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Riser remembered a good proverb.
When one does a good deed, no one probably hears it.
However, when one does a bad deed, everyone will hear it.
However, he was different.
When he did a good deed, everyone in the Underworld needed to know.
Still, as expected, after he came to the Underworld, even though he expected that he would continue to have a lazy pig-like day, he didn't expect that he would be extremely busy. He was swamped with many things, especially in the aftermath of his problem.
After that battle at the Kuoh Academy, he naturally published his good deed on his family's media company as he had Ni and Li record his fight previously.
Not only did he fight Kokabiel, the cadre of Grigori, but he also fought Vali, the current generation of Divine Dividing, and Azazel, the leader of the Grigori, winning all of them, beating them to the pulp that two had one of their hands missing.
As for Kokabiel?
Riser truthfully exposed that Kokabiel was killed by Vali.
Why did he do this?
Was he such a good guy that he would tell the truth?
Obviously not.
He knew that Azazel wished to save Vali due to their close relationship, but what about the other fallen angel?
Was their relationship so close to Vali?
Riser didn't think so. Instead, he knew that they might feel resentment toward Vali.
After all, Vali wasn't a fallen angel. He was half-devil and half-human. Even though he was the host of the White Dragon Emperor, Albion, in the eyes of many fallen angels, he was still an outsider.
Moreover, compared to Vali, the relationship of the fallen angel was closer to Kokabiel.
When Vali was still wet on his bed, those fallen angels fought together, side by side, and they were comrades who could trust each other back.
So, there was no doubt the act of Vali killing Kokabiel would cause a lot of dissatisfaction and probably might cause another conflict among the Grigori.
Even worse, Azazel made a hasty decision, wishing to save Vali even if he had to have a truce with the devil and had all of the research data made by his fallen angel taken.
Frankly, it would be amazing if no one would complain or two since Azazel's decision was selfish.
It was selfish, but Riser had to say he didn't hate Azazel as he knew Azazel viewed Vali like his own son.
To save his son's life, Azazel could even give up his life.
If it was the others, they would move by his decision. Unfortunately, Azazel met Riser.
Moreover, they had caused him so much trouble, especially when he had to have a direct confrontation with Sirzech.
Riser didn't feel afraid to have a fight with Sirzech, but he was cautious. While he might have become powerful, he didn't have a 100% chance of winning. Sirzech was powerful as he was ten times stronger than the original Lucifer, the father of all the devils.
Facing such an irrational existence, Riser needed to be extra careful as he didn't want to lose his life.
Yet, what had happened previously forced him to face Sirzech, throwing their ambiguous face and determining their position as an enemy.
He was probably the first one who dared to do this.
Even the Old Satan Faction didn't dare to challenge Sirzech openly like him.
Did he regret this? No.
He didn't regret anything, but it was different from his family and his wife's family.
There was no doubt that with his deeds, he could be promoted to an Ultimate-Class Devil rank, and naturally, it was good news for him to be promoted to Ultimate-Class Devil as this position would give him many privileges.
The only Ultimate-Class Devil in the Phenex House was his father, Lord Phenex, and it was all due to his position as the head of the Phenex House.
Even his older brother, Ruval Phenex, who was the heir of the Phenex House, was still a High-Class Devil.
If Riser became an Ultimate-Class Devil, there was no doubt that it would raise the Phenex House even further.
However, he couldn't be promoted due to the doubt asked by the politicians affiliated with Sirzech's clique.
Frankly, Riser didn't expect Sirzech to be so ruthless that Sirzech would kill all the devils that accompanied him to the Kuoh Academy previously.
Due to this, no one knew exactly what happened at the Kuoh Academy.
If Riser hadn't asked Ni and Li to record his fight, then his deeds would probably have been denied, and no one would have acknowledged it.
As for Serafall, Sona, Rias, and the others?
They couldn't help him since Sirzech definitely wouldn't let him go, and for the stability of the Underworld, it was impossible to release the record of his fight with Sirzech or Sirzech's massacres.
Naturally, he also knew how to play, and he also didn't expose his confrontation with Sirzech.
No, probably, he couldn't, as his family also didn't dare to, and they were scared to death, watching how Riser dared to kill Sirzech openly.
Unlike him, who was born earlier and didn't know how cruel Sirzech was, his older brothers, parents, and the others had lived quite long. They also participated in the Devil Civil War and saw how cruel and powerful Sirzech was.
Watching Riser, who could match Sirzech and fought Sirzech openly, his family was gratified and happy.
It also made Sirzech wary of him as he also tried to fight him to death.
His image as a ruthless person was a good advertisement.
Riser dared to fight someone even if he died, and he wouldn't give up until he crippled or killed his opponent.
Facing such a crazy opponent, even if Sirzech was powerful, he didn't want to fight him, especially when the benefit of making him into an opponent was far from the disadvantage.
It was also due to this that Sirzech and his clique set up a requirement.
"As long as Riser Phenex apologizes openly to Sirzech Lucifer for his rudeness, then he will become the Ultimate-Class Devil."
