After completing their task, the Royal Trio headed back to the Vermillion Household. Seeing that they were late for morning classes, they attended Kuoh in the afternoon and the boys were first to greet the Goddess
" Erin, you're back!" Issei said with a silly smile followed by Kiba who made a small wave.
" Did you guys finish your task?"
" More or less." answered the Goddess as they settled themselves on the club room
" Here is the newspaper for our press-con in the Underworld." Issei showed the item. " It arrived yesterday."
" That was so embarrassing." said Erin with a light groan and the others nodded at this.
" Anyways, Gasper. How are Ravel and Koneko-chan doing?"
" Well, they have verbal spats everytime they meet." Gasper sheepishly said. " But even though she complains, Koneko is helping her out. And even though Ravel retorts, she follows after Koneko properly."
" Really?" Erin uttered in surprise. " I suppose that's a good thing."
" It looks like they are getting along, after all." smiled Kiba
" I can't understand people sometimes." Erin said in disbelief.
" Well, they probably both know who the other has affections for." Azazel remarked as he entered the room. " That's why they can't help butting heads."
" What do you mean?" Erin raised a brow. "Don't tell me that I am the person they are arguing about."
"Who else would they argue about?" shrugged Azazel
"I-I probably can't be of any help to Ravel like Koneko." Gasper mumbled. "I don't think I could help anyone in battle, much less in private."
" Oy, Vampire!" Tsubaki shouted which stopped Gasper's rambles. He approached the boy and stood in front
" Carve these words into your heart! First and foremost for the boys of this group, You shouldn't be such a crybaby!"
Gasper made an 'eep' sound and the Goddess watched their convo in amusement
" Come on, repeat it back. I am not a crybaby!"
"H-Huh-
" I. Am. Not. A. Crybaby." Tsubaki stressed the words and Gasper immediately followed
" I am not a Crybaby!"
" That's right! Secondly, you shouldn't be a coward no matter what the situation is!"
" I guess Tsubaki can give some reasurring words too." Erin said in amusement and Azusa nodded.
" Hai. Although it still have some brashness on it."
" Yeah. Typical Tsubaki."
" I would not be a coward!"
"Yeah right. And thirdly, you shouldn't give up no matter what happens!"
" I will not give up no matter what happens!" Gasper shouted and Tsubaki grinned at this.
"Nice, vampire. Keep up that attitude and don't be such a wimp."
"I don't know whether I will be annoyed at your words or encouraged." Issei commented and the fire wolf just scoffed at this.
" It doesn't matter. It's supposed to fire you up."
Issei faced Gasper and placed hand on his shoulder.
" Well, Tsubaki is right. Just remember those words to fight like a man of the Gremory Family."
" Hai! I'll try my best."
The door suddenly opened and the rest of the members entered. Rias lightly gasped when she saw the Goddess and she diverted her gaze afterwards.
Erin decided to ignore their tension for the meantime and Azazel raised a brow at this
" Why are you acting like this all of a sudden? Did something happen?" The fallen asked in a low tone. The Goddess just shrugged and Azazel decided to let it slide.
" All right, let's start."
Azazel walked to the front to make an announcement
" First, there is something I need to tell you. I have been appointed as your advisor for this game."
Issei raised his hand and asked
" Is there an advisor like you with Sairaorg?"
" Yeah. The Emperor is on his side, Diehauser Belial."
" The Rating Game champion?" Erin said in surprise. " I heard of him. He has a record for being a long-standing ace in such games."
" In addition to that, he is the head of the Belial clan and the long standing absolute champion." Rias informed
" You guys have me, don't worry." Azazel said while Issei only looked concerned
"Don't fret. Azazel might act like an ass but he's pretty good for a tactician." Erin said and the boy nodded at this
Azazel summoned a screen and it showed the profiles of Sairaorg's peerage
"You memorized all the data on Sairaorg's family, right? They are like you all. A rare type of devil that actively trains."
" If that's the case, they'll be even more powerful when we go against them." Xenovia remarked
" Exactly."
" The pawns on their side have never appeared in recorded games, correct?"
"I don't think I saw any pawns at the press conference, either." Kiba agreed with Rossweisse
" Yeah. We have almost no information on them." Azazel sighed. " The pawn piece is probably Sairaorg's hidden trump card."
"Want us to spy on them?" Tsubaki cheekily said and Azusa just countered him
" It won't be any use. They probably kept their secret well."
" Too bad." Tsubaki mumbled
" Okay. Next, Rias will go over our battle tactics and countermeasures."
Rias prepared her papers
" Take a look at the screen, everyone. As you can see from the image, they have one queen and two rooks."
The members listened attentively at Rias as she continued explaining. They spent a good hour discussing their strategy and Azazel decided to stop for now
" All right, that's enough for today. Let me say one thing, if you joined the professional league, you'd climb in the ranks."
The members were delighted hearing this
"You already have that much power. So listen, take on this challenge with confidence."
" HAI!"
After their discussion, the ORC went back on preparing for their school festival save for Rias and Akeno who continued to focus on the Rating Game
A yellow light flashed in the room and the group stopped what they were doing to observe the hologram that appeared
" Good day, Ravel."
