Chapter 325 Ras
Edited by: Kanaa-senpai
A boy of plain, unremarkable appearance walked into the park, his posture as mundane as his features.
Before either of them could speak, a grey, dismal shimmer of [magic] rippled across his frame, dispelling his [Disguise].
Ras stood there in a crisp, elegant tailcoat, his face hidden behind a stark white mask with gold trim that obscured even his eyes. He addressed them with impeccable, gentlemanly grace: “Good afternoon, little Succubus, and to you two ladies.”
Because of the mask, the Naruse Parents had no way of knowing who he was, but they understood one thing: their mission felt complete.
Xue and Minami exchanged a look, remaining silent, and initiated a secure link to Aki.
Maria stepped out from the shadows, eyes narrowing as she scrutinized the Ras before her. She had met this man for intelligence exchanges several times; he had always been shrouded in mystery, playing the role of a loyal lackey to Zolgear perfectly. She never imagined he had any history with the Naruse Parents.
Aki hadn’t explained why, but given the deliberate choice of the Naruse Parents for this plan, she knew there had to be a deeper, specific reason.
Beneath the mask, Ras watched the Naruse Parents, his eyes swirling with profound, complex emotion.
He had actually arrived much earlier.
When he first saw the two people he had idolized during his childhood—people who had supposedly “risen from the dead”—he had been left reeling for several minutes. If not for the many years he’d spent lurking in Zolgear’s shadow, where his [Disguise] and concealment [ability] had become second nature, he likely would have been exposed on the spot.
Being able to hide under Zolgear’s nose for so long, enduring the urge to avenge the Naruse Parents even after they were “murdered,” and waiting in silence for the perfect opportunity—Ras’s intelligence and psychological fortitude were beyond reproach.
Once he gathered his wits, he began to trace the sequence of events. When the Naruse Parents died, there had been no bodies; he had clung to a sliver of hope then. But when the reality actually manifested, years of playing the double agent made him instinctively vigilant, wary that this might be a trap.
However, thinking back, no one knew of his connection to them, so the “trap” theory didn’t hold much weight.
Most importantly, he was certain these were not imposters.
Therefore, even if it were a trap, he had no choice but to leap.
Staring at the middle-aged couple, so ordinary and unassuming, Ras couldn’t help but take a few steps closer.
The Naruse Parents instinctively retreated.
With Ras’s imposing aura, mysterious attire, and his known affiliation with Zolgear, their reaction was entirely logical.
Ras paused, his heart in turmoil. After a moment of hesitation, he reached up and removed his mask.
Beneath it was a face not unlike his disguised one, though the features were far more handsome, shedding the plain, dull veneer.
The Naruse Parents looked at Ras, then at each other, as the mother tentatively whispered, “Are you… Little La?”
Hearing that intimate, familiar nickname, Ras felt a flood of memories wash over him as he replied, “It’s me. Big Sister, Rias brother, it’s been a long time.”
”It really is Little La,” Naruse Mio’s [Adoptive Father]1 exclaimed, looking stunned. “Time flies. I never imagined you’d grow up to be so strong.”
”I told you back then that Little La had such wonderful [Talent], he was destined for greatness,” the [Adoptive Mother] added with a gentle, warm smile.
”But Little La, how did you end up with Zolgear…?”
She stopped mid-sentence, though everyone understood what she meant to ask.
”After you and Rias brother left, the orphanage couldn’t sustain itself anymore, due to various reasons.”
Ras offered a thin, sad smile, pushing the heaviness aside. He steadied his emotions, burying the joy of their reunion deep within, and began to catch up with them.
While the three shared their past, Aki received the report, confident that the situation was now firmly under control. He ordered Xue and Minami to hold their positions, while he, Naruse Mio, and the Nonaka sisters made their way to White Elephant Park.
Rias and the others were kept out of this for now; there were too many eyes on them, and news would easily reach Zolgear’s ears.
The operation didn’t require many hands, so Aki didn’t even call on Toujou Jin for assistance.
Basara Toujou was undeniably powerful, but if the defection was successful, Zolgear’s already thin ranks would be further depleted. One more or one less didn’t change the tactical equation.
A moment later, Aki and the others met Ras.
Naruse Mio watched her parents chatting happily with the enemy, her expression a kaleidoscope of conflicting emotions. Fortunately, Maria, who had been listening in, quickly explained the connections and the history.
Aki gave the man—who played both sides but ultimately aided Basara Toujou—a quick once-over. Satisfied that everything aligned with his predictions, he cut straight to the point.
”I want you to pretend to take Mio back. Ensure her safety, but while you’re at it, find out the locations of Shela and Lucia.”
Having set the demand, Aki added, “I’ll handle Zolgear. Once this is finished, you can go to the Gremory household with Naruse and the others.”
Though the time together was brief, Ras had already learned the essentials—how they had survived, where they had been, and why they had appeared here. With his sharp mind, he grasped Aki’s intent immediately.
