Chapter 175: Everything is your goddamn fault

When Riser stayed in the human world, Sirzech and Serafall returned to the Underworld.

As for Lord Gremory? He read the mood and left first, leaving the two alone.

Nevertheless, while Sirzech might feel uneasy about leaving Riser in the human world due to the threat Riser had said previously to Issei, he knew that Riser wasn't the type that would break his promise.

Even though they were enemies, Riser was upright.

Still, if Riser identified someone as his enemy, he wouldn't show mercy, especially at that time when he was going to kill him for real.

If Serafall didn't stop Riser, then Sirzech knew he might die.

Sirzech might be a powerful being. If he fought for real, it wouldn't have been impossible for him to reach the top 10 in the world.

Yet, Riser wasn't weak, and Sirzech was also unprepared; even if Sirzech wasn't dead if he was attacked by Riser, he was going to have to pay a heavy price.

As for Riser?

While Riser, at the time, was full of injuries and could fall anytime, what if that was just his guise?

After all, Riser was from the Phenex House and was famous for his immorality. As long as he didn't wish to die, he wouldn't die.

Even Sirzech erased Riser's existence clearly from the world; Riser wouldn't die unless he had given up and died.

Yet, Sirzech couldn't imagine how Riser would give up, especially when he knew how stubborn Riser was.

While it was ironic, as an enemy, Sirzech should be one of the people who knew Riser the most.

Still, the matter of Riser aside, as Sirzech knew in Riser's eyes, Issei was nothing but a bug that could kill anytime, so he didn't need to worry about Riser doing something to Issei; he was quite dissatisfied with Serafall.

"Serafall, why did you wish to kill Issei?"

His tone was full of questioning, and he felt that his friend had changed somehow due to her meeting with Riser.

"No, it's you who is weird, Sirzech-chan. Why did you wish to protect him? Do you think it is right for him to be rude and impudent to Riser-chan and me?"

Serafall was also dissatisfied as Sirzech was going to protect Issei.

Was their friendship meaningless?

If it was Issei, was it okay for him to be rude to the others as long as he wanted to?

Don't be joking!

If so, then what was the point of maintaining the aristocratic society in the Underworld?

Whether she or Riser were of higher rank of devils.

She was Maou Leviathan and Riser, the "Ultimate-Class Devil," with their status; if a low-class devil dared to mock them, where would their faces be?

"I..."

Sirzech knew that Serafall was truly angry, and he knew talking more than this would cause her to snap, so he knew he needed to back down slightly, apologizing and amending her relationship with Issei so there wouldn't be any hatred between them.

Nevertheless, when the women were angry, they were unreasonable.

"Sirzech-chan, what's the point of having him? Isn't it easy to clean him up, including the White Dragon Emperor? Without the two Heavenly Dragons, wouldn't the world become much more peaceful?"

Without the Red Dragon Emperor and the White Dragon Emperor, Serafall felt the world would be much more peaceful.

—or rather, without the Sacred Gear created by God, Serafall felt that everything would be okay.

Yet—

"No, whether it is the Red Dragon Emperor or the White Dragon Emperor, they are necessary." Sirzech looked at Serafall gently and said, "Everything is for the peace. Please believe in me. Moreover, they are just children. Why don't you give them a chance? They might be a little naughty, but we can still teach them.

"As for the White Dragon Emperor, I am sure that Azazel can control him."

"...."

Serafall didn't say anything and just stared at Sirzech. She wasn't stupid, and she knew what Sirzech planned to do with the Red Dragon Emperor and the White Dragon Emperor, yet this also made her helpless since she also knew the benefit that came from taming the two legendary Longinus users.

No, even if it was just one of them, it would still boost their power, yet—

"Do you think he can become powerful?" Serafall asked in doubt.

"He is." Sirzech nodded without hesitation. "Moreover, I can feel the kindness in his heart. He might be rough and perverted, but I can trust him and believe he can become even stronger.

"If you are worried about Riser, then you don't need to worry since, unlike Riser, I believe that Issei is kind and won't do anything harmful to him.

"Moreover, with his IQ, do you think that Issei can do something to Riser?"

"..."

Frankly, the thought of Riser losing to Issei never crossed Serafall's mind. Still, she just didn't like it when someone dared to mock Riser, as he was the man who had—

No, more than this, it wasn't good as she knew it was impossible, especially when she couldn't support him.

Still, Serafall wondered how Sirzech could trust Issei so much since she couldn't see so much potential in such a weakling.

Nevertheless, Sirzech was different as he still believed in Issei's potential, especially when he read the record of how God died to seal the two Heavenly Dragons.

Having Issei definitely would bring a benefit to his family.

Nevertheless, watching Serafall, who started to sway, Sirzech knew that Issei was okay. Frankly, while he acknowledged that Riser was powerful, Riser had a great weakness.

Overconfidence.

Sirzech thought that this was Riser's weakness, and when Riser stayed where he was, Issei was going to defeat him fairly and just in front of everyone.

By then—

"More importantly, how is Riser's response toward the peace of the three factions? Is he going to reject this proposal?"

Sirzech asked as he wanted to avoid trouble arising when a meeting of three factions was later held in Kuoh Town. Still, his tone seemed to anticipate that Riser would cause trouble.

"No, he agrees, and he won't do anything to destroy this meeting. He supports this peace within the three factions."

Serafall was glad that Riser could let go of his hatred, especially toward the fallen angels, so she felt that she needed to make the fallen angels compensation to Riser as she felt it would be unfair if Riser didn't receive anything after what he had done.

"Is that so?"

While Sirzech was glad, he also felt quite disappointed as he didn't have a chance to attack Riser. While it might be impossible to attack him directly, if Riser rejected this peace, he should be able to attack Riser indirectly.

Yet that chance is nowhere to be seen right now.

Nevertheless, as a devil, his life was going to be long, and there should be many chances to attack Riser in the future, especially after Issei grew up.

"By the way, I have talked with Riser that he can make peace with you."

"Oh? Really?" Sirzech was genuinely surprised when he heard Serafall's words. He then smiled and nodded. "That's good—"

"But he asked you to apologize."

"...what?" Sirzech frowned.

"He didn't ask you to apologize in public like you did before. He only asked you to sincerely apologize for what you had done in front of him. That's all." Serafall started to become excited. "It isn't bad, right? So, how about you—"

"Serafall, enough."

Serafall stopped as she could tell Sirzech's demeanor had changed.

"Let me stay alone."

There was no explanation, but Serafall could only sigh and murmur, "Why were you so stubborn?"

Weren't you the one who said that it was good to have peace?

Then, why didn't you apologize?

Serafall wanted to curse her best friend for the first time, but she decided to leave as she knew she had touched his nerve and more than this would break their relationship, which was something that she didn't wish to do.

Yet, Sirzech looked at Serafall and felt conflicted, realizing his best friend had changed.

'As expected, he's dangerous.'

Sirzech thought that his best friend had changed due to her relationship with Riser, so he felt he needed to do something, yet he knew he couldn't move by himself and needed to let the others move.

Sirzech looked at the distance with a lonely expression, yet determined.

'I can give you time, so grow stronger, Issei-kun.'

As long as Issei grew stronger, everything would be okay, Sirzech thought inside his heart.

Nevertheless, even if Riser knew that Sirzech had put all of his bet into Issei, he didn't care as much as he had something that he needed to do.

Warm sunshine, a relaxed atmosphere, and beautiful architecture filled with the culture of the country.

Riser took off his sunglasses and suit as it was a little hot, but then, not only the heat, which he felt as he also had a headache.

Yet, he wasn't surprised.

Why?

It was because he came to the Vatican.