Kunou's Perspective
My name is Kunou, and I'm the daughter of Yasaka, the leader of Kyoto's Youkai.
Ever since I was little, I've been surrounded by love and attention from everyone in Urakyoto. Mother, the attendants, even the other youkai, they all doted on me.
But as I grew older, I noticed something important. Something that set me apart from others.
Everyone else had a father. I didn't.
When I asked Mother about it, she explained that our nine-tailed fox clan was different from ordinary youkai. We've always passed down our lineage through mothers and daughters alone, no fathers necessary.
I told Mother I understood, but deep down, I wasn't satisfied.
Why couldn't Mother find me a father? Why was our family different?
That dissatisfaction lingered in my heart for years... until recently, when everything changed.
I saw him, an incredibly handsome big brother who made my heart race the moment I laid eyes on him.
Something inside me just knew. I wanted him to be my father. I wanted his warmth, his protection, his affection.
Mother rejected the idea outright, of course. But I refused to give up.
If Mother wouldn't make him my father, then I'd do it myself! I'd get close to him, make him like me, and then convince Mother to accept him!
It was the perfect plan.
But first, I needed to build a good relationship with him.
"After Big Brother woke up, Mother gave him a place to stay," I muttered to myself, crouching in the bushes with my friends. "That silver-haired maid who doesn't know her place keeps hovering around him, talking to herself."
"First step: distract the maid!"
"Hehe... This time, I didn't come empty-handed either~"
My preparations were flawless. Victory was assured.
"Crack!"
Just as my companions and I were about to launch our attack, the door to Big Brother's residence opened.
A tall woman emerged, wearing the strangest outfit I'd ever seen.
I quickly pulled everyone deeper into the bushes.
"What kind of clothes is she wearing?" I whispered, studying her peculiar dress. "It looks familiar somehow... like something I've seen in the human world?"
The woman's legs seemed to tremble slightly with each step. Was she hurt?
"Young Mistress," the Great Tengu said after a moment of analysis, "that appears to be a magical girl costume from the human world."
But... he looked strangely troubled. Something about this magical girl who'd just left Big Brother's room seemed familiar to him, though he couldn't quite place it.
"Really? A magical girl..." I finally recognized the style. "So she came to visit Big Brother too?"
Then I remembered something crucial and couldn't help sighing.
"There are so many big sisters visiting him~"
During Big Brother's recovery, I'd witnessed a parade of visitors. The innocent-looking angel sister. The "polite" fallen angel sister. The knight sister who could eat like a warrior. The beautiful red-haired devil sister. The cold, scary-looking sister. The holy sister with such pure presence. The weak-looking purple-haired sister...
So many! Big Brother was clearly very popular!
But I couldn't worry about that now.
"Everyone! I'm counting on you!"
At my command, my youkai companions rushed toward the final boss, the silver-haired maid who'd been constantly at Big Brother's side.
Follow the plan! We have to defeat the Silver Devil!
This is our resolution!
On the other side of the battlefield, the so-called Silver Devil, Grayfia, sighed softly.
She'd been aware of Kunou's schemes for quite some time now. Honestly, she'd treated the whole thing like a child's game, seeing no reason to interfere.
Her primary duty was to avoid disturbing Takeyo's peace and quiet.
Of course, if Takeyo himself sought company, she wouldn't object. As his maid, she couldn't defy her master's wishes.
Besides... she was no longer bound by her previous obligations.
According to her agreement with Maou Sirzechs, she'd regained her freedom.
The arrangement had been straightforward. After the Devil Civil War ended and the reformist faction emerged victorious, she'd returned to the Underworld. Given her family's history serving the Lucifer bloodline and her own considerable strength, Sirzechs had invited her to become his Queen.
It had been a temporary arrangement, five hundred years of service, after which she could leave if she wished.
The truth was, Sirzechs had wanted to keep someone of her caliber close to the reformist cause. He'd hoped that over those centuries, he might win her loyalty, perhaps even her heart.
But Sirzechs had quickly realized he was overthinking things. Grayfia's political views aligned closely with the reformists already. She hadn't needed observation or persuasion.
After obtaining her freedom and receiving a Rook piece from Takeyo, she'd successfully embarked on the path toward Transcendent-class power.
Given her background and natural talent, reaching that level was only a matter of time.
"But... I could have sworn I sensed Serafall's aura yesterday..."
Grayfia frowned, recalling the previous day's visitor.
She'd distinctly felt Serafall's presence, but something had been off. When Serafall departed, Grayfia could no longer accurately gauge her power level.
Previously, she'd always been able to sense the rough limits of Serafall's strength. As fellow Satan-class devils, their abilities were comparable, Serafall had never been her match in direct combat.
But yesterday, Serafall's power had become unreadable.
What exactly had happened?
Grayfia narrowed her eyes, deep in thought even as she casually deflected the playful attacks from Kunou's youkai companions.
