Four days later, Tokyo suburbs.
"Level 1 cursed spirit. Perfect strength."
Facing a toad-like monster with a snake tail, Meredith flashed a satisfied smile, summoning multiple magic arrays.
Two minutes later, the cursed spirit's energy was drained, its aura weakened.
Meredith pulled out a thumb-sized, silver-glowing container.
Activating it with energy, she aimed at the spirit. "Seal!"
A powerful suction yanked the weakened spirit inside within moments.
Sealing the container, Meredith exhaled, relaxing.
"Roy! I did it!"
"I saw," Roy nodded, inspecting the container. "Stable arrays. One charge lasts at least a month."
"For a sealing tool, it's top-notch."
"It can be improved," Meredith said, brimming with enthusiasm.
This was her first-generation sealing device.
Cost-effective, but the spellwork and materials had room for upgrades.
"With enough time, I'm confident I can seal Special-Grade cursed spirits or even Gillian-class Hollows."
"Solid goal. Keep it up."
"It's what I do."
Meredith's lips curved.
Compared to her lonely London days, Kuoh brought new friends.
Though brief, Rias's influence had warmed her bond with Roy.
Having her sealing tool recognized and useful to him was a joy.
Roy spoke again. "Meredith, got any wishes?"
"Wishes?"
"We agreed: deliver quality work, get a reward."
Roy produced an Evil Piece. "I offer two paths."
"Turn you into a devil with this Evil Piece for stronger mana and longer life."
"Or awaken your potential, boosting mana and possibly unlocking new abilities."
"Which one?"
"…Awaken potential," Meredith decided after a pause.
She wasn't against becoming Roy's dependent devil.
But her bloodline weighed heavier.
That bloodline kept her from her parents and the truth.
It was a knot in her heart.
Until she had the power to untie it, she wouldn't abandon her human lineage.
Roy wasn't surprised.
Meredith's bloodline had triggered a rare [Blackening] evolvable entry.
If a week could erase her past and reframe her future, Roy would suspect he had a hidden brainwashing talent.
[Mana Enhancement (Blue): Moderately boosts mana quantity and quality.]
Opening his entry vault, Roy granted Meredith a Blue mana-boosting entry.
Her aura surged, a smile spreading.
As she prepared to thank him, a ding came from Roy's pocket.
He checked his phone—Rias's message.
[Rias: Roy, if you're free, come to the Occult Research Club. My brother's here.]
"Guess that's it for today," Roy said to Meredith. "I'm heading back to Kuoh. You coming?"
"I'm going to Akatsuki's base," Meredith said, holding up the container.
Post-test, the sealing device was ready for production and distribution to Akatsuki members.
Both steps required a trip to HQ for meetings.
"See you then."
Roy summoned a teleportation array, scenery blurring as he arrived at the Occult Research Club.
"Roy, over here," Rias waved.
Beside her stood a red-haired man resembling her.
Seeing Roy, Sazeks's eyes glinted with curiosity, stepping forward. "First meeting, Red Dragon Emperor."
"I'm Rias's brother, Sazeks Gremory."
"Gremory? Not Lucifer?" Roy asked.
"Not today. I'm here as Rias's brother for Parent Visitation Day."
"Got it," Roy nodded thoughtfully. "So, meeting me as her brother too?"
"Sort of. You're her boyfriend. I need to size you up."
"B-Brother, you knew?" Rias stammered, blushing.
"Of course," Sazeks chuckled. "I don't call often, but I keep tabs on you."
"Speaking of, Rias, when are you and Roy getting engaged? Mom and Dad have asked a few times."
"Cough—that's too soon! At least after high school," Rias said.
"Fair, but we should ask the other party," Sazeks said, turning to Roy. "Any preferences on engagement timing?"
"Up to you guys."
Roy gave a casual reply.
Engagement didn't interest him; he'd skip it like his Top-Class Devil ceremony if he could.
But Rias and the others clearly wanted it.
Let them pick the date.
"Oh, right," Roy added, pointing to Akeno and the others. "Besides Rias, Akeno, Koneko, and the rest need engagement plans too."
"Help me arrange it. You're the pros."
"No problem," Sazeks nodded.
He'd heard from Grayfia about Roy's harem.
No surprise there.
Chatting with Roy, their talk shifted from daily life to the Three Factions Summit.
"Roy, know the White Dragon Emperor?" Sazeks asked.
"Of course. What about him?"
"The current White Dragon Emperor is Azazel's apprentice. He wants an alliance to end the Red-White Dragon rivalry. Thoughts?"
"Don't care. You can't stop it."
"Hm? You want to keep fighting Vali?" Sazeks frowned.
Roy's answer caught him off guard.
He'd pegged Roy as a measured warmonger, cool-headed on big issues.
Refusing peace to fight Vali was unexpected.
It gave Sazeks a headache.
