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Morning ca, sunlight warmly spilling into the dining hall of the Gremory family castle.
After a restful night's sleep, the girls woke up and gradually gathered for breakfast.
Since Bokue had been away recently, Rias—as the gracious host—had taken responsibility to entertain everyone in the Underworld, unexpectedly synchronizing everyone's daily routines over ti.
By the ti Rias herself entered the dining hall, everyone else had already arrived.
"Good morning, Rias."
"Morning, Mom."
"Good morning, Lady Rias."
"Morning, Grayfia-san!"
"Good morning, Rias."
"Good morning, Akeno."
"Good morning, Rias."
"Morning, Bokue—"
...Eh?
Rias paused mid-greeting, confusion flickering in her eyes. Just a second ago, she'd been yawning sleepily—but upon registering that unexpected voice, she froze in surprise, snapping her head around to stare at its source.
And she wasn't alone. At once, everyone else in the dining hall turned simultaneously, eyes widening at the unexpected figure standing there—none other than Bokue himself, casually strolling in after vanishing for more than a week.
Behind him stood Irina, whose cheeks still bore a suspicious rosy flush.
!!!
At that very mont, everyone shared the exact sa shocked thought: "Holy hell—Bokue actually reappeared!"
But before Rias, Akeno, or anyone else had ti to open their mouths, a certain energetic cat-girl reacted at lightning speed, launching herself from her seat in a graceful leap that arced elegantly over the heads of those seated, landing perfectly in Bokue's arms the mont he stepped through the door.
"Waaaah! Bokue, you're finally back! You didn't even drop by for a visit all this ti—I thought you found so other cat to play with and completely forgot about ! Fess up, mister—tell exactly which wicked woman tricked you away so your big sis here can go and vet her thoroughly!"
You? Vetting?
Rias almost rolled her eyes at the absurd claim.
Knowing Kuroka's personality, anyone attempting to approach Bokue would have an approval rate of precisely zero percent. Her idea of "vetting" was more akin to flat-out rejection.
"I already explained it before I left, didn't I?" Bokue sighed helplessly, finding himself montarily overwheld by the overly enthusiastic neko girl he hadn't seen in days.
"It's about that business back on Itogami Island. But there were also so unexpected issues: First, so people from the Hero Village showed up looking for , and now the old Demon Lord faction in the Northern territory is stirring up trouble again."
"Trouble? What do you an?" Rias instantly caught onto the keyword. After all, she was the next head of House Gremory, naturally far more sensitive to political matters.
"From what I've gathered, the old Demon Lord faction is about to enter all-out war with the current Demon Lord faction. They're pretty certain they'll lose." Bokue shrugged lightly.
"To put it simply, they're trying to pull the sa stunt the current Demon Lord faction did before."
"You an they're planning to...?"
Rias was sharp enough to imdiately grasp the implication. Unlike a certain cat-girl who seed single-mindedly obsessed with "making kittens" whenever Bokue appeared, Rias paid close attention to every detail Bokue ntioned—particularly regarding her distant cousin, Mio Naruse.
Poor Mio had beco quite the hot commodity—first hunted by the current Demon Lord faction, and now her own supposed "family" had set their sights on her as well.
Talk about tough luck...
"So, today I plan on visiting the Northern Territory to have a chat with this Ramusas fellow," Bokue declared matter-of-factly, his tone casual yet carrying a sharp edge beneath.
"Though honestly, I'm not planning any actual 'negotiation.' If he tries anything funny, I'll just beat him up. Since we're already in the Underworld, I figured I'd swing back here and ask if you all wanted to tag along."
"! ! Pick !"
Before anyone else could respond, Kuroka excitedly raised her hand from her cozy spot in Bokue's arms.
"I've been stuck inside this castle for ages—I'm starting to grow mushrooms from boredom! From now on, wherever Bokue goes, I go! Command , Great Commander! Let's flatten the Northern Territory in a single day!"
