Riser Phenex isn't a villain

Chapter 56: So, is it okay for me to have a harem?

When everyone returned, Serafall quickly brought Sona and then told him what they had found in the forest.

Meanwhile, Riser listened calmly, then asked a few questions when he heard something that made him interested.

Everything in this land had been perfected by him with "Fengshui," so most of the luck in this area gathered in this land.

Luck was a good thing, and it was due to this they found many rare things from herbs, plants, animals, and many others.

Naturally, before they left, Riser had told them not to hunt or pick something greedily and only took some that were enough for their consumption since wasteful definitely wasn't the trait he loved, even though he was a dirty, good-for-nothing bastard.

'Hmm...'

When he thought of this, he realized he might not be as bad as he thought.

However, everyone was happy, and that was enough.

Still, with all the ingredients collected, they quickly prepared their lunch since they were quite hungry.

"You seem to have recovered well, Akeno."

Rias looked at his queen and saw that Akeno's complexion was good.

"Yes, I slept well." Akeno nodded with a smile.

"That's good! Come on! Let's have lunch!" Rias would be lying if she didn't have fun on this outing, but she didn't forget her goal and quickly joined everyone. Yet if she turned her head behind, she would notice the weirdness in her queen, who was staring in a certain direction with an expression that shouldn't be shown as the servant of the Gremory.

"Yes, Rias~!"

"You seem to be in a good mood. It seems that you have recovered really well." Rias nodded and thought that this villa was good. Unfortunately, she wasn't the one who owned this villa, and she couldn't even be the mistress of this place.

Akeno only nodded and didn't explain anything.

Nevertheless, everyone had a great day, including Riser's peerage members, since this place always brought them a positive vibe.

Even Saji, who was brought up as a coolie by everyone when they went to the forest, also had a great mood.

Still, when the night came, as Riser had said before, he brought Sona out to give her a surprise.

However, when they left, someone decided to follow them secretly, yet—

"Rias-chan~! What are you doing~?"

"—?!"

Rias startled before she turned, and her expression became depressed. "Serafall-sama..."

"Geez, Rias-chan is a naughty girl~! Are you going to follow Sona-chan and Riser-chan~?"

"That's..."

Rias could only lower her head like a child in front of Serafall.

If it was others with her nature, it would have been impossible to do so, but this was Serafall, someone whose status was similar to her older brother, whom she respected.

Serafall looked at Rias with her smile as usual, but inwardly, she sighed, wondering why the Gremory had always been this troublesome and stubborn.

Yet, Serafall didn't want Rias to cause trouble since, as an older sister, she wished for the happiness of her little sister.

Moreover, she also took love as something serious and wanted the love of Riser and Sona to last forever.

However—

"Do you want to follow them together?"

"Eh?"

Rias looked at Serafall dumbfoundedly.

---

"Where are you going to bring me?"

"We're going to arrive soon."

Sona was a little helpless as she let her hand be pulled by him somewhere to a place that she didn't know where. However, she would be lying if she didn't feel excited since, as he had said before, he would give her a gift, and this would be his first gift.

She wasn't sure what he would give her, but no matter what it was, her heart was excited like a child who couldn't wait to open their Christmas gift.

"We have arrived."

"This place is..."

Sona was in a daze as she saw the lake before her.

The landscape in this place was carefully designed from the mountain, river, grass, and even the trees; everything in this place, including nature, was designed by him.

What appeared before her was a translucent, beautiful lake surrounded by natural landscape.

Nevertheless, it was hard to enjoy this scenery as there was no moon in the Underworld.

Sona felt weird as she looked at her husband, but his expression didn't change, bringing her to the bench-like log.

"Sit here first."

"Okay."

Sona even became confused, but she followed her husband's words and sat beside him.

"To be honest, I am unsure whether you like this, and I haven't prepared a gift like precious jewelry or a firearm like Aneki. Instead, I can only give you this now."

Riser closed his eyes as he stretched his hands forward.

"Fireflies."

He created small, glowing greenish-yellow fireballs that floated around atop the lake, illuminating the lake and its surroundings.

"Wow..."

Sona was surprised as she looked at the greenish-yellow fireballs that gently moved like fireflies.

It was so beautiful.

"Thank you."

Sona looked at him with a bright smile, happy with this surprise.

"For now, I can only give you this, but I will give you something you can keep as a keepsake later."

"No, this is enough. This might not have a shape, but I will remember it forever in my mind and heart. Thank you for your gift. I love this."

She kissed his lips, and he also answered her kiss.

However, his hand started to get naughty and crept into her bud-like chest before she slapped his hand.

"Don't be too naughty~!"

"When we get back, I won't let you go."

"Um."

She hugged his arm as she leaned on him intimately.

Meanwhile, Riser wondered what pose he should use when they returned, but her next words stunned him.

"I am sorry."

"Huh?"

He was startled when Sona suddenly apologized. "Why did you suddenly apologize?"

"I have thought I can accept everything, but it seems I am more small-minded than I thought." Sona's eyes were red from tears. "I have always thought that I can share you with others, especially the women you have been before, but I have always hated them since they could meet you first, and you were with them when I was gone.

"I love you so much that I want you only by myself."

Sona showed a helpless expression. "I am ugly, right? I can't control myself, and I—" He didn't let her continue and kiss her lips. She widened her eyes and wanted to struggle, but in the end, she gave up and hugged his neck tightly.

"You are not ugly. You have a clean and beautiful soul that sometimes I feel that I am not worthy of it, and that's why... I am glad to have you as my wife, Sona."

"Husband!"

She hugged him tightly as she sobbed.

"Don't cry. You are ugly when you are crying."

"Didn't you say that I was beautiful before?!"

They argued, they laughed, and they loved each other.

"I talked with your peerage members before."

"Oh."

"I asked them to leave you, but they begged me... no, even groveling on the dirty ground so they wouldn't be separated from you."

"......."

Riser looked at Sona, who talked about all of those as she watched the fireflies with mixed emotions.

"So, I can only accept them."

"Sorry."

"Don't apologize. I am the one who should apologize since I am the one who did all of this without your knowledge."

"Then, thank you?"

"....."

Sona stared at him blankly before she pulled his cheek helplessly.

If pulling his cheek could make her mood good, then he didn't mind sacrificing himself.

Still, this would be her acquiescence to him to accept his harem, so in case he had more, she probably wouldn't say anything, but she might sulk or ignore him.

Yet, Riser felt that this was normal since how could a woman accept a harem so at ease like that?

Originally, Rias probably accepted Issei to have a harem so she could tie down all the talented people and Issei to her ship, the Gremory, and Sirzech Lucifer, so they could take down the Underworld as their place.

As for Issei? As long as he had a harem, he didn't care.

As for the other women? They knew their low status, especially when they had all become the reincarnated devil under the Gremory family, so they could follow the trend.

Under the happy harem-like life, there was a deep conspiracy.

Riser didn't want to be involved in this conspiracy, but this conspiracy tried to reach him, deny him, and push him down into his place so he could only follow the others like a little blind, loyal puppy.

Yet, it is different now.

"If you want to add another woman, then tell me. I want to see the women first."

"......."

Riser's lips twitched before he shook his head.

Sona was naive.

After all, if he played with other women, he wouldn't leave his trails, and it was impossible for her to sniff him out.

However, with her permission, was it possible for him to have a harem openly?

Riser is curious.

Yet, for now, he is satisfied with Sona as his wife.

Still, for Rias and Serafall, who had been following and eavesdropping on their conversation, they looked at each other with surprise.