Sirzechs glances at me. I don't know what to say.
Just then—
"Are you the Maou? Nice to meet you, I am the one called Xenovia."
The green-meshed hair of the newcomer caught the light. Xenovia, our Durandal-wielding ex-church warrior, had stepped forward with the directness of a battering ram.
Sirzechs turned to her, all grace and warmth. "Good day to you, Xenovia. I am Sirzechs Lucifer. I got the report from Rias. The holy sword wielder of Durandal, reincarnated as a devil, and not to mention becoming my sister's family…" He chuckled softly. "Truth be told, I doubted my ears when I first heard it."
"I also didn't think that I would become a devil," Xenovia said, folding her arms. "To be reincarnated into the side I kept on killing… even if I say so myself, I sometimes regret it. It was a bold move. Desperation, maybe. At that time, anything was fine. But…" Her gaze drifted downward. "Was it really fine to be a devil?"
Ah, there she goes again. This girl could charge headfirst into a battlefield shouting scripture, but the moment she slowed down, regret crept up on her like a shadow. Bold mouth, soft core. Hard to read as always.
Sirzechs laughed quietly. "Hahaha, it's great that my little sister's family has such interesting people. Xenovia, since you were just reincarnated, you won't yet understand your own way. But I want you to support the Gremory household as Rias's family. I'll be counting on you."
"If I am asked by the Legendary Maou written in the Bible to do it, then I'll have no choice but to do it." Xenovia tilted her head, but her tone was sincere. "I don't know how much I'll be able to do, but allow me to do whatever I can in my capability."
Sirzechs's smile deepened—the exact same curve as Rias's when she was genuinely pleased. "Thanks."
Xenovia's cheeks flushed faintly. "You're welcome."
Sirzechs clapped his hands lightly. "Now then, let's continue this difficult conversation somewhere else. Hm, however, even though I came to the human world, it's nighttime. Would a lodging institution be open right now?"
A lodging institution… right. We'd have to scramble to book a hotel at this hour. That would take time.
I raised my hand. "Ah, if that's the case then… would you stay at my house?"
Sirzechs blinked, then chuckled. "Oh? That's fine with me. I wanted to greet the couple whose place my sister was boarding in."
•••
Fast forward a little—
My house. Living room.
Sirzechs, seated like a king yet smiling like a kindly uncle, was exchanging greetings with my parents. Rias sat beside him, visibly tense, while Grayfia stood elegantly behind them like a silver statue.
At first Sirzechs had been surprised when I offered for him to stay, but after remembering that Rias was living here, he'd readily agreed. "I wanted to greet the couple whose place my sister was boarding in," he'd said.
"No! No!" Rias had resisted cutely, but there was no way to stop both Sirzechs and Grayfia. After their business was done, we all came here to the Hyoudou household.
For cover, we'd told my parents Sirzechs was Rias's older brother, heir to the company her father ran. Sirzechs Gremory—an old name he'd thrown away, now dusted off for fun.
My dad glanced curiously at the silver-haired maid. "The lady over there is…?"
"Yes, she's Grayfia," Sirzechs replied.
"She is my secretary (maid)."
I raised an eyebrow. "Is she also your wife?"
Because that's what happened in canon, right?
Sirzechs blinked, then laughed. "Wife? No, she is not my wife. She is still single. Trying to find her love. But I think her age is already over."
Grayfia's eyes narrowed into a glare sharp enough to cut diamonds.
Coughcough. "Issei, why do you think she is my wife?" Sirzechs asked, clearly eager to change the subject.
"Nothing. Just felt like it," I said quickly. "Now, Sirzechs-san, would you excuse me for a moment?"
Rias and Asia both gave me curious looks as I rose, but they dismissed it when I waved them off.
I walked to the front door. Opened it. Stepped outside. Closed it behind me. Walked five steps forward into the night air. Looked up at the sky. And then—
I raised my arms to the heavens and whispered dramatically, "OOOHHHHHHH THANK YOU, HIGHER POWER! WHOEVER YOU ARE UP THERE—YOU WHO WERE KIND ENOUGH TO MAKE GRAYFIA SINGLE! OHHHHH, I DON'T KNOW HOW TO THANK YOUUUU. I WILL DIE FOR YOU IF I COULD...!"
I tilted my head back, clutching my chest. "THANK YOU, MIGHTY COSMOS! THANK YOU, KIND FATE! THANK YOU, RANDOM NUMBER GENERATOR OF LIFE! YOU LEFT HER UNMARRIED AND ALONE, WAITING FOR ME, YOUR HUMBLE SERVANT! AH, I CAN SEE THE LIGHT! THE MAID OF MAIDS! THE SILVER QUEEN OF MY DREAMS! THANKS GOD—"
And then, like a freight train, it hit me.
"Aaaahhh!"
A stabbing, splitting pain erupted behind my eyes. My temples throbbed like they'd been dunked in lava. I stumbled, clutching my head.
Right. Disadvantage of being a devil: even thinking the word "God" hits like a migraine from hell.
But still—still worth it.
Even with my head pounding like a church bell, I threw my arms up again, tears streaming dramatically down my cheeks.
"STILL WORTH IT! THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOUUUUU!"
~~~
(You can now purchase my DXD: I am Issei collection in my Shop. If you are interested check it out.)
Give me a comment and thought on this fanfic. Support me by giving me a power stone.
I have posted 100+ advanced chapters on my Patreon. If you are interested, join my Patreon.
Support me:
patreon.com/BlackBolt517