Chapter 84: Koneko's Vision
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[Third Person Point of View]
The entire audience broke into applause as Rias' victory was announced.
[Incredible! Despite the Phenex Family's envious Immortality, Rias Gremory won with ease! It makes us wonder if Rias is just that much stronger, or if Riser Phenex is the Phenex Family's failure!]
[Regardless, congrats to the victor of this Rating Game—Rias Gremory Peerage!]
Claps suffocated the air as the participants reformed outside the arena, at its edge. The arena was a kind of simulation, so all injuries received there vanished once they came out.
"Dammit! How does this make sense?! They obviously cheated!" in the distance, Riser yelled at his girls who sulked back.
Many members of the Phenex Family began to walk toward him as they gave Riser looks of disapproval.
On the other side, Rias' Peerage hugged each other and cheered to the air. Sona and her Peerage, who had been in the audience until now, joined to congratulate her.
The Satans came down to the arena too, as did the Phenex and Gremory Heads.
"Haah," Rias's father rubbed his temple with a sigh. "Stubborn girl…"
"A pity, indeed." The Phenex Family head also shook his head, but he didn't look as regretful. Looking at his side, where his grandmother, the Phenex Ancestor stood, he knew it wasn't that bad of a news if the engagement was broken off, since now the Family had its true Head.
"Congratulations, Rias. You fought well." Sirzechs ruffled his sister's hair who gave him a tight hug, making him laugh.
"This means the engagement is off, right? There is no trick behind this, right??" Rias asked her brother in a spoiled voice, which made him laugh.
Instead of Sirzechs, Grayfia answered it. "Yes. That was the agreement behind the Rating Game. There is no catch behind it."
"Yes!" Rias cheered and hugged Grayfia, and although Grayfia tried to pretend to be uncaring, she couldn't hide a small smile.
"That wasn't bad," A voice boomed as the devils paused. God in Spirit, Quetzalcoatl walked into the scene and everyone who didn't know she was here began to sweat.
She had gone to grab some snacks, so she was a minute late. "Damn, what's with that reaction? You guys don't trust your Satans to keep you safe?"
She laughed and the devils sweated more, shooting glances at the Satans who sighed. They had hoped she wouldn't appear right in front of everyone.
"But yes, you did well."
"Ah, yes, thanks, I-"
Rias began to reply but the Goddess pointed a finger at Koneko. "I meant the kitty. You did well too, though. Without your destructive abilities, it'd have been impossible to take out the minions. But it's the kitty who took out the main players. The two Phenex brats."
"That is true," Ranefer Phenex chimed in, looking at Koneko with a smile, making the little girl nod uncomfortably. "Not to pry, but what was that laser technique? I know my great-grandson is disappointingly weak, but his sister isn't so. Together, they are decent. Yet you bested them both. It was an impressive sight, but it makes me curious about the technique you used. I am aware of how Senjutsu works; I know super strong users of it may interfere with the Phoenix's healing, but you clearly aren't that strong."
"Ah, well…"
Ranefer smiled and leaned forward, gently running her hand through Koneko's hair. "Sweetheart, tell me?"
She hid it well, but the strongest people in this place, those who knew her for a long time, saw through why she was curious. Being as scared as her, she was curious if this little girl could one day be a threat to her.
Quetzalcoatl laughed to the side but said nothing, so Ranefer ignored her. She just stared into the girl's eyes who kept looking away.
'Huh,' Ranefer hummed. 'She is this hard bent on keeping it a secret? Why does she feel it's so important to keep it hidden?'
"You don't have to hide it, you know?" It wasn't Ranefer who said that. Koneko and others of Rias' Peerage were growing a bit nervous at Ranefer's question, but a voice came to relieve them.
"Just tell her it's me," Aqua said as he and Mem-Cho walked into the arena.
"Aqua!" Rias shouted and jumped into his arms, placing a wet kiss on his cheek that he wasn't expecting.
Eyes locked at him immediately. From a distance, Riser Phenex's eyes bulged, and many from Sona's Peerage looked at them in shock. Especially Sona and Tsubaki, as well as a brown-haired boy behind them. Issei Hyuudo looked at him in jealousy, looking at Mem-Cho on his one side, and Rias on the other.
"Uh, hey, congratulations." He gently put a hand around her shoulder, which made her frown.
Rias wanted him to grab her by her waist like he was grabbing Mem-Cho, but… She looked around and understood. 'I guess there are too many people around.'
"You must be Aquamarine," Sirzechs Lucifer smiled and reached out a hand at Aqua, which Aqua took. "I've heard about you a lot. From a lot of people. I'm glad we devils aren't in a bad relationship with you, seeing you attend this event and shaking hands with me."
"Mhm, yes. Lady Phenex made it clear to me that it was a misunderstanding. They weren't trying to antagonize me." Aqua ended the handshake and said.
"Hmmmm," when the handshake ended, Serafall Leviathan pushed Sirzechs to the side and frowned at my face. She tiptoed and looked closely into my eyes. "You…. You look familiar. Have we met before?"
"No?" I tilted my head. What's this now? "I don't think we have. If anything, you're the one who looks familiar—ah, right, you are an idol! I saw your performance."
"Oooh~ then I must have seen you in my concert? Do you want an autograph?"
"I didn't attend any concert of yours, only saw you on YouTube…" Aqua shook his head. "Maybe you're mixing me up with someone else. And you can sign here."