He wasn’t surprised by the request. What intrigued him was how Aki had discovered his connection to the Naruse Parents. But judging by the others’ reactions, he knew he wouldn’t get an answer.
Aki hadn’t even told his own people, so he certainly wouldn’t tell him.
That was the benefit of being a smart man: you didn’t ask questions you shouldn’t. Ras promptly agreed to Aki’s terms.
”Zolgear has [Demon King-class] strength. Can you really handle him alone?”
Ras looked at Aki with curiosity, and he countered, “You’d be better off bringing that guy from the [Hero Clan]. His [ability] is potent. If it hits, Zolgear won’t be killed, but he’ll be severely crippled.”
Aki understood the bug-like nature of [Banishing Shift]. It was a rule-based [ability] that even [God-tier] entities couldn’t shrug off, let alone [Demon King-class]. If not for the fact that Basara Toujou was male—and Aki had already experimented with the fact that other forms of [Bodily Fluids] exchange, such as blood contact, couldn’t trigger the [ability]—he would have done anything to get his hands on it.
”Don’t worry. Our primary goal isn’t to kill Zolgear, but to rescue the hostages.”
Aki saw no need to explain his current level of strength.
Once the hostages were safe, he’d kill him if he could. If not, he’d leave the clean-up to Sirzechs and the others.
As for Zolgear going for a mutually assured destruction or launching a counter-attack…
Aki honestly wasn’t afraid.
Even if he were tied up elsewhere, Rias and her group could hold out until reinforcements arrived.
He didn’t take Sirzechs or Sairaorg for granted.
While Aki and Ras talked, Maria filled Naruse Mio in on Ras’s identity and true motives.
Because of his exceptional [Talent], Ras had been taken by Zolgear for training after the orphanage closed. Because he had been with him since childhood, Zolgear trusted him implicitly.
Though Ras had idolized the Naruse Parents, he hadn’t planned to betray Zolgear until his men killed them. After that, his sole purpose became revenge.
Ras’s [Talent] was indeed remarkable, reaching [SS-Rank] at such a young age, but he was still nowhere near a match for Zolgear.
So, he had lingered in the shadows, waiting for his chance.
Finally, he had found his opening.
After his defection, Zolgear’s available manpower dwindled, and he was under constant surveillance. That was when Ras was tasked with threatening Maria to bring Naruse Mio to Zolgear.
Ras knew Mio was their adopted daughter and that they shared a deep bond, but he also felt she held some responsibility for their deaths. He had planned to use the situation to his advantage, keeping her as bait, and then strike during the moment of least resistance—when Zolgear was attempting to seize power.
If he succeeded, Mio might survive.
She might get hurt or humiliated, but Ras didn’t care.
If she hadn’t been their adopted daughter, he wouldn’t have cared if she lived at all. If revenge seemed impossible, he might have even killed her himself to deny Zolgear his prize. That, too, would have been a form of vengeance.
Once Mio understood the truth, she felt a flare of anger, her chest heaving, though she found herself at a loss for words.
She understood Ras’s logic. If her parents had truly died, she would never have forgiven herself either.
Recalling those savage pursuers, the red-haired, twin-tailed [Schoolgirl] felt a lingering chill.
At the same time, she felt a profound sense of luck for having met Aki.
Because of his help, everything was trending toward the best possible outcome.
Her parents were alive, and although she had to face Zolgear, she was surrounded by allies. She wouldn’t be alone.
After finalizing the details of the plan, the group returned to the large mansion, while Ras departed to report back to Zolgear.
—
Summary:
Ras reveals himself to the Naruse parents, confirming his identity as the child they once knew and detailing his long, painful history of undercover work and secret desire for vengeance against Zolgear. Aki strategizes with Ras, utilizing him as a mole to save Mio while plotting to deal with Zolgear himself, despite the risks. Mio processes the truth about Ras’s hidden intentions and feels a mixture of complicated emotions regarding her parents’ fate and Ras’s methods. The group solidifies their plan and prepares to face the coming conflict with Zolgear.
—
Trivia:
Ras has been an SS-Rank operative for some time but still felt inferior to Zolgear.
Aki has tested the limits of the Basara Toujou ability involving body fluid exchange.
Ras initially intended to use Mio as bait to kill Zolgear, regardless of her safety.
The orphanage closed down years ago, which set the stage for Ras being taken by Zolgear.
—
Translation Notes:
Notes:
• Ras – An SS-Rank Doll Master and former orphan raised by the Naruses, this elegant, white-masked magic user serves as Zolgear’s trusted subordinate and infiltrator. Though he acted as a double agent for years, his complex ties to his childhood idols ultimately led him to return to the Underworld with the Naruse parents, abandoning his role as a pawn to guide Aki through the enemy base.
• Naruse – Mio Naruse, an heir to Demon King power, is a student protected by the Gremory household. She shares deep bonds with her adoptive parents—middle-aged, ordinary-looking figures who later return to the Underworld to assist orphans—as well as Maria, Aki, and Kurumi. Alongside her parents, former members of the Occult Research Club, she navigates schemes while maintaining vital emotional ties.
