Chapter 416 The Honest Table
Edited by: Kanaa-senpai
This was Venelana’s deliberate choice—if she hadn’t done this, no one except Greyfia would have been able to hear them without intentionally eavesdropping. She’d done it to make both Sirzechs and Georg believe them more completely, and also to resolve the “disappearance” problem from that afternoon in one go.
”Don’t spread news of Aki’s breakthrough for now,” Sirzechs said, glancing back at Greyfia. In truth, the reminder was aimed at the other maids and butlers in the room.
”Mother, we need to move forward with Aki and Rias’s engagement.”
”I know. But at most we can manage an engagement for now. To actually bring Aki into the house, we’ll have to wait until Rias graduates university and formally inherits the Gremory household.”
Venelana’s beautiful eyes slanted sideways. Her tone remained flat. “Just like when your father married me—it would have been impossible if he hadn’t already inherited the Gremory household.”
Marriages among Peerages—especially those at the top of the Underworld—were tangled in very complex matters. Pure love was almost nonexistent.
Venelana had been the legitimate daughter of the House of Bael, and her talent was exceptional. Had it not been for the political union between the House of Bael and the Gremory household, they never would have ended up together.
Sirzechs and Greyfia were much the same. If not for the urgent need to resolve the internal conflicts of the Underworld, they likely wouldn’t have married either.
Aki was merely an ordinary Devil who’d been reincarnated from humanity—but he was also the current Red Dragon Emperor. Even if they kept the fact that he’d already reached God-tier a secret, that single identity alone meant he’d have to marry into the family as Rias’s consort, but only once she became the head of the Gremory household—not while she was still just the legitimate daughter.
Truthfully, if one considered the bloodline Aki now had, it was more noble than anyone in all Three Realms.
Through constant fusion and purification—whether his original human bloodline or the various ones he’d absorbed later—only the most noble, most essential essences had been preserved. Even if the bloodline of origin was incomplete, with all Primordial Beings long dead in these Three Realms, no one could even begin to challenge his pedigree.
On the other hand, given Aki’s current power, if he didn’t want to marry into the family, nobody could force him.
But he didn’t really care either way. He had almost no memories of his parents in this life, let alone any emotional attachment. He’d be perfectly happy changing his surname from Uesugi to Aki Gremory.
If he confirmed that his parents were dead, he even thought about changing it to Aki Gremory Su—a way to honor the parents who’d raised him for over twenty years in his previous life, without having had the chance to repay their kindness.
Georg’s hand paused mid-motion. He lowered the wine glass he’d been about to drink from.
”In that case, let’s go with the engagement for now,” he said.
He wasn’t reluctant to give up power—the family’s affairs were already entirely managed by Venelana anyway. It was just that in terms of both strength and experience, Rias still wasn’t qualified to inherit the headship.
”Alright. Once we’ve selected an auspicious date, Greyfia will notify Aki and Rias.”
”Yes.”
The conversation concluded, and everyone turned their attention to the meal.
When they’d nearly finished eating, Venelana and Greyfia exchanged a glance. Moving at the same time, they started the final part of their plan.
”You may all withdraw. Don’t bother clearing the table yet.” Greyfia turned and addressed the butlers and maids.
The maidservants blinked in confusion, but quickly nodded in acknowledgment.
Once everyone had left the dining room, Greyfia walked to the door, closed it, and erected a magical barrier.
What they were about to discuss was critically important—so important that beyond the four of them in this room, not a hint of it could be allowed to leak.
”Greyfia?”
Georg looked up in confusion, just in time to catch Venelana nodding at him in confirmation.
Sirzechs had been puzzled at first too, but after glancing at the silver-haired beauty guarding the door, then at his mother, something seemed to click. He settled into an expression of thoughtful stillness, waiting.
Venelana didn’t keep them waiting long. As soon as the barrier stabilized, she spoke: “Because Greyfia and I were observing Aki’s breakthrough from close range, we both gained a great deal. Our strength has improved considerably. And moreover…”
As she spoke, Venelana and Greyfia fully unleashed their auras. The pressure was even more powerful than a Super-Devil’s—and it made the Gremory father and son’s hearts seize.
