168 Disqualification

Human World, South China Sea, Uninhabited Island

After defeating Loki, James immediately called for Scathach. When she arrived at the site of the battle, she immediately sealed Loki using her runecraft. After that, James, Scathach and Vali went to assist the rest of the party in killing all the Midgardsormr clones that Loki released before the battle. Once they arrived on the battlefield, the battle ended in less than an hour.

"Damn that Loki!" Mizore shouted irritably. "Who the hell makes hundreds of clones of their own child?"

"A mad man who is hell bent on bringing forth the war that is supposed to end everything?" Moka asked while tilting her head cutely.

Shuna and Shion nodded in response to Moka's answer. At the same time, Mizore looked at her best friend blankly.

"That was rhetorical!" Mizore shouted.

"I know." Moka said while she nodded at Mizore. "But I liked your reaction."

Instead of responding again, Mizore simply rolled her eyes. Then, she allowed her eyes to fall on James. Immediately after that, her eyes lit up and she ran at full speed toward him. After a few moments, Mizore was in range. And when she was, she leapt with all her strength to latch onto James.

"I'm happy to see you too, Mizore." James said as he caught Mizore and made several turns to kill the momentum she carried with her. "Did you have fun playing with the snakes?"

"No!" Mizore said with a pout while puffing her cheeks. "If I have to fight, I don't want to fight mindless beasts."

James nodded in agreement. Then, he put Mizore down and looked around the battlefield. Noticing that everyone was fine, rather no one had any serious injuries, James nodded in satisfaction. A moment later, however, James felt like someone was missing.

"Hey, where is Shidou?" James asked. "Wasn't she with Ri Ri and her team in the waiting room?"

"Are you referring to the reincarnated angel?" Scathach asked.

"Yeah, that's her." James replied with a nod.

"Originally she was supposed to be grouped with Rias and her peerage as you mentioned." Scathach said, beginning the explanation. "However, earlier in the day Michael asked me to exclude her from the teleportation. Apparently, he had another mission for her. Unfortunately, I am unaware of the details."

"Honestly, they don't matter to me." James replied with a shrug. "I just didn't want to have to report that we had lost someone. As the devil with the highest social class and the leader of this operation, I don't want to have to deal with those Devil Council idiots before our duels."

"Hey, James." Rias said as she approached. "What should we do with all these dragon corpses?"

After hearing Rias' question, James took some time to contemplate as she and Sona approached. Then, when they drew near, James gave his answer.

"Let's call Ajuka." James suggested. "Maybe he'll be able to find out something about all these clones. Plus, I'm sure he'll be able to do something with all these dragons scales."

Both Rias and Sona nodded in response. Then, they both approached even closer. At the same time, they both wrapped their arms around James.

"We should finally have some time for ourselves now, right?" Rias said in a seductive tone.

"We should take a day just for us on the next weekend." Sona said in a similar tone.

James smiled, then he softly refused.

"As much as I'd love to." James said with a wry smile. "I already have plans for the next weekend."

Rias and Sona both froze momentarily. Then, they frowned.

"With who?" Rias questioned.

"Although Rias is asking in a rather rude way, I would also like to know." Sona said.

Hearing Sona's remark, Rias also realized that she was asking rather rudely. However, until she got an answer to her question, she had no intention of apologizing.

Seeing the gazes his two fiancées were giving him, James smiled wryly. Then, instead of answering verbally, James shifted his own gaze to Scathach, who was also watching the three teenagers with a smile. After not receiving an answer, Rias and Sona pouted. Also, they were curious about what caught James' attention while he was speaking to them. So, they both followed James' gaze. After seeing Scathach, they both fell silent.

"So, it's Master Scathach." Sona said quietly.

"I don't even know if it's safe to get mad at that." Rias said while trying to control her pouting expression.

After hearing Rias and Sona's words and tone, James could not help but laugh. Then, like he used to when they were younger, he began to pat them both on the head. Almost immediately after James began is petting, Rias and Sona's expressions turned into happy smiles.

"You two need to stop that. James said with a smile. "We all know that you would look down on me if I broke a promise with someone just because you asked me to have a date."

Rias and Sona's happy smiles turned into embarrassed ones shortly after James pointed out their true feelings. However, the happiness the head pats brought was still evident on their faces.

"Anyway, Master, would you mind contacting the Underworld and seeing what they want to do with these corpses?" James asked after watching the change in expression on his fiancées' faces.

Scathach agreed with a nod. Then, she stepped away from the noise of all the chattering people and contacted the Underworld with a communication magic circle. Shortly after Scathach distanced herself from the group, everyone's attention was drawn in a certain direction.

"Just leave me alone!" Akeno screamed angrily.

Hearing that scream, James and Rias' expressions changed for the worse. Even Sona showed a rather unhappy expression. Then, all three of them rushed in the direction of Akeno's scream.

A few moments earlier, Baraqiel was trying to engage Akeno in conversation. Having no success using small talk, he took a more aggressive approach.

"I forbid you to continue seeing that boy!" Baraqiel shouted. "How can such a playboy be good enough for you?"

"And why would I need your permission?" Akeno asked, finally breaking her silence.

Surprised that he received a response, Baraqiel decided to try and strike the iron while it was hot.

"Because I am your father. And it is clear that that boy is bad for you." Baraqiel replied sternly. "You deserve someone who will love you and only you."

Instead of replying, Akeno simply rolled her eyes and looked away. She found Baraqiel's argument pointless. She knew that in the beginning, James did not even want a relationship with any of the girls he had accepted. However, when he finally accepted the feelings of those who clearly cared for him, he made it quite clear that he would have more than one woman. And not once did he force anyone to be with him, nor did he ask anyone to put up with this harem relationship.

