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Mika's apartment, usually quiet and empty, was now filled with people.
Mika, Sirzechs, Issei, Kiba, Koneko, and Asia sat in the living room, chatting, while Grayfia, Rias, Akeno, and Xenovia prepared dinner in the kitchen.
The lively chatter and laughter echoed through the apartment.
Soon, the meal was ready, and they all gathered around the table, continuing their conversation as they ate—
—In this relaxed atmosphere, Sirzechs gradually warmed up to them, the initial formality fading as they shared stories and jokes.
By the time they finished their meal, he was completely at ease, one of the group.
Just then, a clap drew their attention—
It was Mika!
The room fell silent as everyone looked at him. He smiled. "Everyone, I have an announcement. Firstly, I have a—confession. I've been deceiving you, and I apologize. However, I had my reasons. And tonight, I'm here to reveal the truth—"
"Don't worry, Mika. We won't blame you. Your secret hasn't caused us any harm. It's your personal matter," Rias said, instantly understanding what he was about to reveal.
While they hadn't had a chance to discuss it privately, due to Sirzechs's constant presence, she knew it must be related to her brother's arrival.
His presence must have prompted Mika to reveal his true strength, which he had been concealing. Otherwise, he would have told them sooner.
She had sensed it—the difference between his pre-departure power level, which had been below Satan-class, and his current strength, which was among the top ten in the world.
Her brother must have noticed as well...
"Indeed, Mika, you haven't harmed us. And even if you had, we wouldn't blame you. You've helped us so much, even saved our lives—" Issei added, his voice filled with genuine gratitude.
Issei had benefited the most from Mika's presence, his training and guidance invaluable.
The others nodded in agreement—they all trusted Mika implicitly!
"Thank you," Mika said, his smile widening at their unwavering support. He enjoyed this feeling of trust, this camaraderie.
He then revealed his secret: He was a traveler between worlds...
————
"I hadn't intended to reveal this; it is, after all, a personal matter. However, time flows differently in these other worlds. While it might seem like I've been with you constantly, never truly leaving—I did leave, once, and spent over a decade in another world. And during that time—my power increased significantly."
"This naturally intrigued your brother," Mika said, turning to Sirzechs, who was listening intently, his hands clasped behind his head.
Sirzechs smiled at Mika. "It's only natural, Mika. After all, every being's growth follows a certain—trajectory. Yours, however, seemed to defy all logic. Honestly, when I first sensed the change, I suspected you weren't…you anymore, that you had been replaced."
"I suspected as much," Mika replied with a smile.
"That's why I decided to tell you the truth. I wouldn't want such a misunderstanding to come between us, especially since…well, if we fought, it would only put Rias in a difficult position." He valued his companions and would protect them, especially from the pain of being caught between two opposing forces.
"I admire your loyalty," Sirzechs said, sensing the depth of Mika's feelings for Rias. He raised his glass. "Let's have a toast, Mika."
Mika, unable to refuse such an offer, clinked his glass against Sirzechs's and they began drinking, their conversation flowing easily as they discussed various topics, their earlier formality replaced by a comfortable camaraderie.
The others watched them, a little bewildered.
"Did—did he just defuse a potential crisis?" Xenovia murmured, still trying to process the scene.
"I think so," Akeno replied, equally surprised.
"But who would have won if they had fought? Mika said he spent over a decade in another world, his power increasing significantly. He defeated Kokabiel years ago, after only a few years of training. Imagine how strong he must be now, after another decade. He might even be stronger than the Satan!"
Issei exclaimed, his voice filled with excitement.
As Mika's junior, he naturally wanted him to be the strongest, even surpassing a Satan.
Issei believed Mika was capable of it.
However, not everyone shared his enthusiasm.
"No, Sirzechs-sama is the strongest Satan in history! He's a Transcendent being! Even if Mika has reached Satan-class, he wouldn't be Sirzechs-sama's match," Grayfia declared, her loyalty to her husband unwavering.
However, her words sparked another argument.
"Who said Mika is only Satan-class? He's far beyond that now! He's even stronger than Brother!" Rias retorted.
