Inside a quiet, dimly lit room, Akira and Azazel sat across from one another, separated only by a small wooden table and a bottle of freshly opened sake.

"So, the mighty Governor of the Fallen Angels himself comes all the way to a little town like Kuoh. What brings you here?" Akira asked bluntly, his tone calm but edged with suspicion.

Azazel chuckled, swirling the cup in his hand as he leaned back with an air of complete ease. "You're as impatient as they say."

"I take it you didn't come because of the White Dragon Emperor?"

"Correct. Your scuffle with Vali isn't my business. Win or lose, that's on him. I'm not here to interfere."

"Then it must be about something—or someone—else."

Azazel's lips curled into a teasing grin. "Why don't you try guessing?"

The way he looked at Akira was almost playful, like a teacher watching a promising student piece together a puzzle. This man might've been the head of Grigori, but he had the personality of someone who'd never taken a single thing in life seriously.

"…You came because of Akeno, didn't you?"

Azazel froze for a moment—just a heartbeat—but that flicker of hesitation was enough. His smirk slowly shifted into something more somber.

"So she's told you everything already…"

That was all Akira needed to confirm it.

Azazel had come to Kuoh because of Himejima Akeno.

Back when tragedy struck the Himejima clan, it was Azazel who had pulled Baraqiel—Akeno's father—away to deal with a critical mission. He never expected that decision to leave an opening for enemy onmyouji to strike.

Ever since, Azazel had carried the guilt.

He didn't say it aloud, but anyone who truly knew him could tell—Azazel saw Akeno like a niece. He'd visited Kuoh numerous times before, always from the shadows, just to make sure she was okay.

And he was also the only one Baraqiel ever trusted to pass along updates.

Akeno had never forgiven her father. Her hatred was deep, and for good reason. And so, Azazel had acted as the sole bridge between them.

"It's all in the past now," Akira muttered. "She's beginning to let go of that pain… just a little."

"Love really is a mysterious thing," Azazel said with a mischievous shrug. "Heh. And to think you'd be the one to melt her heart."

"...So what's your real reason for coming this time?"

"No big reason. Just wanted to meet the current Red Dragon Emperor—you." Azazel's gaze shifted to the window, where the golden evening sunlight poured through. "As for Akeno, I've got no right to meddle in her life. I just wanted to see her face, even if only from afar."

"So the great Governor of the Fallen Angels gets to take vacations now, huh?"

"Haha! Even governors need a break sometimes."

Akira narrowed his eyes. For someone with so much power and responsibility, Azazel acted more like a bored professor than the leader of a faction that once waged war against Heaven itself.

In the original story, Azazel eventually stepped down from his position and joined Kuoh Academy as a teacher, acting as an advisor for the Occult Research Club.

Even knowing that, seeing it firsthand like this made it all feel strange—almost too casual.

"Here's your order—sake and side dishes," said the waitress, gently placing the food and drinks on the table before bowing politely and stepping away.

"Ah, finally. Thanks," Azazel said, pouring himself another glass with an easy smile.

"…You really are something else," Akira muttered, watching the man down his sake like a regular office worker blowing off steam.

"This place has great food, by the way. You should try it."

Akira said nothing. The contrast between Azazel's reputation and his current behavior was just… surreal.

Is this really the same man who commands one of the most dangerous factions in the world?

"By the way," Azazel added suddenly, setting his cup down, "since we're already talking, there's something I should probably tell you."

"…What is it?"

"Kuoh might not stay peaceful for much longer."

Akira's expression shifted ever so slightly. The moment he heard those words, memories from the original plot came flooding back.

If everything followed the natural flow of the High School DxD storyline, then the next arc would be—

The Holy Sword Incident.

At the heart of it was Kokabiel, one of the Four Great Seraphs of the Fallen Angels. A war-hungry maniac who'd been trying to spark another great conflict between the three factions—Devils, Fallen Angels, and Heaven.

"You don't need to worry too much," Azazel said calmly. "With the power you've got now, this won't be anything major."

Akira didn't respond, but he understood the implication.

After all, he had already fought and beaten Vali, the White Dragon Emperor. Kokabiel wouldn't pose much of a threat in comparison.

In truth, Azazel was letting this incident unfold on purpose. It was a necessary purge.

A fanatic like Kokabiel—who lived and breathed war—couldn't be allowed to roam free forever. Azazel had likely known for some time what his subordinate was up to, but he was waiting for the right opportunity.

Now that Akira was here—someone strong enough to end it quickly and cleanly—that opportunity had arrived.

Azazel might act carefree, but nothing he did was without reason.

No way Kokabiel would try anything in Kuoh without knowing Azazel had eyes everywhere.

— — —

Elsewhere, on the edge of Kuoh Town…

Two girls walked slowly down a quiet sidewalk, their steps echoing faintly under the orange dusk sky.

"So this is the so-called land of the rising sun—Japan. What a godless place. Not even a sliver of divine atmosphere anywhere," said the blue-haired one with a sharp gaze and an air of cold confidence.

Her name was Xenovia Quarta.

Beside her, a brown-haired girl gave an awkward laugh and scratched her cheek.

"Come on, Xenovia, don't be so harsh."

This was Irina Shidou, once a childhood friend of a certain boy from Kuoh, and now a full-fledged agent of the Church.

"You lived here before, didn't you? Then you lead the way."

"I was a little kid back then! It's been years, okay? You expect me to remember every street?"

"You're useless, Irina."

"I'm choosing to ignore that."

The two of them—Xenovia and Irina—were Holy Sword wielders dispatched by the Church.

Their current mission: investigate the rumored appearance of Kokabiel in Kuoh.

But because this was Devil territory, they couldn't act carelessly. Every move had to be calculated. One wrong step and they could trigger a diplomatic disaster.

"…By the way, Irina," Xenovia said, glancing at her partner with curiosity. "You mentioned you had an old friend living here, right? Let's go see him."

"Sure… but Xenovia, listen. Don't mention anything about Issei, alright?"

"Yeah, yeah, I get it."

Xenovia agreed quickly—but the glint in her eyes said otherwise.

She was straightforward to a fault. Once she set her sights on something, she'd pursue it until the end, regardless of consequences.

Unfortunately for both of them… they didn't know the truth.

The boy they were searching for—Hyoudou Issei—no longer existed.

Every memory of him had been erased.

From his parents. From his friends. Even the very world system itself had scrubbed him from reality.

Unaware of this fact, the two girls continued walking deeper into the town, drawn by echoes of a past that no longer existed.

As they passed shops and homes, they marveled at the vibrant lifestyle of modern Japan. But to them, this place felt too free—too chaotic.

It lacked the sacred air they had grown up with in the sanctuaries of Europe.

Still, Irina smiled faintly as she walked. Her heart held one small hope—to meet her childhood friend again.

Back when she was a tomboy, often mistaken for a boy herself, she'd spent countless days with him.

Now, after growing into a proper young lady, she was curious.

How would he react when he saw her again?

She didn't know.

Didn't realize...

That Hyoudou Issei was gone forever.

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