Part I:
Rias Gremory woke up to warmth.
Not the metaphorical warmth of happiness or contentment—though there was plenty of that—but actual, physical warmth pressed against her back, arms wrapped around her waist, soft breath tickling her neck.
Her eyes opened slowly, taking in the unfamiliar bedroom. Right. The Phoenix estate. The guest suite they'd been given for their wedding night.
Her wedding night.
With Ravel Phenex.
Her wife.
The word still felt surreal.
"Mmm..." The blonde behind her stirred, nuzzling closer. "Good morning, Rias-sama~"
Rias smiled despite herself. "Just Rias is fine. We're married now. You don't need the honorific."
"But I like calling you Rias-sama!" Ravel's voice was sleepy but cheerful. "It's cute! And you're my King now, so it's appropriate!"
"I'm your wife."
"You're both!" Ravel giggled, then propped herself up on one elbow to look down at Rias. Her blonde hair was messy, her face flushed, and she was wearing absolutely nothing under the silk sheets. "Good morning, wife~"
Rias felt her face heat up. Even after last night—after everything they'd done—she still got flustered by Ravel's directness.
"Good morning," she managed.
Ravel leaned down and kissed her. Soft. Sweet. Nothing like the passionate, desperate kisses from last night when they'd stumbled into this room, the way their naked flesh danced in the glorious haze of embrace.
Wild, Primal, And utterly Spectacular.
She Thought back.
The hairs pulled back in a fist. The way fingers bore into cavity. The tease of her cilt. The way teeths grazed her breast.
It was. Breathtaking.
Okay, don't think about that right now or we'll never leave this bed.
Ravel pulled back with a satisfied smile. "So! What's the plan for today? Do we have honeymoon activities? Or do we have to go back to school and pretend to be normal teenagers?"
"Unfortunately, the latter." Rias sighed. "I'm still technically enrolled at Kuoh Academy. And as much as I'd love to spend the next week in bed with you—"
"Oh?" Ravel's smile turned wicked. "Would you now?"
"—we have responsibilities. My peerage. Your family. The whole 'being a devil noble' thing."
"Boring~" But Ravel sat up, stretching languidly in a way that made Rias's brain short-circuit because holy hell her wife was gorgeous. "Fine, fine. Responsible married life it is. But first—" She turned to face Rias fully, her expression becoming serious. "I have a request."
"What kind of request?"
Ravel took a deep breath. "I want you to reincarnate me."
Rias blinked. "What?"
"As your Pawn. Or Bishop. Or whatever piece you have available." Ravel's golden eyes were intense. "I know I'm already a Phoenix. I know I have my own power. But I want to be part of your peerage. Officially. Magically. Permanently."
"Ravel, that's—" Rias sat up too, pulling the sheet around herself. "That's a huge decision. You'd be bound to me. Literally. The Evil Piece system creates a permanent magical connection. You can't just—"
"I know." Ravel grabbed her hands. "I want that connection. I want to be bound to you. I want to fight beside you. I want—" Her voice softened. "I want to be yours. Completely. Not just politically, but magically. Spiritually. Every way possible."
Rias stared at her.
This girl—this woman—who she'd barely known three days ago, was asking to permanently tie her soul to Rias's.
"Are you sure?" Rias asked quietly. "This isn't something you can take back. Once you're my Pawn—"
"I'm sure." Ravel's smile was radiant. "I've never been surer of anything. You're amazing, Rias-sama. You're strong and beautiful and kind and you saved me from having to watch my brother treat you like property. You gave me a chance to know you. And now—" She squeezed Rias's hands. "Now I want to give myself to you. All of me."
Rias felt something warm bloom in her chest.
Oh.
Oh, I think I might actually be falling for her.
"Okay," she said softly. "Okay. Let's do it."
Ravel's face lit up like the sun.
Twenty minutes later (after both of them had showered, fucked in showers and dressed in comfortable clothes), they stood in the canter of the guest suite's bedroom.
Rias held a single Pawn piece in her hand—one of the eight she'd been granted when she became a King. Seven had gone to Issei. One remained.
And now it would go to Ravel.
"Last chance to back out," Rias said, though her smile suggested she didn't really mean it.
"Not happening~" Ravel stood before her, looking nervous but determined.
Rias took a deep breath and activated the ritual.
The Pawn piece began to glow with crimson light, Rias's magical signature infusing it. She pressed it against Ravel's chest, and the blonde gasped as the magic took hold.
"I, Rias Gremory, hereby claim you, Ravel Phenex, as my Pawn. In the name of House Gremory, in the name of my power, I bind you to me. From this moment forward, you are mine."
The piece sank into Ravel's chest, disappearing beneath her skin.
For a moment, nothing happened.
Then—
Ravel's entire body lit up with golden-crimson light. Her Phenex flames merged with Rias's Power of Destruction, the two energies swirling together in a beautiful, chaotic dance.
And Rias felt it.
The connection.
A magical bond that went deeper than any contract, deeper than marriage vows. She could sense Ravel's emotions—excitement, joy, love, nervousness, determination. Could feel her magical reserves, her health, her everything.
They were connected.
Permanently.
The light faded.
Ravel collapsed forward, and Rias caught her.
"How—how do you feel?" Rias asked.
Ravel looked up at her, and there were tears streaming down her face.
