Disclaimer: I own nothing but my original characters and works; all other characters and worlds belong to their respective owners. I'm just playing with them.
Betad by Priapus, Marethyu, Old man of the mountain, Malcolm Tent, Mike God of Lore, Beans
The Gamer's Guide to Necromancy, Remaster
Chapter 11: Bird Trap
– Grayfia Lucifuge –
Staring at Sirzechs, she felt her eye twitch as she listened to him.
She'd gone to him after her… bet with Kuro, of course. She didn't think he'd be angry over something so irrelevant, but she had to report on her actions to her King. Sirzechs listened, and for just the briefest moment, she caught him stifling a laugh and was baffled.
Until he explained why.
"He- he's already done it?" Grayfia asked, stunned as Sirzechs nodded calmly.
"Kuro has taken Rias as his apprentice in alchemy, which comes with the requirement that any contracts she was under had to be put on hold so she can fully focus on her studies. It's not public yet, but I have my ways," Sirzechs admitted, making her entire body twitch as she forced down her reaction.
"B-but if I'd won, he'd have had to join Rias's-"
"What were his exact words, Grayfia?" Sirzechs asked, making her pause as she considered what he had said to her. It hit her as a cold realisation washed over her.
"That he'd go to Rias and offer to join her peerage," Grayfia said, her tone disbelieving.
"And I suspect Rias would have rejected his offer, so as not to interfere with her apprenticeship and therefore cause her contract to become active again," Sirzechs continued. "As for his offer to 'sweeten the pot', he was offering something he agreed to hours before he summoned you."
"He… he looked me dead in the eyes and offered me two things that wouldn't have changed a single fucking thing," Grayfia realised, the room growing colder as she pictured Kuro's smug smile as he watched her accept the bet. "I'm going to kill him. I'm actually going to strangle that smug, arrogant little bastard."
"Which would end Rias' apprenticeship, and endanger the source of fertility potions for our kind. Kuro truly excels at putting himself in positions where he rightfully should get swatted, while making himself untouchable, doesn't he?" Sirzechs asked, clearly amused even as he furrowed his brows slightly.
It made it worse to realise that Kuro had already taken care of the marriage before he'd suggested the second deal. He'd made her pay for something he'd already done. Sure, getting the parts he wanted was easy, but still- he was just some human brat, she was an ancient and powerful devil. This was just… embarrassing. No, it was utterly humiliating.
Kuro had essentially put himself in a position where at least two of the Great Satans would protect him, maybe three depending on Ajuka. Even if he thought he'd be safe, it took balls to pull off something like this.
Sirzechs was unbothered by her sleeping with Kuro, but then he'd always had a very limited libido. It was why he didn't have a harem despite his immense power and the pressure for him to reproduce. Marriage and sex weren't so intertwined in devil society; they were creatures of sin after all, and while she hardly went out looking for lovers, he didn't care if she was discreet. Sexual loyalty was probably more uncommon than it was common in devil marriages.
"Then I'll wait until Rias has learnt how to make his potions… and then strangle him. I can wait, I'm patient," Grayfia swore, making Sirzechs chuckle deeply at her solemn vow.
"You know, I don't think I've seen anyone get under your skin like this, in all the years I've known you," Sirzechs pointed out, making her sigh.
"I'll admit, Kuro is… uniquely frustrating in a way I didn't think possible," Grayfia said after a moment. "I'll admit, I thought I'd be able to beat him in his game… who has magic just to stop themselves from cumming?"
"I suspect he uses it on his partners to tease them, but… weaponised it against you," Sirzechs explained cheerfully. "The real question is what is he planning to do with the three contracts you owe him?"
"The first was just a milking contract, and as embarrassing as it might be, that was something I was already willing to do," Grayfia sighed, sitting down as she dropped her maid persona entirely and just slumped in her chair as she realised how badly she'd been played. "As for the others? He refused to tell me, simply joking that it was a 'surprise tool' for later."
"If I've come to learn anything about Mr Sasaki, it is that he is always up to something. I spoke with Serafall after your call, and she admitted that she had tried to keep it from me because Kuro planned to try and trick you into becoming his contracted devil," Sirzechs admitted, making her frown as she tried to work out what the hell he was up to.
