Chapter 50 - Chapter 44

(Only the end is changed a little. The rest is the same.Next chapter should be done soon and uploaded within today.)

"Been a while since last time, Susano. Miss me?"

Susano didn't say anything and quickly drew his blade to fight with an expression twisted in anger.

"Sigh, here I thought you and Amaterasu sort of hate each other." Leo summoned the eager Futsu no Mitama and blocked the vertical slash and kicked the Storm God on his solar plexus.

Then summon the Master Bolt overcharged with crimson lightning before throwing it at Susano. The Master Bolt exploded with earth shaking explosions felt even from thousands of miles away. He remain unaffected with his ingenious application of Quickening to turn himself invulnerable for a brief moment to avoid the explosion.

Then Blood Echoes fill his body which signifies the final one of the three siblings died.

"That's rather easy." Leo said without any surprise before he left through a gateway to end his little invasion on the divine realm of Japan.

———

*Bang*

Erica slammed the table angrily and said, "All this time, it has been you!" She stared at Leo indignantly.

"Ma, ma, calm down a little, Erica." Godou tries to pacify his lover while flashing a helpless face to the others for help.

"Yes. However, it was never my intention to scare you or anything." Leo admits he was the English teacher in disguise. Although, this is the first time he heard about him being a ghost and an urban legend in the academy.

"Fine." Erica calmed down with a huff while mumbling something about Leo being a campione. "Anyway, what happened to you suddenly vanished for a whole week without any news."

"Yeah, I was also curious." Godou said.

"It's nothing serious. I just have to make a trip into Netherworld again." Leo lied with a straight face.

None of them were surprised, especially after HCC informed Yuri who then informed Godou and Erica about Leo's deed in Netherworld.

"Seriously, Leo. What were you trying to achieve? Last time was Zeus. This time it is Amaterasu. Who will it be next? Odin?" Godou sighed. "Should I be worried about you claiming Japan too?" Godou hinting about the authority he got from Amaterasu.

"No. As wonderful as it sounds to be an Emperor. It's too much of a hassle for someone like me." Leo shakes his head to quickly deny any possibility of him trying to use the Imperial Regalias to claim Japan as the rightful heir.

"What does that even mean?" Godou was surprised Leo easily brushed aside the chance to become a legitimate emperor.

"Exactly as it sounds. Besides, even without those regalia. If we wanted, we could easily become an emperor too." Leo shrugs and the others nod along since no nation dares reject the request of a Campione. Their only obstacle to world domination is another Campione.

After that, Godou and his women left Leo's apartment. They simply visit after hearing about Leo's return.

Leo then contemplated what to do next. He was fired after going missing for a week. Meaning, a lot of free time. His main project to locate the DxD world also needs time to work since he already spread his 'spores' out. So, for now. Leo ends up with a lot of free time to spare.

"Should I go for the Norse like Godou suggested?" Leo contemplated before he was rudely interrupted with a soft chop to the head.

"I know it's weird coming from Mama. But you have to hold back on your bloodthirst." Pandora appears beside him with a serious lecturing look while both her arms are choking on her waist.

'She looks the cutest when angry.' Leo whispers in his mind while staring at her in a daze.

"Hey! Are you listening?" Pandora pouts and becomes angrier.

"Yes, yes, yes." Leo lies as easily as he breathes and nods with a content face.

"You are lying."

"Ye- No. I was listening. No killing god for now right?" Leo quickly corrected himself for almost shooting himself on the foot.

Pandora gives Leo a stink eye before stomping off. Meanwhile Liliana as usual, standing nearby and just watching the mother and son duo went around their usual activities. However, Leo can feel the clear sadness and gloomy spirit of Liliana.

'One cannot procrastinate forever.' Leo sighed before calling for her attention.

"Let's go out for a walk, Liliana." Leo called and then walked towards the door without waiting for her agreement. Not that it was needed because Liliana immediately followed behind him although wearing a puzzled and surprised look.

"We are leaving for a while, mom." Leo told Pandora while he was putting on his shoe.

"Okay, just remember to return for dinner." Pandora nods before returning to her favorite pastime since coming to Earth aside from spending time with Leo, watching TV.

———

In the park where Leo first meets Athena, Leo takes a seat on a bench under the shade of a tree.

"Take a seat." Leo told Liliana who remained standing beside the bench looking a little too nervous.

'Is he finally confessing his feelings to me?' Liliana thought giddily in her mind as she nodded and took a seat while trying to keep her emotions under her nervous face.

(Sigh… Unfortunately, you failed to catch my eyes.)

"Ahem… I am not the type to sugar coat my words, Liliana." Leo started with an awkward cough. But Liliana didn't mind, rather, she didn't notice as she was too preoccupied with the tornado of thoughts and assumptions in her mind.

"I'm not oblivious that you have developed feelings for me. But unfortunately I cannot accept them." Leo continued while glancing at her, trying to see her reaction.

What started as a faint smile slowly growing big, it instantly crushed and replaced with a gaping mouth and shock on her face as she quickly lifted her head and turned to Leo. The only words she could muster while holding back her heart wrenching pain was…

"Why?"