But she was smiling.
"I can feel you," she whispered. "In my chest. In my soul. I can feel you, Rias-sama. It's like—it's like we're one person."
"That's the peerage bond," Rias said softly, brushing away Ravel's tears. "We're connected now. For as long as we both live."
"Forever, then." Ravel laughed through her tears. "Because we're devils. We live forever."
"Forever," Rias agreed.
And then Ravel kissed her.
Deep. Passionate. Desperate.
And Rias kissed back, feeling the bond between them pulse with warmth.
Yeah, she thought. I'm definitely falling for her.
Part II:
Gremory Manor, Main Hall.
Lord Zeoticus Gremory sat at the head of the massive oak table, a glass of expensive wine in hand, looking more satisfied than he had in months.
Across from him sat Lord Phoenix—a distinguished devil with blond hair going silver at the temples, wearing formal robes that screamed "old money."
To Zeoticus's right sat Sirzechs Lucifer, technically off-duty but still radiating that casual power that came from being the Crimson Satan.
And to his left sat Lady Venelana, elegant as always, though her expression was more complicated than celebratory.
"A toast," Lord Phoenix raised his glass. "To a successful union between our houses. May it bring prosperity to both families."
"To prosperity," Zeoticus agreed, clinking glasses.
They drank.
There was a moment of satisfied silence.
Then Sirzechs spoke up. "You know, I have to admit—when this whole arrangement started, I was worried. Rias was so opposed to marrying Riser that I genuinely feared she might do something drastic."
"She threatened to kill herself," Venelana said quietly. "In the council chamber. Gathered the Power of Destruction and pointed it at her own heart."
Lord Phenex winced. "I heard about that. My apologies. Riser can be... forceful in his pursuit of what he wants."
"'Forceful' is a generous term," Sirzechs said dryly. "But regardless—the crisis was averted. Thanks to Caelan's rather brilliant loophole."
"Ah, yes. Lord Lucifuge." Lord Phenex's expression turned thoughtful. "The merchant prince who outmanoeuvred an entire council of devil nobility with contract law. Quite impressive for someone so young."
"He's always been brilliant," Venelana said, though there was pain in her voice. "Even when we—" She stopped herself.
"Even when we ignored him," Sirzechs finished quietly. "Yes. We're all very aware of how badly we failed him."
Uncomfortable silence.
Lord Phenex cleared his throat. "Speaking of Lord Lucifuge—I received an interesting communication from him yesterday. A business proposal."
Zeoticus's eyebrows rose. "Oh?"
"Yes. He's offering House Phoenix an exclusive distribution contract for Phoenix Tears through his Eastern Marches trade network. Apparently, he controls significant portions of the human world's pharmaceutical supply chains and can position our healing tears in markets we've never accessed before."
"That's... generous of him," Zeoticus said slowly.
"It is. Almost too generous." Lord Phenex pulled out a document. "The terms are extremely favourable to us. He's asking for only a fifteen percent commission on sales, which is far below market rate for this kind of arrangement. I'd expect at least thirty, possibly forty percent."
Sirzechs leaned forward. "Did he explain why?"
"He did, actually." Lord Phenex smiled slightly. "He said, and I quote: 'Consider it a wedding gift to Ravel. And payment for services rendered.'"
"Services rendered?" Venelana frowned. "What services?"
Lord Phenex was quiet for a moment.
Then he laughed.
"You don't know, do you? None of you figured it out."
"Figured out what?" Zeoticus demanded.
Lord Phenex set down his wine glass, his smile turning sharp. "Lord Lucifuge didn't find a loophole. He created the entire situation."
Silence.
"Explain," Sirzechs said, his voice taking on a dangerous edge.
"Three weeks before the Rating Game," Lord Phenex began, "Riser received a visitor. A certain silver-haired devil lord who appeared via teleportation circle in his private chambers. They had a conversation. A negotiation, if you will."
Zeoticus's eyes widened. "Caelan approached Riser? Before the Rating Game?"
"Indeed. And he made my son an offer: throw the Rating Game—fight convincingly, make it look genuine, but create openings for Rias's team to exploit. In exchange, Caelan would ensure Riser received something far more valuable than a political marriage."
"The distribution contract," Venelana breathed.
"Exactly. Exclusive access to Lord Lucifuge's trade networks. A monopoly on Phoenix Tear distribution through the fastest-growing economic power in the Underworld." Lord Phenex's smile widened. "It's worth millions. Far more than a marriage alliance to House Gremory—no offense."
"None taken," Zeoticus muttered, though he looked stunned.
"But—" Sirzechs's eyes narrowed. "But Riser won. Issei achieved Balance Breaker. The fight was—"
"Closer than it should have been?" Lord Phenex interrupted. "Yes. Because Riser was trying to lose. He fought well enough to maintain his reputation, but he deliberately created opportunities. The Pawn eliminations happening so quickly? Riser ordered his team not to group up. Yubelluna being isolated and defeated? Riser sent her alone when he should have provided backup. The final confrontation taking longer than it should have? He was stalling, giving Issei time to achieve Balance Breaker."
"That manipulative little—" Zeoticus started.
"Genius," Venelana finished. "That manipulative little genius."
