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Absence, as they say, makes the heart grow fonder—and Mika and Rias, having been separated for years, were eager to reconnect...
Therefore, they didn't emerge from their bedroom until nearly noon.
After showering together, they entered the living room, where Xenovia sat on the sofa, her face flushed, a mix of embarrassment and resentment in her eyes as she looked at them.
Mika instantly understood.
As a live-in maid, Xenovia usually prepared their breakfast—and having been trained by Grayfia, she was a skilled and efficient servant.
When they hadn't emerged by mid-morning, she had undoubtedly come to wake them, only to interrupt their—activities...
Mika could imagine the scene, and a wave of awkwardness washed over him. However, his thick skin impervious to embarrassment.
Mika sat down beside her casually, feigning ignorance. "Xenovia, I'm starving. Did you save any food for us?"
"Yes, of course. I'll bring it right away," Xenovia replied, hurrying into the kitchen. She, too, felt a surge of awkwardness, amplified by Mika's apparent obliviousness—
"Whew…" Mika breathed a sigh of relief as she disappeared into the kitchen. Rias, too, seemed to relax slightly.
They exchanged glances, then burst into laughter, a shared amusement at the awkward situation, the tension dissipating.
By the time Xenovia returned with their meal, they were their usual selves, chatting and laughing as if nothing had happened.
Xenovia, watching them, felt a surge of confusion, as if her earlier experience had been a dream.
They exchanged knowing smiles; words weren't needed.
"I've already informed Akeno-senpai about your absence this morning, so there's no need to rush. Just arrive before afternoon classes," Xenovia said, after they finished eating.
"Thank you, Xenovia," Rias replied.
While such tasks were normally part of a maid's duties—Xenovia wasn't just a maid. She was also Rias's servant, a member of her peerage, her family.
She had chosen to become a maid, a decision made after a series of…interesting events.
Having spent all her money on religious artifacts, she had been forced to take up residence at Mika's apartment as a maid, to pay for her and Irina's stay.
Later, she had encountered Grayfia and received—proper maid training.
Then, after Kokabiel's defeat and the revelation of God's death—her faith shattered—she had joined Rias' peerage, becoming a Reincarnated Devil.
Therefore, she would be staying with Rias, just like Akeno, Kiba, and Koneko.
However, when Rias offered to arrange separate accommodations for her, she had refused, preferring to remain as a maid—while they didn't understand her reasons, it was her choice, and Rias hadn't objected.
Therefore, while Xenovia served as a maid, she wasn't merely a servant or a possession; she was a valued member of the family. And to the Gremory clan, their peerage were family.
————
"In that case, I'll go out for a bit," Mika said suddenly, a thought having just occurred to him: his other companions.
While Alfia was with him, residing within his soul, Yahweh was also present, currently within a pocket dimension he had created within his body.
Yahweh was a powerful Goddess—he couldn't risk her presence attracting unwanted attention from the Three Realms.
"Would you like me to excuse you from classes, or perhaps—accompany you?" Rias, having heard about Mika's extended stay in the Saint Seiya world, assumed he was feeling nostalgic, wanting to revisit familiar places.
And as his—wife, Rias felt obligated to accompany him.
"It's alright. I'll just be in the neighborhood. I'll be back before afternoon classes," Mika said, waving her off. He didn't want to involve her in this, at least not yet.
"Very well." Rias nodded. She trusted his judgment. After all, he was far stronger than she was, making her feel like a…child in his presence.
"I'll be going then—" Mika waved goodbye to her and Xenovia and vanished.
"Has he gotten Stronger again?" Xenovia asked, looking at the spot where he had been standing moments before.
"Of course. He's Mika, after all," Rias replied with a smile, her voice filled with pride.
Knowing he had spent over a decade in the Saint Seiya World—made her wonder just how powerful he had become.
'I'll have to ask him tonight...' Rias thought.
————
As Mika walked through the familiar streets, a sense of nostalgia washed over him.
He quickly reconnected with the city, his senses attuned to its unique energy, then found a secluded spot, away from prying eyes and curious ears, and began setting up barriers.
He had to be careful with Yahweh's arrival.
With the barriers in place, he released Yahweh from her pocket dimension.
"So, this is the world ruled by my other self?" Yahweh asked, stretching languidly, sensing this world's unique laws.
"Ruled? The Biblical God never ruled this world. He wasn't the strongest here,"
Mika corrected her. In this world, the most powerful beings were the two Dragons—not the Red Dragon Emperor and the White Dragon Emperor, but the Dragon Gods, Ophis and Great Red, who stood at the pinnacle of power—
"That's irrelevant," Yahweh said with a dismissive wave.
"If you say so—" Mika wouldn't argue with a Goddess, especially his own.
"However, your connection to the God of the Bible might attract unwanted attention. Perhaps you should modify your presence." Ordinary concealment methods wouldn't work here.
Those who opposed the God of the Bible were powerful Gods and devils, not low-ranking Fallen Angels like Kokabiel.
As Mika had once remarked, Satan-class power was merely the entry level for being a major player in this world, with its diverse Pantheons and Powerful Beings.
————
"I understand. These aren't the weaklings of Orario," Yahweh replied, scoffing at the Gods of her own world.
"Good—" Mika nodded, and Yahweh, sensing the world's unique energy signature, began to modify her own presence, her Divine aura fading, replaced by something—Demonic.
However, it was only a superficial resemblance.
"Is that an Angel's aura?" Mika guessed. While he hadn't met any Angels in this world yet, he could wield the power of light.
"Indeed," Yahweh confirmed with a smile.
"Wait... are you planning to visit Heaven?" Mika asked, remembering her earlier curiosity about the God of the Bible.
"That's right. As expected of you, Mika. You always understand me so well."
Yahweh stepped out of the barrier, a mischievous glint in her eyes. "I'm going to visit Heaven, to see that other me's handiwork. And perhaps—acquire a few souvenirs."
Acquiring the legacy of a more powerful version of oneself was, in a way, the fastest path to power for a world-hopping God. After all, they were essentially the same being.
"That's—reckless," Mika murmured, though he didn't try to stop her, nor was he concerned for her safety.
Both he and Yahweh possessed power that could rival even the Strongest in this world.
However, their personalities, their methods, differed. While Mika enjoyed a good fight, he preferred to avoid unnecessary conflict.
"I'll be going, then—"
"Already? Can't you stay a bit longer?"
"I don't want to be a third wheel..." Yahweh said with a smirk, then vanished.
Mika stood there, stunned.
"Wait! You could see us? I specifically designed the barrier to prevent that! It wasn't my fault!" Mika had just realized the implications of their… activities being witnessed by his Goddess.
It was mortifying!
But she was already gone. He felt a wave of embarrassment wash over him.
I've been…exposed…and by my own Goddess—
Then it hit him. She deliberately modified the barrier! She wanted to see! That's why she left so quickly!
"Damn it!" Mika exclaimed, his face burning.
He was still reeling from his embarrassment when he returned to his apartment, where Rias and Xenovia were waiting.
Ignoring their curious glances, he went straight to his room and buried his face in his pillow.
It wasn't until Rias called him for school that he finally emerged, his composure restored.
They walked to Kuoh Academy together, Rias and Xenovia repeatedly asking what had happened, noticing his earlier distress.
But he didn't tell them. Such things were best left unsaid, buried deep within the recesses of his memory.
However, as they walked, he was already plotting his revenge. He wouldn't be the only one with such an embarrassing story to hide.
"We're here," Xenovia said, interrupting his thoughts.
He looked at the school, his mood lightening. He had missed his friends and companions here.
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