I Sealed Sukuna’s Finger#507+508: Should Thoroughly Win Over Akeno, Wait—When Did You Win Over Grayfia Too??

Like this, about several minutes passed.

"Alright, so what happens next?"

Azazel first interrupted the Two Heavenly Dragons' verbal sparring.

Though watching these two former mortal enemies bickering like children was quite interesting—he hadn't forgotten why so many gathered here.

Currently, though the contract was signed, the conference ceremony hadn't ended.

The Three Factions' leaders gathering couldn't be like buddies going to internet cafes—finish gaming, exit doors, then you take taxi, I ride bus, he bicycles—each going separate ways after goodbyes scattered.

Naturally even less could time be wasted here.

"How would I know?"

Ddraig hummed. Having just finished arguing with Albion and achieved absolutely overwhelming victory, his current mood was quite good.

"After all, so many years not using my own body moving outside. Now you ask what I want doing—truly can't think of anything."

"Then just go back to the Underworld." Bokue glanced over, saying.

"Eh? Go to the Underworld?"

Obviously not expecting the young man would so easily dismiss him—Ddraig who'd just said not knowing what to do hadn't quite reacted yet.

"Otherwise where do you want going?"

Bokue looked down at the still-prosperous massive artificial island below.

"My Itogami Island here isn't large enough for you staying. Plus, if you wandered other mortal realm places, who knows what would happen. But having you lie in Heaven probably isn't quite suitable either. So might as well just go back to the Underworld. Anyway, most Underworld places are uninhabited. Just randomly find some spot and nest yourself. Or continuing arguing with White Dragon Emperor also works."

"Mmm... saying it that way seems somewhat reasonable."

Ddraig quite vividly raised his dragon claw scratching his head.

"Then decided."

Bokue finished, lightly raising his hand. A teleportation magic circle directly connecting the Underworld suddenly deployed above sky—area sufficient covering all Saikai Academy below.

"Alright, go in."

"Oh... then I'm going to the Underworld?"

Ddraig lightly flapped wings once. But before departing, seemingly still somewhat hesitant.

Still that saying—felt weird. Dismissing him this simply.

After all, he was the Red Dragon Emperor! Legendary one of Two Heavenly Dragons! Previously, how many hosts—upon being chosen by his gauntlet—were overjoyed like feeling their lives received cheats.

Mmm, though thinking carefully seemed true too. This generation's host completely differed from any previous hosts. Not only completely didn't care about him as legendary Longinus, even could extract his soul from the gauntlet for revival.

Seemed... probably... indeed truly didn't quite need him.

Thinking this, Ddraig no longer wasted words. Flapping his sky-blocking sun-covering wings stirring violent hurricanes, he soared skyward toward the teleportation circle above.

And then Albion's voice also rang again.

"Vali, we're following!"

Huh?

Hearing his Light Wings' demand behind him, Vali instinctively turned glancing at Bokue.

"Wha... wait, I still have questions for that guy... hey!"

"That kind of thing—discuss later!"

But his White Dragon Emperor's Light Wings behind seemed having their own thoughts—completely not listening to him. Radiating ice-blue brilliance, directly carrying him closely following Ddraig—plunging into the teleportation circle.

Not until one person one dragon's figures completely disappeared within did Bokue lightly beckon, closing the teleportation circle.

Simultaneously, the defensive barrier beneath their feet—covering all Itogami Island plus surrounding seas and distant Kyoto—also gradually began dissipating.

"Alright, let's go down."

❁❁❁❁

Scene switch—everyone previously above sky returned to ground level.

Inside the meeting room, as Bokue walked in from outside, numerous girls waiting by the window immediately greeted him.

Rias, Mio Naruse, Yasaka-san, plus Kuroka.

Eight large torpedoes surging forward easily packed the young man's front completely. So much so that Koneko Toujou, Asia, and others behind completely couldn't squeeze forward.

"What exactly just happened, Bokue? You're not hurt, right?"

The red-haired girl immediately showed full concern.

"Of course I'm fine."

Bokue squeezed the girl's palm, succinctly briefly describing the situation that occurred above.

"Currently, Ddraig has already gone to the Underworld. Plus, Vali also followed along."

"Hope they don't fight in the Underworld. If accidentally damaging some noble's territory, that'll be troublesome again..."

The young red-haired Maou helplessly held his forehead lightly.

