Some time later, the mansion's dining room was filled with warm light from the large chandelier hanging above the long polished table.
Plates, glasses, and utensils were neatly arranged, as everyone had already taken their seats, waiting patiently for the evening's host to finish cooking alongside Victoria.
Grayfia also helped Arthur make dinner to distract herself and to give her husband/master some space.
On one side of the large dining table sat Sirzechs, Serafall, Venelana, and Zeoticus.
Sirzechs sat quietly with his hands folded on the table, his eyes lowered as his mind continued to wrestle with the storm of emotions that Arthur's revelations had caused earlier.
Across from them sat Lavinia, Valerie, Heracles, Georg, Jeanne, and Siegfried.
At another smaller table nearby sat the younger group.
Millicas sat enthusiastically between Leonardo and Isaiah, his bright red eyes shining with excitement as he chatted nonstop with the two boys.
Rias sat beside Asia, speaking to her with curiosity and fascination.
"So you can really heal people with that Sacred Gear?"
Rias asked with wide eyes.
Asia nodded shyly, holding her hands together.
"Yes… It's called Twilight Healing. I can heal wounds and illnesses."
Rias leaned closer, amazed.
"That's incredible. Healing abilities are very rare."
At the same time, Millicas leaned forward excitedly toward Leonardo and Isaiah.
"So what do you guys do here? Do you train? Fight monsters? Explore a lot?"
Millicas asked eagerly.
Leonardo nods.
"We do some stuff like that."
Isaiah leaned back in his chair with a stoic glare.
"Yeah, Arthur trains us sometimes. It's tough, though. But worth it, in the end."
Millicas gasped in excitement.
"Really?! That sounds so cool!"
Back at the adult table, the atmosphere was far more awkward.
Sirzechs remained silent, staring at the table surface while thinking deeply.
Serafall glanced sideways at him and quietly sighed, knowing exactly what he was feeling right now.
Learning about Artoria's death and the perpetrator behind it had shaken him badly, even if he was trying to keep his composure in front of everyone.
Across from them, Venelana and Zeoticus occasionally glanced toward their son with concern.
They all had sensed his crushing Demonic Power earlier, but still didn't know the full story of what had happened outside the mansion.
Meanwhile, Lavinia calmly sipped from her water glass, observing the room quietly.
Valerie sat beside her, fidgeting slightly in her seat while playing with her fingers under the table.
Heracles sat with one elbow resting on the table, rhythmically tapping the wooden surface with his finger in boredom.
Georg, seated next to him, remained completely focused on the tablet in his hands, checking Avalon's security systems for any blind spots or breaches as Arthur had asked him.
On the far end of the table, Jeanne looked around at the awkward silence that had settled over the adults.
She tilted her head slightly before leaning toward Siegfried, who sat beside her.
"What exactly happened earlier?"
Jeanne whispered.
Siegfried shrugged casually while crossing his arms.
"How the hell should I know? I just got here with you and that brat, Isaiah."
Jeanne sighed softly and looked back at the table.
The tension was obvious, and someone needed to break it.
"Ahem!"
She cleared her throat.
The small sound drew everyone's attention.
Jeanne then stood up before offering a polite smile.
"Good evening, valued guests. Allow me to welcome you all tonight formally. My name is Jeanne d'Arc, the reincarnation of Joan of Arc. But you may simply call me Jeanne."
Sirzechs blinked slightly at the polite greeting before nodding respectfully.
"It's a pleasure to meet you, Miss d'Arc. I am Sirzechs Gremory… Arthur's father."
Serafall suddenly leaned forward with a cheerful grin and waved dramatically.
"And I'm Serafall Leviathan! Arthur's beloved and super amazing godmother!
She announced proudly.
Her energetic declaration caused a few people at the table to look at her.
Next to Jeanne, Siegfried lazily raised one hand in greeting.
"Siegfried. Arthur's sword rival. That's all you need to know."
He bluntly answered, which earned him Jeanne's angry side glare.
Venelana smiled gracefully as she placed a hand near her chest.
"I am Venelana Gremory. Arthur's grandmother."
Zeoticus nodded beside her.
"Zeoticus Gremory. His grandfather."
The introductions continued around the table.