Even Sirzechs, who’d half-suspected something, found his emotions in turmoil.
What “insights from observing a breakthrough”? They might be absorbed in cultivation, but they weren’t fools. If they were fools, no amount of power could have kept the Gremory household alive through the Three-Way War, let alone earned a seat among the Demon Kings.
Just as mixed feelings rose in their chests—the first stirrings of cuckolded anger—Venelana’s next words made that fury evaporate like smoke.
”And moreover, if we continue as we are, we can break through the God-tier bottleneck within ten years at most.”
Georg’s eyes flew wide. “Are you certain?”
”Certain,” Venelana said with absolute conviction.
The handsome, middle-aged nobleman crossed his arms and lowered his head in deep thought.
Compared to Georg’s focus, Sirzechs was slightly more perceptive—he immediately grasped the crucial detail.
”Mo—ah, Mother,” he said. The red-haired Demon King actually stumbled over the word, an unspoken knowledge passing through his mind, but his great self-control let him recover quickly. “Mother, does Aki’s ability… can it help others breach God-tier?”
Georg’s head shot up mid-thought. If that was true, he had no more dilemmas to consider.
Seeing the father and son’s reactions, Greyfia and Venelana felt both immense relief and a twinge of sadness and disappointment. Compared to the family’s revival—compared to their ambitions—the years of shared life and affection hardly weighed at all.
But perhaps that was for the best…
Soon, that faint sadness transformed into something like peace of mind.
”We can’t say for certain yet. The sample size is too small,” Greyfia said this time. “But based on my judgment, this effect likely has limitations. It won’t allow mindless mass-production of God-tier powerhouses—at minimum, one’s innate potential and talent must be sufficiently high.”
”Conversely, as long as one’s potential and talent are strong enough, with Aki’s help, breaching God-tier is only a matter of time,” Venelana added.
In truth, God-tier potential and talent weren’t rare—all Pure-blooded Devils had them. God-tier powerhouses were rare, primarily because of the bottleneck.
Greyfia and Venelana were the most typical examples.
The barrier-shrouded dining room fell into an unnervingly heavy silence. But beneath the stillness, all four present were in emotional turmoil. Finally, Georg and Sirzechs exchanged a long look, then nodded in tandem.
”Understood. This secret must be guarded well.”
”Mmm… Keep working on your cultivation. Aim to break through before the Eternal War arrives.”
Greyfia and Venelana kept their expressions neutral. If they’d had some worries earlier, now they found themselves utterly unsurprised by this outcome.
This step—the Honest Table—had been something they’d agonized over. But after witnessing Sirzechs and Georg’s attitudes upon hearing that Aki had broken through to God-tier, they’d decided to take the risk.
”Alright. We’ll keep at it.”
Venelana nodded to Greyfia. The silver-haired beauty understood, and slowly dispelled the barrier.
”Handle Aki and Rias’s matter as we discussed. I’ll pick the date and contact you later.”
As the barrier dissipated, Venelana spoke her final words, putting a definitive close to the whole affair.
Georg and Sirzechs said nothing. They just nodded, and with complicated emotions they couldn’t fully articulate, retreated once more into secluded cultivation.
Meanwhile, on the other side of events, Aki had helped the young maid Nina lose her virginity, completed a round of dual cultivation, and then helped her break through from B-rank to A-rank—completing her first life transformation—but he’d stopped after that.
Realizing that half a day had passed since his arrival in the Underworld, he took a quick shower, told Nina to inform Greyfia that he’d left, and teleported back to the Human World.
As for the changes in the young maid’s duties and all the subsequent arrangements—Greyfia would naturally handle those.
Nina’s role as cover had never been to deceive Georg and Sirzechs—it was only to prevent gossip from spreading, because it was impossible to hide that Greyfia and Venelana’s power had grown. Once word got out, it would be obvious something had happened.
