Chapter 261

"Lady Yasaka. I am fully aware the lives of the Nekomata cannot be relegated to a mere transaction. As such, I am willing to listen to whatever demands you may have."

He was ready for Yasaka to make him bleed. The Nekomata were already somewhat rare and their population was concentrated in the Underworld. If push comes to shove, he'd 'reallocate' funds from some clans like the Naberius.

"Your willingness is appreciated, Lucifer-sama."

Yasaka put down her cup of tea.

"As for reparations, would it be too much for you if you rebuild the Nekomata Village?"

"..."

The gears slowly churned in Sirzechs's head. The condition Yasaka proposed confused him greatly, until…realisation.

"?!"

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|DxD|

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Sirzechs remembered the devastating sight of the Nekomata Village like it was yesterday. The stench of the corpses, the limbs peeking beneath the rubble, the burning flames…everything was clear in his head.

He saw the bodies himself. Under such grievous injuries, it was impossible for the Nekomata to be alive.

Sigh…

He shook his head tiredly.

[I thought too far.]

Yasaka's words made him delusional. Perhaps all she wanted was the town to be built as a memorial of sorts. Or maybe there would be another group of Nekomata who would go and live there.

Regardless of reasons, he would fulfill her request.

"I will have our best teams work on it as soon as possible, Lady Yasaka."

He couldn't believe himself. For a moment he thought the Nekomata were alive---a foolish notion.

"Fufu~"

Sirzechs's reactions did not go unnoticed by Yasaka. The brief flashes of surprise and most importantly, hope, did not escape her senses. Inwardly, she approved of Sirzechs more and more. It showed he didn't view yokai as people of lower caste.

"You know, Lucifer-sama, your thought process is not entirely incorrect."

She looked at him with a teasing glance. There was no need for her to elaborate. A smart man like Sirzechs would figure what she meant.

"..."

Indeed, a small sparkle of hope ignited in his eyes.

"Lady Yasaka. Do you mean that…"

He dared not finish his sentence. A wrong presumption would only further sour relations between them.

"Yes, Lucifer-sama. The Nekomata are still alive."

She nodded with a smile. Her clear and concise words echoed throughout the room.

Krrrrr!

The chair scraped the floor as Sirzechs abruptly stood up. He gripped the edges of his table tightly. The wood creaked under the force of his hold. His knuckles turned white, anticipation filling his eyes.

"I need to see them!"

The death of the Nekomata was always a heavy weight in his heart, a terrible outcome aroused by his incompetence. Having a whole race slaughtered under his eyes would always remain a sore point in his life.

But to hear they were alive---he desperately wanted to see them…needed to see them.

"Where are-"

"Please calm down, Lucifer-sama."

Yasaka put a dampener on his enthusiasm with a small smile.

"Why don't we wait until everyone is free? That way, we can all go and see them."

"..."

Slowly, Sirzechs realised the brashness of his actions. He was indeed a bit too eager.

"Apologies, Lady Yasaka. I was too rash."

He took his seat once more and calmed his excitement. Serafall, Ajuka, Falbium, and Aurelia were embroiled in work and would be kept busy until late evening at most.

"If you don't mind me asking, how did the Nekomata survive?"

It was a question he desperately wanted to know.

"We have to thank Aurelia-chan for that. She had a suspicion the devils would try to harm the Nekomata for reasons of self-interest. So out of caution, she worked alongside the village chiefs to create a large barrier that would induce very realistic illusions."

"..."

Sirzechs felt a bit of horror at Yasaka's insinuation. He personally walked through those streets. If everything he saw truly was an illusion…

"Lady Yasaka-"

"Fufu~. I know you don't believe me. But you'll see for yourself soon. In the meantime, can we go and see those little ones? Wukong-sama has been anxious for a while now."

"Of course."

Sirzechs could only temporarily put aside his doubts. If Aurelia can create seals that could even fool someone of his calibre, then her reputation was well-deserved.

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|DxD|

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Luxury, opulence, and tons of food---that is what could best describe the current living conditions of Kuroka and Shirone. The two girls were treated like royalty, a true definition of rags to riches.

They were in a rather modest two-floor house situated far from the bustling noise of the city. The place was maintained by a few devils who managed the house. They were kind and did not discriminate against the two of them.

In the dining room, the two girls were set to have a feast. Shirone's little mouth was covered in oil from the meat she was eating. Her small hands clumsily held a piece of steak ready to enter her mouth after she finished chewing.

A devil maidservant stood at her side and continued to cut the steak into small pieces for the little Neko's enjoyment.

Next to Shirone was Kuroka. Unlike her sister, Kuroka was a little nervous. The table was filled with plates of hot food and drinks, yet her wariness kept her appetite from blossoming.

It's been only two days since they were caught by a bald man---and she was so close to reaching her village! If it weren't because she sensed a large number of devils, she would've made it before they got captured.

Fortunately, this devil didn't seem to bear hostile intentions against her and Shirone. He instead shoved them in this fancy house and had two women personally take care of them. What plans he had for them, she didn't know, but she couldn't bear to worry her little sister.

