The moment Takeyo's hand clasped Sirzechs's, a familiar chime resonated through his consciousness.
[Ding!]
[Congratulations to the host for completing the daily location check-in! Sign-in level: Silver!]
[Sign-in location, Devil Maou Sirzechs Lucifer!]
[Congratulations to the host for the reward: Sacred Gear, Forbidden Invade Balor the Beast!]
[Ding!]
[Fusibility detected!]
[Fusion material, Stop the World Magic Eye & Forbidden Invade Balor the Beast!]
[Proceed with fusion?]
"Fusion." The choice was obvious, why settle for two separate abilities when he could have something greater?
[Ding!]
[Fusion begins!]
A surge of power coursed through his body, unseen by those around him. The sensation was different from his usual sign-in rewards, less overwhelming than when he'd fused his Thunder abilities, but significant nonetheless.
[Fusion successful!]
[Congratulations to the host for obtaining: God Extinguisher, Aeon Balor, the Evil Eye King Dominated by Time and Space!]
[Aeon Balor, the Evil Eye King Dominated by Time and Space: The combined form of the Sacred Gears "Forbidden Balor View" and "Forbidden Invade Balor the Beast."
The wielder can stop time within their field of vision, manipulate darkness to swallow entire towns into eternal night, create countless unknown creatures, and inflict damage that even the Sephiroth Graal, one of the Holy Grails, cannot heal.
Additionally, it dramatically enhances the user's physical abilities. It is one of the five newly observed God Extinguishers manifested in the last twenty years.]
'A new God Extinguisher, huh?' Takeyo mused as the system information flooded his mind. The fused power combined his previously acquired time-stopping magic eye with the newly gained Sacred Gear, creating something that could rival the strongest Longinus-class weapons.
The potential was staggering. In the original timeline, Gasper Vladi would eventually awaken this very God Extinguisher and use it to kill Georg, the wielder of the Longinus "Dimension Lost." The power to penetrate even impenetrable mists, combined with absolute time manipulation and regeneration-negating darkness, no wonder Gasper had earned the title of "Overlord of Time and Space" thirty years in the future.
'Though...' Takeyo thought with slight amusement, 'it doesn't quite give me the same thrill as fusing my Thunder abilities did.'
That was natural, of course. A God Extinguisher was powerful, devastatingly so, but it was still confined to a single world's power system. The Thunder abilities he'd cultivated, on the other hand, touched upon universal principles that transcended dimensional boundaries. They were part of the fundamental forces governing existence across the multiverse.
The difference in potential was like comparing a local champion to a cosmic contender.
Still, he wasn't complaining. The Aeon Balor would serve as an excellent addition to his arsenal, and its versatility made it useful for a variety of situations. He just needed to find time to properly explore its capabilities.
"Yang-kun, would you mind showing me to Rias's classroom?"
Sirzechs's voice pulled him from his thoughts. The Maou's tone was pleasant, but something flickered in his crimson eyes, a momentary unease that even his composed demeanor couldn't quite conceal.
'Interesting,' Takeyo noted. For just a moment, Sirzechs had looked genuinely unsettled. That was unusual for a transcendent-level being, especially one known for his cheerful, almost playful personality.
'Did he sense something?' The fusion had occurred entirely within Takeyo's internal system, invisible to outside observation. But Sirzechs was one of the Four Great Satans, possessing power that rivaled gods. Perhaps some instinct had warned him that something about Takeyo had just become... more.
It made sense that Ajuka hadn't shared the details of Takeyo's battle against Vishnu with his fellow Maou. The scientist devil had been completely absorbed in his research since returning to the Underworld, probably already working on theories about the battle's implications for his understanding of cosmic power structures.
"Of course," Takeyo replied with an easy smile, giving no indication that he'd noticed Sirzechs's momentary discomfort.
After Ravel offered her polite farewells, the group made their way through the school corridors toward Rias's classroom.
"Thank you, Yang-kun."
Sirzechs's gratitude was warm as his gaze immediately found his beloved younger sister sitting by the window. Without hesitation, he made his way to the parents' seating area at the back of the classroom, moving with the practiced ease of someone who'd done this before.
Which he had, just last year, in fact.
As Sirzechs settled in to observe his sister's class, Takeyo turned to leave, only to notice Grayfia still standing in the hallway, making no move to follow her husband into the classroom.
"Miss Grayfia, aren't you going in?" He couldn't help the slight curiosity in his voice. She was Sirzechs's Queen and personal maid, wasn't it her job to stay by his side?
