GREMORY MANSION ROOFTOP
Night covered Kuoh in deceptive tranquility. From atop the roof of the Gremory Mansion, Gasper silently observed the city, sensing every bat scattered throughout the alleys, utility poles, rooftops, and areas near Kuoh Academy.
The network was already in place.
Ordinary bats to human eyes, sensory extensions for him.
'I already have enough bats spread throughout the city. Nothing will catch me off guard.'
Gasper let his gaze drift down toward the distant streets. Only a few people walked beneath the streetlights, unaware of how much power would soon gather in Kuoh during the Three Factions Peace Conference.
The idea still seemed absurd.
'Why would anyone attack the place where the most powerful members of the factions will be gathered? Vali, I understand. He's a battle maniac. But any terrorist attack would make more sense somewhere else.'
He remained silent for a few seconds, then exhaled through his nose.
'What am I even thinking? The anime had a protagonist who got stronger by seeing or touching boobs. Asking for logic might be too much.'
The sound of wings cutting through the air made Gasper turn his head before Rias had even landed on the roof. Her devil wings slowly folded away as she walked toward him, her light dress swaying in the night breeze.
"Finished with the bats, Gasper-kun?" Rias asked, approaching without hurry.
"Yes." Gasper turned his gaze back toward the city. "I'm just watching Kuoh."
Rias stopped beside him and followed the direction of his gaze. The city looked ordinary, but after Kokabiel, the barrier, and Tomoe's death, neither of them could see that normalcy the same way anymore.
"I know my Onii-sama placed a lot of responsibility on you." Rias touched his arm, drawing his attention. "But I'm here to help."
"I know." Gasper replied without pulling away from her touch. "It's just that the Peace Conference is too important an event. If something happens there, it won't just be Kuoh's problem."
"Then don't carry it alone." Rias took another step and pulled him closer. "You have me, Akeno, your peerage, and everyone else."
The hug came before Gasper could respond. Since Rias was taller, his body ended up pressed against hers in a way that would make any serious speech lose some of its weight.
His face rested against her chest.
'Being short has its advantages.'
Gasper let out a quiet laugh.
Rias looked down at him, curious and slightly suspicious.
"What's so funny?"
"You." Gasper raised his face enough to look at her. "You make me happy."
Rias's expression changed immediately. A blush spread across her face, but the smile that followed was far too sincere to hide.
"You make me very happy too." Rias tightened the hug for a moment. "Even when you get too serious and forget that you can still rely on me."
Gasper did not answer immediately. He simply accepted the embrace as some of the tension in his shoulders eased.
The city remained silent below them.
The bats continued their watch.
But for a few seconds, Kuoh felt less heavy.
____
RAVEL'S ROOM – GREMORY MANSION
"So, if I understood correctly, as a servant, it's normal for the master to have sex with us." Xenovia sat with a posture far too serious for the subject. "If that's true, why shouldn't I talk about it?"
Selene brought one hand to her forehead and sighed before answering. The task Gasper had given her had sounded simple when he explained it, but Xenovia managed to turn every social instruction into a theological question.
"You can talk about many things." Selene chose her words carefully. "But you can't talk about anything, at any time, in front of anyone."
Asia and Koneko were near the bed. Asia's face was already red, while Koneko remained quiet with a cup in her hands, watching the conversation as if she were witnessing an inevitable disaster.
Ravel, on the other hand, seemed less shocked than she probably should have been.
"I don't understand why there are so many restrictions either." Ravel crossed her arms, looking more thoughtful than embarrassed. "Among devils, contracts, desires, and intimate relationships aren't exactly unusual topics."
"That's because you were born a devil." Selene looked at Ravel before turning back to Xenovia. "But it's important to know the right time to talk about those things."
Ravel shrugged, not entirely disagreeing. She understood etiquette well enough to recognize that Selene was right, even if part of devil culture made the subject less shocking to her.
Xenovia absorbed the explanation with complete seriousness.
"Then the best time is when I'm alone with Gasper."
Selene hesitated for a moment, then nodded cautiously.
"In theory, yes. If it's something personal, you talk about it in private."
For a few seconds, Selene thought the explanation had finally worked.
Xenovia remained silent, staring at the floor as if organizing a mission plan.
'Then I'll ask him to get me pregnant when we're alone.'
Asia tightened her grip on the cup with both hands and looked away, still far too red to join the conversation. Even so, a question came to mind when she noticed how Ravel, Selene, and Xenovia talked about Gasper.
"So are all of you Gasper-kun's girlfriends like Rias-onee-sama and Akeno-san?"
"No." Selene answered immediately.
"I want to be his wife." Ravel spoke almost at the same time, with a firmness that made Asia blink in surprise.
"I want to have his child." Xenovia added naturally.
The entire room froze.
Asia's eyes widened.
Koneko slowly lowered her cup.
Ravel turned toward Xenovia with a mixture of shock and competitive assessment.
Selene remained motionless for several seconds.
'In the end, I failed with this girl.'
Ravel was the first to regain her composure. She took a deep breath and lightly clapped her hands, trying to turn the conversation back into a lesson before Xenovia could open her mouth again.
"Well, I think we'd better start with the basics of proper behavior." Ravel walked toward the table where she had arranged several books and notes. "With the Peace Conference approaching, you need to know how to behave around noble devils, angels, fallen angels, and important representatives."
Xenovia straightened her posture.
"Does that include not asking for children during diplomatic events?"
"Especially that." Selene answered before Ravel could speak.
Koneko took a sip of tea to hide her reaction.
Asia was still red, but seemed relieved that someone had finally taken control of the conversation.
Ravel firmly opened the first book.
"We'll start with formal greetings, hierarchy, and phrases that should not be said in public."
Xenovia nodded with absolute seriousness.
"Understood. I won't ask for children in public."
Selene closed her eyes for a moment.
"It's a start."
____
GASPER'S ROOM – GREMORY MANSION
Later, Gasper and Rias entered his room after leaving the rooftop. The conversation about the conference still lingered between them, but the tension of the night had eased enough for both of them to seek nothing more than a few moments of rest.
The door opened.
CLICK.
Gasper stopped in the doorway.
So did Rias.
Akeno was lying on his bed, wrapped in a sheet that covered her body with calculated elegance. Her smile appeared slowly, as if she had already planned exactly how the two of them would react.
Rias crossed her arms, but she did not look truly surprised.
"You certainly know how to make good use of your time."
"Ara, ara." Akeno rested her face against one hand. "I have a duty to help our husband relax after such a worrying night."
Gasper looked at Akeno, then at Rias.
"I agree with that."
Rias shot him a look, but the blush on her face ruined any serious attempt at reprimanding him. Akeno simply smiled wider, satisfied that she had managed to turn the weight of the conference into something less suffocating.
Gasper entered the room and held the doorknob.
For a few seconds, he thought about the conference, the enemies hiding in the shadows, the Old Satan Faction, and the possibility of becoming a target again.
Then he looked at Rias and Akeno.
The night still belonged to them.
Gasper closed the door.
CLICK.
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