Though they'd just signed a peace agreement, its effectiveness only applied between the Three Factions.

As for those two heavenly dragons... they didn't belong to any faction on the peace agreement.

"Probably not."

Bokue seriously considered.

"After all, now Ddraig has completely revived, while Albion remains in Sacred Gear state. From Vali's performance when fighting me before, he couldn't possibly beat fully-revived Ddraig even racing horses flat out. And Ddraig probably wouldn't find opportunities exploiting others' misfortune either. At most, they'll just argue."

"Of course, if something really happens, I'll also take responsibility. After all, I'm the one who threw them to the Underworld."

"Hehe~ with Keikain-kun's words, we're relieved!"

Serafall then squeezed forward from behind, quite intimately nudging the young man. Then turning toward the young red-haired Maou behind, she blinked.

"Right, Sirzechs-chan?"

"Serafall..."

Having his intentions publicly exposed, Sirzechs couldn't help somewhat helplessly holding his forehead.

"So now that the agreement's signed and everything's resolved—what happens next?"

Michael picked up the conversation, transitioning this topic.

"Whatever you want. All fine."

Bokue was quite indifferent.

"Anyway, I have no visa restrictions here. You can stay as long as you want, go wherever you want wandering."

"Ah, saying it that way—last night when wandering streets outside, I saw quite an interesting restaurant. Perfect timing—during lunch we can go check it out."

Azazel quite cooperatively clapped hands.

"Alright, since nothing else remains, I'm leaving first. Need hurrying over checking if that shop's open. If already full, that'd be awkward... Baraqiel, let's go, let's go."

"We should also about leave. Sirzechs-chan, staying here accompanying your sister more?"

"I... no, I need returning to the hotel first. Later many government documents will be delivered for processing..."

"How exhausting~"

"Then I'll also..."

Like this, in just short minutes, the previously crowded meeting room suddenly quieted.

Watching everyone departing nearly completely, Rias again came beside the young man. Lightly tugging Bokue's sleeve corner, she lowered her voice whispering.

"Hey Bokue, today Akeno seems somewhat off emotionally. Earlier during the conference, I saw her state wasn't quite right. I'm also unclear about specific reasons. Plus... Akeno seemingly doesn't want discussing this with me. See if later you could chat properly with her alone."

"Hmm? Like that? I understand."

<><><><><><><><>

Just as Sirzechs had said, they'd only come by to say goodbye.

The Three Factions summit had concluded yesterday, and as leaders of their respective factions, both he and the others spent enormous amounts of time each day simply managing internal affairs. There was no way they could linger in the human world like tourists on vacation.

And so, compared to the eventful first day of the open house tour, the second day passed far more quietly—an entire day went by without a single noteworthy incident.

Before long, evening arrived.

❁❁❁❁

"Phew—finally back home."

Inside the ground-floor common room of the old schoolhouse, the spatial transfer magic circle blanketed across the entire building finished its activation. Rias gazed out the window at the golden-hued peak of the Keystone Gate bathed in the sunset's glow and let out a small sigh of relief.

It really felt like the old schoolhouse had been turned into some massive mobile home—big enough for everyone to live in comfortably. Every morning they'd teleport it to the academy grounds, and every evening they'd teleport it right back. The handful of them who lived here basically treated it as their permanent residence.

The only difference was that instead of driving, they used teleportation magic.

"All right then, everyone's dismissed for the day."

Rias turned around to address Yukina Himeragi, Nagisa Akatsuki, and the others who'd come over to "catch a ride" after school.

This had basically become their daily routine by now.

After all, they all lived on the Keystone Gate, and they were all "one big happy family"—going to and from school together just made sense. They'd teleport over as a group in the morning, come back together in the evening, then head to their respective homes.

Now was the "head to your respective homes" part.

"By the way..."

Watching Nagisa, Yukina, and the other girls file out of the common room, Bokue Keikain—who'd remained behind—turned toward the red-haired girl still standing by the window with a questioning look.

"Didn't Sirzechs mention something about a surprise when he came by this morning?"

"Huh? Did he?"

Akeno Himejima asked curiously.

As one of the permanent residents of the old schoolhouse, she naturally hadn't left either. She was currently seated on the common room sofa, her previously swollen belly from this morning apparently having "accidentally leaked out entirely" during one of her bathroom trips—it had deflated back to normal. Hearing the young man's question, she turned her head with interest.

