By the end of the school week, Hespera had finally lost it.
The mind-numbing boredom was driving her insane—eh, crazier—to the point where she was seriously considering summoning a massive ball of hellfire and hurling it straight into the damn building, just to watch the chaos unfold.
But alas, she couldn't do that. Yet.
So, she settled for the next best thing…
Currently, she was entertaining herself by playing (harassing) a certain white-haired cat girl, all while lounging beside a very anxious vampire boy who, for reasons unknown, had a penchant for dressing as a girl.
It still astounded Hespera just how well little Gasper managed to pull it off.
If it weren't for her natural aversion to the male species, she might've actually been fooled. Luckily, her instincts told her something was… off about the fledgling vampire.
But for now?
Her attention was completely devoted to annoying Koneko.
With a wicked smirk, she lazily flicked a cat toy back and forth, watching the cat girl's golden eyes twitch with every deliberate movement.
Flick.
Flick.
Flick.
Koneko's ear twitched.
Hespera cooed at her, voice dripping with mock affection. "Aww, does little kitty wanna play~?"
Koneko's death glare was positively adorable.
Hespera bit back a laugh, entirely ignoring the way Rias's eye twitched violently every time she teased Koneko like a spoiled house cat.
Oh, this was fun.
Rias inhaled deeply, schooling her expression into something calm and composed, though the subtle twitch in her brow betrayed her growing irritation.
She exhaled slowly, then, in a measured yet clipped tone, asked,
"May I ask why you are here, Hespera Eveningstar?"
Her turquoise gaze sharpened, barely concealing her annoyance at the sudden and utterly uninvited intrusion.
No, seriously.
The new girl had just appeared out of thin air—literally—in the middle of a very serious discussion regarding Riser and the Phenex Clan.
Not a sound. Not a knock. Just… poof.
And now, here she was.
Standing in their clubroom, as if she belonged there, wearing that damn smug look that made Rias want to—
Rias took another slow breath.
She needed patience.
Unfortunately, patience was in very short supply when dealing with Hespera.
Hespera, lounging in one of the club's chairs like she owned the place, tilted her head, a slow, sly smile curling on her lips.
"Mmm~? Do I need a reason to visit?" she purred, lazily twirling a strand of hair between her fingers.
Rias's eye twitched harder. Yes. Yes, you absolutely do need a reason to be here.
Akeno, ever the amused observer, giggled softly behind her hand, her violet eyes shimmering with undisguised intrigue.
"Ara~ ara~, Hespera-chan, you do have a habit of appearing at the most… interesting times."
Kiba, leaning back in his seat, cast a curious glance at Hespera but said nothing. He, at least, had enough sense to be cautious.
Koneko, on the other hand, looked seconds away from launching a couch cushion at her head.
And Gasper? Oh, the poor little dhampir was practically wilting under the weight of all the tension in the room. His fidgeting increased, his wide, pinkish-violet eyes darting between everyone like he was waiting for something explosive to happen. 'I want to go back to my box, but Rias threatened to burn them if I don't come out to social at least once a week.' Just remembering that scolding made him start to mope.
Rias pinched the bridge of her nose. She did not have time for this.
"Hespera," she said, her patience hanging by a thread, "we are in the middle of an important discussion regarding something personal and private."
The twinkle in Hespera's heterochromatic eyes turned downright mischievous.
"Ohhh, right, right. The little fiery chicken boy, huh?" She grinned. "You're engaged to that pompous feather-duster? Damn, condolences, babe."
Rias visibly bristled.
Akeno choked on a giggle.
Koneko muttered a flat, "Feather-duster is accurate."
Kiba politely coughed into his hand.
Meanwhile, Gasper was just trying to disappear into the couch.
Rias clenched her fists. Why. Why did it have to be her? How the hell did she...
"I fail to see how that is any of your concern," she said, voice strained but still maintaining her noble composure.
Hespera smirked, resting her chin on her palm. "Oh, but it is~" she drawled, her voice dripping with mock sweetness.
Then, in a blink, her expression shifted—the playfulness still there, but underneath it, something darker.
"After all, I don't take kindly to spoiled little birds thinking they can claim what doesn't belong to them~."
The room dropped a few degrees.
A thin veil of pressure spread through the air, subtle but undeniable.
Rias stiffened.
Akeno's smile faltered—just slightly.
Kiba's eyes narrowed.
Koneko's tail flicked, her sharp feline senses on high alert.
And Gasper? Well, at this point, he was practically vibrating in fear.
Rias's fingers curled against the wooden surface of the desk, her nails just barely digging in.
"Are you implying something, Hespera?" she asked, her voice low, measured, but holding an edge.
Hespera's smirk widened ever so slightly, her emerald and amethyst eyes gleaming like a predator playing with its prey.
"Oh, nothing much, Rias~" she cooed, tilting her head. "Just that… if bird boy so much as breathes in a way I don't like, I will be plucking some feathers."
