In the end, Vali chose not to make a move.
Part of the reason was that he couldn't beat Rod, and another part was that he had already promised Lavinia that he would not make the same mistake again.
He could disappoint anyone else, but he absolutely never wanted to see disappointment in Lavinia's eyes.
"Then Va-kun, stay here and let them help reform you properly. Rod and I will head back first."
Now that everything had been properly settled, Lavinia could no longer hold back the drowsiness washing over her and let out one yawn after another.
"Va-kun, you should go to bed early too, okay? Otherwise, you won't grow any taller."
In truth, Vali was already taller than Lavinia now, but she still could not help saying it.
"And Va-kun, you have to be good, okay? Once you're out, you have to come to my house. We can drink tea and chat. I still want to hear all about the interesting things you've gone through over the years~"
Faced with Lavinia's concern, the only thing Vali could do was nod stiffly.
Then, when he saw Lavinia lean against Rod's shoulder and say, "I'm so sleepy," he hardened.
His fists, that is.
"Then we'll be going first."
Rod waved to everyone in the meeting room.
"Mr. Rod, thank you for everything tonight."
Michael expressed his thanks solemnly.
"Make sure you get some good rest once you're back~"
Gabriel smiled and waved to Rod.
Without saying anything else, Rod picked up Lavinia, whose eyes were already barely staying open, and left the room.
"Let's go."
"Of course."
Walburga, waiting outside, was very obedient. She could feel the auras of those great figures inside the meeting room, each more overwhelming than the last, so she hadn't dared move at all.
But when she noticed the girl in Rod's arms, surprise appeared on her face.
"Oh? I didn't expect this adorable little princess to be here too."
"So it's you, Walburga."
Lavinia, who had not fully fallen asleep yet, naturally recognized Walburga at once.
That gothic l0li girl who had once followed the witch Augusta had left a deep impression on her.
She had never expected that this attack would involve them too.
"Hehe, then let's all get along from now on, Princess~"
Walburga smiled brightly.
For someone who had once fought her, Walburga now becoming an ally stirred no extra emotion in her at all.
Lavinia did not really know what was going on, but since this was something Rod had done, she did not ask further.
After they got back home, even though it was already deep into the night, the girls who had stayed behind still had not gone to sleep.
When they saw Rod carrying Lavinia back, Koneko and Asia immediately came up to meet them, while the fallen angel trio stood off to one side, looking on anxiously.
Of course, what they were worried about was not Rod and Lavinia.
"What happened to Miss Lavinia? Is she hurt? I can heal her..."
Asia reached out, ready to use her healing ability.
But Rod shook his head.
"It's just late, and she fell asleep. We're both fine. You should all get some rest too."
"Did you see Shirone at the school, nya? How is she? She wasn't hurt, right, nya?"
Kuroka asked anxiously.
Earlier, she had already sensed a strange wave of energy erupt from Kuoh Academy, and right after that, the soldiers of the Three Factions guarding the area all stopped moving.
If she hadn't been worried that barging in might cause even bigger trouble, Kuroka would have already rushed in to protect her little sister.
"She's fine. She was just caught in the time stop for a little while. But she probably won't be coming home tonight."
Hearing that, Kuroka finally let out a sigh of relief.
But at the mention of time stop, she tilted her head and let out a puzzled nya.
At that moment, Rod suddenly found himself envying Gasper's ability to stop time.
That thing was just too useful.
As long as it could be controlled freely, it was absolutely a perfect mob-clearing ability.
He absolutely was not envious because it could even freeze upper-class beauty devils like Rias and Sona in place.
Absolutely not.
Rod did not explain the rest in too much detail. Instead, he introduced Walburga to the others.
"She'll be working under you three from now on."
"Huh?"
When she heard how he was arranging her, Walburga looked stunned.
What the hell?
He was actually assigning her to serve under three lower-ranked fallen angels? If other witches found out, how was she supposed to keep showing her face in witch society?
Raynare and the other two hadn't expected that, as three little nobodies, they would one day get to command someone else in this house.
The moment they thought of that, the fallen angel trio immediately straightened their backs.
Following Rod really did have a future!
"Master, there's one more thing... did Lord Azazel mention us at the meeting at all?"
Raynare asked carefully.
"Not once."
"Haa..."
Hearing that answer, all three girls let out a sigh of relief at the same time.
What they had feared most all along was being held accountable by the upper ranks of the fallen angels. But if Azazel had not mentioned them, then that probably meant they wouldn't be pursued for responsibility anymore.
And yet, when they thought about it again, they couldn't help feeling a little down.
Because didn't that also mean Grigori had completely given up on them?
Seeing the three of them suddenly sink into low spirits, Rod said nothing more. He carried Lavinia upstairs and entered the bedroom on the second floor.
Bathing was out of the question. Just sleep.
The fights tonight against Creuserey and Vali had not actually been as easy as they looked. In order to finish them quickly, Rod had held nothing back, so the moment he lay down, he quickly fell asleep as well.
...
The next morning.
Sunlight climbed over the rooftop, gilding the window frame in gold. It slipped through the gaps in the curtains, leaving several pale rays across the dim bedroom.
That faint light illuminated the two people on the bed. Curled up as she slept, Lavinia breathed evenly, her flawless body looking like smooth glass.
Rod slowly woke up.
After a full night's rest, all of his energy had returned.
That was one of the good things about being a free mercenary. If he didn't want to take a job, he could sleep until he woke naturally.
If he had joined any one of the Three Factions, he definitely would not have had it this easy.
Even after waking up, though, Rod still did not want to get out of bed. He simply looked at the girl resting against him and let his thoughts drift.
Lavinia had only a white shirt on, and in her sleep she was far from particularly composed. The shirt had already slipped from one shoulder, and from Rod's angle, he could see Lavinia's soft brëast rising and falling gently with its owner's steady breathing
Seeing that, Rod's gaze lingered for a moment, and his thoughts began to drift in a direction he knew he probably shouldn't indulge.
But unlike others who could only look and not touch, after a full second of careful consideration, Rod made a difficult decision.
Drawing close to Lavinia's back, his hand ventured forth like a brave mountaineer reaching the summit.
The rebounding sensation against his palm stirred him deeply, and soon his fingers began traversing her breast.
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