As they looked at the departing figures of Kousuke and Akeno, Sirzechs turned to Serafall beside him and asked in low voice, "What do you think?"
"Hmm…" Serafall thought for a moment before answering with a perplexed expression. "He looks normal. I couldn't feel anything from him even when I was so close."
"That makes sense. If I remember correctly, he wears a special ring that seals his power to a certain extent," the Crimson Satan replied, recalling the events before the Peace Treaty. He'd noticed the same ring glinting faintly on Kousuke's middle finger earlier. "I tried to probe a little as well, but it didn't go well. His power is truly a mystery."
"However," Sirzechs continued, "I found traces of his activity in Kuoh. It seems he started a jewelry business, and it's going well so far." He pulled out a delicate silver necklace from his pocket. "On paper, the business is owned by someone named Amano Mei, but she works for him."
"Is this enchanted?" Serafall asked curiously, slipping the necklace on. Almost instantly, she felt a faint wave of refreshment wash over her, easing the slight fatigue she had from paperwork. "The effect seems pretty good. Most humans probably wouldn't even notice anything different and just brush it off as a placebo."
"Yes. The enchantment is well hidden, but Ajuka managed to crack it in his free time," Sirzechs replied, channeling a bit of his demonic energy into the necklace. A strange symbol appears faintly, hovering above the silver chain. "Do you recognize this rune?"
"Doesn't look like Norse runes, and it doesn't have any demonic synergy either," Serafall mused, tapping her chin. "Maybe it's something human mages recently created?"
"It wasn't them either. In fact, they bought some from the store themselves."
"Wait... those mages actually bought something instead of stealing it?" Serafall asked, genuinely surprised.
"Well, about that…" Sirzechs paused, recalling something his familiar had reported a few days prior. "You must've heard about the missing Hero Faction, right? Apparently, they were last seen working as bodyguards for his store when someone tried to cause trouble."
"Pfft—hahaha! The faction that believes they're the Heroes of humanity are now working for him? That's priceless!" Serafall burst out laughing. "I was wondering why they've been so quiet lately, but I guess they must've pissed him off somehow."
Sirzechs smiled faintly. "He seems to enjoy living a normal life, but once someone crossed his line, it doesn't matter who they are, he never went easy on them."
Serafall nodded, still grinning. "You know, the more I hear about this guy, the more interesting he becomes. No wonder you're keeping an eye on him. But is it fine to just let them wander around? What if the Old Satan Faction tries something stupid?"
Sirzechs crossed his arms, his expression calm but thoughtful. "I've already assigned a few observation familiars just in case. But honestly, if those remnants of the Old Satan Faction truly tried something against him…" He paused, letting out a quiet chuckle. "They'd be the ones who regret it first."
Serafall tilted her head, curious. "You sound oddly confident about that."
"Because I've seen what he's capable of," Sirzechs replied. His tone held no exaggeration, only certainty. "Even without tapping into his full strength, the power he showed during the Peace Treaty was enough to make even me paled. He probably even have more cards under his sleeves that he hadn't show us."
Serafall's expression shifted from playful to intrigued. "Now you're making me want to see it for myself. A human who can keep the strongest beings in check without even trying... that's not something you see every millennium."
"Indeed, it's not too bad to have someone like him keeping the peace we so desperately needed, at least it gives us a breathing room to grow." Sirzechs turned his gaze toward the distant horizon, where the Underworld's crimson sky glimmered faintly.
The three factions had went through a lot after the Great War, the most impactful by it was the Heaven. They didn't even have the means to meddle with the mortal world since then, only lying low in Heaven is the best they can do.
After all, the moment they slipped, their old enemies might finish them off for good since the death of Biblical God was no longer a well kept secret. Now that the existence of Kousuke had spread widely in the supernatural, most people in power are wary and didn't dare to make the first move. Some of them have heard firsthand from the observers lurking in Kuoh, the strength that dominated the White Dragon Emperor isn't to be underestimated.
...
Underworld, Somewhere within Gremory Territory.
The Underworld was a land painted in beautiful twilight. The sky shimmered with streaks of violet and crimson, the light never fading but never bright enough to resemble day. Kousuke and Akeno stood at the edge of a cliff overlooking the vast Gremory domain. A breathtaking sight of glowing rivers, distant castles, and floating stones that shimmered like stars in the night.
"This is where I usually relax whenever I come to the Underworld," Akeno said softly, her long black hair swaying in the cool wind. "It's peaceful, isn't it?"
"It really is," Kousuke replied, his tone calm but genuinely impressed. His arm wrapped naturally around her waist as he pulled her closer. "The view is amazing from up here. It's a really nice secret spot."
Akeno leaned into him, her hand resting lightly on his chest. "Fufufu~ I didn't even show this place to Rias, so you'd better be grateful."
"I'm always grateful to be surrounded by beautiful harem, and a certain mischievous priestess," he said cheekily. "Most guys my age would envy to be in my place, especially Issei."
Akeno pouted slightly and tapped his chest playfully. "Bringing up other girls on our date? You're lucky I love you too much to get upset over something like that."
Kousuke chuckled, brushing a lock of hair away from her face. "I'll try to make it up to you."
"Oh?" she tilted her head, her violet eyes gleaming with curiosity. "And how do you plan to do that?"
"You'll see," he said with a mysterious smile on his face.
The wind carried a soft hum across the crimson sky. They stood beneath a massive silver-leafed tree whose roots glowed faintly in the ground, the light reflecting gently across Akeno's features. For a brief moment, Kousuke simply admired her. The way her eyes shimmered, the faint smile tugging at her lips, the quiet warmth of her presence.
Akeno noticed his gaze and let out a soft giggle. "You're staring again."
"Can you blame me?" he said honestly. "You look beautiful."
Her cheeks flushed faintly, the teasing tone she often wore replaced by something softer, more vulnerable. "You really know how to make a girl's heart skip a beat…"
Kousuke leaned in slightly, his voice lower now, almost a whisper. "Then I guess I'm doing it right."
Akeno's lips curved into a gentle smile as she whispered back, "Then don't stop."
The distance between them vanished. The world around them. Its endless twilight, the hum of magic, even the faint glow of the rivers below seemed to fade away as their lips met. The kiss was slow and unhurried, carrying the warmth of everything left unspoken between them.
When they finally parted, Akeno rested her forehead against his chest, her breath steadying as a soft smile touched her lips.
"…You really do know how to make me happy, Kousuke."
He wrapped his arm around her again, pulling her close. "That's good, because our date is still going and I won't stop until all you can do is smiling all day long~"