~ Support & Read 60 Advanced Chapters on Patreon
~ Bonus Chapter every 200 Powerstones!
<><><><><>
Time blinked forward to evening.
As the hotel's dinner time passed, Venelana's group of five—having just resolved their meal in the restaurant—walked toward their rooms.
"Fufu~ didn't expect mortal realm food to be surprisingly delicious."
Clearly quite satisfied with tonight's dinner, a certain beautiful woman lightly touched her cheek, showing lingering aftertaste.
Then she turned toward the Phoenix girl beside her.
"How was it, Ravel? Satisfied with dinner?"
"Uh... yes, it was quite good."
Ravel had originally been spacing out. Hearing the voice, she recovered and hastily nodded.
Sure enough, outside you can't be as casual as at home...
The Phoenix girl thought.
Though purely in terms of family ranking, the Phoenix household ranked far ahead of Gremory—unfortunately, one of the current Underworld's Four Great Maou, Maou Lucifer, was the Gremory family's eldest son.
Putting it this way might push toward "when one person attains enlightenment, even chickens and dogs ascend to heaven," but couldn't deny reality was reality.
Plus, even more awkward—accompanying Sona Sitri's sister Serafall was currently with them, moreover as one of the current Underworld's Four Great Maou, Maou Leviathan.
Back and forth like this, ultimately she—who should have ranked at least upper-middle among the seventy-two pillar high-class devils as the Phoenix family's fourth daughter—instead became the lowest status among everyone.
"By the way Sirzechs, do you have any plans afterward?"
As Venelana spoke, she turned to look at her good eldest son on the other side.
Hearing his mother's inquiry, the young red-haired Maou thought seriously.
"Mmm, after returning to my room I need to send my coordinates to the Underworld side. Then Mathers and them will transmit today's documents via teleportation magic circle."
Simply put—rushing homework.
"How exhausting."
Hearing her son had to maintain work even on business trips, Venelana couldn't help sighing lightly.
However, Sirzechs appeared much more optimistic, even smiling.
"Well, this is already relatively better. If a month earlier, I'd still need Beowulf running errands to deliver."
After all, as Underworld nobility, the Gremory family had clear boundaries with the mortal realm. Every visit required going through proper channels via Itogami Island's "customs," including advance applications, Check, and other procedures. Otherwise counted as illegal entry.
Now though, since Itogami Island had become Bokue's private territory, didn't really matter anymore.
"What about you, Mom?"
Sirzechs asked back.
"Earlier during dinner at the restaurant, I asked hotel staff. Apparently this hotel has many other leisure entertainment facilities—something called hydrotherapy spa. If you're free, Mom, you could take Grayfia and them to experience it."
"No, Mom will pass."
Venelana casually declined.
"After eating dinner, Mom is now completely interested in this hotel. First priority is naturally returning to the room to experience the room Serafall-chan booked for us. Surely there'll be many surprises, right Grayfia-chan?"
"Eh? Yes..."
Instantly understanding her mistress's hint, the silver-haired maid nodded slightly.
"Indeed, I'm quite looking forward to it."
"Right~"
Venelana smiled gently with narrowed eyes.
"Plus, we're not only staying in the mortal realm one day. After everything's resolved tomorrow and the day after, experiencing it then won't be late."
"Venelana-sama speaks truly."
❁❁❁❁
Scene switch—already back at the guest room.
Whoosh~
Closing the well-soundproofed guest room door behind her, Venelana—having just separated from Sirzechs and others to return to her own room—gazed at the currently empty guest room and relaxed with a light breath.
At the room's entrance, she removed the heels worn outside during the day. Her feet wrapped in white stockings stepped directly onto the hotel's cleaned room floor. With lotus steps, she passed the entrance bathroom toward the inner bedroom.
Muttering to herself while walking.
"Mmm~ better lie down a bit first. As for bathing, wait until Bokue comes later... oh my, still don't know when he'll arrive..."
"Did Obasan just finish dinner?"
Before words finished, the young man's voice abruptly rang through this quiet space.
Simultaneously, Venelana felt herself embraced from behind by male arms—powerfully and firmly pressed against her.
"Mmm...!"
The beautiful woman's body trembled lightly. She'd completely not expected speaking of the devil would make him appear so literally. Couldn't help being slightly startled momentarily.
"Eh? Why did you come so quickly, Bokue? What about Rias's side..."
According to Venelana's expectations, Bokue would arrive at earliest eight or even nine o'clock.
After all, their current relationship couldn't be made public. So naturally Bokue must first "care for" Rias's side before having time to attend to her.
Yet arriving this early—could it be...
"Rias said these next few days are critical. Can't relax or slack off—must conserve energy."
Bokue lowered his head, resting his chin on the beautiful woman's shoulder in his embrace. His exhaled breath directly brushed Venelana's ear.
"So... these two days have to pause temporarily."
Getting to the latter part, Bokue's voice even carried a tiny bit of innocence.
Logically speaking, not that he didn't "care for" Rias's side well. Rather, Rias directly issued a prohibition saying these days must temporarily halt certain group enjoyment activities.
What could he do? Couldn't exactly exclude only Rias while continuing nightly revelry with other girls, right?
"This child Rias really..."
Venelana sighed. Her voice couldn't help carrying traces of "disappointed in your failure to meet expectations."
Really doesn't understand capturing men's hearts...
Though this matter—looking at past events—could indeed be called a historically significant event, it wasn't that serious.
Moreover, even if something really went wrong, didn't her brother Sirzechs still exist?
Even if Sirzechs couldn't solve it, didn't Bokue still exist?
Bluntly speaking, no matter how you calculated, a girl's turn to charge the frontlines wouldn't come.
Of course, must admit this instead benefited her.
"By the way, where's Grayfia?"
Bokue scanned around the room but seemingly didn't see a certain silver-haired maid's figure.
"Grayfia-chan should still be in her own room now."
Venelana's breathing rhythm slightly quickened.
Though Bokue searched for Grayfia, his actions didn't slow one bit. Just a few seconds already broke through to the final line of defense.
"We just finished dinner and returned. Probably... in a moment she'll... mmm~ come over...!"
Knock, knock, knock.
Words just falling—rhythmic knocking interrupted her speech.
When the door opened, standing in the outside hallway was precisely a certain silver-haired maid.
Grayfia obviously hadn't expected Bokue to arrive this quickly. Seeing the door open, she instinctively inquired.
"Venelana-sama, may I ask if Bokue has... uh..."
Words stopped abruptly here.
Because she saw Bokue embracing Venelana from behind inside the door, plus the beautiful woman's flagrantly lifted skirt hem before her.
Embarrassing crimson instantly flushed Grayfia's cheeks. But she said nothing—just entered at fastest speed, then tightly closed the door behind her.
<><><><><>
~ 60 Advanced Chapters Available on Patreon
https://p-atreon.com/dragonnx
(Just remove the hyphen to access Patreon normally.)