231.
Everyone headed to the Gremory household.
Although not intentional, Issei's group received VIP treatment as Rias's servants. Moreover, devils have vast land but sparse population, so it seems they even received land. We lightly applauded them for becoming the landowners every human dreams of.
"But is it okay to treat him so casually? If Serzechs is right, he's that Great Red, isn't he? He's a dragon on par with Ophis, so isn't being too casual disrespectful..."
"He said he doesn't have that difficult of a personality, so it should be fine, right?"
"Hmm, I originally wanted to lightly inquire about the relationship between Issei Hyoudou and Rias, but it seems I should ask about that seriously another time."
It seems the Gremory family has their eyes on Issei.
Well, they caused such a commotion in the Rating Game openly, and Rias herself likes Issei, so isn't that natural?
More than that, I can hear everything.
232.
While Issei and his fellow servants were at the Gremory household, Ren moved around with Azazel.
Unlike the young devils, comparing seniority (?) would be rude, and for discussing the future world, he is an indispensable member.
Of course, the top-secret information about the otherworldly invasion cannot be disclosed immediately, but Ren is essential even to properly set that standard. Ren, seemingly indifferent, accompanied Azazel and made appearances here and there.
Well, as a human, most devils didn't seem to pay much attention, which was a sight that showed how unaware they were of the current Underworld's reality.
Seeing them like that, Azazel's insides were burning since he couldn't openly say Ren was Great Red, and the current Satans who heard the reports were busy sighing.
Wow, the Underworld's future looks so bright.
Ren thought to himself nonchalantly.
233.
"What do we really do, Grayfia. I'm not joking, but in this state, not only would we need tyrannical rule, we'd have to kill even the opposing factions..."
"That would cause civil war and rebellion, Your Majesty. Even if we succeed in suppressing all of it, the devil ranks would..."
"No, I know that too. I know that, which is why I've been staying still even when there was no answer until now. But if I stay still any longer now, we'll really be ruined, right? The devils go extinct? Whether we perish to the otherworld or by Ophis's hand, we'll really perish?"
"...."
"....I have no idea how Lord Zekram would react if he heard this."
Serzechs covered his face.
He hadn't left the other devils alone until now because he was a fool. There were many problems, they were selfish, greedy, and incredibly foolish fellow devils. The problem was that most of the devil race was like that, and to purge them, it's no joke—he'd literally have to kill most of the devils.
That's why he had reluctantly left them alone until now.
But now even that is truly impossible.
Ajuka, who had organized all the information, said simply.
"There's no answer, Serzechs. Let's just kill them all."
"You're joking, Ajuka?"
"I wish I were, but I'm saying it because there's really no answer. Frankly, if the otherworld information gets out, forget about a common enemy—just thinking about the devils who would leak information gives me a headache. In this state, we absolutely cannot prepare for the otherworld."
Serzechs said nothing.
It was silent affirmation.
"The foolish Old Satan Faction bastards will cause terrorism on their own anyway. Let's use that as pretext and opportunity to secretly kill all the problematic devils inside too. That's the cleanest with no backtalk."
"The family heads of other households aren't fools either..."
If they handle things that way, they'll notice somehow. Even if foolish, they're beings who have been family heads for thousands of years. At least regarding political matters, their senses are remarkably sharp.
Even if no evidence remains, suspicions will somehow remain.
Ajuka muttered heavily.
"I know that much too. But there's really no other way."
"...."
"It's no longer time to let things slide ambiguously. If we make a single mistake, the devil race could be destroyed by Ophis. And it's truly sad, but before the world's cause, the devil race becomes infinitely small. If you want to preserve the devil race, now is the time to amputate the rotten parts."
"Is that really the only way...?"
"If there were another way, we would have done it long ago."
As if having hardened his resolve, Ajuka's eyes grew sharp.
"We're not lacking in power anyway. To put it bluntly, just you and I stepping forward could cover most devils. Now that things have come to this, we have no choice but to forcefully lead with power."
The two are transcendents, of whom there are only three in the Underworld.
And considering their servants and influence, exaggerating slightly, just the two of them could wage war against the entire Underworld.
A not-so-brief silence.
As if having hardened his own resolve as well, Serzechs asked.
"Alright. Then what should we do first?"
"We deal with Zekram first."
"Lord Zekram?"
Serzechs was taken aback.
"Lord Zekram is different from other foolish devils. If properly explained, surely..."
"Surely he is wise and different from other devils. After all, he was the one who placed us as Satans. But don't forget, Serzechs. He is also a conservative who, while aware of the current devils' flaws, simply leaves them be."
"Hmm..."
"He goes so far as to say devils below high-class and ultimate-class are tools. For him, who is conservative to the bone, this current problem is absolutely non-negotiable. If he could compromise, he wouldn't have let the Underworld rot this much. To him, the current state of the Underworld is the 'correct' state."
"Still, if we explain it like when we drove out the Old Satans' bloodlines, wouldn't he join us?"
Zekram Bael.
The first Bael and the de facto eldest devil still alive.
And also the mastermind who placed the current Satans on the throne. You could say he was the one who drove them out thinking the devils would decline if the hopeless Old Satans' bloodlines weren't expelled, and created the current Underworld's order.
Serzechs found it hard to believe such a person would refuse even after learning the truth about the current Underworld.
"The situation now is different from back then."
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Ajuka shook his head.
"Back then, with the Satans dead and driving out the worthless Old Satans' bloodlines, there was one merit. That was the Bael household rising politically. Indeed, while we became Satans, the actual power was firmly gripped by Zekram. But what we're about to do now is different no matter how you think about it. Rather than gaining, the Bael household's power would fall if anything. He might even play tricks for the Bael household's reputation."
"...."
"Serzechs, even if it's drastic, you must steel your resolve."
At the following words, Serzechs hardened his expression firmly.
"The devil race's destruction has approached right before our eyes."
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