A few days had passed since they dealt with the Khaos Brigade's attack. On this day, Yoru and Akeno went into town together to buy supplies for the upcoming school festival.
Rias, full of enthusiasm, had personally written a stage play, and Yoru had been roped in to play the male lead.
Still, this was the first time he had gone shopping with Akeno like this. As he thought about it, his gaze involuntarily drifted toward her. Unlike her usual long single ponytail at school, her hair was now let down, and she wore a cute outfit befitting a young maiden. The long boots were something he was seeing for the first time, but he had to admit they gave her an even taller, more striking appearance, and her charm had only grown stronger.
Akeno had always given off the air of a mature older sister—her demeanor and clothing always elegant and composed. But today, dressed like a high school girl in adorable attire, she looked far more delicate and cute than usual.
She seemed to be thoroughly enjoying this shopping trip, acting like a normal young girl. In a brand-name clothing store, she behaved like any other teenage girl, saying things like, "Hey, Yoru, does this look good on me?" or "Or maybe this one's better?" asking repeatedly which dress looked prettier. Her voice was soft and girlish, completely devoid of the usual teasing, sultry tone she often used.
Though they were supposed to be shopping for the school festival, it somehow felt more and more like they were on a date.
"Ah, it's about time to head back. Otherwise, Rias and the others might come looking for me," Akeno said with a smile as they stepped out of the aquarium, the sun already high in the sky.
It might not have been a perfect date, but it had still been an enjoyable time.
"Well then, Yoru, let's head back together," Akeno said, taking his hand. But just a few steps later, her body froze.
"Didn't expect to run into you here. What a coincidence," a man's voice said, accompanied by a wry smile.
"What's so coincidental about this?! I came out to have some fun—why, why do I have to run into this annoying brat here of all places?! This isn't a coincidence at all!" a noisy, complaining voice followed.
Yoru's brow twitched. That voice… wasn't it that bastard, the Norse chief god?
Instinctively stepping forward to shield Akeno behind him, Yoru looked at the four people who appeared before him: a casually dressed old man in a hat—none other than Odin, the Norse chief god—and at his side, his old acquaintance, Azazel. Behind them stood a well-built man and a serious-looking woman in a suit.
Even with Yoru's picky eyes, the woman was an undeniable beauty—long silver hair that gave off an airy, graceful feeling at first sight.
She looked familiar… wasn't she that virgin Valkyrie from before?
"Didn't he go back to the Norse lands? Why's he here again?"
Yoru turned to Azazel with a questioning look. The latter gave a wry smile.
"Ah, well, since the Khaos Brigade has been active again recently, old man Odin came to discuss countermeasures with us. I'm acting as his guide, letting him experience some of Japan's sights and culture."
Azazel's explanation was smooth, but Yoru remained suspicious—things were rarely that simple with him.
"That's not it at all! Lord Odin, as the chief god of the Norse, please mind your words and actions! Going in and out of those kinds of places… that's just too much!" the silver-haired beauty in the suit stepped forward, glancing shyly at Yoru before earnestly scolding Odin.
"What's wrong with that, Rossweisse? You're a Valkyrie who receives heroes—you should see more of such places and broaden your horizons."
"…In the end, I'm just a Valkyrie with no charm… a hopeless old maid whose time without a boyfriend equals her age," Rossweisse suddenly slumped in dejection.
Yoru's gaze shifted to the side—Azazel's well-built subordinate was now walking toward Akeno. As he approached, her body began to tremble.
"Akeno, it's been a while. Can we talk for a bit?"
"…Sorry. I don't have the time."
Her shoulders shaking, she turned her back on him, her face filled with pain.
"Just give me a little time… I really have something I want to tell you."
The man's voice was tinged with bitterness, but he wasn't angry—only lowering his voice further as he pleaded. He reached out to grab Akeno's arm, but Yoru stopped him.
"And you are?"
Looking at Yoru, who was shielding Akeno behind him, the man asked bluntly. Seeing his attitude, Yoru's eyes grew cold.
"That's my line. Who are you, and why are you harassing Akeno?"
"Uh… let me make the introductions. This is one of my top officers—Baraqiel. And this is the Gremory family's unreasonably strong soldier boy," Azazel said, stepping forward and nudging Baraqiel with his elbow to get him to be more polite.
Unlike Odin, who had witnessed Yoru provoking Ophis and thus feared him greatly, Baraqiel was unimpressed. In his view, the so-called strongest soldier was just an overhyped title—after all, what kind of power could a reincarnated devil really have?
And with his own daughter being shielded by the boy in front of him, how could Baraqiel possibly stay calm?
"Baraqiel?"
Hearing Azazel's introduction, Yoru raised an eyebrow. Of course he knew the name—Akeno's father, the very one responsible for shaping her into who she was today.
He had long heard from Rias that Akeno and her father didn't get along. And now, they were finally meeting face-to-face.
"Well… here's the thing. Since old man Odin will be staying here for a while, I was acting as his temporary tour guide. And as your advisor in the Occult Research Club, I couldn't just leave you all unattended. So I called Baraqiel over to keep an eye on you and train you while I'm away," Azazel explained, rather unconvincingly.
Yoru rolled his eyes. He was almost certain this was just Azazel acting on his own whim.
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