" Mother?" Ravel said in surprise and the woman chuckled
" Are Rias and the Blue Dragon Empress available?"
Rias leaned over the couch as she heard her name being called.
" Good day, auntie. It has been a long time."
" Oh, Rias. Good day. Also..."
Erin approached nearer and the woman's smile widened
"Hello, nice to meet you. My name is Erin Vermillion." The Goddess made a small bow
" I see.. you're more attractive up close." remarked the woman and the Erin just gave a tight-lipped smile.
" Nice to meet you as well. I apologize for meeting you for the first time in such a way."
"Please don't mind it. Do you have some business with me?"
" Yes. I thought I would at least send my greetings to you. I should have come in person for our first meeting."
" Auntie, please do not worry yourself. Your feelings are enough." smiled Rias
" Thank you." Ravel's mother turned to the Goddess. "And, Erin Vermillion, please take good care of my daughter."
Erin blinked in surprise
" Ah- Yes, of course. Though the president is here and many people in the club can look after her."
" Yes, it's just... please protect her from any strange insects of the human world."
" Strange insects?" The Royal trio mumbled in unison
" If the Blue Dragon Empress, who has distinguished herself many times, stays by her side, my husband and I will feel more at ease. We can also hope for more good news."
"I see.. but that's -
" You are still free, right?" asked the woman with a twinkle in her eyes
" I understand." Erin sighed faintly and held a determined look. " If that's the case, I will protect your daughter."
Ravel blushed at this while Rias frowned slightly
" Thank you very much. Ravel, you know what to do, right? Stand behind Rias and listen to her well. Work hard to not sully our name."
" Of course." replied Ravel with a smile
" On top of that, make sure to get closer to Erin Vermillion."
Ravel nodded with a faint blush on her cheeks
" Lastly, I have heard that you wish to become a high-ranking devil." asked the woman to the Goddess
" That's right."
" My daughter is currently in my family. I have traded her with Riser."
Erin became confused on where the woman was heading
" Listen well, my daughter is currently free. Do you understand?"
"Um, Yes..Yes, I understand." Erin replied unsurely and Ravel looked at her in surprise
" Good. I'm hoping you'll become part of our family." smiled the woman and Erin lightly gasped
" What- So that's what she meant by -
" Well then, Good day, everyone."
*(Flash!)*
The Group stared at the empty space for some seconds and Rias turning away from them caught their attention
" Buchou, where are you going?" Issei asked and the red head stopped walking. She went silent and the group shared looks of concern
" Rias..." Erin called out and the red head sighed at this
"Erin, will you protect me?"
" Of course I will."
" And Asia too?" continued Rias with her back facing the group
"Huh? Yeah. I'll protect her too."
" And Akeno?"
" Buchou, what's wrong? Why are you suddenly asking these questions?" Issei interjected in confusion
" Rias..." Erin closed her eyes and released a sigh. She now understood why the red head was acting this way
" Please, let's not talk about it right now." The Goddess said who was aware of the audience they have.
" Hey, Erin." Rias gazed at the side.
" What am I to you?"
" Rias -
" What am I to you?!" asked the red head in a more demanding tone
"Rias...." Erin uttered in a pleading tone. "Stop, please."
" Tell me." Rias turned around and faced back the Goddess. "What exactly am I to you?"
Issei looked back and forth at the two as the tension rose. He was about to speak up until Azusa held him back.
"Don't. Just let them be." The ice wolf shook his head and Issei backed down
" Everyone.. everyone here including you are my treasured comrades, you are my close friends and-
" STUPID!" shouted Rias and she ran away crying.
"Rias-oneesama!" Asia called out. Before she chased the girl, she looked at the Goddess in disapproval.
" Erin, you're terrible!"
"That was pretty bad just now, Erin." Kiba said with a concerned look
"What do you mean, Kiba?" Issei was still confused
" Goodness, Issei -
" Of course Rias and Asia would get mad." Akeno said and shook her head
" Even I thought you were pretty stupid there, Erin." Xenovia remarked.
" Erin-senpai, how could you?"
"Hey! Why are you ganging up on Master like that? It's not her fault things turned out this way." Tsubaki spoke and the Goddess just ushered him down.
"They have a point, Tsubaki. It's because Rias and I didn't discuss about our issues and I chose to avoid talking about it."
The Goddess sighed tiredly
" I'll catch up on Rias and explain things to her."
" Don't." Akeno quickly said which stopped the girl from leaving. " It's best to leave her for now. The way you are at the moment, it will only hurt her more."
" Oy, why are you looking at Erin like she's that worthless?" Issei said defensively. "Gasper, you don't think like that, right?"
The vampire looked down and fidgeted on his fingers.
" Umm.. at this moment, I think Erin-senpai fits that description."
" What did you say, vampire?!" Tsubaki abruptly stood up and Gasper hid behind Irina
" Ano.. it was the fault of my mother and I, wasn't it?" asked Ravel in a worried tone
"Don't worry about it, Ravel." replied Akeno with a smile. " It is Erin's fault for not thinking of Rias until now."
" What am I supposed to do?" Erin slumped back on the couch and massaged her head. Her feelings were all over the place and the twins just patted her shoulder reassuringly.
- End of Chapter -