Riser Phenex, The Supreme Overlord

"Welcome, Riser Phenex. I hope you enjoy your stay," Zeoticus Gremory greeted warmly, his face brimming with joy as he observed how close his daughter was to her fiancé.

It seemed that the engagement between the two of them would work out perfectly.

He was certain of it.

"Escort him to his seat, Rias," Zeoticus prompted, winking at his daughter with a knowing smile.

Rias nodded politely and guided Riser to the empty seat beside her, where she gracefully sat down as well.

However, among those present, Sirzechs Lucifer's discontent was thinly veiled.

The fact that Rias and Riser seemed so close was clearly not to his liking, though he masked his displeasure behind a facade of courteousness.

He greeted Riser with an amiable smile but wasted no time delivering a passive-aggressive barb.

"Riser-san, I've heard rumors," Sirzechs began smoothly, his tone deceptively friendly. "Is it true that you've already shared your bed with numerous women before your wedding with Rias?"

"Sirzechs!" Zeoticus's voice cut through the air like a whip, his glare sharp with warning.

The displeasure in his tone was unmistakable.

Sirzechs fell silent after his father's reprimand, though the tension lingered.

Even Rias frowned momentarily, uncertain of her own thoughts as she lowered her head and focused on her meal, clearly uncomfortable with the unfolding scene.

But would Riser remain silent in the face of such thinly veiled hostility?

No, he wouldn't.

Amusement flickered across Riser's face as the situation became clear to him.

At that moment, he finally understood why his life had taken such a disastrous turn.

In the past, when he had been young and foolish, he might have missed the obvious clues, but now?

Now, everything was crystal clear.

The most powerful Satan in the Underworld hated him.

How could his life not have gone wrong under such circumstances?

No wonder Rias's peerage was so absurdly powerful, each member filled with potential. No wonder a puny human like Hyoudou Issei had been allowed to crash the wedding scene and ruin his chances with Rias.

It had all been orchestrated.

From the manipulated Rating Game to the humiliating spectacle of the wedding, every thread in the web led back to Sirzechs Lucifer.

His real enemy had never been Hyoudou Issei. It had been Sirzechs all along.

Riser laughed bitterly at the irony. Sirzechs frowned, unable to comprehend what was so amusing about his question.

"I understand now, Lord Satan," Riser began, his voice laced with mockery. "I will never bother Rias again. My presence is nothing but a nuisance, and I have no intention of becoming a powerful devil in the first place. All I ever wanted was to be an artist. Perhaps you chose the wrong fiancé for your sister. Farewell. I hope you find someone more suitable for her than a 'wretched' man like me."

Riser offered an exaggerated, mocking bow before turning on his heel and walking away without hesitation.

There was nothing left to fear. If Satan himself was already hostile to him, then what more could they possibly take from him? His life? Let him try.

"Riser-kun, wait…!" Rias's voice cracked as she called after him, her hand reaching out.

But it was too late.

Riser ignited his Phenex flames, the brilliant fire roaring to life around him.

In an instant, he vanished without a trace, leaving behind only the lingering heat and the unshakable impression that he had never truly been there at all.

"Brother, why...?" She turned her attention to her brother, unable to comprehend why he was acting so hostile and behaving like a complete jerk toward Riser.

Sirzechs sighed deeply. "I may have misjudged the boy, Rias. I apologize. I will do my utmost to find him. I will also apologize to him personally."

However, it was too late.

Neither Sirzechs nor his family ever managed to find him again.

Riser Phenex was no more.

Now, he had abandoned his old name and taken on a new one: Adolf Riser.

Disguising himself as a human, he utilized every ounce of talent and skill granted to him by the Simulator of Life.

His aim was singular: to become the greatest artist this world had ever seen.

He even grew a distinctive mustache to further obscure his identity and adopted a modest life as a humble painter and art seller.

After his fateful encounter with Rias and her family, he settled in Vienna, Austria.

His age is currently 18 years old, this marked two years before the canon timeline.

One day, a blonde-haired girl, who appeared younger than him, approached.

When she saw his mustache, she couldn't help but laugh.

"How can you have that? You look way too young for it!"

Riser shrugged, offering no response to the blonde-haired girl with striking blue eyes.

Instead, he calmly took his seat, set up his easel, and began painting.

His brush moved across the canvas with precision and purpose.

His blue eyes remained intently focused on her, completely immersed in his work.

Each stroke was deliberate and full of meaning.

He furrowed his brows as he concentrated, only for his expression to soften when he added the final masterstroke.

Then, without a word, he handed the painting to the girl before him.

From beginning to end, the girl had not left his side.

She had watched, captivated by his every movement, her curiosity piqued by the mustachioed artist's intensity.

When she saw the completed painting, her eyes lit up with awe.

But the moment was interrupted when Riser casually gestured with his fingers, signaling for payment.

She pouted, begrudgingly handing over her entire purse to him.

"Now I understand why people always say never to trust a man with a mustache," she muttered, still clearly impressed.

"At least you enjoyed the painting, didn't you, my fair lady?" Riser Phenex smirked, his tone smooth and teasing.

"I did. Thank you, Mister Mustache." She couldn't deny his extraordinary talent.

After a brief pause, she introduced herself with a smile. "My name is Le Fay Pendragon. I hope we meet again in the future."

"Adolf Riser," he replied, inclining his head slightly. "May our paths cross again, fair lady."

"Adolf Riser... Riser... Riser… Where have I heard that name before? Oh, wait… Are you a devil, perhaps?" Le Fay asked cautiously, her wary eyes fixed on him.

"The Devil? Do I look like one to you?" Riser glared at her, clearly offended by the absurd question.

"No, you don't, and I'm sorry, Mister Adolf. I was just talking nonsense." Sticking her tongue out playfully, Le Fay offered an apology with a mischievous grin. "How about I make it up to you by treating you to someplace nice?"

"There's no need for that," Riser Phenex replied, shaking his head firmly. "I have to attend the Vienna Academy for their art examination. I intend to become the greatest artist, and passing is my priority."

Le Fay Pendragon sighed in mild regret but gave him a warm smile. "I wish you the best of luck, Mister Adolf."

"And I wish the same for you, Miss Le Fay." Riser nodded and bid her farewell.

They exchanged gentle smiles before going their separate ways, their figures drifting apart under the soft glow of the evening sun.

Unbeknownst to both of them, one of the teachers responsible for reviewing applicants at the Academy of Fine Arts Vienna happened to be an obsessive admirer—and stalker—of Le Fay Pendragon.

When he saw "Adolf Riser," or rather, Riser Phenex in his clever disguise as an Austrian painter, chatting and laughing with his so-called goddess, his heart burned with jealousy.

The man seethed in silent fury, his twisted mind already plotting.

He took note of Adolf's distinct features, his aristocratic air, and resolved to reject him from the academy, no matter the quality of his work.

And so, this was how Adolf Riser—Riser Phenex in disguise—found himself rejected by the Vienna Academy not once, but twice, paving the way for his future infamy as a failed painter.

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Author Note:

Some of you may be familiar with this. Yes, this is what you think. The dark tag is not without reason.

It's not a simple story of the MC running away to become an Austrian painter, if you're familiar with the German Mustache story.

The talents that the MC received clearly hint at this development.