Those words clearly told everyone that Sirzech didn't want to fight him, and as long as Riser apologized, everything would be cleared up.
His family definitely supported this and asked him to apologize since an apology was cheap.
Even if Riser hated Sirzech in his heart or if the apology was sincere or not, it didn't matter.
As long as Riser apologized, the position of the Ultimate-Class Devil was his.
This time, the Phenex House and the Sitri House urged him to apologize since if he could get the Ultimate-Class Devil, then would the method matter?
Serafall also didn't say anything this time as her heart was complete, feeling confused about what to do.
On one hand, Sirzech was her best friend, a comrade who had fought together during the Devil Civil War.
Meanwhile, Riser was her brother-in-law and the person her heart had ever—
Nevertheless, Serafall didn't express her opinion.
As for Sona?
What did he expect from Sona?
She might be the heiress, but she was just an heiress.
The ruler of the Sitri House was Lord Sitri.
Moreover, they were also in the middle of an argument.
Nevertheless, no one wished for a direct confrontation with Sirzech.
All of them asked him to apologize.
Being urged, Riser didn't say anything, and he just holed up inside the hut within the area of the resort city he created. He hadn't come out for a few days and just stayed absentmindedly, smoking, trying to numb his nerves.
Did they wish for him to lick the spit that he had thrown on the ground?
Even though it was dirty?
Did they wish for him to throw away his pride for a mere position?
"..."
He knew that it was easy to do, yet when he thought of Sirzech's proud expression, he couldn't help but clench his fist tightly as his palms became bloody.
It was all due to this he gave Xenovia to others after he returned to the Underworld.
He knew he was being irresponsible, but he just needed to think this through.
Nevertheless, being unable to rely on his family and being betrayed like this put him in a foul mood.
While he knew that they thought of the best for him, they didn't understand him.
It was the case with Sona before, who wished for him to stop fighting as she was worried about him.
Riser continued to smoke as his thoughts swayed, thinking that it might be better to follow their wish and take revenge secretly.
Was pride necessary?
As long as he could take down his opponent, then it was all good, right?
Yet—
The door of his hut was opened suddenly.
"Onii-sama—" Ravel was caught in a room full of smoke. "Cough! Cough! Onii-sama, you should slow down your smoking habit!" As she covered her nose and furrowed her brows, she opened the window and used her wind manipulation to clear up the smoke inside his room.
"Ravel..."
He looked at Ravel without saying anything, and his eyes were blank.
"Geez, look how sloppy you are." Ravel was full of helplessness. "You need to have someone to watch over you."
Riser didn't say anything and continued to smoke, but his cigarette was taken by Ravel.
"Come on. You need to come out from this gloomy hut."
"...give me a little time to think."
Ravel looked at her older brother in silence and asked hesitantly, "...are you going to apologize to Sirzech-sama, Onii-sama?" Similarly, she was asked by everyone to ask Riser to apologize to Sirzech. Frankly, like others, she was stunned when her older brother dared to kill Sirzech.
If Serafall hadn't stepped in back then, then it was said that Sirzech might have died.
Nevertheless, everyone said that Sirzech was magnanimous and kind, especially when he only wished for Riser to apologize to him so Riser would be forgiven.
Ravel knew that her older brother was staying in this hut, holing up for a few days due to this problem.
"...I haven't made my decision. Give me a little more time."
Riser tried to smile as he didn't want Ravel to worry about him. "Give me a little more time; then I will return to how I used to be. You don't need to worry. Just leave me—"
Riser was unable to finish his words and widened his eyes in shock.
Ravel didn't know what she was thinking at that moment, but for one thing, she didn't regret her decision.
She took a step forward and did something that she had always wished to do yet was unable to do.
She kissed the lips of her older brother.
'Onii-sama...'
---
Okay, this is an inevitable development.
But it's okay for him to be with Ravel, right?
Nevertheless, I still don't expect that many are angry that Riser didn't kill them. However, whether it is Vali, Azazel, or Sirzech, they aren't small fries or extra characters, so it is impossible for them to die so easily. No, probably; I just don't want them to die so easily. They will die, but definitely not this way. Moreover, if they die so easily, I think the development of the story won't be fun as it will be too easy for Riser.
Riser needs constant torment so he can really embark on being a necessary evil.
While this system tells him to become a villain, it doesn't mean that I want him to become a cold-blooded killer who will say, "Roll! Court death! Or something similar," and kill people as if killing a chicken.
Riser might kill, but his killing has a certain purpose instead of a meaningless one.
As for the word "killing," which I wrote in the previous chapters, I changed it so it wouldn't cause a misunderstanding again.
As for Sirzech, my story might make him appear stupid, but then again, he is a devil. He might wish for peace, but he is a being that moves based on emotion, and I picture him as Riser's enemy, so his image might be biased. Lastly, please don't use logic on him.
What did I forget again?
Write it here, so I will answer them one by one.
I can't make everyone satisfied, but I will do my best.