Lord Phenex nodded. "He orchestrated the entire thing. Made sure Rias would lose the Rating Game, then swooped in with his 'brilliant legal loophole' to save her. Positioned himself as the hero while simultaneously securing a massive business deal for House Phenex and removing Riser from an unwanted marriage."
"Everyone wins," Sirzechs said slowly. "Rias gets to marry someone she actually likes. Riser gets a profitable business arrangement instead of a resentful wife. House Phoenix and House Gremory still have their alliance through Ravel. And Caelan—"
"Gets exactly what he wanted," Lord Phoenix confirmed. "A strengthened business network. Political goodwill from multiple major houses. And the satisfaction of outmanoeuvring everyone while making it look like spontaneous brilliance."
"Did you know?" Venelana asked. "Before he approached you with the contract?"
"I suspected. The terms were too favourable. The timing too convenient. So, I asked Riser directly." Lord Phoenix smiled. "He admitted everything. Told me Lord Lucifuge had approached him with a business proposition that was 'far more appealing than playing house with a brat who hates him.'"
"And you're... okay with this?" Zeoticus asked carefully.
"Okay with it? I'm impressed." Lord Phoenix raised his glass again. "That boy played everyone like chess pieces. He saw a political problem and turned it into a business opportunity. That's not manipulation—that's mastery. The fact that he's only twenty-three makes it even more remarkable."
Sirzechs sat back, a complex expression on his face. "He saved Rias. Knowing full well we'd never realize he'd orchestrated the entire situation. He could have told us. Could have demanded recognition, gratitude, something. But he didn't. He just... did it quietly and walked away."
"Like he always does," Venelana said softly.
"Because he doesn't want anything from us," Sirzechs said, something painful in his voice. "Not our gratitude. Not our recognition. Not our—" He stopped.
"Not our love," Venelana finished, tears threatening. "Because we never gave it to him when it mattered."
The table fell silent.
Lord Phenex looked uncomfortable. "I apologize. I didn't mean to—"
"No." Zeoticus waved him off. "You've done nothing wrong. We failed that boy. All of us. And now he's succeeding despite us, not because of us." He drained his wine glass. "The least we can do is respect his boundaries and appreciate what he's accomplished."
"Agreed," Sirzechs said quietly.
They sat in heavy silence for a moment.
Then Lord Phenex cleared his throat. "Well. On a lighter note—have you heard about Ravel reincarnating as Rias's Pawn?"
Venelana's head snapped up. "She did what?"
"This morning, apparently. Rias reincarnated her. They're magically bonded now. Permanent peerage connection." Lord Phenex smiled. "My daughter is apparently very committed to this marriage."
"That's—" Venelana's expression shifted from surprise to warmth. "That's actually really sweet."
"It is," Zeoticus agreed. "Ravel's a good girl. If anyone can make Rias happy, it's her."
"And speaking of Rias," Sirzechs said, his tone becoming more businesslike, "we should discuss her official position moving forward. She's married into House Phenex now, but she's still technically the Gremory heiress—"
"Actually," Lord Phenex interrupted, "we should clarify that. With this marriage, what's the succession situation?"
"Rias remains the Gremory heiress," Zeoticus said firmly. "That doesn't change. But she's also now connected to House Phenex through marriage. Which means—"
"Which means any children she has with Ravel would carry both bloodlines," Venelana finished. "Gremory and Phenex. A unification."
"Exactly. Which strengthens both our houses considerably." Lord Phenex looked satisfied. "Not to mention, Ravel being in Rias's peerage means House Phenex has direct representation in the next generation of Gremory leadership."
"Everyone wins," Sirzechs repeated. "Again. Just like Caelan planned."
"The Ice King plays the long game," Zeoticus muttered.
"Indeed, he does."
Part III:
Later that evening, after Lord Phenex had departed, the Gremory family gathered in the private sitting room.
Just family this time. No politics. No business.
Zeoticus, Venelana, Sirzechs, and Grayfia.
And the conversation immediately turned to the elephant in the room.
"We need to talk about Caelan," Venelana said.
"Agreed," Sirzechs replied. "But I'm not sure what there is to say. We all know we failed him. We all know he wants nothing to do with us. The question is—what do we do about it?"
"Nothing," Grayfia said quietly.
Everyone turned to look at her.
The Strongest Queen sat with perfect posture as always, but her expression was complicated. Pained.
"We do nothing," she repeated. "Because anything we do will make it worse. He's made his position clear. He doesn't want apologies. He doesn't want reconciliation. He doesn't want anything from us except to be left alone."
"But we can't just—" Venelana started.
"We can. We must." Grayfia's voice was firm. "He's not a child anymore. He's a lord of a Pillar house. A successful businessman. A powerful devil in his own right. And he achieved all of that without us. Despite us, even. The least we can do is respect his boundaries."
"So we just... give up?" Zeoticus asked.
"No. We respect his choice." Grayfia looked at each of them. "If he wants distance, we give him distance. If he helps us—like he helped Rias—we accept gracefully and don't demand more. If he reaches out, we respond. But we don't push. We don't pressure. We don't try to force our way back into his life."
"That's—" Sirzechs struggled for words. "That's incredibly painful."
"Yes. It is." Grayfia's mask finally cracked, and tears began to fall. "It's the most painful thing I've ever had to accept. But it's what he deserves. He deserves to live his life without us constantly trying to assuage our guilt by forcing reconciliation he doesn't want."