'Don't look at me like that,' he thought with mild exasperation as she fixed him with an intent stare. 'I have absolutely no interest in married women.'
Grayfia's expression remained perfectly composed, but her silver-gray eyes held an intensity that suggested she had something important on her mind. She glanced at Ravel, who stood nearby.
"Lady Ravel," Grayfia said with impeccable courtesy, "I would like to speak privately with Lord Takeyo regarding an important matter. Would you permit me to borrow him for a short time?"
Despite the politeness of her words, both Takeyo and Ravel could sense the steel beneath them. This wasn't a casual request, Grayfia was determined to have this conversation, regardless of their response.
"Of course, Lady Grayfia." Ravel responded with equal courtesy, though concern flickered in her violet eyes as she glanced at Takeyo. "Lord Takeyo, shall I come find you later?"
"That would be fine," Takeyo agreed, offering her a reassuring smile as she departed.
Once Ravel was gone, he turned his full attention to Grayfia.
She was undeniably beautiful, even by the high standards of the Underworld's nobility. Long silver-gray hair fell untouched down her back, perfectly straight without any styling needed. Beneath her soft bangs, delicate silver-gray eyes regarded him with an expression as mysterious as the night sky, deep, unfathomable, and currently radiating a cold intensity. Her thin lips were pressed together in a slight line, and her elegant features, refined in that perfect oval shape, gave her an air of pristine, untouchable grace. Even her long eyelashes seemed perfect, slightly curled like the leaves of a sensitive plant.
But beauty aside, the look in those eyes immediately put Takeyo on guard.
He wasn't interested in married women as a matter of principle. More importantly, Grayfia's gaze held something that made his instincts prickle with warning, dissatisfaction. Cold, controlled, but unmistakable dissatisfaction.
And that dissatisfaction was clearly directed at him.
"What did you want to discuss, Miss Grayfia?" Takeyo decided to take the initiative. There was no point in standing in the school hallway engaged in a silent staring contest. That would probably make tomorrow's gossip column in the academy news.
"It's not convenient to speak here. Please follow me, Lord Takeyo."
Grayfia's voice was measured, controlled, and allowed no room for argument.
Takeyo sighed internally but nodded. "Alright."
The dimensional space Grayfia created was impressive, Takeyo had to admit. The quality and stability of the pocket dimension matched Serafall's work, fitting for someone who had once competed with the Maou Leviathan for the title of strongest female Devil.
"So," Takeyo said, looking around the featureless space before returning his attention to Grayfia, "what is it you wanted to ask?"
Grayfia closed her eyes for a moment. When they opened again, the dutiful maid persona had vanished, replaced by something far more direct and intimidating.
"I want to ask Lord Takeyo a few things." Her gaze intensified, as if she feared he might somehow slip away from her scrutiny.
"You can ask," Takeyo replied evenly, "though I reserve the right not to answer."
"That's acceptable." Grayfia's stare didn't waver. "What I want to know is... have you already slept with Lady Rias?"
The bluntness of the question was startling. Takeyo understood immediately that "slept with" wasn't meant euphemistically, she was asking the most direct question possible about his physical relationship with Rias.
"Yes," he answered directly. "I have."
There was no point in lying. If she asked Rias the same question, the truth would come out anyway. And refusing to answer would be just as damning as confirmation.
"I see." Grayfia's eyes narrowed slightly, the temperature in the dimensional space seeming to drop several degrees.
'Oh?' Takeyo raised an eyebrow. That was the look of someone preparing for combat, cold, focused, and hostile.
With his knowledge and analytical abilities, understanding Grayfia's feelings wasn't difficult. She disapproved of his relationship with Rias. That much was obvious.
But what irritated him was how blatantly she was showing that disapproval directly to his face. The previous maid persona had at least maintained a veneer of professional courtesy. Now she was openly displaying her hostility, as if daring him to object.
'Do you think I'm some pushover you can intimidate?'
The direct confrontation rubbed Takeyo the wrong way. He wasn't someone who tolerated being looked down upon, especially not by someone showing such obvious disrespect. His eyes narrowed slightly in response.
Then he saw it, the telltale sign appearing above Grayfia's head.
[Ding!]
[Congratulations to the host for triggering a plot check-in! Sign-in level: Gold!]
[Sign-in plot, Grayfia's Approval]
[Plot: Defeat Grayfia and gain her recognition.]
[Sign-in time limit: 3 days.]
[Remaining time for sign-in: 3 days.]
