Eternal Saṃsāra: The Wanderer of Worlds

Chapter 245: Information from a Kitty-cat

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The training grounds were quiet except for the rhythmic clash of swords. His blade sliced through the air with precision, swings aimed directly at me, but none of them connected. He was relentless in his offense, pouring all his strength into his attacks. Yet, I hadn't moved a single step from where I stood. My blade met his every strike with ease, deflecting each one with minimal effort.

Kiba Yuuto looked quite frustrated at his failure. 

His brow furrowed, his teeth clenched, and his movements became more desperate with every failed attack. I could tell it was getting to him—the realization that no matter how hard he tried, he couldn't break through the wall that was I. 

He'd grown stronger, but he was still miles behind. It was like I was standing in the eye of a storm, completely untouched by the chaos around me.

Kiba pushed forward again, his sword arcing down in a fierce diagonal slash. I tilted my blade just enough to catch his attack and with a small flick of my wrist, sent his sword flying off to the side.

He stumbled, barely managing to keep his footing, before glaring up at me with a mix of annoyance and resolution. I could almost hear the curses swirling in his mind. 

I raised an eyebrow. "Still need to work on your footwork, Kiba. You're fast, but if you can't control the momentum, it's all wasted energy."

He grunted, wiping the sweat from his brow. "You make it sound easy."

I chuckled, sheathing my blade. "It is easy. You're the one making it hard."

Kiba gave me a half-hearted glare, clearly not in the mood for any more of my lectures. He wasn't really pleased with me since the day he realized that the two exorcist girls, holy sword-wielders, were my subordinates. 

We'd been sparring for a few weeks now, and despite the progress he'd made since we first started, he still had a long way to go. His frustration wasn't surprising, but at the same time, it was odd to be surprised by losing against me.

I still remember the way his eyes burned with resentment when he first laid eyes on Irina and Xenovia. It was that old hatred for holy sword users that came from his past, from how the church used him like a weapon. It had flared up something fierce back then, and he attacked Irina and Xenovia mindlessly. I'd had to knock some sense into him, quite literally, as it was my subordinates that he was attacking. 

I had given him a direct threat that I'd kill him and his entire peerage if he acted up again. Of course, it was a bluff, he must have realized too, but the fear of it being true kept him on line. Rather, he asked for advice from me on the way of the sword, perhaps hoping to overpower me using my own techniques someday. 

I didn't mind since teaching him meant my sect was growing stronger. I also taught Koneko, Akeno, and even Gasper, in the last few weeks. The only exception was Saji.

"Hm?" The sound of footsteps interrupted my thoughts, and I turned to see Irina and Xenovia approaching from the far end of the courtyard. They weren't alone. Trailing behind them was a cat-girl wearing revealing shrine maiden robes, her hands tied behind her. I wasn't surprised. I had sensed her presence for as long as she'd been observing me. 

It was Koneko's older sister, Kuroka.

Kiba noticed them too, and his expression darkened. I could see the tension building in his stance as he looked at Irina and Xenovia. For a second, I thought he might lash out, but he held his ground. He'd learned his lesson.

I stepped away from the sparring circle, giving him a quick nod. "You're done for today, Kiba. Take a break." He muttered something under his breath but complied, sheathing his sword as he walked off to the side. His eyes lingered on his rivals, who just ignored them.

As for me, my attention shifted entirely to the cat-girl being escorted in. She wore her signature black kimono while a lazy, seductive smirk tugged at her lips. I remembered from the anime, but more vividly, I remembered her from the Vedas incident.

She'd been there the day my Goddess had been freed.

I hummed thoughtfully, my gaze locking onto hers. My fingers absently tapped against the hilt of Eldergleam as I considered my options. 

Should I kill her right? She wasn't someone to be taken lightly. A stray devil, powerful and dangerous. She'd killed her master and fled, becoming a wanted criminal. Of course, to me she was smaller than an ant, and I had a bad history with her. She personally wasn't present when my Goddess was captured, but she did join that group later on. I didn't need any justification to kill her right now.

I could kill her right now, and no one would question it. I'd have severed her neck right now, but I was in a good mood today. I decided to wait for a bit.

Irina and Xenovia stopped a few feet in front of me, both standing tall before they lowered their heads a little. Kuroka, however, looked completely unfazed. Her golden eyes gleamed with mischief as she gave me a lazy wave from her tied hands, her tail swishing behind her.

"Ah, Aqua-sama~" she drawled, her voice teasing, "You've grown stronger since the last time I saw you. I didn't think I'd get the chance to meet you up close like this! I'm a big fan."

I raised an eyebrow at her attempt to glaze me with words. It was a classic tactic for girls like her: act silly and cute to make herself seem less of a threat. Clever. 

"Quiet. I have to decide if I should kill you," I said bluntly, cutting straight to the point. My gaze didn't waver, and neither did hers. "Give me a reason not to."

She blinked, her smirk faltering for just a moment before it returned, wider this time. "Oh? Is that how you greet all your guests?"