Azazel's side was invested in this.
If Roy wouldn't cooperate, it could derail the summit.
"You're misunderstanding," Roy said as Sazeks pondered persuasion. "I didn't mean me. The White Dragon Emperor's the issue."
Sazeks blinked. "Vali? Why do you say that?"
"No reason. Just stating facts."
"Fine, I get it. You're okay with the summit, right?"
"Yup."
It'll end in a fight anyway. Opinions don't matter.
After more chat, the school bell rang.
Parent Visitation Day began, parents entering classrooms to observe.
Sazeks joined Rias's class to watch.
Roy, however, skipped.
Visitation classes focused on talent displays for parents.
With no parents, Roy saw no point.
Better to lap Kuoh for training.
But at the school gate, an unexpected figure blocked him.
"Finally found you, Red Dragon Emperor!"
A girl in a pink short-sleeve skirt, wielding a magic wand, stood in his way.
"What's up?" Roy asked.
"Eh? Hold on, that's not the script! Aren't you supposed to ask who I am?"
"You're Serafall Leviathan, one of the Four Demon Lords, Sona's sister."
"Alright, you did your homework," Serafall coughed, flipping open a notebook. "I hear you're dating Sona?"
"Yup."
"How far are you? Held hands? Dated? K-Kissed?"
"Why the quiz?"
"To see if I can break you two up! I don't want Sona marrying!"
Serafall was blunt.
Roy paused for two seconds, then leaned in, whispering, "Your sister's very smooth."
"???"
That's a taunt, right?!
Crack! Her notebook froze and shattered.
"Red Dragon Emperor, you're done!"
"Wanna fight? Not here," Roy said, snapping his fingers, activating teleportation magic.
A faint spatial ripple, and they vanished.
Seconds later, two men who'd watched stepped from a corner.
"Vali, thoughts?" Azazel asked.
"He did it on purpose," Vali said, arms crossed. "He prepped teleportation magic before approaching Leviathan."
"Odd. Why provoke her? No need," Azazel mused.
Vali smirked. "Azazel, you miss the obvious at key moments."
"The answer's clear. He pissed off Leviathan to have an excuse to fight."
"…You're saying he's a battle maniac?"
"Obviously."
Vali's tone was firm.
As a pure battle junkie, he sensed a kindred spirit in Roy.
"Azazel, your plan to end the Red-White Dragon feud is pointless."
"That Red Dragon Emperor's like me. He craves battle over peace."
"I don't buy that."
A new voice cut in.
Vali frowned, spotting a red-haired man. "Demon Lord Lucifer?"
"Pleasure, White Dragon Emperor," Sazeks said.
"You disagree? You think he'd sign a peace pact?"
"Not think. Fact," Sazeks replied. "I spoke with Roy earlier. He's fine with ending the feud."
"That's great news," Azazel grinned.
Vali fell silent.
Seconds later, he asked, "He really said that?"
"Yup. Said he doesn't care."
"Hmph. Boring."
Vali snorted, leaving.
"Sorry, Sazeks," Azazel said, apologetic. "I proposed this, but my side's not fully on board."
"No worries."
Sazeks shook his head, recalling Roy's earlier words.
"Azazel, this White Dragon Emperor's your ward, right?"
"Yup. Why?"
"No offense, but brace yourself."
"…Got it," Azazel sighed, changing topics. "What's with Serafall and Roy? They clashed and teleported to fight."
"Serafall? Don't worry, Roy's measured," Sazeks said, sighing.
He hadn't seen it, but he knew Serafall's personality.
Bet she confronted Roy over Sona.
Both stubborn hotheads—plenty of reasons to brawl.
Just hope they don't make too big a mess. Cleanup would be a pain.
---
Kuoh outskirts.
Amid faint spatial ripples, Roy and Serafall appeared.
Icy gusts surged, Serafall's mana erupting.
But she noticed a transparent membrane in the air. "Isolation barrier?"
"My magic training ground. Fight freely, no collateral," Roy said.
He drew Gram, channeling fused energy, his aura skyrocketing.
"Perfect!"
Serafall, initially hesitant, went all-in, waving her wand to unleash a frost tide.
The air plummeted, scenery swallowed by a blizzard.
In the white, icy mist, ice spikes formed, radiating lethal intent.
Hundreds of crimson magic arrays bloomed in the sky.
Hellfire Inferno ×100!
The offensive magic from days ago roared, flames devouring the frost, turning the battlefield into a fire sea.
"Whoa, for real?!"
Serafall flinched at Roy's outburst.
Scorching flames pierced her mana shield, burning holes in her clothes, exposing glimpses of skin.
Before she could react, Roy appeared, attacking.
White light flared, hundreds of arrays forming around him.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
[Congratulations! You defeated Serafall Sitri, earning Red Entry: Frigid Physique.]
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