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Chapter 357: Chapter 353 ~ The Morning After

The morning sunlight bathed the gardens in radiant light as Yuuji made his way toward the dining hall.

Clinging to his side, Akeno rested her head on his shoulder, hugging his arm tightly and pressing close to him. Her yukata was loosely worn for comfort, just enough to conceal the faint marks left from their passionate night together.

Though she had barely slept—and had ”exercised” a little more after waking—she felt incredibly energized.

Yuuji had once explained to her that his [Divine Physique] allowed his vitality to nourish and strengthen those who consumed his essence. It replenished their stamina, enhanced their magic, and fortified their bodies.

After last night, Akeno felt the effects more clearly than ever. And just imagining it, she couldnʼt help but smile to herself.

”Ara~ Akeno~ Good morning~”

Just then, they came across two familiar figures–Baraqiel and Shuri. 

To their surprise, Shuri was clinging to her husband in almost the exact same way Akeno was clinging to Yuuji—head on shoulder, arms wrapped around his, holding him close.

When their gazes met, Yuuji and Baraqiel both froze.

Akeno and Shuri, however, giggled.

”Ara ara~ Ufufufu~ You two lovebirds seem to have had a wonderful night~” Shuri teased.

”Ufufufu~ Of course, Mother~ Yuuji took very good care of me.” Akeno replied sweetly. 

”You two seem to have enjoyed yourselves as well. Making up for lost time~?”

”Of course~ We had a very long ʼtalkʼ into the night. Your father simply wouldnʼt let me go~”

”S-Shuri—?!” 

Baraqiel sputtered, face reddening instantly.

The mighty Vice-Governor of Grigori—Godʼs Lightning himself—looked utterly fluttered.

”Oh my~ Yuuji wouldnʼt let me go either~” Akeno added mischievously. 

”We ʼchattedʼ all night long~”

”A-Akeno?!” Yuuji coughed awkwardly.

Discussing such things so openly in front of future in-laws was a battlefield he was not prepared for.

”Mother, weʼre heading to breakfast. Would you like to join us?” Akeno said brightly.

”Of course~ Weʼd love to.”

And so the four walked together.

Shuri and Akeno continued chatting cheerfully, comparing their ”long talks,” while Yuuji and Baraqiel walked in heavy silence—two men bound by shared embarrassment.

When they arrived at the dining hall, several people were already present: Aika, Erika, Albedo, C.C., Semiramis, Rias, Xenovia, Koneko, and Kuroka.

Tatsuya, Satoru, and Lelouch were still occupied. Kiba was training. Issei was apparently still asleep, with Asia sent to wake him.

”Ah! Yuuji-nya~!”

Kuroka immediately leapt into his embrace, grabbing his free arm.

”Itʼs so fun here! I wanna stay forever~! Iʼll become your wife too, nya! And the girls can be my sisters!”

Yuuji laughed softly and gently steadied her.

”Youʼre always welcome here. Both you and Koneko.”

Hearing that, Konekoʼs lips curved into a small smile. Her tail swayed subtly behind her, though she tried very hard to look composed.

”Iʼll prepare breakfast,” Yuuji announced.

Aika and Albedo stood immediately.

”Weʼll help.”

Akeno also rose, but Yuuji gently pressed her shoulder.

”Stay with your parents.”

She pouted slightly—but obeyed. She had a lot to talk about with her parents… About their future. And Yuuji mustʼve said this to give her the time she needed for their talk. 

Soon enough, the rest arrived, and breakfast was served.

Baraqielʼs eyes widened at the first bite.

”This is…”

Shuri laughed warmly. 

”Isnʼt it wonderful? The first time I tasted his cooking, I was just as shocked.”

She turned proudly to Yuuji.

”Weʼre truly blessed to have such a capable son-in-law.”

Then she turned to Akeno.

”You should learn from him. A wife should cook for her husband too.”

Akenoʼs smile shifted into a slight pout.

”Iʼd rather eat Yuujiʼs cooking.”

”Geez~ At least cook for him once in a while.”

Yuuji smiled.

”Iʼd love to eat Akenoʼs cooking.”

”Really?”

”Of course. Letʼs cook together sometimes. Iʼll teach you.”

”Mm~ Thatʼs a promise!” Akenoʼs eyes lit up.

”Yuuji-nya! I wanna learn too!” Kuroka raised her hand excitedly. 

”So I can be a good wife, nya!”

”Youʼre just going to taste everything, arenʼt you?” Yuuji said dryly.

”Hehe~ Iʼm quality control~ And itʼs always delicious! Because itʼs made by Yuuji-nya!”

She puffed her chest proudly, and Yuuji shook his head helplessly. Beside her, Koneko stared at him quietly.

She didnʼt say anything—but her eyes clearly asked to join as well.

It seemed he would have to schedule cooking lessons soon.

After breakfast, Kiba, Issei, and Asia returned home. Rias, Akeno, and Koneko remained. Akeno stayed with her reunited parents. Koneko spent time with her sister. Rias, however, lingered near Yuuji.

Her parents—Venelana and Zeoticus—had already been informed of the incident in Asgard. She had been summoned back to the Underworld to report in person.

Venelana wished to confirm her daughterʼs safety. Zeoticus wanted a full account of events.

