We reached the Gremory Territory under odd circumstances, we were four individuals. Hasshaku-sama, Kuroka, me and... my self-proclaimed bodyguard.
"You don't need to mind me, my lord".
"..."
We had an unexpected guest with us. I didn't think there was anyone who could scare Hasshaku-sama quite like she does.
The gremory mansion was massive... really big, it made me wonder how many people lived in it, was that necessary? We knocked on the door and for some reason, everyone in the surroundings got in a state of alert. A woman opened the door while emitting a destructive aura.
"Who- Oh my! Ray-sama you should have told us you were on your way, we would've received you so much better!" The one to receive us was a woman dressed regally in red dress and long auburn hair, she reminded me of Rias.
'Must be her mom'.
"Please don't worry about it, it is us who came impromptu".
A bunch of guards started running towards us from the main gate and then I realised why everyone was in a state of alert, we weren't supposed to just pop up here... a red-haired man walked next to the woman to give me a brief look, they didn't make a fuss about it and invited us in, that was... until they saw the girls standing behind me.
"Ray-sama please come in, a-also-! nani?!".
Their countenance palled when they saw the tall woman with a long white dress.
"Excuse me~" The beauty giggled.
"H-Hasshaku-sama?!"
The aforementioned lady stepped in next to me as they watched her go, and then they saw the next guest and their legs started shivering.
"Excuse me" Her voice was as cold as the abyss as she followed me closely.
"A-Archangel Azrael?!"
And lastly, their scared eyes were too fixated on the angel's ten black wings and shining halo to notice Kuroka who stood in front of them waving her hands back and forth.
"Excuse me -nya~"
"That terrible nekoshou from the Naberious clan incident?!"
'Why are there three of the biggest criminals to the devil race on our doorstep!?'
**
**
Back then Venelana and I weren't even born. Thousands of years ago, the first wars between Devils and Angels. Our parents were newly enlisted cadets in the devil army... such a long time ago, this woman's reputation was already infamous.
The Archangel Azrael, Angel of Death.
No being in existence has massacred more devils than she has, not only that but her methods go down history as extremely hideous and disturbing, it makes you wonder who is the real devil, she was the biblical god's secret weapon that he wasn't so proud of. Even now, while standing behind the young god, she is looking at us as nothing more than bugs.
"M-My name is Venelana Gremory, I'm Rias's mother, we meant to meet you in Tokyo" My wife spoke to Ray-kun, but her eyes were fixed on the Archangel, on guard and understandably so.
It wasn't only that. The damned Youkai is also here, this one more recent, during the civil wars and skirmishes between Angels, Fallen Angels and Devils. The three factions fought all over Europe and Asia, in regards to the territory in Japan, there were two Youkais in particular who were extremely merciless with any external supernatural force that assailed Japan.
The leader of the Eastern Youkai Faction, Nurarihyon and his right hand, Hasshaku-sama. However, it is not surprising that even she is frightened by Azrael.
"You don't need to mind me, devils. I'm here merely as my God's bodyguard. I don't intend to massacre any of you today" Azrael remarked coldly.
"..." We devils weren't the only ones that gulped audibly. Everyone else would have perished for their audacity, not her.
"That's not very friendly, Azrael... I told you to not antagonise anyone if you want to stay with me" Ray-kun frowned in distaste, I almost saw the mirage visions of his head flying amidst her scythe, but no such thing happened.
"I'm sorry, my lord. It is a custom, it won't happen again".
Venelana and I couldn't help but gasp, this killing machine is completely submissive to him?! After that, she never said a word.
"I'm Zeoticus... Zeoticus Gremory, the head of the Gremory Household and Rias' father, as my wife said we were supposed to meet you and your mother in Tokyo, but... things seem to have changed a little, it is nice to know you are safe after the incident".
We already knew who he was, and we were eager to meet him. Getting him connected to the Gremory Family before any of the clans could make a move was too much of a bargain.
"Where are Sirzechs and Grayfia?" He looked left and right.
"As a satan my son has his residence in another region of the Underworld, he only comes here once a month in some special cases~ mostly to play with Rias. As for Grayfia, she's a maid of our household but she's also Sirzechs' queen, they stay together. If you wish to talk to them, however, we could call them and they will be here in a heartbeat" Venelana said, even preparing a communicating spell.
