So that’s why they didn’t find out about my true identity. Hold on, but that means the boyfriend that they’ve been introducing until now is… Akeno-san then laughed cutely. (After all, I am a uni student. It’s only natural that I want to boast about having a boyfriend, right?) AAAaaAAAaaAAAA! If you say such maidenly words to me, I won’t be able to resist! Please, please, as long as my basic information doesn’t get leaked out, please boast about me as much as you like! If I were to be honest, I also wanted to tell the truth that I was their boyfriend, but, it would definitely be troublesome in many ways. And because of that, I had no choice but to endure. One of their friends asked Akeno-san
“How do you feel about having a younger boyfriend?”
Akeno-san’s cheeks turned red and she happily answered
“He might be younger than me, but he is dependable. If I really had to decide, then I feel like I am the one who gets spoiled.”
“The big-sister-like Himejima-san gets spoiled instead? I thought it was the opposite!”
“I might also want a younger boyfriend!”
And such was the girls’ talk that the friends joyfully engaged in. Because Rias and Akeno-san seemed like they were having so much fun, I joined in and participated in the girls’ talk for a while. After all, being able to talk with female university students sure is fun! “─So, what happened? You came here to talk, right?”
Rias asked me after the talk while being surrounded by university girls ended. The topic was my original purpose, which was to ask for advice about Rossweisse-san. Rias then continued
“I personally don’t agree with the forced marriage meeting either. But, right now, her master is you, Ise. While respecting her thoughts is reasonable, your thoughts are also important.”
‘…What would you do in this situation?’ If I were to ask her opinion like that, I’m sure she would feel disgusted. After all — I am a high-class Devil, the master who made Rossweisse-san my servant. Rias also said
“Everything will soon be clear. Ise, how do you feel about the marriage meeting? —Yes, what is Rossweisse to you, Ise? Is she just a servant? Or is she…”
Rias then stopped. To me, Rossweisse-san is… But, one thing is clear. When Rossweisse-san and Vidar-san’s marriage meeting got decided by the Norse Gods on their own, I was extremely mad. Disgusted even. The unpleasant feeling about my precious servant being forced to attend a marriage interview was one of the factors, but the memories that I spent together with Rossweisse-san until now kept flashing across my mind one after another…
I strongly felt that ‘my precious thing is going to be taken away’. Rias looked at her watch and said “It’s time” as she stood up. “Leave the bill to me. Akeno, I’ll go on first.”
After saying that to Akeno-san, Rias then said to me while smiling
“I’ll always be your and Rossweisse’s ally, you know? That fact won’t change no matter what. That’s why you should find your own solution.”
Because Rias had to finish some personal errands for the Gremory House, she left first. Akeno-san and I were left behind. Akeno-san smiled as she said
“Hey, Ise-kun. Do you remember the engagement party between Rias and Riser Phoenix that was held last year?”
“Yeah.”
Ah, that’s right, it’s been more than a year since that incident huh. Because there were so many things that happened, it felt as though that incident happened long ago. Akeno-san then continued
“Rias might not say it in words, but this incident seems like a repeat of that time.”
—. Her engagement and Rossweisse-san’s marriage interview… That’s right, even though the circumstances are different, the fact where their future was decided one-sidedly is the same. It’s only natural that Rias thought that Rossweisse-san’s current situation is a repeat of that. Akeno-san continued
“At that time, how did you feel, how did you think, and how did you act, Ise-kun? Rias and Rossweisse-san are different, but Rossweisse-san to us, and above all, to you is a precious servant, Ise-kun. That is certain, right? I don’t know how things will turn out in the marriage interview, however, when Vidar-sama decides that he wants to marry, your feelings and actions will inevitably come pouring out. But, Ise-kun, this is the one thing that you should remember.”
With a serious expression, Akeno-san said
“At the time you said “No”, your enemy was the Phoenix House. But, this time — it’s a God. You should prepare yourself to have the determination to take back Rossweisse-san from a God.”
Taking Rossweisse-san back from a God…
Akeno-san then suddenly changed her expression
“But, you’ve also grown a lot from your experiences over the past year. Compared to the time you charged in recklessly, you’ve become far more mature… Looking at your expression now, you seem calm. Surely, if this were a year ago, you would have charged in recklessly to Asgard and Rias would be mad.”
Ahaha, that might be possible. I did charge in to Rias’ engagement party that time. After that, due to various things, even if something crazy happened, I would think first and ask other people for their opinions. …I became a senior in high school, and also became a high-class Devil, and above all, I understand that my power — the power of the Heavenly Dragon and the Dragon God might have an influence on the world. If I don’t think first then act, I might cause trouble to other people. …That said, when the moment comes, I have to take back my precious servant from a God, huh. The enemy isn’t someone whom I can challenge half-assedly. But I— . After all, Rossweisse-san is important to me as a servant, or perhaps—. That was a question that I had to answer—. And then, it was the day of Rossweisse-san and Vidar-san’s marriage interview—. We, the authorised people (the new and old Occult Research Club members) gathered in a certain traditional Japanese restaurant in Tokyo. To our surprise, Vidar-san’s faction chose a traditional Japanese restaurant (a valuable shop as they handle even supernatural beings). So, we also adapted to them by having Rossweisse-san wear an elegant kimono. By the way, it was Akeno-san who was in charge of dressing her up. All of the concerned parties were waiting in a room—. “Thank you for waiting. Everyone, you look the same as I last saw you.”
The person who appeared was Rossweisse-san’s grandmother, Göndul-san! That person was still the same as when I met her before, she had this strict atmosphere around her. After taking a glance at her granddaughter, Göndul-san apologised to us. “I am really sorry for the inconvenience caused. Especially Hyoudou Issei-kun. Even though my granddaughter is an important servant… I could not reject the higher-ups’ decision.”
She also apologised to me directly. I also—
“N-No, no, basically, I also disagree, but for now, let’s just watch over her. We’ll answer after that.”
I replied. As soon as Rossweisse-san noticed her grandmother, Göndul-san, she looked displeased.