In the supernatural world, there were far too many ways to investigate relationships—there was no need for eyewitnesses. If suspicion arose, facing careful scrutiny from their husbands, unless they simply refused outright, there was no way to keep the secret.
And there was an additional effect of Aki’s dual cultivation ability: the two wives could no longer feel attraction to any other man.
This was yet another reason Greyfia and Venelana had taken the risk and chosen to hold the Honest Table.
Aki didn’t know about Greyfia and Venelana’s moves. Even if he had, he wouldn’t have stayed in the Underworld—after all, back home there were plenty of beautiful, cute, and sexy schoolgirls waiting for him.
…
When Aki returned home, the moon was already high overhead.
Rias and Himejima Akeno were waiting for him in his room. Neither asked whether he’d succeeded with Greyfia—they simply embraced him with longing.
Holding two enchantingly beautiful schoolgirls in his arms, Aki couldn’t help but pat himself on the back. All day long, he was either cultivating or on his way to cultivating. With such diligence, how could he not be powerful?
When the first round of dual cultivation was complete, feeling the vibrant, intensely rich Life Essence now flowing within them, Rias and Akeno’s beautiful eyes sparkled with delight.
This sensation only appeared when Aki was significantly stronger than they were.
The gains from dual cultivation increased a lot too—as they absorbed and digested the Life Energy, both girls’ strength shot up, bringing them close to Demon King-class.
Without needing to ask, Rias and Akeno understood from this alone that Aki had successfully broken through to God-tier.
However, they still couldn’t determine whether Greyfia had agreed or refused. They’d only know for sure once they saw her in person and probed a bit.
Some things were tacitly understood by all, but couldn’t be spoken aloud—unless one simply didn’t care what others thought. In other words: no shame.
As one of the four great Pure-blooded Devil Peerages, Rias naturally couldn’t act that way.
And that, in essence, was the same logic behind the Honest Table between Greyfia, Venelana, Georg, and Sirzechs.
—
Summary:
Venelana and Greyfia orchestrate a private dinner conversation with their husbands to reveal their power breakthroughs gained from observing Aki’s ascent. The husbands, initially angry at the implied infidelity, quickly pivot to pragmatic acceptance when they learn the women may achieve God-tier within a decade. Meanwhile, Aki returns home blissfully unaware of the political machinations, enjoying his time with Rias and Akeno while the noble family’s delicate balance of secrets and power hangs unresolved.
—
Trivia:
Venelana deliberately made the conversation audible to ensure Sirzechs and Georg overheard, building trust in her scheme.
The “disappearance” from the afternoon is a euphemism for Venelana and Greyfia’s affair with Aki.
Aki’s bloodline is considered more noble than anyone in the Three Realms due to fusion and purification of multiple bloodlines.
The term “breaching” specifically refers to the act of breaking through a power level, not the more generic “breakthrough.”
Sirzechs stumbles over calling Venelana “Mother” because he knows about the affair with Aki.
The dual cultivation ability has a side effect: the two wives can no longer feel attraction to any other man.
Nina’s role as cover was designed to prevent gossip, not to deceive Georg and Sirzechs directly.
The Three Realms consist of Heaven, Earth, and Underworld.
The Eternal War is a looming threat referenced as a key reason for pursuing power.
Aki’s casual attitude toward his name—willing to change it to Aki Gremory or Aki Gremory Su—reflects his lack of attachment to his current life’s family.
—
Translation Notes:
Notes:
• Sirzechs – Sirzechs Gremory, the red-haired Demon King Lucifer, is a regal, powerful strategist and Rias’s brother. Son of Venelana and husband to Grayfia, he is a complex figure juggling diplomatic duties, the rebuilding of the Underworld, and his cultivation obsession—often to the detriment of his family. Despite his elusive nature and neglect of Grayfia, he remains a key ally to Aki and father to Georgix.
• Venelana – Venelana Gremory, formerly of House Bael, is the elegant, silver-haired matriarch of the Gremory household and mother to Rias and Sirzechs. Wife to Georg and mother-in-law to Greyfia, she possesses the powerful Bael bloodline. Refined and calculating, this mature beauty is currently involved in a secret affair with Aki, a situation Rias has likely deduced amidst the family’s complex political dynamics.
