That evening, Sona and Tsubaki teleported home with low moods. While they were mentally prepared after hearing Abaddon's estimation of Seekvaira's strengths, it was still a blow to lose just like that.
They appeared in the living room where everyone had been watching the broadcast of the Rating Game.
"You okay?" Rias asked Sona.
"Yeah … It's just a loss." Sona shook her head. "Somehow it feels worse after being told I would lose."
Rias immediately glared at Abaddon.
"I just told her the truth," Abaddon raised his hands in defeat.
"Meow …" Kuroka pawed at Abaddon's stomach and meowed disapprovingly at him.
"Great, now you've turned my cat against me," Abaddon said with frustration as Rias snorted at him before turning to Sona.
"Akeno, come on. The four of us will go out for a girls' night," Rias called out before wrapping an arm around Sona's shoulders.
Akeno raised her head in slight surprise, "Okay, Buchou," she nodded before getting up from Abaddon's side.
"Why don't you stay, Sona? We can do so many things in the name of consolation."
Rias gave him a snide look, "Let's go." With a teleportation circle forming under them, Rias and Akeno left with Sona and Tsubaki.
"Even my sister thinks you were insensitive, Senpai," Koneko's tone was more flat than usual.
Abaddon rubbed his nose, "Fine, my bad, I guess. I'll talk to Sona once she comes back."
"Abaddon-san, your words just now were indeed insensitive," Irina spoke up. "Actually, you were being insensitive from the start. Sona-san wanted to win so badly and her man told her that she wouldn't last against her opponent. She's been hurt since then. She was merely feigning indifference toward your words and pretending to be fine."
"Wow, Irina," Aika spoke teasingly. "I didn't think you of all people would be so observant. Both Asia and Xenovia are so klutzy that I thought all church maidens were like that. Master, you shouldn't ignore her for too long, eat her up before it gets too late like with Asia. Now, it's too awkward even if you want to make a move on her."
"A-Aika-san!" Irina got conscious and blushed. Whether it was about Aika's genuine praise or her words to Abaddon was unclear.
As for Xenovia, she focused on the reserved Valkyrie who was feeling a little out of place at the moment, "Come, Rossweisse-san. If we work hard enough, everyone's homework should be finished before the weekend. That way we will have the time to go out with the lord on a date before school starts."
"No, Miss Xenovia. I am putting my foot down, you should do your homework by yourself —"
"Yes, yes, I know. I just need your help to work out some problems, come …" Xenovia placated the Valkyrie and brought her upstairs to her room as the girls all followed her, leaving Abaddon with Kuroka.
He ended up chuckling in slight amusement, realizing that it was a way for the girls to show support toward Sona, whom his previous words had hurt."
"Meow," Kuroka meowed at him, pawing his clothes with her hand that was covered by a paw.
"I know, I know. I'll make it up to Sona," Abaddon spoke rubbing Kuroka's ears.
Suddenly, Abaddon frowned as a red magic circle appeared beside his ear.
"All right, I'll be there," He nodded. Kuroka meowed and looked up at him curiously. "I have to go meet Azazel about something."
Kuroka meowed in response and moved her head away from his lap.
"What are you doing? Come closer," Abaddon didn't care about her thoughts and grabbed her ass before pulling her closer. A magic circle appeared under him as he disappeared with Kuroka.
…
"You seem … a bit attached to this cat of yours, don't you think, Abaddon?" Azazel asked, observing Kuroka. The Nekomata was the same as he saw her the previous time he visited with Odin. Her legs were folded into useless stumps and held by a set of leather restraints that ended in paws, and while her arms were free, her hands were covered by paw-shaped mittens. "Though the unitard is new," Azazel said, focusing on the black-colored cat-themed unitard that covered most of Kuroka's torso.
"Koneko decided to switch from the slutty cat bikini," Abaddon said. "What did you call me here for?"
"I don't think her presence in this chat would be the best thing," Azazel said seriously.
"Don't worry, Azazel," Abaddon hugged Kuroka close, making her straddle him as her arms wrapped around his neck. "My kitty can't say anything even if she wanted to. She's going to be my beloved Rook eventually, so she can listen in on some things occasionally. Isn't that right, Kuroka?" He squeezed Kuroka's ass and kissed her. The cat lady mewled and squirmed in his arms.