Though Rias and her peerage had only suffered minor injuries—all completely healed by Yuuji—they had requested permission to remain for a short while to rest and recuperate.

In truth, they were perfectly fine. But Rias wanted something else.

She wanted time. Time with Yuuji. Time with her sister wives. Time before returning to her duties as the heiress of the Gremory household.

So she stayed, waiting for Yuuji and the others would return after Yuuji gathered them for a private conversation. 

All members of the Multiverse Group Chat gathered in Yuujiʼs room.

A low circular table laid at the center of the room, replacing his futon which had been stored in the cupboard at the side of the room. 

Cushions equaling the number of people were prepared, placed around the circular table, where everyone sat. 

The atmosphere shifted the moment he spoke.

”Itʼs time.” He said calmly. 

”We will be finishing the mission. We eliminate the most problematic element in this world. Rizevim.”

A brief pause.

No one questioned it. They had all known this moment would come.

Aikaʼs eyes gleamed with excitement. 

”Finally~! Time to take down the big bad mastermind of this world!”

”Agreed. Heʼs been making a mess everywhere.”

Erika gave a small, composed nod. 

”By your will, my love.”

Albedo placed a hand over her chest, bowing her head slightly toward Yuuji.

”Sure. Whenever you want.”

C.C. leaned back casually. 

”Iʼve gathered sufficient intelligence and structured a containment strategy. He will not escape.”

Lelouch adjusted his posture, eyes sharp and analytical. 

”Iʼll support you however I can. Magic, Phantoms—whateverʼs necessary.”

Satoru Suzuki smiled reassuringly.

”When do we move?”

Tatsuyaʼs gaze remained steady on Yuuji.

”Tomorrow.”

--------------------------------X--------------------------------

Far away, within the depths of his private secret domain, Rizevim Livan Lucifer sat in brooding silence, his expression grim and irritated.

He remained seated behind the massive desk in his office. Behind him, a towering window stretched from polished marble floor to high vaulted ceiling, revealing the endless forest below and the greenish-purple sky of the Underworld.

Ordinarily, such a view would soothe lesser beings. Today, it did nothing.

Spread across his desk were piles of documents.

Reports. Financial summaries. Logistics breakdowns. Intelligence briefs. Disruption analyses.

A sight that almost never occurred. And yet here he was, submerged in paperwork like some low-level bureaucrat.

Things were not going according to plan.

He had initiated countermeasures the moment he realized something was constricting his influence. Economic maneuvers. Information traps. Proxy conflicts. Diversions designed to flush out hidden actors.

None of it worked.

Brokers he pressured withdrew quietly. Informants returned with scraps of information—either useless or too late to leverage. Attempts at coercion were met with decisive retaliation. Entire subordinate cells simply… vanished.

Even his calculated efforts to stir instability within parts of Linked Horizons collapsed before gaining momentum, smothered before the spark could become flame.

Probing further would risk exposing himself.

How infuriating.

It was as if someone were holding invisible reins—guiding him subtly, restricting his range of motion while allowing him just enough room to think he was still free.

”…Tch.”

Usually, irritation never lingered long on his face. His intellect was more than sufficient to resolve obstacles before they had time to frustrate him.

But this… This was different.

The irritation remained. Which meant the problem remained.

He would need to accelerate his plans. Escalate.

”Perhaps itʼs time to use those childish fools…”

A group of self-righteous youths playing at being heroes.

Their ideals were naive. Their motivations, even more laughable.

But what they lacked in intelligence and foresight, they compensated for with rare artifacts and Sacred Gears.

At the very least, they would cause disruptions.

And perhaps—if fortune permitted—one of them might return with something useful regarding this unknown faction aiding the Underworld, Heaven, Grigori… and now Asgard.

”Infuriating trash…”

He had not been idle during Creuserey and Shalbaʼs assault, either. He had attempted to observe. To scry.

Every attempt had been met with catastrophic backlash.

The anti-divination countermeasure protecting them had lashed out violently, sending a mind-splitting shock through his consciousness that left him incapacitated for days. Only his immediate severing of the connection had saved him.

A fraction of a second slower, and his mind would have been broken.

He had even commissioned high-tier diviners to attempt analysis of the countermeasure.

All of them died from the feedback.

Another headache. Another unknown. Another obstacle to his plans.

A slow breath escaped between clenched teeth as he glared at the report in his hand.

Then—

A chill ran down his spine.

Instinct tempered through centuries of war moved before thought.

His aura flared violently, flooding the entire room with oppressive demonic power. The air trembled. Papers lifted from the desk. The very walls groaned.

He scanned the room.

Nothing.

He expanded his senses outward, extending them beyond the chamber, beyond the estate, sweeping the surrounding forest.

Nothing.

His defensive formations were intact. Wards layered upon wards. Concealment fields active. Surveillance spells undisturbed.

Silence. As silent as it had ever been.

Slowly, his aura receded.

”Just my damned mood,” he muttered.

But then—

Something caught his eye. A faint distortion in the air, in the exact space he had scanned moments ago.

A figure. Floating. Clad entirely in black.

It was far. Too far to discern clearly—

But before his mind could fully process what he was seeing—

Light.

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