…of course, Serafall was willing to throw her under the bus. She got it, Kuro was rapidly turning into a golden goose, and Serafall was the type to want to wring him dry of every golden egg she could get her hands on. The fact that Serafall had gotten him to agree to become a contracted magician was a good step toward collaring that brat.
Kuro was far too aggravating to be left to his own devices.
"It's going to be for something stupid and embarrassing, I just know it," Grayfia groaned, not a hint of her usual professional persona to be seen. "And I'll probably end up feeling like I owe him even more afterwards."
"Perhaps," Sirzechs agreed, stifling his amusement as he blinked, turning to a notification on his computer. "Hmm. That's new."
"Is it Kuro, and am I going to want to freeze his testicles more than I already want to?" Grayfia asked bluntly, making Sirzechs snort.
"It is, and I'm not sure. He's getting a lap dance from Rias," Sirzechs explained, making her blink. Sure, they were spying on Rias, but not that directly- "They're live-streaming it."
"...Riser isn't going to take this well," Grayfia realised, making Sirzechs nod.
"Serafall will be delivering the news that the contract is on hold indefinitely soon, plus Kuro's healing potions are already seen as a threat to the Phenex monopoly on the market. Now Riser's fiancé is giving Kuro a lap dance? Kuro is very aggravating, but I've come to realise he does it for a reason," Sirzechs agreed, scratching his chin as they watched Rias dance in a modified version of her Kuoh uniform.
"It's bait," Grayfia finished, making Sirzechs nod. "Kuro is setting a trap, and this time it's not for me to wander into."
Her mind raced, trying to work out the end goal before she laughed. It was a small laugh at first, but it grew louder as she realised what he was doing. Riser would challenge him, but Kuro had no peerage to fight with. What he did have… was a contracted devil.
– Rias Gremory –
The idea of livestreaming her dance was not something she'd been eager to do at first, shaking her ass as the tiny skirt rode up and exposed her red thong for Kuro and the camera. She wasn't shy by any means, in fact, she was a bit of an exhibitionist, and she wouldn't deny the idea of so many people watching as she slid her hands up her body excited her… but she had her reputation to consider.
But Kuro had pointed out two things. One, it was his reputation that would be affected because he was already known as the guy who'd gotten Grayfia Lucifuge to let him milk her on camera. He was the guy who had Fallen wrestling in bikinis. Getting her to dance for him wasn't nearly as impressive, all things considered.
But the second, that truly sold her on this? It would really piss off Riser. That was why she was dancing with a sultry smile on her face as she undid the knot in her modified school shirt, letting it fall open and expose her large, perky tits. The shirt hung open, managing to cover her nipples while leaving a lot on display as she swayed to the music. Kuro gave her an appreciative smirk, enjoying the show as she ran her hands along her body and slowly slid the shirt off entirely, tossing it away and fully exposing her breasts, her hardened nipples hidden by two small red x-shaped pasties.
She focused on dancing some more, not rushing the show before she turned up the heat, sliding her hands up her thighs and under her painfully short skirt, hooking her thumbs in the waistband of her panties. Sticking her ass out to him, she slowly peeled them down, knowing the skirt was just long enough to hide her privates from this angle as she let them fall so they were hanging from one ankle.
With a teasing smirk, she kicked the thong from her foot and into Kuro's lap, continuing her dance. The fact that she was nude under her skirt made every movement more tantalising, her skirt swishing and moving up as she danced. Each movement would make it ride up just a little, constantly hinting at what was beneath without ever showing. She mentally cursed Kuro for this idea, because the camera watching was awakening something in her that she didn't think she'd be able to put back to sleep. She felt that jolt of arousal as she slowly peeled away the pasties, exposing her nipples to the camera and the many viewers.
Maou, what would her parents think? Well, they'd gotten her into this mess, so she didn't really care that much. Serafall would be telling both families about her apprenticeship tomorrow, and her father didn't even have a say in it. Serafall wasn't going to let him interfere, and besides, he'd want her to learn how to make potions, so he wasn't going to do anything to interfere with that.
