Alice approached, sparks crackling, her hair shifting from blonde to pure white—battle mode.

I exhaled. "Told you to go back."

"Sorry, I'm your 'Queen.' Didn't Rias say a 'King' keeps their 'Queen' close?" Alice shrugged.

Was that Rias? Maybe Grayfia.

"When you make that face, something's up. Anyone could tell," she added.

"Haha… Where's everyone else?" I asked.

"Sent them to the castle. Too many of us would cause a scene. That was your plan, right?"

She saw through me.

With vampires watching, I wanted to avoid trouble. I hid my presence to shake the surveillance, but losing me would cause a stir, so I needed to return quickly.

Wait—Alice being here means she had a watcher too.

"Your monitor?" I asked.

"Over there." She pointed to a vampire passed out on a bench.

"What did you do!?" I shouted.

"Just a light chop," she said, mimicking a hand strike.

A chop!? That's too much!

The vampire's eyes were rolled back—dead? Alive? I hope I'm not labeled a vampire killer later!

This is bad. Even Marius would have a field day with this.

"Small stuff, don't sweat it. Be bold!" Alice teased.

"You're too bold!" I snapped.

"That's my charm!"

"You said it yourself!?"

She's bold in every sense—good and bad. Damn her confidence! Makes me want to grab her chest!

"Better than them freaking out over losing me," she said.

"Maybe, but one missing person might cause a bigger fuss."

"True. I'm counting on you, Master!"

"You're pinning it all on me!?"

That's low! She's totally using me!

Fine, when we're back in Japan, she's getting punished—chest groping!

"Well said, Issei! That's my boy!" Ignis chimed in.

Why speak now, in this mood, but stay silent during serious stuff like other worlds or Rossweisse!? You had plenty of chances!

"I didn't want to ruin the serious vibe," Ignis said.

Stupid goddess! Don't pick and choose like that!

Alice, blushing, thrust out her chest. "F-Fine! Grope all you want! Punish me! I'm… ready anytime… hngh!"

Her voice trailed off, eyes teary, sounding like Asia.

So cute! Makes my heart skip—want to hug her!

But not now—she's sparking. I'd get fried.

"Wow, the rumored Seriousness Breaker," Asem said.

"Rumored!?" I exclaimed.

"Yup! Khaos Brigade folks fear your group shatters any serious moment," he laughed.

What!? We're feared like that!? First I'm hearing of it!

Sorry! I don't know why, but sorry! Apologizing to terrorists feels wrong, but I'm sorry for this!

Asem burst out laughing. Annoying, but we made this mess, so I can't talk.

Damn it! Things were serious for a while, and now this! I could cry!

"Good call, Ddraig. We're derailing too much," I said, coughing and facing Asem seriously.

Alice matched my vibe, her expression hardening. "Who's that kid?"

She's on high alert. Understandable—his aura's creepy.

"His name's Asem, a god from Ast Aarde. And… one of Rossweisse's creators," I said lowly.

Alice's eyes widened, speechless. "You… made that thing?"

"Yup, with other gods, to be precise," Asem replied.

"Why!?" Alice's voice broke with pain. "That thing ruined our country!"

"Well, yeah. But Hero-kun saved it from total destruction, right? You're here because recovery's going well, no?"

"Don't joke! It hurt our people! Our loved ones died! Even Issei…!"

Right. Rossweisse killed me once. Ast Aarde's people suffered too. Even if it wasn't his will, their curse forced him to keep destroying.

Asem laughed lightly. "Haha, it worked out, didn't it? A rare sight—humans, demons, gods united. You saw something special!"

Alice unleashed a massive white aura, her killing intent manifesting as lightning, tearing up the plaza, scattering bricks.

"Don't mock us!" she roared, charging at Asem, eyes blazing, ready to kill.

She's justified—our country was wrecked, and he's still amused. But she's too reckless, consumed by rage!

As her spear aimed for Asem, something struck from the side.

