A few days later, Sona Sitri was watching her best friend very closely.
Sona was the Student Council President of Kuoh Academy.
She was a very smart, serious girl with short black hair and glasses.
She was also a high-class Devil, just like Rias.
Sona knew all about Riser Phenex.
She knew the arranged marriage was a heavy weight on Rias's shoulders.
Sona had expected Rias to be stressed, angry, or desperately trying to find a way out.
But recently, Rias has changed completely.
She wasn't worried about Riser at all. In fact, she looked happier than she had been in months.
During history class, Sona noticed Rias hiding a brightly colored American comic book behind her textbook.
Rias was actually giggling and smiling at the pages.
When the lunch bell rang and the classroom emptied out, Sona walked over to Rias's desk.
"Rias,"
Sona said, pushing her glasses up the bridge of her nose.
"We need to talk. You have been acting very strange lately."
Rias looked up, blinking her bright blue eyes.
"Strange? What do you mean, Sona?"
"I mean Riser,"
Sona said, keeping her voice low so no one else could hear.
"Your engagement party is getting closer. You should be planning a way to get out of it, or at least preparing your peerage for a Rating Game. But instead, you are reading comic books in the middle of class. Have you given up?"
Rias let out a happy, relaxed laugh.
She waved her hand dismissively.
"Oh, Riser? Don't worry about him, Sona. That entire situation is completely handled. He doesn't stand a chance."
Sona frowned. She was deeply confused.
"Handled? By who? You don't have anyone strong enough to fight him."
"That is a secret,"
Rias winked playfully. Then, she eagerly grabbed the comic book from her desk and held it up for Sona to see.
"But forget about Riser for a second! Look at this, Sona! Have you ever read American comics?"
Sona stared at the glossy cover.
"No,"
Sona answered flatly.
"I prefer reading actual literature. What has gotten into you?"
Rias's eyes sparkled with pure excitement. She completely ignored Sona's serious tone and started fangirling.
"It is amazing, Sona! It is a story about a girl named Dee. She is the literal Goddess of Death. Not just a normal god, but a multiverse-level cosmic being! And her husband is named Elias. He is just as incredible. He has the power to adapt and overcome anything in existence!"
Rias quickly flipped through the pages, pointing at the colorful drawings.
"They are the ultimate power couple! They travel through the multiverse together, hiding in plain sight. They look like normal teenagers, but they hold the power to end worlds! It is so romantic and cool!"
Sona stood perfectly still. She looked at the comic book, and then she looked at her best friend's excited, flushed face.
Sona let out a long, very tired sigh.
"Rias,"
Sona said gently, placing a hand on Rias's shoulder.
"I know the stress of arranged marriage is very hard on you. Sometimes, our minds retreat into fictional worlds to hide from our real-life problems. If you need a therapist, I can find one for you."
"I'm not going crazy, Sona!"
Rias pouted, closing the comic book.
"I am completely serious! Elias and Dee are the best!"
Sona just shook her head and walked out of the classroom.
She felt very worried for her friend.
She thought Rias had finally cracked under the pressure of the Devil society.
Sona didn't know that Rias wasn't just talking about a fictional comic book.
Rias was fangirling because she knew that the multiverse-level Goddess of Death and her unstoppable husband were currently living in Kuoh town—and they were going to save her life.
Far away from the human world, deep inside the Grigori headquarters, another powerful being was reading the exact same comic book.
Azazel, the Governor-General of the Fallen Angels, sat in his large, messy office.
He had twelve magnificent black wings, but right now, he didn't look like a scary leader.
He had his feet kicked up on his desk, leaning back in his chair with a comic book held up to his face.
Azazel loved human culture. He loved video games, movies, and especially comic books.
The door to his office suddenly opened. Baraqiel walked in, holding a stack of serious mission reports.
"Azazel,"
Baraqiel said, his deep voice filling the room.
"We need to go over the new patrol routes in Europe."
Azazel didn't look up. He just pointed at the colorful pages in his hands.
"Hold on, Baraqiel. You have to read this new series. It is incredible! It is about a multiverse Goddess of Death named Dee, and her husband, Elias. He has this crazy power to adapt to any attack."
Baraqiel stopped walking. He looked at the cover of the comic book. He saw the drawing of Elias and Dee.
A small, knowing smile tugged at the corner of Baraqiel's mouth.
He knew exactly who they were.
They lived in his house. He ate dinner with them every night.
But Azazel had never met them. Azazel thought they were just cool fictional characters.
"I am... familiar with them,"
Baraqiel said carefully, hiding his amusement.
"They are very strong."
"Strong?"
Azazel laughed, finally lowering the comic book.
"They are overpowered! Man, I wish I could meet people like this in real life. The world would be a lot more interesting."
Baraqiel just kept smiling.
"You have no idea,"
He thought to himself.
Azazel put the comic book down on his desk and let out a long sigh. His face changed.
The lazy, fun boss was gone. Now, he looked like a true, serious leader.
"Alright,"
Azazel said, sitting up straight.
"What is the actual news? Did your spies find Kokabiel?"
Baraqiel's smile vanished. The room felt suddenly cold.
Kokabiel was another leader of the Fallen Angels. But unlike Azazel and Baraqiel, who wanted peace, Kokabiel loved war.
He hated the Devil Kings and the Angels. He wanted to restart the Great War that had destroyed so much of their world centuries ago.
"No,"
Baraqiel said, putting the reports on the desk. His face was grim.
"He has completely disappeared from our radar. But he took a lot of his loyal soldiers with him. Rogues and violent Fallen Angels who still want to fight."
Azazel frowned, rubbing his chin.
"He is hiding in the shadows. He is planning something big, Baraqiel. I can feel it."
"What do you think he wants to do?"
Baraqiel asked.
"I don't know yet,"
Azazel admitted, looking out his large office window.
"But Kokabiel is crazy. He wants to force the Angels and Devils to fight us again. He will try to do something loud and terrible to start a fire. We need to find out where he is going before he strikes."
Baraqiel nodded slowly. His heart felt heavy.
He thought about his beautiful wife, Shuri, and his sweet daughter,
Akeno, living down in Kuoh town.
Whenever rogue Fallen Angels moved around, it was always dangerous for half-bloods and humans.
But then, Baraqiel remembered who was watching over them.
He remembered the teenage boy who could shatter boulders and adapt to any magic.
He remembered the Goddess of Death who drank tea in his kitchen.
Baraqiel's shoulders relaxed.
"Let him do whatever he wants,"
Baraqiel said quietly. His voice was full of deep confidence.
"If he steps out of line, we will deal with him."
Azazel looked at his old friend, a little surprised by how calm he was.
"You seem very relaxed for a man whose family lives in Devil territory,"
Azazel noted.
Baraqiel just looked at the comic book sitting on Azazel's desk.
"I just have a feeling,"
Baraqiel said smoothly,
"That everything is going to be perfectly fine."
read up to chapter 42 at [email protected]/jelopy_jelopy