CH. 294: Meeting Father-in-law

Sitting before a desk, Lord Lucifuge was reading a letter sent by his subordinates. A letter about the recent riots in the Underworld. A wave of dissatisfaction had spread among the 72 pillars. Lucifer's loss wasn't the reason, but his timid behavior after the battle had earned him scorn from nearly every devil in the Underworld.

"What is it about?" asked a black-haired woman in front of Lord Lucifuge.

"Lady Lilith," Lord Lucifuge addressed Lucifer's wife. "The situation is getting worse."

"This was… unexpected."

Lilith sighed. Just one man stirred so much chaos in one day. They knew nothing about him except for the fact he was Biblical God's successor. Even that information came from God himself. They couldn't find anything on him.

Lord Lucifer looked at the window. The scarlet sky of the Underworld tightened his heart. Suddenly, two figures appeared in the sky and flew toward him. With his sharp eyes, he could see them just fine. In another moment, they were standing on the other side of the desk.

Grayfia bowed her head. "Father."

Lord Lucifuge clenched his fists under the desk. As he was about to rebuke his daughter, Lilith threw herself at Asahi.

"Help."

Asahi peeled off the devil sticking to his back and frowned. "What the hell do you want?"

Lilith stepped back, hesitating to ask for his help in treating her husband. God's successor had no reason to help a Devil King. She shook her head and dragged her chair to the side. She slowly sat down with a sigh.

"The Devil Kings are holding another meeting tomorrow. Please come with Biblical God."

Asahi looked down at her with narrowed eyes. How could he not comprehend her true motive? As if he would help her husband after he tried to kill him.

"I'll be there."

The meeting didn't interest him much, but he so wished to see the Devil Kings' reactions.

Putting the matter aside, he gave a polite nod to Lord Lucifuge. "I know our first meeting wasn't the best. Just wanted to say I didn't mean to harm Euclid if he didn't call our relationship a scam."

Lord Lucifuge nodded back in understanding before shifting his focus to Grayfia, who was still bowing. "Have you not brought disgrace to the Lucifuge House?"

One of the brightest devils in the Underworld had joined Heaven. Every head of the 72 pillars wanted her head on a pike.

Grayfia sensed the fury in his voice and looked up with a wry smile. "Father, I'm sorry for leaving without meeting you… I was scared you'd stop me from going. I did it—"

Lord Lucifuge's eyes turned colder. "Any father in the Underworld would stop his daughter from running away with a human."

"Father, I—"

Asahi held out his hand to stop Grayfia. "Father-in-law. I'll be addressing you like that if you don't mind."

"You—"

"Let me finish," Asahi cut him off in a firm voice. "Grayfia came with me because she knew your clan was fated to perish."

"Fated to perish?" Lord Lucifuge muttered in confusion. One of the strongest clans of the Underworld had no future? He didn't believe, rather he couldn't believe the young man who had enticed his daughter.

"Yes," Asahi said, glancing at Lilith. "And all the Devil Kings were supposed to die in the war along with God."

Lilith gasped in shock. "How is that possible?"

"Because God would have taken you down even if it meant sacrificing himself. But he found me and decided to nurture me as his successor," he said and smiled at his Father-in-law. "The Three Way War ended differently."

Lord Lucifuge contemplated for a few moments. The death of the Devil Kings would create a massive gap in the upper power, which most of the 72 pillars will rush to fill in. He knew some pillars were against the notion of starting a war against Heaven. Would they rise to take over the Underworld? Even if they don't, the turbulence from other pillars would be enough to cause a—

"Civil war?"

"Bingo. Not any normal civil war. One which would shake the power structure of the entire Underworld."

Asahi didn't dwell on it any further. As a political figure, Lord Lucifuge could understand it even without knowing the presence of super-strong devils like Sirzechs and Azuka.

"He is right…" Grayfia said. "I wanted to become strong to help."

Lord Lucifuge looked straight into Grayfia's eyes. They held nothing but sincerity for him.

"Your mother was also like you," he said with a sigh. "She never told us about her illness until she died. Keeping her emotions, carrying all the burdens by herself…"

The myriad of emotions in Lord Lucifuge's deep voice almost brought tears to Grayfia's eyes.

"Even in her last moments, she was smiling."

The last memories of her mother rose from the depths of her mind, and her eyes spilled out a few droplets of tears.

Asahi silently stroked her hair, understanding what went in Grayfia's heart.

Lord Lucifuge didn't know what to say to his crying daughter, so he silently looked at Lilith. She got up and quietly walked out of the room.

"What's up with her?" Asahi asked, shaking his head. "Father-in-law, do you blame Grayfia for what happened that day?"

Lord Lucifuge shook his head. "I regret not marrying another woman… it wouldn't have happened if she grew up in better hands. Is this what you really want?"

Grayfia wiped her tears and gave a firm nod. "Yes, Father. I won't leave Asahi, ever."

"Then I won't tell you to abandon your feelings."

Asahi smiled. At least his father-in-law didn't hate her for having a relationship with him.

"Where are you two staying?"

Grayfia glanced at Asahi for an answer. Asahi nodded and replied, "She is staying in Heaven with me."

Grayfia quietly commended his ability to pull off a lie so naturally.

"They don't loathe you?" Lord Lucifuge inquired. He couldn't see anything that showed Grayfia having any difficulty in her current place. Rather, her face glowed brighter than before, especially with how expressive she was around Asahi.

"They treat me like a family," Grayfia showed a soft smile to Asahi. "I'm satisfied there."

Lord Lucifuge pointed at her. "Why are you a maid then?"

"Oh, let me tell you about that." Asahi chuckled and grabbed a seat. "It's all because of your daughter's fetish…"

Grayfia watched as Asahi and Lord Lucifuge discussed things Grayfia enjoyed. Grayfia pinched Asahi's back whenever Asahi went overboard with the details on her hobby of dressing up as a maid. By the time their talk ended, her father had a genuine smile which made her smile as well.

Lord Lucifuge took in the sight of his daughter standing behind Asahi. His wife used to do the same. Being a maid was a joy to her, and serving him was everything to her.

His gaze drifted to the window.

'You inspired her too much…'