Heracles leaned forward slightly and spoke in his deep voice.
"The name is Heracles. Reincarnation of the Greek Hero, Heracles."
Georg briefly looked up from his tablet and pushed his glasses up his nose.
"Georg. Descendant of Johann Georg Faust."
Valerie gave them all a smile and a wave.
"Valerie Tepes. The last descendant of Count Dracula Vlad 'The Impaler' Tepes the Third. And yes, it's a long name."
Lavinia set her glass down gently and gave a polite nod.
"Lavinia Reni. But you already know that. There are also other people, such as Dulio, Connla, Cao Cao, Kay, and Morgan, but they are not here at Avalon at the moment."
She then gestured toward the smaller table where the children were sitting.
"And over there are Leonardo, Asia Argento, and Isaiah."
At the mention of their names, the three children looked up briefly.
Leonardo waved for a bit while Isaiah gave a casual nod.
Asia shyly bowed her head politely toward the adults.
Millicas, however, enthusiastically waved both arms in the air.
"Hey! Don't forget me!"
Everyone chuckled softly at the boy's energy.
Serafall laughed as she pointed at him.
"Oh, don't worry, Millicas! We could never forget you!"
The mood around the table slowly began to ease as introductions concluded and conversation started to flow more naturally.
Just then, the double doors to the dining room finally opened.
Arthur walked in first, pushing a large food trolley, followed closely by Victoria and Grayfia, and three Arthur clones who were each pushing carts.
The large carts were stacked with covered dishes, bowls, trays, and platters that released waves of delicious aroma the moment they entered the room.
Arthur looked around the dining room at the gathered guests and raised one hand with a confident grin.
"Dinner is served, everybody."
Everyone immediately turned their attention to the food trolleys as Arthur and the others began carefully placing the dishes onto the long dining table.
One by one, the metal covers were lifted, revealing an impressive spread of food that quickly filled the table from end to end.
There were roasted meats glazed with herbs and butter, thick cuts of steak, baked salmon topped with lemon slices, golden roasted potatoes, creamy pasta dishes, vegetable platters, fresh bread loaves, soups, and several elegant desserts waiting on the side.
[Fun Fact: The Author went hungry when he added this. Comment down below if you also get hungry when reading food scenes like this one.]
The room fell silent for a moment as everyone stared at the enormous spread of food.
Rias' and Millicas' eyes sparkled, Serafall and Venelana blinked in genuine surprise, and Sirzechs and Zeoticus leaned forward slightly to examine one of the dishes.
"Whoa..."
"My goodness…"
"This looks extraordinary."
Even the normally stoic Grayfia allowed a small look of admiration as she finished placing the final dish on the table.
Arthur wiped his hands on a kitchen towel and casually took his seat, and Grayfia sat beside Sirzechs soon after.
As the clones vanished, Victoria stepped back politely and was about to excuse herself when Arthur suddenly spoke.
"Victoria. Sit down. You're joining us, too."
Arthur looked up at her and gestured to the empty seat nearby.
Victoria blinked in surprise.
"My lord, I..."
Arthur waved his hand dismissively.
"You're family too."
Victoria's composed expression softened immediately, and a grateful smile spread across her face.
"Thank you, Master Arthur."
She took the seat he offered, clearly touched by the gesture.
At the children's table, Asia folded her hands together and began to speak softly.
"Before we eat, let's say a prayer."
Arthur raised a hand, stopping her for a moment.
"Wait a second, little Asia."
He reached into his pocket and pulled out several small objects, which he casually gave one to each of the Devils.
They were earplugs.
Serafall picked one up and examined it with confusion.
"Uh… Arthur? What are these for?"
Before Arthur could answer, Lavinia calmly spoke.
"They're for your protection. You see, everyone in Arthur's residence always says grace before meals."
The guests froze slightly.
Serafall blinked.
"Wait… seriously?"
Venelana raised an eyebrow in mild surprise.
Sirzechs looked toward Arthur curiously.
"Arthur... Are you Christian?"
He asked carefully.
Arthur shrugged casually.
"Kinda, I think."
He leaned back slightly in his chair.
"Honestly, I only pray because my mom always did. It became a habit. I'm not a hardcore fanatic like some of the crazies at the Church or anything. I mostly just do it out of respect. After all, I respect strong individuals, including the Big G upstairs who created everything."
