Chapter 230: Hurt

Many might find it strange how Riser enjoyed his trip with Akeno, even after all of that.

The answer was simple.

Riser simply erased his memories.

Well, he didn't exactly erase his memory, but he sealed some of them in a special folder so it wouldn't interrupt his life.

Killing someone might seem easy, especially for those supernatural beings.

If Riser made an allusion, it was like how a human easily killed a mosquito.

The killing act was probably something similar to this act.

However, it was impossible for Riser to think the same as he was just a normal human previously, and he often dreamed that those he had killed would pull him into the abyss the next day.

Frankly, in the beginning, it was okay, but when he did the killing during the fake Phenex Tears incident, he decided to erase the memories of those people that he had killed. The number that he killed was too much. While he acted like he didn't care and nothing had happened, he was forced to do so as he could only be strong in the supernatural world.

However, he thought of a solution by erasing some of the memories so he could act like nothing had happened.

If he wasn't forced to, he wouldn't kill, and it was the same with his act to kill Vali's stepfather, as it gave him a bitter taste in his mouth. It was also due to this that he sealed that memory so it wouldn't dampen his mood during this trip.

Currently, he is in Takayama, a city on the mountain and a famous resort city in this country.

If there was a reason why he chose this city, it was because it was close to Kuoh, so there was no need for them to waste their time on the train for a day or so.

What about his "Warp Warp Fruit"?

Shouldn't he be able to teleport?

If he used his teleportation, then there was no way for his target to follow him, right?

Riser wished a certain someone to know that he had dated Akeno and made this certain someone realized her place.

"What are you thinking about?" Akeno asked curiously as she saw her man seemed to be in the middle of a thought. To be honest, in her childhood time, she had traveled to every part of the country to fill her stomach and worked as an exorcist. Naturally, Takayama was one of those cities that she had been in.

However, unlike before, she was with someone that she loved. Due to this, it made her think that this city was the most beautiful city in the world.

"Hmm? I just think how wonderful it is for us to be together like this."

"Geez, don't say something so embarrassing, okay?"

Nevertheless, Akeno leaned on his arm intimately, showing how happy she was.

There was no doubt that this action would make anyone fall for this young woman.

However, Riser had to say, her body was too erotic.

Even if he just wished to have a normal trip with Akeno, it seemed that it was impossible for him to endure the temptation of her body.

Kissing her forehead, he held her in his arms as they discussed which places they should visit today. They would spend three days in this city while spending their entire time in the hotel would be one of the most obvious choices; touring around this city definitely wasn't a bad choice.

However, as they talked, Akeno couldn't help but voice out her concern, "Darling..."

"Hmm?"

"Do... do you think everything will be okay?"

"What are you worried about?"

"What if... what if Rias knows our relationship?"

Even though she was happy with this trip, she knew how crappy her lie was.

A job?

Would Rias believe that she spent a few days on a job?

Akeno didn't think so, and she was sure that Rias would feel suspicious about their relationship.

However, Riser was confused.

Should Akeno not realize how amazing her status was?

Rias was no longer the most beautiful flower in the flower garden.

Instead, the one most beautiful one was definitely Akeno.

Without Sirzech, Rias' status was nothing.

The reason why the Gremory could stand high was all due to Sirzech.

The moment Sirzech died, everything crumbled as there was no one they could rely on except for Sirzech.

To be honest, the moment Sirzech died, the superfamily that everyone could only look up to crumbled and became a middle-class family at best.

If there was a reason why the Gremory house could maintain its status, it was all due to the status of Lady Gremory, who was the sister of Lord Bael and also one of the main descendants of the house of the Bael house.

Without that status, the Gremory House was only so-so in terms of power, especially when their innate ability wasn't that particularly strong.

Meanwhile, Akeno was different. She was the only daughter of the leader of the Grigori, Baraqiel. Even though their relationship was stiff due to past incidents, they were still a family.

If Akeno received trouble, Baraqiel and the entire Grigori would definitely move.

Even if Akeno wished to part away from Rias' peerage members, the Gremory house was unable to do anything.

However, Akeno didn't seem to realize that.

Riser also didn't bother to remind her as it was troublesome to explain.

"If you are worried, just tell her that you were forced by me. By then, she will blame me instead of you."

"How could it work that way? I was the one who seduced you, after all."

The one who made the first move was her, and he wasn't at fault, especially when she wished for this relationship.

"Akeno, I am Lucifer now, and you are my woman. You don't need to worry about anything, as no one will trouble you."

Only now does Akeno realize that her man is different from the past.

Riser is no longer the third son of Phenex House or the son-in-law of the Sitri House.

Instead, he was someone who stood above all the devils, Lucifer.

There was no doubt she was happy, but she didn't date him due to his status.

She was with him because she loved him, and that fact wouldn't change whether it was now or in the future.

"Instead of thinking about this, how about we go back to the hotel? We can continue our trip later at night."

"...."

Akeno stared at Riser and thought that something never changed, even if he was different from the past.

However, she didn't hate it.

Still, what Akeno didn't know was that her movement had been stared at by two people who had been following them.

Watching the intimate action between Akeno and Riser, Rias ground her teeth in a complex mood. She was angry, envious, and even had a hatred toward Akeno, especially when Akeno dared to do this to her, yet at the same time, she didn't dare to make Akeno angry as she didn't want her to leave her.

While Rias might appear strong, she knew how anxious she was.

The loss of Sirzech, the decline of her family, and the hopelessness she felt as the heiress of the Gremory house due to her lack of strength.

The only thing she could trust was her peerage members, as they couldn't betray her, and they would give their all to support her.

Yet, such loyalty couldn't be maintained anymore.

The moment she lacked her protector, Sirzech, she was nothing.

At this moment, Rias realized all of that with the cruelest method that one had ever thought of.

"Why...?"

Why did they have to do this to her?

What did she do wrong?

Rias felt that she was no longer the beautiful swan that could proudly look down on anyone. Instead, she realized how desperate her real situation was, like how the duck desperately moved its legs under the surface of the water.

"...did you know this, Koneko?"

Rias hoped that Koneko wouldn't betray her, but—

Koneko couldn't say anything and could only lower her head.

"I see..."

Rias thought that Koneko could be the one that she could trust, but it seemed that she couldn't.

Yet, she also couldn't blame Koneko.

After all, she also knew that if Koneko dared to report their relationship, what would happen to Koneko?

However, there was no doubt that she was disappointed in Koneko's action.

In this world, who could she rely on?

At this moment, Rias realized how amazing the privilege she received in his childhood when Sirzech was beside her. She couldn't stop her tears and stared at Akeno, who was so intimate with Riser as they had their little trip.

Rias just stood there in silence, staring at them, without saying anything.

This was a betrayal, but there was nothing she could do except endure everything, as she didn't have the power to stop their relationship.

—or rather, she should support Akeno as the relationship between Akeno and Riser would bring a benefit to her family.

Yet... yet.. she had to say, it was tough.

She wiped the tears from her eyes, then left.

"Rias-sama..." Koneko quickly chased after Rias as she didn't know what to do, but she knew she had to chase after her master.

---

"What's wrong?" Akeno asked as she was looking in the direction where Riser was staring at.

"Nothing."

Riser shook his head and just continued his date while thinking that Rias was a tough woman.