DxD: Scion of Lucifuge

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Summer vacation was coming to an end, and Roy and the girls were preparing to return to the human world when Ravel Phenex suddenly appeared.

"Roy-sama, I apologize for the unexpected visit," Ravel said, her expression serious as she stood in the living room of the Gremory mansion.

"What brings you here? Don't worry, if it's something I can help with, I definitely will," Roy replied with a gentle smile.

"Really?"

"Of course."

Relieved by his assurance, Ravel continued, "It's about my brother. I wanted to talk to you about him."

"Oh? What about Riser? Don't tell me he's still sulking over his defeat," Roy teased.

He knew what was going on, of course. Riser, just like in the original story, had taken his loss quite hard.

Ravel's expression faltered.

"Yes, ever since that incident, he's been depressed," she confirmed.

"He hasn't recovered?" Rias asked, concerned.

After all, she was partly responsible for Riser's current state.

"No, he hasn't. I shouldn't have come here, but I thought Roy-sama might be able to help," Ravel said, her eyes pleading.

Roy's heart softened. "Since I'm partly responsible for this, I'll help," he agreed.

This was an unavoidable obstacle if he wanted to win over Ravel. He had to help Riser.

But it wasn't a difficult task. He just had to drag Riser out and give him a reality check.

It was understandable for a proud and talented young Devil like Riser to be depressed after being easily defeated by someone his own age.

But once Riser learned that the one who defeated him was The Fifth Maou, his perspective would likely change.

After all, there was no shame in losing to a Maou.

"Thank you, Roy-sama!" Ravel exclaimed, relieved.

She then began to complain about her good-for-nothing brother.

"Honestly, he's so pathetic. Just because he lost once, he's been moping for half a year."

"He has the flames of the Phoenix, yet he wraps himself in blankets all day, complaining about being cold."

"It's unbearable!"

Rias and the others chuckled at her frustrated rant.

"He's still your brother, Ravel. Come on, we have some free time. Let's go help him," Roy said, standing up.

After informing Sona, Roy and the girls teleported to the Phenex territory.

...

As they walked through the castle adorned with flame emblems, Roy asked casually, "So, Ravel, what has Riser been up to lately?"

"He either shuts himself in his room, practicing Rating Game simulations, or plays chess with the servants," Ravel replied.

"He's living the life of a shut-in, huh?"

They arrived at a room.

Riser's servants stood outside silently.

Knock, knock, knock.

"Onii-sama, we have guests," Ravel announced.

"I don't want to see anyone today, Ravel. I had a terrible nightmare. I'm so cold," Riser's dejected voice came from inside.

Ravel sighed. "It's Rias and Roy-sama," she said loudly.

Crash!

A commotion erupted inside the room.

"R-Rias?!"

"It's me, Riser."

"Why are you here? To mock me?"

"Riser, are you ignoring me? Open this door, or I'm coming in!" Roy shouted, annoyed by Riser's selective hearing.

"R-Roy?!"

"Don't come in!!!!" Riser sounded terrified.

More crashing sounds came from inside.

"It seems he won't open the door willingly," Roy said with a shrug, then kicked the door open.

"Riser, you coward! Come out here!"

"Don't come any closer! I don't want to be reminded of that humiliation!"

The room was a mess, as if it had been ransacked.

They found Riser hiding under the bed.

"Onii-sama, get out here! You're embarrassing the Phenex family!" Ravel exclaimed, her face red with anger.

She couldn't believe her brother was acting so shamefully.

"NOO! I won't go out! I don't want to remember that horrible experience!" Riser refused to budge.

"Riser has never experienced any setbacks in his life. He's never lost a Rating Game before..." Rias explained.

"That's why he's so devastated by a single loss."

"It seems we have to use force," Roy said with a smirk.

"Force?" Ravel looked at him curiously.

"Just watch."

Roy used his magic to drag Riser out from under the bed.

....

They took Riser outside.

He was acting like a sulking child, refusing to acknowledge them.

"So, what's the plan?" Rias asked with a sigh.

"Hmm..." Roy stroked his chin thoughtfully.

He couldn't use the same method as in the original story to change Riser's mindset.

He needed a different approach.

An idea struck him.

"I have a plan."

...

Roy took Riser, Rias, and Ravel to the edge of the Phenex territory.

There was a dense forest there, inhabited by various monsters.

Roy dropped Riser a hundred kilometers away from the Phenex castle.

"What... what are you doing?" Riser asked, scrambling to his feet and looking at Roy with fear.

"This is a hundred kilometers away from the Phenex territory, Riser," Roy explained with a sly grin.

"You'll have to find your own way back. Oh, and by the way, I saw many High-class monsters on the way here. If you don't want to be eaten, you better start running."

With that, Roy vanished.

"Is this okay? Isn't it too easy?" Rias asked, looking at the distant Riser.

"Don't worry, it's not that simple," Roy assured her.

