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"B-Brother?!" Rias stammered, her voice filled with a mixture of surprise and nervousness. It was, after all, Sirzechs Lucifer, her older brother and the most powerful Satan, the current Lucifer.
Akeno, Kiba, and Koneko, long accustomed to his presence, immediately knelt, while Issei and Asia stood frozen, unsure how to react.
Xenovia, who, unlike Issei and Asia, hadn't participated in the Rating Game and met Sirzechs, looked at them, puzzled.
She didn't recognize the newcomer as the Satan Lucifer.
Mika, however, remained seated.
While technically Rias's servant, he wasn't obligated to obey a Satan's commands.
After all, in a feudal system, his master's master wasn't his master. And even Rias, his nominal "master," commanded his loyalty not through her authority but through their relationship. He had, after all, joined her peerage with the full intention of leaving whenever he chose.
Issei, quickly realizing the situation, also knelt, and Asia, mimicking him, followed suit.
Rias, recovering from her initial shock, approached Sirzechs.
"There's no need for formalities. I'm here—informally," Sirzechs said, gesturing for them to rise.
Akeno, Kiba, and Koneko stood up.
"But what are you doing here, Brother?" Rias asked, still surprised by his unexpected visit. She couldn't imagine why he, with his busy schedule as a Satan, would suddenly appear at the Occult Research Club.
Sirzechs smiled and held up a flyer. "What do you mean? Isn't the Parent-Teacher Conference coming up soon? I thought I'd attend. I'd love to see my little sister's diligent academic pursuits firsthand."
Rias, however, simply facepalmed. "Grayfia told you, didn't she?" She turned to Grayfia, who stood respectfully behind Sirzechs.
She had accompanied him.
"Indeed. As the one responsible for managing the Gremory peerage's schedule, the reports from Kuoh Academy come to me. And as Sirzechs-sama's Queen, I naturally report any relevant information to him,"
Grayfia confirmed with a nod.
Rias sighed. She didn't believe her brother had come all this way just for a Parent-Teacher Conference.
"While my duties as a Satan are demanding—I couldn't resist attending my sister's Parent-Teacher Conference after reading the report. I'll even take some time off, if necessary. Don't worry—Father will be attending as well."
"That's not what I'm worried about! You're a Satan, Brother! How can you abandon your duties? A Satan shouldn't show favoritism towards Devils, even their own family." Rias believed that, as a Satan, he shouldn't give her special treatment, regardless of their familial ties.
"This is part of my duties, Rias. I'm planning to hold the Three Factions meeting at this academy. This visit could be considered—a preliminary inspection of the venue."
"What?! Here? Really?" Rias was shocked.
She had known the meeting would take place in Kuoh Town, due to Kokabiel's recent attack, but she hadn't anticipated it would be held at the academy.
"Indeed. It seems we have a connection to this academy."
"My sister, the legendary Red Dragon Emperor, the Holy-Demonic Sword wielder, the current wielder of Durandal, Sona Sitri, the sister of Serafall Leviathan—they're all here."
"And, of course, the most important one—Mika, a student here as well." He looked at Mika, who was sipping tea. Akeno, having risen upon his arrival, had prepared it for him.
Mika raised his cup in a silent greeting, and Sirzechs nodded, a smile on his face, though inwardly, he felt a surge of unease.
He couldn't see through Mika.
While Mika's ability to mask his presence had always been impressive, it hadn't been effective against Sirzechs, a top-tier Satan-class Devil, whose power was among the top ten in the world, a Transcendent being who had surpassed the limitations of his Devil heritage.
He could easily perceive the auras of everyone in the room, except for Mika.
This was unsettling...
He had been able to sense Mika's strength before, during their first meeting. At the time, Mika had seemed promising, a talented youth with potential.
But now, after such a short time, his power was unreadable.
This made him wary—
Could it be that this isn't the same Mika…? He couldn't bear the thought of his sister being deceived.
He would test Mika later, when they had some privacy. He was suddenly grateful for his impulsive decision to visit after hearing about Azazel's presence in Kuoh Town.
Who knew what kind of trouble it might have caused otherwise?
———
"And with Kokabiel and the White Dragon Emperor also appearing here, I suspect there's something…unusual about this place, a convergence of—forces that's causing some distortions," he continued his conversation with Rias, though his mind was on Mika.
Mika, however, having sensed Sirzechs's attention, knew his true strength had likely been revealed. He wasn't surprised.
