From Chapter 57 onward, prepare for a major upgrade—writing, cleaner grammar, and a more immersive story!
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They spent the morning peacefully. Afternoon arrived, and the group gathered at the Gremory castle's front gate.
Outside the castle's main entrance in bright sunlight stood a carriage pulled by two Nightmares—horses cloaked in ghostly blue flames. Ahead stretched a straight path leading from the domain's interior out to the forest.
Shinra Tsubaki sat in the driver's seat, reins in hand. Hearing noise from the castle gates behind her, she turned her head sideways:
"Kaichou, Gremory family folks—the carriage is ready. We can leave anytime."
"Great."
Sona Sitri gave a slight nod, then glanced at the redhead next to her. "All right, Rias. The Phenex territory isn't exactly close, so better to get moving soon."
"Oh… right, yes."
The final showdown looming, Rias seemed oddly absentminded. Hearing her friend's voice, she paused before responding. Then, from within the castle gates, came a voice very familiar to her:
"Hey, wait—wait for me! I'm coming along too!"
Eh?
That startled Rias out of her daze. She spun around to look behind her.
There she saw her dear mother, dressed to the nines in shimmering accessories, like she was heading to a formal soiree. The white gown hugged a figure just as perfect as Rias's—if not a bit fuller. She approached the courtyard in quick, lively steps.
Rias gaped. "M-Mother, you're coming too?"
"Mmhmm~"
Long having stayed at home managing the Gremory estate, Venelana seemed in unusually high spirits this day. Not only was she all dressed up, she'd even applied a subtle makeup, brightening her expression.
"Well, obviously. It's the day to decide my daughter's future; as your mother, shouldn't I be there? Besides, the Phenex family's invitation was extended to our entire family."
"Oh, I… see…"
Rias still hesitated. She didn't mind traveling with her mother, but it felt odd for Venelana—who rarely went out—to want to come now.
Was it just her imagination?
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"Then let's do it," Bokue commented, heading to the carriage and opening its door.
Thus, with Venelana on board, the original group of seven became eight. Thankfully, the interior was spacious, so even with eight people it wasn't cramped. Plus, Tsubaki was in the driver's seat, so only seven rode inside.
Venelana, Rias, and Sona sat along one side; Akeno, Bokue, and Asia on the other.
Koneko and Kuroka perched on Rias and Bokue's laps respectively, face-to-face—sisters glaring, so to speak.
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"All good, Rias?"
As soon as the carriage started moving, Sona leaned in and spoke softly to the redhead next to her.
"…Huh?"
Rias, half-lost in her own thoughts, blinked blankly.
"What do you mean, am I all right?"
"I mean you're out of sorts…"
Seeing her friend's preoccupation, Sona frowned. "You don't have to stress so much. Worst case scenario, I can go beg my sister; you know she'd help. Combine that with your brother, plus Leviathan's involvement, the Phenex family wouldn't be able to push you too far."
"Stop."
Bokue, who'd been quietly petting Kuroka, abruptly cut in with a "time-out" gesture using his index fingers.
"First, let's not talk like I'm going to lose. Also, you're worrying about the wrong thing. Rias's mood isn't about that."
"…What?"
Sona frowned, puzzled.
Bokue didn't elaborate. He shifted his gaze to that redheaded girl glancing away, then gave a shrug. "It's just that she's a proper upper-class lady."
"Huh?"
Sona blinked. She wasn't following at all.
Akeno—sitting next to Bokue—lightly brushed her cheek, entering the conversation: "I remember that the Keikain clan is also nobility in the human world, correct?"
"Oh, well, if you're referring to my sister and the rest, yeah."
Bokue weighed his phrasing, then added, "But not me. I'm rebellious."
"That's for sure," Akeno teased with a hushed laugh, "Otherwise you wouldn't have done those things back when you were little…"
"Wait, so you did know Bokue previously?"
This mention of "childhood" spurred Rias to butt in. She caught that key word. Her forelocks trembled slightly.
"Well… how to put it~"
Akeno deliberately dragged out her words, turning her face away with a mysterious half-smile as if refusing to clarify.
"Hey, enough beating around the bush!" Rias demanded, incensed.
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Listening to the younger devils squabbling in the carriage, Venelana, seated at the far side, couldn't help letting a faint smile curve her lips.
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From Gremory territory to Phenex territory wasn't near. A normal mode of transport in the human world might take just an hour or so, but they were riding a horse-drawn carriage—Devil Horses, sure, yet still horses—hence it took three full hours, from midday well into late afternoon.
Eventually, the carriage rolled to a stop at the Phenex castle entrance around sunset.
In front of the gates, an entire row of carriages parked in neat lines along both sides, at least fifty total. By the look of it, more than half of the Seventy-Two Pillars had already arrived.
Clearly, Bokue and company were on the late side.
They hopped down, heading toward the gate, where a Phenex retainer was verifying everyone's credentials.
"Right… Gremory family, is it? One moment… Venelana-sama, Rias-sama, Toujou Koneko, and Himejima Akeno— you may enter. The rest, no."
"Huh?"
At first, Rias just listened politely, but the final statement made her brow furrow. "This is nonsense—didn't you say we're here for the arranged match with Phenex? Why bar any of us? Where's that coming from?"
"My apologies, but these are Lord Riser's orders."
The retainer bowed, feigning humility. In fact, arrogance dripped from every pore. "Anyone not on the official invite list can't pass."
"You…!"
Rias wanted to push the matter, but behind her, Bokue stepped forward, laying a hand gently on her shoulder, and drew her back.
"It's fine. If they won't let us in, I'll just bring their doors out."
Right after saying so, he moved up to the castle's massive double door. Spreading his fingers, he sank them into the Devil-forged steel as though it were soft butter.
With a casual tug, he tore them down like paper.
Hoisting the multi-ton castle gates in both hands, he stood tall. Flickers of golden-brown glow flashed in his eyes. Soldiers inside the gateway brandished their weapons in alarm. Bokue exhaled calmly:
"Looks like there's a pre-boss stage, too..."
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