A few days later
Alex sighed mentally; he had far more things to deal with—training with Cao Cao, helping Valerie Tepes and Gasper Vladi with their Sacred Gears.
Or stealing something here and there.
But here he was, playing bodyguard on the outskirts of Tokyo. They were currently on the top floor of a luxurious hotel. He didn't know why this place was perfect for this meeting, but unfortunately, he didn't have much say in the matter.
In front of him were two gods—Tsukuyomi and Susanoo—seated on a sofa, with the other party sitting opposite them.
Alex stood behind them, wearing a white coat under a long white cape. The coat was secured with three embossed buttons on each side and a white belt with a golden buckle at the waist. His shoulders were fastened at the neck, and the inside of the collar featured a rectangular sigil on both sides.
Additionally, he wore a mask that concealed his face; this was essentially his outfit as the "White Demon."
It was necessary, after all, as he was there as a bodyguard for the two gods. Alex had to admit that Amaterasu could be quite persuasive when she wanted to be.
As for the demons, the most troublesome group had come: Sirzechs Lucifer, Serafall Leviathan, and Grayfia Lucifuge.
When they heard who exactly was coming, Tsukuyomi was confused. He thought the head of the house would come, perhaps accompanied by a Satan.
But the cavalry was sent. The reason this was a problem was that he also had to bring strong individuals to show that their side wasn't weak either.
Maybe he was overthinking it, but he didn't want to leave any stone unturned. He discussed the situation with Alex.
The reason the Moon God came, instead of his sister or Yasaka, was that the two women likely wouldn't be able to stay calm, so the most diplomatic member of the pantheon, Tsukuyomi, attended.
Alex wanted to participate in the discussion directly, but unfortunately, Tsukuyomi needed him as the "White Demon." He was their trump card.
Alex suggested using Cao Cao as his substitute, but Tsukuyomi rejected the idea.
Cao Cao was very strong, but Sirzechs was on a different level. He knew the current Lucifer was the type who could gauge an opponent's power level with a single glance. It was more of an instinct. So, it was decided that the other person joining to assist in the discussion would be Susanoo.
And the reason for their meeting was quite simple: to allow the younger sisters of two Satans to study at Kuoh Academy.
The thing was, it only seemed simple. The tension between the two factions had eased, but that didn't mean the Youkai weren't cautious of the demons. A few more years, and their relationship might have recovered half of what it once was. But it seemed the demons had no self-control. Tsukuyomi wanted to outright reject their request, but Amaterasu was involved.
"Damn woman! If you want to accept their request, then go through the whole process; don't shove this on me at the last minute!"
Tsukuyomi looked tiredly at the demons seated across from them.
One was pouting, one was smiling cheerfully, and the other was simply standing behind them like a statue.
To his relief, the demons didn't ask anything about the "White Demon" or why he was there; it was as if they were expecting him.
Although some were still suspicious in their own way—for instance, even with his eyes closed, Tsukuyomi felt that the demon maid was staring at Alex as if monitoring his every move.
Alex, on the other hand, was relieved to see that his trick with Falbium had worked. His dagger had another ability: it could overwrite someone's memory if the dagger made direct contact with the person.
So, when he defeated Falbium, he stabbed him with the dagger, and due to his defeated state, Falbium's mind was much more vulnerable, making it easier for him to forget.
Later, he found out that Falbium still remembered some parts of the fight, but fortunately for him, he forgot the most important details, like his appearance and powers.
"I know there are grudges between our factions, but I was hoping we could keep them out of this discussion," Sirzechs said.
Tsukuyomi sighed: "My sister would have crushed your head if she heard that."
"Well, then I'm glad someone more reasonable is here instead," Sirzechs mused.
Hearing this, Tsukuyomi closed his eyes and said:
"He has a special talent for annoying people, doesn't he?"
Grayfia shook her head. Serafall seized the chance to intervene: "What's so wrong with letting our sisters study there? It should help us reconcile too, shouldn't it?"
Shaking his head, Tsukuyomi replied: "Then answer me this: if any problems arise because of your sisters, would you let them take responsibility for it?" Seeing the two Maou squirm for just a second answered the question.
"I thought so," Tsukuyomi said.
"Now, now. Let's not rush things, shall we?" Sirzechs said with a smile. "How about this? We make a contract between us about what our sisters can and cannot do. To be honest, I want to make peace with all factions, and this seems like a perfect first step. In my life, I've seen enough wars, and I don't want the younger generation to see them too."
Those words weren't sugarcoated, nor were they lies. They were the words of a sincere man hoping for a better future for his family, and everyone felt that, but…
"And you two?" Susanoo spoke for the first time. As no one responded, he elaborated: "I mean, don't get me wrong, but you two are quite well-known for being sis-cons. So, what measures will you take for their safety while they stay and study here?"
Both Sirzechs and Serafall had the decency to blush, but the red-haired Satan already had an answer ready for questions like this: "How about we place a representative from each faction in the city? Of course, both must follow rules agreed upon by both sides to ensure everything goes smoothly."