"Yeah, I think it was right after you went upstairs, Akeno—"

Bokue was just about to explain when—

Creak—

The front door in the hallway outside the common room—which had been closed after Yukina and the others left—was suddenly pulled open from outside.

Hmm?

Rias instinctively glanced toward the doorway.

Logically speaking, anyone who'd show up at the old schoolhouse right now would be someone from the group that just left—either Yukina, Nagisa, or at worst... Asagi Aiba?

Forget anything else, the old schoolhouse was currently sitting on top of the Keystone Gate. The number of people with access to the peak of the Keystone Gate was pretty limited.

Could it be a certain nekomata who couldn't contain herself anymore and came rushing back before even eating dinner, already desperate to start making kittens?

Just as Rias was thinking along those lines, a figure she absolutely did not expect suddenly appeared in her field of vision without warning.

That silver hair reminiscent of Sakuya Izayoi, that poised and elegant bearing, and that maid uniform that had basically become her signature look.

The visitor's identity was already unmistakable.

"Eh? G-Grayfia-nee?"

Rias's lips parted slightly in surprise.

"Grayfia-nee, why would you suddenly show up now? Didn't Onii-sama head back this morning? And Mom—didn't she go back with him?"

"No, Lady Venelana is still remaining on Itogami Island. She said she intends to enjoy herself for a few more days before returning."

Grayfia stepped into the common room from outside and came to a stop before the three of them, hands folded gracefully in front of her as she gave a slight bow.

"However, Lord Sirzechs has ordered me to remain in the human world. From now on, I will be responsible for looking after Lady Rias and everyone's meals and daily needs. Also—Lady Rias, you no longer need to address me as 'nee-san.'"

"Huh? Why not?"

"Because I am no longer Lord Sirzechs's Queen."

"..."

Huh?

A massive question mark practically materialized above the red-haired girl's head.

It was just... so utterly absurd that for a moment, she didn't even know what to say.

First of all, for devils, the peerage contract was an incredibly serious matter—no less binding than a blood oath. Even devils with the worst personalities rarely broke contracts with their servants.

Unless said servant had committed an absolutely unforgivable act of betrayal.

But how could Grayfia-nee possibly betray Onii-sama?

She was completely baffled. It was like hearing individual words she understood, but strung together they made no sense at all.

"This... so what exactly happened?"

Rias was completely dumbfounded.

What stunned her even more was that instead of explaining, Grayfia's cheeks actually flushed with a faint blush. Her azure eyes glanced shyly toward Bokue Keikain standing beside Rias.

"Actually, Lady Venelana took it upon herself to petition Lord Sirzechs to dissolve my servant contract. So basically—"

Grayfia's words were rather vague and unclear, but they didn't need to be crystal clear.

After all, just the blush on her face and those evasive glances toward a certain someone were already proof enough.

Akeno, still seated on the sofa, couldn't help but touch her own cheek.

"My my... to think even Grayfia-nee would... this really is..."

As for Rias, her face had gone completely dark.

"Bokue, when exactly did you manage to win over Grayfia-nee too—"

She'd originally thought that in the future she might have to start calling her "sister-in-law," but now it looked like she really would be calling her "big sister"!

❁❁❁❁

Meanwhile, having just left the old schoolhouse and returned to her own apartment, Yukina Himeragi had barely stepped through the door when she heard the voice of a certain high-ponytailed War Dancer girl talking on the phone somewhere near the balcony.

"I... I understand, Master. I'll inform Yukina..."

The call ended right there.

Yukina tilted her head and raised her voice slightly.

"Sayaka? Were you just talking to Master?"

"Uh... yeah."

The girl's voice still came from the direction of the balcony. About two seconds later, Sayaka Kirasaka emerged cautiously from around the corner where the washing machine was kept, phone in hand, looking at the sword shaman girl who'd just returned. Her expression seemed somewhat uneasy.

"Master just called with instructions. She wants us to make time tomorrow to visit the Lion King Organization's local office here on Itogami Island. And she said it would be best if... we brought Bokue Keikain along too."

"Eh??!"

Yukina's jaw dropped.

Wait—had their lazy behavior on Itogami Island, spending every day fooling around with senpai doing... that... been discovered?

But that didn't make sense. How would Master even know about—

"A-anyway, I'll let Nagisa know first and have her request a day off for me tomorrow!"