[Couldn't you have at least told me what you were going to do before you sprung this on me?]
[That's no good. I'm actually quite deep within the Realm of the Dead and any attempts to contact you would've alerted them.]
[What was so interesting for you to take this risk?]
[I'm not sure, but it looked like fun to have... And probably the main crux of their Artificial Devil factory.]
[...That's an important one. Could you hold on for a little bit longer? The most that I can do is to bring you to my side and I'm not exactly in a convenient location.]
[You're in Gremory Castle, aren't you? It's not really an inconvenient place, so just do it. I'm about to grab this thing, by the way.]
[If you say so...]
"Is something the matter?" Out of all the people in the room, there was only one person who noticed their conversation. Valerie Tepes, a Dhampir and the owner of the Sephiroth Graal.
Kisuke smiled at her and said, "I shouldn't be surprised, but could you actually hear us?"
Valerie hurriedly shook her head in defense, "Please don't misunderstand. I could only tell that you're talking with someone through your soul and not the actual contents of your conversation."
"Though it seems like you can tell the state of my conversation partner for you to have asked that."
Valerie didn't deny it and explained, "You have an unusually good connection with that person, so it's being conveyed quite clearly."
Issei instantly guessed that the person Kisuke is talking to needs help based on their conversation and approached him, "Kisuke, do you need our help? I know you're strong but there's a limit to what two people could do."
"Heh~. You won't even ask if I'm doing something nasty?"
But Issei just brushed off his words and said, "I'd be the first one to stop you. That's what friends are there for, right?"
Kisuke still had the same smile on his face, but a glint of killing intent appeared in his eyes while looking at Issei, "My~ Not to brag, but you might end up dead."
Of course, this didn't escape most of the people in the room's notice with some of them even taking a stance against Kisuke.
Issei, on the other hand, just shrugged his shoulders and responded, "I may not know what you're up to these days... And maybe even in the past. However, I'm pretty sure that you still have the moral bottom line that you wouldn't break. I remembered when we were kids that if one is going to acquire power, it is not just for protecting those important to you, but also to protect your bottom line. I never understood what you meant back then, but I do now."
Issei's expression then turned into a grin before continuing, "Besides, those girls probably wouldn't have followed you if you were not a good guy."
Kisuke's killing intent disappeared as he sighed, "Where did the innocent and perverted kid back then, go?"
"I don't think innocent and perverted should be in the same sentence.", retorted Vali, who was leaning on the wall.
Issei ignored him, "So, do you need our assistance?"
"Thanks for the offer, but what I actually need is permission." Kisuke then turned to Zeoticus and said, "My companion said she found something interesting in the Realm of the Dead, but she's in a deadlock. I want to summon her, but there is no more time to move somewhere else. May I open a summoning gate here?"
Zeoticus, without asking anything further, nodded, "We're technically already at war with Hades, so it doesn't matter. And if it's something interesting, it might help us with the upcoming battle. Go ahead. You may use this hall. I also don't mind if you rough it up a bit."
Zeoticus then turned around and began commanding the servants to exit the place and evacuate the noncombatants just in case it may turn into a battle and also reduce the eyes that could see this 'interesting' thing.
"Thank you very much." Kisuke prepared to summon Benihime to his side while the others made defensive maneuvers around him without any question. Out of those in the room, only Milicas needed some protection and Grayfia could easily handle that.
But while he was preparing the Magic, Kisuke frowned, [Just where are you? Why is it so hard to bend the space there?]
[Probably in the deepest part. I had to go through countless security measures.]
The corner of Kisuke's mouth twitched as he knew exactly why she did it despite the risk, [Aren't you having too much fun?]
[Hey, life is too short.]
[That doesn't apply to you!]
[But seriously. I need that exit now. They already know that I'm talking with someone else and Hades, along with some other Gods, are probably coming, so they're setting up a confinement spell.]
[Hold on. The space around you is reinforced so it'll be hard to pull you out immediately.] Kisuke then looked around and saw the figure he needed, "Pendragon-san, I might need a bit of your assistance."
The blond siblings both pointed to themselves and asked, "Me?"
"The younger Pendragon-san."
The younger sister who was wearing sorcerer attire ran forward and said, "Call me Le Fay."
"Then Le Fay-san, I heard from Kuroka that you're good with Space Magic."
Le Fay proudly thumped her chest and said, "The best in our team~!"
"I'll return the favor later so please handle the extraction."
"I want your autograph~!"
"...What?"
"Your autograph!" Le Fay repeated with shining eyes.
"Well that's an expensive one, but you have the deal."
"Great~!" Le Fay didn't request anything else and started asking Kisuke about the specifics of her assistance.
To the side, Lint Sellzen asked Ravel and Gasper about Kisuke's autograph, "Is it that valuable? His autograph, I mean."
Ravel crossed her arms and nodded, "Out of all Oppai Dragon characters, the one he's based on is one of the popular ones. Despite that, only Bennia has his autograph and is being treated as some kind of heirloom."
"...Eh? You mean that atrocious signature she kept parading around?"
Ravel and Gasper hurriedly covered her mouth and looked towards Kisuke. Upon seeing that he wasn't paying attention, however, they sighed in relief, "Don't ever say that, even if it's true! Or you won't even know what'll hit you!" Ravel reprimanded her with a very soft voice.
Gasper nodded vigorously and whispered, "That's right! He's capable, but also incredibly petty!"
"What should I do next?" asked Le Fay but there wasn't any reply so she looked at him making a weird smile, "What's wrong?"
"Nothing. It's just that some kids have just entered my naughty list."
'Why are you suddenly playing Santa?' Le Fay wanted to ask, but she didn't because that smile of his gave her shivers.
After a few minutes of adjustments, Kisuke and Le Fay were finally able to extract Benihime along with a cold black coffin that exuded a dense Demonic Power.
But along with it, something also awakened in the deepest part of the Gremory Castle.