Miwa and Alice were currently performing a flawless, synchronized dogeza on the hospital floor,
their foreheads pressed firmly against the linoleum.
Standing over them was the "Judge, Jury, and Executioner" panel: the girls of the Occult Research
Club. The members who had been in Heaven and the Fallen Angel territory had all returned. Only
Rossweisse-san and Gasper-kun were still with Azazel.
Even the other members of the Hyoudou peerage were back. Xenovia stood with her arms crossed,
her eyes narrowed. "Trying to steal a march on the rest of us... that's a strike against your
character, you two."
Asia-san and Irina were both pouting visibly.
"It's not fair for just the two of you to hog him!"
"I wanted to snuggle with Darling, too!"
Reyna and Koneko-chan looked down at the pair with half-lidded, unimpressed eyes
"I can't believe you'd do this at a time like this..."
"Vigilance is key. What exactly were you thinking?"
Even Ravel looked disappointed. "As your fellow peerage member, I'm afraid I can't defend this
behavior."
But the aura coming from Rias and Akeno—the first ones on the scene—was in a league of its own.
Crimson and golden mana were literally sparking off their bodies.
"..."
"..."
The silent pressure was suffocating. The sheer density of their magic was... dangerous. They
weren't even venting it, yet I was having trouble breathing just standing behind them.
"Whoa... look at that mana," Morris muttered, wiping sweat from his brow. "They look more lethal
now than they did during the actual fight."
The waves of power coming off them had reached the level of Ultimate-class devils. It made me
wonder just how much potential they unlocked the moment Issei-kun was involved. Even Asia and
the others were radiating an unusual amount of pressure.
Leisha-san leaned in and whispered, "I don't think this is about them slacking off. It's pure
unadulterated jealousy. Ufufu, how wonderful! The vigor of youth is so refreshing, isn't it?"
Leisha-san, I don't think 'youthful vigor' covers the possibility of a civil war breaking out over one
unconscious boy, I thought.
"Leisha, I'm hungry—"
"Starving...
Sally and Feena, holding Leisha's hands, were completely oblivious to the murderous tension in
the room.
Then, Nina-san stepped forward. Her face wore its usual gentle smile, but she, too, was radiating a
terrifying pressure.
"Now then, Sister."
"Yes?"
"I'll give you one chance to explain yourselves."
Miwa and Alice looked up, their eyes watering.
"We reached our limit! We just couldn't hold back anymore!"
And so, the "Grand Lecture" began.
"Waaaah! Dil-chan, thank you so much! Hic!"
"It was so scary...!"
Miwa was currently bawling her eyes out while clinging to Dilmud. Alice was also half-sobbing,
hugging the girl tightly.
The scolding had lasted nearly an hour. It had been brutal to witness. Morris had excused himsel
to "go buy snacks" ten minutes in and hadn't been seen since. I should have followed him. I really
should have.
Just as it looked like Rias and the others were gearing up for Round Two, Dilmud had stepped
between the two groups. She stood protectively in front of the cowering pair, her eyes shimmering
with moisture.
"P-Please... can't you... forgive them...?"
The cool, detached Dilmud was gone, replaced by a vulnerable girl making a plea. No one could
say no to that—especially coming from the youngest member of the group. The lecture came to
screeching halt.
I'm still struggling with the fact that Dilmud is only fifteen. She looks more mature than Koneko-
chan—more mature than Rias, even.
Rias cleared her throat, her cheeks flushed pink. "W-Well, I suppose I understand the feeling. If
were in your position, I might have... I think I went a bit overboard. I've been holding back from touching him myself, so I suppose I was just... frustrated. I'm sorry.
"Waaaaah! Rias-san, we're sorry! And thank you!"
The two of them immediately redirected their hugging to Rias. I wiped the cold sweat from my forehead and let out a long, shaky breath. That was terrifying. Truly terrifying. Is this the true power of women?
Issei-kun... I'm going to keep following your lead as a warrior, but I don't think I can handle your romantic life. I'll stick to cheering you on from the sidelines.
Just as the room finally settled, the door opened. Azazel walked in with a weary sigh, followed by a smirking Morris.
"Is the storm over? Good grief, women are terrifying."
"They've been deprived of 'Issei-elements' for days," Morris added. "Between the deficiency and the jealousy toward Miwa and Alice, an explosion was inevitable."
Issei-elements... what is that even supposed to mean?
Rias turned to Azazel. "Is your work done? Where are Rossweisse and Gasper?"
"They're still at it. I want them to double-check every variable; we need this to be perfect. I only came back because I've secured the location for Morris's training ground. But... before we get into that, there's someone you all need to meet."
"Someone we need to meet?" Rias asked.
Azazel nodded toward the hallway and gestured for someone to enter.
When the man walked through the door, the room went silent. Only Irina and those who didn't know the Underworld's history remained unfazed. The rest of us stared in shock.
He was a man with long black hair tied back, dressed simply, with a Holy Sword strapped to his waist. He looked over the group, his gaze eventually lingering on the sleeping Issei.
"I see there are some new faces here," the man said, his voice tinged with a weary sort of irony. "It's been a while, Gremory Peerage."
"You..." Rias whispered. "Why are you here?"
The man—Masaomi Yaegaki—gave a self-deprecating smile. "Orders from Michael-sama. If I told you a man of the past has come to help secure the future... how would you feel about that?"
[End of Kiba's Perspective]
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