Riser materialized in the living room of his mansion in Kuoh, his golden flames gently dissipating around his feet as he became aware of his surroundings. The room was relatively quiet, with Iryuka, Tiamat, Kuroka, and Rossweisse present.
"I need you to take Valerie to the mansion in the Underworld, Tiamat."
Tiamat nodded with a short gesture, rising and leaving the room without hesitation, heading directly to the second floor to carry out the task.
"You will all come with me to the mansion in the Underworld as well," Riser said.
Riser began walking toward Ophis's room but was quickly interrupted by Kuroka, who appeared in front of him, her feline eyes showing clear concern.
"I… I'm still a fugitive, Riser-sama. It's not safe for me to expose myself like this, nya."
Riser chuckled softly, a light and carefree laugh. Kuroka's fear seemed almost amusing to him.
"You're worried for nothing, Kuroka," said Riser, still smiling. "I am the strongest Devil in the Underworld now. What I say is law. You don't need to fear anything. You are under my protection, and no one will dare question my orders."
"You are absolved of all charges and crimes," Riser continued, his tone now more serious. "From now on, anything you've done in the past is forgiven. By my orders."
Kuroka relaxed a little upon hearing this, her shoulders dropping in relief as she nodded, realizing that Riser indeed had the power to ensure her safety.
A few moments later, Tiamat returned to the room, bringing Valerie, who floated unconscious in front of her, wrapped in a soft aura, moved by Tiamat's magic.
"Wait here for me," said Riser before turning toward the door that led to Ophis's room. "I'll talk to Ophis, and then we'll all go to the Underworld together."
The girls agreed, nodding in silence as Riser walked toward the room.
Riser knocked gently on Ophis's door, his presence commanding yet respectful as he awaited a response.
Knock, knock.
The sound echoed softly in the quiet room. On the other side of the door, Ophis floated in the air, surrounded by her imposing aura. Her eyes were closed, but upon hearing the knock, she slowly opened them. Her expression was serene, almost expressionless, as she looked toward the door, waiting for Riser to enter.
"Ophis, I'm coming in," Riser said, opening the door and walking toward the center of the room, where the Dragon God awaited him.
"Ophis, we're moving to a new location. I will transfer you to my mansion in the Underworld. The environment there will be quieter and safer, and... eventually, I'll need your help with a few things."
"Silence… I like my silence."
Ophis's response was simple and direct, without changing her calm posture, but there was a clear note in her voice.
"If I have my silence later, I'll help you gladly."
Riser smiled slightly upon hearing Ophis's answer. He knew that while she was an incredibly powerful entity, her motivations were often simple.
"Thank you very much, Ophis. I'll make sure you have your silence. Now, let's join the others in the living room, and from there, we'll head to the Underworld."
Ophis didn't respond, merely floated lightly toward the door, following Riser back to the living room.
...
Upon returning to the living room, Riser found the others already waiting for his arrival. Tiamat was beside Valerie, while Iryuka, Kuroka, and Rossweisse remained attentive to Riser's and Ophis's entrance.
When Ophis appeared, floating behind Riser, Iryuka's eyes widened in surprise and fear.
Her body tensed slightly, and her thoughts mixed between admiration and deep fear.
'Dread… That's what I feel around her.'
Riser, noticing Iryuka's discomfort, simply cast a brief glance at her but made no comment. He knew that many would react this way near Ophis, and this was something she, in turn, always expected.
"Let's go," Riser said, looking at everyone present. "It's time to go to the Underworld. Is everyone ready?"
The girls nodded, with Kuroka and Rossweisse preparing their transportation magic. Tiamat, holding Valerie carefully, was already ready to follow.
"Follow me," said Riser, activating the magic circle beneath his feet.
FWOOOSH!
In an instant, they all disappeared from the mansion in Kuoh, transporting directly to the Underworld.
...
Riser materialized in the living room of his mansion in the Underworld, surrounded by golden flames that softly dissipated around his feet. He raised his eyes and saw Merlin, Sona, and Ravel already waiting for him.
Merlin was the first to speak, always elegant and confident in her posture.
"Riser-sama, the room for Ophis has been prepared as requested."
