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Liala wasn't the only one making such plans.
Scene shift—
Meanwhile, in the Gremory household in the Demon Realm, lunch time had arrived. The entire family gathered in the dining room at their usual time.
"Hard to believe it's already mid-August."
Rias had just sat down when Akeno spoke up beside her.
Mid-August...
Hearing that date, Rias paused slightly, then hummed softly.
"Yeah, school starts in half a month."
Though she wasn't a bad student, the red-haired girl couldn't help the wistfulness creeping into her voice.
Akeno keenly caught this, her lips curving upward slightly.
"What's wrong, President? You sound a bit down."
"I'm not down, I was just thinking—"
Rias started to protest, but her friend cut her off.
"Just thinking how you haven't really spent proper time with Bokue this whole summer vacation and feeling regretful?"
"T-that's what you're thinking..."
Her thoughts exposed, Rias's face reddened as she protested indignantly.
But Akeno wasn't in any hurry, just asking again leisurely:
"Are you saying you haven't thought about it at all, Rias?"
"I..."
Rias found herself stuck again.
There wasn't much to say about it—of course she'd thought about it.
After all, she'd planned from the start of summer vacation how she and Bokue would travel around the Demon Realm together. But then the Fourth Progenitor's awakening happened, and now a whole month of the one-and-a-half-month vacation had passed. The longest time she'd spent with Bokue ended up being those few days in the Northern Territory.
"Exactly~"
Before Rias could speak, Kuroka jumped in with her own complaints.
"Bokue's really something, isn't he? Said it would be a week at most, but he's been in the human world for a whole month now with no end in sight. I bet he's having so much fun with that Sword Shaman girl on Itogami Island that he's forgotten all about home..."
Actually, Kuroka had more to say.
Like even if he was having too much fun to come home, at least bring her along. Even if the apartment was smaller, it wouldn't affect their daily activities.
Besides, that Sword Shaman girl definitely couldn't compete with her.
But leaving her in the Demon Realm for a month with barely any action—at this rate, the cat's womb would start growing cobwebs!
"Alright, alright~"
Seeing the girls' complaints growing louder, Venelana at the head of the table could only smile helplessly and gesture for them to calm down.
"The thing is, Bokue is human after all. Many things require him to prioritize the human world. It's like if the Demon Realm was facing some huge crisis—could you, Rias, continue leisurely attending school and dating in the human world?"
"I know, but..."
Rias awkwardly looked away.
She knew her mother was right.
It was like her brother Sirzechs—it wasn't that he lacked attachment to the Gremory family that kept him away. As the Demon King Lucifer, many things required him and only he could handle them.
"Good that you understand."
Seeing the girls had stopped complaining, Venelana smiled again.
"That's how it is between spouses. You need to accommodate each other in many ways. Not just now, but after you move to Itogami Island and live together too."
"Mm, I know, Mother."
Rias nodded lightly.
"Oh, speaking of moving to Itogami Island..."
As if suddenly remembering something, Venelana put down her fork with an "oh."
"We agreed to prepare your new house on Itogami Island, but won't that mean you'll have to commute between two places for school, Rias?"
"Right..."
Rias responded hesitantly.
"Though Bokue seems to be planning to connect Itogami Island directly to mainland Japan, moving the entire artificial island next to Tokyo."
"But that's still somewhat far."
Venelana shook her head.
"Actually, Mother has an idea. I think we could move your Kuoh Academy to Itogami Island. That way, after you move into your new house, you won't have to cross the sea for school every day—it'll be right on the island, just a short trip."
"Would... that work?"
Rias was still hesitant.
Setting aside that Itogami Island surely had its own schools for residents, just leaving Tokyo sounded problematic.
She'd chosen to establish herself in Tokyo precisely because it was Japan's political center. Though this might sound more symbolic than practical, forces established in areas with deep foundations were undeniably stronger and more representative than those from remote areas.
Like comparing a Tokyo conglomerate to one from Kagoshima.
The former immediately conveyed control over Japan's entire economic pulse, standing at the nation's political center looking down on all.
As for the latter... hard to say.
"Schools can merge with each other~ Our family happens to have connections in the human world for this kind of operation."
Venelana wasn't concerned.
"As for location... Rias, didn't Mother tell you? You can't be too rigid in your thinking. Though Tokyo is currently Japan's political center, if Bokue wanted, forget making Japan move its capital tomorrow—even if he wanted to change the country's name, would those bureaucrats dare object?"
"So it's about people, not location."
The beautiful woman lifted her wine glass for a sip, the deep red liquid making her lips look even more lusciously tempting.
"Take our family—the Gremory have never ranked particularly high among the seventy-two pillar families. But because your brother Sirzechs distinguished himself, even the top-ranked House of Bael must treat us respectfully now."
"Besides, there's still half a month of summer vacation left. Perfect timing to handle everything before school starts."
"I understand, Mother. About the new house's location—"
"Don't worry, Mother has already arranged everything—location and design."
Venelana smiled slightly.
"It is our Rias's marital home after all. I'll also set up a convenient teleportation array in the new house, so you won't have to go through 'customs' every time you come home."
"Eh? Is that okay?"
Rias was a bit hesitant.
After all, there were treaties between the human and demon worlds. All travel had to go through "customs," otherwise it was considered smuggling.
"Though technically it's not allowed..."
Venelana twirled a strand of hair by her ear, gaze drifting elsewhere.
"But ultimately it's just a word from Bokue-kun, right? And this way, everyone can travel back and forth conveniently."
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