Second, to stay besides that girl with crimson-hair every time you do something. As long as you keep these two promises, we will swear to you that we won’t lay our hands on you ever again.”
—! Granduncle said something that makes me believe this isn’t real. It was certainly something that I didn’t predict. The mountain ascetics leave silently from me who has my mouth opening wider by the seconds. I can’t help it, so I ask him one question. “…………May I introduce myself as “Himejima” from now on?”
Granduncle says it without turning back. “……There are many others that carry that surname. Do as you like.”
Saying just that, granduncle and the others leave from this place. The only ones left are Rias, Sir Agrippa, and I. Then Sir Agrippa says it to Rias. “Now then, princess. I will leave the rest to you.”
He says it cheerfully. This is something I found out afterwards, which is that Sir Agrippa suggested an idea to my granduncle that the House of Gremory will carry on the existence of me and my past history. Then if I do something from now on, they will make it that “The one who serves the House of Gremory did that”. It seems like there were other suggestions from their side, but I heard that Sir Agrippa accepted all of their suggestions. As a result, I did not get myself targeted by them ever again. “Was it okay, Agrippa? Didn’t you need to do something due to the issue about our territory?”
Rias tries to confirm with him. Yes, I purified the human who has a pact with this person on my own. However, Sir Agrippa smiles gently. “I do not have a hobby to pass a judgement on a small lady after all. However, it was fortunate. I will be leaving from this area next month and it was planned for me to work in a different country. If the Devil from a different household that will be taking this territory were to meet with this lady……that Devil wouldn’t have been merciful.”
Yes, I was fortunate. If I came here a month late—I probably wouldn’t be alive. Devils……I thought they were a scary existence. However, these people I met who are from the House of Gremory—are Devils that are kind and strict. Sir Agrippa pats my head. “I’m very sorry for the fact that we, the Gremory, took everything from you which includes your birth. You probably had your reasons and you even had the history of your life till now. However, this was the only way to save you.”
I shake my head to the side, and put on a smile that I couldn’t show for a long time. “No, I’m grateful that I was able to be safe like this.”
At that time, I said that while actually meaning it. Even if the Himejima-clan were to forget me, just my existence will be the biggest proof that my mother, Himejima Shuuri, existed. This is something I found out afterwards by some connections, but when I was being chased by the ones from Himejima, the one who saved me when I was in danger……was Azazel who was secretly hiding himself. The thing that granduncle said that time, “It seems like the black Angels aren’t interfering” must mean him. It must be an action he took on behalf of my father who wasn’t able to show himself in front of me. That person watched over me simply because I’m the daughter of his war buddy—. Maybe he can’t forgive himself by thinking that he was the one that killed the wife of his war buddy. Except, he doesn’t say anything. No matter what time, he simply shows a smile of a naughty child to me—. What I witnessed when I stepped foot into the Underworld by having Rias take me was—a gorgeous and luxurious castle. The one I met right away was Venerana-sama who happens to be Rias’s mother. “How do you do? You must be the Fallen Angel lady that Rias mentioned. It’s nice to meet you, I am Rias’s mother, Venerana. It’s okay for you to think of this house as your own.”
Just like she said, I was welcomed into the Gremory’s castle with a special treatment. She even taught me the way a lady should act, different kinds of knowledge, and even studies. I went into a brilliant world that makes me think that the life I had until now wasn’t real. About six months had passed since I started living in the Underworld, it happened when I was reading the book about monsters together with Rias in her room. I asked her. “Hey, why are you doing this much for me?”
“Why are you asking me now? We may have met by a chance, but we are family now, you know?”
I felt as though I was really saved by Rias who said that. Rias says it while she takes the chess piece on the chessboard into her hand. “That’s right, I will be receiving the [Evil Pieces] soon. That’s why there is a part of me that is thinking of gathering my servants.”
“……So you are asking me to become your servant because I carry the blood of a Fallen Angel?”
“You saved a person that was possessed by an evil spirit in that town right? Why did you do that?”
“……That person was asking for help so I couldn’t resist.”
She makes a big nod with her head and then smiles. “Yes, that! “A kind Fallen-Angel”! It sure did make me want to turn you into my servant!”
……I’m astonished. The truth is I thought of her as a weird Devil girl. That’s because she wants a “kind Fallen-Angel”. “Ufufu.”
When I started laughing with amusement, Rias makes a strange look while tilting her head. “D-Did I say something weird?”
“Yup, I’m sure you are quite weird.”
“A-Am I……? But I thought you were a kind girl, that’s why I wanted to rescue you back then.”
“—! ……Rias, thank you. I was really happy back then.”
I was so indebted to Rias that I can’t thank her enough—. After that, I started to gain knowledge about the Underworld, the Devils, and the Fallen-Angels, while living in the Gremory castle. I usually stayed beside Rias, and had a lifestyle where I go between the human world and the Underworld with her. Rias took me to many places. There were many places in this world I didn’t know about. “Look, Akeno! That’s the Niagara falls! But the great falls we saw in the Underworld before was even more amazing!”
Rias showed me all sorts of her expressions. Like when she was angry, when she smiled, and when she cried after being lectured by her mother. I always stood by her side and at times I cheered her up, at times I laughed together with her, and at times I argued with her. Without realising it, she became someone who is irreplaceable. Sirzechs-sama, Grayfia-sama, and their servants even treated me well. It was around then when I met Sona. And around the time when Rias entered junior high, she received her evil pieces from her father. “Akeno, will you become my [Queen]? ……Will you become a Devil and support me by staying next to me?”
I gave my answer, yes, to Rias who asked me with anxiety. There was no reason for me to refuse by this time. After that, Rias took in Koneko-chan who was moping due to the troubles her actual sister, Kuroka, caused and then made Yuuto-kun into her servant. Around the time when we moved up to the high school division of Kuou academy, Rias said this to me. “Akeno.