That Day When Suzuki-kun Wasn't the Mob-B! Chapter 298: Bullying the Youth Devils

"Have the others already arrived?" Finn asked, breaking the heavy tension in the Kuoh Shrine courtyard. The night air was crisp, carrying the faint, earthy scent of the surrounding forest and the sharp, metallic tang of the crimson teleportation circle humming beneath their feet.

"They have," Grayfia answered calmly, her silver eyes briefly dropping to the way Ravel was happily glued to Finn's side. "But before we depart... congratulations on your engagement."

"It isn't official yet," Finn replied lazily.

"Even so, a verbal intent in our society is practically binding," Grayfia noted, a perfectly polite, gentle smile resting on her beautiful face.

"When the time comes, I'll be sure to send you an invitation, Grayfia-san."

"Please do," Grayfia nodded gracefully.

Internally, however, the Strongest Queen let out a helpless sigh. It was a profound shame that Finn wouldn't be marrying into the Gremory family. Rias had simply been too slow. Yet, Grayfia couldn't bring herself to hate Finn. He was firm, decisive, and entirely unapologetic about his desires. Was it wrong of him to choose Ravel? In the treacherous political landscape of the Underworld, there was no right or wrong—only winners and losers. And right now, the smug little Phenex heiress had utterly beaten Rias to the prize.

Well, what can we do? Grayfia thought. It was unfair to force the issue, and frankly, she wanted to analyze Finn a bit more herself.

"You have gathered an impressive number of highly capable peerage members, Finn-kun," Grayfia said, seamlessly transitioning to his given name since he had addressed her casually. "Tell me, do you plan to participate in the upcoming Youth Devil Rating Game Tournament?"

Though Finn hadn't utilized all of his Evil Pieces, the women currently standing behind him possessed terrifyingly unique, anomaly-level powers. Grayfia was genuinely curious to see how his peerage would devastate the competition on a public stage.

"No, not really," Finn answered, adjusting his collar against the night breeze.

"Eh? Why not?" Grayfia asked, her perfectly sculpted eyebrows rising in genuine surprise.

"Because," Finn deadpanned. "If I enter that tournament, I won't be competing. I'll just be bullying a bunch of kids."

"......"

Grayfia stared at him. His words were outrageously arrogant, yet he delivered them so casually, so effortlessly, as if he were stating that water was wet. What was even more terrifying was that absolutely no one standing behind him stepped forward to refute the claim. Ravel simply smiled proudly, and even Rias—who normally possessed an ocean of aristocratic pride—didn't bat an eyelash.

Because it was the absolute truth. If Finn joined the youth tournament, it would be a massacre.

"You certainly have an abundance of confidence," Grayfia noted, as she stared at him.

"How strong do you think they are compared to you?" Finn asked helplessly.

Grayfia narrowed her eyes at his question. "Do you believe those young Devils are stronger than me?"

"Are they?" Finn countered lazily.

"No. I am infinitely stronger than them," Grayfia stated without a hint of hesitation.

Compared to the sheltered youth of the current generation, Grayfia had bathed in the blood of the Devil Civil War. She had never once considered the younger generation a threat. If there was a single female entity in the Underworld who could stand as her equal, it was Serafall Leviathan.

"Then I am infinitely stronger than them, too," Finn nodded in agreement. The youth tournament held zero benefits for him. Though, he mused silently, shattering the fragile egos of a few arrogant young nobles might be somewhat entertaining.

"......"

Grayfia narrowed her silver eyes, completely perplexed by his unshakeable calm. But before she could press him further, Rias—who had been drowning in a sea of depression—couldn't take the suspense anymore. She leaned in close to her sister-in-law, the scent of her crimson rose perfume washing over Grayfia.

"Onee-sama," Rias whispered urgently into Grayfia's ear. "Finn defeated Serafall-sama yesterday."

"...You are lying," Grayfia whispered back, her icy composure cracking.

"I saw it with my own eyes," Rias insisted, shivering slightly at the memory of the sheer, world-ending heat Finn had unleashed. "We all did."

Grayfia felt a cold shock rock her very core. Serafall had been defeated? By this young man standing casually in front of her?

In other words, Finn wasn't just in a different class from the youth Devils; he had breached the absolute apex of the supernatural world. It was exactly why Sirzechs had personally invited Finn to the peace summit as a peer, rather than a subordinate.