Bokue frowned slightly, amused. "'Great Commander'? Why does that sound like I'm so lord of spirits and demons or sothing? I'm not even a youkai..."
"Well, you aren't a demon or spirit, but I certainly am~" Kuroka purred with satisfaction.
"Among us yokai, the person we choose to follow is our 'Great Commander.' Anyway, what matters isn't your species but your ability to command respect. Just like that person you told about once... Umm, what was his na again?"
"You an Abe no Seii?" Bokue reminded her patiently.
"Oh yeah, him! Anyway, you're my Commander, Bokue, and I pledge myself wholeheartedly to fulfill all your demands: warming your bed, accompanying you at night, and having kittens!"
Bokue: "..."
He silently wondered why Kuroka considered all those things to be different when, clearly, they were all essentially the sa request.
"Well, since this concerns the political landscape of the Underworld, we certainly can't sit by and ignore it." Rias gently tapped a finger to her lips, considering carefully. "Let's all go together, then."
"Oh my~ I'll be coming along as well," Venelana chid in with an amused smile from her seat at the head of the table.
Rias blinked in surprise. "Mom, you're coming along too?"
"Of course~" Venelana replied cheerfully, "Did you forget, dear? I'm officially Bokue-kun's [Queen] now."
"Ah..." Rias forced a small, awkward smile, suddenly rembering the chaotic "Queen Selection" incident.
Too many ladies had wanted the coveted "Queen" spot, leaving the other positions embarrassingly vacant. Ultimately, Venelana had stepped in decisively to claim the [Queen] position herself.
Well, since that had happened already, having her mother tag along wasn't exactly an issue. Rias nodded lightly, accepting the situation.
"Oh yeah—" Kuroka suddenly spoke again, shifting attention back to Bokue. "When exactly did you get back, Bokue?"
Without thinking much, Bokue replied casually, "Last night. Probably around ten?"
Kuroka instantly fell silent, her playful grin disappearing.
"Hm?" Bokue sensed the sudden change in atmosphere.
Before he could react further, the previously docile Kuroka suddenly exploded into action. In an instant, she'd wrapped her legs around his waist and her arms around his neck, shaking him energetically.
"You ca back at ten last night but didn't co to see first?? Bokue, you're too cruel! I demand compensation—tonight! Thoroughly! Let's make kittens!"
"Okay, okay! Calm down—let's just eat breakfast first!" Bokue tried his best to soothe the overly enthusiastic neko girl clinging to him.
At that mont, Grayfia—who had been standing silently nearby in her neat maid attire—spoke up softly.
"Bokue-sama, I understand it's not my place to speak, but perhaps next ti, upon your return, it would be proper to greet Venelana-sama first. She is currently acting head of House Gremory, after all."
"Oh my, Grayfia-chan, there's no need to be that strict." Venelana chuckled gracefully, waving a dismissive hand.
"Still, Bokue-kun, do rember to at least greet your dear aunt next ti you return—even if it's a bit late at night, that's perfectly fine. At my age, I don't require that much sleep anymore anyway~"
Not sleep, perhaps...
Instantly grasping the hidden aning, Bokue nodded swiftly.
"Got it, I'll rember."
Venelana rely smiled warmly, seemingly satisfied. Beside her, even the typically stoic Grayfia's lips curved ever so slightly upward at the exchange.
"By the way, there's sothing else," Grayfia continued after a mont's thought.
"Hm?" Bokue raised an eyebrow questioningly.
"The White Dragon Emperor ca by the castle over the last couple days. He appeared to have so business with you, Bokue-sama, but left imdiately after hearing you were away."
"Oh...? Vali was looking for ?" Bokue mused, sowhat puzzled. What could Vali possibly want?
anwhile, further down the long dining table, Xenovia turned curiously toward a rather flushed and distracted Asia Argento.
"Hey, Asia, are you alright? Your face is bright red this morning. Feeling under the weather?"
"N-no, I'm f-fine..." Asia stamred, her face glowing even redder.
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