Knock, knock!
"Excuse me. The food you ordered has arrived."
At the sound of the maid's voice from outside the door, Akeno jolted. She quickly scrambled off Issei, putting some distance between them.
Issei felt a lingering sense of loss, but his common sense quickly returned. Regaining his composure, he called out to the maid waiting outside.
"Come in."
"Pardon me..."
The maid who entered wasn't one of the two from earlier. Instead, she was a petite, cute girl with a short stature but an impossibly large bust.
Issei's gaze momentarily locked onto the maid's chest before he reflexively jerked his head away, sensing a sudden, chilling aura emanating from Akeno.
Despite her innocent appearance, the petite maid was surprisingly perceptive. The moment she stepped into the private room, she felt a thick, ambiguous atmosphere—one certainly not meant for children's eyes.
Though she looked young, the maid was actually nearing her thirties. She was experienced enough in these matters to realize that something... indescribable... had been moments away from happening before she interrupted.
"Maid-san, if you're finished, please see yourself out." Akeno's lips were curved into a smile, but her eyes were entirely devoid of warmth.
"Ugh, I-I'm so sorry!"
The maid beat a hasty retreat, scurrying away without daring to look back.
Issei understood Akeno's frustration; it was indeed irritating to have an "indescribable" moment ruined. That was exactly why he had remained silent after granting the maid permission to enter.
"Issei-kun, let's eat. After that... we'll move somewhere else to finish what we started. Ufufu~"
Issei felt a surge of heat in his chest. He nodded vigorously and began devouring his meal, finishing the entire spread in mere minutes.
...
Baraqiel had just arrived in the Underworld after his trip to Heaven.
The moment he met Sirzechs, Baraqiel wasted no time in relaying his report.
"Thank you for coming all this way to warn us, Baraqiel-dono," Sirzechs said.
"I am merely doing my duty. There is no need for thanks."
Sirzechs nodded gently, though his expression remained grave. He looked troubled, his brow furrowed as if weighing a heavy burden.
"Sirzechs-dono?"
"Hah... What a coincidence. It seems several Devils have also defected from our side. It is highly likely they have joined the same faction as the rogue Fallen Angels."
"If that is true, then the situation is dire."
Sirzechs glanced over at Grayfia. "Contact the other Devil Kings. We are calling an emergency meeting."
"Understood!"
Sirzechs then turned his gaze back to Baraqiel.
"Baraqiel-dono, if you wouldn't mind, please stay here as the representative for the Fallen Angels. I will contact Heaven and ask them to participate in this summit as well."
"I understand."
It didn't take long for the connection to be established with two of the other Devil Kings: Asmodeus and Beelzebub.
Grayfia had tried to reach Leviathan multiple times, but there was no response.
The only logical conclusion was that Leviathan was currently away from the Underworld. Consequently, they were forced to proceed with the meeting without her.
At the same time, at the Sitri residence in Japan...
Serafall had dropped by her younger sister's home after finishing her duties as a Devil King.
This time, Serafall wasn't dressed in her usual magical girl cosplay. Instead, she wore a deep green formal suit that suited her surprisingly well.
While the outfit was modest and professional, it couldn't hide her elegant and curvaceous figure.
"Sona-chan! Your big sister is here to help you!"
Gahk!
Sona was in the middle of drinking tea with Tsubaki when Serafall's sudden appearance startled them both.
"Cough! Cough!" Tsubaki fell into a fit of coughing.
Sona cleared her throat several times before finally regaining her composure.
"Onee-chan, why are you here?! What about your work as a Devil King?!" Sona raised her voice intentionally to scold her sister.
"Hehe, I already finished all that! Now, I'm here to help you solve your love troubles!"
"Haah?!"
"Onee-chan knows, you know? Sona-chan likes Issei, right? But because Rias is there, Sona-chan can't find the opening to get close to him!"
Sona fell silent, unable to find the words to refute her older sister's claim.
"Kaichou?" Tsubaki called out hesitantly.
Sona grit her teeth and spoke in a firm, sharp tone.
"Onee-chan, do not interfere in my romantic affairs."
"So cruel! Even though I came all the way from the Underworld just to help you!" Crystal tears began to well up in Serafall's eyes.
In truth, Sona hated seeing her sister like this, but she hated people meddling in her private life even more. When it came to matters of the heart, Sona remained firm—even if the meddler was her own flesh and blood.
"Onee-chan, I don't mind if you want to help me with other things, but do not cross the line into my personal life—especially not my romance."
"...Sona-chan, Onee-chan just..."
"That's enough. I will handle this matter myself. Onee-chan, please just enjoy your short vacation here with Tsubaki."
"Eh! Me?!" Tsubaki gasped.
Sona left without another word, dumping the responsibility of handling her sister onto Tsubaki.
Poor Tsubaki was left completely overwhelmed by the doting, sister-obsessed Devil King.
To be continued...