Noticing that Akeno was ignoring him, Baraqiel was angered. Even if he had not been there for her, he was still her father, she should show him the respect he deserves.

"Why can't you understand that that boy is toxic!" Baraqiel shouted angrily. "You're not even part of his peerage! There has to be an ulterior motive for him to treat you so well."

Akeno's expression of disinterest slowly began to morph into one of disdain. Although she never forgave her father, Akeno understood deep down that the fact that he had been away when her mother was killed was not his fault. As for him not coming to save her after that while she was on the run, she stopped caring a long time ago. In fact, she is happier that he did not show up back then. Otherwise, she would have never met the people who she cares about now. And the way that Baraqiel is continuously insulting not only the person she loves the most but also the person that saved her when she was at her lowest, her patience was running thin.

Eventually, Akeno's patience ran out.

*Smack!*

"Just leave me alone!" Akeno screamed angrily.

Baraqiel was taken aback after being slapped by his daughter. Once his mind registered it, though, he was enraged. However, when he met eyes with Akeno and saw the undisguised hatred and the tears pooling in her eyes, he had no idea what to do.

"You honestly think that you have the right to call yourself my father?" Akeno screamed at the top of her lungs. "Don't make me laugh. Sure, it wasn't your fault you were gone when the Himejima Clan showed up to kill us. And yeah, it wasn't your fault that Mother sacrificed herself to keep me safe. Hell, I stopped blaming you for that years ago. But where the fuck were you when I was being hunted across Japan?"

Seeing Akeno's expression and the hate filled words she spewed at him, Baraqiel did not know what to say. However, he still believed that James was wrong for Akeno. Before he could speak any further, though, Akeno continued.

"And you claim that James is taking advantage of me?" Akeno asked with disdain in her tone. "Then let me ask you... What would he gain by doing so?"

Once again Baraqiel had no answer.

"He's richer than both you and me." Akeno continued. "His social class is high. He's a disciple under the greatest trainer of heroes in Celtic lore. He's stronger than everyone in your organization. And he has multiple women who are as beautiful if not more beautiful than I am. So once again, what does he gain from taking advantage of me?"

Akeno, after asking her question, crossed her arms under her chest and stared at Baraqiel with disgust. Baraqiel, after seeing the look in his daughter's eyes, was enraged. However, he knew what she said was true. On top of that, he knew he was being irrational. So, he remained silent.

Unfortunately, Akeno was far to angry to let things end there.

"I've given you a chance to explain and defend yourself, yet you say nothing." Akeno said with even more disdain in her tone. "We both know that what I said was right. And we both know that you're being irrational. But you can't even apologize when you're in the wrong."

Akeno then shook her head before continuing in an eerily calm tone.

"You may be exemplary as a soldier and subordinate." Akeno said before turning away. Then, as she walked away, she continued coldly. "But as a father... You disqualified yourself years ago. And as a man, I can't imagine why Mother ever married you. But I'm glad she did, either..."

After Akeno questioned why Shuri married him, Baraqiel completely lost control of his anger. He stopped listening to Akeno's scathing words and burst forward. Grabbing her by the arm, he turned Akeno around to face him. Then, Baraqiel raised his right hand and spoke angrily.

"I've had enough of your disrespect!" Baraqiel said as he swung his raised hand at Akeno's face.

Not expecting that Baraqiel would actually attack her, Akeno was not ready to defend. So, she prepared to take the attack and closed her eyes. However, the expected slap never came. Eventually, she opened her eyes and was surprised by what she saw.

In front of her, Baraqiel was surrounded by three people she was familiar with. Holding Baraqiel's right arm in place was James. The look in his eyes screamed that nothing in this world would make him happier than killing the fallen angel in front of him. Behind Baraqiel was Rias with the [Power of Destruction] condensed on the tip of her right index finger, which was dangerously close to the back of Baraqiel's neck. And the last was Koneko, who was in her adult form with her cat ears and tails showing and a plume of white flames floating in front of her palm that was aimed at Baraqiel's heart.

"Baraqiel, don't make me kill you." James said in a frigid tone. "I know you're angry. Hell, I know that Akeno went a little too far with that last comment. But why don't you try thinking from her perspective? You abandoned her for eight years and try to come back and control her. You really are a failure as a father."

After that, Baraqiel deflated a bit. He released the strength in the arm he was trying to slap Akeno with, then he realized that everything James and Akeno said were true. With that realization, he hung his head with depression clear in his expression.

"Now, I think it would be best if you left." James said once Baraqiel's intent to harm Akeno had dissipated.

With that, Rias and Koneko cancelled their attacks and allowed Baraqiel to walk away. After walking away a few steps, Baraqiel looked back and saw Akeno crying in James' embrace.

"*Sigh* I really am a failure of a father." Baraqiel muttered before turning away from the scene.

"Oh, and Baraqiel." Rias said before Baraqiel could leave. "I will be reporting this to Azazel. Even if she is your daughter, she is a member of my peerage. And I do not tolerate those who would do them harm."

When Baraqiel looked back and made eye contact with Rias, he shuddered. The desire to see him dead residing in her eyes was much more intense than what he saw from James a moment ago. Without hesitating any further, Baraqiel teleported himself back to the Grigori Headquarters in the Underworld.

A moment after Baraqiel teleported away, another teleportation circle appeared next to James. When the teleportation was complete, Ajuka was revealed. Noticing the sober atmosphere, Ajuka did not know what was going on.

'They did win, right?" Ajuka thought to himself. 'Did they lose a comrade?'

"Did I come at a bad time?" Ajuka asked.