An empty room on the underground sixth floor.
With the creaking sound of the door opening, Aya Tokoyogi, standing before the ritual site, slightly turned her head to glance behind her:
"It's you."
Upon seeing Utaha Kasumigaoka entering through the door, Aya's tone turned indifferent:
"Did Luo Shu not come?"
"He wanted to, but I persuaded him otherwise."
Utaha spoke as she stepped into the room, stopping before the silver circular technique array, a faint smile on her face:
"If he had to personally greet the little sister of a Satan, then who would be left to receive a Satan themself when they arrive?"
"Oh?" Aya glanced at Utaha before turning away again. "You certainly know how to think for him."
She seemed disinclined to continue the topic and instead asked:
"Did you bring it?"
"I did."
Utaha opened her hand, revealing her palm.
Resting lightly on the girl's palm was a golden-hued key the size of a little finger.
It was an unlocking key crafted by Mukuro Hoshimiya using Michael's ability.
After revealing the key, Utaha extended her hand toward Aya.
Seeing the key, Aya fell silent.
"He's actually willing to part with it?"
Aya's words seemed to express surprise that Luo Shu was willing to lift her seal, but in truth, that wasn't the case.
Having temporarily borrowed Luo Shu's points to attain the Elite Rank of Mind Sorcerer, Utaha could read subtle emotional cues from expressions and gestures even without relying on her abilities.
Thus, she understood clearly that Aya wasn't shocked by Luo Shu's willingness to lift the seal—but by the fact that he had entrusted the key to her and boldly allowed her to meet Aya alone.
Here stood the first Familia of the Divine Pantheon, intimately connected to Luo Shu, with the key to restoring her Demigod authority right before her.
Under these circumstances, if Aya harboured any ill intent, abducting Utaha and escaping wouldn't be difficult.
Therefore, Utaha's appearance before Aya alone, bearing the key, conveyed Luo Shu's trust in her.
"Aren't you going to take it?" Utaha raised her hand slightly, bringing the key closer to Aya.
Aya glanced at the key, then at Utaha, before letting out a cold laugh:
"He's certainly confident."
With that cryptic remark, Aya took the key and pressed it against her chest, making a twisting motion.
Click.
An invisible shackle shattered at that moment, accompanied by the phantom sound of rattling chains.
Under Michael's power, Aya's sealed Spiritual Power and authority were restored, and in an instant, she regained her Demigod essence.
Once her strength returned, Aya studied Utaha, whose face remained smiling but whose thoughts were inscrutable. Her gaze deepened with meaning.
She stared at Utaha's youthful face before finally speaking in a cool tone:
"Prepare yourself. The summoning will begin shortly."
"Understood."
Utaha nodded slightly, though inwardly, she breathed a sigh of relief.
As she had thought, after this test, Aya Tokoyogi had already become someone as trustworthy as Familia members.
As for what Luo Shu thought, Utaha Kasumigaoka wasn't sure, but at least in her eyes, Aya Tokoyagi was now as reliable as Eriri.
After informing Yukino Yukinoshita and telling her to notify the Underworld that they could begin, Utaha turned to Aya with a smile:
"Come to think of it, I don't think I've ever introduced myself to you?"
"Does it still matter now?"
"Not really."
As the two conversed, the silver glow of the ritual circle on the ground gradually brightened.
...
Underworld.
In Ajuka's secret laboratory.
Rias Gremory, who had been waiting here for hours, saw an unexpected figure:
"Why are you here?"
"Sona!"
Standing at the entrance was a girl with short, neat hair and features strikingly similar to Serafall's, wearing a sullen expression:
"That's my line. Why are you here, Rias?"
Sona Sitri—younger sister of the current Satan Leviathan, Serafall, and someone Rias considered a close friend.
Though meeting a friend was usually a joyous occasion, running into her during a mission left Rias slightly displeased.
Admittedly, it might just be a trivial personal grievance, but when Rias accepted this assignment, she had envisioned flawlessly completing it, earning praise from her parents and elder brother, and even influencing the future of the Underworld demons, becoming a figure recorded in history books.
Now, with Sona here, wouldn't that mean sharing the credit?
Feeling a bit frustrated, Rias sighed at Sona's question:
"I was sent here by my brother. You too, right? Ordered by Serafall-sama to come and pad your resume."
"Pad my resume?" Sona blinked, then replied with slight surprise, "No, my sister just told me to come here for a vacation. Did Sirzechs-sama not say the same?"
"A... vacation?" Rias froze. "Serafall-sama is that capricious?"
"When has she ever not been?" Sona snorted bitterly, her voice dripping with resentment. "Out of nowhere, she sends a letter home, telling her little sister—who's still in school—to drop everything and go on a trip to some unfamiliar place for a month or two, without even giving her a chance to refuse."
"She's always so self-centred and wilful."
"Uh..."
Rias awkwardly averted her gaze, while Akeno Himejima and Koneko Toujou behind her pretended not to hear anything.
After all, it was fine for Sona to criticise Serafall, but if they chimed in, it would be... awkward.
That was the current Satan Leviathan they were talking about!
Faced with Sona's torrent of complaints, Rias could only listen, occasionally murmuring "Mm" or nodding to show she was paying attention.
After enduring the rant for a while—
A flicker of light appeared at the doorway, and Ajuka Beelzebub, clad in black robes, materialised.
Before Rias and Sona could bow in greeting, Ajuka waved them off:
"No time for formalities."
Then, glancing between Rias and Sona, he paused before adding:
"I'll leave this matter in your hands, Rias, Sona."
---Hearing this, Rias and Sona exchanged glances before bowing in unison:
"As you command, Your Majesty." x2
As their voices faded, the entire chamber was illuminated by the silver glow of a technique being activated under Ajuka's control.