After all, Sirzechs, despite his easygoing demeanor, was incredibly perceptive. He was a wolf in sheep's clothing—
—While his official ranking was among the top Satans, his true power placed him among the world's top ten.
Mika's attempts at concealing his Eighth Sense level Cosmo were futile against such an opponent—It seems I need to have a talk with him!
....
Watching Sirzechs talking with Rias, Mika made a decision: He would reveal his secret, his ability to travel between worlds.
In this world where power and lineage were paramount, almost every powerful individual was either a well-known figure or a descendant of a legendary bloodline.
Therefore, creating a false identity for himself would be difficult, especially since he couldn't explain his sudden increase in strength—
Sirzechs must have noticed; in his eyes, Mika's power must have grown exponentially in an impossibly short time. He was likely already suspicious.
And Mika, no longer the vulnerable youth he had once been, didn't need to hide.
With his current power, he could escape this world at any moment, even if he faced both Dragon Gods.
Mika no longer needed to rely on deception.
"It's settled, then."
....
While Mika was contemplating his next move, Sirzechs continued chatting with Rias and her peerage, his demeanor, unlike that of a typical Satan, surprisingly approachable and friendly.
"So, you're the Satan? It's a pleasure to meet you. I'm Xenovia," She said, finally having pieced together the situation with the help of the others.
Xenovia wasn't intimidated—in fact, she seemed rather intrigued. After all, before becoming a Devil, Satans had been her enemies.
"Greetings, Xenovia. I am Sirzechs Lucifer. Rias has told me about you. A wielder of Durandal becoming a Devil, joining my sister's peerage… I must admit, I was rather surprised when I first heard the news." Sirzechs couldn't help but express his astonishment.
The Church and the Devils were sworn enemies. ..
For a Holy Sword wielder, an elite member of the Church, to willingly become a Devil—it was an extraordinary event.
"I never thought I'd become a Devil either," Xenovia admitted, shaking her head. "To be reborn as—what I once fought against… I still question my decision sometimes."
"Indeed, why did I become a Devil? Was it desperation? No… not exactly. But at the time—I simply didn't care anymore. But was it truly... the right choice?" She trailed off, lost in her thoughts.
Years of indoctrination within the Church made it difficult for her to fully accept her new identity. She had become a Devil after losing her faith, after learning of God's death.
It had been an impulsive decision, one she still struggled with.
Perhaps this was why she preferred remaining as a maid in Mika's home, a familiar role, a link to her past.
"Rias has gathered quite the eccentric peerage," Sirzechs chuckled, observing Xenovia's conflicted expression.
"It seems you're still adjusting to your new life, Xenovia. However, I hope you can support Rias, as a member of her peerage, and help her lead the Gremory clan. I'm counting on you."
"If even the legendary Lucifer says so, then I can hardly refuse," she replied, her earlier doubts fading as she straightened up. "While I'm still—uncertain of my own abilities, I will do my best."
Xenovia had grown fond of Rias, who had accepted her without judgment, despite her past—and while she hadn't fully embraced her new identity as a Devil, she was loyal to Rias, determined to serve her faithfully.
"Thank you, Xenovia—" Sirzechs, seeing her resolve, nodded in satisfaction. He was quite fond of Rias's peerage and was increasingly impressed by them.
"Enough of these serious topics. I haven't visited the human world in a while. And it's rather late. Are there any—hotels still open?" Sirzechs mused aloud, though Mika knew his words were directed at Rias.
He was waiting for an invitation.
After all, Rias had bought Mika's entire apartment building.
Grayfia couldn't have missed that detail—and if Grayfia knew, then Sirzechs undoubtedly knew as well. They wouldn't expect a Satan to stay in a hotel.
"You can stay at my place—" Mika offered, before Rias could speak. He understood Sirzechs's intentions.
Sirzechs wanted to… observe him, to discern his true nature. Sirzechs, like Rias, valued his connections, his family. He wouldn't reveal his suspicions to her directly, not wanting to upset her.
And this played right into Mika's hands.
He had been planning to tell Sirzechs about his true identity, and now, Sirzechs had practically delivered himself.
Mika grinned. "Since it's the Satan's visit, we should celebrate. Why don't we all go? It'll be more…lively."
"All of us?" Issei asked, hesitant. He wasn't comfortable around a Satan, despite Sirzechs's friendly demeanor.
"I agree," Rias said, her voice firm. She suspected Mika had something important to announce and didn't want Issei to miss it.
"As you wish." Sirzechs, though slightly surprised, was intrigued.
They left the Occult Research Club and headed towards Mika's apartment.
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