Layla & Grayfia

[Grayfia's POV]

"A way to return to this 'Helius' world?" Layla asked me while we walked shoulder to shoulder down the modern roads of the Lucifuge Territory.

"Yes, in order to comprehend the connection that we share with that world, I'd have to explain to you the nature of our power, it would be a lengthy conversation that I'd rather avoid, Layla... suffice to say that there is a huge barrier dividing this universe from Richter-sama's multiverse that is called Helius... this 'wall' is strong that even master himself can't breach it, not only that but there are endless multiverses we could end up arriving at without hitting our target. It is a difficult situation".

The most problematic subject of this situation was that we didn't know where to begin... master said that his knowledge of time and space is limited; not strong enough to influence something as big as a multiversal barrier. Out of all the Primordials, he says only Nebulous should have the capacity to do so. Thankfully, the faith that we receive from Helius is proof in itself that we still have a connection to it.

Otherwise, I don't know what we could do.

The system has yet to answer any of my questions.

[Golden Dragon God's Affection: 89% (Infatuated)]

As proud as that status made me, as giddy as it made me feel... its ties to the system sullied the impact in my heart. If the one that I have been speaking to so far is Calliope, why won't she answer?!

I was also beginning to wonder what would occur once it hits 100%. At that point my mission will be truly accomplished, but what's the point? we're already here... Calliope already delivered her end of the promise.

"And... are you two in a rush to leave?" Layla took me out of my inward hatred.

"No, i-if anything... master and me are enjoying ourselves quite a bit, but that doesn't mean we can stay, it was my fault that we were brought here all of the sudden and our home is on the other side. It was the reason master lost control like that, it all happened so suddenly..."

I don't know what to do... if I could stay here with Richter-sama, that would be my long cherished dream... away from the primordials, from Destiny, from that other dragon that my master hates, Crush... here he could live a peaceful life with me... and whoever else he found.

But then... what about his treasures? what about that dragoness he is fond of, Ether? what about his wife's tomb? this universe itself was too small for him. I can't keep him here for my own selfish reasons.

There was a brief silence between Layla and me. None could tell what the other was thinking.

"Do you still consider the underworld your home, big sister?"

I still felt a little awkward whenever she called me that. She has grown into such a beautiful woman. Technically I'm a hundred-ish years old... and she's four hundred years old. I'm no longer the 'big sister'.

"I don't consider it home anymore... my home is beside my master and Helius is the place he has to be at"

"Exactly how strong is he? how much did he hold back against me?" Layla frowned, holding my wrist lightly.

I didn't know what to tell her... should I tell her I didn't use any protective spell? would that shatter her confidence? I decided that remaining secretive would be the best course of action.

"Master's strength can't be described with words... it is better if you never have to see it on your own, although... it is also beautiful" I recalled how he turned overwhelming enemies into nothing but golden sculptures.

My words left her a little baffled and confused, I understood, there is nothing beautiful in the devastation he caused, alas... that's not his 'power' that was but a compound release of his aura.

"I see... there is only a single smith that I know in the Lucifuge Territory that can help us... you may know about him, he's quite renowned" Layla beaconed me around the streets towards a particular building, it looked magnificent.

"Who is it?" Aside from Beelzebub-sama, I couldn't imagine anyone else that could help us in this situation.

"The Olympian, God of Smiths, Hephaestus-sama"

!!!

"W-Who?!" I thought I heard wrong.

"The God-" She repeated.

"I heard you the first time!"

Layla shot me a deadpan followed by an eye roll.

"Then why do you ask, big sister? did you forget what we told you? during the third war, Lady Calliope took hostages from the many pantheons in the underworld, one of them was Hephaestus-sama, although, more than a hostage... he was one of the willing guests we had" She summarized, I had indeed listened to this story, I thought after the council meeting those gods had returned to their pantheons... so they actually stayed in the underworld!?

"Unbelievable... is he allied to any family?" It was inconceivable for me to believe that there were gods of the many pantheons roaming the underworld freely. It was even more unreliable than seeing angels and fallen angels.

