I Sealed Sukuna’s Finger#497+498: Sona Sitri Also Wants It, Didn't Get Your Cattery Drilled Through?

Scene switch—

Having left the café, Bokue had already returned to the guest room in the blink of an eye.

He'd already cleaned everything inside the room before leaving. So the bedroom remained clean, tidy, and odorless.

On the bedroom's central full-size bed, two beauties still lay quietly under the covers. Steady breathing sounds transmitted from within.

Bokue walked from the entrance to bedside. Just then, a corner of the bedding suddenly lifted.

The beautiful woman who'd seemed asleep the previous second gently opened her smiling eyes, pushing aside the covers to extend both arms toward the young man at bedside.

Without pretense or resistance, Bokue immediately lifted Venelana from the bedding in a princess carry, coming to sit at the tea table by the window.

Bokue sat in the chair. Venelana sat on his lap.

"...So Obasan was already awake?"

Glancing at Grayfia still lying in the bedding with absolutely no reaction, Bokue asked in lowered voice.

He didn't deploy soundproofing barriers. After all, having already done even that together, many things no longer needed such formality.

"No, actually just woke up~"

Venelana smiled with pursed lips.

"Speaking of which, quite coincidental. The moment I regained consciousness and opened my eyes, first thing I saw was you right before me, Bokue. Plus... why are you even wearing clothes?"

The beautiful woman just noticed the bathrobe the young man wore.

While together with them, he was actually still wearing clothes? Wasn't that a bit too formal?

"Went out briefly earlier."

Bokue explained, his gaze sweeping past the note he'd left on the bedside nightstand.

Still in original position, completely unmoved.

After all, Venelana only just woke. Not having seen the nightstand note was quite normal.

"I just met Serafall for coffee."

"Serafall? Why?"

Venelana froze slightly.

Due to childhood playmate relations between Rias and Sona, she knew quite well this Serafall Leviathan from the Sitri family—currently one of the Underworld's Four Great Maou. The two families' relationship had always been quite good.

Though impression-wise, Serafall and Bokue seemed to have no connections? The two had met just a few times. Even Sona and Bokue couldn't be called that familiar.

Why suddenly meet for coffee?

"About matters between you, Grayfia, and me, Obasan... she just overheard outside the door earlier."

Hesitating about how exactly to phrase it, ultimately Bokue still chose directly getting to the point.

"Oh!"

Hearing this, even Venelana couldn't help freezing.

Honestly, she hadn't expected Serafall would discover matters between her, Grayfia, and Bokue.

This problem wasn't major, though not exactly minor either.

Because ultimately the result would just be Rias and Sirzechs finding out. But conversely, Serafall seemed to have no reason spreading this everywhere.

After all, if just overhearing outside the door—first, no evidence existed. Second, even if she really told Rias and Sirzechs, the latter two wouldn't necessarily believe.

Plus, most importantly—from Venelana's understanding of Serafall, she truly didn't think the latter was the type who enjoyed gossiping behind backs. At most, she'd be slightly shocked after knowing, then continue doing whatever.

Though out of caution, Venelana still asked one more question.

"Mmm... so? Did Serafall make any demands?"

"No."

Bokue shook his head, his hands supporting the beautiful woman's legs showing slight downward tendency as he lifted her higher again.

"She made no demands. Even said she'd help us keep the secret."

"...I see."

Though somewhat surprisingly pleasant, thinking carefully seemed reasonable.

After all, as stated above, Serafall wasn't the type who enjoyed reporting behind backs. Even objectively speaking, could be considered a girl with quite good personality in all aspects—quite likeable.

"Though she seems to have some small ideas."

Bokue briefly recalled before adding another line.

"Small ideas? What small ideas?"

Confirming no immediate risk of matters between her, Grayfia, and Bokue being exposed, Venelana's voice immediately became much more relaxed.

"Probably because she knows our relationship, so she seemingly wants to also include Sona or even herself..."

Bokue hesitated, not stating things too explicitly.

Though he knew clearly Venelana could understand his meaning.

Bokue's emotional intelligence wasn't low. Unlike wooden protagonists popular in current Japanese light novels, he could clearly sense whether others held goodwill or hostility toward him.

Back at the café, Serafall's attitude could almost be called explicit hinting.