Even when he heard that his daughter was shaking her tits for the camera. At least her mother would probably find it funny. She prowled forward, moving between Kuro's parted legs as she continued her dance. Kuro didn't reach out to touch her, but his eyes devoured her body as she put on a show for him. She'd promised him a lap dance, but she wasn't rushing to the finale.
The camera made her hyper-sensitive to her every movement, her cheeks flushed and her nipples hard as she slid her hands down her body. Kuro watched, resting his chin on his fist with a smile on his face as she gyrated for his entertainment. She'd watched a few videos as research after she'd promised Kuro this as his prize for the rating game, but it was different when his eyes were on her. He'd seen her naked before, he'd even fucked her thighs and tits, but somehow this felt the lewdest so far.
Turning away from him, she bent over and swayed her ass in his direction, gripping a desk for support. She knew the movement had made her extremely short skirt ride up, and while it was over as fast as she started, she was also sure that someone would go frame-by-frame to find a hint of her pussy.
Finally moving into his lap, she smirked as she felt his erection still restrained by his jeans. Instantly, he threw out any rule about not touching the dancer as his hands made their way to her tits, sinking into the bountiful flesh as she ground against him. She stifled a moan as he teased her nipples, turning around so her back was pressed against his chest as she shook her ass and ground her backside against his crotch.
Kuro didn't hesitate to spank her as she danced, sending a jolt of pleasure through her. She was fairly sure that the camera had never caught a good view of her pussy so far, teasing and hinting but never quite showing, but she couldn't deny that it was getting increasingly likely as she danced in Kuro's lap. Kuro had definitely seen it, but she didn't mind that.
Kuro gave her a signal, and she smiled as she continued her dance for a little longer before she slipped out of his lap and blew a kiss at the camera, ending the show.
"I can't believe you talked me into that," Rias giggled, face burning red as she considered what she'd just done. She was hardly the first devil to get naked on camera, half the rating games ended with ruined clothes and wardrobe malfunctions, but this was definitely going to get some attention since she was both an heiress and the sister of a Satan.
"It's all part of the plan. Trust me," Kuro said, his eyes lingering on her breasts as she laughed. If anyone else said giving a striptease and lap dance was 'a part of the plan' she'd call bullshit. Somehow, she believed Kuro.
He was right about one thing, this was going to piss off Riser a lot. Kuro interfering in their betrothal, his potions threatening their family business and now this? Kuro was going out of his way to poke Riser to try and get him to react. She wasn't entirely sure what he was up to, but she knew one thing… Kuro wanted her for himself. He was a greedy little bastard, but she didn't mind.
"Is that so, master?" Rias asked, playing into her being his apprentice. She moved forward again, placing her hands on his chest and giving him a hungry look. "And how many of your plans involve me taking off my clothes?"
"If everything goes well, just this one. After that, you'll just be stripping for my entertainment, not as part of any plans," Kuro said confidently, making her giggle as she moved her hands down to his lap, feeling his erection straining against his trousers.
"Just your entertainment? What about your pleasure?" Rias teased, leaning forward and kissing him as she undid his belt. His hands moved under her skirt to play with her ass as she pulled out his cock, grasping it and starting to stroke his length.
"Just my pleasure?" Kuro asked with a grin as she broke the kiss, giving him an impish smile as she moved down onto her knees.
"This time, master," Rias agreed, stroking his cock before she leaned in and took it into her mouth. Whatever Kuro was doing, whatever he was scheming, at the very least, he'd bought her years when she'd had weeks. He might have refused to join her Peerage, but she didn't care when he'd done more to help her out than anyone else, even her own family.
Kuro groaned, his fingers threading into her hair as he guided her movements, and she smiled around the cock she was currently inhaling. Her inexperience was clear as she choked and gagged from trying to take it too deeply, but she made up for it with her enthusiasm. The room was filled with Kuro's quiet groans and her slurping and sucking as she showed him her gratitude in a way she knew he'd appreciate more than just words.
She was mildly surprised Grayfia hadn't arrived to ruin things again, but she wasn't going to complain as she inhaled his musk, tasting the salty pre-cum on her tongue.