He paused for a moment before casually adding.
"Including the infamous Lightbringer himself."
The Devils froze.
Even Grayfia looked slightly alarmed.
Serafall slowly turned toward him with wide eyes.
Sirzechs stared in disbelief.
Grayfia spoke carefully.
"Arthur… does it not hurt you every time you pray?"
Arthur shook his head immediately.
"Nah. Not really. I'm a Natural-Born Holy Sword Wielder. I've got a natural affinity for Holy Power thanks to my ancestor, King Arthur. Hell, I'm even an Exorcist who befriended a Seraph and was ranked Archbishop, which I still, from this day, have no idea how or why I got that title."
He tapped his chest.
"A simple prayer or saying the G-word does absolutely nothing to me."
The Devils stared at him with open amazement.
Serafall leaned back in her chair with wide eyes.
"You befriended a Seraph? That's actually insane."
Sirzechs looked genuinely impressed.
"A Cambion able to tolerate Holy power…"
Arthur suddenly clapped his hands once.
"Alright, enough distractions. It's dinner time."
Everyone quickly agreed.
Heracles raised both hands dramatically.
"Finally! I thought I was gonna starve to death!"
Asia then bowed her head as everyone else followed.
The humans and other residents quietly said their prayers together while the visiting Devils patiently waited with their earplugs in place.
A few seconds later, the prayer ended, and the feast began.
The moment the Gremory family took their first bites, their reactions were immediate.
Serafall's eyes widened dramatically.
"Whoa!!"
Venelana covered her mouth slightly as she chewed.
"This is incredible."
Zeoticus nodded in agreement.
"The flavor balance is excellent."
Even Sirzechs looked genuinely stunned as he tasted the roasted meat.
"This is… extremely good."
Within seconds, the Devils began enthusiastically helping themselves to more food.
Meanwhile, everyone else around the table ate happily as well, already familiar with Arthur's cooking skills.
Lavinia smiled slightly while enjoying a bowl of pasta.
Valerie quietly ate while clearly enjoying every bite.
Georg continued eating calmly while occasionally glancing at his tablet between bites.
Jeanne complimented the seasoning of one dish while Siegfried devoured a large portion of steak without hesitation.
Heracles happily loaded his plate with a mountain of food.
At the children's table, the atmosphere was just as lively.
Millicas excitedly tasted everything placed on his plate.
"This is amazing!"
He shouted happily.
Leonardo smiled a little.
"Arthur cooks like this all the time."
Isaiah smirked while eating his steak.
"Yeah, you get used to it."
Asia smiled warmly while enjoying her food as well.
Rias watched the children happily interacting and felt strangely comfortable in the lively environment.
Back at the adult table, the conversation gradually shifted into relaxed small talk.
The men eventually started discussing their most and least favorite movies.
Siegfried leaned back while speaking.
"The Last Airbender film sucked ass."
Zeoticus shook his head.
"Personally, I think the worst movie is Dragonball Evolution."
Georg looked up briefly.
"The Twilight Saga is objectively more horrendous."
Sirzechs chuckled from his seat while cutting another piece of steak.
Meanwhile, on the other side of the table, the women were discussing the current state of the supernatural world.
Serafall spoke while eating dessert.
"There's been a lot of strange activity around the supernatural world lately."
Venelana nodded thoughtfully.
"Yeah. I've been hearing a lot of conflict between factions these days."
Lavinia calmly added her own observations.
Grayfia listened quietly while occasionally contributing her thoughts as well.
For the first time that evening, the heavy tension from earlier had completely disappeared.
For now, it was simply a family dinner.
...
An Hour Later.
...
Not long after dinner ended, the dining room slowly transitioned from a formal meal into a relaxed gathering.
Arthur's clones appeared quietly and efficiently, moving around the table as they began clearing plates, stacking dishes, and pushing the food trolleys away for cleaning.
The guests watched with fascination as the clones worked in perfect coordination without even speaking to each other.
Serafall leaned slightly toward Sirzechs' empty seat and whispered to Venelana with amusement.
"I still can't get used to that cloning thing. It's like watching a restaurant staffed entirely by Arthurs."
