"I'm so glad you're all safe," Nina said. "Onee-chan, are you okay?"
"It was intense," Alice-san replied, "but I'm fine, Nina. Has anything changed on this end?"
It was Walkyrie-san who answered. "Issei-sama's condition is stable, but unchanged. The only other development is the unrest breaking out in various regions. People are terrified; they need an outlet for their fear and anxiety. I believe the reports have already reached you, but similar riots are occurring across the Underworld."
"I suppose that's to be expected given the circumstances," Alice-san muttered, resting her chin in her hand. "We can just knock some sense into the opportunists using this for sabotage, but suppressing people who are just scared… that usually backfires."
She sighed deeply, her gaze drifting to Issei-kun on the bed. Her eyes grew misty with longing.
"Honestly… I was hoping for a 'Welcome home' at the very least… you idiot."
She reached out, playfully but tenderly flicking Issei-kun's nose.
Despite her current softness, Alice-san had been a force of nature on the battlefield. Known as the 'Princess of White Lightning,' she had used her terrifying speed and destructive power to mow down scores of Evil Dragons. She had even utilized her new height of power—her 'Goddess Transformation'—to hold the entire front line together.
The other women were the same. Each of them had fought with a fierce, beautiful desperation, fueled by their feelings for him.
Even Gaspar-kun, a fellow Gremory man, had shouted, "I'll punch them for Issei-senpai too!" as he transformed into the avatar of Balor, brutally scattering Evil Dragons with every strike. His fighting style has truly begun to mirror Issei-kun's own head-on intensity.
The Sitri, the Baal peerage, and every member of D×D fought with the resolve to make up for Issei-kun's absence.
And I was no different.
Diarmuid, who had been sitting by the bed, rushed over the moment she saw Miu-san.
"Mas— I mean, Onee-chan… are you okay?"
"I'm perfectly fine, see?" Miu-san replied with a smile, spinning around once to show she was unharmed.
Diarmuid let out a long, shaky breath of relief. "…I'm glad. I'm so glad you aren't hurt."
"Hehe, thank you for worrying about me." Miu-san pulled Diarmuid into a gentle embrace. They looked exactly like real sisters.
No—perhaps they are sisters now. Blood isn't the only thing that creates a family. Just as Issei-kun welcomed Miu-san as his sister, Miu-san has welcomed Diarmuid into their circle.
Miu-san stroked Diarmuid's hair gently. "Thank you for staying here with Onii-chan and Mom and Dad. You too, Nina-san, Walkyrie-san. Because you all stood guard here, we were able to focus on the fight."
At those words, Diarmuid buried her face in Miu-san's chest, her eyes glistening.
…The impression I had of her when we first met has completely vanished. I can't even recognize the person she used to be. Ever since she moved into Issei-kun's house, her character has undergone a total transformation… well, it's probably best not to overthink it. It feels almost tactless to point it out.
Having confirmed everyone's safety, our attention returned to Issei-kun.
His breathing was steady, his expression peaceful. If you didn't know better, you'd think he was merely enjoying a deep, pleasant nap.
"Man, he's really out, isn't he?" Maurice-san said with a chuckle, trying to lighten the mood. "Maybe I should doodle on his face while he can't fight back. Yuto, pass me a permanent marker. I'm giving him a mustache."
"Um, I don't think he's sleeping because he wants to..." I replied. Maurice-san was laughing, but knowing him, he might actually do it. He has a mischievous streak a mile wide.
But truly, why won't he wake? According to Walkyrie-san's report, he hadn't stirred once while we were in the Norse world.
Rias-senpai voiced the question we were all thinking. "Is his coma related to the power he used back then? A backlash from wielding something so immense?"
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