"I don't make exceptions for people who've been involved with hurting my people. You're affiliated with the group that captured my Goddess," I replied, my tone calm. "But you're lucky I don't act on impulse. I'll give you a chance to explain yourself."

Kuroka stared at me, her smirk still. Then she let it drop and raised her tied hands with a sigh. "Calm down, big man. I'm not here to cause trouble. I wasn't there when your Goddess was captured, I only joined later on. And if I knew she's related to you, I wouldn't have accepted that mission. Really! If you want proof, you can go through my tab of missions in the Assassin Guild. Someone reached out to me to hunt down Gasper Vladi, but since it's someone who's affiliated with your Sect, I didn't dare touch it." She said, looking at me with weary eyes. "I'm not lying."

She really wasn't. My authority could feel it. I crossed my arms, waiting for her to continue.

"...I'll tell you more. I know you're curious about who's been after Gasper all this time. I know who it is. That guy who tried to hire me hid his identity well, but not well enough to avoid me." She said, her voice dropping slightly. "Rizevim Lucifer. Yeah, he's the one who's after Gasper Vladi."

Rizevim Lucifer…? The name rolled in my mind, and I felt my eyes narrow. So that's what this was about. I suspected it might be someone powerful, but the son of Lucifer? By now he likely has Lilith on his hands. That complicated things. While he wasn't a problem, his pet snake was.

Kuroka noticed the shift in my expression and let out a nervous laugh, her tail flicking behind her. "That's why I'm here. To offer my help and make up for my history. In exchange for, well… not dying." She winked at me, making me frown.

I glanced at her, then at Irina and Xenovia, who were watching the exchange in silence. …Well, she wasn't involved when my Goddess was captured. Fine. Kuroka might be useful. Plus, Koneko would be sad if I killed her, even with the bad blood between the two of them.

I let out a low sigh, my gaze softening just a little. "Alright. You can live. But stay here in this house, do not leave. I'm saying this so that you stay away from Koneko. She won't be happy if she sees you."

Kuroka scoffed, crossing her arms under her chest. "I can guess that much. And… I'm glad my silly sister has someone like you looking out for her." She paused, her smirk fading into something softer. "Speaking of, I saw the technique you granted her against Riser… Thank you."

I met her gaze, contemplating for a moment. Yeah, it's not a bad idea to not kill her. Even if she's crazy, she can be a loyal subordinate. 

She and Koneko had a complicated history, one that left scars on both sides. Kuroka had killed her master to protect Koneko from being exploited for her powers, but Koneko misunderstood her sister's actions, thinking Kuroka had abandoned her. As a result, the younger sibling had grown to resent her.

With a hum, I spoke, "After the Gasper situation is dealt with, I'll sit down with both of you. I'll help her realize that what you did was for her. That you didn't abandon her."

Kuroka's eyes widened, her confident facade crumbling for just a moment. "What? N-no… How do you… know about that?" Her voice was low, almost a whisper. She stared at me, shock written across her face.

I didn't bother answering her question. Instead, I gave a small wave of my hand, dismissing her. "You're free to go. But remember, I basically own you now. I won't put a physical leash around your neck but don't leave the house. Understood?"

Kuroka hesitated, her gaze lingering on me for a few seconds longer before she nodded. "Understood," she said quietly, looking at me with eyes full of questions.

I turned around and walked out of the house. Rizevim Lucifer was planning something. And whatever it was, it wasn't going to be simple. I had to notify everyone, and thankfully most were at Kuoh already, including my mother.

****

The club building was quiet, almost too quiet, as I pushed open the door and stepped inside. The scent of rich tea filled the air, mingling with the soft sound of laughter from deeper within the room. My steps slowed as I took in the scene in front of me.

"...."

Akeno was sitting nearby, cutting her nails. But it wasn't her who caught my attention, it was the other two girls in the clubroom. 

Ai sat comfortably in one of the chairs, her posture relaxed as she sipped from a delicate porcelain cup. Across from her, Rias… was serving her tea. The same girl who hadn't left her room for weeks. The two of them were talking, light and carefree, giggling as if nothing in the world was wrong.

As soon as I walked in, both of them turned toward me. My mother smiled and greeted me with a casual wave. "Oh, Aqua! I came to visit since I was passing by. Come, sit down, have some tea," she said cheerfully. "This girl's tea is magic!"

I didn't respond right away. My gaze locked onto Rias, and I saw her flinch under my stare. Her anxious eyes quickly darted away as if she couldn't bear to meet mine. She fumbled with the teapot in her hands, her fingers trembling slightly.

What the hell was going on here?

Rias hadn't left her room in weeks and had practically withdrawn from everything… and now she was here, serving tea to my mother like none of that ever happened. What does Lilithra think she's doing?

I clenched my jaw, frustration bubbling beneath the surface. I was about to curse at her when Ai's voice broke through my thoughts.

"Aqua?" she asked, her eyes searching my face with curiosity. "What's wrong?"