Venelana chuckled softly.
"Efficient, though. At least there's no risk of an assassination when the mansion's staff are mostly clones."
Soon, the large dining table was cleared, leaving the adults free to sit back and relax while the children migrated toward the open space of the living room area nearby.
Leonardo stood proudly in the center of the carpet and raised both hands dramatically.
"Alright! Everyone ready?"
Millicas pumped his fists.
"Yes!"
Isaiah craced his knuckles.
"Let's go!"
Leonardo activated his Longinus as several small creatures popped into existence around the room.
Unlike the monstrous abominations that Annihilation Maker normally produces in battle, Leonardo had summoned harmless and playful monsters for entertainment.
A few fluffy animal-like creatures waddled across the carpet.
One resembled a tiny cloud with rabbit ears, another looked like a miniature lion with ridiculously oversized fur, and a third creature resembled a puppy with sparkling eyes.
Rias immediately crouched down beside one of the fluffy creatures.
"Oh my goodness, this one is adorable!"
She said with genuine delight as she gently petted the tiny monster.
Asia knelt beside her with sparkling eyes.
"It's so soft!"
The creature happily squeaked as the two girls stroked its fluffy fur.
Meanwhile, the boys had already started a different activity.
Leonardo summoned two large beetle-shaped monsters about the size of dinner plates.
Their metallic shells gleamed under the room lights as they clacked their mandibles.
Millicas leaned forward eagerly.
"Mine's gonna win!"
Isaiah crossed his arms confidently.
"No way. Mine's stronger."
Leonardo raised both hands like a referee.
"Alright! Round one! Fight!"
The two beetle monsters began pushing against each other while the boys shouted encouragement.
"Come on!"
Millicas cheered.
"Push him back!"
Isaiah yelled.
Heracles stood nearby watching the spectacle with an excited grin.
"Yes! Crush him! Show him who's boss!"
The large teen boomed enthusiastically while slapping his palm against the wall in excitement.
Leonardo quickly pointed at him.
"Hey! No coaching!"
Heracles laughed loudly.
"Sorry, kid!"
The adults at the main table watched the children's antics with amused expressions.
One seat was now empty where Georg had previously been sitting.
He had quietly excused himself shortly after dinner ended, returning to his duties of upgrading the security systems of Avalon and New Camelot.
Jeanne and Siegfried also left for unknown reasons.
Serafall rested her chin on her palm while observing the lively scene.
"You know, now that I'm thinking about it, it's kind of amazing how Arthur gathered almost all the Longinus users into one team."
Her gaze moved toward Leonardo, Lavinia, and the others in the room.
"That's not something just anyone can do. Other factions tried to recruit them in the past, but almost no one has ever succeeded in getting more than one Longinus User in one group."
Lavinia smiled softly as she crossed one leg over the other.
"Arthur has a unique charm about him. People are naturally drawn to him."
Heracles nodded immediately.
"That guy has something in him that makes people want to follow his lead."
He folded his arms proudly.
"He even convinced the strongest exorcist alive to join the team."
Venelana raised an eyebrow curiously.
"The strongest exorcist?"
Heracles nodded.
"Yep. Dulio Gesualdo. Heaven's Vanguard."
Serafall whistled quietly.
"Wow. That's impressive."
Heracles leaned slightly toward Zeoticus and lowered his voice conspiratorially.
"Personally, I think Arthur convinced Dulio because of his cooking."
Zeoticus stared at him for a second before bursting into laughter.
Venelana covered her mouth as she giggled.
"To be fair, I might be convinced as well if that were the case."
Serafall laughed loudly at that.
Then she turned toward Lavinia with interest.
"I just remembered. You're one of Mephisto's magicians who possess Absolute Demise, right?"
Lavinia nodded calmly.
"Yes. Yes, I am."
Serafall brightened immediately.
"Well, if you ever want advice on improving your ice manipulation abilities, I'm your girl."
She said cheerfully while pointing her thumb at herself.
She winked dramatically.
"After all, I'm the Satan Leviathan of Ice."
Lavinia inclined her head politely.
"I'll keep that in mind."
Her gaze slowly shifted toward the hallway leading deeper into the mansion.
