Meanwhile… Back on Earth
Hespera strolled down the grand hallways of her mansion, her heeled boots clicking against the polished floors as she made her way toward her mother's quarters.
She didn't bother knocking.
Instead, she simply pushed the doors open—because honestly, what was the point of politeness when dealing with Ophis?
Inside, the atmosphere was as calm as ever. Dim candlelight flickered against towering bookshelves, the scent of ancient parchment and something faintly floral lingering in the air. Was that lavender?
Seated comfortably in her loveseat, was Ophis. She was reading. Again. This time, the book in her delicate hands had an elegantly illustrated dragon on the cover. The title?
"A Mother's Guide to Raising a Chaotic Child."
Hespera stared.
Then snorted. "Really, Mom?"
Ophis, without looking up, simply turned the page. "Preparation is important."
Hespera folded her arms, amusement dancing in her eyes. "I think you're a little late for that."
A pause. Then—Ophis blinked. Slowly.
"…True."
Hespera chuckled, stepping further inside. "Well, lucky for you, I turned out great." She twirled once, gesturing to herself. "A masterpiece, if I do say so myself."
Ophis glanced up then, staring at her daughter for a long moment.
Hespera waited. Expecting for her mother to say something witty. Maybe a soft, sarcastic remark.
Instead... "Yes. You are."
Hespera froze.
Her smirk wavered just slightly before she regained her composure, clearing her throat as she pretended that hadn't just caught her completely off guard.
"Ahem. Yes, well." She placed a hand on her hip. "Flattery will get you everywhere, Mom. But we've got a trip to Hell to prepare for." 'Idid not see that one coming. Almost lost my cool there. Hehe~ mom thinks I'm awesome! But seriously Hespie, focus!
Ophis set the book aside with deliberate care, her expression as unreadable as ever. "The Underworld," she murmured. "A meeting with devils."
"More like an opportunity to stir the pot," Hespera corrected, her grin widening. "I plan on making as much chaos I can possibly can."
Ophis stood, her long black hair flowing behind her like a living shadow.
"Already bad," she said simply.
Hespera smirked. "Well, let's make it worse~"
With that, she used the new tracker ability. As she opened a portal, she got an instinctual understanding on how the tracker ability worked.
As an ability born from chaos and nihility, it allowed Hespera to mark and follow any target across realms, dimensions, and even obscured timelines.
The ability (thankfully) worked instinctively. Hespera didn't need a physical connection to the target; she merely had to think of them.
Upon activation, a faint, invisible sigil—unique to her chaotic energy—would brand the target's existence. This sigil didn't physically mark them but instead imprinted itself onto their very presence within reality.
Unlike conventional tracking magic, which relied on mana traces, scent trails, or divination, Tracker functioned on a higher, fundamental level of existence. It ignored cloaking spells, barriers, and even divine concealment. Attempts to erase or mask one's presence failed, as the sigil binds to the concept of their being rather than just their physical form.
Once marked, Hespera instinctively knew where her target was, regardless of distance or dimensional separation. Unlike traditional scrying, she didn't see them but rather felt their exact location and movement like an internal compass.
Hespera could open a portal to her marked target instantaneously. Distance, realm barriers, and even sacred ground restrictions didn't prevent her from reaching them. If a target moved, her portal adjusted mid-transition, ensuring she arrived as close as possible.
The only true counter would be if the target ceased to exist entirely. (Usually by her doing)
As Hespera focused on Rias Gremory, she felt it immediately—an unshakable certainty of where the crimson-haired devil was at this exact moment.
Her chaotic energy latched onto Rias's presence, threading itself into the fabric of space that surrounded her.
It was a strange, instinctive knowledge. Like a tether in the vastness of existence.
The air hummed with power as she willed the portal open.
Instead of a random rift, the portal adjusted mid-creation, locking onto the precise spatial coordinates of Rias. The shimmering chaos energy pulsed, aligning with the unseen anchor of her target's location.
Hespera smirked, stepping into the swirling void.
"Okay, mom, let's go play with some devils~"
And with that, she vanished. Ophis following close behind.
~☆~
The grand chandelier overhead bathed the dining hall in a warm, golden glow, its ornate crystal fixtures casting shifting patterns along the dark wooden table where the Gremory family sat. The scent of fine wine and aged parchment lingered in the air, mingling with the faint crackle of the fireplace at the far end of the room.
A discussion was underway, the tension in the air subtle but unmistakable.
