Chapter 17: Rias: Brother, Why Is Your Face Crooked?

"Rias invited you to her place to rest just now. Why did you refuse?"

Lying on the chair, Ren looked at Asia and asked with a chuckle as he watched Rias gradually walk away.

Before she left, Rias had clearly extended an olive branch to Asia, openly expressing her intention to make her a devil and Ren hadn't stopped her.

After all, Ren knew Asia would refuse.

Even if Rias was her friend now, Asia would never lightly become a reincarnated devil.

In the original story, she had no choice—she was already dead. But now that she had options, a devout believer like Asia would never casually fall into the arms of a devil, even if that devil was a friend.

Even after falling from saint to witch, Asia's faith remained unshaken.

Just as Ren expected, Asia rejected the offer.

But she still hoped to visit Rias at Kuoh Academy or for Rias to visit her here.

Rias could only smile bitterly. Snatching her away wasn't going to be easy.

After that, Rias tried inviting her to move in again.

After all, the church was now uninhabitable, so she naturally wanted Asia to stay at her place.

Proximity breeds affection, after all. But Asia politely declined with a line that stunned her: "I already agreed to work part-time for Mr. Ren."

Thinking back to the resentful look Rias gave before leaving, Ren almost laughed.

That look seemed to say, "Didn't think you'd move so fast."

Ren just shrugged. What could he do? It's not like it was his fault she happened to be a devil…

Come to think of it, as a devil, you don't even know how to lure a saint into corruption?

You're falling behind!

Seriously, devils these days… none of them even act the part anymore.

Asia looked a bit flustered.

"Does that mean Mr. Ren doesn't welcome me?"

"Of course not… If you want to stay here, I welcome you with open arms! But since you're moving in, I'll need to get you some clothes. You can't wear that nun outfit every day, can you…"

Ren glanced over her outfit carefully.

Let's be real—who wears the same nun outfit all year?

It's not like she's Index from A Certain Magical Index, running around with that walking church outfit every day.

"Wouldn't that be too much trouble?"

"No worries… now that we have two more staff members, we'll go out together and buy you a few outfits..."

As he spoke, Ren's gaze swept across his lottery tickets, his eyes narrowing slightly.

For someone with OCD, it was a bit irritating to leave them unbalanced. Maybe he'd go collect some stray bloodlines and complete a set.

With that thought, Ren's gaze landed on Raynare.

Kuroka was with Koneko. Fou was with Asia. Examon was too big—better let him idle. Lucemon was who knows where. Ren didn't count on him anyway. With that kind of power, Lucemon would be overkill in Kuoh Town—like using a cannon to shoot a mosquito.

Only Raynare was a bit weaker… but she had some "connections"...

"Raynare, come with me tonight..."

---

While Ren made his plans, Rias returned and immediately reported the day's events.

Kuoh Town was under the jurisdiction of the Gremory family. Normally, she wouldn't need to bother her brother about daily matters, but this was different.

After that terrifying presence appeared in Kuoh Town, Sirzechs had strictly warned her about such situations.

Rias was strong-willed, but she also wasn't the type to stubbornly overreach.

Knowing Ren was far beyond her ability to handle, she wasn't going to act recklessly—even if Koneko got along well with him.

Still, she had to inform her brother.

She could more or less guess how he'd respond anyway...

Normally, it wouldn't be a big deal. But after that mysterious power emerged, Kuoh Town had drawn attention. Her brother definitely didn't want to provoke an unknown powerhouse.

"I see... So there's a new unknown power in Kuoh Town?"

Sirzechs wasn't too surprised by her report. He just nodded.

But Rias noticed something strange.

Her brother's face... seemed a bit off.

At a glance, it looked normal. But she knew him well and could sense something was wrong.

She just couldn't put her finger on it.

"Onii-sama, what should we do next?"

She ignored the odd feeling and asked.

Sirzechs pondered for a moment, nodding occasionally.

"If he knew all about you and did nothing, then he likely holds no hostility toward devils—at least not toward your group. For now, observe him... Ideally, you should build a good relationship and try to win him over to our side."

"If you're saying that, then I'll give it a shot..."

In any faction, recruiting a strong individual was the obvious move—as long as they weren't mortal enemies.

Koneko crossed her mind for a moment but was quickly dismissed.

Rias didn't like being forced into arranged marriages, so she wouldn't use that tactic on others either.

If Koneko truly liked Ren, she wouldn't mind playing matchmaker.

But if she didn't, forcing the issue would backfire.

Best to confirm first.

"By the way, Onii-sama—"

Suddenly changing the subject, Rias gave him a strange look.

"I've been meaning to ask… is it just me, or does your face look a little crooked?"

"Hahaha… How could that be… My dear little sister, rather than worry about my face, maybe you should think about your engagement first..."

"Brother!"

"Okay, okay! I won't say anything more..."

Seeing that she was about to blow up, Sirzechs wisely changed the subject.

"Oh, right. Rias, don't contact me for a while. If you need anything, talk to Serafall... I'm planning to send her to the human world. She'll probably visit you soon. Let Sona know too."

As he said this, Sirzechs's expression grew a bit weary.

Rias, on the other hand, looked stunned, her face becoming slightly strange.

A cheerful figure gradually emerged in her mind.

"Eh? The Maou Leviathan is coming to the human world!?"