Riser Phenex isn't a villain

Chapter 74: Rias is a devil

"It-It hurts..."

Issei moaned in pain.

"Isse-san!"

Asia continued to heal Issei in tears.

"Asia-chan...? What's wrong?"

Being beaten so hard, Issei's mind was still groggy, and he was still unable to clearly determine the reality before him.

"Issei, are you okay now?"

"Bu-Buchou...?!"

Issei moaned in pain again as he remembered everything. He was almost killed once again, but then, Riser said something inexplicable that he didn't understand before being beaten by Grayfia under the instruction of Rias.

Frankly, toward Riser, Issei still had a hatred, but toward Grayfia and Rias, he felt conflicted. After all, he knew them, and they were beautiful. Moreover, it wasn't his first time being beaten by a beautiful woman, especially when he often went to peek at the girls in the kendo club changing their uniforms.

However, there was a massive difference between being beaten by the girls in the kendo club and Grayfia.

Issei was sure that he was almost dead before, and that was why he wasn't sure what kind of face he should show to Buchou, especially when she was the one who ordered Grayfia to beat him.

Why?

Why did she do all that?

Moreover, why did Asia cry so much?

Lastly, where was he?

"You are at my house now. You should rest in the guest room tonight, but before that, let me ask you." Rias stared at Issei calmly and asked, "Do you hate Riser?"

"I..." Issei didn't know how to answer this question. Did he hate him? Naturally, after all, Riser was Buchou's former fiance, and he was also the one who had caused Buchou to have misfortune one after another.

Moreover, Riser was the one who beat him so much, showing how unsightly he was in front of everyone, especially in front of Buchou, Asia, and many others.

Lastly, the way Riser dismissed him like he was just a pebble on the street, Issei couldn't handle it!

While Issei was still in pain, he nodded without hesitation. "I hate him, Buchou."

"Then, from now on, I order you not to hate him."

"Wha—?!" Issei was in shock and then asked agitatedly. After all, why wasn't Buchou on his side?

"Why?! Why, Buchou?! Why should I not hate him after what he had done to me?!"

Should he endure all of this?

No!

Issei believed in Boosted Gear and Ddraig as his partners.

He believed that he could become stronger!

Well, he might be weak now, but in the future?

That's right!

It seemed this was the case; Buchou was worried about him because he was weak.

However, what if he was strong enough?

If he was strong enough to face Riser, then everything would change, right?

"No, Issei-san! Please stop fighting, okay? Just don't provoke Riser-sama, okay? Please..."

Asia knew that if Issei tried to provoke Riser once again, then being beaten once again definitely wasn't how Issei would end up.

By then, it might not be hard to imagine that Issei was killed!

Moreover, Asia didn't have much of a bad impression of Riser, especially when he let go of Issei after all that.

"Asia-chan..." Issei looked at Asia with a complicated gaze.

Still, Rias sat calmly on the edge of the bed and asked, "Issei, do you still remember when you were killed by the fallen angel before?"

"Of-Of course, I remember..."

Naturally, Issei remembered, and even now, he could still feel the pain when his guts were gouged by the spear of light by the fallen angel.

"You might have awoken the "Boosted Gear" and become a devil, but you should realize that your status is still a low-class devil. Even if Riser kills you due to your insult, I won't blame him."

"...."

Issei looked at Rias in shock.

Rias sighed. "Issei, do you think I am the one who controls the Underworld? The politics of the Underworld aren't simple. I might be the heir of the Gremory house and also the little sister of Sirzech Lucifer, but we definitely can't say that we are the ones who rule the Underworld.

"Your head is a bit stupid, so it might be hard for you to understand."

"..."

Issei wanted to argue, but he couldn't since he knew that he was an idiot.

"If I let you insult him, then it means that I am trying to insult and fight all the aristocratic families in the Underworld. Even if the Gremory house and my older brother are powerful, we can't handle such consequences..."

Her voice was filled with sadness as she asked, "...or do you want to see me and my family die, Issei?"

"I... I... I..."

Issei felt that his mind was blank as he had never thought the consequences of his action would bring so much trouble to Buchou.

"Moreover, not only me and my family, but Akeno, Koneko, Kiba, Asia, and even your parents. Due to your careless remarks, they might also be affected by it."

"E-Everyone too...?!"

Issei felt that his entire body was powerless.

He was just an ordinary high school student with a perverted mind.

Moreover, his view and experience were relatively short.

He hadn't seen many things in his life, and he also hadn't encountered much despair, so it was normal for him to think that he could do anything, especially when he owned the legendary "Boosted Gear."

Frankly, even if he was killed, he didn't care since he felt that he had done the right thing, but what if the consequences of his action would lead to the misfortune of everyone?

"Did you know? Asia-chan would do anything to save you previously. She even wished to give herself to Riser so you would be saved."

"Asia-chan...?"

Issei looked at Asia in shock.

However, Asia only smiled gently. "As long as you are okay, Issei-san."

"We are lucky that Riser isn't such a lustful devil who will jump into the skirt of every devil. If he is one, then you might need to say goodbye to Asia."

"........"

Issei clenched his fists tightly and cried due to his powerlessness. "...am I so weak, Buchou?"

"You are not weak." Rias shook her head and kindly told him, "You are the holder of the "Boosted Gear." You are strong, but there are many things that can't be handled by power alone."

Not unless you are strong enough.

If someone was powerful enough, they could do anything like Sirzech Lucifer, who controlled almost half of the devils in the Underworld.

However, Rias wouldn't say, and it was better for Issei to stay as an obedient servant the way he was, so he needed to be a little stupid. Still, due to this, her interest in Issei had already disappeared.

In her eyes, she wanted her man to be strong.

Those who have never given up and kept going on no matter how dangerous the adversity was.

Even if death was in front of him, they wouldn't stop.

That was the man that she wished to be, yet looking at Issei, she could only shake her head.

"There are many things that I want to talk about with you since you should also realize the importance of the Phenex family, and we have to maintain a good relationship with that family."

"......."

Hearing this, even though Issei felt uncomfortable, he could only endure it since he didn't want to cause trouble to everyone.

Frankly, Issei, as long as it was mentioned he would cause everyone trouble, would stop since that was the typical protagonist template of this type of story.

Not to cause trouble to others.

This was what a Japanese protagonist usually acted like.

Rias also knew this, and she took advantage of this. "Then, I will go back first. Asia, are you staying here?"

"Ah, yes, Rias-buchou." Asia nodded gently. "I will take care of Issei-san."

"Is that so? Don't forget to rest, okay? I am going to rest first. Asia, you can sleep in the guest room next door."

"Yes, Rias-buchou (Buchou)."2x

Rias then left without hesitation, leaving Issei and Asia alone. In case something happened between the two, she didn't think too much, but nevertheless, her mind and heart had made up her mind.

Rias was going to get Riser no matter what.

Only when she left did Issei look at Rias's back longingly, wondering when he could get to see her boobs once again?

"Oh, right, Issei." Rias suddenly returned and reminded him. "Don't forget that you still have a debt you need to pay him from the Phenex Tears, okay?"

Issei passed out, but he didn't realize that Riser was a more dangerous foe than he had thought.

---

Meanwhile, Riser, who had just woken up, watched the sunrise within the human world for the first time. Frankly, he thought he would be happy, but unexpectedly, his body felt rather weak, making him speechless.

However, after a moment, he got used to this feeling, and everything returned to normal. He lightly moved his body as he realized how much light caused harm to the body of the devil.

Still, if he became weak due to the sunlight, what about Sona, whose body had been eaten by him cleanly last night?

He was worried.