Alice blocked with her spear but was blown back by the force.

I entered Zone instantly, catching her before she crashed into a building.

"Idiot! You're playing into his hands!" I shouted.

If I'd been a second slower, she'd have been in trouble.

"Sorry…" she said, apologetic.

"You're not hurt. That's what matters. Who's that?" I asked, eyeing the figure beside Asem.

A tall woman with dark skin, white hair like Asem's, in a skimpy black dress—revealing but sexy. How does she move in that? Isn't she cold?

She held a menacing black spear and smirked. "Trying to touch Father? A thousand years too early, girl."

"Stop with 'Father.' You look older," Asem said. "This is Vika, my daughter from 'Arsenal.' Say hi, Vika."

"Yaho, Hero-sama! I'm Vika, Father Asem's daughter. Nice to meet ya!" she said, twirling her spear.

Daughter?

"She's one of my creations, less powerful than Rossweisse but obedient," Asem explained.

Like Loki creating Hel.

"She also… keeps me company at night," he added.

"What!?" I blurted.

He's doing that with his "daughter"!?

"That's messed up!" I yelled.

"She's more a servant than a daughter," he said.

"Still wrong!"

"I didn't plan it, but this human body gets… lively. Tough luck, haha!" he said.

I get it! Human urges are real! Boys' fate!

"Why are you nodding!?" Alice glared.

Okay, I'm jealous! A kid getting that from a hot older woman! I dreamed of that in elementary school!

Damn him for living my childhood fantasy! (God or not!)

"You perv!" Alice punched my jaw.

Ouch! That hurt!

Asem laughed. "Haha, you guys are great! Never boring."

Rubbing my jaw, I said, "Thanks… You said 'one of' your creations. There's more?"

"Yup, brought them to town. Vika, where are they?"

"Probably sipping tea somewhere. I said I'd handle this," Vika replied.

So casual… Vika's laid-back but strong—she sent Alice flying. The others are likely just as tough.

Alice and I stayed on guard.

Vika grinned. "Wanna fight? I'm game."

"No, Vika. We're here to talk, not fight. Besides, Rizevim's about to move, so let them go," Asem said.

"What?" I raised an eyebrow.

"You didn't notice?" Asem pointed to the castle, where a giant light wall—magic circle?—enveloped it.

"Marius plans to extract Valerie's Holy Grail. You know what that means, right?"

Damn it! That's what "release" meant!

He's extracting a Longinus with a ritual magic circle.

If the teacher were here, he'd confirm it. We need to hurry.

The teacher said extracting a sacred gear without care kills the host—it's tied to their soul.

Marius wouldn't bother with precautions.

"You better hurry, or you'll miss Rizevim's show. Can't wait to see your shocked faces," Asem said lightly.

"You…!" Alice glared, but we had no time.

I grabbed her hand. "Alice, we're going to Valerie! The others are probably moving too!"

"Got it!"

We bolted for the castle. Asem and Vika didn't follow, just waved us off.

Rizevim's "show" sounds bad. What's he planning?

Nothing good.

I contacted Tia urgently as we ran.

[Third Person Side]

Asem and Vika watched Issei and Alice leave.

Vika asked, "Was it okay to let them go?"

"Sure. Fighting now would be fun, but I'd win. Boring," Asem said, clenching and opening his hand.

His power was diminished in this body, but it was recovering. He'd win a direct fight.

But that wasn't his style. "Nothing's duller than a predictable win. I'll enjoy his growth for now."

"Alright," Vika said.

"Disappointed?" Asem asked.

"Nope, if you're fine with it."

"Stop with 'Father.' You look older. But if you want to fight, go ahead. I won't force you," he said.

"You saw through me," Vika giggled.

Asem stretched. "Let's head back. By the way, aren't you cold?"

Vika's outfit was thin, exposing her chest and navel in this freezing land.

"I'm fine. Got a heat pack!" she sneezed.

"Want my hoodie?"

[Third Person Side Out]

-----------------------------

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