"Why? Isn't it obvious?" Leo replied with a frown while looking at her as if she was crazy. "Did you forget what happened yesterday?"

Liliana reel back her anger and dissatisfaction and roll back to her memories of yesterday. The only thing that could fit what Leo mentioned is the reveal. What he is and what he was. Remembering that appearance, that presence and that feeling. She instantly clutched her stomach and held back from retching out while her head felt like it had been pounded by a giant mallet a hundred times. Then Liliana felt a hand gently rubbing her back, helping her to feel better.

In Lilliana's mind, there is no way Leo can fit into that image of a demonic and horrific creature. It's simply impossible. Maybe when he is fighting… But that's not the point. The point is, she cannot relate Leo to that demonic entity he claimed to be. Leo is still Leo in her eyes.

After calming herself, Liliana declared to Leo with all her courage and determination.

"I don't care if you look like a monster. You are still the same Leo I knew and… loved." She almost choked on the last words but she powered through it.

However, Leo simply sighed and turned his head away while lighting up a cigarette. Something he did lately when he was in 'deep thinking' mode. Liliana wanted to comment about their location which forbids cigarette smoking. But Leo is a Campione. Not even the government can impose law on him, much less a policeman.

Leo exhaled a puff of smoke before he said. "I told you recently that I am not from this world right?"

"Yes." Liliana nods.

"Then, following me means you will leave behind everything. Your family, friends, status, everything you had in this world. Have you thought that through?"

"..." Liliana wanted to say Yes immediately but with Leo's eyes staring at her eyes with stares that pierce through her soul to find the truth in her words.

Family? The only one she has is her grandfather. Friends? She didn't have much. It's Karen, her maid, who is sort of a friend. Erica who is more of a rival but still a friend and Also Yuri. Is she willing to leave them behind?

Liliana lifts his head and takes a look at Leo only to be greeted with a flick on her forehead.

"Ouch! What is that for?" Liliana rubs her forehead and looks at Leo with teary eyes. She noticed the lack of emotions on his face. Something he did when he was angry.

"That's for trying to do something stupid. Willingly cut off your relationship just for a fleeting one." Leo said before he turned away his head and took another long draw of the poisonous smoke into his lungs before flicking away the remaining cigarette that combust into red particles. "I already got your answer. Let's return for now." Leo stood up and slowly traced his step back to his apartment while mumbling something about 'mass memory wipe' and 'the Campiones'.

———

At night, Leo left his apartment silently which isn't unnoticed. Pandora especially, noticed his presence vanished from the apartment and reappeared outside.

"I wonder where he is going." Pandora mutters while peeking through the window and sees him vanished again. Then she turned to Liliana who pretended she didn't hear what she said.

"Haah… children." Pandora gave up and returned to the movie on the TV she was watching with Liliana.

She didn't know what side she should pick. On one hand, he is her beloved son. On other hand, it's someone she already considers her own daughter.

An hour later, Pandora felt someone killed a Heretic God because the soul went to her waiting for the authority to be distributed.

Noticing Pandora's sudden change of expression, Liliana also stopped watching the movie and looked at Pandora.

"He ignored my warning and killed another Heretic God." Pandora deadpanned as she crossed her arms and waited with an angry look on her face.

Five minutes later, Leo returned. Looking slightly tattered on his outfit and exhausted. But thankfully nothing else.

"So, mind explaining what you just did?" Pandora asked with a calm tone despite being very angry.

"I want to try divination but… mine isn't strong enough." Leo said while averting his eyes.

It's comical for Liliana. A Campione who slain a lot of powerful gods, an eldritch god himself is cowering under his adoptive mother's angry stare.

"For such a reason you went back to the already tattered Greek pantheon and killed Phoebe?" Pandora interrogates Leo.

"Yes." He replied unremorsefully.

Seeing this, Pandora gave up. There is no use talking sense to someone that wouldn't listen.

"What are you trying to do anyway?"

"Divination." He replied without any explanation while looking at Pandora in her face like a child asking for their parents to buy something at the store.

"Grr… Fine." Pandora somehow cannot resist spoiling him no matter what she tried. As if she was compelled to. "But remember this is the last time. No more killing God that didn't appear on Earth."

"Yes, mom."

"Promise."

"I promise."

Pandora looked at Leo with a scrutinizing stare for a brief moment before she sighed and helped him complete the usurpation. She didn't even need to ask which one he wanted. It's already obvious he wanted the Divination authority.

As soon as he got what he needed, he left again which left Pandora fuming in anger.

"This unrepentant son." She said infuriatingly. " Not even an apology." But no matter how angry she became, she couldn't muster even a small hint of hatred.

———

Somewhere far away in the sea of stars.

"This… a familiar presence."

A piece of Leo's soul fragment(seed/spore) drifted into a certain universe in search of a world as dictated in its program. It was its purpose. However, before it could enter the fabric of reality and execute its programmed command, it was intercepted by a certain expressionless Dragon Loli.

"Leo… this is definitely him." The girl mutters before she encases the soul fragment with her power, protecting it her most precious treasure.

—————

(Edit: Revised. Well, my bail ticket works out fine. The Usurper of Luck was made sort of for me to force stuff like in this case to happen.

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