What appeared to be a grueling, protracted campaign had actually consumed less than one hour.
Scene transition: when Bokue's group returned to demon realm capital Lilith via Serafall's teleportation arrays, Sirzechs still occupied his throne—awaiting Odin's delivery of Mjolnir, facial bandages decorating where Bokue's elbow strike had landed earlier.
Seeing everyone emerge from the portal, the young Maou froze mid-thought. He rose abruptly, one hand bracing against the armrest.
"Rias, you all... finished already?"
"Yeah. It's done."
Bokue led the procession, hands casually pocketed, raising his gaze toward the red-haired Maou descending from his throne with an expression that screamed really?
"Why the shock? Acting like this wasn't your plan all along."
"Ahaha, wouldn't say that exactly..."
Sirzechs offered sheepish defense, but his reflexive hand movement—touching those facial bandages—betrayed his true calculations.
"Ultimately, I was just concerned about Rias's safety, you know?"
"If safety mattered, why not deploy other families?"
Having elbowed Sirzechs into unconsciousness earlier, Bokue felt zero obligation toward diplomatic restraint now that the Maou had recovered.
"Seventy-two Pillars in the demon realm. Today's entire subjugation roster consisted of Gremory, Sitri, and Phoenix—three households. The remaining sixty-nine couldn't spare a single combatant? That's the depth chart?"
"Well, my sister asked so earnestly..."
Recognizing his position's indefensibility, Sirzechs could only mumble continued justifications.
Conversely, Serafall—who'd just teleported everyone back—beamed with radiant enthusiasm, nodding vigorously.
"Exactly~! His sister asked so earnestly!"
?
That unnaturally cheerful tone drew Sirzechs's confused attention.
Though he'd known Serafall since childhood, understood her naturally energetic personality, this level of exuberance felt... unprecedented? And what explained those pink sparkles practically radiating from her aura?
The young Maou descended into brief existential confusion.
VWOOM—
Overhead teleportation arrays blazed to life. Through spatial magic's radiant fluctuations, Odin descended alongside Michael—the one-eyed elder gripping Mjolnir with obvious urgency.
"Sirzechs! Finally made it—rushed the entire journey bringing Mjolnir! We should depart for the battlefield immediately... eh?"
Upon touching down, Odin's proclamation died mid-sentence. His gaze swept across the assembled crowd below—all very much not preparing for deployment.
"You all... haven't departed yet?"
"Actually, Lord Odin..."
Rossweisse clasped her hands apologetically before her chest.
"We've... already returned from completing the mission."
"...Huh? Already finished?"
"Finished."
Bokue repeated flatly.
Uh...
Odin reflexively examined the hammer in his grip.
So I spent an entire day rushing back to retrieve Mjolnir... for what purpose exactly?
"Let's summarize the results."
Bokue cleared his throat, commandeering the debriefing.
"Loki's thoroughly dead. Fenrir—I sealed. Jörmungandr got pummeled by Vali then abandoned on-site. Still there if you want it retrieved."
"...Sealed?"
"Right here."
Bokue produced the paper talisman he'd hastily crafted for Fenrir's binding.
Unlike its previous blank state, the shikigami now displayed ink-brush wolf imagery across its surface.
"Whoa~ such a tiny slip sealing Fenrir? Though I can definitely sense his power leaking from within..."
Odin leaned closer, stroking his beard while examining the construct with genuine fascination.
"Ah, I recognize this! The legendary shikigami technique, correct?"
Though unfamiliar with onmyouji practices comprehensively, he possessed baseline cultural knowledge—shikigami, onmyoudo arts, basic frameworks.
"Close enough."
Bokue flicked the paper construct with his fingertip.
"If you want him back, I can release the seal right now. Assuming you possess containment protocols..."
Contain him? Contain my ass!
Odin's internal monologue screamed.
If he could've contained Fenrir, yesterday's palace incident would've concluded with immediate capture—no frantic Mjolnir retrieval, no subjugation team assembly, none of this.
"Well~ I'll gratefully entrust Lord Keikain with continued supervision."
Odin stroked his magnificent white beard while executing tactical retreat at light speed.
Translation: Don't release him. Please.
Naturally, Bokue had zero intention of doing so regardless.
He'd finally secured an excellent "dog" for Yura. Returning the gift? Absurdly wasteful.
"Ara, Rias—you've returned?"
A beautiful woman's gentle voice drifted from the palace entrance.
When Rias turned reflexively, her mother had already ascended the steps—immediately opening her arms to envelop her daughter in a soft embrace.
"Mm-hm! As expected of my daughter—clearly you've grown considerably these past months. Mom sensed Serafall-chan's magical signature from the hotel and knew you'd returned, so I rushed over. What are we discussing?"
"It's... nothing major..."
Being embraced like a child before this many witnesses painted Rias's cheeks with faint crimson embarrassment.
"Just debriefing combat results. Planning departure to the human realm tomorrow."
"Eh? Tomorrow already? Isn't that terribly rushed?"
Hearing her daughter's imminent departure, Venelana abandoned the embrace entirely—gripping Rias's shoulders while launching persuasive offense.
"You could absolutely stay several more days! The alliance ceremony concluded, Loki's crisis resolved—having traveled all this way to Lilith, extending your visit wouldn't hurt, right?"
"Unfortunately, Lady Venelana, that's impossible."
Sona Sitri adjusted her glasses with clinical precision.
"I approved only one week's leave through student council authority. We've already consumed most of that allocation. Further delays create significant administrative complications at school."
"How can this be?? Finally returning home after so long, yet departing after mere days?"
Venelana's tone shifted—adopting theatrical distress.
"But Mom gets so lonely alone at home! I want seeing Rias every single day~ Uuu~"
She's literally adding verbal crying sounds now?
Rias's mental commentary dripped with exasperation. When did Mom become this shamelessly manipulative?
Naturally, she failed noticing Venelana's subtle glances toward a certain young man nearby—calculating, strategic.
"Then... worst case, just visit the human realm yourself, Mom. Itogami Island has plenty of accommodations..."
Overwhelmed by maternal manipulation tactics, Rias capitulated with resigned exhaustion.
CLAP!
The previously "distraught" woman brought both hands together joyfully beside her face—instant transformation from tears to radiant smiles.
"Really?? Is that acceptable? Oh, my wonderful Rias—absolutely the best daughter!"
Eh?
A sensation of having been thoroughly conned washed over the red-haired girl.
Those tears were completely fabricated?
Meanwhile, Bokue's attention shifted toward Michael—who'd remained quietly beside Odin throughout.
"Speaking of which, I came to the demon realm partly to request a favor from Archangel Michael..."
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