Tsukuyomi rubbed his forehead. The smile on the demon's face stretched a bit upon seeing this. But Tsukuyomi said nothing. He wasn't good at politics, but he had been by Amaterasu's side long enough to know one thing, or rather, to confirm a hunch. The current Lucifer was terrible at politics.
"The Youkai faction will send someone to watch over them. They'll also manage the city from within. As for the demon faction, you can send someone to check on them from time to time. But under no circumstances should they stay here longer than necessary. We'll also set up two small patrol camps outside Kuoh city. One will be ours, and the other will be yours. Both camps will also follow strict rules and regulations."
The smile on Serafall's face vanished completely, while Sirzechs still maintained his, though it was very strained. He raised his hand slightly to stop Serafall from lashing out.
"Aren't you being a bit unreasonable here? You're telling us to leave our sisters in foreign lands without anyone to support them on our side," the humor finally faded from the red-haired Satan. "And you? Will you take responsibility if something happens to our sisters or any of their peers?"
The tension in the atmosphere was completely shattered by loud laughter.
And it came from someone unexpected.
Tsukuyomi groaned as he slightly tilted his head to look back, his voice filled with irritation.
"White Demon?"
"Sorry, sorry," Alex couldn't help it. "I just couldn't hold back."
"Is something funny?" Sirzechs said, smiling, but somehow it seemed terrifying.
Alex looked at Tsukuyomi, who just shook his head and motioned for him to continue.
Alex straightened up; he really didn't mean to offend, but it was genuinely hilarious.
"My apologies if I was rude, but back to your statement. First, the Youkai faction didn't want your sisters here; you're the ones who kept pushing the issue. I'm also not sure if you know this or not, but the last representative who lived here got along very well with everyone around."
All the demons were shocked to hear this. Even the stoic maid opened her eyes in surprise. But Alex didn't stop there.
"Well, you see, it's not that the Youkai faction doesn't want to trust you. It's just that you keep screwing up again and again, and each time is more spectacular than the last."
"We couldn't…" Serafall couldn't finish as she was ruthlessly interrupted.
"Stop them? Wasn't that the same excuse you gave for the massacre too?" Alex was calm, but his voice was cold, though he couldn't continue as he was stopped this time.
"White Demon," Tsukuyomi's tone was perfectly normal, but Alex knew it was time to back off.
The Moon God looked at the demons:
"Look, I applaud that you want your sisters to study here to make them more independent and also use this chance to mend the relationship between our factions. But what we're really afraid of is the trouble your faction will cause. And that's why we want to limit the demons who can come here. You're talking about their safety, but the only way they'd truly be in danger is if your faction messes up. And you know what I mean."
Sirzechs sighed. He had misunderstood; it wasn't that the Youkai faction wanted to use his sister's status; in fact, they really didn't want them. But like them, they were also trying to mend the relationship. And though it was hard to admit, Tsukuyomi was right; if something happened to Rias or Sona, the chances of the Youkai faction being involved would be the lowest.
"I understand," Sirzechs said calmly. "But would you like to speak with our sisters and families first? I think they also need to hear this before making a final decision."
"Then why the hell didn't you send them in the first place?!" Tsukuyomi wanted to scream, but he kept his face level. "I understand. But please, try to be more discreet next time. Three of the strongest from the Underworld coming here doesn't look good from our side."
Serafall and Sirzechs exchanged glances and smiled sheepishly.
"We'll keep that in mind next time."
Tsukuyomi prayed sincerely, with all his heart, that they would.
As for Susanoo…
"Looks like I'm just decoration here."
"Then, how was the meeting with the demons?"
A young teenager with blue hair swung his halberd, aiming an attack at his opponent, who blocked with his sword.
"It went smoothly."
Cao Cao observed as he and Alex continued to exchange blows as usual in their training.
The two were in Germany, in an isolated region they used for training.
After the events with the Tepes Faction and the massacre, the two rescued Dhampirs were left in the care of Alexandra Yeva, though they visited them regularly, especially due to Valerie Tepes' Sacred Gear.
The rest of the group—Mitsuya and Arlecchino—returned to their own places and tasks.
Meanwhile, Arthur and Le Fay had gone to resolve the remaining issues with the Pendragon family before joining them.
Kuroka had returned to the Youkai Faction to see her younger sister.
Alexandre had taken on the role of the "White Demon" during the meeting with the demons and had returned recently.
"What do you think of what they're asking?"
If the young Chinese man had to say, he didn't particularly like any supernatural species, perhaps due to how they treated humans, which irritated the boy, especially the demons.
"Honestly, it's hard to say…"
Alexandre blocked a strike from Houtengeki with Arondight while sighing.
Sirzechs and Serafall wanted their sisters to study at Kuoh, but after they managed to break the trust of the Shinto and Youkai, that was difficult.
At the same time, Alex was the Hakuryuukou; though he admitted he had no interest in the Sekiryuutei, if Rias Gremory never went to Kuoh, it was likely that Issei Hyoudou would never awaken his Sacred Gear.
But he was honestly getting tired of Albion nagging him about his rivalry with Ddraig.