She knew he was among the world's top ten, but she didn't know that Sirzechs was as well. Grayfia, on the other hand, knew Sirzechs's true strength, but not Mika's.
The two of them began to bicker.
————
Mika and Sirzechs, hearing their argument, turned to see Rias and Grayfia arguing, their faces a mix of amusement and exasperation.
It was a ridiculous argument, almost comical.
They intervened, calming the two down and ending their squabble. However, the others were still stifling their laughter. After all, such a display of—passion from Rias and Grayfia was a rare sight.
Rias and Grayfia, realizing their actions, were embarrassed.
It was unlike them to lose their composure, especially in front of so many people, including Sirzechs and Mika.
They apologized profusely, their repeated apologies only further amusing the others.
Mika and Sirzechs, unable to contain their laughter any longer, joined in, the room filled with a cheerful, almost familial warmth.
However, as the night wore on, the party had to end.
While Akeno, Kiba, Koneko, Xenovia, and Issei, as Devils, could easily wander the streets at night without any issues—Mika and Rias, as their hosts, insisted they stay, along with Sirzechs and Grayfia.
While some would be staying only temporarily, others would be staying longer—at least until the Three Factions meeting concluded.
"I'm glad I bought this entire building; otherwise, we wouldn't have enough room for everyone—" Rias said with a smile as she showed them to their rooms.
Unlike Sirzechs and Grayfia—
Akeno, Kiba, Koneko, Xenovia, and Issei all had permanent rooms in the building. After all, it was a large building with plenty of space.
Even with Mika's numerous laboratories, there were still many unused rooms. Therefore, Rias, who often hosted gatherings at the apartment, had assigned rooms to each of them.
If they stayed too late, they would simply spend the night—
And if they had any sensitive experiments to conduct, Mika's apartment, with its enhanced security, both internal and external, was the ideal location.
————
"Expecting a compliment for my foresight?" Mika asked Rias, pulling her into his arms.
"Don't be silly," Rias murmured, though she snuggled closer, enjoying his embrace.
He grinned and, ignoring her protests, lifted her into a princess carry. "I'm going to—reward you tonight."
"Wait… there are other people here—even my brother…" Rias whispered, burying her face in his chest.
While the apartment's soundproofing was exceptional, preventing Akeno and the others from hearing anything—Sirzechs was a different matter. With his enhanced senses, if he decided to check on them, it would be incredibly embarrassing.
"Don't worry—I'll activate the barrier," he reassured her.
"But will it block my brother's perception?" She trusted Mika's abilities, but she still had to ask.
"Block it? Of course not. He's a Satan, after all. However, if he senses the barrier activated, he'll know we're occupied. Surely he wouldn't intrude?"
"My brother isn't a pervert," Rias said defensively.
"But still…" Rias hesitated.
"No buts. Just…relax." His firm tone calmed her anxieties.
He carried her into his room and closed the door, a peaceful silence settling over the apartment.
Within their respective rooms, different stories unfolded.
In the room Mika had assigned to Sirzechs and Grayfia, they were talking quietly.
"How much of Mika's story do you think was…true?" Grayfia asked, looking at Sirzechs, who sat on the bed.
"I believe it was all true," Sirzechs replied.
"All of it?"
"Yes," Sirzechs confirmed. "I've observed him carefully. Based on my experience, I don't think he was lying. He seems incapable of deception. It's likely a consequence of his immense power. We should trust him. Besides, his strength—it's extraordinary."
"How strong is he?" Grayfia asked, her curiosity piqued. She wasn't usually interested in such matters, but after their earlier argument, and with Sirzechs's own assessment, she couldn't help but wonder.
"I don't know. But he's at least…my equal."
Normally, those who had reached the top ten, the pinnacle of power in this world, could easily assess the strength of weaker opponents.
This was something Mika wasn't aware of—and yet, during his earlier encounter with Mika, he hadn't been able to sense his true power.
There were only two possibilities:
Either Mika had become incredibly weak, which was clearly not the case (he could still sense a faint, though likely suppressed, aura), or his power had reached a level comparable to his own, perhaps even surpassing it.
"I suspect—he might even be stronger than me...."
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