Venelana moved to sit beside her, pulling the Strongest Queen into an embrace.
Grayfia didn't resist.
She just cried.
"I abandoned my son," she whispered. "I looked at him and saw weakness, and I turned away. And now—now he's brilliant and powerful and everything I should be proud of, and he wants nothing to do with me. And it's my fault. All of it."
"It's all our faults," Sirzechs said heavily. "I was his father and I forgot he existed. I have no right to—" His voice broke. "I have no right to his forgiveness."
"None of us do," Zeoticus agreed. "We failed him. Catastrophically. And now we have to live with that."
They sat in heavy silence.
Then Venelana spoke up. "So, what do we do? Just... accept that he'll never be part of this family?"
"We accept that it's his choice," Grayfia said, wiping her tears. "And if he chooses to keep his distance, we respect that. But—" She took a breath. "But we don't give up hope. We show him, through our actions, that we respect him. That we appreciate what he does. That we're here if he ever—ever—decides he wants us in his life."
"A long game," Sirzechs said.
"The longest game." Grayfia's smile was sad. "We might be waiting centuries. Millennia. Or forever. But if there's even a chance—"
"Then it's worth it," Venelana finished.
They all nodded.
"Agreed," Zeoticus said. "We respect his boundaries. We appreciate his help. And we wait. However long it takes."
"And in the meantime," Sirzechs added, "we make damn sure we don't make the same mistakes with Rias. Or Lucien. Or anyone else. We learn from what we did to Caelan and we do better."
"Agreed."
The family sat together in the quiet evening, united in their guilt and their determination.
And somewhere in the Eastern Marches, Caelan Lucifuge had absolutely no idea his family was having this conversation.
He was busy reviewing financial reports and pointedly not thinking about them at all.
Part IV:
Monday morning.
Kuoh Academy was buzzing with excitement.
Because Rias Gremory had returned.
And she'd brought her wife.
The student body didn't know the political details, of course. To them, it was just: "The Crimson-Haired Princess got married over the weekend to the cute blonde girl who transferred in!"
The rumors were flying.
"I heard it was a political marriage!"
"They look so good together!"
"President Gremory is living the yuri dream!"
Rias walked through the halls with Ravel clinging to her arm, looking simultaneously embarrassed and pleased.
"They're staring," she muttered.
"Let them stare~" Ravel beamed up at her. "We're adorable together!"
"We're nobles together. We should have more dignity—"
"Dignity is boring! This is way more fun!"
Akeno, walking behind them with an amused smile, leaned over to Koneko. "They're cute."
"Disgustingly so," Koneko agreed, munching on cookies.
Kiba and Asia were also present, the whole group making their way to the Occult Research Club building for what Sona had cryptically called an "important briefing."
They arrived to find Sona Sitri already there, sitting at Rias's desk (which should have been annoying but somehow wasn't), looking serious.
"Ah, good. You're here." Sona adjusted her glasses. "We have a situation."
Rias immediately switched into President mode. "What kind of situation?"
"The Church is sending exorcists. They'll be arriving tomorrow."
The room went very quiet.
"Why?" Rias asked carefully.
"Because three fragments of Excalibur have been stolen. The Church believes they're in this territory. They're sending two of their best—Xenovia Quarta and Irina Shidou—to retrieve them."
Kiba's expression went completely blank.
"Excalibur," he said, his voice eerily calm.
"Yes." Sona looked at him with concern. "I know your history with the Holy Sword Project. If this is going to be a problem—"
"It won't be," Kiba said flatly.
Everyone who knew him recognized the lie immediately.
"Kiba—" Rias started.
"I'm fine, President. What else do we know?"
Sona studied him for a moment, then continued. "The fragments were stolen by a rogue Fallen Angel faction. Possibly connected to Chaos Brigade remnants. The Church suspects they're planning something catastrophic."
"How catastrophic?" Akeno asked.
"Unknown. But bad enough that Sirzechs and Serafall personally contacted someone for assistance."
"Who?" Rias asked.
The door opened.
Caelan Lucifuge walked in, looking thoroughly annoyed, Hoarfrost padding beside him.
"Me," he said flatly. "Apparently I'm on babysitting duty again."
"Sensei!" Issei jumped up. "You're helping?!"
"'Helping' implies I want to be here. I was summoned. By the Satans. To 'ensure their precious sisters don't get killed by rogue Fallen Angels.'" His tone was dry as winter. "I tried to decline. Sirzechs threatened to freeze my assets. So here I am."
"He didn't actually threaten that," Sona said.
"He implied it heavily."
"He asked politely."
"Same thing."
Rias couldn't help but smile. "So, you're protecting us again."
"I'm preventing an international incident. There's a difference." Caelan crossed his arms. "If a Gremory heir or a Sitri heir gets killed by Fallen Angels on Shinto soil, it causes a diplomatic nightmare. I'm here to make sure that doesn't happen."
"How touching," Akeno said with her usual teasing smile. "You care about international relations."
"I care about not having my trade agreements disrupted by political chaos."
"Liar," Koneko said simply.
Caelan's eye twitched.
Ravel, who'd been watching this exchange with fascination, spoke up. "So, we're basically being protected by the Ice King of the Eastern Marches because the Satan's are worried about us?"