Alexandre had no interest in the Sekiryuutei, whether it was Issei Hyoudou or if the [Boosted Gear] went to someone else; he had no interest whatsoever.
But in the end, as the Hakuryuukou, he had to fight the Red Dragon Emperor.
"So, what did you do besides attending the meeting? You took a while," Cao Cao questioned.
"Oh, you know, I dealt with a rogue Fallen Angel and then went out for a drink or two. The usual," Alex said with a shrug.
"You hunted a Fallen Angel and then went drinking? With whom?"
"Azazel texted me saying there was a four-winged Fallen Angel in Egypt causing a ruckus. I killed him easily and then visited the Great Pyramids of Giza and hit a bar afterward. Turns out there was a god there. Talked to him, and he's a pretty chill guy. We have plans to meet up next Friday," Alex said with a smile.
"So, who's the god?"
"His name is Khonsu, the Egyptian god of the moon, time, and youth," Alex said.
Cao Cao wasn't even surprised; he was already too used to this.
"I think that's enough for today, Cao Cao."
Alexandre said as he rested his sword on his shoulder, and the young Chinese man blinked in surprise, as the training session was shorter than usual.
"Something up?"
"Actually, I noticed you've become really strong, you've evolved a lot, Cao Cao," Alexandre said with a smile. "As a brother and teacher, I'm proud, but I wanted to know what you plan to do?"
"What do you mean?" The wielder of the Holy Spear raised an eyebrow.
"Even though you're always with me, one day you'll have to follow your own path, forge it alone, and gather companions; one day, you'll have to walk your own road."
Alex explained, smiling.
"So, what do you plan to do when that day comes?"
The young Chinese man fell silent as he thought.
"Honestly, I don't know… I was just a foolish and naive kid before I met you. Over these years, we've adventured, trained, and I've learned a lot from you… to me, you're like an older brother, and no matter what, I'll always be by your side."
Cao Cao said with a smile.
"If there was something… then, I'd want to find out why I received this spear."
"What do you mean?" Alex looked puzzled. "The Sacred Gear system is random; though they may seek someone relatively compatible, that doesn't always happen."
"I know, but still, I believe there's a reason. I want to know why I received this spear; if I wanted something, it would be to see how far I can go in this world full of gods with my spear."
"How far you can go with your spear…" Alex gave a slight smile as he saw the determination in the boy before him.
"I think that's a good wish; I'm looking forward to seeing where it takes you," Alex said, smiling. "So, I have a mission for you!"
"What?"
"Basically an investigation; it seems some strange things are happening in Greece, some creatures have been appearing and killing humans, and it looks like something's off there."
"Are you sure about this? It could end up irritating the Greek Pantheon…"
"Let's be honest, it's not the first time we've irritated a pantheon."
Alex said cheerfully, making Cao Cao scoff.
"Alright."
Saying that, the young Chinese man quickly created a teleportation circle.
"Well, you didn't have to go right now," Alex huffed.
It wasn't like he was going to let Cao Cao take risks; he'd head there later too.
Shrugging, Alexandre went to enter his house.
He opened the door, and lo and behold, Freya was there in all her usual glory.
"Hello, darling~" she purred, making Alex's eyes widen in shock. "I came for you!" She walked straight into his house, passing by him with a sensual stride.
"Freya, what are you doing here?" Alex asked as he closed the door behind him. Freya tilted her head cutely, confusion on her face.
"What do you mean, darling~? I came here so we could be together, of course," Freya said cheerfully. "Now let's celebrate by going to the bedroom!"
Alex got a small perverted smile on his face as he thought about the night they spent together. She certainly knew what she was doing.
"You can sit down…"
"Thank you, darling," she said as she sat gracefully. She gave a small smile seeing Alex's gaze on her body.
"Why do you call me darling?"
"What else would I call a man who can make me feel the way I do?" Freya responded.
"All we did was spend one night together."
"Exactly! The best night of my life!" Freya proclaimed with a huge smile.
"Thanks, but I don't think that makes me your darling."
"Oh, but you are," Freya said with a glint in her eyes. She reached out and grabbed his hand.
"The nights here must be so lonely. Maybe I can help with that?" she said seductively.
Alex raised an eyebrow. It wasn't like they were in a relationship or anything, were they?
"Come on, I promise I'll be good, especially for you," Freya whispered with lust clearly in her tone.
"Alright, Freya, you can stay," Alex said, closing his eyes, receiving a happy squeal from the goddess.
When Alex opened his eyes again and turned to the goddess, she had stripped off her clothes and closed the distance between them.
"Why don't we start right here?" Freya said before capturing his lips with hers, savoring their softness. Her tongue slid into his mouth, starting their little battle, until she finally won, her superior experience giving her the advantage.
She pulled away, lust shining in her eyes, and tore the clothes off his body. She gave a mischievous smile as she felt something poking her leg.
"Looks like someone's eager," Freya said as one of her hands firmly grasped the object while looking directly into her darling's eyes.
"You have no idea," Alex said before hungrily capturing her lips.
Grunts and sounds of pleasure echoed throughout the house that night. No one got any sleep that night.