[Please let nothing happen to her.]

As long as Shirone survived, she'd accept anything…even if it meant becoming an experiment again.

"Miss Kuroka. Please eat your food before it gets cold."

The woman at her side took the initiative to pick out a steak for her and put it on her plate. She then cut the meat into smaller portions that could be picked up using a chopstick. Kuroka did not know what to say to this feeling of being babied.

The woman's smile certainly was sincere, which only made Kuroka more unsure since the woman was a devil. It could be fake for all she knew.

"There. Doesn't that look scrumptious?"

"..."

Honestly, it really did. Shirone certainly did.

Sigh…

Kuroka took her chopsticks and obediently ate the pieces of meat. Whether it was poisoned or not, she no longer cared. This was the heart of devil territory. There was no escaping, especially when she knew that bald man could easily find her.

[I really hope nothing bad happens.]

She continued to eat while the lady at her side enthusiastically picked out some meat and veggies for her. The minutes dragged on and the two girls continued to eat in silence. But soon enough, a change happened.

"?!"

Her hand froze. Five powerful energy signatures suddenly appeared outside the house. They were suppressed, but she could feel them clearly through her senjutsu.

Clatter! Clatter!

She dropped her chopsticks and all eyes turned to her. But she didn't care…didn't notice. Her eyes were focused on the door. From what she could sense, these people were walking up a pathway, and all of them were behemoths equal-to or far-surpassing the bald man.

The only reason, the only reason she was not doused in panic was because she sensed the familiar aura of her people. Two yokai were amongst the group of people approaching and for once, a faint sense of hope aroused in her.

There were two yokai. That much she was sure of. Then there was one devil. His power was scary, but it didn't compare to the two…humans?

[Focus, Kuroka!]

She didn't know what their intentions were, but she only hoped their intentions were benign. Steadily, the energy signatures neared until she heard the muffled sound of bickering coming from beyond the door.

"-brother. You can't just rush in and eat."

"Says who? I can smell the food from here."

"That doesn't mean you can just eat it."

"Bullshit! I'm hungrier than a bear after hibernation. Unless you want me to eat you instead? I've never had dragon meat before."

"What?! You want a piece of me?!"

"You bet I do! In fact, let's go! Right here! Right now!"

"Why you little-"

*THWACK!* *THWACK!*

"You two darn brats! You're causing a fuss!"

She heard the voice of an elder admonish the two boys. There were aggrieved mumbles, but the boys quietened down until they soon reached the door.

BA!

The door was slammed open by a teenager with blonde hair tied in a ponytail. He was seventeen or eighteen by her guess and just from seeing him, she could confirm he wasn't a devil.

"Meat!"

He shouted in jubilation. He gave her and Shirone a side glance, but his focus was on the food on the table. He swaggered forward while those behind him watched with varying sighs of disappointment

"Someone bring me a plate. I'm starving!"

He pulled a seat and sat down without invitation. One of the servants helplessly brought him a plate, a gesture which told Kuroka this…human(?), was someone important.

"Brother Igor. Have some decorum."

The teen with brown hair walked over.

"We have to respect someone's dwelling."

His voice was light yet commanding, yet it clearly couldn't command the one called Igor.

"Meh. I'm sure Falbium wouldn't mind. We're brothers who understand each other. Besides, too many hours have gone by without me eating, Atid."

"..."

The one called Atid also held his stomach. Indeed, Igor's words aroused the hunger in his stomach. The decorum he spoke of? It flew out the window.

Helplessly, he looked at one of the maidservants.

"Please bring me another plate."

Igor dug into the meat without a care in the world while Atid sat down next to him. The ravenous sound of Igor chomping his meat seemed to irk Atid a bit, which prompted him to speak.

"You really are a glutton, brother. I hope you choke on that meat."

"Mm?"

*Chew* *Chew* *Chew* *Swallow* *Wipes lips*

"Atleast I have a gag reflex."

"Hmph. Whatev…wait a minute."

The tension in the air slowly rose.

"What are you implying?"

"Exactly what I said. Why? You have a…problem?"

The two boys glared at each other. One could swear they could see lightning flash between them. Each held on to their seats, daring the other to make the first move.

Sigh…

Finally, the man in royal armour couldn't remain a bystander anymore, not when these two were on the verge of fighting again. He stepped between them in an effort to mediate. It was clear these two truly would fight if no one stopped them.

"Dimori-kun. Lord Atid. Please calm down."

Igor was quick to shrug his shoulders and deny responsibility.

"Don't blame me, Lucifer. Atid started this whole thing."

Kuroka couldn't help but find this whole situation a bit funny. These two were like oil and water, yet they were also friends. It was a funny contradiction, but that thought quickly evaporated when she processed what the blonde said.

"Lucifer?!?!"

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AN

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Thanks for reading. My p.a.t.r.e.o.n is there if you want to read further. Just look for HolyGambler.

Until the next chapter.