Silence.
Then—
Akeno laughed.
It was a light, musical thing, but there was a knowing glint in her eyes, as if she understood something the others didn't.
"Oh my~ How interesting."
Kiba sighed, shaking his head. Why was he not surprised?
Koneko, who had been previously annoyed by Hespera's presence, now seemed moderately entertained.
And Rias?
Rias just let out a deep sigh, massaging her temples.
"I don't belong to anyone," she muttered.
Hespera beamed.
"That is debatable~." 'I haven't decided whether I want you or not, yet.'
Rias's patience was hanging by a single, fragile thread.
Her grip on the armrest of her chair tightened, knuckles faintly paling, but her expression remained carefully composed. "Hespera," she said, voice slow, measured, and dangerously close to snapping, "I suggest you choose your words carefully."
Hespera hummed, tilting her head. "Mmm~?" Her smirk widened, her gaze dancing with mischief. "Or what, Princess? You'll sick your little fiery fiancé on me?" She sighed dramatically, pressing a hand over her heart. "Oh nooo~ whatever shall I do if the great Riser Phenex comes after me?~" Her voice dripped with mock terror.
Rias's eye twitched.
Akeno giggled again, very much enjoying the show.
Koneko popped a piece of candy into her mouth, deadpanning, "He'd lose. You smell too strong not to beat him."
Kiba smirked slightly but remained silent. But he didn't disagree with Koneko. He too sensed the overwhelming power that sometimes radiated off Hespera.
Gasper was still trying to become one with the couch. Poor vampy~
Rias exhaled slowly, pressing her fingers against her temple, as if warding off an impending migraine. "You're insufferable."
Hespera beamed. "Thank you~."
Rias did not smile back.
Instead, she leaned forward slightly, her crimson hair falling elegantly over her shoulder as she met Hespera's gaze with something colder. Sharper.
"You think you're untouchable," she murmured, voice deceptively soft.
Hespera grinned. "Because I am~."
The sheer audacity.
The confidence, that comes off this girl. It's ridiculous!
Rias inhaled sharply through her nose. "Riser Phenex is an arrogant, insufferable, prideful peacock," she admitted, begrudgingly, "but he is still part of one of the most influential families in the Underworld. My family cannot afford unnecessary conflict with the Phenex Clan."
Hespera's smirk did not waver.
"Oh, darling," she purred, leaning forward slightly, her unnerving, predatory gaze locking onto Rias's own. "I never said you had to start a conflict. What if, hypothetically, you fell in love with a mysterious entity with more power than she knows what to do with. A being, who just so happens to have blood ties with said Royals of the Phenex clan."
Rias's breath hitched for just a fraction of a second.
And that was all the confirmation Hespera needed. 'She's desperate.'
Her smile turned razor-sharp.
"You're smarter than I thought, Gremory. I'm assuming you understand what I'm offering?"
Akeno's amused gaze flickered between them, as if watching an unspoken battle unfold.
Kiba was still unreadable, though his fingers subtly tensed against his armrest.
Koneko, unimpressed as always, licked the last remnants of her candy from her fingers.
And Gasper?
Gasper regretted every single life decision that led him to being in this room right now. 'I miss my box.'
Rias leaned back in her chair, composing herself, though the tension in her shoulders remained.
Her turquoise eyes studied Hespera carefully, weighing her words, measuring her intentions.
Hespera, in contrast, lounged with effortless ease, twirling a lock of silver hair around her fingers, the very picture of unbothered amusement.
It was like a silent battle of wills—who would blink first?
Finally, Rias sighed, slowly, deliberately. "Just to be clear," she said, her tone resigned but firm, "are you saying you have some sort of connection to the Phenex family? And that you're willing to help me defeat Riser and his peerage in the Rating Game?"
Hespera laughed, low and rich, her smirk widening.
"Well, 'related' wouldn't be wrong, but it's not the word I'd use." She hummed, tapping a finger against her chin. "Hmm, I guess I do share DNA with them, so technically, it's accurate enough. But as for this 'Rating Game' thing you mentioned…"—she tilted her head—"What is that?"
The room fell silent.
For a long moment, everyone just… stared at her.
Honestly, they shouldn't have been so surprised. By now, it should have been obvious that Hespera hadn't been involved in any of the major factions for long.
Still, the fact that she didn't even know about Rating Games?
It was Akeno who finally spoke, her melodic voice smooth and patient.
"The Rating Game is a competition between two Devils with a peerage. It shares many similarities with the game of chess."
Hespera arched a brow, idly flicking at the cuff of her sleeve. "Chess, huh? Boring game."
Akeno giggled. "Perhaps. But to Devils, it's far more than a pastime."
She continued, her tone laced with practiced elegance.