"Essentially."
"That's actually really sweet!"
"It's strategic necessity—"
"Caelan-sama cares about Rias-sama!" Ravel declared cheerfully. "Which means he cares about me too since we're married! That makes us family!"
"We're already technically family through—"
"FAMILY!" Ravel launched herself at him for a hug.
Caelan caught her reflexively, looking like he deeply regretted every life choice that led to this moment.
Hoarfrost, traitor that he was, wagged his tail and licked Ravel's hand.
"Your wolf likes me!" Ravel giggled.
"He has terrible judgment."
"He's perfect and I love him!"
Rias watched her wife enthusiastically hug her nephew-teacher-consultant and couldn't help but laugh.
This was her life now.
Married to an adorable Phenex heiress, part of a peerage that included a perverted Red Dragon Emperor, protected by an emotionally-constipated Ice King who pretended not to care but clearly did.
Somehow, despite everything, it was working.
"Alright," Sona said, calling the meeting back to order. "The exorcists arrive tomorrow. Until then, everyone stays alert. No unnecessary risks. And Kiba—" She looked at the Knight seriously. "If you need to sit this one out—"
"I won't," Kiba said.
His smile was sharp.
Too sharp.
Rias made a mental note to keep a close eye on him.
This was going to get complicated.
Part V:
That evening, Caelan sat in Rias's study, reviewing intelligence reports on the stolen Excalibur fragments.
Three swords. Three different abilities.
Excalibur Destruction - pure destructive power.
Excalibur Mimic - shape-shifting blade.
Excalibur Rapidly - speed enhancement.
All stolen by a Fallen Angel named Kokabiel.
The name made Caelan pause.
Kokabiel. One of the Grigori's leaders. A battle maniac who'd been relegated to minor duties after the Great War because Azazel didn't trust him not to start another conflict.
"This is going to be annoying," Caelan muttered.
"What is?" Rias's voice came from the doorway.
He looked up to find her leaning against the frame, Ravel tucked under her arm.
"Your mission. It's not going to be simple sword retrieval. Kokabiel doesn't do 'simple.'" Caelan set down the report. "He's going to use this as an excuse to cause chaos. Probably try to restart the war between factions."
"Can we handle it?"
"With me here? Probably. Without me?" Caelan shrugged. "Fifty-fifty odds of survival."
"Reassuring," Rias said dryly. She walked into the study, Ravel following, and sat down across from him. "Can I ask you something?"
"You will anyway."
"Why did you really help me? With the marriage thing."
Caelan was quiet for a moment.
"Because you didn't deserve to suffer for politics."
"That's it?"
"That's it."
"Liar," Ravel said cheerfully. "You helped because you care about Rias-sama! Admit it!"
"I helped because the situation offended my sense of efficiency. Forcing someone into a marriage they don't want creates long-term instability. Bad for everyone involved."
"So, you fixed it," Rias said softly. "And then arranged a massive business deal to make sure everyone benefited. Including yourself."
"Naturally."
"That's actually really kind of you."
"It's strategic—"
Rias stood, walked around the desk, and hugged him.
Caelan froze.
"Thank you," she said quietly. "Really. Thank you."
He didn't hug back.
But he didn't push her away either.
"You're welcome," he said finally, his voice carefully neutral.
Ravel watched this with a huge smile, then apparently decided she wanted in on the hug too and glomped onto Caelan from the other side.
"Group hug!"
"This is unnecessary—"
"Shh! Accept the affection!"
Hoarfrost, lying by the door, made a sound that was definitely wolf laughter.
Caelan looked at the ceiling and prayed for patience.
After a moment, Rias and Ravel released him.
"So," Ravel said, her eyes sparkling with mischief. "I have a question."
"Oh no."
"Koneko-chan is really cute, isn't she?"
Caelan blinked. "What?"
"Koneko! The white-haired Rook! She's adorable! I saw her this morning and I was like 'wow, she's really pretty!' and—"
"Ravel," Rias said, her voice taking on a dangerous edge. "Are you checking out other girls?"
"What?! No! I was just making an observation! You're the only one I want! I swear!"
"Uh-huh."
"Rias-sama, please! I love you! Only you! Koneko is just aesthetically pleasing in an objective sense!"
Caelan stood. "I'm leaving."
"Wait, Caelan-sama, help me! Tell her I'm not—"
"You dug this hole yourself. Enjoy it."
He walked out, Hoarfrost following, leaving behind the sounds of Ravel desperately trying to convince her wife she wasn't flirting with other girls.
As he walked down the hall, he felt Khione's amusement.
"You're smiling again, little king."
"I'm not."
"You are. You care about them."
"I care about preventing international incidents."
"Liar."
He sighed.
Maybe he did care.
Just a little.
But he'd never admit it.
Part VI:
The next day.
Caelan stood on the roof of the Occult Research Club building, watching as two figures approached through the school grounds.
Two young women, both wearing combat attire that mixed modern tactical gear with religious symbols.
Xenovia Quarta - tall, blue-green hair, carrying a massive sword wrapped in cloth. Her expression was serious, focused, radiating the kind of intensity that came from absolute faith.
Irina Shidou - shorter, chestnut hair in twintails, also armed but with a more cheerful demeanor. Though her smile didn't quite reach her eyes.