"Mmm~ that's not bad. If Bokue likes it, just agree directly."

Venelana only thought briefly before giving affirmative response.

This left Bokue somewhat unexpectedly surprised.

"Hehe, why that expression? Obasan is being serious."

Detecting the young man's expression change, Venelana smiled faintly.

"Obasan said before, right? We devils and you humans have some differences in certain concepts—especially regarding spouses... sufficiently powerful males can possess far more spouses than others."

"Plus honestly, Bokue, you're now also part of our Gremory family. At least half counts for sure. With our Gremory family's support, plus if you can connect with Serafall's side—not exaggerating, from now on the Underworld will also become your private territory."

"? I have zero interest in conquering the Underworld."

Bokue hastily clarified.

Ultimately he was someone without much power lust—more accurately, completely none. Taking Itogami Island was purely for convenience. As for managing the entire Underworld... forget it, truly not interested. Wouldn't want it even free.

"Obasan naturally knows this too."

Seeing the young man's expression of finding it troublesome, Venelana couldn't suppress light laughter.

But soon this smile transformed into faint melancholy.

"Just that child Sirzechs was truly taught too well by me from youth. Too soft in personality. So even though he's now rightfully become Maou through his own strength, he's still occasionally criticized by those old fossils."

"So if possible, Bokue, how about you also consider... mmm!"

❁❁❁❁

Meanwhile, in the adjacent guest room.

Splash—

Accompanied by stirring water sounds from the bathroom, inside the bathtub, Sona rested her soaked arm on her forehead blocking overhead light. Her entire body lay in cold bathwater.

Though doing this theoretically wasn't healthy for females—especially becoming extraordinarily torturous during menstrual periods—as a devil, Sona could completely ignore these minor bodily effects.

But even so, she still completely couldn't cool down her body.

Current Sona—the moment she calmed her mind, those words overheard earlier outside Venelana's adjacent guest room door involuntarily surfaced in her mind.

And just recalling those words that previously seemed utterly indecent to her, she'd inexplicably feel a certain...

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

The final night before the Three Factions conference passed like this.

Time blinked forward to the next morning.

Still sleeping until naturally waking as usual.

When Bokue opened his eyes, he lay in his own apartment bedroom. What met his gaze was the familiar ceiling, familiar heavy pressure transmitted from his chest, along with Kuroka's steady breathing.

Knock knock knock...

Just then, perfectly timed knocking sounds came from the right side.

Bokue turned his head toward the sound. Through the window's white curtains, a girl's silhouette could be faintly distinguished standing in the sunlight outside.

Plus, judging from the silhouette's hairstyle, most likely... definitely Rias.

Don't ask why "most likely"—ask and it's because Venelana's hairstyle was actually almost identical to Rias's. Just their hair colors differed.

Like Rias was beautiful crimson red, while Venelana was more ordinary brown.

But Venelana probably couldn't possibly appear here at this time.

"Mmm~ so noisy, who is it, nya?"

Seemingly awakened by the intermittent knocking sounds outside, Kuroka—originally lying on the young man's chest—yawned long and unclearly. Then without opening her eyes, she extended both arms from beneath the covers to wrap around the young man's neck.

"Should be Rias..."

Feeling the soft sensation transmitted from his chest, Bokue gently stroked the nekomata girl's smooth back with pats.

"Let me up first, Kuroka. I'll check what's happening."

"Mmm~"

Though Kuroka's mouth kept asking who, who, her hand movements were surprisingly honest. Not only didn't she release—she tightened even more, burying her face deeply into the young man's chest for a deep inhale. After maintaining this posture silently for a while, she slowly exhaled breath before reluctantly opening her beautiful golden cat eyes. Lifting her head to expose half her small face, she made a muffled sound.

"Okay, go ahead."

Only then could Bokue extricate himself, sitting up from the bedding and getting down to bedside.

Whoosh—!

The curtains sealed all night were suddenly drawn open. Somewhat dazzling sunlight instantly streamed in from outside.

Outside the window, the red-haired girl already wearing Saikai Academy uniform stood in autumn morning's sunlight and breeze. One hand on hip, eyes narrowed as she glared at the scene inside the room.

Then Bokue also opened the window. Facing the breeze blowing in from outside, he greeted the red-haired girl face-to-face.