Earlier, Arthur had quietly excused himself along with Sirzechs and Grayfia.
They had left together, presumably to talk privately.
Lavinia's calm smile faded slightly as concern crossed her expression.
(I hope their conversation is going well.)
Lavinia quietly exhaled and looked back toward the children playing in the living room.
Despite the laughter filling the house, she couldn't help but wonder what kind of conversation was unfolding behind those closed doors.
She sincerely hoped things were okay between them.
DxD
The night air over Avalon was calm.
Moonlight bathed the mansion balcony as a quiet breeze rustled the trees beyond the estate.
Laughter from inside the mansion faintly reached the balcony, where the children were still playing, and the others were relaxing after dinner.
But the atmosphere out here was far heavier.
Arthur leaned against the stone railing of the balcony with his arms folded.
His gaze was fixed on the distant lights of Avalon, though his mind clearly wasn't on the scenery.
Behind him stood Sirzechs and Grayfia.
For several moments, none of them spoke.
The silence stretched long enough that the distant sounds from inside the house felt strangely loud by comparison.
Arthur finally broke it.
"So... here we are."
He said calmly without turning around.
"Now that our stomachs are full, and our heads are somewhat cleared, what are you all thinking?"
His tone wasn't hostile, but it wasn't warm either. It was simply direct.
Sirzechs exhaled slowly before stepping forward slightly.
"I believe I should apologize."
Arthur finally glanced over his shoulder.
Sirzechs continued.
"My behavior earlier… when I lost control... It was irrational... And I'm sorry."
He looked toward Arthur with genuine sincerity.
He paused before adding quietly,
"And I also owe Grayfia an apology as well."
Grayfia blinked slightly in surprise as Sirzechs turned toward her.
"I want to make this clear... I have no hatred toward you."
Grayfia lowered her gaze slightly.
"Sirzechs…"
Sirzechs shook his head gently.
"You are my wife, and the mother of our child, Millicas. Nothing about this changes that."
He said firmly.
He paused, and his expression hardened slightly.
"But your brother…"
His voice grew colder.
"Euclid is a different matter."
A dangerous edge entered his tone.
"I know you two have history... But when I find him... I will kill him."
The words were not loud, but they carried absolute certainty.
Grayfia's expression saddened, though she didn't look shocked.
She had expected that answer.
"I... understand."
She said softly, clasping her hands together in front of her.
"I know you both have every reason to hate him... especially you, Arthur."
Her voice trembled slightly despite her composed posture.
"But… even after all the horrible things he did... he is still my little brother."
She looked toward the distant night sky.
"I cannot simply abandon the hope that somewhere deep inside him… the boy I once knew still exists."
Arthur finally turned to face them fully.
Grayfia continued quietly.
"If there is even the smallest chance that I can speak to him… convince him to abandon Rizevim and stop… I want to at least try."
Arthur watched her silently for a moment, then he nodded slightly.
"We shall see in the future... And for the record... I also don't hate you."
Grayfia looked up in mild surprise.
Arthur spoke calmly.
"You seem like a good person. A good wife. A good mother. I can tell from how Millicas turned out the way he is."
He gestured casually toward the mansion behind them.
Grayfia blinked, clearly not expecting the compliment.
"But just to let you know..."
Arthur's expression remained neutral as he continued.
"Euclid Lucifuge will die by my hands."
The words were delivered with quiet certainty.
"And there is nothing in this world that will stop me from doing so."
His green eyes met hers steadily.
"Not even you."
Grayfia lowered her gaze again, sadness crossing her face.
She had expected that answer, too.
"I know..."
But that didn't mean she liked hearing it.
"Sirzechs."
Arthur then turned his attention to Sirzechs.
"You have the right to be angry about my mom."
Sirzechs blinked slightly.
Arthur continued calmly.
"But you don't have any enemies..."
Sirzechs frowned slightly in confusion.
"What do you mean?"
Arthur leaned back against the balcony railing again.
"I mean exactly what I said."
He gestured slightly toward the night horizon.
"Euclid is MY enemy."
He looked directly at Sirzechs.
"Not yours."
Sirzechs stared at him for a moment.
Silence lingered again for several seconds, then Arthur spoke again.
"There's also something else you need to know."
