Chapter 67: Yukina’s Eavesdropping, Top-Class Devil

Facts proved that extreme anger could push people to do many things—math wasn't one of them.

Finishing training with hundredfold weights, Roy dropped his gear and approached Sayaka Kirasaka.

"Proved it yet?"

"…Not yet."

Sayaka set down her pen and paper, grimacing.

"Can we change the condition? This is too hard."

Roy nodded. "Sure, I'm reasonable."

"No need for the Riemann Hypothesis. Prove the Hodge Conjecture instead."

"???"

What's the difference?!

Sayaka took a deep breath, blood pressure spiking.

"Guess you can't do it," Roy said.

"…I can't."

"Weak."

"Your demand's the weird one!" Sayaka snapped, slamming the table and standing.

"I just don't want you touching Yukina. Can't you play along and use me instead?"

"Oh? That's your angle?"

"Don't play dumb. You knew all along and kept messing with me."

"Your reactions are fun," Roy chuckled, firing a mana rope to bind Sayaka.

Suspended in a tortoise-shell bind, she yelped, cheeks flaming. "W-What's this?!"

"Granting your request."

Roy infused fused energy into her, using Senjutsu to heighten her sensitivity. "I don't mind spicing things up. Since you want to play, let's play."

---

Soul Society, Fifth Division Quarters.

"Yo, Captain Aizen. Morning," Ichimaru Gin said, leaning on the doorframe, squinting inside. "Calling me this early—got a mission?"

"Rukia Kuchiki's been found," Aizen replied.

"As expected, Captain Aizen. Efficient as ever," Gin said. "So, where's the Kuchiki heiress hiding?"

"Kuoh Town, Red Dragon Emperor's home."

Aizen's concise answer made Gin pause, his squinted eyes opening slightly. "That's unexpected. Why's the Red Dragon Emperor tied to Rukia Kuchiki?"

"Likely Ukitake Jushiro's commission."

"Exposed?"

"Not at all."

"I see. Captain Ukitake's changed a lot since losing his lieutenant," Gin mused.

The old Ukitake was a cool-headed strategist.

But after losing Shiba Kaien to negligence, he'd softened.

Commissioning the Red Dragon Emperor to find a missing subordinate? Unthinkable before.

"Captain Aizen, what's the plan?" Gin asked. "Want me to fetch Rukia from Kuoh?"

"You'd die, Gin."

"?"

"Like Ichigo Kurosaki, the Red Dragon Emperor's an unreasonable monster."

Aizen pulled a fresh intel report from a drawer and tossed it to Gin.

Gin skimmed it, quickly grasping Aizen's point.

"One against two, beating a Longinus wielder and an Old Demon Lord descendant. That's wild," Gin said. "Captain Aizen, you sure he's only been awakened two months?"

"Fifty-nine days, to be precise. Not quite two months," Aizen corrected.

To stand above all, Aizen monitored global factions.

The rising Red Dragon Emperor and the emerging Brigade of Calamity were on his radar.

He knew Roy's abnormality better than anyone.

The "Red Dragon Emperor" was a mask to fool the world.

If someone targeted his Sacred Gear, they'd find Roy's power—sans Longinus—still rivaled any titan.

"Well, damn. First time I've seen you praise someone like this, Captain," Gin said, stroking his chin. "Even the high-and-mighty gods never got this much respect."

"What's your move? Wait for him to leave Kuoh and ambush?"

"No, that won't solve it."

Aizen produced a black envelope with an ouroboros seal. "Come with me to the living world, Gin."

"It's time to meet the legendary Infinite Dragon God."

---

Underworld, Lilith Capital.

Seeing Ajuka enter, Sazeks greeted him and cut to the chase. "Japan's government just reported another Brigade of Calamity attack."

"I know," Ajuka nodded.

With multiple Underworld outposts in Japan, his intel was sharp.

"The Red Dragon Emperor's gotten stronger. His growth rate's unreal," Ajuka said.

"That's not the point," Sazeks shook his head.

Roy's performance surprised him, but the incident itself mattered more.

"We had hints before, but this confirms it," Sazeks said. "The Brigade's Old Demon Faction is led by descendants of the original Four Demon Lords."

"They're targeting those close to us for revenge."

"What's your plan?" Ajuka asked.

"The Infinite Dragon God's a problem, but we can't keep taking hits. I've sent teams to raid Brigade outposts," Sazeks replied. "Also, I'm changing Roy's arrangement. I'll grant him Top-Class Devil status directly."

"That breaks protocol. The old guard will cause trouble," Ajuka warned.

Devil society wasn't unified.

Beyond the exiled Old Demon Lord descendants, pureblood supremacists like the original Bael patriarch pushed bloodline-first policies favoring pure devils.

Promoting a reincarnated devil like Roy to Top-Class would clash with their ideals, likely sparking conflict.

But…

"Special cases, special rules. No need to coddle them," Sazeks said, producing a prepared document, his face serious. "Ajuka, this is on you."

---

Kuoh Town, Roy's Home.

Unpacking her luggage, Yukina Himeragi stepped out and knocked on the next room.

"Huh, no one?"

