4 Finally, I'm Back Home

Underworld, Gremory Territory, Alaverus Estate.

In the living room of the luxurious mansion the Alaverus family calls their home, a teleportation magic circle bearing the mark of Lucifer appeared on the floor in the corner of the room. As it rose, the figures of three children, a boy and two girls, and four women gradually appeared.

As the teleportation magic circle reached its apex, the seven figures were revealed.

James, the only boy in the group, spoke as soon as the teleportation ended. "It feels good to be home, it feels like I've been away for days."

"This secret James wants to tell us will undoubtedly be outrageous. I mean, look at how much my sweet boy has changed since he woke up." Commented Leona on her son's drastic changes in personality.

"I like how James-Kun is now," replied Rias, jumping over to James and giving him a hug.

Pouting at Rias display of affection, Sona quietly pulled Rias away from James and pinched the hem of his shirt, then said "I like it, too."

Smiling at the girl's actions, Rhea covered her mouth with the back of her hand and softly giggled before remarking. "Ara, Ara, James-Kun, aren't you popular?"

"When you are all grown up, you are going to break a lot of hearts." Venelana chimed in, joining Rhea in teasing James.

Now, this is not the first time James has been teased after Rias and Sona showed their affection in front of their parents. Usually, James would be lightly blushing by the time one or both girls hugged him. And, after their parents started their teasing, he would shyly lower his head or turn it to the side, trying to hide his blushing.

This time, however, things were very different.

After being pulled away from James, Rias was unhappy with Sona. But, before she could show her displeasure, James had already started patting both girls' heads. causing Rias to narrow her eyes in pleasure; while Sona lowered her head with a flushed face.

"On top of being more outspoken, he has also grown bolder and more assertive. Or so it would seem." Remarked a beautiful young woman dressed in a blue French maid apron dress with red eyes and long silver hair that reached the small of her back, two braids starting behind her ears that hang down to her chest, and bangs that cover her eyebrows.

This woman, Grayfia Lucifuge, is the wife of Rias' elder brother, Sirzechs Lucifer, as well as the [Queen] of his peerage.

"If that's true, he really is going to be a little lady killer when he grows up." Leona mused. "That's better than the stammering mess Cassiel was... is when speaking to beautiful women."

"Well, at least you don't have to worry about Cassiel-San starting a harem." replied Rhea.

"True, most high-class male devils have multiple spouses to combat our low birth rates." Venelana agreed, before explaining further.

"Sometimes I wish he would start one." Leona muttered with a light blush, just loud enough for the other women to hear. "I mean, he just keeps going. Like the Energizer Bunny. Beats that drum the right way, too"

Hearing Leona's mutters, Venelana, Rhea, and Grayfia's eyes lit up. The scent of good gossip was in the air.

"Uhm...?"

That utterance put an end to their budding girl talk. Though Venelana, Rhea, and Grayfia each made a mental note to get to the bottom of it later.

"Yes? What's up, James?" Leona asked.

"What is a harem?" James asked with curiosity.

Although James had received Warren Thomas' information about otaku culture, he was simply too young to understand all of it. It didn't help him put the pieces together when most harem protagonists are worthlessly dense and unassertive.

The four women briefly froze before Leona decided to bite the bullet. Even if it has only been nine years since she found out about the supernatural world, she's had more than enough time to adapt to their common sense.

"it's when a man or woman has more than one wife or husband." Leona decided not to complicate things and explained in the simplest of terms.

"Does that mean that me and Sona could marry James-Kun and stay together forever?" Rias asked with her hand raised like a student.

After Rias asked her question, Sona turned crimson with steam coming out of her ears.

James on the other hand, just continued to smile. Finding Sona's reactions cute.

Venelana took it upon herself to answer her daughter's question.

"Technically that is true. However, due to politics, that is highly unlikely."

"But why?" Rias asked with a huff.

Even Sona raised her head, looking uncomfortable.

This time, Rhea continued the explanation. "There are several reasons. First, James-Kun is a half-devil. While the two of you are pure-blooded devils. If you two married James, the number of pure-blooded devils would not increase."

"Also, because the two of you are the heirs to your houses, your social classes do not match." Leona concluded.

"That's stupid." Sona said quietly, clearly not happy with the revelation.

"*Gasp* Does that mean Sona wants to break the rules?" Rias questioned in mild surprise.

"No." Sona answered quickly "But that doesn't change the fact that that rule is stupid."

Hearing that, Rias nodded her head furiously in agreement.

Rias and Sona's reactions to the topics of harems and marriage caused the three mothers to put on teasing smiles. They all had similar thoughts, thoughts that all boiled down to, "They are never going to live this down."

Noticing the almost manic smiles on Leona, Venelana, and Rhea's faces, James could feel that there was something they were leaving unsaid.

"So, there is no way for a Low-Class half-devil to marry a High-Class pure-blooded devil?" James asked out of simple curiosity. Though, Rias and Sona did not see it that way.

'James-Kun wants to marry me!' Rias thought to herself, eyes lighting up at the thought.

Sona on the other hand, waited for an answer to James' question. But the intensity of her stare showed just how invested she was in the answer.

Although Rias and Sona were interested in the answer because of what it meant for the future, James' interest seemed to only be for sating his curiosity.

'Girls grow up so much faster than boys.' Leona thought to herself while she observed the children's reactions. 'Whatever, that just means he'll be my baby for a little longer.'

Venelana eventually took the task of answering James' question.

"There are three things that will have to happen before that option is viable, James-Kun."

Venelana raised three fingers on her left hand then began her explanation as she folded her ring finger.

"First, you, James, will have to raise your personal strength to at least that of a high-rank supernatural being."

