Rias stood up, her startled emerald eyes meeting Asia's as the girl lay on the floor in a panic.
They stared at each other for several seconds. Just as Asia was about to lose her nerve and run away, Rias finally moved.
"So cute!"
With an excited cry, Rias hurried forward, took Asia's hands, and pulled her over to sit on the sofa. Her enthusiasm was overwhelming, with none of the gloom from before remaining. Her eyes were filled with affection and eagerness.
"Hello. You must be Asia, the former Church Saintess Cid mentioned, the one staying at his house. I'm Rias."
"Huh!?"
Asia was startled by Rias's enthusiasm. Before she could even process what was happening, Rias had brought her to sit beside her, leaving Asia with no choice but to send Cid a questioning look.
Rias, meanwhile, was happily fussing over Asia. There had been too much going on at the venue before, and her attention had been pulled elsewhere, so she had not gotten a proper look at Asia. Now that she was seeing her up close, she realized Asia fit her tastes perfectly.
There was no helping it. Rias had absolutely no resistance to cute girls like Asia, especially when that cute girl also had a large-scale healer-type Sacred Gear. That made her even more tempting.
Watching the two of them grow closer, Cid calmly drank a cup of tea and completely ignored Asia's pleading eyes.
Honestly, if this were not his own house, he would have sold Asia off and run by now. With that kind of free time, he would rather go to outer space to look at the sun or rob the rich to help the poor.
"Um, hello, Miss Rias… My name is Asia, and I'm currently staying at Cid-san's house."
Asia nodded shyly, beginning to feel overwhelmed by Rias's warmth. She did not notice anything strange in Rias's wording at all.
"Mm-hmm. I know you, Asia. We met before at the negotiation venue. Thank you for healing both us Devils and the Church back then…"
Seeing Asia's discomfort, Rias's reason finally came back online, and she calmed herself down appropriately. After simply expressing her gratitude, she turned her attention back to Cid.
"Tonight, Diodora of the Astaroth House is holding a social banquet for the heirs of the various Devil noble houses on the island. He says it's to celebrate the truth coming to light, unite the island's Devil nobles against those targeting us, and strengthen ties between the families."
"Personally, I don't really want to go, but the Astaroth House is the birth family of the current Beelzebub-sama, and they're also close friends with my brother. I should at least show the Astaroth House the proper respect. Cid, what do you think? Do you want to come with me?"
From the dark look on Rias's face when she mentioned the banquet, it was obvious she truly did not want to attend. The truth coming to light did not mean the grievances she had suffered had disappeared. If anything, there were still plenty of aftereffects. Holding a banquet at a time like this was practically rubbing salt in Rias's wounds.
"Rias-senpai, you seem to really dislike that guy named Diodora?"
"Yes. I dislike him quite a lot."
Rias nodded without hiding it. Her moist eyes carried a particular disgust toward that person named Diodora.
"When the Devil students studying on the island were attacked by that group of bullies who only pick on the weak, they came to us, the supposed leaders of the younger generation of Devils, for help. And you know what happened, Cid."
Remembering the scene from a few days ago, Cid nodded in understanding. Aside from Rias, Sairaorg, and Sona Sitri, the other leaders had basically answered the Devils who came asking for help by telling them to solve it themselves. It really was very Devil-like.
"That does sound pretty shameless…"
That kind of attitude, staying high above it all when it had nothing to do with them, then immediately pretending to be close once they realized they could get involved, was exactly the sort of thing Cid hated.
Come to think of it, Rias was now casually calling them "bullies who pick on the weak". It looked like he had accidentally shaped another social Darwinist.
"Mm. His reputation among us was actually fairly good before this. That's exactly why seeing his true colors exposed all at once makes me not want anything to do with him."
Rias spoke with open disgust on her face. In the dozen or so days Cid had known her, this was the first time he had seen Rias say so bluntly that she hated someone.
