He paused before saying anything, letting the silence stretch just long enough to make them lean in slightly.
"I'll tell you some other time," he finally said, a slow smirk forming at the corner of his lips.
The girls frowned almost in unison.
Akeno let out a soft laugh. "Ara. That's not fair, Silas-kun."
Her tone was light, teasing—but her eyes were observant. She didn't like unanswered questions.
Silas gave a small shrug, unbothered. "I agree. But I don't think it's the right time to tell you." His gaze moved between them calmly. "I think we should build a little bit of trust before that."
He leaned back slightly, crossing one leg over the other again. "Now continue. Are there any other races I should be aware of?"
That shifted the atmosphere immediately. The three girls exchanged subtle glances.
Not physical ones alone—mental ones.
' Should we continue to tell him?' Rias asked silently, her expression outwardly composed.
' Yes. Why not?' Sona replied without hesitation. ' Better we build trust with him than another faction doing it first.'
Akeno smiled faintly. 'I agree.'
The silent exchange lasted less than a second. To Silas, it was obvious something had passed between them. The faint tightening of their expressions. The micro-delay before speaking.
Rias turned her attention back to him, posture elegant, voice steady. "There are other races," she said smoothly. "Many. But the main ones are Angels and Fallen Angels."
Silas tilted his head slightly, resting his elbow against the arm of the couch. "Oh? How do they work?"
Rias answered without hesitation. "Angels serve Heaven. They follow a strict hierarchy under the Biblical God and the Seraphim. Their power is rooted in holy light. It's effective against devils and creatures aligned with darkness."
Sona continued, tone precise. "Fallen Angels were once angels who left Heaven. They operate independently and do not answer to either Heaven or the Underworld. They retain holy-based abilities, though their nature is… altered."
"The three factions—Heaven, the Fallen, and the Underworld—have a long history," Rias added. "War. Betrayal. Temporary alliances."
"We are currently in a period of relative peace," Sona said, adjusting her glasses slightly. "Though peace is fragile. It only takes one incident to disrupt it."
Silas listened quietly, absorbing every word without interruption. No surprise. No disbelief. Just measured attention. Of course, he already knew all of this—but they didn't know that.
"And humans?" he asked.
"They are mostly unaware," Akeno replied gently. "The supernatural world is hidden from them. Those who discover too much are either erased… or brought into it."
"There are organizations within the Church that train exorcists," Rias added. "Humans capable of wielding holy weapons."
"Some humans are born with Sacred Gears," Sona said. "Artifacts embedded into their souls. They can rival high-class devils if properly awakened."
Silas hummed thoughtfully.
"So you operate in the human world, recruit, fight Rating Games, and maintain balance between factions."
Rias's eyes narrowed slightly. "You process information quickly."
"It's simple structure," he replied lightly. "Hierarchy, power distribution, hidden society."
Sona leaned forward again, elbows resting lightly on her knees. "You're taking this remarkably well."
Silas looked at her calmly. "Should I be panicking?"
Rias allowed a faint smile. "No. But most beings would at least question their safety."
A small smirk touched his lips. "I'm not concerned about that." There was no arrogance in his tone. Just certainty.
Akeno studied him more closely now. "And what is it that gods do, Silas-kun?"
He tapped his fingers once against the couch, thinking for a brief moment before answering.
"Well, it depends. Some create. Some destroy. Kind of like you. My role is to maintain balance in my universe."
"That's vague," Sona said evenly.
"So was 'devils,'" he replied smoothly.
Rias let out a quiet laugh at that, tension easing slightly.
Silas leaned forward just a fraction, his gaze sharpening.
"You reincarnate humans. You fight Rating Games. You serve a hierarchy in the Underworld."
He tilted his head.
"Do you destroy?"
The question lingered in the air longer this time.
Rias held his gaze steadily. "If necessary."
Sona answered more bluntly. "Power exists to be used. Sometimes that includes destruction."
Silas smiled faintly.
"Good."
The single word carried weight—not loud, nor was it threatening.
Akeno's eyes flickered subtly. "You seem pleased."
"I like clarity," he replied.
The room fell quiet for a moment. Not awkward. Heavy. The kind of silence that comes when everyone is measuring the limits of the other.
Rias spoke first. "If you truly are a god, then you understand that balance is important in this world."