"Excellent, Merlin," said Riser, with a slight nod. "Now, help your Peerage find accommodations in the mansion. I want everyone to be comfortable."
Merlin calmly nodded and, without delay, left the room to ensure the Peerage was properly accommodated, leaving only Sona, Ravel, Ophis, and Riser in the living room.
Ravel, standing next to Sona, looked at Ophis with a mix of curiosity and a slight hint of jealousy.
"Onii-sama," Ravel said, trying to disguise the slight concern in her voice, "who is this girl?"
Riser smiled slightly, already anticipating his sister's jealousy.
"Ravel, this is Ophis," Riser replied, his voice carrying calm authority. "She is the Infinity Dragon God."
Upon hearing the name, Sona's eyes widened slightly, a flicker of surprise and even admiration crossing her face. She had heard of Ophis, one of the most powerful entities in the world, and being in her presence was something unexpected.
"Ophis… the Dragon God," Sona murmured, almost to herself, still trying to process the magnitude of the situation.
Ravel, on the other hand, didn't show much emotion. Though she was aware of the name, she was more focused on the fact that her brother had brought someone so cute into the mansion.
"So... this is the famous Ophis."
Ophis, in turn, remained floating beside Riser, saying nothing. Her vacant gaze was fixed on some distant point in the room, as if what was happening around her held no immediate interest.
"Ophis will be our ally," said Riser, his voice calm and authoritative as he looked at Ravel and Sona. "She is not to be disturbed. The room prepared for her is ready, and she will have all the silence she desires."
"Merlin!" Riser called.
Merlin appeared almost instantly, her posture elegant and calm as always. "What do you need, Riser-sama?"
"Take Ophis to the room you prepared," Riser ordered. "Accompany her and ensure she has the silence she asked for."
Merlin gave a slight bow in respect.
"Yes, Riser-sama." She then turned to Ophis, gesturing softly for the Dragon God to follow her. "This way, Ophis-sama."
Ophis floated in silence, saying nothing, following Merlin toward the room that had been prepared for her.
Riser watched as Merlin and Ophis left the room, the silence briefly returning to the atmosphere. His mind was already starting to map out the next steps, but before he could speak, Roygun appeared at the entrance to the room.
"Riser-sama," Roygun said with a respectful bow upon entering the room.
"Sorry to interrupt, but I came to call Ravel to deal with some matters related to the Phenex family. As the head of the family, she needs to give the final word on some decisions."
Ravel, hearing the call, looked at her brother and then at Roygun, clearly aware of her responsibilities.
"Onii-sama, I have to go now. It seems there's a lot to be done."
"Go ahead, Ravel," Riser replied with a slight nod. "Take good care of the family business."
Ravel, satisfied with the response, quickly said goodbye to Riser and Sona.
"Goodbye, Onii-sama," she said softly as she walked toward Roygun.
The two left the room, leaving Riser and Sona alone.
The silence that followed was brief, but Riser could sense that something was bothering Sona. She seemed restless, and that was rare to see in her. He approached her, his gaze calm but attentive.
"Sona," Riser said calmly, observing her face, "what's troubling you?"
Sona, usually so rational and controlled, averted her gaze for a moment before responding, her voice softer than usual.
"It's my sister, Serafall," she began, a touch of uncertainty in her tone. "Normally, I wouldn't be worried… she's incredibly strong, much more than I am. But… since all this started, I haven't heard from her."
"With so many Maous being killed… I can't help but fear that something might have happened. She's always been protective, and her silence… this isn't normal."
Riser remained silent for a moment, observing Sona. He understood the weight that Serafall held in his wife's life and how the lack of communication could be an alarming sign, especially under the current circumstances.
"Serafall is one of the strongest," Riser said, his voice firm and confident. "But I understand your concern. We'll try to contact her. If something is wrong, I will personally make sure she is safe."
Sona looked at him, her eyes still carrying a touch of uncertainty, but Riser's authoritative and serene tone offered her some comfort.
"Thank you, dear."
"We'll handle it," Riser said, stepping closer and placing a hand on her shoulder. "Nothing will happen to Serafall. I guarantee it."
Sona nodded, still somewhat tense but trusting in Riser's words.
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