Sirzechs straightened slightly.
Arthur looked directly at him.
"I acknowledge that you're my biological father."
Sirzechs held his breath slightly at those words.
Arthur continued calmly.
"But you're not my dad."
The words were blunt, but not cruel.
"My only parent growing up was Artoria Pendragon."
Arthur reached into his hoodie and pulled out the small locket hanging around his neck.
He held it in his hand, his fingers gently gripping the metal surface.
"She raised me, protected me, and she's the one who taught me everything."
His voice softened slightly, and his thumb brushed across the locket unconsciously.
Sirzechs remained silent, listening carefully.
Arthur exhaled slowly.
"But…"
He looked back toward Sirzechs.
"I'll at least try... to get along with you."
Sirzechs blinked slightly.
"I'll try to understand you... And maybe... in the far future..."
Arthur paused before adding.
"I'll even call you... my dad."
The balcony fell quiet again.
Sirzechs lowered his gaze slightly.
Despite the blunt honesty, he couldn't feel hurt by Arthur's words.
In fact… they made sense.
Arthur had grown up alone with Artoria.
Sirzechs had never been there.
Expecting Arthur to immediately treat him like a father would have been unrealistic.
Sirzechs slowly nodded.
"That's... more than enough for me."
Arthur glanced at him briefly.
Sirzechs gave a faint smile.
"And for what it's worth…"
He paused.
"I'm grateful... Thank you, Arthur... I'll do my best."
Arthur didn't respond immediately.
But after a moment, he gave a small nod.
It wasn't forgiveness nor acceptance.
But it was a start.
Then the balcony doors slid open.
Arthur turned his head slightly as Victoria stepped onto the balcony.
She gave a respectful bow toward Arthur first before acknowledging the other two with polite composure.
"My apologies for interrupting."
Victoria said calmly.
Arthur raised an eyebrow slightly.
"What is it, Victoria?"
Victoria straightened and spoke clearly.
"Master Arthur, new guests have arrived."
Arthur blinked once, clearly caught him off guard.
"Guests? At this hour?"
Sirzechs and Grayfia also exchanged slightly puzzled glances.
They knew that Avalon wasn't exactly the kind of place outsiders casually stumbled into unannounced.
Arthur scratched the side of his head.
"Alright… who are they?"
Victoria opened her mouth to answer.
But before she could speak.
A loud shout suddenly echoed from inside the mansion.
"GABRIEL?!"
It was Serafall.
The shout was so loud it easily reached the balcony.
A second voice immediately followed, bright and cheerful.
"Hello, Sera!"
Arthur froze.
Victoria calmly finished her sentence.
"Lady Gabriel and Lord Uriel have arrived."
Sirzechs' eyes widened in surprise.
"The Seraphs?"
Grayfia blinked several times, clearly caught off guard by that information.
Arthur's eye twitched violently.
He lifted one hand and began massaging his temple as if trying to fight off a growing headache.
"What the hell is with all these unexpected visits tonight?"
He muttered under his breath.
Inside the mansion, Serafall's and Gabriel's voices could still be heard echoing through the halls.
"GABRIEL, WHY ARE YOU HERE?!"
"I came to visit Arthur! Why are you here?"
"I'm here to meet my godchild, Arthur!"
"Godchild? I didn't know Arthur had a godmother!"
Arthur slowly dragged his hand down his face.
Sirzechs couldn't help letting out a small, amused chuckle.
"Well, it seems tonight has become quite the gathering."
Arthur sighed heavily.
"No shit, Sherlock."
He pushed himself away from the balcony railing and began walking toward the doors.
"Come on. Let's see what the hell Heaven wants."
As he stepped inside the mansion, he could already hear Serafall and Gabriel "greeting" each other like centuries-old enemies in the living room.
Arthur muttered quietly to himself as he walked down the hallway.
"At this rate, Azazel might show up next…"
With the kind of night it had been so far, Arthur honestly wasn't sure he was joking.
DxD
Hello readers!
I'M FINALLY ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE WRITER'S BLOCK!
Also, I heard a lot of interesting comments about my fanfic... which I will assume are all constructive criticisms.
And this is my response to all of you...
[==>CLICK HERE<==]
Thank you, everyone, and see you later!