Although it had only taken them a few minutes to get here with Roy's teleportation, it would take Riser hours to fly back.

And there were many monsters along the way. More importantly, Roy had another trick up his sleeve.

...

Riser, seeing Roy disappear, immediately spread his Devil wings and tried to fly back.

Just then, snow began to fall, and the temperature plummeted.

The once comfortable temperature dropped below freezing and continued to fall.

"Achoo!" Riser sneezed, his wings shivering.

Ever since being frozen by Roy, Riser, despite possessing the flames of the Phoenix, had developed a fear of the cold.

He landed on the ground, seeking shelter behind a large tree.

But just then, a pack of wolves surrounded him.

Their red eyes gleamed menacingly in the darkness.

"Get lost, you beasts!" Riser roared, trying to scare them away.

He didn't want to fight. It was too cold.

But his shouts only provoked the wolves.

They lunged at him.

Although they were only at Middle-class, or even weaker, they still managed to overwhelm Riser.

He had been depressed for months, and the cold weather further weakened him.

He was soon injured, but thanks to his immortality, he wasn't seriously wounded.

Forced into such a desperate situation, Riser fought back with renewed ferocity.

After a long struggle, he finally defeated the wolves.

He was exhausted and wanted to rest.

But then, he heard the roars of more monsters.

The scent of blood had attracted them.

Riser gritted his teeth and continued his journey.

Every time he felt like giving up, Roy would send a few monsters his way.

Riser had no choice but to keep running.

Fighting would only drain his magic, so he had to conserve his strength.

He hunted monsters for food and drank from streams when he was thirsty.

He trudged through the harsh environment for an entire day and night.

At first, he cursed Roy incessantly.

But now, he was silent, his resolve strengthened by the ordeal.

He no longer panicked when ambushed by monsters.

He had changed.

And he realized that his strength had returned. He was no longer afraid of the cold.

Even in this freezing weather, he could fly.

Excited, he spread his wings and flew towards the Phenex territory.

...

After a day and night of hardship, Riser finally returned to the Phenex castle.

Roy, Rias, and Ravel were waiting for him.

"Welcome back, Onii-sama!" Ravel exclaimed, her eyes filled with joy as she saw the changed Riser.

Riser looked like a beggar, his clothes tattered and his body covered in dirt.

But his aura was different now. He seemed more mature and composed.

Roy nodded in satisfaction.

"Not bad. That's more like a man."

Riser looked at Roy.

At first, he had cursed him. Then, he had become numb to the suffering.

But now, he understood. Roy had done this to help him change.

Riser was grateful.

"Thank you. But I won't lose next time," he declared, his eyes filled with newfound determination.

"I'll be waiting," Roy replied with a smile.

Riser smiled back, then collapsed from exhaustion.

"Onii-sama!" Ravel rushed to his side.

"Don't worry, he's just exhausted. He'll be fine after some rest," Roy reassured her.

Riser had pushed himself to his limits during his journey.

"Take him back and let him rest," Ravel instructed Yubelluna and the other servants.

"Yes, Lady Ravel."

They took Riser away.

"Since this is settled, we should be going now," Roy announced.

"Eh? Roy-sama, are you leaving already?" Ravel asked, her voice filled with disappointment.

"Yes, summer vacation is almost over. We have to go back to school," Rias explained.

"School in the human world?" Ravel asked.

"Yes," Roy confirmed with a smile.

"Then goodbye, Roy-sama."

After their farewells, Roy activated his teleportation magic, and they vanished.

...

The next day, Roy, Rias, and Sona boarded the train back to Kuoh Academy.

To Roy's surprise, Rossweisse and Ravel were also on the same train.

"Ravel?"

"..." Ravel fidgeted nervously.

"It's Mother's arrangement," she explained.

"What arrangement?" Roy asked curiously.

"Well... it's..." Ravel blushed and stammered, unable to say it out loud.

Just then, a small magic circle appeared on the table before them.

A woman with golden twintails, similar to Ravel's, appeared as a miniature projection.

She had a beautiful face and a mature, elegant aura.

"Mother?" Ravel exclaimed in surprise.

Roy and the others were also surprised. They hadn't met Ravel's mother during their visit to the Phenex castle.

"Ravel, Is Maou-sama and Rias there?" she asked.

"Hello, it's been a while," Rias and Roy greeted her.

Ravel's mother turned to them.

"Greetings, Maou-sama and Rias."

"I apologize for this unconventional first meeting."

"It's no problem. By the way, what's this arrangement Ravel mentioned?" Roy asked curiously.

"I'd like to have Ravel attend the same school as Maou-sama. So, I'd appreciate it if you and Rias could look after her," Ravel's mother explained.

'So that's it,' Roy thought.

"To protect her from some persistent suitors, could you please keep an eye on Ravel, Maou-sama?"

"Of course. With me around, no one will harm her," Roy assured her, glancing at Ravel.

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