Mostly because we didn't want to be by ourselves anywhere near the Archangel Azrael.
"It is okay, you don't need to bother him, I am not planning on staying long. I came here today to talk to Rias-chan and Akeno-chan if that's okay?"
"Rias is in her room, should I call her? or would you prefer to just go by yourself?~"
"If that's okay with you, Lady Venelana. Kuu-chan and Azrael you both stay here, Kuroka, come with me".
"Hai -nya!"
Venelana led the two of them to Rias' room and I was left sitting together with two of the worst criminals in the pillar's jurisdiction. Although recently due to her involvement with Ray-kun, Hasshaku-sama's status is undisclosed. In the case of Azrael, we have direct orders to engage her if she were ever to come to the underworld, in the odd case that happened.
"If you wouldn't mind me asking, Archangel Azrael. What do you think of Ray-kun?"
I wished to know how close exactly his relationship with the heavens. We have obtained secret intel from Sirzechs that hasn't been yet available to the pillars. Only he and Serafall Leviathan know about it: The Biblical God had been dead all this time and the angels concealed it, but they're not ashamed to uncover this truth now because they have a new god.
'Osiris' has become the new God of the Heavens and someone the pillars should be extremely wary of. Thankfully, we have a good relationship with him. I had been doubtful at first, but if the Archangel Azrael is here with him...
"He is our god, his orders must be followed without discussion and his survival and glory is our reason of existence. That is all there is to it, Devil... luckily for you, my God holds no ill intent against the devils, otherwise, this time around you would all be exterminated without discussion".
I frowned and clenched my fists, even though I had pride... but upon noticing my gaze, it was as if the disgust she felt for our gaze was maximized.
*RUMBLE!*
My countenance paled and I felt the urge to look down and shrink, there was no emission of power... only a pungent almost invasive and corrosive killing intent that descended on me, I refused to look at her straight in the eye, instead, I switched gazes with Hasshaku-sama who looked much the same.
'How can an angel be so frightening? Is this what my ancestors had to deal with?!
She did this deliberately, not emitting an ounce of power... to not alert Ray-kun.
"What were those eyes, devil?"
"..."
A droplet of sweat left my forehead before I noticed she had blinked and stood in front of me, my eyes were fixed on her heels and the pressure on me increased.
"You should have known... or perhaps you don't. The only reason the war was lost was because Father sealed me away. I descended out of grace for accomplishing my duties but he was kind enough to allow me to stay in heaven, but I couldn't leave the heavens"
"S-So that's why... you disappeared-"
"And your ancestors murdered my father,"
Her voice resonated right next to my ear, I felt my neck freeze with her breath, my heart started palpitating faster and I prepared to retaliate, I don't think I can defeat her but if it comes down to it, I must at least fight-
!!!
Her hand touched my shoulder, not with pressure but with condescendence.
"Since then, I have become stronger thanks to my God, I'm now a Starlight Angel. All that is needed to end your race is me-"
"..."
Her words stopped dead, I saw another set of heels standing next to us. When my gaze rose up to see what happened. I witnessed Hasshaku-sama's true hideous self.
*RUMBLE!*
Her eyes were unfocused and lost, her mouth opened in a 'O' shape, and a dark aura emitted from her every pore, she towered Azrael in height, but as the angel looked back at her, there was nothing but pure disregard.
The intense glare only persisted until I saw a thin trail bloody line get slowly drawn into Hasshaku-sama's cheeks. Azrael smiled malevolently as if she had won a battle of wills.
The tall woman giggled and licked her dripping blood, yet didn't back off.
'They're both terrifying, why are all of Ray Lux's followers so scary!?' I thought.
"Popopo~ Do you intend to forsake master's orders?"
"..."
The angel closed her eyes, sighed and returned to her previous spot, taking a seat on the sofa and remaining just as nonchalant as ever. Hasshaku-sama's cheek healed until the wound disappeared and sat next to her.
Silence reigned back into the room and I dared not break it. I could only be thankful these two didn't start a fight here at our manor.