The sun had already begun to dip beneath the treetops by the time Rias and her peerage trudged back toward the mansion.
Their clothes were torn and covered in dirt, their expressions hollow and exhausted, proof of the training they went through.
It was as though they had crawled straight out of a battlefield rather than a training session.
At the front entrance, leaning casually against the doorframe, Arthur waited for them. His usual calm smile never wavered, even as his gaze took in their sorry appearances.
"Well," he said with easy amusement, "you all look like you've survived something catastrophic. How was training?"
There was a collective groan.
"Hell," Issei blurted out immediately, dragging his feet as though every step might be his last. "Pure, unending hell. I saw my life flash before my eyes at least five times! That old man is unfair. I feel like he was really going to kill me."
Kiba rubbed the back of his neck and muttered, "I couldn't even keep up with her eyes. One blink and I'd already lost. And how does she keep giving precise shots while keeping up with my footwork? She is really.... I didn't even know what to call her."
Koneko looked half-dead herself, ears twitching faintly as she mumbled, "Yuri's scary fast… She smiled when I actually hit her. Who does that?"
Akeno gave a weak laugh that quickly turned into a sigh. Her clothes were slightly scorched, faint traces of lightning still flickering around her hands. "Narberal-san's lightning is beyond brutal. I'm fairly certain I got electrocuted at least three times in the last hour. And her words are even more hurtful than the lighting itself. It's fair to say that I hate her." Akeno said as she remembered Narberal's taunts about her not using her fallen angel heritage.
I will never use that guy's side. I will win without using the fallen angelside. Akeno thought to herself.
Asia looked like she was about to cry but forced herself to smile. "Lupus-san said I did well… even though all her illusions were bleeding so much…"
Arthur felt like there is some change in Asia, but he can't point out what.
Rias trailed behind everyone, her crimson hair disheveled, her usual grace gone. Her voice came out barely above a murmur. "I've never felt this powerless in my life…"
Arthur chuckled softly at their collective misery. "Good," he said simply.
"Good!?" Rias snapped, glaring at him. "Didn't you hear us? We were practically tortured!"
"Oh, I heard you," Arthur replied smoothly, his tone maddeningly calm. "And that's exactly why I said it was great training. Look at yourselves—you've all taken your first true step toward growth. You experienced fear, pain, exhaustion… everything that real strength demands."
They all stared at him like he was insane.
Arthur stepped forward, his hands tucked behind his back, and continued in a more measured voice. "Power doesn't come from comfort. You can't evolve by playing it safe or fighting weak opponents. Today, you learned how small you still are in a world full of monsters… and that realization is the foundation of progress."
Arthur is just saying whatever he is feeling to make sure Rias and others won't be discouraged easily.
Silence followed his words. Even Issei didn't have a comeback for that.
Finally, Arthur clapped his hands once. "Alright, enough of the gloom. Go clean yourselves up. Baths are ready upstairs—separate ones, of course," he added before Issei could make a comment. "And once you're done, head to the dining hall. The Pleiades are preparing dinner for you."
That caught everyone's attention.
"Dinner?" Asia perked up instantly, her eyes sparkling with renewed life.
Arthur smiled knowingly. "Yes, and I believe Lupusregina is handling the desserts herself. Though I'd hurry—she has a habit of sampling while she cooks."
Issei straightened up immediately. "Bath first, food second! I'm alive again!" He bolted toward the mansion doors, tripping over himself in his excitement.
Akeno giggled tiredly. "He recovers fast, doesn't he?"
"Only when food or women are involved," Kiba said with a faint grin.
As they all began to shuffle toward the mansion, Arthur called after them, "Oh, and don't keep them waiting too long. When Pleiades cooks, they expect their guests to arrive on time—and trust me, you don't want to see Solution's face if she thinks you're being disrespectful."
Rias turned back briefly, brushing a loose strand of hair from her face. "Arthur… thank you, I suppose."
He gave a small, genuine smile. "There's no need to thank me yet. Save that for when you can stand toe-to-toe with those who trained you today."
Which is a very hard task for anyone to achieve.
Her eyes flickered with a mix of pride and frustration before she finally nodded and went inside.
As the sound of footsteps faded up the staircase, Arthur glanced at the twilight sky, his expression softening. "They've taken their first step," he murmured to himself. "Now let's see if they can keep walking. Now I need to wake Ddrag in Issei's Sacred Gear."
Behind him, faint laughter and chatter echoed from the kitchen—Lupus scolding Solution for tasting too much sauce, Narberal directing the others, and Shizu silently arranging the plates with machine-like precision.
Arthur turned toward the doorway, his coat catching the last light of the setting sun. "Let's see if they still call it hell after dessert."
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