Rias understood this reality perfectly. It made the fact that he was choosing Ravel as his wife infinitely more vexing. Where else in the entire universe would she ever find a man as glorious, powerful, and utterly dominant as Finn Balam?

For Grayfia, the revelation triggered a completely different reaction. If Finn could defeat Serafall... didn't that mean he could potentially defeat her, too?

"Now, I am incredibly curious to see exactly how strong you are," Grayfia said.

"......"

Finn looked at the mature, married woman. Her silver eyes were suddenly burning with an intense, predatory light, as if she wanted to completely strip him down and dissect his power.

"I have zero interest in fighting you," Finn sighed, thoroughly exhausted.

What was the benefit of fighting Grayfia? Absolutely nothing.

"Don't say that," Grayfia challenged, taking a step closer. The crisp rustle of her maid uniform echoed in the quiet courtyard. "You fought Serafall, after all. Afford me the same courtesy. Spar with me."

"...That was completely different," Finn muttered.

"Different how?" Grayfia narrowed her eyes, a flash of genuine annoyance crossing her beautiful features. What was the difference between her and Serafall? Why was it acceptable for the Leviathan to fight him, but not the Strongest Queen?

"......."

Finn had absolutely no idea how to explain it politely. He glanced helplessly at Rias, silently begging her to defuse the situation before he was forced to explain the intricacies of a Shimaidon wager to a married woman.

Catching his desperate look, a sudden, wildly ambitious light ignited in Rias's blue-green eyes.

"Grayfia-san, please come over here for a moment," Rias said, grabbing the maid's arm and pulling her aside.

"Hmm?"

While the two Gremory women huddled together, Finn turned to his peerage. "Let's head to the meeting room now before she comes back."

"Yes, Finn-sama," the four girls replied in unison.

Ravel, Akeno, Asia, and Xenovia didn't hesitate. They quickly stepped into the crimson magic circle, eager to flee the aggressive, combat-hungry married woman.

Meanwhile, a few feet away, Grayfia's face was rapidly turning a brilliant, burning shade of crimson.

"...She proposed to give him a Shimaidon?!" Grayfia hissed, her voice trembling in absolute, horrified disbelief.

"I know it's hard to believe," Rias whispered, her face equally flushed. "But if you ask Serafall-sama, she will confess to it. That is the only reason he accepted her challenge. There was a... highly inappropriate reward on the line."

"........"

Grayfia was at a complete loss for words. She wanted to deny it, but knowing Serafall's eccentric, wildly impulsive personality... it was entirely plausible. Because Grayfia was married, she couldn't offer Finn a "reward" of equal, scandalous value. No wonder he had rejected her so flatly!

"So, I have a proposal, Onee-sama," Rias whispered, her eyes gleaming with dark, desperate determination.

"...Why are you suddenly calling me Onee-sama with that tone?" Grayfia asked, eyeing her sister-in-law with deep suspicion.

"Ravel and Finn aren't officially married yet," Rias plotted rapidly, her breathing growing shallow. "I know you can't offer your own body if you lose a spar to him. But... I can step in as your proxy! If you fight him and lose, I will act as the reward! Please, just keep it a secret between us!"

"........."

Grayfia stared at the crimson-haired heiress in complete and utter silence.

What on earth had this boy done to make the proud Rias Gremory so desperate?!

She was essentially begging to offer her purity as a gambling chip just to get into Finn's bed! Grayfia felt a sudden, massive headache forming behind her eyes. It was moments like this that reminded her of Rias's extreme, wildly flawed nature. In the original timeline, Rias was notoriously reckless with her modesty, often showing off her naked body to her servants without a second thought—a pseudo-exhibitionist trait that sharply contrasted with girls like Sona or Ravel, who kept themselves fiercely pristine and dignified.

Perhaps this utter lack of shame is exactly why Finn isn't interested in her, Grayfia deduced silently.

"Please, Onee-sama! I need to make a move!" Rias begged, tugging on the maid's sleeve.

Grayfia knew she should instantly scold Rias for being so indecent. Yet, when she thought about the alternative—Issei Hyoudou, a vulgar, breast-obsessed commoner who spent his days doing nothing but jacking off—Grayfia felt a deep pang of regret that Finn was slipping through their fingers.

Grayfia let out a long, heavy, defeated sigh.

"...Let me think about it."

"Yay!"

As Rias's suppressed, victorious cheer echoed across the courtyard, Finn, already stepping into the teleportation circle, felt a sudden, violent chill run down his spine. He was entirely at a loss for words.