The only beings whose strength she currently couldn't perceive were Transcendent-class entities.
She hadn't yet reached that level herself, despite being given a chess piece by Takeyo.
Yet Serafall had visited only yesterday. Even with Takeyo's chess piece, it should have been impossible to achieve Transcendent-class power indoors in such a short time!
So what method had Takeyo used to elevate Serafall's strength so dramatically?
While Grayfia pondered these mysteries, she continued her gentle sparring with the enthusiastic young youkai.
Back in the wooden house, Takeyo stretched luxuriously.
After all, Serafall had previously been at peak Maou-level strength, far more powerful than Sona. Naturally, the process had required considerably more energy.
Of course, given his current physical capabilities and power level, even someone at Heavenly Dragon-level like Tiamat would eventually succumb to his methods. Only beings like Ophis or Great Red, entities that surpassed the God of the Bible, could truly match him now.
"Your body really is extraordinary," the God remarked from beside Takeyo. "Even in that state, you remain so energetic."
These past few days, she'd witnessed an endless stream of visitors seeking Takeyo's attention. It was impossible not to have an opinion about the situation.
However, given her detached position and perspective, she could maintain her composure.
In terms of compatibility, whether considering personality, strength, or fundamental essence, she was the most suitable match for Takeyo.
Since witnessing Takeyo use his original avatar to sever problematic world lines, the God's mindset had shifted. Previously, she would never have admitted any weakness in his presence. Now, she found herself content to serve as his capable support.
"If I lacked energy, wouldn't this world be in trouble?" Takeyo grinned, hooking his arm around her shoulders.
It had been some time since he'd returned from the God's era through the timestream. He hadn't publicly announced his return, choosing instead to quietly reassure those who'd been worried about him.
Sona, in particular, had been deeply concerned. After their reunion, she'd stayed close to him for quite a while.
And the Maou Leviathan herself, well, she'd been far more... enthusiastic than expected.
Using the Blood Path techniques he'd acquired and his own chess pieces, Takeyo had significantly upgraded many of his companions.
The Maou Leviathan, for instance, had now reached Transcendent-class after her enhancement. That's why Grayfia could no longer accurately sense her power.
Of course, if Grayfia received a similar upgrade, she'd once again surpass Serafall's level.
"Beep!"
As Takeyo and the God studied new formations and artifacts together, a communication circle activated nearby.
"Oh, finally~" Takeyo smiled, reaching for the communication.
He'd been waiting for this particular call for quite some time.
When he answered, the green-haired Transcendent Maou appeared in the projection.
"Sensei Ajuka, have things on that end been settled?" Takeyo asked.
He'd remained out of public sight since his return for a specific reason, to avoid drawing the attention of the evil god from another dimension who'd been observing this world.
He'd already contacted Ajuka and Sirzechs. After confirming his safety, Takeyo had asked them to handle certain arrangements.
Now that the communication had come through, those preparations must be complete.
"You really do love giving people work to do," Ajuka said with an exasperated tone. "But yes, everything's handled."
"Sensei, there's no helping it~" Takeyo spread his hands helplessly. "Didn't you see? I'm seriously injured~ I'm practically disabled,"
"Besides, if I handled this kind of thing directly, it might get very troublesome. There could be fighting. That's why I could only ask you, Sensei~"
"..." Ajuka's expression darkened with resignation.
He knew perfectly well how "energetic" Takeyo had been these past few days. Calling him disabled was laughable.
Actually, Takeyo was more dangerous when injured. After gaining the Blood Path, he became even more formidable when wounded due to the increased activation of his protective abilities.
Still, Ajuka understood. This particular task truly wasn't something Takeyo should handle directly through peaceful means.
"I've completed your request," Ajuka confirmed. "The so-called international tournament, correct? By then, the world's renowned gods will be participating."
"The Three Factions, Eastern Divine Realm, Hindu pantheon, Norse gods, Celtic gods, Egyptian gods, Greek gods, Buddhist pantheon, indigenous gods... They've all agreed to participate."
"I suspect the battle between the Great Red Dragon God Emperor and that otherworldly being made everyone vigilant."
"When facing a common powerful enemy, unity becomes necessary. Of course... when uniting, hierarchy must be established."
"For that reason, most other pantheons won't refuse."
This was what Takeyo had asked Ajuka to arrange.
Of course, the so-called international tournament was merely a cover. What he truly wanted was to gather all the gods in one location.
"That's excellent. Thank you, Sensei."
Takeyo smiled with satisfaction.
"The timing is set for two months from now. By then, your injuries should have healed, right?" Ajuka smiled knowingly.
He had a pretty good idea of what Takeyo intended to accomplish.
That's so like him, always finding unique solutions.
"By the way, who's that beside you?" Ajuka had noticed another person in the communication, the God.
He couldn't help but sense something extraordinary about this girl who appeared to be a young teenager. Was that... overwhelming divine presence?