"Kanae."
"Careful now."
"Wipe your mouth."
Kanae Kocho gently used a handkerchief to clean ice cream from Kanao Tsuyuri's lips.
"…"
Kanao's cheeks flushed slightly.
Watching this, both Kanae and Shinobu Kocho shared a soft smile.
No matter what.
Over this time.
Kanao had changed significantly, no longer the reserved girl she once was—a positive development.
Indeed!
The Kocho family trio was currently on vacation.
Or rather, on a break.
Alistair wasn't one to overwork his people. His personality leaned toward laid-back, perhaps even whimsical.
After such a long period of hard work, a little rest was well deserved.
Even Esdeath felt the same.
Though she relished rigorous training, combat, and the thrill of growing stronger, that didn't mean she was some obsessive maniac.
She knew how to enjoy life.
And so!
Esdeath, clad in a striking swimsuit, lounged on a beach chair, sunglasses on, basking in the sea breeze. As for the crowd around her? Sorry! Esdeath had cleared the area with a wave of her icy aura.
The Great General of Ice had reserved the entire beach today!
"Esdeath, want to play some beach volleyball?"
Leone extended the invitation with a grin.
"Hm?"
Esdeath sat up slightly. Not far off, the others seemed ready to join in.
"Sure, let's play for a bit."
Esdeath stood.
Esdeath, Leone, Chelsea, and Sheele formed one team.
Najenda, Akame, Kurome, and Mine formed the other.
The eight women dove into the game with infectious enthusiasm.
Smack!
Smack!
Utaha Kasumigaoka, Megumi Kato, and Eriri Spencer Sawamura strolled along the shore.
"It feels like…"
Eriri glanced around, speaking softly, "Ever since His Majesty took control of this world, the overall happiness index has skyrocketed!"
"Not surprising," Utaha explained. "There's no oppression, no persecution. Aside from faith, everyone's life has settled into peace, almost like a utopian existence."
"For such a life, would ordinary people complain?"
"As for the nobles…"
"The Underworld's dark divine power generators are still debating if they have enough 'fuel.'"
"Eek!"
Eriri shivered, recalling the dark divine power generators she'd seen.
Shudder-inducing!
Terrifying!
"And," Utaha mused, "I've recently learned His Majesty plans to introduce a technological system to our world."
"Huh?" Eriri blinked, puzzled. "Our world's going to develop technology?"
"Dark Universe 001 is driven by a mystical system," Utaha continued. "Dark Universe 002, from what I hear, is still under debate by Kanae, Shinobu, Mitsuri, and Aki—whether to pursue a mystical or technological path."
"But our world, with no mystical elements to begin with, naturally leans toward technology."
Utaha clarified the situation.
Over the past two weeks, she'd learned a great deal.
As a sharp-minded woman, she couldn't just indulge in leisure. There was much to understand.
"Oh, right!" Utaha suddenly recalled, turning to Megumi. "Your sister, Hiromi, and Akane-senpai have reportedly caught Lord Hades' eye. They're being considered for the secretarial team."
"Eh?" Megumi tilted her head, feigning surprise but showing little emotion. "My sister hasn't mentioned anything about that. I'm not sure."
"The secretarial team…" Eriri's cheeks flushed, her mind drifting to less-than-wholesome thoughts.
Utaha, noticing, teased, "What's that, Kashiwagi-sensei? Thinking of something naughty again?"
Eriri shot back, "I'm not! If anyone's thinking those things, it's you, Utaha-senpai! You tricked us before!"
"Oh?" Utaha raised an eyebrow, arms crossed. "I'm sorry, but His Majesty clearly prefers my figure—something you, Kashiwagi-sensei, might never match."
"Ugh!" Eriri gritted her teeth, fuming, and blurted, "I still have—"
"Eriri."
Before she could finish, Sayuri Sawamura appeared behind her, dressed in a kimono, smiling gently. "I don't recall raising my daughter to be so rude."
"Mom…" Eriri deflated instantly.
Utaha, seeing Sayuri, reined in her teasing. Respect for elders was due—elders, right?
Suppressing her thoughts, Utaha asked, "S-Sayuri-san, have you passed the secretarial team's assessment?"
"Mhm," Sayuri replied with a warm smile. "Hiromi, Akane, and I have passed. We're the initial members of the secretarial team, with Pandora as the overseer."
"But," she added, "His Majesty didn't seem fond of the name 'secretarial team.' He gave it a much cooler name: Hell's Council!"
"…"
Utaha, Eriri, and Megumi fell silent.
What kind of name was that?
Wasn't it a bit too chuunibyou?
But upon reflection, it felt oddly fitting.
Hell's Council.
His Majesty was the God of Darkness.
And…
Led by Pandora, with Sayuri Sawamura, Akane Kosaka, and Hiromi Kato, the council was tasked with planning and strategizing for everything, including True Hell's development.
In that light…
The name Hell's Council was surprisingly apt!
"It's unexpectedly fitting," Megumi summed up.
"See? See?" Sayuri beamed, pulling Megumi into a hug. "Megumi thinks it's perfect too, right?"
"Mom, you came up with that name, didn't you?" Eriri said, instantly seeing through her mother.
Sayuri giggled. "But His Majesty approved it! And you all think it's fitting, don't you?"
"Fine," Eriri muttered, recognizing her mother's smug expression. She knew better than to argue.
It wasn't just the four women.
In fact!
All of the Pure Land of Bliss's kin and subordinate gods, except for Nezuko Kamado, who was in seclusion igniting her divine spark, were out and about.
Even Demeter and Persephone, the mother-daughter duo, had left Alistair behind to go shopping.
It proved one thing.
Even gods, capable of creating anything, loved shopping if they were women.
Meanwhile!
