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Of course, the meeting room didn't only hold Venelana, Sirzechs, Serafall, and Michael.
Besides the above four, Koneko Toujou, Mio Naruse, Maria, Celis, Zest, and others were all present. Plus, led by Tsubaki Shinra, numerous servants belonging to Sona were also all there.
They didn't sit like Venelana. Rather, they lined up against walls on both sides by the meeting room entrance.
Same old saying—the Underworld always revered strength. Hierarchy was strict. When Maou sat down discussing important matters, even if usually treating people casually in private, at this time others must stand.
This was the rule. Insurmountable.
But somehow, Akeno wasn't present.
"Eh? Where's Akeno-senpai?"
Bokue scanned once and couldn't help asking aloud.
Quite strange. Logically, as Rias's close friend, best sister, and initial peerage member, Akeno absolutely should be present at this time.
Even if any other person wasn't present—only Akeno shouldn't be absent, right?
"About Akeno..."
Rias paused slightly.
"Because today is Saikai Academy's open house, every classroom is busy decorating. She and Xenovia just went to the teaching building to call Asia and Irina who are still helping in class. They should come over immediately."
"I see."
Nodding lightly to indicate understanding, Bokue again stepped forward, passing Rias standing at the entrance alongside Sona. He came directly to the meeting table's main seat. Before two Maou plus one twelve-winged Archangel, he pulled out a chair and sat down.
Kuroka followed behind Bokue the entire way. Like Grayfia standing behind Venelana, she also stood behind the young man.
This was Kuroka's privilege.
Unlike Rias whose strength currently still stopped at high-class devil level, Kuroka's power had long ago—under Bokue's careful irrigation—broken through Maou-class years ago. Now she'd completely surpassed transcenders.
As the world's strongest nekomata, bluntly speaking—as long as Kuroka herself wished, she could casually slap anyone at the table besides Bokue to death with two palm strikes.
Naturally including a certain Fallen Angel Governor who hadn't arrived yet.
Usually at home joking around competing jealously for "workstations," everyone was good sisters. But on formal occasions like this, Kuroka was the empress below one person.
No one present had objections to this.
"First meeting. I'm called Michael—leader of angels, representing Heaven participating in the Three Factions conference."
Just as Bokue sat down, simultaneously the twelve-winged golden-haired male sitting right of the main seat opposite Sirzechs and Serafall smiled as he turned to greet.
"..."
Honestly, this was Bokue's first time clearly seeing Michael's appearance.
Different from expectations of sacred solemnity—though Michael's clothing and surrounding radiance gave strong angelic déjà vu, his actual appearance was surprisingly... somewhat cute.
How to put it? Bokue had previously internally complained that Sirzechs completely forced his sister Rias's features onto a male face. Though also quite refined, from facial contours you could still see male-characteristic sharpness.
But this Michael was completely "draw girl, call boy."
Disrespectfully speaking, if attaching a voluptuous female body below Michael's head, having him cosplay as gentle perfect housewife would be absolutely no problem.
Plus, speaking also unhurriedly gave an impression of being a pushover.
Could such personality really command the room?
Though internally complaining, Bokue's mouth still gave normal response.
"Hello. I'm called Bokue Keikain, owner of Itogami Island. Call me Keikain or Bokue—either works."
"Hello, Keikain-san."
The extremely polite Archangel smiled and nodded.
Seeing the two had simply greeted, Serafall sitting beside Sirzechs couldn't help pouting with curious sounds.
"Ara? Why does Keikain-kun seem a bit sleepy today? Didn't sleep well last night?"
"No, just simply got pulled from bed by Rias..."
As Bokue spoke, he yawned again.
"Still sleeping in?" The magical girl narrowed her eyes. "Feels like Keikain-kun doesn't take this conference seriously."
"That's exactly it... why should I take it so seriously? If you sincerely want peace talks, even without me you can still negotiate. Conversely, even if you sign agreements before me, afterward you'll still violate them if you want."
"Though true, we Heaven truly came with full sincerity to discuss ceasefire. But personally, I still hoped to meet Keikain-san."
Michael continued smiling.
"Actually, I've always had something I wanted to apologize to Keikain-san about."
"Me?"
Having finished yawning and lowering his hand, Bokue looked at him questioningly.
"What are you apologizing to me for?"
"Naturally about... Asia-san's matter."
Michael paused slightly when getting here. He stood from his seat, bowing slightly toward the young man still seated at the main seat. Then he turned to nod at the two Maou seated as well.
"This matter can be openly stated here without issue. I think probably everyone present already knows—the fact that God is no longer here."
"Currently all faith collected by the Church operates through a system we created. Without God's power, even I can only barely maintain it to ensure stable operation."
"Precisely because of this, this system can no longer tolerate even the slightest impurity. For this, we Heaven had no choice but to expel all believers whose faith was mixed with impurities, thus avoiding the faith system's collapse."
"Truly... deeply sorry to Asia-san."
Finishing, Michael sincerely lowered his head.
"I see."
But Bokue only glanced at him before withdrawing his gaze.
"You shouldn't be saying this to me. When people arrive, you should personally tell Asia yourself."
As the young man's words settled, simultaneously footsteps came from outside the meeting room door's corridor.
A few seconds later, Akeno Himejima led the way entering from outside, plus following close behind were Xenovia, Irina Shidou, and Asia.
"Akeno, you're back."
Rias turned toward the sound.
"Yes, Buchou."
Akeno smiled faintly, then turned toward Bokue at the meeting table plus the other three on both sides of the main seat.
"Eh? Sirzechs-sama, Serafall-sama, and Archangel Michael all arrived. The Fallen Angel side hasn't come yet?"
"Yeah, seems like it."
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Meanwhile, in the shaded area behind the administrative building's greenery belt, a certain Fallen Angel Governor who'd yet to arrive helplessly looked at the middle-aged man before him—fists clenched tightly, silent. Behind them, Vali leaned against the wall with arms folded across chest, eyes closed meditating, completely uninvolved.
"Baraqiel, you should about adjust your mental state to see your daughter, right?"
"Yes, I know. Just... give me a little more time..."
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