• Greyfia – Job: Head Maid of Gremory household; Relationship: Daughter-in-law to Venelana; Lover to Aki; Appearance: Flaxen-haired beauty; Item/Magic: Lucifugus bloodline (power/space mastery); Note: Mature woman, reserved and dutiful, previously neglected in her marriage. Job: Head Maid of Gremory household; Relationship: Lover: Aki; Daughter-in-law: Sirzechs (wife); Note: Silver-haired wife; serves as both maid and family member. Job: Head maid of Gremory household; Relationship: Wife: Sirzechs; Note: Silver-haired beauty, handles household affairs.
• Georg – Job: Head of Gremory household; Relationship: Husband: Venelana; Father: Sirzechs; Appearance: Handsome, middle-aged; Note: Pragmatic nobleman.
• Aki – A tall, handsome high school student at Kuoh Academy with sharp features, star-like eyes, and a lean, muscular build, he shifts between dark and silver hair. As a pragmatic, calculating, and protective Red Dragon Emperor and God-tier Devil, this reincarnated cultivator wields Dual Cultivation, the Boosted Gear, and law-infused power. He openly dominates his vast harem, including Yui, Rias, and Greyfia.
• Rias – Rias Gremory, a sharp, playful high-class devil and Gremory heiress, is Sirzechs’s sister and daughter of Venelana. Known for her crimson hair, she heads the Occult Research Club, protecting her peerage including Mio, Xenovia, and Maria. As Aki’s fiancée and partner privy to his transmigration, she guides his cultivation while navigating complex feelings toward his pursuit of Grayfia and her mother.
• Gremory – Rias Gremory, a pure-blood devil of the prestigious Gremory household, 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 Gremory family members in a high-stakes competition against the rival Phoenix clan.
• Uesugi – Protagonist Aki Uesugi is a slender, silver-haired Martial God realm cultivator with calm, resolute eyes and absolute physical control. A pragmatic, ruthless A-rank Stray Devil wielding the mystical Azure Flame, he holds deep ties to the Kurogane line and Takamine household, a connection notably observed by Kalawarner.
• Y – The first initial/part of the name Y Ddraig Goch.
• Nina – Job: Maid in Gremory household; Relationship: Subordinate to Greyfia and Venelana; Appearance: Youngest maid, best-built, most beautiful, virgin; Note: Pure supporting character, clumsy and naive, serves as intermediary for Aki’s secret relationships. Job: Maid of Gremory household; Appearance: Red eyes, blonde hair, slim build, long legs; Note: Innocent and imaginative; still a virgin; joins Aki’s group. Job: Young maid; Relationship: Served: Aki; Note: Helped by Aki to break through from B-rank to A-rank.
• Himejima Akeno – A buxom, black-haired student and member of the Gremory peerage, this “Lightning Flash” is a key ally to Rias and a devoted lover to Aki. Known for a calm, calculating demeanor that shifts to a sultry energy, she is a central figure in Aki’s inner circle. Dedicated to supporting Rias with magic, she remains a poised and essential presence within the group, even navigating complex personal dynamics.
• Himejima – Akeno Himejima is a tall, curvaceous Kuoh Academy senior, high-ranking Devil retainer in Rias Gremory’s peerage, and a powerful Occult Research Club member known for her strength in combat. Bound by a Soul Contract to Aki, she possesses long black hair and a queen-like demeanor. Combining sadistic charm with maternal authority, she wields golden lightning and is deeply loyal to Rias and Aki.
• Akeno – Himejima is a tall, voluptuous Orc-devil shrine maiden with red eyes, dark wings, and calf-length raven hair. The sadistic, black-bellied “Priestess of Thunder” serves as Rias Gremory’s loyal S+ rank Queen and administrator. As Akira’s soul-bound, dedicated partner, she maintains a deep bond, frequently participating in dual cultivation while constantly longing for his attention.
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Edited by Kanaa-senpai.
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