Chapter 63: Secrets of the Realm of the Gods
"Ise-san, we have to go to the club," Asia hurried as she packed her things into her briefcase. Issei smiled and followed closely behind her, ignoring some murmurs about him.
"Hyoudou... he's actually stopped peeking. He doesn't even look at the breasts of the girls who pass by him anymore... What the hell happened to him?" Katase commented, and while she was relieved that Hyoudou Issei had stopped doing that kind of thing, she was incredibly curious to know the reason behind it all.
"Hmm," Murayama nodded, muttering a little.
"Well... if he's in love, it's no wonder he stops doing that kind of thing, don't you think?" Kiryuu Aika commented as she appeared behind Murayama.
"In love?!" the two girls exclaimed in surprise and puzzlement.
"Honestly, I don't know if he's in love," Aika shrugged. "But it could be a logical explanation, you know."
"Or he just grew up..." Aika muttered, looking out the window.
. . .
"So..." Issei looked at the blue-haired girl sitting on one of the club's sofas. "Is Xenovia now part of the group and will she start attending Kuoh Academy?"
"Yeah..." Rias nodded.
"Honestly, I'd forgotten she was in the fight against Kokabiel."
"Ugh..." Xenovia groaned a little. She really hadn't been helpful, just like Irina, who had already left the city.
"By the way, Rias Buchou, what are we doing now... besides the obvious training?" Issei was curious. They'd always been doing something besides training. Just studying together or killing Stray Devils and making contracts. There was almost always something to do.
"Just keep up the training this time, guys. Leave aside the contracts or the stray Devils. I already asked Sona to take care of the latter," Rias said, looking at everyone, who were nodding slowly.
"Is there a reason for this... free time?" Kiba asked curiously.
"First of all, I'm sure something's going to happen after Kokabiel's attack. This isn't that simple; the leaders of the three factions wouldn't let it go so easily, not with the risk of war just a day ago."
"I may be wrong, but it's better to be prepared and not be exhausted at an important moment. Besides, the revelation of God's death... that was... sudden and dangerous," Rias sighed a little. Rias had been careful with one of her targets, this because of the Biblical god himself, but even though she knew he was dead, she still felt that unease.
"Secondly, the parents' visit is coming up, so you should all be at least a little dressed up for... well, a little embarrassment," Rias laughed lightly. Causing Issei to put on a dismayed expression at having forgotten that.
"Thirdly, and lastly, you deserve a break."
"Yes!" Issei raised his fist, excited for a little break. Gasper looked at Issei and decided to follow suit, drawing a few laughs from the group.
They all chatted happily, quietly as they got to know Xenovia, the newest member of the family, a little better. As evening fell, only Akeno remained with Rias, who now looked a little worried as she looked out the window at the sunset sky.
"Rias... what's bothering you?" Akeno asked worriedly.
Rias looked at her for a long moment before sighing heavily.
"Don't tell anyone, okay?"
Akeno nodded seriously and confidently.
Rias looked at her with the most serious eyes she'd ever had: "Recently, my soul began to sublimate. Along with this, my spiritual and vital energy have been growing little by little."
Akeno tilted her head.
"And that... is that a bad thing?"
Rias closed her eyes tightly: "Akeno... little by little, I'm reaching the realm of the gods. I'm reaching the point where I will become a goddess..."
Akeno's eyes widened.
"The closer I get, the more I can feel and understand. And of all the things I can feel, there's something dangerous; as if it's waiting for the right moment to attack me for some reason, but I have no idea what it is. At first, I thought it might be the Biblical God, but now that I know of his death, it can't be him."
"He's not a god... he's not even a living being... he's... something else."
"How...? No, more importantly, how did you get to this point?" Akeno asked in alarm, because she realized she didn't know if Rias's pieces would be affected by her becoming a goddess.
"When someone's soul reaches a point where it can understand itself, along with understanding a path, that soul begins to sublimate, increasing that person's life force and spiritual strength. It's similar to how a Buddha reaches such a point by disconnecting from their surroundings and understanding certain things."
"Upon reaching that point, you can sense the astral plane, where your soul can move freely. It's also the place that aids the creation of certain domains and, therefore, part of the power of the gods. It's different from the mental plane, from which you can observe and know many things; this is also a place that aids the so-called omniscience of the gods."
Rias sighed, because she only discovered this kind of information recently, and it was too much to swallow in such a short time.
"My understanding and training with the power of destruction reached such a point that it aided the sublimation of my soul... that's why I'm at this point," she rubbed her forehead, a little nervous about all this.
"But... Rias... if that's the case, wouldn't Sirzechs-sama also be at that level?"
"No... my brother lacks some knowledge," Rias immediately replied. She knew this was due to his training at Myoubokuzan, where he learned that his power of destruction contained all things of nature. Knowing this, it was easier for her to grasp the full extent of his power of destruction, improving and evolving it.
"You know we're always here to help, Rias. You're not alone..." Akeno said, trying to comfort Rias.
"Yes... you're right... Thank you, Akeno."
"You're welcome..." Akeno smiled as she saw Rias perk up a little.
"By the way..." Akeno smiled more flirtatiously as she looked at Rias. "You've been looking at your phone a lot these past few days. Do you have a secret boyfriend?"
Rias blushed slightly and gently scratched her cheek with her index finger.
"Well... it's not a secret at all. No one ever asked."
Akeno spat a little, surprised.
"Wait, really? You have to tell me who he is! Is he strong? What's his appearance like? Personality?"
"His name is Henry..." Rias said. The surname Potter existed in this world, but simply saying the name Harry Potter would be a little ridiculous. She didn't know of anyone who had ever called their son that, especially given the books that existed here. So, Henry was the closest name, and you could call the Henrys Harry anyway.
Rias took out her phone and showed Akeno a picture.
"Oh... He really is handsome, especially his eyes, they're very pretty," Akeno smiled.
"And to answer your questions: Yes, he's strong, especially with magic. His personality is good, though he can be a little shy at times and annoying at others, especially when he's having his teasing moments."
"Ufufufu~... You have to introduce me, Rias. I'm your best friend, after all."
"Hmph~," Rias snorted adorably. "Don't think I don't know what you're up to, Akeno. You're trying to tease him, aren't you? And even if you have bigger breasts, he won't notice. You don't stand a chance."
"Ara ara~... Are you sure about that, Rias? I can be quite pushy, you know."
"Besides..." Akeno licked her lips. "Being a lover sounds a little... exciting."
"Akeno!" Rias exclaimed, a little annoyed. But then she smiled, surprising Akeno a little.
"Well, if you want, you can try. I'll enjoy watching you try so hard. I'll even let you be second if you can catch his attention."
Akeno blinked before smiling even more broadly. She wouldn't back down from a challenge with Rias.
"Well... you said it yourself, Rias."
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