"Hmph~ Pretty, am I? Aren't I wearing the same outfit as always? Akuto-chan, you really are smooth-tongued~"
"Is it by relying on that mouth of yours that you trick so many girls into liking you?"
Even as she said that, Serafall straightened her waist again in delight, her lovely pink eyes curving into little crescent moons. It was clear that Serafall was very receptive to Akuto's words. Although she did not harbor much romantic affection for him, even if she only regarded Akuto as a fellow cosplay enthusiast, their relationship had still grown a bit closer.
However, Rias obviously would not get angry over something like this.
After going through so many incidents, Rias had long since gotten used to this kind of joking.
…
What Rias did not know was that, apart from accepting Akuto's future harem, she herself would experience an even greater "elevation."
After all, compared to obtaining the entire Gremory family, the matter of "having a harem" was practically nothing.
…
After they discussed some business related to the conference, then chatted a bit about private matters concerning cosplay events, Akuto and Serafall temporarily stopped their idle talk.
Not long after he parted from Serafall, a bearded middle-aged man showed up uninvited.
"Yo~ isn't this the Red Dragon Emperor? To think you'd show up to a conference holding your fiancée's hand like that. Should I say you're lovey-dovey, or that you don't know proper decorum?"
Azazel shot a glance at Rias, who was practically leaning all over Akuto, and put on a slightly malicious expression.
"Governor Azazel, compared to me, I don't think you're much better. Since when is it okay to show up to a conference wearing slippers?"
Akuto smiled and answered head-on.
"Eh? Hahaha~ I just got here in a hurry and didn't have time to change, that's all. Once the official talks start, I'll put on proper formal wear!" Azazel laughed it off.
Akuto understood perfectly well why Azazel claimed he had "come in a hurry." The state of the Fallen Angels right now really wasn't good.
Khaos Brigade and the so-called Witches of Oz both seemed to be taking action against the Fallen Angels. Just from the constantly fluctuating energy in Azazel's body, one could tell he had only just finished a battle.
…
"Anyway, kid, Akuto, would you answer a few questions for me?" Azazel got straight to the point.
With a major enemy looming, he had no mood for idle chitchat. The reason he sought Akuto out, naturally, was because he had his own aims.
"Please speak plainly, Governor Azazel."
Akuto lifted his hand slightly, smiling as he looked over at Azazel. He already knew in advance what Azazel intended to ask.
"Good. Since you're so forthright, I'll just come out with it."
"Those female Fallen Angels who've recently returned to Fallen Angel headquarters from Kuoh Town… those are your people, aren't they?"
The female Fallen Angels Azazel referred to were exactly Raynare and her group.
After subduing Raynare and the other two, along with the Fallen Angel women in Kuoh Town, Akuto had not kept them by his side. Instead, he had them return to Fallen Angel headquarters to continue "shining" there.
At first, Yuuma Amano had been very unwilling.
On the one hand, she did not want to be separated from Akuto for too long. Even if she could teleport back every day via her Evil Piece, she knew that, at Fallen Angel headquarters, she would have to spend a large chunk of each day working. Just thinking about that made Yuuma extremely reluctant.
On the other hand, the moment she thought about how Akuto was sending her to work among the Fallen Angels specifically so she could "expand his influence, distribute pieces, and recruit Fallen Angels loyal to Akuto," Yuuma was even less inclined to go.
Because she had already read the operational guidelines Akuto had drafted. Those guidelines clearly stipulated that the Fallen Angels they recruited could only be women.
How could she be willing to devote that much time and effort to work just to help him find even more "rivals"?
While Yuuma had accepted the fact that Akuto would have many women, that did not mean she was willing to actively help him find more.
The turning point, once again, came from Asia and the others.
Since she had once extended an invitation to Asia, after Asia's reincarnation Yuuma also sat down and spoke with her specifically.
It was then that Asia told Yuuma about the "small group" idea for drawing Akuto's closer attention.
After that, the "Church Trio" made its brilliant debut.
Now, with Irilida joining in, the "Church Trio" had upgraded into the "Church Quartet."
In the future, if Maki Shidou were added as well, there was a good chance it would become a "Church Quintet," or even a "Church Sextet."
Akuto would try his best to treat the women in his harem as equally as possible, but perfect equality was impossible. If everything were perfectly equal, that would be unfair to those who put in extra effort.
Asia's words had shaken Yuuma deeply.
Later, Yuuma personally verified Asia's discovery through practice. Once she brought her good friends Mittelt and Kalawarner into things, the average amount of time Akuto spent with them really did increase quite a bit.