Gods are extremely prideful beings, be it here or Helius, they rarely leave their domains to settle somewhere else. Let alone the three factions aren't really that high in the eyes of the foreign pantheons, or at least, that's how it used to be.

"He is an ally of our Lucifuge Clan... back then, The Goddess Aphrodite became one of Sirzech-sama's pieces after being taken by Lady Calliope... she was Hephaestus' wife... instead of feeling irritated and poisonous, Hephaestus actually rejoiced as she had been cheating on him with Ares all that time... not only that but the God of War ended up fighting Sirzech-sama because of this. He received the beating of his life delivered by Satan Lucifer and the whole world came to know my husband as the 'Super Devil', he looked quite charming back then" Layla's eyes had stars, she made me giggle.

"Hephaestus-sama smiled the whole time while watching Ares' face get pummeled. With Ares in Olympus and Aphrodite in Sirzech-sama's peerage, those two were fated to never be together again. It was something that Hephaestus same showed gratitude for... since then he willingly swore to serve Lady Calliope... he is one of the few Gods that know of her disappearance along with Surtr-sama and Tsukiyomi-sama"

Seeing her throwing God's names as if they were dogs, I was left out of words.

"Don't you think it would be terrible to have them in the underworld? they know that Lady Calliope is not around anymore, what if they divulge those news?!" As far as I understood, the fact that Lady Calliope's disappearance was a secret was the reason Devils still held themselves up in this world, I wouldn't have trusted them with that secret.

"It is precisely one of the reasons why we keep him here... not only he's an excellent craftsman that can provide the devil race with incredible weapons, but he's also quite loyal to our Lucifuge Clan... he could have divulged it already but he hasn't... the reason is that compared to the other gods and demigods in the underworld he has a high degree of freedom and has garnered the respect of the devils on his own accord. This is an aspect that he shares with Surtr-sama who is one of my husband's peerage members and Tsukiyomi-sama who is in Serafall's peerage" Layla explained extensively, I still wasn't convinced... but if this status quo had maintained itself for so many years, there has to be a reason.

"I see, what about Aphrodite?" I inquired offhandedly.

"What about her?"

"How is she... and Sirzechs?" I could already imagine given the nature of the goddess.

"She's one of the members of his harem" Layla frowned, I smelled poison in her voice, that must be quite difficult. I somehow manage to rock my master's world whenever we are in the bed, he rocks mine as well and we are experimenting with adventurous and experimental sexuality... if someone like Aphrodite would have gotten in the middle... I still have the memories of the Demoness Lucille, but I doubt she can hold a candle to the Goddess of Sex.

Demons are in the end -unlike devils- not sexual beings; they're vengeful beings. Even then I was surprised by this outcome with Sirzechs.

"H-He has a harem? I never took him for one of those" He always sounded loyal and down-to-heart whenever we were together.

"What can I say? because I'm unable to satisfy my husband he-"

"Stop, Layla... I won't allow you to keep belittling yourself like that" I embraced my sister, how can she have such low self-confidence? she's absolutely gorgeous.

"But it is the truth, big sister... I guess... I can't hold a candle against her in that regard" Layla spoke self mockingly but my hug seemed to be working as I felt her sob slightly before she recovered.

I released a sigh and thought about master, this is something that I'll have to discuss with him eventually... he is a dragon and there is Ether looming around too... Destiny. I don't even dream of keeping Richter-sama for myself.

I just hope the next person he fancies is someone I can accept and communicate with.

"I'm sorry big sister... the truth is that such alliances happened all over the underworld with many families; the only one that didn't marry anyone was Leviathan-sama" Layla held my hand and led me to the shop where the God of Smiths was.

"Why didn't she marry?"

"She's a lesbian"

"I see..." I lifted my eyebrow slightly, she never gave me that vibe, or at least she never looked at me that way.

"And a sis-con!" Layla spoke with disgust, "An unprecedented sis-con!"

"Eh?~ never took her for one of those either... she always seemed so serious posed, I guess you never know a person until you know them".

"She's not serious at all..." Layla began to tell me things that I could never imagine. Tales about a magic girl, TV shows and a 'hikikomori'.