occult Research Club President, she is a tactical genius wielding destruction mana. Possessing a commanding presence, she confidently leads her peerage while navigating a forced marriage to Riser Phoenix and an intimate, soul-bound bond with Aki.
• Isabella – A half-masked Rook serving in Riser Phoenix’s peerage who accompanies her fellow peerage member, Xue.
• Aki – A tall, physically imposing Kuoh Academy strategist and Red Dragon Emperor successor, this mixed-blood Devil/Fallen Angel/Nekoshou is a handsome, dominant powerhouse with a casual yet arrogant demeanor. As the Student Council’s sole male member and Rias’s key pillar, he copies talents and uses dual cultivation and lightning magic. He protects the Naruse sisters and is in a complex relationship with Mio.
• Himejima Akeno – A high-ranking member of the Gremory peerage known as the Lightning Flash, this female student has black hair in a ponytail and a buxom physique. Previously reserved, she now possesses a sultry, energetic, and passionate demeanor during cultivation.
• Himejima – Akeno Himejima is a tall, curvaceous Kuoh Academy senior and high-ranking Occult Research Club member. A loyal Devil retainer in Rias Gremory’s peerage, this mature beauty with long black hair balances a sadistic, queen-like persona with a poised, teasing demeanor. She wields golden lightning, manages magic, shares deep bonds with Rias, and guides Aki, blending refined grace with power.
• 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, Demon King-class power. Defeated by and confirmed weaker in combat than Aki via Balance Breaker, he still acts as a formidable antagonist who researches Sacred Gears, provides the Occult Research Club with data, and shapes their view of Aki.
• Akeno – Himejima is a tall, voluptuous raven-haired Orc-devil shrine maiden with red eyes, a high ponytail, and dark wings. As Rias Gremory’s fiercely loyal S+ rank Vice-President and Queen, this elegant, seductive, and playful older student handles administration and fights on the ground. Known as the “Priestess of Thunder,” her relaxed demeanor masks a violent, destructive combat style utilizing massive lightning and natural magic. She is also Aki’s soul-bound contract partner who longs for his attention.
• Yuuto – An A-Rank Knight in Rias Gremory’s peerage, this blonde male Devil is a speed-based swordsman nearly at high-class level. He has an analytical mind and can create magical swords. Despite recent special training, a unique physical condition bars him from the new contract system and Dual Cultivation, causing heavy emotional weight over his lack of progress compared to his peers.
• Asia – A gentle, blonde first-year nun recently reincarnated as a kind-hearted female Devil and Gremory peerage Bishop. Positioned in the Occult Research Room, this earnest, clear-headed newcomer serves as a crucial supportive healer for conflict survivors. She deeply cares for others, anticipates her growth, and holds a naive affection for Aki, whom she once invited to lunch.
• Mittelt – A petite, twin-tailed blonde Fallen Angel turned Devil in Rias’s peerage. Sporting jet-black wings, light-based powers, and a jade-white-red aura, this sharp-tongued, impulsive S-Rank fighter wears a black-and-white maid uniform. Transferred to Aki’s training group after serving Raynare and Kalawarner, she craves Aki’s affection, teases others, and has a playful bond with the younger household members.
• Colamine – A knight serving in Riser’s peerage.
• Minami – A kimono-clad Bishop serving in Riser’s peerage.
• Siris – A knight serving in Riser’s peerage.
• Grayfia – The strongest Queen and a high-ranking Underworld Devil, this silver-haired maid serves the Gremory house as a medical examiner and Rias’s sister-in-law. Conveying the Demon King’s wishes as his secretary, she acts as a mature, calm, and seductive voice of authority. She balances administrative duties as a detached, neutral arbiter, announcer, and referee overseeing Rating Games.
• Nel – A twin loli sister and member of Riser’s peerage.
• Ras – A masked devil serving Zogil.
• Gremory – Rias Gremory, a pure-blood devil of the prestigious Gremory house, has striking crimson hair, blue eyes, a curvy figure, and a prominent bust. Wielding top-level demonic power, she governs Kuoh Academy’s hidden hierarchy and leads her household in a high-stakes competition against the rival Phoenix clan.
• Yubelluna – An A+ rank magic user known as the Bomb Queen, this loyal, highly skilled Queen of Riser Phoenix’s peerage maintains a romantic relationship with him. Characterized by her sultry, curvaceous build and long purplish-red hair, she possesses high-ranking bomb and barrier magic. Though highly capable, she struggles to maintain her strength during the ritual and collapses from exhaustion after her eventual defeat in combat.
• Ravel – The youngest child and princess of the noble Phoenix clan, this spoiled, highly talented blonde Devil girl sports twin drill ponytails, flame-themed wings, and a frilly pink lolita dress with a folding fan. Serving as Riser’s S-rank Bishop, she is intensely loyal yet highly critical of her brother. Behind her solemn, analytical demeanor lies a sharp tongue and a tactically valuable mind.
• Sitri – The noble family name carried by Sona.
• Sona – Sona Sitri is the stern, beautiful heir to the noble Sitri family, Kuoh Academy’s Student Council President, and a peerage head with short black hair and glasses. Professional and bureaucratic, she acts as Akira’s master and works with Rias Gremory. She also oversees the supernatural Rating Games, managing the broadcast and combat feeds to capture key moments like Riser’s loss of composure.
• Queen – A devil serving Riser Phenex.
• Naruse Mio – A supporter and cheerleader for the Gremory peerage.
• 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.
• Mio – A delicate, prideful, and busty red-haired Demon King’s daughter with peach eyes and twin tails, she is a pure-blooded Devil from the Naruse family. Possessing latent fire magic, this tsundere transferred to Kuoh Academy to avoid pursuers. Inquisitive about the Underworld and the Occult Research Club, she resists control over her fate, struggling with her lineage and complex relationship with Aki.
• 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.
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Edited by Kanaa-senpai.
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