"Fuck, Rias," Kuro groaned, sending a shiver of pride through her body as she sped up her bobbing. "Riser should be cursing himself for fumbling you so badly."
She grinned at that, enjoying the mental image of Riser's despair, even as she fondled Kuro's balls gently. She was sure that everyone who saw the stream thought she was currently getting fucked, including Riser when he found out, assuming he didn't know already. The idea that Riser was watching the stream, malding as he jerked his tiny cock to the sight, made her grin even more.
A part of her considered taking those words as an order and mounting him, but she decided against it. If Kuro could truly break her engagement entirely, she'd ride him until he begged for mercy, but for now, he seemed satisfied with her mouth and hands.
She maintained eye contact as she took his entire length down her throat, her tongue writhing and dancing along his shaft as she gave her all to pleasuring her master. Funny how things had gone from her trying to recruit him to this, but again she didn't mind. From a purely logical standpoint, learning his alchemy was going to open a lot of doors for her, and she certainly didn't mind not being in charge.
After the show and all her teasing, it didn't take long before Kuro got close, his balls churning in her hand as she smirked up at him. As he groaned, she pulled back slightly and calmly swallowed each spurt of his sticky seed. It didn't taste nearly as bad as she expected, and she never broke eye contact as she swallowed his cum down to the last drop, pulling back and licking her lips.
Kuro sighed in satisfaction as she rose to her feet, giving him a flirty grin. If this reminded him of the benefits of helping her, all the better. She didn't bother dressing as they arranged for the delivery of the five bodies she'd promised him for his participation in the practice game, and she still owed him a favour since she'd agreed to do this entire dance as a freebie to spite Grayfia.
She could have pushed him to use his favour for the blowjob, but she didn't mind owing him.
– Next Day –
It was inevitable, really.
Sitting in the clubhouse living room, she gave Riser a bored look as he seethed.
"Take it up with Lady Serafall, Riser. She's the one who agreed to the conditions," Rias said dismissively, well aware that her attitude was pissing him off. He was used to her raging, but she knew this would hurt his pride all the more. "Until my apprenticeship with Mr Sasaki is finished, our contract is on hold."
"And what part of alchemy involves you giving him a lap dance?" Riser asked with venom in his tone.
"I am at my master's disposal. If he wants me to dance for him, it's a small price to pay for the knowledge he's sharing with me," Rias continued, waving him off.
"On camera? Do you have any idea how this looks-"
"What part of 'this doesn't involve you' do you find complicated, Riser?" Rias continued, cutting him off with a bored sigh.
She knew full well why he was angry. It wasn't about her giving Kuro a lap dance; it was the fact that she seemed so happy with some human mage when her distaste for him was well known. It showed that it was specifically Riser she had a problem with, and it hurt his pride. He no more expected her to remain a virgin for their 'wedding' than she expected him to be pure.
"You are my fiancée, Rias. Your actions reflect on me and my family-" Riser said again, but she just raised an eyebrow.
"Once again, take your whining to Lady Leviathan. I'm sure she'll care," Rias said with a shrug, resting her chin on her fist in the same way Kuro often did. The dismissive posture only made him angrier, but he was frozen because he couldn't actually force her to break off the apprenticeship contract. "I've signed the apprenticeship contract, and until Kuro deems that I've learnt enough, I can't break it."
That was a blatant lie, but she was sure Kuro would happily lie alongside her. The contract she'd signed was very loose and had plenty of ways for her to escape it whenever she wanted. That was why she liked it so much more than the betrothal contract. She was the one who'd signed it, and she could end it at her leisure.
If her family had waited until she was old enough and given her a choice, she may very well have agreed to marry Riser. Especially since he'd have had to actually work to win her over instead of just acting like she was already his from their first meeting. She might have put herself under Kuro, but it was her choice, and that made all the difference for her.
Riser went to respond, pausing as the door opened and Akeno led a bored but slightly curious looking Kuro into the room. She perked up, boredom being replaced with genuine happiness as she saw him, wondering what he was up to. She hadn't told him Riser had arrived, but Kuro always seemed to know more than he should.
