In the late evening, Leo was preparing dinner when someone suddenly rang his doorbell.
"Who the heck is visiting at night?" Leo grumbles and figures it must be them because there should be no one else but them.
Leo is still in mid preparation of his ingredients and has to leave it for now. He washed his hands and patted it dry on his pants before walking up to the door. Surprisingly, they didn't keep pressing after the first one and waited patiently.
When Leo opens the door, a man wearing a suit and has distinct crimson hair and another wearing formal clothes like an office worker Leo figure is Serafall because of how similar she looks with Sona.
"Good evening." Sirzech greeted with a polite smile
"Good evening…" Leo greeted me with a scowl.
"Perhaps we came at the wrong time?" Sirzech asked after seeing the scowl on Leo's face.
Leo sighed and opened the door wide before he invited them in.
"Take a guess? Anyway, I'm still making dinner. If you have anything to say, then wait until I'm done." Leo didn't bother being on guard against them because he had Ophis in the living room.
Leo didn't even bother to close the door and immediately returned to the kitchen while the two Satan looked at each other not knowing how to proceed.
"Let's just wait." Serafall suggested.
"Right…" Sirzech nods as they take off their shoes and walk into the living room and sit awkwardly on another couch on the side.
Mittelt and Ophis stayed quiet while Sirzech and Serafall didn't know how to start a conversation in this situation, leading all four of them to sit quietly and watch the TV.
Almost an hour later Leo is done cooking. He made extra portions for Sirzech and Serafall. The dinner is only a simple beef curry.
Sirzech and Serafall wanted to refuse the food but since it's already served in front of them, they swallow back their words.
"So, what is the matter that you need to visit at such an hour? I mean, can't it be early morning or before six?" Leo started first.
"Ah… I have to apologize. Indeed we have come at such an inconvenient hour. However, we also have our difficulties." Sirzech replied politely while his eyes constantly darted toward Ophis. "Anyway, the purpose of our sudden visit is to inquire about some information that we need Lady Ophis to confirm for us."
"I can answer it for her." Leo suddenly interrupted, which earned a frown from both Satan. "I am her personal servant and caretaker. I believe that I am more than qualified to answer your questions in her stead." Leo repeats after the Satans look like they still can't register his words.
There is a brief pause where Sirzech and Serafall stare at each other, engaging in eye signals conversation that Leo didn't bother to uncover.
"Ahem… Alright." Sirzech cleared his throat and straightened his back. "The first question would be what are her intentions for staying in this town. Her identity as the leader of Khaos Brigade is well known to many and we want to understand her intention before we can.. allow her to stay."
"She is simply following me to stay here." Leo replied immediately after the questions were asked.
"Following you?"
"Yes."
"Then what is your intention?"
"I just feel like staying here. No special reason in particular until I learn about the situation of the town." Leo answered with half truth.
The half truth being the situation he mentioned isn't the rampant Stray Devil but about the future.
"That's all?" Sirzech felt disbelief. It can't be that simple right?
"Yes. That's all." Leo replied with an expression that says, believe it or not isn't my problem.
"Then my question next!" Serafall quickly jumps in before Sirzech can ask his next question. She had been waiting and her patience ran out. She cannot wait until Sirzech is done.
"Why did you attacked my Sona!" Serafall asked while holding back her anger. Sirzech on the side felt helpless because he would do worse if it's Rias that got hurt.
"Attacked? Pardon me but I'm afraid that I didn't even harm a strand of your sister's hair. How had I attacked her?" Leo frowned at the accusation.
Serafall is about to lash out angrily when Sirzech taps her shoulder and signals with his eyes at Ophis that stopped eating and looking at her. She was forced to let go of her anger for now and sit back on her chair.
"You did something to my Sona!" Serafall insisted on the accusation and later explained. "Since that night, when she tried to fall asleep, she would keep having nightmares. I believe you casted a curse or something on her." Serafall glares at Leo.
However, Leo fell silent and frowning. He might have an inkling of Sona's nightmare. But he cannot confirm it yet. He still needs information.
"Can you describe what her nightmares were?" Leo asked with worry which surprised not just the Satans but the two girls.
"Describe the nightmare?" Serafall, surprised by Leo's sudden question, fell into silence for a few moments trying to recall something.
"She didn't tell much but she said she heard the sound of the ocean, incoherent mumblings and seeing weird things." Serafall didn't explain much in detail probably because Sona didn't describe much but Leo can already guess what happened to her.
Sona gained Insight. The knowledge of arcane and the eldritch.
But how? As far as he knows, it can only be acquired when he meets powerful enemies like the Cleric Beast or using certain items like Madman's Knowledge.
Leo calmed down from panicking and rationalized. How can he fix this? He didn't think removing insight is possible because it's knowledge and by removing means he has to erase memories.
No, that's not it. He has to first deal with Serafall and think about the solution later.
Serafall has been eyeing Leo with suspicion since he suddenly fell silent. He must be guilty, Serafall thought. Sirzech also thinks the same.