'You've got to be kidding me.' Takeyo's eye twitched slightly. 'I understand the "defeat Grayfia" part, but gaining her approval? At this point, the only way she'd approve of anything I do is if I demonstrate overwhelming strength.'
That would require power at the transcendent-level minimum, probably closer to the Infinite Dragon God tier to truly impress someone like her.
'Why should I even bother with her approval?' he thought irritably. 'What makes her recognition so important? If I wanted her approval badly enough, I could just beat her into submission until she acknowledged me by force!'
He mentally dismissed the system notification.
'Forget it. I'm not doing this quest. It's just a gold-level sign-in, not worth the hassle of trying to gain this woman's approval within three days.'
'I'm definitely not that kind of person,' he told himself firmly.
Meanwhile, Grayfia, who had received his straightforward confirmation about his relationship with Rias, was experiencing her own complicated feelings.
'So direct,' she thought with a mixture of surprise and reluctant respect. 'He didn't even try to lie or deflect.'
"I see. So you and Lady Rias have already..." Grayfia began, her voice carefully neutral despite the turmoil beneath.
"If there's nothing else, I'll be going," Takeyo interrupted with a yawn, his tone making it clear he had no interest in continuing this conversation.
Beautiful unmarried women? He'd gladly spend all day talking with them. A married woman with an obvious grudge against him? He had better things to do with his time.
Takeyo had always been a realist about these matters.
"No, Lord Takeyo. There is more to discuss."
Grayfia's eyes narrowed further.
"What is it?" Takeyo turned back, his patience clearly wearing thin. This woman was really pushing it.
"In the future, the entire supernatural world may fall into chaos because of your power," Grayfia stated, her tone taking on a lecturing quality. "Please consider the positions of all parties before you act."
"For example, after your visit to the House of Phenex, many noble families in the Underworld expressed their... dissatisfaction."
"But, " Takeyo cut her off before she could continue.
"Those families are from the Old Satan Faction or neutral families, aren't they?" He pointed out the obvious flaw in her argument. "The Reform Faction wouldn't object to a Maou whose existence clearly benefits the entire Devil race."
"Only the old guard obsessed with pure-blood superiority would care so much about tradition over progress."
"More importantly..." His gaze sharpened. "Isn't dealing with that your job?"
He immediately identified the manipulation in her words. She was essentially trying to position him as antagonistic to those conservative forces, making him responsible for their hostility.
While it was true that he and those old fossils were inevitably opposed, being guided toward that opposition by Grayfia's words was entirely different. The subtle attempt at manipulation left a distinctly unpleasant taste.
"Lord Takeyo..." Grayfia sighed, as if dealing with a difficult child. "We are handling this situation. But please remember your position. Given your previous actions, it's very likely that certain factions will begin targeting you specifically."
"I have the strength to handle that situation," Takeyo replied coolly. "Besides, if I didn't even have the courage to face the consequences of my own actions, I might as well go find some remote mountain cave to hide in for the rest of my existence."
"That said..." A smile curved his lips, though it didn't reach his eyes. "Since you seem so concerned about my ability to protect myself, would you like to test it personally?"
Making his mood more comfortable took priority over whether he could complete the system's sign-in quest. If he was going to be in a bad mood anyway, he might as well channel it productively.
"Me?" Grayfia's cold eyes showed a rare flicker of confusion. "What does Lord Takeyo mean?"
"I mean exactly what I said." Takeyo's smile widened. "Since you clearly doubt I have the power to protect myself, why don't you verify it directly?"
"Oh, and one more thing." His expression turned slightly predatory. "I've already seized control of this dimensional space. If you don't defeat me, you won't be leaving."
Using his combination of Black Sky Krishna's omniscient abilities, his own considerable skills, and his mastery of magic theory, Takeyo had quietly taken command of the pocket dimension while they'd been talking. The all-knowing power granted by Krishna, one of Vishnu's incarnations, made such manipulations almost effortless once he understood the dimensional space's structure.
"I see." Grayfia's expression remained composed as she extended her senses, confirming what he'd said. The dimensional space no longer responded to her commands. "So this is indeed the case."
Silver demonic power began to swirl around her body, cold and precise as ice crystals forming in winter air. Her maid uniform seemed to ripple with contained energy.
Takeyo's own power responded in kind, golden light tinged with crackling electricity beginning to manifest around him. The air between them grew heavy with supernatural pressure.
'Well,' he thought as he settled into a combat stance, 'at least this will be more interesting than that lecture.'
The Strongest Queen versus the young god who'd killed Vishnu.
This was going to be quite the clash.