Chapter [73]

Living Room

In the living room, Mirko, Xenovia, and Erza waited anxiously for details from the meeting that had just taken place. Their expectant gazes met, and the three exchanged nervous smiles as they waited.

Merlin, seated in a comfortable armchair, held a cup of tea between her hands, watching the young women with a serene expression. She knew their curiosity was about to overflow.

Nana, with a gleam in her eyes, approached the group, ready to share the news. Her enthusiasm was contagious, and the other women could hardly wait to hear her words.

"Riser-sama defeated many mages and a man who could transform into a dragon!"

"A dragon?" exclaimed Mirko, surprise evident in her scaly expression.

"Yes, he was quite strong," agreed Merlin, her voice carrying a tone of respect. "Riser-sama had an interesting fight with him."

Meanwhile, Erza observed the conversation with interest before speaking up. "I imagine you also had exciting battles," she suggested, addressing the other women present in the room.

Nana sighed, shaking her head. "Unfortunately not," she admitted with palpable disappointment.

"Why not?" questioned Xenovia, curious.

"It's Merlin's fault," accused Nana, pointing a playful finger at the sorceress.

Merlin raised an eyebrow, surprised by the accusation. "My fault? I was just following Riser-sama's orders," she defended herself, her voice tinged with perplexity.

"If they were Riser-sama's orders, then they shouldn't be questioned, just obeyed," intervened Erza, her voice firm and authoritative.

"I'm not questioning!" Nana hastened to say, raising her hands in a gesture of surrender. "I'm just stating the facts."

Mirko let out a loud laugh, cutting through the tense silence that hung in Riser's mansion's living room. Nana, beside her, shot her a reproachful look, while Erza remained impassive, her gaze fixed on Nana.

"You're very serious, Erza," commented Mirko, a smile playing on her lips. "And you, Nana, are too desperate. We all came to this world for the same reason: to serve Riser-sama."

Nana huffed, a slight blush coloring her cheeks. "It's not a matter of desperation, Mirko."

Merlin, who observed the interaction with interest, intervened gently. "No one doubts your loyalty, Nana. Our devotion to Riser-sama is absolute. Erza just takes her responsibilities very seriously."

Erza nodded, her expression serious. "Riser-sama entrusted us to fulfill our duties. We cannot fail."

Mirko rolled her eyes, but her smile remained. "Ah, always so serious, Erza. Sometimes, you need to relax a bit, you know."

In the living room, Merlin, Mirko, Xenovia, Erza, and Nana conversed animatedly, their voices blending into a harmonious symphony of conversation.

"We can't relax too much, Mirko," cautioned Merlin, her tone laden with concern as she glanced around the room.

Mirko raised an eyebrow, her gaze narrowing slightly. "And what do you suggest, Merlin?" she asked, a hint of skepticism in her voice.

Merlin smiled enigmatically, a mischievous sparkle dancing in her eyes as she raised her hand, murmuring a soft spell. "Sleep," she whispered, her magic weaving through the air.

Mirko's instincts kicked in, her body tensing as she tried to defend against the imminent spell. However, to her surprise, nothing happened. She blinked confusedly, realizing that the magic hadn't affected her.

"It wasn't for you, Mirko. It was for Xenovia," clarified Merlin, her expression unreadable as she turned her attention to Xenovia's sleeping figure.

Erza's irritation grew, her voice sharp as she demanded, "Why did you put Xenovia to sleep?"

Merlin sighed, her gaze tinged with regret as she explained. "You've forgotten, Erza. Xenovia is different from us. She didn't come from another world; she's from here. And even though she's part of the Peerage, we can't let her know certain details without Riser-sama's permission. Or do you want to go against him?"

"Of course not!" Erza replied quickly, her loyalty to Riser unwavering.

Nana approached Merlin with a worried expression. "Merlin, what are you going to do with Xenovia?" she asked, her tone filled with apprehension.

Merlin turned to face Nana, a mysterious smile playing on her lips. "Nothing yet! First, I'll ask Riser-sama," she replied, her voice low and confident.

Riser's Room

While Sona was absorbed in a phone conversation with her parents, Riser found himself immersed in a mental dialogue with Merlin. After hearing her detailed report about Xenovia, a decision began to take shape in his mind.

"Erase Xenovia's memories and ensure she has a peaceful rest."

After giving the order to Merlin regarding Xenovia, Riser felt a weight lifted off his shoulders. He relaxed, letting out a sigh of relief as his mind began to plot the next steps. "I didn't want to have to do this, but there's a lot going on, and even Sona doesn't know about this," he thought, pondering the delicate situation. "Maybe if I ever get to the point of being the strongest in the DxD, I can reveal something, but until then, absolute silence. I need to make sure this kind of thing doesn't happen again." With that determination in mind, he decided it was time to have a conversation with the girls to be careful when talking about other worlds.

Living Room

Meanwhile, in the living room, Merlin shared with the other women the decision that had been made. Mirko arched an eyebrow, her expression reflecting a mixture of surprise and understanding. "I understand," she murmured, processing the information. "It's a necessary measure."

Xenovia remained asleep, oblivious to the discussions happening around her. Erza, on the other hand, seemed contemplative. "It's a matter of security," she commented, her deep voice echoing in the room.

Nana nodded, her expression serious. "I agree. We must trust in Riser-sama's wisdom."

Merlin observed the reactions of the other women, her keen gaze capturing every nuance of emotion. She knew the decision wouldn't be easy to accept, but it was necessary to protect the Peerage and, most importantly, Riser-sama.

Merlin began the spell on Xenovia, her magic skillfully weaving through the air as she ensured the young woman's memories were sealed. With a tired sigh, she finished the enchantment, watching carefully to ensure that everything had been done correctly.

Erza, seeing Xenovia asleep, acted swiftly, carefully picking her up in her arms and heading to the young woman's room. Her steps were firm and determined, her expression serious as she concerned herself with her companion's well-being.

Mirko, watching the scene with regret, felt a tightness in her chest, silently blaming herself for Xenovia's current situation. Her mind filled with doubts and self-recrimination, questioning her own actions and decisions.

Nana, noticing Mirko's distress, approached her gently, offering words of comfort and support. "It's not your fault, Mirko," she murmured, her tone soft and reassuring. "Mistakes happen, and we need to learn from them."

Merlin, on the other hand, didn't share the same opinion. "Wrong, Nana," she retorted, her voice firm and assertive. "The fault lies with her. She needs to take responsibility for her actions."

Nana shook her head, disagreeing. "Merlin, don't speak like that," she admonished, her concern evident on her face. "We all make mistakes. That's how we learn and grow."

Mirko intervened, agreeing with Merlin. "She's right, Nana," she admitted, her voice laden with regret. "I'm old enough to take responsibility for my own mistakes."

As the conversation continued, Serefall entered the living room with her typical animation. "The magical girl is here!" she announced, her voice full of enthusiasm. "Where are Riser-chan and Sona-chan?"

The tension in the air seemed to lessen slightly with Serefall's arrival, her contagious energy breaking the heavy atmosphere that hung over the group. For a moment, they all allowed themselves to relax.

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