Rias Gremory sat upright, her crimson locks cascading over her shoulders, her expression composed—yet beneath the calm, a storm brewed.
Her upcoming Rating Game against Riser Phenex loomed on the horizon, the outcome determining her future. Whether she would be shackled to an arranged marriage she despised or earn the freedom to choose her own spouse.
It should have been a straightforward conversation.
Yet, today's discussion had an unpredictable variable.
Hespera Eveningstar.
The girl who had appeared out of nowhere, as if conjured from the very fabric of mischief itself, had made an offer. One that Rias had brought up the previous day.
And now, the Gremory family was gathered, analyzing this enigmatic individual who had waltzed into their lives with chaos trailing in her wake.
Venelana Gremory swirled the wine in her glass, her violet eyes glimmering with intrigue. "This… Hespera. You say she appeared out of thin air in your clubroom, inserted herself into your conversation, and immediately offered to help defeat Riser?"
Rias let out a slow sigh. "Yes. That's exactly what happened, Mother." 'Didn't we already discuss this the other day?'
Zeoticus Gremory, her father, exhaled thoughtfully. His fingers steepled in front of him as he processed the information. "And you believe she is trustworthy?"
Rias hesitated.
Not because she doubted Hespera's capability. No, the girl was powerful—even Sona and Akeno had sensed it.
But trust?
She had known Hespera for less than a week.
"She is… an unknown," Rias admitted, tapping her fingers lightly against the table. "But I don't think she's malicious. If anything, she enjoys stirring things up for her own amusement."
Sirzechs Lucifer, her elder brother and the current Satan Lucifer, chuckled lightly. "A trickster, then? We don't get many of those in the Underworld." His blue eyes gleamed with curiosity. "And you say she has offered her aid willingly? Without any conditions?"
Rias nodded. "She seemed more interested in the entertainment value of the fight rather than any personal gain. Though… she did insist that she isn't doing this out of kindness."
Grayfia, ever the embodiment of poise, finally spoke, her silver eyes sharp. "That is an important distinction. Power without clear motives is always dangerous."
Zeoticus let out a low hum. "And what of her lineage? This Eveningstar name—does it hold any weight?"
Rias shook her head. "No records of it exist in the Underworld."
Venelana arched a delicate brow. "And yet, you said she claims to be related to the Phenex clan?"
"She didn't claim it outright," Rias corrected, frowning slightly. "Rather, she implied it. Something about sharing DNA with them but not being 'directly related' in the way we understand." 'Again, we discussed this already.' Her family really enjoyed going over details.
Sirzechs tilted his head. "Curious phrasing."
Zeoticus's brow furrowed in thought. "The Phenex bloodline is ancient, tracing back to the very origins of the Devil Houses. If she truly shares their traits, she must have inherited their regenerative properties."
Rias exhaled. "She did imply she would be able to endure whatever Riser threw at her."
Sirzechs tapped a finger against the table, a knowing smirk playing on his lips. "And if she possesses their flames? That would be… problematic for Riser."
Venelana's eyes glimmered with intrigue. "You don't sound particularly worried, dear."
Sirzechs chuckled. "Oh, I'm not. If anything, I'm fascinated."
Grayfia's voice was level. "This girl could be a blessing or a disaster."
Rias sighed. "I know. But we agreed to meet her today, and I'd rather not make an enemy out of someone who could tip the scales in my favor."
Zeoticus leaned back in his chair, folding his arms. "Then we will meet her. And we will see if this… Hespera Eveningstar is truly Phenex-blooded."
Venelana smiled, sipping her wine. "And if she isn't?"
Rias smirked. "Then she's clearly something else entirely."
Sirzechs grinned, a glint of mischief in his eyes. "Now that would be interesting."
And just as the conversation reached its peak—
A shift. A pulse. A ripple through the very fabric of space itself.
The air within the dining hall grew thick, heavy, as an unfamiliar power pressed against reality.
It was not the refined, dignified magic of a Devil.
Nor was it the divine presence of an Angel.
No—this was something else.
Something wild. Something chaotic.
A portal tore open before them—not smooth like a Devil's teleportation, not blinding like a Heaven-sent descent, but writhing, shifting, twisting in defiance of logic itself. The swirling energy was neither fire nor light, but a dance of Nihility and Chaos.
And then... She stepped through.
Effortlessly. Casually. As if she belonged in the halls of nobility.
Her eyes scanned the room lazily. Was that amusement in her eyes?!
And beside her?
The silence that spread through the room, was so thick, you could cut it with a machete. (Knives are great, but machetes are cooler!)
