Meanwhile, at the "customs" hall connecting Itogami Island to the demon realm.
Though weekend, people traveling between realms remained constant—even more than usual. The entire hall buzzed with noise, extraordinarily lively.
The legendary Fallen Angel Governor Azazel currently sat on a public bench inside the hall, legs crossed while playing with tickets for boarding in twenty minutes.
Beside him, Baraqiel maintained his usual appearance of a middle-aged man who'd lost his wife, had a rebellious daughter, faced endless workplace pressure, and was crushed by heavy workloads—the quintessential exhausted corporate slave. Fingers interlaced, he sat silently on the chair.
"Mm~ looks like this negotiation failed."
Azazel exhaled lightly, stopping his ticket-fiddling motions.
Simultaneously, he turned his gaze toward his subordinate.
He wasn't referring to the tripartite talks' results from days ago, but rather...
"Yeah."
Baraqiel lowered his head slightly, his voice as dull as ever.
His only reason for volunteering to accompany Azazel to Itogami Island was seeing his daughter—missing for over ten years.
But clearly, his daughter had absolutely no intention of reconciling with him as a father.
Though understandable. After all, he'd been the father who'd left wife and daughter behind for a mission, allowing those Himejima main family members to take advantage.
He'd failed his responsibilities as father and husband. His daughter resenting him was perfectly natural.
"Honestly, I've always regretted that incident too."
Azazel pressed his lips together, slightly restraining the habitually cynical smile he wore.
"If I hadn't insisted you accompany me on that mission back then, things probably wouldn't have turned out this way."
"..."
Baraqiel didn't answer.
Azazel paused briefly before sighing softly.
"Alright, let's go. We've stayed on Itogami Island long enough. Michael and Sirzechs seem to have finished negotiations with other mythological systems. As joint hosts this time, we need to arrive at the demon realm early."
"Mm..."
This time Baraqiel finally reacted, responding dully while standing from his chair.
"Speaking of which, what about the Vanishing Dragon? Don't we need to pick him up first?"
"You mean Vali? He should already be in the demon realm."
Azazel shrugged, hands in pockets.
"Just yesterday he messaged saying those two Heavenly Dragons were arguing nonstop—been at it for days and nights. Wonder if those two will show up to crash the gods' gathering."
"...Maybe."
Though hard to say...
Azazel thought.
After all, last time's tripartite talks had already turned chaotic. Adding other mythological systems this time—if all their radical factions showed up together, it might be another tough battle.
Thinking about it is actually kind of exciting.
❁❁❁❁
Back at the vacation villa.
Since Sona needed to return to Saikai Academy in the afternoon to handle everyone's absence paperwork, the final vacation end time was set for noon.
Simply put—return right after breakfast.
"Alright everyone, take your luggage. Make sure nothing's left behind."
At the villa's first-floor entrance, Rias stood beside the door like a proper manager, directing the vacationing girls' orderly departure.
Though immediately after speaking, she couldn't help pressing her palm to her forehead.
"Well, even if something's left behind it's fine. We can just make another trip... Hm?"
Her words barely finished when the red-haired girl felt someone gently tug her hem.
Looking down, the figure entering view was—as expected—Koneko.
After all, the only one who'd tug her hem at this altitude was a certain underdeveloped white-haired cat girl.
"What's wrong, Koneko? Something the matter?" Rias asked curiously.
"..."
The white-haired cat girl currently had a pudding popsicle in her mouth. Releasing the hem, she pointed upstairs while speaking softly.
"President... what about Gasper?"
"Gasper..."
Rias immediately hit a snag.
Right now it had just passed noon. For a vampire with nocturnal characteristics like Gasper, this equaled humanity's dawn hours—most likely sleeping time.
Plus even if not sleeping, getting her to come to the old schoolhouse now was nearly impossible.
Though Gasper would emerge to move around at night... would she really know how to return from this villa to the old schoolhouse?
But if they went up now, most likely they'd directly startle a certain sleeping vampire girl awake, triggering immediate stress-induced time-stop. Then when they came to their senses, she'd be completely untraceable.
Emmm, this is a bit troublesome...
Just then, the young man's voice came from nearby.
"Leave Gasper to me. I'll send her back to the old schoolhouse shortly."
"Ah, then I'll trouble you, Bokue..."
Rias reflexively agreed. But turning to look, she saw Bokue descending from upstairs toward a certain purple-haired kendo girl.
"Saeko-senpai, please wait here a bit. I'll go send Gasper back to the old schoolhouse first, then take you back. I'll return quickly."
"Mm, no problem."
Busujima Saeko smiled while nodding gently.
"Go ahead, kouhai. I'll wait for you."
She understood Bokue's intentions perfectly.
He clearly still had other matters to handle. Bokue could choose to send her directly back to the school dormitory first before returning to leisurely resolve other issues. But he chose to finish matters quickly first before taking her back.
What this signified needed no explanation.
So Bokue turned and headed upstairs.
Reaching the blonde vampire girl's door again, this time Bokue didn't knock—directly pressing the doorknob.
The instant the door opened, an extremely intense scent surged from the dark room.
Bokue stepped into the room carefully, helping to clean up and ensure Gasper was comfortable before gently carrying her to prepare for transport back to the old schoolhouse.
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