They walked with purpose, ignoring the stares from students, heading straight for the ORC building.
Caelan descended via ice stairs (because walking was for people who cared about dignity), landing in front of them.
Both exorcists immediately went on guard.
"Identify yourself," Xenovia demanded, her hand moving to her sword.
"Lord Caelan Lucifuge. I'm the one making sure you don't accidentally start a war."
Irina's eyes widened. "Lucifuge? Like the—"
"Yes. Like the. Now, before you go in there and meet with the devils, let's establish some ground rules."
Xenovia's eyes narrowed. "We don't take orders from—"
"You will if you want to survive this mission." Caelan's voice was ice. "Kokabiel is playing you. Those Excalibur fragments? They're bait. He wants you to come after them so he can kill Church exorcists on devil territory and restart the Great War."
Both exorcists went very still.
"How do you know that?" Irina asked quietly.
"Because I'm not an idiot. And neither is Kokabiel. He's a battle maniac who's been itching for another war since the last one ended. This is his play." Caelan crossed his arms. "So here's what's going to happen: You're going to work with the devils. You're going to coordinate your efforts. And you're going to let me handle Kokabiel when he inevitably shows up."
"We can't just—" Xenovia started.
"You can and you will. Because the alternative is you die, the devils get blamed, and we have another multi-faction war. Is that what you want?"
Silence.
Irina looked at Xenovia. "He has a point."
"We're exorcists," Xenovia said stiffly. "We don't work with devils."
"You do now. Or you can explain to the Church why you ignored intelligence that could have prevented an international incident." Caelan's smile was sharp. "Your choice."
Xenovia glared at him for a long moment.
Then sighed. "Fine. We'll... cooperate. For now."
"Good. Come on. I'll introduce you to the devils who are significantly less annoying than I am."
He led them inside.
Where Rias's entire peerage was waiting.
And the moment Kiba's eyes landed on Xenovia's wrapped sword—
His expression went cold.
"Excalibur," he said, his voice flat and dangerous.
Oh.
This was going to be a problem.
Part VII:
The introduction went about as well as expected.
Which is to say: terribly.
Xenovia and Irina explained their mission—retrieve the stolen Excalibur fragments, prevent them from being used for evil purposes.
Rias offered cooperation—they'd help locate the Fallen Angels, provide support, ensure the Church's mission succeeded.
Everyone was professional.
Except Kiba.
The Knight stood in the corner, his usual polite smile completely gone, replaced with cold fury.
"Excalibur," he repeated, his voice shaking. "You're here because of Excalibur."
"Yes," Xenovia said, confused by his tone. "Is there a problem?"
"A problem?" Kiba laughed. It was an ugly sound. "No problem. None at all. Except that sword—that fucking sword—killed my friends. My family. Everyone I cared about."
The room went silent.
Irina's eyes widened. "You're—you're one of them. The survivors. The Holy Sword Project."
"Survivor," Kiba corrected. "The survivor. I'm the only one who made it out. The only one who didn't die screaming in agony as that bastard Valper Galilei tortured us trying to force compatibility with your precious Holy Swords."
Xenovia's expression didn't change. "The Holy Sword Project was necessary. The Church needed holy sword wielders to combat the growing devil threat."
"NECESSARY?!" Kiba's power exploded. Swords manifested around him, dozens of them, all pointed at Xenovia. "You think murdering children was NECESSARY?!"
"Kiba, stop—" Rias started.
"No! I won't stop! She's standing there defending the people who killed my friends! Who experimented on us like we were disposable lab rats!" His voice broke. "They were children! We were just children! And they KILLED us for a sword that's supposed to be holy!"
Xenovia met his fury with cold composure. "Their sacrifice was unfortunate. But they died in service to God. They should be honored."
"HONORED?!" Kiba looked like he wanted to murder her. "Get out. Get OUT! I don't want your help! I don't want your cooperation! I want you and your goddamn Holy Swords to leave and never come back!"
"Kiba," Caelan's voice cut through the rage.
The Knight turned to him, eyes wild.
"She's not worth it," Caelan said quietly. "You want revenge? Fine. But not on her. She's just a zealot who believes what the Church told her. The people responsible—Valper Galilei, the Church officials who authorized the project—they're the ones who deserve your anger."
"They're all connected! The swords, the Church, HER—"
"She didn't kill your friends. The system did. The ideology did. But she's just a tool of that system." Caelan's eyes were cold but understanding. "If you kill her, you prove them right. That devils are monsters who can't control themselves. Is that what your friends would have wanted?"
Kiba was shaking.
Then, slowly, his swords disappeared.
"I need air," he said, his voice hollow.
He walked out.
Rias moved to follow, but Caelan shook his head. "Let him go. He needs to process."
"But—"
"He's not going to do anything stupid. Not yet." Caelan looked at Xenovia. "You, however, need to learn when to shut up."
"I was simply stating facts—"
"You were being an insensitive ass. There's a difference." His voice was ice. "That boy lost everything because of the Holy Sword Project. His friends, his childhood, his faith. And you stood there and called their deaths 'necessary.' How did you think he'd react?"
Xenovia's expression flickered with something that might have been guilt.
But she said nothing.
Irina spoke up, her voice small. "I—I didn't know. About the Project. I knew there were... experiments. But I didn't know they killed so many."
