Chapter 216: Determination

How could Issei stay alive until now?

Wasn't it all due to Sirzech's protection?

However, without Sirzech's protection, what could this perverted boy do?

Riser wanted to see, and it was also because of this his hand directly unleashed blazing flame.

No, his entire body emitted an incredible heat, enough to melt anything.

Issei, who had been in silence, suddenly trembled in fear as he thought about what would happen to him. The courage and determination he had collected before their meeting popped like a bubble. In the face of overwhelming power, high status, and the fear of death, he could only cower in fear as he lowered his head further.

"Ri-Riser, wa-wait a moment!"

Rias was panicked, but she knew that she needed to bet. To be honest, the existence of Issei was no longer important to her. Whether Issei existed or not, it didn't matter as Issei's existence was used to break her engagement with Riser, but now, that engagement was no longer there, and she didn't feel anything toward Issei. Moreover, Issei had nothing but trouble for her. Lastly, his existence would bring Riser's hostility.

Previously, it might not have been a problem as Issei was protected by Sirzech, but now?

Nevertheless, Rias still did this as she would participate in the Youth Devil Gathering. This event will be held at Riser's hotel, and there is no doubt Riser will participate in this event as Sona, his wife, will participate. However, she also participated, and there was no doubt she would bring Issei with her as he was part of her peerage.

With the death of Sirzech, Rias had a responsibility to show the might of the new generation of the Gremory House. While she knew that she might anger Riser, she knew that she needed Issei's power.

Issei might be a perverted boy, but there was no doubt he was a Longinus user.

Even if Issei was just an average human without any redemption, there was no doubt that his power could be relied upon, especially when his ability could be used as a support.

Rias wished to win, so she wanted Issei to apologize to Riser.

After all, Sirzech had died.

There was no one who could protect Issei more.

Moreover, whether it was her parents or Grayfia, no one cared much about Issei.

Still, even with such a selfish and insincere wish, Issei had become part of her peerage.

As the next head of the Gremory House, Rias followed the creed of her family, who treated her peerage members as a family. Issei might be perverted, but he wasn't a bad guy, so she wished Riser could let Issei go.

Lastly, she still wished to avenge her older brother and the power of the Red Dragon Emperor was needed to take down the White Dragon Emperor, so no matter what, she couldn't let Issei die.

"Riser Lucifer-sama, I know that I was wrong to bring him in front of you, but I hope you give us mercy, especially with our house situation. He regrets all of his actions, and he wishes to apologize to you sincerely." Rias then looked at Issei and quickly reminded him. "Issei!"

"....."

Issei felt that his heart was beating so fast, but the heat came closer as the scent of death was nearby, so in the end—

"...I am sorry, Riser Lucifer-sama."

Issei's position was so low that he kowtowed on the dirty ground.

"Lucifer-sama, can you be magnanimous and forgive him."

Rias also bowed her head. "Please."

"....."

Riser looked at Rias, who showed her deep cleavage as she bowed her head and apologized, thinking that she had never changed. Her temptress nature didn't change, and she thought that she could solve everything with her body. While she wasn't wrong as he was going to use her body, letting Issei know what it meant to become hostile toward him, he thought that he might not give Rias enough pain.

Riser knew that kindness had never been a solution to cure stupidity.

However, the pain was different.

It was like how a child wouldn't listen to their parents when they were told that a knife was dangerous, but once they were hurt, bleeding profusely as their blood kept dripping from their wounds, they would learn and wouldn't do it again.

Rias thought that just by kissing before, he would forgive Issei.

However?

No way!

Riser wasn't going to forgive Issei.

While Issei was weak and nobody, Riser knew this guy was a protagonist. Anything could happen to Issei, and stupidity wasn't going to be cured with just mere humiliation. Instead, he knew that this humiliation would only burn Issei's desire for revenge even more.

As expected, when Riser glanced at Issei, he could see Issei's eyes seemed to peek from the ground, glaring at him hatefully before quickly hiding away in fear, tucked inside like a turtle.

The rest also didn't say anything while thinking Rias was idiotic. No one expressed their opinion, as they knew it wasn't their place to point out his decision.

Sona was even more so, as she wished to kill Issei directly.

Riser then looked at Rias, who had been silent, thinking of the benefits that came with letting Issei go now. There was no doubt that he felt lustful toward Rias' body along with her family as he knew those women of the Gremory would give him rich rewards from the system. Moreover, it would taint his reputation if he killed Issei with his own hands. Lastly, when he thought about the plot, he knew that there was someone that he could use as a scapegoat to kill Issei.

Still—

"Guwah!"

Riser kicked Issei's head away, and his body crashed into Rias' mansion, destroying a quarter of the building. There was no mercy on that kick, and Issei passed out directly with several broken bones on his body. However, no one moved. No, they were unable to move due to Riser's aura.

"Let's go back."

Riser turned and left decisively.

Sona and the others also followed and didn't say anything, but Rias called him. "Riser!"

"This is the last time, Rias. Don't get ahead of yourselves."

Issei aside, Riser realized that a certain type of woman was sometimes really not worthy of being chased, no matter how good their appearance was. It was good that he came as he learned what kind of a woman Rias truly was. Her body and appearance might be good, but it definitely wasn't good to keep her as a wife, and he was glad to marry Sona.

They might have exchanged a kiss, but it didn't mean that Rias could control him like all of her slaves.

Did she think that she could control him after they had kissed?

Did she think that she could use him and Issei as she pleased?

Riser thought that this woman was so greedy that she wanted to use him and Issei at the same time, making him think that he needed to educate the Gremory House more.

"Thank you."

Rias was a little helpless, but she thanked him because Issei could stay alive.

Riser didn't even bother to respond. He wasn't in the mood to stay and left directly.

With Riser as the lead, everyone left, but Rias and the others sighed in relief before Asia quickly ran into Issei, healing him.

"Issei-senpai, are you okay?"

"Issei..."

Naturally, Gasper and Kiba also approached Issei, but the two of them could only blame their powerlessness as in front of Riser, they could only lower their heads.

"How is he?"

"Is-Issei-san should be okay..."

Asia just didn't know what to do.

Rias sighed in relief and knew that this was a mercy from Riser. If they hadn't shared a kiss previously, then he wouldn't have done this. This also made her feel relieved, and she showed a light smile as she knew that Riser wouldn't kill Issei, at least for now.

Rias looked in the direction where Riser had left, and her desire to be with him grew even stronger.

Nevertheless, Issei, who was healed, also regained consciousness as he endured the pain in his body since not all of his body was healed, but at that moment, he noticed Rias' obsession as she looked in the direction where Riser had left. His heart was burnt with jealousy and anger, but the fear of death enveloped him tightly.

'You have to endure it, Partner. Endure it. You will become stronger as long as you train!'

Ddraig could feel the pain in his host's heart, but he knew if Issei attacked Riser, it was nothing but a suicide. Issei needed to endure everything, waiting until Issei became stronger.

'Yes!'

While Issei was crying, his desire grew stronger as there was no way he was going to give Buchou to that bastard!