On Sunday, everyone came to Silas's new house for a housewarming party.
Both Sona's Peerage and Rias's Peerage had shown up, filling the house with noise, laughter, and far too much energy for a quiet afternoon.
The living room had somehow turned into Silas's personal prison. He sat on the couch, surrounded by nearly every girl present for some reason, while the guys had been pushed outside to fend for themselves.
Jealousy burned in the hearts of Issei and Sona's Pawn Saji, both shooting occasional glances through the window like betrayed comrades. Kiba, however, was nowhere to be seen.
' Probably off somewhere plotting,' Silas thought.
After enduring enough teasing, he finally stood up and made his way to the kitchen for a drink.
Unsurprisingly, Sona followed behind him the moment he left the room.
The kitchen was quieter, the sounds of the party muffled by the walls. Silas opened the fridge and grabbed a cold drink.
" When are you taking me on a date?" Sona asked casually, leaning against the counter as if she hadn't just dropped that out of nowhere.
Silas glanced at her, amused. " Good question. Not sure. You got anything in mind?"
She adjusted her glasses, hiding the small smile tugging at her lips. " How about during the week? Maybe Wednesday. I'm free then."
" Sure. I'll see you then." He said, smiling.
She gave a satisfied nod, then reached over and took the drink straight from his hand before walking out of the kitchen as if it belonged to her.
Silas stared after her for a second before shaking his head.
' I have a hunch that it won't even happen. But we'll see,' he thought, grabbing another drink for himself.
.....
The next day, the weekend slipped away like it had never happened. Monday morning brought them back to Kuoh Academy, the familiar rhythm of school life settling over everyone once more.
As Silas, Rias, and Akeno stepped into Occult Research Club.
The moment the door swung open, the three of them froze in the entrance.
Two girls stood near the center of the room, their crisp white and blue church robes standing out sharply against the dim, wood-paneled interior.
One of them turned at the sound of their arrival.
It was Irina Shidou, Issei's childhood friend, her chestnut-brown hair tied into a lively ponytail that swayed as she moved.
Bright eyes and an open smile gave her an energetic warmth, while the way she stood carried the confidence of someone trained for battle despite her cheerful nature.
Beside her stood Xenovia Quarta. Her long deep-blue hair fell neatly down her back, framing a sharp and striking face.
Green eyes stared forward with cool intensity, while her tall, athletic frame and disciplined posture made it clear she was a warrior first and foremost.
The air in the room shifted instantly. A faint tension rippled through the space, the kind that always followed when devils and agents of the Church found themselves in the same room.
Even the usual playful atmosphere of the ORC felt heavier, the faint scent of old books and polished wood now undercut by something sharper, holy energy lingering faintly in the air like ozone after a storm.
Rias's crimson hair caught the light as she tilted her head, her expression cool and composed, though her eyes sharpened with careful assessment.
Akeno's smile remained elegant on the surface, but her fingers flexed subtly at her sides, violet eyes narrowing just a fraction.
Silas simply watched, taking in the unexpected visitors and the way the two church girls watched them right back,wary, but not openly hostile.
"Well," Rias said smoothly, breaking the sudden silence as she stepped further into the room, "this is certainly unexpected."
She crossed the room and sat in her usual chair opposite them with practiced grace, immediately reclaiming control of the room. Akeno moved to her side.
Off to the corner, Asia, Koneko, and Kiba were already present. Asia looked nervous, hands clasped tightly in her lap.
Koneko remained expressionless, though her golden eyes stayed fixed on the church pair. Kiba, however, made no effort to hide his hatred.
His jaw was tense. His stare sharp and cold. Old wounds clearly stirred by their mere presence.
"How may I help you, church girls?" Rias asked calmly, crossing one leg over the other.
Irina stepped forward, placing a hand lightly against her chest before beginning to explain the situation.
"Hello, everyone!!" she said, voice warm and friendly like she was greeting old classmates instead of devils. "We're really sorry for showing up without warning like this."
Beside her, Xenovia remained mostly silent, arms crossed under her chest.
Her sharp eyes scanned the room, lingering for a moment on Kiba, whose killing intent was practically radiating off him.