He quickly walked to his side and fetched a notebook from his Void Storage. Serafall stopped wondering why he looked familiar and sighed her name.
"Great," Aqua smiled at her.
He snapped his fingers on the paper she signed on, and it transformed.
It was a marriage paper.
"Now we are a married couple."
"...."
"I'm joking," he quickly put the notebook away and returned to Mem-Cho's side.
Quetzalcoatl, Rias, Ranefer, and a few others failed to hold back their laughs at Serafall's stupefied face while Sona glared at Aqua.
Aqua appeared quite impressive to most of the people present. It wasn't every day one could casually walk up to a Satan to pull a prank on them, while also putting an underlying flirt behind it.
"Anyway, that is enough fun," Ranefer stopped laughing and smiled at Aqua. "We were talking about the technique this little girl used earlier. Did you teach her that? It's a very interesting technique."
"Indeed. I didn't know you know martial arts like that, Aqua," Quetzalcoatl said and ruffled his hair, smiling as she saw his nice hair become all messy. Her smile widened at his dry stare. "It's a good technique. But not as good as my Solar Beams."
"I didn't ask- ow!"
"Don't be rude."
Aqua rubbed his side where the terrible Goddess had just elbowed him, and looked at Ranefer. "Anyhow, Lady Phenex, don't bother the kitten with this, she's not going for your head."
"That wasn't why I was asking her that. I was simply curious."
"If you say so." He didn't believe that, but he nodded anyway. "In that case, about the meeting, you told me earlier…"
"We can leave right now," Ranefer said. "I hope my shabby mansion will be up to your standards."
The others exchanged mixed glances, while Quetzalcoatl looked hurt and confused. "Wait, are you switching teams, Aqua? I-is it because I didn't give you enough attention? Are you really choosing this hag over me, and even going to her mansion?"
"Don't overreact, I'm just going to give her a checkup," he said to the Goddess who had watched too many K-dramas.
"So you are switching teams, you just admitted it. If you are going to try to cure her, that means you want her to beat me up and steal you from me. Have I not treated you well, Aqua?" the liar Goddess looked at him emotionally but when he gave her a long blank stare, she burst out laughing.
"You're a clown."
"Shut up. Go clean her pipes or whatever, I don't care. Just remember, I won't hold back if you do challenge me with her." She patted him on the back and walked away to the side.
"We can't leave yet," Aqua ignored her and looked at Ranefer. "I need to talk with Koneko for a bit. In private."
"Uhm…" Koneko took a back step when he mentioned her name. She looked at Rias for support.
"Hm? What's wrong, Koneko?" Rias was once again sticking to him, as she tilted her head. "Are you nervous? Why? It's Aqua, he is the reason we won."
"President," Akeno chimed in, she shot Aqua a look. "I'm… grateful to him too, but can't we just ask him to talk here if it's making Koneko uncomfortable?"
Aqua sighed. He looked at Koneko, his gaze turning a little cold. Seeing his face, she gulped. Before he could say anything, she quickly nodded.
"A-alright, where do you want to talk?"
"Just around the corner," he said and let go of Mem-Cho and Rias, walking away.
"Be back soon," Grayfia said. "We shall wrap up the event by that time."
"I'll be waiting here, Aqua boy," Ranefer said as she crossed her arms and waited.
Koneko reluctantly followed him.
* * *
I took Koneko to a room nearby, but away from the sight of anyone, and closed the door behind us.
"Uh…" Koneko shifted uncomfortably as we became the only people here.
I needed secrecy from eavesdropping and magical senses. Sadly, I didn't have access to my magic that'd have easily allowed me to erect a barrier. Luckily, I had activated the [Heaven Icon] just a few days ago.
I called forth the Heaven Icon, not enough to make it take shape into a symbol, but it was enough to transform this room into a separate space. Heaven Icon is one of my few Icons that's not attack type, it allowed me to make myself a Heaven. In full scale, the heaven could be anything I want; it could be a realm of hot springs, an area of mountains, and so on.
Right now, as I only scaled it up to match this room, only some clouds spread around and light danced. There were also some other, passive effects.
I approached Koneko after that. She took back steps seeing me walk up to her and gulped. Just what did she see?
She couldn't step back anymore as there was a couch behind her, and she stumbled to sit on it. I loomed over her and looked down at her trembling eyes.
"What did you see?"
"...."
Depending on what she saw, I'd have to take action.
"Answer," I said and activated one of the abilities of the Heaven Icon. As the creator of Heaven, I could set certain rules here.
So, I set one.
[—The inhabitants within Heaven must answer the creator when asked. Naturally, the answer has to be the truth.]
Although strong people could resist this with ease, Ranefer was right. Koneko was not strong. She tried to keep her mouth shut but it opened anyway and she spoke.
"I…" she gulped. "I saw you end a world in anger."
Well shit, that didn't narrow things down at all.
I've destroyed more than one world in my 9th life. I've destroyed too many.
"Tell me in detail what you saw,"
"Well, you didn't destroy the entire world, but you destroyed a couple of continents. And then… you tried to revive someone. I-if you want me to tell you from the beginning, then…"
I see. She was most likely talking about when I destroyed half of the world for the Tang Clan's eldest daughter…?
I didn't interrupt her. I wanted to know everything she saw in detail.
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