Azazel shook his head, "If this plan fails, I'll be pinning the blame on you," He said before creating a large magic circle on a wall.
Abaddon let go of Kuroka and let her rest her head on his lap as he continued caressing her fluffy ears. Her tails swished around excitedly as she meowed in glee.
"I'm not going to let you bring any of this information to Vali if that's what you're thinking," Abaddon told her. "The snakes were a one-time thing. You should instead spend your time thinking about how you will please me better."
Kuroka gave him a disgruntled meow and buried her face in his crotch, though her tails continued swishing excitedly.
"What's wrong, Azazel?" Abaddon asked, seeing that the circle was still blank.
"Sirzechs has to respond as well, have some patience," The Fallen Cadre spoke.
As if on cue, the magic circle flickered, revealing Sirzechs.
"Did we disturb you?" Abaddon noticed that the man seemed to be outside instead of his office.
"Not at all," The Maou shook his head, "Something abrupt had come up. I see that you've taken a liking to your new …"
"Pet," Abaddon smiled. "Even though I plan to make her my Rook, she will be my pet cat first and foremost. As for her presence here, it's not a big deal. I take full responsibility for her."
"Good enough," Sirzechs shook his head. "Because this abrupt meeting concerns the fate of the Old Satan Faction. They are preparing something big for one of the upcoming rating games. I believe that they would take action during the Agares-Astaroth rating game or Rias' next game."
"The deal with Asia and Diodora?" Abaddon asked.
"Yes. While he doesn't dare to approach my sister's peerage due to your presence, his obsession with that girl has only grown greater with time — enough that our spies have started noticing signs of mental instability."
"One's got to be a real piece of work to be considered mentally unstable even as a devil," Sirzechs ignored Abaddon's comment.
"That is why I plan to let Rias' rating game take place in the same dimension. To make sure that there is no variation in their actions."
"Diodora is a wild card who might throw a wrench in their plans if it comes to his church maiden obsession," Abaddon nodded. "Who will be Rias' opponent?"
"I was thinking Sona," Sirzechs said. "Due to the situation with the Glasya-Labolas heir, many people backed out. The Agares-Sitri was the only one that could proceed without issues. The other games all ended up with withdrawing opponents or some other complications. Since that is the case, the council has decided to narrow down the participants to the major heirs. Since Sona was already eliminated, we can let her have a revival match against Rias."
"Just say you want everyone close to me in one place so that Astaroth feels compelled to take action during that time. The only thing greater than his obsession with Asia should be his hatred toward me," Abaddon looked at Sirzechs with blame.
"It's good that you understand," Sirzechs nodded. "I will place the newly promoted heir of the Glasya-Labolas family in the opposing bracket, fighting against Siraorg so that he doesn't end up causing problems."
"You really turned everything upside down after that death, didn't you?" Abaddon shook his head. "Send me three of those scrolls that can hold spells. I'll make one for each king."
"You know those things are hard to come by, Abaddon."
"Send me four, I'll give two to Rias," Abaddon shook his head.
"I'm not trying to bargain, Abaddon. There are a limited number of those scrolls. The one you used when snatching the Longinus from the human was a treasure found before the Great War. After excavating countless ancient ruins —"
"Fine, fine, I get it. Then I'll put one of those slave collars on your sister that would allow me to teleport to her through any spatial blockade."
Sirzechs' expression darkened, "You don't need to worry, Abaddon. The moment Creuserey Asmodeus and Shalba Beelzebub appear, we will interrupt the Rating Game and launch a full-scale attack on them."
"You willing to bet your sister's life on that?" Abaddon asked.
"I'm willing to bet my sister's life on my strength, Abaddon," The Maou's tone got steely. "It will take me mere moments to annihilate any spatial blockade they create, including Dimension Lost."
"All right, calm down, you two," Azazel finally spoke up after staying mute for the entire conversation. "Abaddon, I know that the thing with the Glasya-Labolas heir was out of our calculations, but we are prepared now. We have turned our entire original plan around to make sure that no unexpected variables show up. You don't need to worry."
"Fina," Abaddon sighed. Kuroka meowed at him, placing her paw on his face before moving higher and licking his neck.
***
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