Silas leaned back again, crossing his legs comfortably, expression unreadable.
"I do," he said calmly. "More than you can tell."
That earned him three very different looks.
Interest from Akeno. Caution from Sona. Calculation from Rias.
The conversation had shifted now. It was no longer introductions. It was evaluation.
Silas let out a quiet sigh, the tension in the room easing slightly as his posture relaxed.
"We should do this again," he said casually. "But with food next time. I'm interested in trying the cuisine in this country… and your worlds, of course."
There was a faint glint in his eyes when he said that—half curiosity, half challenge.
He stood up smoothly, reaching down to grab his bag. With his other hand, he picked up the cup of tea Akeno had poured for him and, without ceremony, chugged it down in one go.
The motion was so unexpectedly informal that it briefly broke the refined atmosphere of the room.
He lowered the empty cup and looked at Akeno.
"You make splendid tea, Akeno Himejima. It rivals any I've had back home."
Akeno's smile deepened slightly, pleased. "Ara, you flatter me. You're welcome to come try it any time or day. I'm always available."
Her tone carried a subtle double meaning. She didn't bother hiding it.
Silas nodded once. "I might take you up on that."
Rias and Sona rose as well, unwilling to let the moment slip away without making their move.
Rias stepped forward first, extending her hand with graceful confidence. "If you're interested, you could join our club. You'll see firsthand what we deal with every day as devils."
Sona followed immediately, also extending her hand. "Or you could join the Student Council. We operate similarly to Rias, though not on her scale. It would still be… interesting."
Their offers weren't casual. They were strategic. Silas looked at both hands for a brief second, considering.
Then, instead of shaking them normally, he gently took both of their hands. He lifted them. And pressed his lips lightly against each wrist.
Both Rias and Sona froze for a split second before a faint blush crept across their cheeks. Even Rias, who rarely lost composure, had to blink once to steady herself.
Akeno watched the exchange with visible curiosity, her smile sharpening ever so slightly.
"I find both your invitations tempting," Silas said smoothly as he released their hands and stepped back. "But I'll have to decline. Respectfully."
"Well then," he added lightly, adjusting his bag strap over his shoulder. "See you all tomorrow."
Before anyone could respond, he vanished.
The girls stared at the space where he had been standing moments ago.
"Teleportation?" Rias asked quietly, still staring at the empty spot.
"Instant teleportation," Sona corrected, her analytical tone returning. "He didn't cast a magic circle. There was no build-up of energy. And once again… I felt nothing from him."
Akeno's eyes remained fixed forward, thoughtful.
"Did you not hear him, Miss Sona?" she said softly. "I think it's clear that Silas-kun isn't from here. In fact… he may not be from anywhere in this realm."
Rias folded her arms, brows slightly furrowed. "He's not aligned with Heaven. Not Fallen. Not Underworld."
Sona nodded slowly. "Yes, I heard him. But until he decides explain himself… we'll continue guessing."
Her gaze dropped briefly to her wrist—the one he had kissed. A faint warmth lingered there. She quickly looked away, clearing her throat internally.
' No. I'm not interested in him like that, she told herself firmly. He has the looks, sure… but I don't even know that well.'
Yet despite her thoughts—Her fingers unconsciously brushed over the spot again.
And across the room, Rias and Akeno were thinking far more complicated things.
....
Silas reappeared inside his apartment without a sound.
He loosened his grip on his bag and let it drop onto the floor near the couch before falling backward onto the cushions himself.
The soft fabric dipped under his weight as he stretched out, one arm thrown lazily over his eyes.
The room was quiet. Peaceful.
Late afternoon sunlight filtered through the open balcony door, painting warm gold streaks across the ceiling. The faint sounds of Kuoh drifted upward—distant traffic, a barking dog, someone laughing far below.
He exhaled slowly.
'That was a long day,' he thought.
First day at school. First meeting with some of the main cast. He removed his arm from his eyes and stared at the ceiling, replaying everything in his head.
'Tomorrow will definitely be more interesting though'
He rolled onto his side and pushed himself up from the couch, stretching his shoulders slightly.
"For now," he muttered under his breath, loosening his collar slightly, "I need a bath."
He walked toward the bathroom, the faint hum of running water soon filling the apartment as steam began to gather against the tiled walls.
TO BE CONTINUED