Two days after our return from the amusement park, I was enjoying a rare quiet morning when there was a knock at the door. Opening it, I found Grayfia standing there with a small travel bag and that perfectly composed expression of hers.
"Akira-san," she said with a slight bow. "I hope I'm not arriving at an inconvenient time."
*Right. The bodyguard assignment for the Norse realm trip.*
"Not at all," I replied, stepping aside to let her in. "Though I wasn't expecting you to actually move in until we left for Asgard."
"Sirzechs-sama felt it would be more efficient for me to familiarize myself with your daily routine and security requirements beforehand," she explained, setting her bag down with precise movements. "I hope you don't mind the imposition."
From the living room, I heard Yoruichi snort with amusement. "This should be interesting."
"You really don't need to do maid work while you're here," I said for the third time that morning, watching Grayfia efficiently organize the kitchen with the kind of precision that made military drills look casual.
"It is no trouble," she replied, continuing to rearrange everything according to some system that probably made perfect sense to her. "I am accustomed to managing household duties."
Valerie emerged from her room, took one look at the spotless kitchen, and raised an eyebrow. "Did we get robbed by very neat burglars, or...?"
"Grayfia's staying with us until the Norse trip," I explained.
"The legendary maid herself," Valerie said with obvious interest. "I've heard stories about your organizational skills."
"They are likely exaggerated," Grayfia said modestly, though she looked pleased by the recognition.
Asia appeared a moment later, took in the sight of Grayfia wearing an apron and efficiently preparing breakfast, and immediately moved to help. "Please, let me assist you."
"That is unnecessary—"
"I insist," Asia said with that gentle firmness she used when she'd made up her mind about something.
Watching them work together was oddly calming. Asia's natural kindness seemed to put Grayfia at ease in a way that formal interactions couldn't.
"Your household is... not what I expected," Grayfia said later that evening as we sat in the living room.
"What were you expecting?" I asked, genuinely curious.
"Something more formal, perhaps. More structured." She paused, watching Yoruichi bat at a piece of string while Valerie tried to study and Xenovia practiced sword forms in the backyard. "This feels more like... a family."
*A family. Yeah, I guess it kind of does.*
"Is that a problem?" I asked.
"Not at all," she said, and for the first time since arriving, her professional mask slipped slightly. "It's rather pleasant, actually."
. . .
By the end of the week, something had shifted. Grayfia was still professional, but the rigid formality had softened into something more natural. She still insisted on handling most of the household tasks, but she'd started accepting help from Asia and even seemed to enjoy their conversations about cooking techniques.
"You know," I said one morning as she prepared breakfast with her usual efficiency, "you don't have to maintain the perfect maid act here. We're not exactly a formal household."
"Old habits," she replied, but I caught the small smile. "Though I admit, this is quite different from the Gremory estate."
"Different how?"
"Quieter. More... genuine, perhaps." She set a plate in front of me with precise movements. "There are fewer political undercurrents to navigate."
*Fair point. My household drama is usually limited to Yoruichi stealing food and Xenovia accidentally breaking furniture during training.*
. . .
"Your influence in devil society is becoming quite significant," Grayfia observed during one of our evening conversations. "The noble families are beginning to take notice."
"Good notice or bad notice?" I asked, though I wasn't sure I wanted to know.
"Both," she replied "Your actions against the Hero Faction, your alliance with the current Satans, your unusual methods... they're generating considerable discussion."
*Great. Devil politics. Just what I needed.*
The Holy Water of Life had apparently created more waves than I'd realized. According to Grayfia, several devil families were now trying to figure out how to get access to similar healing resources, and my refusal to mass-produce it had only increased its perceived value.
"They're offering quite substantial sums," she mentioned casually while organizing some paperwork.
"Not interested," I said immediately. "That stuff is too dangerous to mass-produce."
"I assumed as much. Though the offers are... generous. One family suggested a marriage alliance."
I nearly choked on my coffee. "They what?"
"Devil politics often involve strategic marriages," she explained with the tone of someone discussing the weather. "Your abilities and resources make you quite an attractive prospect."
*Note to self: avoid devil noble gatherings until this dies down.*
"Among other things. Your ability to counter divine suppression techniques is particularly valuable." She paused, considering her words. "The underworld hasn't seen such innovative combat capabilities in centuries."
"The younger generation of devils is especially interested in you," she added. "Your unconventional approach to supernatural politics is inspiring some... interesting discussions among the student councils."
*Right. Because teenage devils needed more reasons to get into trouble.*
"Is that something I should be worried about?"
"Not immediately. Though you may find yourself receiving more invitations to various events." She gave me a look that might have been amusement. "I believe several devil schools are hoping to recruit you as a guest lecturer."
*Teaching devil teenagers about divine weapon crafting. What could possibly go wrong?*
"We need to talk about your long-term objectives," I said to myself more than anyone else, spreading out maps and notes on the dining table late one night.
