[Kiba's Perspective]
"Well, that's one fire put out, at least," Rias sighed.
She, Akeno-san, and I had finally made our way back to the hospital where Issei-kun was being treated. After the initial shock of Asem's broadcast, we had rushed to the Gremory territory to help stabilize the region. Thanks to the coordination of Rias's father—the current Lord Gremory—the evacuation and public briefings were already well underway by the time we arrived.
"I shouldn't have expected any less from Mother," Rias remarked, her expression softening with pride. "The chaos there was far more contained than in other territories. There was hardly a role for me to play."
"Ufufu, that is Lady Venelana for you," Akeno added with a smile. "There are few in the Underworld who can match her administrative brilliance."
Venelana Gremory's name was legendary—not just as the strongest woman of the Bael bloodline, but as a leader of peerless charisma and command. At times, I found myself thinking her aptitude for "kingship" might even eclipse that of the current Four Great Satans.
Of course, the Gremory lands had another advantage: the Lord had already been made aware of the existence of other worlds. Sirzechs-sama's foresight in pre-emptively briefing key allies had paid dividends. It was a shame the same couldn't be done for all the high-tier nobility, but the "Otherworld" had been a strictly classified secret among the leaders of the Three Factions.
Still, thanks to Venelana-sama's efficiency, we were able to return much sooner than anticipated.
Rias's face turned serious again as she shifted topics. "And then there's Bidithze Abaddon. To think he would use the chaos to try and frame the Bael clan..."
Opportunists were crawling out of the woodwork. From remnants of the Old Satan Faction to stragglers of the Khaos Brigade, the unrest was a breeding ground for malice.
Bidithze Abaddon—a top-tier professional Rating Game player currently ranked third—was among them. Asem's broadcast had already outed him as one of the players using illegal "King" pieces to rig matches. For a man whose fame was his lifeblood, the revelation was a death sentence.
His response? A desperate, bloody play to "purify" his name. He had attempted to assassinate the head of the Bael clan, intending to claim he had been a victim of the Bael's influence and had struck down the "source" of the corruption to save the Underworld.
"To fabricate a sense of 'justice' just to preserve one's own ego..." Rias shook her head. "It's hard to believe a man once hailed as a hero could be so hollow."
"How are Saji-kun and Sairaorg Bael?" I asked. "I heard they were the ones who stopped him."
Saji had intercepted Bidithze at the Bael castle. Despite the man's corruption, he was still a Satan-class powerhouse; Saji had been pushed to his absolute limit until Sairaorg arrived to reinforce him.
"They're both safe," Rias replied. "Not unscathed, certainly, but they've been treated and are already back in the field, helping to maintain order."
Stopping a Satan-class professional... it was an incredible feat. But then, Sairaorg Bael was the man who had traded blows with Issei-kun at his peak. Since his defeat, I'd heard he'd been training with a singular focus on surpassing Issei. A man like that—a man whose fists carried the weight of his soul—would never lose to a fraud blinded by vanity.
That said, Saji's contribution couldn't be overlooked.
"Sairaorg may have landed the finishing blow, but Saji's growth is nothing short of miraculous," Rias noted. "I wonder... did confessing his feelings to Sona give him that extra push?"
It was a distinct possibility. Since he had finally stepped forward with Sona-san, Saji's tenacity had reached new heights. No matter how many times he was knocked down, his black flames only burned hotter. I could easily imagine those flames acting as an inescapable shackle for Bidithze.
Akeno-san giggled. "To him, Sona-san isn't just a master to serve; she's the woman he wants to protect. Having a person like that in your life allows you to pull strength from beyond your limits. Honestly, Saji-kun is starting to remind me of Issei-kun. Then again, between you, Yuuto-kun, Gasper-kun, and even Lord Raiser... every man who spends time around Issei seems to catch a bit of his 'fever.'"
I couldn't help but laugh. "I can't exactly deny that."
I had met Issei, learned of his burdens, and found myself captivated by the way he lived. I had spent so much time chasing his back. Once—no, twice—I had lost my way and forgotten what that felt like. But I wouldn't lose my path again.
I know I'm not like him. I can't be him. But I still want to live with that same fire. I want to find my own answer, just as he found his.
"Ufufu."
"My, my, Yuuto-kun."
Rias and Akeno were looking at me with those knowing, fond smiles. I really am no match for the women of this peerage.
We chatted as we navigated the hospital corridors until we reached Issei-kun's room. Miwa-san and Alice-san were supposed to be inside, finishing up the mana calculations for the time-dilation barrier. Based on the schedule they'd given us, they should have been just about done.
Rias reached for the handle and swung the door open.
"Ehehe... Onii-chan..."
"Seriously... come back to us soon. It's lonely without you..."
Inside, Miwa and Alice were practically fused to the unconscious Issei. They had climbed into the hospital bed and were currently nuzzling his cheeks with blissful expressions.
"..."
"..."
The girls froze. We froze.
Haha... in a situation like this, what is a guy even supposed to say?
"We're sorry, we're sorry, we're sorry, we're sorry...!"
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