Folding her middle finger, Venelana continued.

"Second, you will have to raise your social class to at least High-Class."

Finally, she folded her index finger. However, her attention shifted from James to Rias and Sona.

"Lastly, you two will need to..."

Before Venelana could finish, she was patted on the shoulder by Rhea. When Venelana looked back to her, Rhea only shook her head, the "You know you can't say that" look on her face.

"*Sigh* Sorry girls, I'm not allowed to tell you that last condition, for now." Venelana said exasperatedly, before muttering, "Fucking political bullshit."

Both Rias and Sona pouted at the incomplete information. But they didn't badger Venelana for answers.

After a few seconds of this somber atmosphere, James said, with a casual smile, "Well, I planned to do that, anyway."

This led to the girls misunderstanding his intentions even further. James, of course, was completely unaware. Unfortunately for him, mind-reading is not a part of his skillset.

Another transportation magic circle bearing the mark of Lucifer appeared in the room shortly after James' declaration. As it rose from the floor, the figure of a man made itself visible. He stood 6'6' (198 cm) tall with brown skin, spikey dark red hair with one strand hanging over his forehead (reference high school Gohan for hairstyle), dusk pink eyes and, a full goatee the same color as his hair.

When James saw the man appear from the teleportation circle, he ran toward him. Making sure to take hold of his mother's hand along the way. Once he was close enough, while still holding his mother's hand, he jumped into his father's chest and said, "Welcome home, Poppa!"

After experiencing Warren Thomas childhood, growing up without a father, James' love and appreciation for his father multiplied.

As she was being dragged along by James, Leona also ended up in her husband, Cassiel's embrace.

Although he was happy with his son's display of affection, Cassiel was thoroughly confused due to James' completely out of character actions.

Leona, on the other hand, was thinking, 'Maybe Rias-Chan and Sona-Chan were right. This isn't so bad.'

After the mini family reunion, James' stomach made its presence known by growling loudly. And with that, Leona decided they could have the important conversation after dinner.

With the decision made, Leona and Grayfia made their way to the kitchen to prepare dinner. Meanwhile, Rhea and Venelana spent their time talking about their children and other interesting topics, while Cassiel played a board game with James, Rias, and Sona. After about thirty-five minutes, Leona and Grayfia carried dinner out to the dining room.

"Alright, it's time to eat." Announced Leona once all the dishes were set on the dining room table.

With the announcement, everyone took a seat around the table and enjoyed a nice, lively meal. Leona even managed to get Grayfia to loosen up enough to sit and eat with everyone. After taking approximately forty minutes to enjoy their meal and another fifteen for dessert, the mood began to change into something more solemn as everyone was curious to hear what it was that James wanted to keep secret.

Relocating to the living room, everyone found a comfortable place to sit and listen. Leona and Cassiel sat together on one of the three sofas in the room, Venelana and Rhea sat together on a sofa positioned opposite to Leona and Cassiel, Grayfia stood behind Venelana, and lastly, Rias and Sona sat on the last sofa. Meanwhile, James stood where all their lines of sight intersected.

Once everyone was settled, James began.

"Before I get started, Grayfia-Nee," James looked at Grayfia with a serious look in his eyes. "If you listen to what I'm gonna tell everyone, you have to promise you won't tell anyone, not even Sirzechs-Niisan."

Grayfia was surprised to be singled out and even more surprised by James' serious expression. However, she had been briefed that her husband was not to be made known of James' secret.

"Don't worry James-Kun, I promise." Grayfia responded with a smile.

"You can't tell Sirzechs-Sama either, Cassiel." Leona made it a point to remind her husband that the rules applied to him as well. This [Bishop] was not allowed to report this to his [King].

"Don't worry, Love, I have no intention of breaking the trust my son has put in me." Cassiel responded to his wife with a smile.

Understanding that everyone was ready, James began his story. He explained that during the entire duration of his coma, he was constantly dreaming. Experiencing another person's life. A human's life. The single parent household, abandoned by his father. Depending on his mother alone. His early childhood to his teenage years, getting into fights around his neighborhood. How his life changed in his early adulthood, when he began training in mixed martial arts. How he became a professional fighter but had to put his career on hold due to his overly aggressive nature that forced his coach to quit. About the two and a half years he spent looking for a new coach then finding one who forced him to train in kenjutsu. How kenjutsu training brought his aggressive nature under control. How he fell in love with otaku culture. And finally, how he came back to the ring and was eventually murdered because he refused to accept a payout to throw a fight.

He told them everything, in as much detail as he could remember. He mentioned that his personality most likely changed because he watched that man for so long and thought that being more outgoing would make life more interesting. He also mentioned that he had a very deep impression of all the training, whether it be Muay Thai, wrestling, or Muso Jikiden Eishin-ryu, to the point that all the mental training had already been completed. and he wanted to start physically training in all of them. And he told them about his new love for otaku culture.

By the time he was finished, four hours had passed. Rias and Sona were dozing off while leaning on each other's shoulder. Cassiel, Leona, Venelana, Rhea, and Grayfia were all in deep thought. That story left them with a lot to think about.

Eventually, James flopped down on the floor, noticeably exhausted. This snapped the adults from their thoughts.

Leona then said, "Alright everyone, let's call it a night for now. The kids are nodding off and we need time to process."

Cassiel nodded to his wife's words and continued where she left off. "Everyone, you're more than welcome to stay here for the night, if you so choose. Either way, let us take a couple of days to consider as well as give James some more time to recuperate."

Everyone agreed with Cassiel's suggestion. Also, Everyone, aside from Grayfia, chose to spend the night in the Alaverus Estate.

After a very eventful day, James was able to have his first real sleep in days. And he made the most of it.