Kuro glanced at Riser for a moment before he turned away with his usual dismissive attitude. He went to speak, but Riser, already on a short fuse, rose to his feet with a fierce scowl. Some of Riser's peerage even went into a defensive stance, as if they were expecting a fight, while Ravel's eyes narrowed angrily at the sight of Kuro, the mere human who had messed with the Phenex so much.
"You are bold to show your face before me, human," Riser said, spitting out the final word.
"...who are you supposed to be?" Kuro simply asked, scratching his chin idly. She couldn't stop her laugh at Riser's face, the look of hurt pride and pure befuddlement. "Anyway, Rias. I'm starting your lessons today. Sera wants me to get you able to make the fertility potions asap, and she'll pout if I slack off too much. She's a big baby like that. Oh, I want to milk you and Akeno as well."
"Ara ara~" Akeno purred, making Rias roll her eyes.
"That's fine, I was almost finished here," Rias said easily, unbothered by his request. When even Serafall and Grayfia were getting milked, she wasn't even going to treat it like something sexual.
…Kuro was absolutely going to make the most of it, wasn't he? Well, her master was a pervy one.
"Finished? We are not finished here," Riser growled, his pride stung by the way both of them were ignoring him. "Do you think the Phenex family is just going to lie down and take your interference in our affairs, Sasaki?"
"Phenex? Oh, you must be Raser," Kuro finally said, a hint of recognition in his eyes, making Riser's expression darken further. "Meh. If this is about the whole contract thing, take it up with Serafall. She's the one who insisted I take a devil apprentice."
"And you just happened to choose Rias?" Riser asked, making Kuro shrug.
"I like her. Plus, she's hot, which is an important trait in whoever is going to be under me," Kuro said shamelessly. "I was going to ask Sona as well, but she's a little scary and I think she'd take it too way seriously."
"Oh, she definitely would. She'd demand a lesson plan and a set schedule," Rias giggled, making Kuro visibly shudder.
"Anyway, the point is that you and your family don't matter," Kuro finished, rubbing some more salt onto Riser's wounded pride.
Riser stood there in disbelief for a moment, but she also knew there was more going on inside his head. She was going to be the only devil capable of making fertility potions, and that was something that would make her father break off the contract to keep the secrets within the Gremory family instead of letting her get taken into the Phenex house.
Kuro's potions were a genuine threat to the Phenex family's wealth. Phenex Tears weren't their only source of income, but it was a massive chunk of their wealth and influence. The fact that Kuro had stolen his fiancée as well was only adding insult to a serious injury.
But he couldn't attack Kuro, could he? Laying hands on Serafall's contracted magician, who had made something that could potentially fix one of the biggest threats to their kind, was asking for Serafall to personally put him down, and his family would face heavy punishments for his actions.
"You think you can just dismiss me like that?" Riser asked dangerously, the room growing hotter as he glared at Kuro. To her surprise, he calmed down though he kept the dangerous look in his eyes. "You've wounded my honour and interfered with my family's affairs, mage. Let's settle this like men."
"Like men? Don't you normally have your girls do all the fighting for you?" Kuro asked mockingly, making Riser clench his fists. "And why would I waste my time soothing your ego? I've got shit to do, Rasar."
She really hoped Kuro knew what he was doing, because Riser was powerful and clearly wanted to incinerate Kuro on the spot. And if Kuro continued to dismiss Riser's power, or kept deliberately saying his name wrong, he might actually try and do it. She knew Kuro knew Riser's real name, but he was good at acting so dismissive.
"Duel me. If I win, remove the clause that says Rias' contract is put on hold," Riser demanded, making Kuro blink. She frowned. He was obviously hoping to get her to marry him immediately, so the Phenex were the ones with the Fertility potions and probably the healing ones as well.
"And when I win? What do I get?" Kuro asked, sitting down next to her with a lazy look, his hand moving over her shoulder and resting on her breast. "Because from where I'm sitting, I've already got the prize you want to fight for."
As he spoke, he gave her breast a firm squeeze. Kuro's posture, his tone, the look on his face, all seemed crafted to piss Riser off more and more.
"If you win, I'll cancel the marriage contract," Riser finally said, widening her eyes briefly.
