DxD: The Sorcery System Chapter 44

Chapter 44: D-Day

[Morning — Rating Game Arena, Gremory Estate, Underworld]

{Ruval Phenex}

It had been a while since I last enjoyed a Rating Game, especially one with ratings this low.

It wasn't that I disliked watching Rating Games featuring lower-rated competitors, but once you were named heir, entered the top ten rankers in Rating Games, and had to participate in political affairs, it simply wasn't possible to attend every Rating Game, even as a spectator.

With so much work, you had to be selective about which Rating Games you watched.

Enjoyment was not even a consideration, as you had to focus on the top games to understand your future opponents and maintain a proper strategy against them.

And this was why I hadn't been able to watch the lower-rated games.

But this one? 

This was different.

“I am happy to see you here, Ruval,” Lord Gremory’s voice was gentler than my father’s. That didn't mean my father was harsh; it was just his way—no different faces for different occasions, which I doubt is the case with Lord Gremory.

“It's my brother's Rating Game, and one that will determine his married life. I just couldn't miss such an important game.” I wasn't fully on board with this Rating Game.

The very fact that Rias Gremory wanted this match was proof enough that she wasn't interested in the marriage at all. Even in political marriages, such strong opposition from the bride-to-be wasn't a good sign.

It meant the relationship would never last.

And while separation wasn't common in devil marriages, it wasn't unusual for the husband and wife to live separately with minimal contact either.

Yes, those were terrible relationships, but they were very real.

And I didn't want that for my brother or the Gremory heiress.

But alas, I was powerless.

I was just an heir, not the Lord.

“Ruval loves both his brothers, Riser and Rhoyner, very much,” Father, who had been busy reviewing the parchment with the team composition of my brother and Rias’ peerage, finally said. “Yet, since Rhoyner had to handle some business on my behalf, he couldn't be here, unfortunately.”

Not that my brother Rhoyner was particularly interested in Rating Games.

He was more of a curious tinkerer, who thankfully found his guidance under Satan Beelzebub.

Sadly, Riser was still lost and had yet to find his light and goal.

Sometimes, I worry about my brother—a lot.

“Anyhow, I heard there will be two humans fighting on Rias’ side in this game?” I asked, curious about how they even convinced my brother and father to agree to this.

It wasn't illegal to have others fight for you, but it was uncommon and generally not well-regarded.

Rating Games were a sport, and good sportsmanship dictated that the peerage in the Rating Game should consist of those whom the devil had personally recruited and brought into their fold.

I never expected Riser and Father to agree to this, as it seemed disadvantageous for Riser.

No matter how inexperienced a devil was with these games, they could still turn the match around with just one unpredictable factor.

And here Rias had two.

“Ah, since Rias’ peerage wasn't complete, she asked two of her friends to fill in,” Lord Gremory explained. “And don't worry, they are of the same level as the rest of her peerage, if not lower, so it won't be unfair. Your father and brother both agreed to this beforehand as well.”

I know this, but I'm not sure why or how.

They may be arrogant, but they aren't stupid.

Unless they were tricked or blackmailed.

But let's see what this Rating Game has to offer and what these two new additions bring to the table.

After all, all I can do is watch.

…

…

[Same Time — Lucifer’s Room, Rating Game Arena]

{Sirzechs Lucifer}

"They are both ready, my lord," Grayfia said as both Rias and Riser stood in their respective areas, ready to commence the Rating Game.

However, 

"It's just the two of us, Grayfia."

I had to remind her, causing her to pause and glance around. Realizing that I was right, she offered a kind smile.

"Yet, we are still in a more political setting and an office," she said. "In this case, you are my lord first, before being my husband."

There's no winning against her, is there?

"It's just impossible to win against you," I sighed.

Once again, she managed to turn my words around.

"I think the only victory you care about now is Lady Rias's."

And she was right.

While it was highly unlikely, I still hoped for some miracle.

"Have you ensured that Riser isn't plotting anything?" I know he is too prideful for tricks, but I cannot say the same about his peerage.

"The grounds are untouched, and he carries nothing but the permitted Phoenix Tears."

Well, Rias was given those too—in equal amounts, as the rules dictate.

But it was still an advantage.

Riser and his sister didn't need them; they could regenerate any injury with their family's natural healing. So, he could distribute the tears to his queen and the rest of his peerage.

And while Rias did have Asia Argento, it wasn't enough and nowhere near comparable to the healing power of Phoenix Tears.

But let's see what happens.

If there's one thing I've learned over the years, it's to expect the unexpected, no matter how improbable it may seem.

"I should go," Grayfia said, "it's time for me to announce the start of the match."

She was the one overseeing the fairness of this match while also serving as the direct judge.

And everyone knew that while she was my wife and Rias's sister-in-law, there was no one fairer than her.

"Alright," I gave her a comforting smile. "And good luck."

Because it wasn't only the players who had responsibilities, but the judges too.

…

…

[Minutes Later — Modeled Occult Research Club, Rating Game Arena]

“Contestants!”

My heart was racing, blood rushing, and my body felt warm.

“Be in your positions!”

I wasn't scared, not even nervous.

It was strange, I know.

But… I was excited.

“Ready?” Akeno asked, trying to smile, though I could see she was nervous.

This was their first major official Rating Game; all the others had been trial matches against some no-name opponents.

“Yeah,” I said. “Let's win this.”

Everyone had been training for this day.

The day that would decide the future for everyone in Rias’s peerage.

And more importantly, her future.

“The match will begin in—”

Everyone was in position.

Rias was mapping out the locations, predicting possible areas Riser might occupy.

Neither of us was informed of the other’s location.

It was a proper match where each party had to be vigilant, actively searching, fighting, and defending.

The goal of the match was to capture the king of the chessboard—the leader of the Peerage—in this case, either Riser or Rias.

To achieve this, one had to either make clever plans to eliminate the other team’s members one by one, overpower them entirely, or take out the king directly.

For all of this, positioning and strategy were crucial.

We had all taken our places accordingly.

Koneko and Kiba were on the front lines, Akeno and I positioned further back and hidden, with Asia in the safest proximity.

“Three!”

Everyone was perfectly in place, ready to leap into action.

“Two!”

Magic flared, and weapons were drawn.

“One!”

I could feel everyone’s magic surging, their breathing quickening, and heartbeats racing.

{Additional Quest Alert!}

My mind was racing too fast to care about the quest.

{Quest: Humiliate Riser in front of everyone!

Show everyone that a human can defeat an immortal!}

{Reward: Magic Circulation}

Riser was going to be humiliated today.

With or without the quest.

{This quest is a prerequisite for the “Tame the Dragon” Quest!}

And just as the quest alert sounded, I heard Grayfia’s voice—

“Begin!”

And magic erupted everywhere.

________________________________________________________________________

[A/N: Phenex Trait and Ability: Immortality: Keeps users from being insta-killed unless the magic is in the realm of reality manipulation or can bypass magical rules.

Gremory Trait and Ability: Blessed: Allows users to have random and important moments of luck in the form of magical overflow, lucky hits and/or causing enemies to miss. Blessed ability encompasses not just the bearer but the people fighting alongside the bearer as well.

Bael Trait and Ability: Power of Destruction: Ability that allows contradicting the rules of physics by destroying matter and magic entirely —as long as the matter or magic does not surpass the Power of Destruction wielder's magical power by a lot.]