Yoruichi hopped onto the table, carefully avoiding the papers. "Finally ready to think beyond just reacting to whatever crisis shows up?"
"Something like that." I studied the various supernatural territories marked on the maps. "The political landscape is shifting. Hades is going to respond to those sanctions eventually, other factions are reassessing their positions, and I'm apparently becoming some kind of significant player whether I want to or not."
"Your current allies are solid," Grayfia observed, joining the conversation. "The Satans, Azazel, Michael, Odin... that's considerable backing."
"But it's all based on personal relationships," I pointed out. "If something happens to me, there's no institutional support for the people I care about."
*Like if I get killed taking on a god, Valerie and the others would be left vulnerable.*
"You're thinking about establishing a more formal organization?" Yoruichi asked.
"The materials you can access through various connections, the knowledge you've gained, the abilities you've developed..." Grayfia was clearly thinking in strategic terms. "You have resources that entire factions would envy."
"Which is why I need to be smart about how I use them." I pulled out a separate list I'd been working on. "Priority one: ensure the safety of my people. Priority two: build sustainable influence that doesn't depend on just me being personally powerful. Priority three: prepare for whatever larger conflicts are coming."
After Grayfia excused herself for the evening, Yoruichi and I continued the discussion privately.
"There's also the matter of your own continued development," she pointed out. "You've got a lot of abilities, but you're still figuring out how they all work together."
*True. The divine smithing, the various combat techniques, the electromagnetic powers... I needed to integrate them better.*
"The Norse trip might help with that," I said. "Odin mentioned magical archives. Could be useful for understanding some of the theoretical foundations."
"The Norse realm will be different from anything we've encountered," I said to Yoruichi during one of our private conversations. "I need to be better prepared."
"Different how?" she asked, stretching on the windowsill.
"Odin mentioned their magical archives, but he also hinted at tests. The Norse don't just hand out knowledge - they make you prove you're worthy of it."
*Which probably means combat trials, magical challenges, or both.*
"The political dynamics in Asgard are complex," Grayfia mentioned during one of our planning sessions. "Unlike devil society, the Norse value strength and cunning equally. Your usual direct approach may not be sufficient."
"What would you recommend?"
"Observation first. The Norse respect those who can adapt their tactics to the situation." She paused thoughtfully. "Your ability to forge divine weapons will certainly interest them, but they'll want to test your worthiness."
I spent time working with my newly forged sword, familiarizing myself with its capabilities. The divine metal responded to my will in ways that were both intuitive and surprising.
"The weapon suits you," Yoruichi observed. "Though you should probably have backup plans that don't rely on it."
*True. If the Norse wanted to test me, they might restrict what tools I could use.*
"Are you ready for this?" Grayfia asked the night before our scheduled departure.
"As ready as I can be without knowing what to expect," I replied. "Though I suspect that's part of the point."
. . .
The next morning proceeded normally, with Grayfia preparing breakfast and discussing our upcoming departure to the Norse realm. She had no idea that I'd spent subjective hours in another world the night before.
*The time-stop effect is incredibly useful. I can gather knowledge and resources without creating complications in my own world.*
### Planning for Future Use
"Once we get back from Asgard," I told Yoruichi privately while Grayfia was occupied with household tasks, "I might make more visits there. Learn their techniques properly."
"Just be careful. Even if time stops here, you can still get hurt there."
"I will be. But the potential benefits are too good to ignore."
"How long will you be gone?" Valerie asked as I made sure everything was in order for my absence.
"Hard to say. Could be a few days, could be longer depending on what Odin has in mind."
Asia looked worried. "Will you be safe?"
"Grayfia will be with me," I said, which seemed to reassure her somewhat. "And I can handle myself."
"You're nervous," Yoruichi observed that evening.
"A little," I admitted. "This feels like it could be a turning point. The kind of opportunity that doesn't come around often."
"Or the kind that gets you killed if you're not careful," she said dryly.
*Always the optimist.*
"That too. Which is why I need to ask you to keep an eye on things here while I'm gone. And if anything happens with... other matters we've discussed..."
She gave me a knowing look. "I'll handle it."
"If something goes wrong," I told the assembled household, "Yoruichi knows how to contact the right people. The wards on the house are strong, but don't take unnecessary risks."
"We'll be fine," Xenovia said confidently. "Just focus on whatever challenges you'll be facing."
. . .
The morning of departure, Grayfia appeared at the door in traveling gear that somehow managed to be both practical and elegant.
"Ready?" she asked.
"As I'll ever be."
As we prepared to teleport to the meeting point with Odin, I couldn't shake the feeling that this trip would change things fundamentally. The Norse realm represented knowledge and power that could be crucial for future challenges.
*Time to see if I'm ready for whatever comes next.* and power that could be crucial for future challenges.
. . .
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