Fifteen minutes later, within Keystone Gate's uppermost level—the old school building's interior—a certain Valkyrie's storm of weeping resonated throughout the first-floor living area.
"Uuu~ I'm just a useless Valkyrie who can't recruit even one Einherjar warrior—my age perfectly matching my perpetual singleness! Now even Lord Odin has abandoned me! Just leave me alone—let me rot quietly on Itogami Island, waaaaaah!!"
Uh...
The assembled girls—freshly returned from school dismissal—faced this chaotic tableau with uniformly bewildered expressions. Everyone simultaneously redirected their gazes toward Bokue Keikain, equally present at this moment. Their eyes conveyed identical unspoken questions.
"Bokue, could you explain what's happening here?"
Hearing the Valkyrie's continuous sobbing assaulting her ears, Rias approached the young man while massaging her forehead.
"Even if you demand explanations..."
Bokue shrugged helplessly.
"Exactly as Rossweisse-san stated literally—Odin abandoned her on Itogami Island."
To facilitate Rias and company's comprehension, he provided comprehensive recounting of today's entire sequence of events.
From morning airport departure retrieving Polyphonia, encountering the storm-weeping Valkyrie at Keystone Gate, accompanying said Valkyrie through extensive recreational distractions until her spirits finally recovered, only to return discovering Odin's complete disappearance from the maid café—leaving behind an abandoned, pitifully helpless Valkyrie.
The entire narrative sounded so absurdly bizarre—for instance, Norse mythology's chief deity indulging obsessively in entertainment establishments—that even Asia, exemplar of virtuous conduct, couldn't suppress slight awkward-yet-polite smiling upon conclusion.
Rias directly covered her face with speechless exasperation.
"Is that... really what happened?"
"Correct."
Bokue spread both hands.
"So currently, I'm uncertain about optimal solutions. The simplest approach involves directly returning Rossweisse-san to Norse territories. That's most straightforward..."
"No way! I refuse returning, uuu~!"
Before completion, the Valkyrie—previously immersed in self-pitying sorrow mere seconds prior—suddenly vocalized loud rejection.
"As Lord Odin's bodyguard, I abandoned my duties! Now Lord Odin has cast me aside on Itogami Island! How could someone like me possibly face returning to Norse territories?? Just let me rot quietly on Itogami Island, waaaah!!"
Within three sentences, conversational trajectory had circled back to square one.
Obviously, abandonment by her chief deity had devastated Rossweisse—practically negating her entire life's meaning comprehensively.
But... we can't genuinely watch her become homeless, right? Regardless of circumstances, she remained a comrade from shared subjugation campaigns. Moreover, she was a legitimate Norse mythology Valkyrie.
"What should we do..."
Observing Rossweisse having already surpassed crying-and-complaining stages, apparently fast-forwarding toward self-destructive extremes, Rias found herself helpless.
While not incompetent at consolation, this situation clearly transcended simple verbal comfort's resolution capabilities.
"What else can we do?"
Bokue shrugged.
"Since Rossweisse-san refuses Norse return, we'll accommodate her residency here temporarily~"
"Mm, that's the only option..."
Rias initially moved to nod agreement, except mid-sentence she apparently recognized something. Her acknowledgment halted abruptly. Instead, suspicious glances targeted the young man.
"Wait. Bokue, you're not planning again to..."
"What do you mean 'again'? Do I genuinely register in Rias's perception as someone who pounces indiscriminately on every attractive girl encountered?"
Bokue delivered one light swat against the red-haired girl's pert, rounded rear beneath her skirt.
"Or are you suggesting we genuinely leave Rossweisse-san homeless?"
"Mm..."
Rias fell silent.
Though lingering unease persisted faintly, obviously abandoning someone to homelessness remained impossible. Moreover, the beachfront villa contained numerous vacant rooms. Accommodations would certainly utilize those facilities.
As long as they're not cohabiting the same space... probably won't lead to spontaneous intimate complications, right?
The red-haired girl contemplated internally.
❁❁❁❁
Moments later—after the old school building's assembled girls dispersed homeward from Keystone Gate—Bokue escorted Rossweisse to the beachfront villa's second floor, equally positioned atop Keystone Gate.
"Well, Rossweisse-san, you'll reside here during this period. Future arrangements can develop gradually through careful deliberation."
"Uuu~ Thank you, though nothing matters anymore. I'm just an unwanted, useless Valkyrie anyway, uuuuu~..."
Obviously, recovering from her chief deity's abandonment trauma wouldn't occur quickly.
Bokue found himself speechless regarding appropriate responses. He simply delivered the still-weeping Valkyrie into her assigned room before closing the door decisively.
However, the instant that door sealed, another door opened simultaneously across the opposite corridor behind him.
Venelana.
Since returning to the human realm, she'd continued occupying her previous vacation residence. Hearing the young man's voice from the external corridor prompted her emergence.
She didn't vocalize immediately—instead approaching Bokue's position with measured steps. Despite their current location being the corridor's central thoroughfare, she extended both arms without hesitation—embracing deeply from behind, encircling his waist. Like a blissful young wife, she pressed her cheek against Bokue's shoulder blade while speaking softly.
"Busy all day outside—finally returned? Plus, this is... another new neighbor?"
Written as "new neighbor," pronounced as "good sister."
Bokue comprehended her implications. He simply pivoted, reversing positions while simultaneously lifting the beautiful woman—hands supporting her long, voluptuously-proportioned thighs beneath her dress, raising her into bridal carry.
Venelana smiled cooperatively, relocating her arms from his waist toward his neck.
"Not exactly. Actually, Rossweisse-san's situation involves..."
Bokue leaned forward, delivering light kisses against the beautiful woman's full crimson lips before repeating his previous old school building explanation to Rias.
Predictably, after hearing everything, Venelana couldn't suppress her own somewhat helpless amusement.
"Abandoned on Itogami Island... is that so?"
Immediately afterward, her conversational trajectory pivoted. Her lips curved into mysteriously suggestive smiles.
"Mm, in Auntie's assessment, perhaps not abandonment at all."
Hm? Not abandonment? What does that mean?
Bokue tightened his grip supporting the beautiful woman's thighs, preparing curious inquiry.
However, Venelana simply smiled while shaking her head. One finger pressed vertically against her lips—gesturing silence—before that same fingertip touched his mouth.
"No, it's nothing. When appropriate timing arrives, Bokue will understand naturally... After all, that supposedly omniscient Lord Odin wouldn't commit such elementary errors."
"By the way, rather than discussing this—Bokue, come to Auntie's room tonight. I'll arrange advance coordination with Sheila-imouto, waiting together for you~♡"
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