"Over eighty children," Caelan said flatly. "All dead. Except Kiba. And now he has to work with people who defend the organization that murdered his family."
"We can leave," Irina offered. "If our presence is causing—"
"No." Rias's voice was firm. "We have a common enemy. Kokabiel. The Fallen Angels. The stolen Excalibur's. We work together, but—" She looked at Xenovia. "—you will show respect for what my Knight went through. Or I will personally ensure you fail your mission. Understood?"
Xenovia met her gaze.
Then, stiffly, nodded.
"Understood."
Part VIII:
That night.
Kuoh Academy's sports field.
Rias's peerage, Xenovia, Irina, and Caelan all stood in formation, having received intelligence that the Fallen Angels would attack here.
They were right.
A teleportation circle flared in the sky.
And Kokabiel descended.
Ten black wings spread wide. Long dark hair. A face that might have been handsome if not for the manic gleam in his eyes. He wore ancient armor, carried a spear of light, and radiated power that made most of the students (yes, students—Issei, Asia, even Koneko) take involuntary steps back.
This was a cadre. A leader of the Fallen Angels. Someone who'd fought in the Great War.
"Well, well!" Kokabiel's voice boomed across the field. "What a gathering! Devils, exorcists, and—" His eyes landed on Caelan. "—something cold and unpleasant. How delightful!"
"Kokabiel," Xenovia stepped forward, unwrapping her sword. "Surrender the Excalibur fragments. By order of the Church—"
"The Church!" Kokabiel laughed. "The CHURCH! Oh, little exorcist, you have no idea, do you?"
"No idea about what?"
"About the truth! About the lie you've dedicated your life to!" His grin was manic. "Tell me, child—what do you think happened to God during the Great War?"
Xenovia's expression didn't change. "God is eternal. He cannot die."
"Wrong!" Kokabiel spread his arms wide. "God is DEAD! Has been dead for centuries! Killed during the Great War along with the Four Original Satan's! The God you worship, the God you fight for—HE'S GONE!"
The revelation hit like a physical blow.
Xenovia stumbled. "That's—that's impossible—"
"Is it? Then tell me, little exorcist—why haven't there been any new miracles? Why do your prayers go unanswered? Why does the Church hide so many secrets?" Kokabiel's smile was cruel. "Because they're maintaining a lie! Pretending their God still exists to keep the faith alive!"
Irina looked like she'd been shot. "No... no, that can't be—"
"It is! And isn't it GLORIOUS?!" Kokabiel's laughter echoed. "The great Biblical God—DEAD! Killed by beings he thought inferior! And now we get to start a NEW war! Reset the board! Finish what we started centuries ago!"
"That's enough," Caelan said quietly.
Kokabiel's eyes turned to him. "Oh? And who are you to tell me—"
The temperature dropped thirty degrees in an instant.
"I'm the one who's going to stop you from restarting a war that will destroy everything you claim to want."
Kokabiel studied him. "Interesting. You're... cold. Not just in temperature. In essence. What are you?"
"Annoyed."
"HA! I like you! But sadly—" Kokabiel raised his spear. "—you're in my way. Light Spear!"
The attack was massive.
A javelin of pure holy light, condensed to the size of a building, launched directly at the group.
Caelan raised one hand.
The spear hit his ice field and froze.
Not dispersed. Not blocked. Frozen.
Holy light crystallized in mid-air, hanging suspended like a deadly sculpture.
Kokabiel's eyes widened. "What—"
"Absolute zero," Caelan said calmly. "The cessation of all motion. All energy. Even holy light." He flicked his wrist, and the frozen spear shattered into harmless fragments. "You can't kill what can't be touched."
"Fascinating! Then I'll just have to try HARDER!"
What followed was chaos.
Kokabiel unleashed everything.
Spears of light. Area bombardment. Summons of lesser Fallen Angels.
Caelan tanked it all.
Every attack hit his field and froze. Every summon that got too close crystallized and shattered.
But he couldn't reach Kokabiel.
The Fallen Angel was too fast, too mobile, staying airborne and out of range.
"This is getting tedious," Caelan muttered.
Meanwhile, the rest of the group engaged the summoned Fallen Angels.
Xenovia and Kiba fought back-to-back despite their mutual animosity, their sword skills complementing each other.
Akeno's Holy Lightning tore through enemies with vicious efficiency.
Koneko's raw strength pulverized anything that got close.
Issei, in his Scale Mail Balance Breaker, was holding his own remarkably well.
But Kokabiel was the problem.
He was too strong. Too experienced. And he was laughing.
"This is wonderful! Chaos! Destruction! Everything I've been missing!" He launched another massive attack. "Let's see how you handle THIS—"
A blur of white light.
A figure appeared between Kokabiel and the group.
Vali Lucifer.
Silver hair. White armor. Divine Dividing gleaming on his back.
The White Dragon Emperor had arrived.
"Kokabiel," Vali said, his voice bored. "You're making a mess."
"Vali?! What are you doing here?!"
"Azazel sent me to clean up your tantrum." Vali's power surged. "Honestly, starting a war? How tedious. I'm here for strong opponents, not political games."
"Then FIGHT ME!"
"If you insist."
What happened next was over in thirty seconds.
Vali moved.