Alistair was on Andromeda Island, soaking in its tranquility, sea breeze ruffling his hair, clad in beach shorts, utterly relaxed.
"As expected," he mused, squinting. "People should take breaks. Constant work is just too exhausting."
Charon, taking over Persephone's duties, prepared a dark cigarette with a lip print and handed Alistair an ice-cold beer.
"Charon, sit down," Alistair said. "It's a vacation. Rest."
"Your Majesty," Charon said with a helpless smile, "What's next…"
Alistair pressed a finger to her lips. "Enough, enough. No overthinking on vacation. Things will come in time."
"Besides, even if we rush, what can we do?"
"Alright…" Charon nodded obediently.
Looking at Charon's dark purple lip print, Alistair suddenly had an idea.
Hmm…
Charon pinned up her long black hair. Alistair, wearing sunglasses, leaned back comfortably. This was the life!
People shouldn't overwork. Step by step, take it slow.
As a god, time was endless. Why rush?
"Mu, be careful."
"Aldo, watch yourself."
"Got it."
Two figures in golden armor appeared instantly on the outskirts of Andromeda Island, floating above the sea, not advancing further.
Aries Gold Saint: Mu.
Taurus Gold Saint: Aldebaran.
This time, it was these two.
Normally, there'd been minor skirmishes between the Sanctuary and the Underworld.
To put it bluntly, both sides were testing each other, sparring lightly without going too far.
Everyone knew this was a probing phase. The true Holy War hadn't begun. Overstepping could trigger all-out conflict.
At the very least, the Sanctuary lacked the confidence to escalate. It wasn't about their base strength but who stood behind their opponent.
The Underworld had a God-King backing them!
And their side?
No word from Apollo. Best to stay cautious.
But.
Half a month had passed, and in that time, nothing happened.
Hades' Castle was silent.
Andromeda Island was quiet.
This…
The Sanctuary grew wary, suspecting something was amiss. Shion dispatched Mu and Aldebaran to investigate.
And so, here they were.
"Hm?"
On a cliff by Andromeda Island's coast, Leone and Sheele sat on stools, fishing rods nearby. Or rather, Sheele was fishing, while the lively little lion was clearly restless.
"Sheele, why drag me to fish? Why not Akame or Kurome?" Leone groaned.
Sheele tilted her head. "Akame and Kurome are off traveling. Everyone else is busy. You were the only one I could find."
"I…" Leone opened her mouth, at a loss. She'd partied too hard yesterday and overslept, only to be nabbed by Sheele.
And now?
She was stuck fishing.
What could she do? She had to go along with it.
"Hm?" Leone's brows furrowed as she stood, her playful demeanor gone. Her eyes sharpened like a beast's, exuding the majesty of a lion king. "Guests from the Sanctuary?"
"…"
Mu and Aldebaran appeared, taking in the scene.
For a moment, they were silent.
What was this?
Mu smiled. "Leone, Sheele, a pleasure to meet you."
Clearly, the Sanctuary knew their names.
In truth, the Sanctuary had a theory about the Underworld's actions: perhaps their goals had nothing to do with the Sanctuary.
Maybe their true target was Olympus, with the Sanctuary and Earth as mere stepping stones.
After all, aside from that ice-wielding woman, the Underworld hadn't been particularly ruthless. Their actions seemed more about training than conquest.
Of course, these were just theories. The Sanctuary couldn't afford to be careless.
No one could guarantee nothing would go wrong, so vigilance was key.
"Oh!" Leone sized them up, nodding. "Aries and Taurus? Two Gold Saints! Mu and Aldebaran, right? What are you doing here?"
"Are you…" she grinned, "planning to stir trouble on Andromeda Island?"
"Let me warn you, that's a bad idea. Charon's on the island right now."
"And we're on vacation. If Charon gets mad, you two are done."
Leone waved dismissively, clearly uninterested in fighting. She just wanted to enjoy her break.
"…"
Mu and Aldebaran fell silent.
Listen to this!
What were they saying?
Vacation?
The Underworld had vacations? They could take breaks?
Leone continued casually, "Sure, Charon's not great at fighting, but she's still a mid-tier god. Have you two reached the Eighth Sense? If you can burn your Cosmo to the Eighth Sense and awaken your God Cloths, you might stand a chance. Otherwise, I'd retreat."
"Besides, we don't have time to bother with you."
Leone really didn't want trouble. Finally, a vacation, and now a fight?
Please!
She wasn't Esdeath, that battle-crazed maniac who got thrilled at the thought of combat.
"Alright," Mu said with a smile, nodding. "In that case, enjoy your vacation."
Mu and Aldebaran left.
Leone and Sheele shrugged off the encounter, continuing as if nothing happened.
Honestly!
The Underworld never took the Sanctuary seriously.
They weren't on the same level. The moment Persephone appeared, the scales tipped irreversibly.
Notably!
The Demon Clan, created by Nezuko Kamado as Alistair's kin, was born with Sixth Sense Cosmo. As adults, they'd reliably reach the Seventh Sense, and the gifted could even hit the Eighth Sense.
What was there to compare?
The Demon Clan, kin of Alistair's supreme 666 rank, was arguably more absurd than the Golden Age humans of mythology.
As for the kin?
Did anyone really think their rapid Cosmo cultivation was unrelated to their transformation as Alistair's kin?
Michiru Hyodo, Izumi Hashima, Tokino Himekawa…
And so on!
These kin, not destined to be Underworld Warriors or Demon Teigu wielders in Alistair's plans, would still reach Seventh Sense—Gold Saint level—in a year if placed in the Sanctuary. Eighth Sense? No problem at all!
As Alistair's subordinate gods, kin, and clan, their essence, rank, and origin had ascended to the heavens in a single leap.
***
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