"Meh. Can you even do that? Didn't Daddy Dearest arrange that for you?" Kuro asked, once again making Riser have to visibly prevent himself from attacking. Riser didn't refute his point, because Kuro was right. Riser couldn't break off the contract any more than she could. "How about we make this interesting? If I win, I get two members of your peerage. I do love maids."
Kuro's eyes landed on Marion and Burent, making the pair's eyes widen as they looked between Kuro and Riser with uncertainty.
"You think I'd agree to that?" Riser asked with a growl.
"You know what, we'll make it more fair. Since I know you can't fight your own battles, let's make this a two-on-two. Me and my contracted devil, vs you and one of your peerage. God forbid the great Riser Phenex have to fight for himself," Kuro mocked.
"Do you think I'm stupid? I know you are contracted to Lady Serafall," Riser scoffed, making Kuro roll his eyes as he pulled out a phone and sent a message.
"I'm her contracted magician. She's not my contracted devil. I know you've got an ego, but you really think I'd call a Satan to fight you?" Kuro asked as a magical circle formed, and Serafall stepped out of it. She looked around, sighing in amusement. "Heya, Sera."
"What have you done this time, Kuro?" Serafall asked with a fond sigh, as Riser paled slightly.
"Are you my contracted devil, Sera?" Kuro asked lazily, making her blink and shake her head.
"No. I'm a Satan, I rarely take contracts and I can't afford to put myself in anyone's debt or control," Serafall admitted with a shrug. "What is going on here? Riser, I believe I've already informed your father that there is to be no interference in Rias's studies."
Kuro cut in, explaining the situation as Serafall listened carefully before frowning thoughtfully. She could see Riser trying to work out who the contracted devil was, his eyes lingering on her, but there was also Viser, as the fact that Kuro had abducted the Stray Devil had also become fairly well known with all the attention he was attracting.
"If the marriage doesn't interfere with her lessons, I suppose I could accept that condition being revoked," Serafall finally said, making Rias go to react before Kuro squeezed her again, telling her to remain still. "And as a Satan, I can end the marriage contract."
Riser went to speak, paler than before, before Ravel moved forward and whispered in his ear.
"If I win, Sasaki isn't to sell his healing potions to devil society," Riser added, making Kuro scoff.
"Why would I agree to that?" Kuro asked.
"And why would I allow that, Mr Phenex?" Serafall asked, frowning herself. "Kuro's potions have amazing potential, and he is my contracted mage."
"W-what about him selling them through the Phenex family, with us taking a quarter of the profits? We already have the connections and stores set up, and it will prevent Kuro's business from disrupting the industry," Ravel tried.
"Just my healing potions?" Kuro asked, clearly thinking about it as Riser and Ravel nodded. Kuro shared a look with Serafall before he shrugged. "Eh, whatever. I can agree to that if you sweeten the pot. Two peerage members, you break the contract, and your peerage gets milked for my fertility potions."
Riser paused, a mixture of blushes and surprise on his peerages faces.
"As bizarre as it sounds, he means it. I'll be getting milked soon, because devil breast milk is one of the most important ingredients to his fertility potions," Serafall explained in amusement.
"Marion, Burent, do you mind being bet?" Riser finally asked, making them share a look before they shook their heads.
"No, master," Burent replied calmly.
"It's not like you'll lose to this human," Marion said, hmmfting at Kuro's cocky grin.
"I milk them, not you," Riser added, making Kuro shrug.
"Whatever, as long as I get the milk. Once a week, for six months," Kuro added, making Riser pause before he nodded. "Anything else?"
Riser paused, sharing a look with Ravel before he turned back with a hungry, dark look.
"No, I'm ready when you are," Riser agreed, watching Serafall write the contract. Riser signed it first, staring at Kuro challengingly as Kuro lazily got up, placed a sloppy kiss on her lips, and read through the contract before signing it.
"So, who are you getting to fight your battles?" Kuro asked, stretching lazily.
"Yubelluna will be my second, but make no mistake. I'm going to enjoy burning you," Riser said dangerously, making Kuro chuckle. "And what idiot did someone like you manage to get as a contracted devil?"