Divide. Divide. Divide. Divide.
Each word halved Kokabiel's power.
The Fallen Angel tried to counter, tried to escape—
Vali didn't let him.
One final strike.
Kokabiel crashed to the ground, unconscious.
Vali landed gracefully, his armor disappearing. "There. Crisis averted. You're welcome."
He looked at Caelan. "You must be the Ice King everyone's talking about."
"I prefer Lord Lucifuge."
"I prefer interesting fights. You seem interesting." Vali's smile was sharp. "Want to test that absolute zero of yours against the White Dragon?"
"No."
"Pity." Vali shrugged. "Well, I'll be taking Kokabiel back to the Grigori for punishment. Enjoy your evening."
He grabbed the unconscious Fallen Angel and teleported away.
Leaving everyone standing in stunned silence.
"What," Issei said eloquently, "the hell just happened?"
"The White Dragon Emperor showed up, defeated a Fallen Angel cadre in seconds, and left," Caelan summarized. "Fairly straightforward."
"THAT'S NOT STRAIGHTFORWARD!"
"It is when you understand power levels."
The group slowly regrouped.
Xenovia and Irina both looked shell-shocked.
"God is... dead?" Irina whispered.
"Apparently," Rias said gently.
"Then what—what have we been fighting for?"
"Your faith," Asia said quietly, approaching them. "God may be gone, but faith isn't about gods. It's about what you believe. What you value."
"Easy for you to say," Xenovia said bitterly. "You're a devil now. You abandoned your faith."
"I didn't abandon it. I changed it." Asia's smile was soft. "I still believe in kindness. In helping people. In doing good. The source of that belief changed, but the belief itself didn't."
Xenovia stared at her.
Then sank to her knees.
"I don't know what to believe anymore."
Rias approached slowly. "Then... maybe you should find out. Away from the Church. Away from the expectations." She extended her hand. "Become my Knight."
Xenovia looked up, shocked. "What?"
"You're strong. You're skilled. And you've just lost everything you thought you knew. The Church won't take you back—not after you learned their greatest secret. So, join me. Find a new purpose."
"I—" Xenovia looked at the offered hand. "I killed devils. I'm an exorcist. How can you—"
"Because everyone deserves a second chance." Rias's smile was warm. "And because I think, underneath the zealotry, you're a good person who was lied to."
Xenovia was quiet for a long moment.
Then she took Rias's hand.
"Okay. I'll... I'll try."
Rias helped her up.
And Kiba, watching from the sidelines, had a complicated expression.
He wasn't happy.
But he wasn't furious anymore either.
Just... tired.
Part IX:
One week later.
Sirzechs Lucifer stood in his office, reviewing documents, when Azazel teleported in uninvited.
"Knocking is a thing," Sirzechs said mildly.
"Knocking is for people with manners. I have swagger." Azazel grinned, then his expression became serious. "We need to talk. About Kokabiel. About what he revealed. About the situation we're in."
"The fact that God is dead is now public knowledge," Sirzechs said heavily. "The Church can't suppress it anymore. Heaven can't pretend. We're all exposed."
"Which means we need a new arrangement." Azazel sat down uninvited. "The Three Factions—Devils, Angels, Fallen Angels—we've been at a cold war stalemate for centuries. But Kokabiel proved how fragile that peace is. One maniac almost restarted everything."
"So, what are you proposing?"
"A summit. Official. Public. The Three Factions come together, acknowledge our mutual losses, and sign a formal peace treaty."
Sirzechs was quiet for a moment.
"Michael would agree to this?"
"I've already spoken to him. He's willing. Desperate, even. Heaven is running on fumes without God. They need allies."
"And Serafall? Ajuka? Falbium?"
"I'm talking to you first because you're the reasonable one." Azazel's smile was wry. "Also, because your son apparently prevented an international incident last week and I owe him a thank you."
"Point is, the kid's smart. Kept the exorcists from dying. Kept your sister from getting killed. Kept everything from spiralling into another war." Azazel leaned forward. "We need more people like him. Smart. Calm. Strategic. Not battle maniacs like Kokabiel."
"I agree. But getting the Old Satan Faction to agree to a peace treaty—"
"Fuck the Old Satan Faction. They lost. They don't get a vote anymore."
"It's not that simple—"
"It is if we make it that simple." Azazel's expression was intense. "Sirzechs. We're the leaders now. We decide the future. Not the old guard. Not the zealots. Us. So, let's decide to stop the cycle of bullshit and actually build something."
Sirzechs looked at him for a long moment.
Then smiled.
"Alright. Let's do it. A Three-Faction Peace Treaty. We'll host it in Kuoh—neutral ground, already has representation from all factions."
"Perfect. I'll coordinate with Michael. You handle your people. And—" Azazel stood. "—make sure your son is there. I want to meet him properly."
"He'll hate that."
"I know. That's what makes it fun."
Azazel teleported out.
Leaving Sirzechs alone with his thoughts.
A peace treaty. After all these centuries. Could it actually work?
He looked out his window at the Underworld's crimson sky.
Only one way to find out.
He began drafting the official proposal.
And in Kuoh Academy, completely unaware that his presence was about to be requested at a historical summit, Caelan Lucifuge was teaching calculus and wondering why his life had become so unnecessarily complicated.