• Minami – A kimono-clad Bishop in Riser’s peerage who also operates alongside Minami to monitor the situation and maintain communication with Aki.
• Aki – A tall, handsome Kuoh Academy strategist and King-status devil with a powerful, dragon-like physique and scumbag-like charisma, he wields Dual Cultivation and soul contracts to heal, empower, and psychologically condition his growing harem of schoolgirl knights and supernatural companions. A master of magical tool control and Evil Piece distribution, he pragmatically expands his peerage while indulging his immense sexual stamina and appetite, balancing flirtatious charm with dominant control as he ascends toward Demon King-class power.
• Xue – A powerful, athletic Chinese beauty with a bun hairstyle and traditional qipao, this martial-arts prodigy is an A+-rank Rook of the Riser Phoenix peerage. A loyal fighter who constantly pushes her limits to exhaustion, she also serves as an operative working alongside Minami to monitor the situation and maintain communication with Aki.
• Zolgear – This gaunt, ancient Devil Grand Duke is a cold-blooded magic master and researcher known for mental arts and artificial life creation, notably the creation of Zest. An Ultimate-Class demon leading a hostile Underworld faction from an isolated dimension, he is obsessed with absorbing Mio and Wilbert’s power for immortality. Though physically weak, he is a feared, ruthless threat terminated by Aki.
• Maria – A Succubus with a petite and cute appearance who resembles her mother, Shela. A subordinate of Aki who acts with deference. She is tasked with transporting Naruse Mio to safety. A succubus with a young appearance and a mature true form. She has long legs and a busty figure. A young Succubus with familial ties to Shela and Lucia. She attempts to manipulate Zolgear by threatening Naruse Mio to buy time, eventually being paralyzed by his magic.
• Rias – A prominent female authority in the Gremory household, she is a high-level tactical advisor and protector who provides essential emotional support and safety for Mio and Maria. Beyond her tactical brilliance, she acts as a source of destructive magical power fused by Aki and maintains a professional interest in bio-manufacturing technology, serving as a key intelligence asset for the group.
• Naruse Mio – A supporter and cheerleader for the Gremory peerage.
• Mio – A proud, red-haired, twin-tailed tsundere with peach eyes and a buxom figure, this Kuoh Academy transfer is the adopted Naruse daughter. Inheriting Demon King blood, she serves as a Bishop in Aki’s peerage, wielding fire and gravity magic. Currently unconscious and transported by Maria, she is sought by Zolgear for her power while navigating a complex, intimate bond with Aki and her family.
• Nonaka – The Nonaka sisters—Yuki, Ikumi, Yuzuki, and Kurumi—are professional surveillance operatives acting as monitors. While they maintain a composed, unified identity, they also balance personal roles: some provide close security detail for Mio, while others serve Aki as schoolgirls, performing intimate personal tasks like chest-presses and back-scrubbing.
• Toujou – Toujou is the family name carried by Basara and his father, Jin, connecting them to the Hero Clan and an ongoing conflict. Associated with Basara—a powerful individual whose existence is known to Aki—the surname is recognized for representing high combat potential and formidable strength.
• Jin – A handsome, middle-aged man with half-rimmed glasses and a penchant for smoking, this powerful Hero Clan figure masks formidable strength behind a composed exterior. As Basara Toujou’s father and guardian, his connection to Naruse Mio leads to the exposure of her identity and Hero Clan attention, forcing him to navigate complex Underworld allegiances while preparing to travel abroad.
• Basara – A pragmatic tactical thinker and Kuoh Academy student, Jin Toujou’s son is a magic novice wielding the holy sword Brynhildr and the Banishing Shift. Despite being alienated by the Hero Clan after surviving the Hero Village incident, this ally of Aki hosts a base to protect the Gremory household. Though a skilled combatant, his swordsmanship is notably inferior to that of his rival, Zolgear.
• Lucia – A cold-natured Succubus and daughter of Shela, she lacks the typical physical traits of her kind. As Maria’s half-sister and a magic user, she was present during the teleportation sequence with the Nonaka sisters. Currently, she is imprisoned by Zolgear, held captive alongside her mother, Shela.
• Shela – A petite, former Succubus Queen with white hair, curved ram horns, and violet eyes. Despite her youthful appearance and natural allure, she is the protective mother of Mio, Lucia, and Maria. Currently held captive by Zolgear, she guards vital Gremory secrets and key information on the super-electromagnetic device, while orchestrating plans to ensure her daughters’ survival and influence.
• 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.
• Y – The first initial/part of the name Y Ddraig Goch.
• Sirzechs – Sirzechs Gremory is a red-haired Great Demon King holding the title Lucifer. As Rias’s brother and a regal political leader, he possesses immense, restrained power. He acts as a crucial peace negotiator, monitoring defectors and threats like Zolgear while coordinating intelligence with the Hero Clan. His true strength and deep intentions remain difficult for others to fully grasp.
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Edited by Kanaa-senpai.
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