"Welcome home, Master!"
Two cat-eared maids chirped in unison, welcoming Issei and Akeno's arrival.
Issei's gaze was instantly hijacked. His eyes were glued to the maids' cleavages, which were quite deliberately exposed to ensnare the attention of any red-blooded customer. The atmosphere inside the restaurant was… thick. A suggestive, ambiguous scent hung heavy in the air, swirling around them.
Most of the patrons were stereotypical otaku—stout men with thick glasses. There was no need to double-check; they were undoubtedly the hardcore variety.
Issei and Akeno's entrance naturally turned heads. But the moment their eyes landed on Akeno's curvaceous figure, their pupils dilated, fixating intensely on her prominent chest.
To be honest, Issei was far from pleased with their leering gazes. Yet, he knew he couldn't exactly start a fight just for being looked at.
On the other hand, while Akeno felt a visceral disgust toward the stares of these hardcore otaku, a surge of pure bliss washed over her the moment she sensed Issei's jealousy.
"Excuse me, do you have a private room available for rent?" Issei asked the maid who had greeted them.
"We do, but it's quite expensive." The maid's eyes swept over them with blatant doubt.
Even though they had dressed up for the occasion, they still looked like high school students. It was only natural for her to question their spending power.
"Don't worry. Money isn't an issue for me." Issei flicked an exclusive bank card, flaunting it right in front of the cat-eared duo.
The two maids froze. Their mouths fell open, forming perfect 'O' shapes.
The otaku nearby, who were busy enjoying their maid service, were equally stunned. As seasoned veterans of the subculture, they were well-versed in the world of luxury; they knew exactly what that exclusive card in Issei's hand represented.
Only someone with assets exceeding a hundred million yen could possess such a card.
"Ahem! Mas, please, right this way~."
The attitude of the cat-eared maids pulled a complete 180-degree turn.
If their flirtatiousness before was just part of the job, it was now fueled by the scent of cold, hard cash.
Issei let out a weary sigh. It seemed that even in this world, money could still buy a semblance of happiness.
Just as the two maids tried to cling to Issei's arms, Akeno stepped in, blocking their path with a smile that was as gentle as it was dangerous.
"Ara~ ara~ ufufu~. This one is my boyfriend. Hugging is strictly forbidden."
Akeno's tone was velvety smooth, yet a chilling aura radiated from her body. For a split second, sparks of yellowish-white and bluish-white lightning flickered around her.
The two maids didn't even notice the electricity; they were far too terrified to even look Akeno in the eye. With heads bowed low, they quickly escorted the pair toward a private room.
"Akeno-san, your lightning is leaking a bit."
"Ufufu~ is there a problem?" Akeno smiled sweetly, her eyes closed in that signature, inscrutable expression.
"No, no problem at all." Issei reflexively swallowed the rest of his sentence.
"Ahem! Please, enjoy your time." The two maids beat a hasty retreat the moment the door was opened.
It was clear they were scared to death of Akeno.
"Ufufu~ women without self-respect aren't worthy of standing beside Issei-kun, right?"
"Ah, um, yeah. You're right."
A suggestive glint flickered in Akeno's crystal-clear eyes. Without a word of warning, she pushed Issei back and straddled his lap in a compromising position.
"Hah~ I can't hold back anymore~. Forgive me, Issei-kun." Akeno leaned down, her lips meeting Issei's in a deep kiss.
Her breath grew heavy, her heart racing faster than usual as she continued her passionate assault.
...
Grigori.
Azazel wore a serious expression, one he rarely allowed others to see.
Nearby stood Baraqiel and Shemhazai, their faces etched with a gravity that matched the Governor General's.
"The Three-Way Alliance has only just been formed, and yet, here we are facing an even more terrifying threat." Azazel's voice was sour, laced with a hint of desperation.
"What should our next move be?" Baraqiel asked.
Azazel fell into thought, glancing toward Shemhazai. "What's the count? How many Fallen Angels have defected to this new group?"
"One-fourth of the total number of Fallen Angels recorded in our documents."
Bang!
Azazel slammed his fist onto the table, shattering it instantly.
"Dammit! Who has the power to pull that off?! I can't think of anyone except God Himself."
Shemhazai, lost in his own contemplations, spoke in a low, grim tone. "What if the culprit is from another world?"
Azazel's eyes widened for a moment.
"Baraqiel, get this word out to the Angels and the Devils immediately."
"Understood."
"Shemhazai, ensure that no more of our kind defect."
"I will do my best."
Baraqiel promptly left Grigori to deliver the news to the Devil and Angel factions.
"Something is moving," Azazel muttered, his eyes narrowing. "We can't afford to ignore this. The safety of the entire world is at stake."
Shemhazai nodded in silent agreement.
To be continued... End in Patreon, patreon.com/AgamYupi02