Chapter 74: Maou
"Are we seriously about to meet the Lucifer...?" asked Issei, his voice a little shaky as he stood next to Kiba in a row behind the sofa Vahn and Rias were seated on. Akeno and Koneko flanked them in the same row while Asia, wearing a short-skirted Maid outfit that always made his heart flutter, served Vahn and Rias tea.
"Get used to it," said Rias, calmly taking a sip from her tea with closed eyes before adding, "As a member of my Peerage, you won't be able to avoid meeting with all manner of high-ranking Devils. Just remember to be on your best behavior and try not to say or do anything too perverse. My brother is above caring about such things, but it would embarrass me quite a bit..."
"Right...I'll do my best, Buchou..." responded Issei, sporting a cramped smile.
As if waiting for the exchange to finish, a crimson Magic Circle appeared a short distance away, followed by the appearance of Grayfia and a tall and remarkably handsome man with shoulder-length crimson hair with a slight ahoge and luminous blue-green eyes who appeared to be in his early to mid-twenties. His similarities to Rias were jarring, and his attire, consisting of a white tailcoat with royal blue and gold trim, golden epaulets, and a double-breasted flared collar over a white vest, white pants, and peculiar, black, gold-trimmed riding boots, made it clear at a glance that he was no ordinary person.
Zeroing in on Rias with his gaze, the man, Sirzechs Lucifer, adopted a faint but notably affectionate smile as he said, "Rias, it's been far too long. And you've become even more beautiful since I last saw you..."
Shifting his gaze to Vahn, Sirzechs maintained his smile but with markedly less affection behind his eyes as he remarked, "You're a very lucky young man, Vahn Mason..."
"The luckiest," responded Vahn, his expression firm as he held Sirzechs's gaze without fear.
"Indeed~" hummed Sirzechs, exhaling a faint chuckle before turning his gaze to Akeno, Kiba, Koneko, and Issei, each bowing respectfully as they had been instructed.
"Raise your heads," said Sirzechs, extending his left hand and forcing the group to stand upright as he added, "You are my precious younger sister's family. As far as I'm concerned, that makes you mine as well. When we're in private like this, please feel free to address me as Onii-chan, Onii-sama, or Aniue."
"Onii-sama, please do not make things more difficult than they need to be..." expressed Rias, sporting a smile and exhaling faintly from her nose as she gestured to the sofa across from her and Vahn.
"Actually, I was hoping we could convene in this Corridor I've heard so much about," said Sirzechs, staring with his gaze focused on Rias before shifting it to Vahn.