"Morning, Rias. Why so early today..."

"What else... seriously, did you forget what day it is, Bokue?"

Seeing the young man maintaining this extremely relaxed mental state, Rias immediately sighed helplessly.

Bokue briefly considered organizing language, hesitating before ultimately just responding randomly.

"Wedding anniversary?"

"Of course... not!"

Rias nearly choked on his words.

What the hell, even wedding anniversary came up. Forget that they still hadn't formally held a wedding—even if counting a relationship anniversary, it hadn't reached a year yet!

After all, they'd only met early this year. Though by now they'd done everything that should and shouldn't be done, objectively speaking, fully calculating meant establishing their relationship less than half a year ago total. Where did any anniversary come from??

"Hehe~ this one I know, nya!"

Words just falling—behind Bokue on the bed, Kuroka propped herself up with one hand, using the bedding to barely cover important areas. Her black long hair fell like satin on neck and collarbones, face written all over with pride.

"Today is Bokue and my relationship anniversary, right? Oh wait, can't really call it relationship anniversary. After all, thinking carefully, we met about ten years ago today. So should be called 'heart stirring anniversary,' nya. Oh my, didn't expect Rias would even know this. Plus I still remember the location was in Shenzhou..."

"Stop! Who asked you that??"

Rias's mouth twitched speechlessly as she stopped her.

"I'm obviously talking about the Three Factions conference day! Who's discussing that with you?? Plus, it's already eight a.m. now. You still haven't gotten up—what time did you sleep last night..."

"About... past three a.m.?"

Kuroka tapped her lips, thinking seriously before giving what she considered a fairly precise answer.

Past three a.m.???

Rias didn't know how to complain anymore.

Though she didn't know what exactly these two did in the apartment last night, didn't she already order prohibiting "group entertainment" these two days?

Though she definitely couldn't control what happened in their own apartment, even if doing it, at least start slightly earlier!

Even if eating dinner at seven, bathing at eight and lying in bed—that still left three full hours until eleven. Enough, right?

Start early, finish early, rest early—wouldn't that be good? Why insist on messing around until past three a.m.?

Couldn't be starting from eight straight until three, right? Full seven hours and still didn't get your cattery drilled through?

"Whatever, just hurry and get up anyway."

Forcing herself to stop thinking about these matters while holding her forehead, Rias urged somewhat helplessly.

Bokue maintained that unhurried appearance.

"I know today's the Three Factions conference. But is it really that urgent, starting this early in the morning?"

Hearing this, Rias sighed lightly.

"Of course! Onii-sama and Mom are already at school now. Currently Sona's handling reception for them. Plus, Sona just messaged saying Heaven's side—Archangel Michael—also arrived. We must go over immediately now."

"Got it, got it~"

"Ah wait, I'm going too! How can such an important occasion lack me, the legal wife, nya!"

❁❁❁❁

Scene switch—

Bokue and Kuroka were pulled by Rias to Saikai Academy's administrative building.

Originally, this was a place only faculty could come. Meeting rooms especially required school leadership-level application for rental. But because Sona had student council president status, today they'd directly reserved one meeting room as the Three Factions conference location.

The three walked upstairs through the corridor to the meeting room entrance.

When the meeting room door opened, inside three people had already sat around both sides of the long table's head.

Sirzechs, Serafall, plus the other side's... Archangel Michael.

Though Bokue had never seen Michael before, the golden armor plus twelve large wings behind him were far too eye-catching. Hard to ignore or fail recognizing.

"Haah~"

Just then, a familiar female yawning sound came from the long table's far end.

Rias instinctively turned toward the sound, seeing her mother Venelana sitting at the long table's far end. Having just finished yawning while covering her mouth with hand, behind her stood Grayfia in her usual maid outfit.

"Eh? Are you that tired, Mom? Didn't rest well last night?"

"Hehe, no, nothing."

Seeing her daughter arrive, Venelana smiled and waved her hand.

"Just simply slept late last night."

"I... see..."

Since even Mother said so, Rias didn't doubt, just nodded lightly.

But whether her imagination or not, she seemed to see behind Mother—Grayfia-neesan who usually wore no makeup—today seemed to have applied light cosmetics.