Chapter 3: Akeno: A Future Sister, Right?
Ultimately, after some deep thought, Akira decided against heading deeper into the Underworld immediately.
This world was his "Main World." Unlike the other dimensions he visited, this was the place he considered home. Unless absolutely necessary, he didn't want to cause massive upheaval or chaos. Despite his absolute power, he had no burning ambition to rule the world. His desires were simple: power, beautiful women, good food, and a comfortable life.
Swoosh—
A silhouette flickered and appeared before Akira. The figure wore white clothing and had long, flowing jade-green hair. Her face bore a fifty-percent resemblance to Akira's previous form, especially in her ethereal aura.
"Onii-chan, is this your world?"
Kingu spoke softly as she surveyed her surroundings. However, as she felt the mana in the atmosphere, she frowned slightly. The concentration of mana here was incredibly thin—less than a tenth of what was found in Mesopotamia. It felt "cheap" and low-quality.
Of course, Kingu didn't realize that the mana in the Underworld was actually considered quite high; in the human world, it was far worse.
"How do you feel, Kingu?"
"The mana here is very thin."
"It's not that it's thin here, it's that the mana in Mesopotamia was too concentrated," Akira explained. "That was the Age of Gods, after all. This is the modern era, where 'Mystery' has faded."
"Mystery has faded?"
"Exactly. In this current world, ordinary humans can't even touch the side of Mystery. Humanity lives in total ignorance of it."
"I see. Then, why did you call me here, Onii-chan?"
"I need you to accompany me for a certain task."
"What kind of task?"
"Bringing back 'Samael'."
"Samael?"
Akira took a moment to explain the lore of this world and the true nature of the creature known as Samael. Kingu absorbed the information rapidly, forming a clear picture in her mind.
"This is the Commandment of Love. I'm giving it to you."
"Onii-chan, this is..."
"Just take it. From now on, you are the leader of the Ten Commandments. All members will fall under your leadership."
"I understand, Onii-chan."
Kingu nodded and accepted the Commandment of Love, absorbing it with ease. For her, it provided an ability akin to an Authority. The dark power that came with it was just a small bonus.
But Akira's gift didn't stop there. Just as Zeldris was the leader of the Ten Commandments and the Demon King's representative who could borrow the King's magic, Kingu now held a similar position. She had Akira's permission to act as his proxy and use a portion of his overwhelming power.
Snap—
At that moment, the sound of a dry twig breaking echoed nearby.
Before Akira could even move, Kingu had already reacted. The Chains of Heaven—Enkidu—shot through the air like a bolt of lightning, targeting the source of the sound. In Kingu's eyes, anyone who overheard her brother's plans had to be silenced permanently.
"Ah...!"
A startled gasp rang out. Akira's eyes widened as he realized who it was.
Clang—
A golden ripple appeared in the air in front of the newcomer. A second set of chains shot out from Akira's side, knocking Kingu's chains away just in time.
"Onii-chan?" Kingu looked at him, utterly confused. She didn't understand why he had stopped her.
Akira let out a sigh of relief. He looked toward the visitor—a woman with a perfect silhouette, her long hair tied in a beautiful ponytail, radiating the aura of a mature woman. It was Himejima Akeno.
She was Akira's lover, and the first woman he had shared a truly intimate bond with.
"Akeno, what are you doing here?" Akira asked, his voice tinged with helplessness.
"I just saw you leave the banquet alone, so I came to check on you. I didn't mean to eavesdrop," she explained softly.
"It's fine. Come here."
"Okay..."
Akeno walked closer, throwing a wary glance at Kingu. As she approached, Kingu's eyes narrowed in suspicion. She could sense three different bloodlines mixed within this woman. A hybrid? Or a hybrid of hybrids?
"This is Akeno, my lover. You can think of her as my partner," Akira introduced.
"He... Hello~" Akeno managed a shaky greeting. Having almost been skewered by the Chains of Heaven, she felt a lingering sense of dread toward Kingu.
Akeno knew those chains were Akira's Noble Phantasm. Seeing this girl use them so naturally meant their relationship was far from ordinary. Furthermore, the girl looked about seventy-percent identical to Akira's previous form.
Akeno remembered Akira saying he looked like that because he couldn't control Enkidu's power. Is she the same? she wondered. But she quickly dismissed the thought. Akira could still use the chains; if the original owner were dead, there wouldn't be two users.
"Akeno, this is Kingu. My younger sister."
"Sister?" Akeno looked back and forth between them. There was definitely a resemblance.
One couldn't blame Akeno for being confused; Akira's previous Enkidu-like appearance was burned into everyone's memory. Kingu's body was essentially Enkidu's body, and though Akira had reshaped her into a beautiful woman, the essence remained.
"Don't be so suspicious," Akira laughed. "Kingu and I are siblings, though not by blood."
"Meaning... she'll be a 'sister' to Rias and me as well?" Akeno asked with a knowing smile.
"Ahem, exactly." Akira admitted it without hesitation. They were all going to be one family eventually, so there was no point in hiding it.
Akeno nodded, not minding at all. Rias was already his fiancée, and as her Queen, Akeno knew she and the others were effectively "bridal attendants" who would inevitably belong to Akira.
However, just because Akeno didn't mind didn't mean Kingu was indifferent.
What did Onii-chan mean? Kingu wondered. Becoming a 'sister' with his woman... does that mean I will also become Onii-chan's woman?
The thought didn't repel her at all; in fact, she felt a surge of joy. But that joy was immediately followed by a wave of panic. She had no experience with such things and had no idea how to act. Even though she was a second-generation weapon of the gods, in her heart, she had truly become a woman.
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