A crushing, suffocating presence filled the room as Ophis, the Infinite Dragon God, stood there without a word.
For the first time in centuries—Grayfia faltered.
Venelana's wine glass cracked in her grip.
Zeoticus inhaled sharply.
Sirzechs?
His usual smile froze.
Because the Infinite Dragon God had just walked into their dining hall… as if it were an afterthought.
And Hespera? Hespera stood by, smiling like the cheshire cat. She was having a field day, watching the shock on their faces. 'Hehe~ This is better than I imagined!'
She planted a hand on her hip, tilting her head as she scanned the gathered Devils before finally settling her gaze on Zeoticus.
Then, without missing a beat, she said, "Ah, so you're the old man. Cool."
Rias buried her face in her hands. Oh, this was going to be a disaster.
Zeoticus Gremory blinked. Once. Twice. Then, slowly—almost hesitantly—he straightened in his seat, his blue eyes narrowing ever so slightly as he studied the chaotic enigma standing before him.
Rias, still rubbing her temples, groaned softly. "Hespera..." She had expected chaos, but this? This was outright madness. "I really shouldn't have expected anything normal from her. From the little I got from her, she gets a kick out of causing a scene," poor Rias grumbled to herself.
The head of the Gremory family composed himself first. His grip on the table was firm but controlled as he exhaled. "You must be Hespera Eveningstar," he said evenly, though the weight behind his words was unmistakable. "And you—" His gaze flickered toward Ophis, the weight of his stare laced with careful respect and deep caution. "—are quite the unexpected guest. May I have the honor of asking how the Great Ouroboros is acquainted with Ms. Eveningstar?"
Ophis blinked, her violet eyes unreadable as she regarded Zeoticus Gremory.
Then, in the most matter-of-fact tone possible, she said:
"She is my daughter."
Silence.
A silence so heavy it felt like reality itself had momentarily paused.
Venelana's fingers tightened around the delicate stem of her new wine glass. Sirzechs' ever-present smile faltered for the second time that evening. Grayfia—Grayfia, the ever-stoic Queen of Lucifer—visibly tensed, her gaze flickering between the Infinite Dragon God and the smirking young woman beside her.
Zeoticus, to his credit, did not immediately react. But the slight shift in his breathing, the sharp glint in his eyes, betrayed the whirlwind of thoughts racing through his mind.
Rias? Rias nearly choked on air.
"WHAT?!" Her voice cracked slightly, her hands slamming down onto the table as she stared at Hespera in absolute disbelief.
Hespera? She just grinned.
She sighed dramatically, placing a hand over her chest. "Ah~ Rias, dear, didn't I say that I was bringing my mother to this little meeting? Or did you forget~"
Rias's eye twitched violently.
"THAT is not the issue here, Hespera!" she practically shrieked, her composure shattering as she pointed accusingly at Ophis. "You did not— How is—Why is Ophis your mother?!"
Hespera blinked, tilting her head like she was honestly confused by the outburst.
"Well," she mused, tapping a finger against her lips, "I'm fairly certain it's because she raised me. You know, cared for me, taught me things, protected me, all that good motherly stuff." She grinned, resting her cheek in her palm. "You do know how parenthood works, right, princess?"
Rias's soul left her body.
Sirzechs was fighting for his life not to start laughing. He covered his mouth with a fist, his shoulders barely shaking.
Venelana, however, was not amused. "Enough games," she said, her sharp gaze locking onto Ophis. "You truly claim her as your daughter?"
Ophis nodded once. "She is mine."
Venelana's grip on her wine glass tightened. Zeoticus' expression remained unreadable. Grayfia was very subtly side-eyeing Sirzechs, whose smile was now way too entertained for the situation. 'My sister is so cute when she's frazzled!'
Rias, meanwhile, was on the verge of an existential meltdown.
"You—you're the Infinite Dragon God!" she sputtered, as if saying it out loud would make reality somehow make sense again. "How—why—how does that even happen?!"
Ophis blinked. Then, in the calmest, most utterly indifferent tone possible, she said:
"I found her. I kept her. She is mine." My Silence.
Rias slammed her hands on the table again. "That's not an answer!"
Hespera snickered. "Oh, but it is," she teased, shooting Rias a wink. "Just not one you like~"
Rias wanted to scream.
---
I made a poll on Scribblehub in yesterday's chapter, but I want to know your thoughts too.
Which Highschool DxD girl should be in the harem?
Rias
Raynare