[EXTRA CHAPTERS 400PS = 1 Extra Chapter | 600PS = 2 | 8000PS = 4!]
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Minutes before I asked my companions to dance, I was just bored behind the dining table, so I took a closer look at those who were present in the ballroom.
With so many important people, it would be hard not to recognize some faces.
On the left side of the hall, Ladora Buné was gesturing wildly as she spoke to a group of young nobles. Ladora was a big man with a volatile temper and a penchant for constant bragging that made him almost unbearable, so the young people he was talking to just nodded and sweated as they listened to him.
"Now, who else is here...?"
Seekvaira Agares was nearby, discussing something with Kuisha Abaddon, the Queen of Sairaorg Bael. Seekvaira adjusted the glasses on her nose and examined Kuisha's beautiful body before squeezing one of her breasts.
'Wait... what?'
Kuisha recoiled immediately, putting her hands in front of her breasts and turning completely red.
'Poor Kuisha. She was surprised this time.'
And then my eyes stopped on Sairaorg Bael. Even among so many noble and prestigious figures, Sairaorg stood out. Being a tall man — very tall, in fact — he looked like a lion among lambs. Unlike most nobles who relied on their magical heritage, Sairaorg built his power through sheer brute force.
'He doesn't possess the Power of Destruction, something that should have been a problem within the Bael clan... but look at him now. He's turned a weakness into pure strength.'
Sairaorg was from the same family as my grandmother, since Venelana, before marrying Zeoticus Gremory, was a Bael. If this couldn't be recognized from her light brown hair, it could be because of the presence of the Power of Destruction, which was a power that almost all members of the Bael clan had.
Next to Sairaorg, who was drinking two mugs of wine, was Regulus, his powerful Pawn.
A small smile appeared at the corner of my lips. 'Yes... this event is full of exciting figures. And today it will be decided whether I will be the one who marries or Rias. In the original work, I was just a child and couldn't get married. So Rias was chosen to marry Riser Phenex. Maybe it's different now, or maybe not.'
My marriage was one reason for the argument between my parents and me two weeks ago. They informed me about it, and I told them it couldn't be, because there was no way I could marry someone if I didn't even know other girls outside my social circle yet.
At the end of the discussion, it was agreed that I could leave the Underworld and live in the same city as my aunt Rias.
Sure, at that time, my mind hadn't yet merged with a reincarnate, and I had no way of knowing that all this was just me altering parameters.
Now, I understood and knew that I could do more than just run away from this marriage issue. My grandparents were rushing this to strengthen the Gremory influence in the underworld by pairing Rias or me with an influential member of another noble house.
However, if I proved promising enough, I could make them reconsider. After all, a strong and influential heir was worth more than a forced alliance.
Diodora Astaroth, however arrogant, manipulative, and a real worm in my view, was well regarded by other devils. If I beat him in a Rating Game, it would solve not only my future problems with him but also the problem of the wedding, and I'd even get a reward from the Patrons. There was no reason not to try.
So, back to the present.
"Diodora, I didn't expect to see you here!" I said, approaching him with open arms.
He froze for a moment because he had one of his hands just centimeters from Asia's shoulder.
"Milicas Gremory. It's a pleasure to see you again after..."
"Seven months. You were here last Halloween," I said.
"And this is Asia Argento. Ah... how wonderful to see you again."
"See me again?" Asia asked and took a few steps back from Diodora.
As I was close by, Asia stopped backing away when she reached me, and I slipped one of my arms around her shoulders. She looked back, a little surprised, and I explained:
"Asia, this is Diodora Astaroth. If you remember when you told me about the story of your excommunication and the devil you cured, that devil was Diodora."
When I revealed Diodora's little secret before him, pulling out one of his weapons to win Asia's sympathy, the smile on his face, instead of diminishing, became wider and his eyes smaller.
"Oh~! Are you serious?" Asia, with a cheerful smile, looked at Diodora.
"Yes, it is, although I can't answer how Milicas knows that. I made a point of masking my footsteps that terrible night a Fallen Angel hurt me because I didn't want to deal with the shame of another devil saving me."
"Well, how I know doesn't matter." I brought Asia a little closer, as if to say, 'The important thing is that I got there first.'
[The 'Librarian of Lost Time' watches with interest.]
Diodora froze in that smiling expression for a second, but quickly let out a low laugh, leaned forward a little, and took one of Asia's hands.
"But, Asia-chan, ever since that day you saved me... I can't stop thinking about you. I'm completely in love with you."
I could see the change in Asia's posture, with her trying to pull her hand away from Diodora. However, he didn't let go.
"I... I..." Asia tried to speak, but because of the situation, the words were lost.
Diodora knelt down in front of her, which drew the attention of everyone around us. "Asia-chan, please consider my request and become my servant. I promise to shower you with all my love for the rest of our lives."
[Most of the Patrons don't like Diodora Astaroth.]
'I understand you...' I thought and stepped forward to intervene. "Love? So why, instead of trying to force this on her as a public statement, why don't you challenge me to a Rating Game?"
Diodora's expression darkened. He hadn't wanted to do it in front of everyone, but seeing me so close to the pure nun he wanted so much made him imagine Asia could lose her purity to me if he didn't act quickly. That's why Diodora moved now.
"Challenge you, Milicas-san? Why would I challenge someone who only has two Pieces? A Rating Game against you would be completely unfair." Diodora tried to appease. "I'm just in love with your servant. An exchange would be much fairer... How about exchanging two, no... three of my handmaidens for Asia-chan?"
Again, as I said, a rat.
Diodora, even though he had declared his interest in another devil's servant, would try to turn the situation in his favor and make me look like a proud devil.
[The entity 'Hermit of the Golden Moon' is curious to find out how you will handle this situation.]
"Rating Games aren't played to be fair in numbers, but to end problems between devils. I would never give Asia to you, but you can still challenge me to get her. And if the problem is my current number of pieces, don't worry about it. I'll get you at least one more piece." I told him.
Diodora stood hesitantly, still keeping that smile. But he had been instigated amid so many noble devils. If he backed down now, even with more pieces, he would be branded a coward, and he knew it.
"Very well, Milicas. If you want that, so be it. I challenge you to a Rating Game."
I just smiled, accepting the challenge without even hesitating. It wasn't a matter of honor for me, but an opportunity to show the other devils who Milicas Gremory was.
"I accept your challenge, Diodora. And all I'm going to want, so that you don't feel like running away, is a bit of the land to the south of Astaroth Territory."
"Lands? Hm... All right. We'll follow the basic rules. On the same day, a week from today, we'll fight in a Rating Game. And when I win, Asia will be mine." Diodora replied.
The surrounding nobles murmured, which was inevitable when such an important challenge was thrown down in the heart of such a refined party.
Because of all the attention, Asia was anxious that she might be disturbed.
"Milicas-san, I..."
"Don't worry, Asia." I placed one of my hands on her head. "Nothing will happen to you, and I'll do my best to make sure nothing interferes with our future together."
She looked at me, and her eyes glistened from a few tears. "Milicas, thank you..."
"I'm glad you finally called me by my first name."
[You have accomplished the Main Objective of the Temporary Mission 'The Rat Game'!]
[You have earned 1000 credits.]
[The entity 'Hermit of the Golden Moon' was pleased.]
[100 credits were sponsored.]
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