"The Rating Game was created after Ajuka Beelzebub introduced the Evil Pieces. It's used to measure a Devil's strength, which directly affects their social standing in the Underworld. In fact, the top ten ranked Devils are considered heroes by many."
Hespera's smirk faded slightly.
"So it's a power contest?" 'Sounds boring.'
Akeno nodded. "In a way. The battlefield itself is located inside a special section of the Dimensional Gap, protected by a barrier. This allows the arena to simulate any environment or scenery the participants desire."
At the mention of the Dimensional Gap, Hespera's expression changed.
A small, subconscious smile graced her lips. It was soft. Fond.
It was such a stark contrast to the usual mischief in her gaze that it shocked everyone in the room.
Rias and Akeno even looked momentarily dazed.
"Why does she look angelic when she smiles like that?!" was everyone's unspoken thought.
It lasted only a second.
Then, just as quickly, Hespera's expression smoothed out, her usual lazy amusement slipping back into place.
She decided to distract them before anyone got too curious.
"What are the rules?" she asked. "Do I need to be a part of your peerage to fight Riser?" That wouldn't be possible since she was far more powerful that Rias.
Akeno shook her head. "No, joining Rias's peerage wouldn't be necessary. There are other ways for you to participate."
She gestured toward the others as she continued.
"The game itself takes the form of a strategic battle between two Kings and their pieces. The battlefield is chosen by the competitors and can be made to perfectly replicate any location they desire. Only mature Devils are allowed to participate in official Rating Games."
"The participants," Kiba added smoothly, "are categorized into four main roles: Power, Technique, Wizard, and Support."
"The maximum number of players is sixteen," Akeno continued, "and, like chess, the game ends when a King is defeated. However, aside from the standard rules, there are many variations, including unique objectives or special conditions tailored to each match."
Rias leaned forward then, her crimson locks cascading over her shoulders as she regarded Hespera seriously.
"I think it would be best if we discussed this further with my family."
Her expression was carefully neutral, but there was an unmistakable edge of curiosity, intrigue, and caution beneath it.
"Are you willing to come to the Underworld with us this weekend?"
Hespera tilted her head, her smirk widening.
"Hmm~ The Underworld, huh?"
She didn't look particularly impressed. If anything, she seemed amused—like a cat toying with a mouse that had willingly walked into its paws.
Leaning back against the couch, she crossed her legs effortlessly, her fingers idly tracing lazy patterns against the armrest as if she had all the time in the world.
"Sounds like fun."
Then—her grin sharpened, her canines flashing just slightly.
"Alright, Gremory~ Let's go meet the family."
She paused, tilting her head in feigned thought before adding, "Ah, is it alright if I bring my mother? She doesn't enjoy being away from me for too long."
Her tone was light, polite even, but it was clear to everyone in the room—she wasn't asking.
She was telling them. It was the kind of faux politeness that came from someone who didn't need permission in the first place.
Apparently, the unspoken message was received loud and clear.
Rias exhaled through her nose, pressing her fingers together in thought.
The others? They just rolled their eyes.
"Of course she wasn't actually asking."
Rias, for her part, just gave a small, resigned nod. "Fine."
Hespera chuckled. "Such a good little hostess~"
Rias shot her a mildly exasperated look but, wisely, chose not to dignify it with a response.
Hespera stretched, arms lifting lazily over her head, the movement as fluid as a feline waking from a nap. "Well, that's enough playtime with you all. I should head out now."
The casual dismissal made a few of them bristle, but before anyone could say anything, she snapped her fingers, and a swirling portal of black and violet energy tore open beside her, its edges crackling with chaotic power.
The sheer audacity of casually opening a portal inside the Occult Research Club's headquarters left the room in stunned silence.
None of them had expected that.
Before anyone could process it fully, however—
She vanished.
And reappeared instantly—right in front of Koneko.
The white-haired nekomata barely had time to react before gentle fingers scratched behind her ears.
A soft, involuntary purr escaped Koneko's throat.
Her entire body betrayed her, eyes fluttering half-closed as she subconsciously leaned into the touch, the warmth spreading through her like a lullaby.
The room fell into stunned silence.
Hespera's smirk deepened as she pulled away, watching with satisfaction as Koneko slumped slightly, dazed and far too content for her own good.
"Good girl~" she purred, amusement lacing her voice.
And with that, she stepped through, vanishing into the swirling void.
The portal collapsed behind her, leaving behind nothing but the lingering hum of unstable energy…
And one very drowsy, blissed-out cat girl curled on the couch.
A tense beat passed.
Then—
"Did… did she just—" Kiba started, but stopped.
Because, really, there was no logical way to explain what they had just witnessed.
Akeno slowly regained her composure, a sly chuckle slipping past her lips. "Fufu~ She really is full of surprises, isn't she?"
Rias sighed, massaging her temples. "That girl is going to be a problem."
Koneko, meanwhile, was still purring.