Kuro just grinned, summoning his contracted devil.
The entire room went silent as Grayfia appeared, looking around curiously.
"W-wait, that's-" Riser stuttered, making Grayfia blink as Kuro waved the contract at her. She took it, reading it with her usual composed look.
"Should I assume you are using one of your two remaining contracts on this?" Grayfia asked, making Kuro nod. "Very well."
"Wait, this isn't- Sirzechs set me up!" Riser realised, making Grayfia turn to him with a cold, dark look that silenced him.
"My contracts with Kuro did not involve my Lord. Nor was it anything to do with you," Grayfia said coldly, the heat from Riser's anger fading before being utterly snuffed out by Grayfia's frozen anger. "I lost a bet and owe Lord Kuro three contracts because of it. I swear on my name as the Strongest Queen that someone like… you did not even cross my mind during the agreement, and I certainly didn't throw my match against Kuro just to trick you."
"I know what the bet was, and I can also assure you that Grayfia lost fair and square," Serafall added, clearly amused as Riser rapidly paled.
"Guess what, Riser? I don't fight my own battles either. I hate fair fights," Kuro said with a lazy shrug. "So, where are we fighting?"
Riser's terrified face would brighten her days for years to come, remembering the look on his face as he realised how heavily he'd been played.
– Grayfia Lucifuge –
As the two duos stood opposite each other, she kept her amusement hidden. She was still… displeased with how he'd tricked her, but given the end result, she'd forgive him this time.
It did occur to her that he'd promised to get the marriage cancelled, made her pay for it… and then made her actually do the work, but at this point, she was just reluctantly impressed by the incredibly smug brat.
Serafall announced the fight had begun, and instantly she moved into action. She wasn't taking any chances as Yubelluna tried to fly into the air. Before she'd even gotten more than a few feet off the ground, Grayfia had closed the distance, grabbing her leg and smashing her back down as Riser stumbled back in surprise. He extended his hand, but her foot was already slamming down onto Yubelluna's midsection, making the far weaker queen let out a whimper as she was taken out of the fight.
Kuro, being Kuro, had not even bothered to pretend he was going to join the fight as he took a seat on the ground and watched with his hands in his pockets as she dashed towards Riser, ignoring his meager flames.
Riser was usually so confident in his regeneration, but she'd killed far stronger Phenexes during the civil war. All you had to do was overwhelm them, so her ice froze him in place as she simply closed the distance and began punching. In truth, she wasn't sure she could use her magic to attack without killing Riser and Yubelluna, so she'd resorted to just beating them as Riser tried to regenerate from the broken bones and bruises.
Her fists were coated with ice, pummelling him as he screamed and whimpered. This was simply a match of endurance; could he regenerate long enough for her to get tired? The answer?
Absolutely fucking not. During the Civil War, she'd fought Serafall to a stalemate for ten days straight. Riser lasted about seven minutes before he gave up.
Pausing her beating, she calmly fixed her uniform and returned to Kuro's side as the fight was called in Kuro's favour.
– Ravel Phenex –
"Are you attempting to break a contract you signed before a Satan?" Serafall asked, making her brother shudder as they realised how badly they had been played. She was sure that Grayfia had been telling the truth when she said this wasn't some Satan scheme, but purely Kuro's plan.
Kuro had beaten Grayfia. She didn't know how or what had led to that, but both Grayfia and Serafall confirmed it. They had vastly underestimated Kuro Sasaki, and they were paying for it as the marriage contract was cancelled, Kuro was free to sell his potions and muscle in on their business and they were losing two Peerage members. The milking was barely relevant compared to the rest of the mess they'd been lured into.
"I- no," Riser finally said, his pride squashed by the presence of Grayfia Lucifuge and Serafall Leviathan. "Marion and Burent are yours, you bastard."
"Marion and Burent? What do you mean?" Kuro asked, and her blood ran cold.
'If I win, I get two members of your peerage. I do love maids.'
He never said which two he wanted. He just said he liked maids. Those were two unrelated sentences. Instantly, she saw the realisation on Riser's face.
Kuro slowly turned to her, a shit-eating grin on his face as her heart pounded.