She didn't flinch. If anything, her posture became even more rigid, ready for anything.
Rias leaned back in her chair, one leg elegantly crossed over the other, exuding the calm authority of a King.
"I'll ask again," she said smoothly, though her crimson eyes were sharp. "How may I help you, agents of the Church?"
Irina scratched the back of her head with a sheepish laugh.
"Straight to business, huh?!" She cleared her throat and continued more seriously. "We've been sent here on official orders from the Vatican. There's been some… concerning movement regarding Excalibur fragments."
The moment the word "Excalibur" left her mouth, the tension in the room spiked.
Kiba's hand tightened around the hilt of his sword so hard the leather creaked. His usual gentle smile was completely gone, replaced by cold, burning hatred.
Irina continued, unaware or pretending to be unaware of the rising hostility.
"Three Excalibur fragments have gone missing recently, and the Church has reason to believe they've surfaced in this area. We were sent to investigate and retrieve them before they fall into the wrong hands."
Rias smiled, "How generous of you," she said coolly. "Who do you presume took them? If I may ask?"
Xenovia didn't hesitate. Her voice was steady and matter-of-fact, as if she were reporting military intelligence.
"We believe it's an executive of the Grigori ,the fallen angel faction. His name is Kokabiel."
The moment the name left her mouth, the atmosphere in the room changed completely.
Rias's eyes widened in genuine shock. Her composed mask cracked for a split second before she quickly regained control, though her fingers tightened noticeably on the armrest of her chair.
"Kokabiel…?" she repeated, voice lower now, laced with disbelief and rising tension. "One of the leaders of the Grigori? Here? In Kuoh?"
Akeno's playful smile vanished entirely. Her violet eyes narrowed into dangerous slits as a faint crackle of lightning flickered around her fingertips for a brief moment.
Even Silas, who had been leaning against the wall with casual indifference, straightened up slightly. His expression remained calm, but his eyes sharpened with interest.
' Oh yeah, I forgot about him. He'll be a worthy opponent for this arc I'm sure' he thought.
Kokabiel.
The name carried weight , one of the most powerful and radical fallen angels, a war hawk who had never accepted the end of the Great War between the Three Factions.
Irina shifted uncomfortably, sensing the sudden hostility in the room, but she tried to keep her tone bright.
"We're not entirely sure of his exact location yet, but all signs point to this area. That's why we were sent here to investigate and recover the fragments before anything catastrophic happens."
Xenovia added flatly, "We have no desire to involve the devils of this territory… unless you stand in our way."
Rias leaned forward in her chair, crimson hair framing her serious expression.
"And if Kokabiel really is behind this… do you honestly believe two exorcists can handle him alone?"
The question hung heavy in the air. Kiba finally spoke, his voice cold and sharp as a blade.
"If Kokabiel is here… then those holy swords will be destroyed. Every single one of them."
Xenovia met his glare without flinching.
"That is not your decision to make, devil."
The tension in the ORC room was now thick enough to choke on. Holy energy and demonic aura clashed silently in the space between the two groups.
Silas watched the exchange with a faint, intrigued smirk, arms still crossed over his chest.
The tension in the ORC room reached a boiling point.
Kiba stepped forward, his usual gentle demeanor completely gone. His eyes burned with cold fury as he stared directly at Xenovia.
"If you're here for the Excalibur fragments… then I challenge you," he said, voice low and dangerous. "Right now."
Xenovia's green eyes narrowed. A small, confident smirk tugged at her lips.
"Accepted."
At almost the same moment, Irina turned toward Issei, her cheerful expression shifting into something more competitive and sharp.
"And I challenge you, Issei Hyoudou!" she declared, pointing at him with dramatic flair. "Let's see how strong the so called Red Dragon really is"
Issei blinked, then pointed at himself in surprise. "Me?! Why me?!"
Irina puffed out her chest proudly.
"Because we used to play together all the time! It's only fair that I test how much you've grown… especially since you're a devil now!"
Rias observed the situation for a moment, then nodded gracefully.
"Very well. I approve. A little spar outside the club building should be harmless enough. It might even help… clear the air."
TO BE CONTINUED