"I feel like there's more to it than that. If it were only that, you'd dislike him, Rias-senpai, but it probably wouldn't go this far…"
After all, by Devil moral standards, that much was at most average. In Cid's view, Rias might dislike that level of behavior, but she should still be able to tolerate it.
"…Cid, you really do understand me."
Hearing that, Rias gave Cid an unreadable look, then smiled and began to explain.
"Cid, you're a noble too, so you should have some idea how different some nobles are in private compared to how they appear on the surface."
"…A little."
More than a little. His usual experience robbing criminals and taking from the rich to help the poor had shown Cid just how depraved plenty of scumbags could get behind closed doors. It was enough to make him sick.
"Mm, exactly. Before this, I also thought Diodora was one of us New Devils. But after what happened last time, I had no choice but to seriously reconsider some of the strange things about him…"
"For example?"
"For example, his Peerage Members, who never show their true faces. Before this, I didn't care much and just assumed he was trying to maintain secrecy."
"But now, I'm afraid there may be some unsavory reason behind it."
"I see. Since you're saying that, Rias-senpai, I'll be careful when I meet him later."
Cid nodded mysteriously. He understood all too well. A character with Schrödinger's morality like this was either a superhero or someone with a terrifying conspiracy behind them. Either way, there was definitely something serious going on. Once they met, he would use Appraisal and check.
"Hehe, Cid, you don't have to worry too much. No matter what, Diodora is still the current Beelzebub-sama's junior. At most, he might go a little too far. He shouldn't do anything stupid."
Cid looked at Rias strangely and stopped himself from saying anything.
That sounded far too much like raising a flag…
"Anyway, that's basically the situation. So, Cid, would you like to go to the banquet with me? Since this is a private gathering between us, the number of attendees is limited. We'll be attending separately from our Peerage Members, and each of us can bring at most one person we're especially close to. "
"Mm, aside from Her Highness Serafall, who's currently busy handling matters on the island. But under normal circumstances, Her Highness Serafall wouldn't attend a banquet for us younger generation anyway."
As she spoke, Rias raised an eyebrow at Cid, her beautiful eyes looking at him with anticipation.
"Well…"
To be honest, Cid was very interested in this sort of high-class banquet. All he had to do was switch identities and stir up a little trouble there, and he would be instantly satisfied. He really wanted to cause trouble, but attending as an "extra"...
"I'd really like to go to the banquet with you, Rias-senpai, but I have some personal business tonight, so I might not be able to accompany you."
Besides, Rias-senpai, are you sure you're asking the right person? You said you wanted to bring someone close to you. Even if I really want to go, I still have to refuse if it means standing out that much. Damn it, I really want to go cause trouble…
"Huh? B-but if…"
Rias anxiously wanted to argue that the whole reason she was going to the banquet this time was to introduce Cid to everyone, but when she saw the regret in Cid's eyes, she could not say it.
She could tell that Cid strongly wanted to attend with her. Even so, he had still chosen to turn down her invitation, which meant it had to be something very important.
"If you don't go, Cid, then won't this banquet be no fun for me at all?"
For some reason, Cid felt that Rias seemed strangely vulnerable at that moment. Unfortunately, he did not have the slightest bit of humanity, nor did he have any mercy to spare for anyone.
"How about this, Rias-senpai? I'll finish my business as quickly as I can. If the banquet still isn't over by then, I'll definitely show up."
Cid spoke with a smile, but it was nothing more than polite talk. Surely no one would actually believe that, right? Tonight, he would wander around outside until the early hours before going home.
But whether she was deliberately playing along or not, Rias simply stood up happily.
"Really? That's wonderful. Cid, you have to hurry, okay?"
Don't make it sound like I agreed. I'm not going tonight.
Facing the excited Rias, Cid could only keep smiling, though his smile had already gone a little stiff.
"Oh, right, Cid. Sairaorg has been asking me about you these past few days."