I looked at her, closing my lips. I sighed and let the tension ease from my shoulders. My mother didn't know. She had no idea about the tangled mess between Rias and me. Nobody did. Only the two of us carried that secret. I didn't want to blurt it out now.

So, I just decided to ignore Rias altogether.

"It's nothing," I muttered, turning my attention away from the two of them and looking at Akeno, who had been sitting quietly off to the side, observing the entire interaction with a raised eyebrow with a nail cutter at hand. "Akeno, call everyone here. Yasaka too. We need to talk."

She gave me a small nod and walked off to gather the others.

I stood there for a moment longer, my eyes flicking back to Rias. She hadn't moved. Her hands were still gripping the teapot, but her knuckles had gone white from how tightly she was holding it. I could see the tension in her shoulders, the way her breath hitched just slightly.

But I didn't say anything. There would be a time for that conversation, but this wasn't it.

Within minutes, the clubroom began to fill up. Akeno had returned, bringing with her Sona's peerage, including even Issei. Mai, Yasaka, and Elmenhilde followed closely behind. Mai slept in my house every night, but during the daytime, she accompanied her queen. Yasaka spent her time in the school all the time, waiting for the vampires to show up anytime. Elmenhilde, as Yasaka's guest, stuck together with her.

Yasaka gave me a nod as she walked in, her presence strong as usual. Beside her, Mai looked relaxed as she looked at me. Elmenhilde, the petite vampire girl, had her crimson eyes wary as she glanced around. From the looks of it, she didn't feel at home even after spending a few weeks here.

I greeted them as they entered. "Glad you could join."

Yasaka's lips curled into a soft smile. "I wouldn't miss it. Especially since I heard the princess come out of her room," she glanced over at Rias' peerage, who were slowly gathering, looking more surprised at Rias' presence than anything. It seemed her reappearance had caught them off guard almost as much as it had me.

Elmenhilde remained silent, her eyes flicking between everyone nervously, but she didn't speak. The tension in the room thickened as more people filled the space. Everyone was curious why I called for a sudden meeting. Even Gasper was here, quietly sitting in the corner, as nervous as ever.

I wasted no time. "Alright," I began, addressing the whole group. "I have some news. Important news. I captured the underworld criminal Kuroka, who told me something valuable, in exchange for her life," I continued, watching their reactions closely. Some of their eyes trembled. Koneko's breathing stopped. "The one who's been sending mercenaries after Gasper all this time is none other than Rizevim Lucifer."

The room seemed to freeze as the name hung in the air. Sona's gaze sharpened as she stood beside Yasaka. I saw the ripple of shock spread through the group. Koneko's entire body had stiffened, her eyes wide as she trembled. 

But I doubted it was because of Rizevim's name. The mention of Kuroka made her body tremble. I caught her gaze, and she met my gaze in confusion. 'Does he know?' —was what her eyes seemed to ask. As far as she was aware, I didn't know that she and Kuroka were related. When I gave her a confused look, she sighed and calmed down. She knew this wasn't the time to let her emotions take over.

"The fact that Rizevim is involved means the Old Devil Faction is in play," Sona said, her tone steady. "This is no longer a rogue operation. Not just a single group of vampires… The scale of what we're dealing with just grew, and it's only going to get worse."

I could see the realization settling in on their faces. Issei looked unusually serious, while Akeno's usual relaxed expression faltered slightly. Yasaka's brows furrowed, and even Ai crossed her arms, her expression darkening. Mai remained quiet, but her eyes were locked on me, waiting for more.

Elmenhilde shifted uncomfortably, clearly out of her element here. I ignored them all. "I agree. And from my knowledge, the threat is bigger than you all realize," I didn't think they knew about Rizevim's pet, Lilith's existence. "I don't think Rizevim would wait long before making his move," I added, my gaze sweeping the room. "He's after Gasper, and since he hasn't sent any mercenaries after I returned, I'd bet that he's gathering forces to make sure he gets what he wants."

"That means…"

"That means we need to act fast." Ai finished for Tsubaki, who had asked the question.

Yasaka nodded, her golden eyes gleaming. "I knew something big was coming. Devil Prince Rizevim is no small player. If he's involved, things are about to get a lot more complicated."

Mai looked at me, worried. "So what's the plan?"

"Well…" Before I could answer, I glanced at Rias, who had been sitting silently through all of this. For a brief moment, I considered addressing her directly. 

But then I stopped myself. I really didn't want to converse with her. My mother noticed this exchange, frowning, but I ignored her too.

Instead, I turned my attention to Sona. "Sona," I said, meeting her gaze. "Contact your sister. Let her know that I'll be heading to the underworld. We need to cut this problem off at the root before it spreads any further."

Sona nodded immediately, already pulling out her phone. "Understood."

As she made the call, I felt the weight of what was coming settle on my shoulders. This wasn't going to be easy. Rizevim was a dangerous opponent, if not through his own strengths, then by the Ophis' clone. Letting him gain any more ground would only make things worse.

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