And so… after being influenced like this over time, Yuuma gradually changed her thinking and made a major decision.
She would work under Akuto in earnest and climb to the top of the Fallen Angels as their "Fallen Angel Queen"!
Those female Fallen Angels were not her "rivals." On the contrary, they were her helpers, a resource for increasing the recognition and attention she received from Akuto.
Once she had figured that out, Yuuma quickly returned to Fallen Angel headquarters, relying on "Azazel's Grigori" and the Holy Egg she had received from Akuto to successfully attain an executive-class Fallen Angel position.
If it had just been a single executive-class Fallen Angel, Azazel would not have paid that much attention.
After all, everyone had their own chance encounters. Even someone weak suddenly rising from a low-level Fallen Angel to a ten-winged Fallen Angel was something he theoretically wouldn't interfere with, so long as their race remained Fallen Angel.
But one executive-class Fallen Angel by herself was one thing; the problem was that Yuuma had returned with a large number of high-class Fallen Angels at the same time.
And those high-class Fallen Angels were all women.
Once he learned this, Azazel's focus naturally shifted to Akuto, and he concluded that Yuuma and the others' transformation must be because of him.
So that was why he had come to find Akuto specifically before the meeting.
…
"Governor Azazel, when you say they're 'my people,' are you referring to the fact that Yuuma was once my partner?" Akuto answered with a smile.
"Shouldn't I be the one asking you that? Sending Fallen Angels toward Kuoh Town, where Rias and Sona are stationed, is one thing. But to make a move inside Kuoh Academy where I'm present as well?"
"As for 'admitting' anything… Governor Azazel, what benefit would I gain by sending my most trusted subordinate, a ten-winged Fallen Angel at that, into a Fallen Angel faction that's already on shaky ground?"
"…"
"It's precisely because I don't understand why you would do that that I came here today planning to look for you."
Azazel let out a sigh.
Since he had no proof and Akuto was unwilling to admit anything, he would not continue to press the issue.
"Akuto-kun, I know you're not willing to acknowledge that Yuuma and her team are yours. At least, you're not willing to acknowledge it right now."
"So I'll only ask you something else."
"I already know that Yuuma's sudden change was because of you."
"Because just now, I took a stroll around Kuoh Academy and ran into some of Rias Gremory's peerage."
"In terms of their base strength and mastery of demonic power, they've all become far stronger than before. The speed of that growth is frankly abnormal."
"With so many people around you showing that same sort of change, I'm left with no choice but to focus my suspicions on you."
"Now, I only want to ask you three questions."
"First, will you help Rias?"
"Second, if, after the three factions sign the pact, the Fallen Angels run into some danger, will you step in to help?"
"Third, aside from female devils… do you also like female Fallen Angels?"
As he spoke, Azazel held out an arm and barred Akuto's path, clearly signaling that unless Akuto gave a clear answer, he wasn't planning to let him pass.
Akuto raised an eyebrow. From those questions alone, he could already tell what Azazel was really getting at.
For him to ask this way meant Azazel intended to have Yuuma continue to remain within the Fallen Angel organization, and to fully acknowledge that Yuuma's team would be acquiring noble authority within the Fallen Angel race.
After thinking for a moment, Akuto slowly replied:
"First off, I naturally won't start any war. Believe it or not, I actually consider myself something of a pacifist."
"Second, just looking at the Maou outfit I'm wearing, you should know I'm already aware of what the leaders of the three factions intend to do today. So, as long as it falls within the scope of my responsibilities, I will take action."
"Lastly, besides female devils, I don't just like female Fallen Angels. I like female angels even more."
"Governor Azazel, are you satisfied with those answers?"
…
"Clap, clap, clap~"
After a few light claps, Azazel spoke slowly:
"Akuto-kun, I believe it's only someone as 'broad-hearted' as you who could lead the three factions toward true peace and prosperity."
Azazel genuinely had not expected Akuto to say something like, "Aside from female devils and female Fallen Angels, I also like female angels."
That answer, however, pleased him greatly.
It was only young men like Akuto, who weren't bound by racial preconceptions, who had the qualifications to lead the three factions into the future.
"Oh, right, can I ask you one last question? Unlike the previous ones, this one is purely a personal question."
With a sheepish smile, Azazel rubbed his hands together as he looked at Akuto, as if staring at some kind of priceless treasure.
"What is it?"
Akuto raised an eyebrow.
"Can I study your divine essence?"
"Get lost."
The moment Azazel finished, Akuto walked straight past him with Rias in tow.
(End of Chapter)
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