Seeing the empty room with luggage in the corner, Yukina realized Sayaka Kirasaka had ditched her.

Sayaka hadn't unpacked—she'd gone elsewhere.

Instinctively, Yukina pictured Roy.

New to Kuoh, with no acquaintances or missions, Sayaka's sudden absence likely meant she'd sought Roy.

"I think Roy said his room's on the fourth floor," Yukina muttered, stepping toward the staircase.

Buzz! Buzz! Buzz!

A translucent ripple shimmered, and Yukina passed through a thin membrane.

Before she could process it, a familiar, ecstatic voice echoed from upstairs.

Yukina froze, recognizing Sayaka's voice.

What's going on?

Didn't Sayaka have androphobia? Why'd she go to Roy?

Listening for minutes, confirming Sayaka wasn't coerced, Yukina's mind reeled. She shuffled downstairs.

Buzz! Buzz! Buzz!

The ripple reappeared, silencing the blush-inducing sounds.

But those minutes seared into Yukina's mind, the voice lingering, overloading her.

"Need help?" a curious voice asked.

Yukina turned to see a blonde girl. "Uh… who are you?"

"I'm Asia Argento. You must be Yukina, who Rias-nee mentioned," Asia said, touching Yukina's forehead. "Your face is so red. Are you sick?"

"N-No! Misunderstanding!" Yukina stepped back, flustered. "I'm just… hot. Know a cool spot?"

Hot?

Asia blinked, seeing through Yukina's excuse.

Roy's Senjutsu array kept the villa's temperature perfect.

Only odd races like yeti would feel off.

But sensing Yukina's panic, the kind Asia didn't pry. "If you're hot, want a villa tour? You can meet the others."

"S-Sure!"

Anything to get out of here.

---

Two hours later, villa first floor.

Roy entered the living room with Sayaka.

A massive walnut table, laden with food, sat centrally.

Rias and the others chatted around it.

"Roy, finally," Rukia said, looking up from her phone, squinting. "Another minute with your girlfriend in bed, and I'd starve."

"My bad," Roy shrugged, pulling the silent, head-lowered Sayaka close. "You probably heard from Yukina, but I'll introduce her."

"This is Sayaka Kirasaka. She'll live here with Yukina."

"Shoko, when you're out working, they're your bodyguards. Bring them."

"Bodyguards?" Shoko blinked.

Since reconciling with her father and opening up to Roy, she'd gone from maid to secretary.

Her job was light—handling files and scheduling Roy's tasks.

Bodyguards for that? Was there danger?

"Don't let your guard down," Rias said, reading Shoko's thoughts. "Roy's secretary isn't a small role. Tons of terrorists have him in their sights."

She'd heard about the Brigade's attack on Roy from the Underworld.

Angry, she realized the Brigade's threat.

They targeted Roy; weaker folks like her were easy prey.

Without precautions, they'd have no chance to stall in a crisis.

As Rias explained, Sayaka slipped from Roy's arm, awkwardly sitting by Yukina.

"Uh, m-morning, Sayaka," Yukina said, nervous.

"…Morning," Sayaka replied, her expression heavy.

After a two-hour "battle," Sayaka had surrendered.

She'd naively thought she could satisfy Roy alone. Impossible.

But oddly, her androphobia eased post-ordeal.

Facing Roy, she no longer flared up or lost control.

Not exactly good news.

She'd failed to protect Yukina.

Worse, Roy later told her Yukina had eavesdropped outside for minutes.

Sayaka felt the sky collapse.

Facing Yukina's evasive, hesitant gaze, Sayaka took a deep breath, mustering courage. "Yukina, don't misunderstand."

"I was—"

"No need to explain," Yukina cut in, blushing. "Our mission here is to serve Roy. This is normal."

"I just didn't expect you to be so… proactive. It's, uh, surprising."

Sayaka: "…"

Damn it!

---

Table's other side.

After explaining the bodyguards' importance to Shoko, Rias turned to see Sayaka, ashen, like she'd been hit hard.

"What's with her?" Rias asked.

"Yukina heard her through the wall," Roy said.

"That's rough."

Rias smirked.

After meeting Yukina post-shopping, she'd learned about the duo.

No blood ties, but their shared training and life made them closer than sisters.

Yukina eavesdropping must've crushed Sayaka.

No need to dwell, though.

They'd end up in the same bed eventually and patch things up.

Shifting from the duo, Rias looked at Roy. "My brother just contacted me. He's making an exception to promote you straight to Top-Class Devil."

"Oh."

"That's it? No thoughts or questions?"

"Nothing to gush about," Roy shrugged.

With his strength, jumping to Top-Class was expected.

If Sazeks made him grind through Mid-Class and High-Class, that would've shocked him.

"What's the deal with the ceremony? Gotta swing by the Underworld?" Roy asked.

"Brother's swamped. The ceremony's delayed until after the Three Factions Summit," Rias said. "But the Top-Class title can be granted early."

She pulled out an envelope with a fly emblem and handed it to Roy. "This is an invitation from Lord Ajuka. He wants a private meeting."

"Besides the title, he seems to have other matters to discuss."

---

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