That night, after officially welcoming Nina and her companions as my familiars.
"…So, it's really true?"
『Yes.』
Retreated to my room, I had a communication magic circle deployed near my ear, keeping the connection private. The voice on the other end—Tiamat—confirmed my question without hesitation.
『The third son of the House of Phenex is safe. Of that, there is no doubt. I have confirmed it with my own eyes.』
I see… So Riser is alive.
Just as I suspected, Tiamat knew his whereabouts. I'd only caught on because the radiance in that footage matched the glow of the teleportation circles she uses, but still… A wave of relief washed over me, followed quickly by a nagging doubt.
"If you've confirmed he's safe, why didn't you tell me sooner?"
And that wasn't the only question. If Tiamat knew, then the Underworld authorities should know, too. Why was he still being reported as missing? And what about the Emperor who vanished alongside him?
A heavy silence lingered over the magic circle before Tiamat finally spoke.
『I'm sorry, but I cannot say.』
"You can't…? What does that even mean?"
『Exactly what it sounds like. For now, I cannot tell you. Not even you. At least, not until I have his permission.』
His? Was Tiamat being gagged by someone? For that matter, how was she even able to teleport to that battlefield in the first place?
Judging by her tone, she wasn't going to budge on those answers either. Swallowing my frustration, I pivoted to a different question.
"Can I at least tell the others he's okay? Ravel needs to know."
『Very well… While I cannot give details, you may inform them that Riser Phenex is alive. However, this is strictly limited to the "D×D" members in Kuoh Town. No one else is to be notified.』
"Sounds like some high-level classified info."
『It is. This incident is tangled up in several… troublesome matters. It cannot be brought to light easily.』
For Tiamat to go that far… Just what kind of darkness is lurking behind this whole mess? From the sound of it, things are getting dangerously complicated. After a moment of thought, I gave my answer.
"Understood. Just knowing Riser is alive is a huge weight off my shoulders. Thanks, Tiamat."
『No thanks are necessary. I apologize for the delay in contacting you.』
"It's fine. You have your reasons, and if there's trouble involved, I get it. Truly, thank you."
『Then I shall cut the connection here. You will hear from us again soon. We shall meet then.』
"Right."
▽
After finishing the call with Tiamat, I headed to the large communal bath in the basement with the women of the household. Nina, Risha, and even Sally and Fina—now in their young-girl forms—were there.
The gloomy atmosphere of the last two days had vanished, replaced by bright, cheerful expressions. The reason, of course, was the news of Riser's safety.
When I told them, everyone seemed to exhale in collective relief. Ravel, in particular, looked as if a crushing weight had finally been lifted from her shoulders.
"Honestly, dear brother, he really knows how to make us worry… But I am so, so glad he's safe…"
"Yeah. It's a huge relief. There's still a lot we don't know, but for now, knowing he's alive is enough."
"Yes. But… we truly cannot tell Father, Mother, or my other brothers?"
"…Sorry. Apparently, it's off-limits for now. But Tiamat said we'd get more news soon. Maybe we'll even get to see him then."
"I see… I do wonder why Lady Tiamat is the one who knows his whereabouts, but even so, my heart feels so much lighter now. Truly…"
"Yeah…" I murmured, watching the steam rise from the water.
There were still so many unknowns. The "darkness" Tiamat mentioned weighed on my mind, but for today—just for today—I wanted to celebrate Riser's survival. That was allowed, wasn't it?
If he's alive, we'll meet again. I'll see that arrogant smirk and those undying flames once more. After all, we promised to have a rematch.
Rias and the others, though curious about the secrecy, chose to simply be happy for the news. I couldn't help but let a small smile slip.
"New familiars and Riser's safety. It's been a pretty great day."
Old man Maurice, Risha, Nina, and the Valkyrie. With my old comrades and my current ones all together, the house was going to get a lot more lively. Now that my peerage has grown, maybe I can start making some real moves?
As I was lost in thought…
"Big brother, your back is so broad! ♪"
Suddenly, something incredibly soft was pressed against my back! I felt a distinct, firm sensation… Wait, this is—!
Nina is pressing her bare breasts against me!
"I'm so glad about Ravel-san's brother. Now I can spoil my big brother without holding back! ♪"
Nina gave me a dazzling smile. In the tub, Alice was clenching her fists with a look of pure frustration, while Miwa gave a wry laugh beside her. Even Rias and the rest were sending somewhat envious glances our way…
Allow me to explain the situation. Right now… Nina and Ravel are scrubbing my back! Nina has the back, and Ravel is diligently scrubbing my arms with a towel! Apparently, the girls had a game of rock-paper-scissors earlier, and these two were the winners.
Nina clung to me, whispering, "I'm your familiar now, too. I have to serve you properly. Ravel-san, I look forward to working with you! ♪"
"The pleasure is mine, Lady Nina," Ravel replied with a smile.
Good, good, I thought. It's great to see my familiars getting along!
While I was sandwiched between two beautiful blondes, Risha was busy washing Sally's hair nearby.
"Alright, time to rinse."
"Puhwah! That feels so much better! Thanks, Risha!" Sally shook her head like a puppy, spraying water everywhere.
It was a heartwarming sight—like an older sister looking after the kids. Sally and Fina really are just children at heart, matching their appearances. They do everything together. Just the other day, I saw them playing video games, and even during the tour of the Grigori research facility, they were bubbling with excitement at everything they saw. Maybe they'll get along well with Kunou?
Then there was our "big sister" figure, Risha…
She was wearing nothing but a single towel wrapped around her! Her limbs were long and slender, her breasts ample—if I looked down from the wrong angle, I'd see everything! Her thighs weren't just thin; they were beautifully toned. The line from her waist to her hips was perfection.
And above all…
"Ufufu, what's the matter, Issei?"
That "big sister" smile!
Ah… this is bad! Really bad! It's been so long since I've seen Risha like this; my "little Issei" is starting to wake up! Stay calm, me! There are kids here!
And besides—
"What exactly are you staring at?"
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