Amid her excitement, Rias seemed to suddenly remember something and brought up another person's name to Cid with an annoyed look on her face.
"Huh?"
Cid's mind worked quickly. After all, they had just mentioned him. He immediately recalled that rough, burly man and could not help letting out a confused sound. What did this have to do with him?
"That damned guy said he has a way to make you stronger, Cid, and asked me if I could hand you over to him. Is he trying to steal my person, or is he looking down on me?!"
Thinking back to how Sairaorg's subordinate had come to her yesterday, acting as if it were only natural for her to hand Cid over to his master so Cid's potential could be developed, practically implying that staying with her was a waste, Rias had been so angry she had almost gone to settle the score with Sairaorg. If she had not known that the other side meant well and simply had no way with words, she would have fought him one way or another.
"So, Cid, what's your answer? Although I really don't want to admit it, if it's Sairaorg, then what he said should be true. With his personality, he wouldn't lie to trick anyone. That means you really do have potential in physical techniques, and enough potential to make even Sairaorg interested."
"As for training in physical techniques, very few people in the Underworld follow that path. The most famous one is probably Sairaorg himself. "
"If you want to join them, Cid, then… I won't object. You don't have to answer me right now either. This concerns your future, so I hope you'll think carefully before giving me your answer."
Rias struggled to get those words out. Cutting the connection between herself and the person she cared about felt like a bone lodged in her throat. She even took the initiative to urge Cid to think carefully, just to keep him from rejecting it on impulse.
"No way! Rias-senpai, I can give you an answer right now, and it will never change…"
Cid shot to his feet. Was she kidding? Being inexplicably dragged by his sister into Rias's hands had already attracted enough attention. If he then went and joined the Devil known as the strongest of the younger generation in the Underworld to receive training, he really would have no choice but to die.
"I absolutely won't leave you, Rias, and go join Sairaorg for such a ridiculous reason."
"But… what he said is true. When it comes to physical techniques, our training is far inferior to Sairaorg's. Going to him for training would be the proper path."
That's exactly why I can't join him. That guy really might notice how fast I'm getting stronger and guess that I'm acting. How can there be someone in this world who can see through my flawless disguise just by touching me… Actually, there seem to be quite a few.
"Rias-senpai…"
"Eh!"
Cid took Rias's hand and did his best to convey the sincerity in his eyes to her. Rias let out a startled cry at the sudden gesture.
"Think of your pride. If Sairaorg can grow stronger on his own and carve out a path by himself, then if we work hard together, we can do the same…"
We can't. I'll be acting.
Rias did not know what Cid was thinking. She only stared blankly at the hand Cid was holding, her moist eyes trembling. In the end, she nodded firmly, clasped Cid's hands in return, and met his gaze head-on.
"Mm. Let's work hard together!"
I finally got through that.
Cid was relieved that he had chosen the right route. Across from him, Rias also seemed to finally realize what she was doing. She hurriedly let go of his hands, stood up, and patted herself down.
"Ahem. Since everything is clear now, I need to leave quickly and report the situation to Leviathan-sama. After that, I can start studying a training method for you, Cid."
"Mm. Then… Rias, see you tomorrow."
"Goodbye, Cid. I'll be waiting for you at the banquet tonight. Make sure you finish your business quickly and come over, okay?"
You didn't even give me the address. How am I supposed to attend the banquet?
Cid complained inwardly, but on the surface, he kept smiling and warmly waved goodbye to Rias outside the door.
After watching Rias disappear into the distance, Cid turned around, closed the door, and looked at Asia, who was sitting uneasily on the sofa.
"Asia, do you… know that guy named Diodora?"
Rias might not have noticed earlier, but Cid had. Whenever Rias mentioned that man named Diodora, Asia became somewhat restless.
That was also why Rias had discovered her. She had been hiding perfectly fine before, but the moment she heard that name, she made a sound.
Under Cid's scrutinizing gaze, Asia slowly nodded.