"I think this might be a misunderstanding." Leo said and paused for another moment. "It seems that I was too angry last night and accidentally did something to her."
"It's an accident?" Serafall repeats and is not convinced at all.
"Yes. But it's not a curse or anything. She just learned something she shouldn't and the knowledge is affecting her in the form of a nightmare."
"Something she shouldn't? Knowledge?" Serafall gets angrier the more she hears. "Why don't you stop beating the bush and tell me the truth? Tell me what have you done to my Sona!" She wanted to pull Leo's shirt and interrogate him but Sirzech stopped her.
Serafall finally couldn't hold it back anymore and hit the table but thankfully she held back her strength or else the table would already break.
Leo wanted to tell the truth and be done with it as soon as possible. But he can't. The Eldritch Gods are mutual enemies of all supernatural factions. He cannot reveal it yet. At least not until he can defend himself.
But how is he going to salvage this situation with Sona?
Then Leo remembered a bell. Gehrman explained to him it summons Hunter to aid in battle and it consumes Insight when used. Perhaps this might be the solution.
"I can fix this matter." Leo said truthfully. "However, I must meet her first. I promise to resolve this since it was my mistake."
Serafall didn't look very convinced but Sirzech stepped in to convince her.
"Fine. Promise you will heal Sona and if you fail. I don't care who has you back, I will hunt you down and kill you with my own hands." She promised pain for Leo before she sat down silently and tuned out from the rest of the discussion.
"Of course." Leo agrees and promises.
Then for the rest of the dinner, Sirzech asked multiple questions. Mostly just to ascertain Leo's intention for staying in Kuoh and near Rias and Sona.
After Leo said he had no other intentions than to hunt down Stray Devils and protect the human population of the town, they thanked and left after the dinner.
Still, Leo didn't understand how Sona managed to gain Insight. Leo keeps a note to ask Gehrman later since he is quite knowledgeable about this kind of stuff.
After the eventful dinner, Leo once again does his nightly patrol in the town since Stray Devils are mostly active at night.
———
Returning to ORC, Serafall and Sirzech meet with Rias and Akeno who are waiting there.
"How is So-tan?" Serafall quickly asked Rias the moment she arrived.
"She is fine. I have Asia by her side along with her own peerage members looking after her." Rias replied to the anxious older sister of Sona. "It seems the curse didn't affect her if she wasn't asleep."
"It isn't a curse." Sirzech suddenly interjected and corrected Rias. "I think I figured out what had affected Sona but I need to confirm this with Ajuka first." He excused himself and left.
Rias and Akeno lead Serafall to one of the rooms in her club building where Sona is resting.
"So-tan! Are you alright? Your sister is very worried." Serafall regained her bubbly and playful personality when she saw Sona is doing fine, sitting on her bed reading a book.
"Onee-sama!" Sona was caught by surprise when Serafall slammed the door open and immediately jumped at Sona, snuggling on her face with relief and joy.
"What are you reading about, So-tan?" Serafall asked when she saw an odd title on the book cover.
"The Great Old Ones by HP Lovecraft? Since when do So-tan like this kind of book?" Serafall picks the book up and flips through some pages.
"I don't." Sona corrected Serafall while fixing her glasses that fell off when Serafall jumped on her.
"Then?"
"I just find it interesting. That's all." Sona didn't reveal the truth and took the book back from Serafall.
"Also, thank you for lending me Asia, Rias. But I sent her back home along with the rest of my Peerage except Tsubaki. I don't think it's necessary for them to accompany me. I'm fine already." Sona said with calmness to show she is no longer affected by the nightmare.
"Really? Are you sure, So-tan?" Serafall checked Sona to make sure she is alright but also took the opportunity to take advantage and fondle her.
Sona gave a head chop to Serafall and said. "I am. I was just shocked. After I learn the truth of the meaning behind the knowledge I gained, I feel serene and calm like never before." Sona said with a weird glint in her eyes that no one noticed.
"Really?" Serafall isn't convinced. "Anyway, tomorrow the guy will come and check on you. He said he knows what the problem is and he can fix it."
"What!" Sona suddenly panicked which aroused some suspicion from the people around the room. "Ahem. I mean, I am really alright. I don't need to be checked." Sona gulped unconsciously and a little agitated.
The others dismissed this as Sona was still afraid of Leo and didn't ask further to make her uncomfortable.
"No, just please get checked or else your sister cannot feel relieved." Serafall insisted.
"A-Alright…" Sona agrees as her voice dies down to a mute. "I feel tired. Just give me a peaceful rest." She tried to banish everyone out including Serafall.
"Okay, we will be close by if you need anything." Rias and Akeno drag Serafall out to give Sona some quiet time alone.
When she is truly alone. Sona revealed her true emotions.
"No! He will take away my Insight. Oh, Great Ones. I seek your guidance… I do not wish to return to being blind like before." Sona prayed, something a Devil should never be able to do. But she did and not to God but another being beyond the cosmos.
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