"Tenra-kun, Tenra-kun."
Sirzechs kept shooting Tenra meaningful glances, while Azazel wore the smug grin of a man watching a trainwreck in slow motion.
Tenra's eye twitched. He sighed—there was no escaping this. Still, he crouched down and offered a hand to the Valkyrie, who was sniffling on the floor.
"Are you alright, miss?"
The Valkyrie wiped at her red eyes, trying to compose herself. "I-I'm fine. Really, I am."
She took his hand and rose shakily to her feet. "Thank you… You're really a good person."
Tenra couldn't help but laugh, a little bitterly. Great—he'd just been handed a 'good guy card.'
Odin burst out laughing, stroking his beard. "Forgive the spectacle, everyone! This is my bodyguard, Rossweisse. Talented, loyal, and stubborn as a mule—so stubborn, in fact, she still hasn't found herself a hero."
He introduced the Valkyrie girl with jovial pride, then turned his sharp gaze to Tenra.
"Young man, impressive. You radiate spiritual power far beyond your years."
He squinted, as if peering right through Tenra. "Hmm, I smell dragon in you… more than one, in fact. Don't tell me you're that infamous brat—the one snatching up Sacred Gears and taming both Heavenly Dragons?"
Tenra felt a chill. For all Odin's lecherous antics, the old god was sharp—dangerously so.
"Tenra Kamiyo, sir. It's an honor to meet you, Odin-sama."
He bowed politely. Whatever else, Odin was a legend deserving respect.
Odin laughed again. "So it is you! Young folk these days… remarkable. Very good."
He sized Tenra up, nodding approvingly. "And I see you're quite to Rossweisse's taste. You two should get to know each other better."
Rossweisse's face turned scarlet. "Odin-sama!"
Odin waved her off. "Rossweisse, it's not every day you meet a promising hero. Don't let this one slip away."
She sputtered. "That's—! You just want to send me off so you can do whatever you please!"
Odin cupped his ear, feigning deafness. "Eh? What's that? I can't hear you, not listening…"
The crowd could barely look at him. Poor Rossweisse—bodyguard to the most incorrigible god in the Norse pantheon.
Sirzechs stepped in smoothly. "Tenra-kun, would you mind entertaining Rossweisse-san for a while? We'll show Odin-sama around."
With that, Sirzechs, Azazel, and the others whisked Odin away, leaving Tenra and Rossweisse standing in awkward silence.
Tenra broke it first. "Um… Rossweisse-san, would you like a drink?"
She fidgeted, flustered. "O-okay. If it's not too much trouble…"
Clearly, socializing with a peer—especially a male—wasn't her strong suit.
—
Half an hour later, the scene couldn't have been more different. Tenra and Rossweisse sat shoulder-to-shoulder in a corner, clinking glasses and laughing like old friends.
"So you couldn't inherit your family's magic, so you worked your way up to Odin-sama's bodyguard? Rossweisse-san, you're hilarious!"
Rossweisse groaned. "You're no better! I've heard about you—a Phoenix descendant who couldn't even awaken his bloodline, called a failure by everyone."
"It must've been tough. I get it—I really do."
"Looks like we're the same type. Let all those who looked down on us go to hell! Cheers!"
"Cheers!"
Etiquette, composure, image—forgotten. They'd started with stiff, polite conversation, but a few drinks had loosened them up. With each glass, old wounds surfaced, and before long, they were swapping stories like kindred spirits.
Rossweisse was a lightweight; after a couple drinks, her cheeks were flushed and her words slurred. Tenra wasn't tipsy, but the girls' earlier cold shoulder had left him in a mood to let loose.
Alcohol, shared struggles, and a sense of mutual understanding—suddenly, Tenra felt like he'd found a soulmate in the most unlikely place.
—
"Big sis, Onii-chan's flirting with another woman again! Go rein him in!"
Ravel glared at the pair from across the room, fists clenched in righteous indignation.
Her brother was perfect—except for his uncanny ability to attract trouble (and women).
Akeno's eyes sparkled mischievously. "Ara ara, Rias, it seems we miscalculated this time."
Rias's jaw tightened, her expression stormy. She bit her lip, regretting her plan.
Tenra was impossible—leave him alone for a second, and he'd find someone new to charm. She'd meant to teach him a lesson, but now he was cozying up to a Valkyrie.
Damn it, damn it, damn it!
Just as Rias moved to intervene, something caught her eye—a flash of white. Koneko was slipping out of the hall, following a black cat, her face pale with anxiety.
"Akeno, I'm stepping out for a bit. Watch Tenra for me."
Rias frowned.
"Is something wrong?" Akeno and Ravel exchanged confused looks.
"Probably nothing. But just in case, I want to check."
Rias shook her head, offered no further explanation, and hurried out, leaving the girls baffled.
—
"Huff… huff…"
Deep in the forest, Koneko chased the black cat, her feet pounding the earth.
No mistake—she recognized that aura. It had to be her.
Far from the banquet hall, the black cat ahead suddenly dissolved into mist. Koneko scanned the woods, heart racing. She could feel it—the presence was close.
"Hello, Shirone. Long time no see—your big sister's here."
A woman's voice. Koneko spun and saw her perched on a tree branch—a beautiful woman in a kimono, staring with burning intensity.
Koneko's whole body trembled. Her lips moved soundlessly before she finally managed to speak.
"K-Kuroka… Nee-san…"
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