A/N: Hello people of the internet!! I'm back for a new chapter this time along with the chapter 20 rewrite!
I'm supposed to upload this yesterday but I was out of home and came back in the morning.
So I did not have time to upload a new chapter as I woke up in the afternoon already.
Anyways! here is the chapter 20 from volume 2 and along with the rewrite of chapter 20 please do check it!.
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Noah offered them a small wry smile, completely unbothered by their baffled stares as he continued brushing his fingers through Lumine's hair. Lumine, comfortable and smug, spared only the briefest glance toward the screen before humming softly and settling back into his touch like nothing else mattered.
Across the room, Kiana and Elysia's silence turned ominous. Their aura turns dark as Lumine keeps on flaunting her little throne with a smug.
Noah kept the lopsided smile on his face as he asked, "So, how's your 'First Steps' going?"
On the other end of the hologram, Hajime, Alice, and Anisphia snapped back.
"Smooth enough. As long as you don't count the part where the academy nearly got wiped off the map," Hajime replied with a dry shrug.
"We did handle the Stellaron outbreak," Anisphia added, beaming. "Though, um, it might have involved a teensy bit more property damage than planned."
Alice exhaled through her nose. "More like large-scale remodeling," she muttered.
Noah let out a small chuckle, fingers still gently brushing through Lumine's hair. "Not bad. First missions always leave a mess or two."
"Easy to say from the guy lounging in the middle of a warzone," Hajime quipped, arching a brow.
Lumine simply nestled deeper against Noah, utterly unbothered by their exchange.
Noah's crooked smile didn't waver. Hajime stared at it for a moment before giving in with a tired sigh.
"Hah.. you really are... anyways for some serious topic," Hajime said, straightening a little. "The real reason we called... is about the aftermath of the Kokabiel situation."
Noah tilted his head slightly, attentive to what Hajime will say.
"Because of what happened," Hajime continued, "the Three Factions, Heaven, Devils, and Fallen Angels, have agreed to hold a formal conference. For the first time in centuries, real peace talks are about to happen."
Alice and Anisphia nodded in sync, their faces unusually solemn.
Noah raised an eyebrow. "And...?"
Hajime exhaled slowly. "We're also invited."
Noah blinked, momentarily thrown by the news. His eyes drifted toward the lounge window, where the DxD planet is. He exhaled as he closed his eyes. He taps the Force listening even at the smallest mumbles. Looking for clues on what this means to them.
Lumine adjusted herself in Noah's arms, sinking deeper into his embrace. The bond they have built with Noah from Teyvat, letting her know what he is doing. Elysia's glare ease, waiting for Noah. Kiana's pout gave way to a slight furrow in her brow, worried from what is to come. Within her, Sirin's gave her concern in her own way, her emblem gave a soft pulse beside Kiana's emblem.
When Noah opened his eyes again, he turned back to Hajime.
"Then we'll leave it in your hands. This world is where you own your steps, your own choices left a mark. So, let it see you until the end."
Hajime, Alice, and Anisphia exchanged quick glances, surprised before looking back at Noah, silently asking are you sure?
Noah gave a nod, just enough to tell them: yes, I am.
"You're... really entrusting us with this?" Alice asked cautiously, her voice soft.
"I mean," Anisphia added with a twitch of her eye, "you're not coming in as the dashing ace at the last second?"
Noah chuckled lightly, giving her a grin. "Who knows~"
Hajime exhaled and gave a small nod. "...You...haaa...fine.... we'll do it right."
Noah's eyes softened. "I know you will, you always do." he said, with complete trust.
Hajime leaned slightly forward, brow furrowing. "Noah... just what did you see?"
Noah shrugs. "Just encounters," he said with his usual grin, "for both you and me."
Everyone went silent, because they knew. That when Noah tells something, it is bound to be important to each of them. Hajime's eyes narrowed slightly, waiting for his friend to continue. His full attention on him preparing to hear every bit of it, not wanting to miss even a single word.
Noah chuckled softly, amused by how tense everyone had become.
"Relax~ Nothing bad's heading their way. Honestly, what's coming might just be what they need."
He glanced out the window toward the blue planet below, his gaze thoughtful before turning to Hajime, Noah offered a smile.
"That person… They've been dreaming for a long time and waiting to make the dream into reality. Because of how they've been born, because of what kind of family that person came from..... it made others uneasy. And in the end, they were hidden away and treated like a mistake that shouldn't exist."
Hajime's hand curled into a fist, his jaw tightening.
"Don't worry, that person's alright. Just meet them there. That's all it'll take to help them through what they're dealing with." Noah paused, his voice gentler. "As for me..."
He let the words hang in the air, then gave a faint shake of his head, a wry smile tugging at the corner of his mouth. "They've waited a long time already... but it's still not the right moment. Just a little longer."
The room went silent again, each of them trying to understand what was coming next.
Hajime let out a breath, breaking the silence. "...I still don't get all of it, but I know what we're about to do matters. A lot. For those people... Haa... Noah, you really love to hand over life-changing responsibilities like it's nothing."
Noah gave a laugh, "What can I say? I'm generous like that."
Noah leaned back a little, giving the three on the screen an assuring glance. "Then it's settled. You three will represent us at the conference. Whatever decision you make, we will stand by it."
Hajime squared his shoulders, Alice and Anisphia following with confident nods.
A small grin tugged at Noah's lips. "And maybe, just maybe, try not to level another city or crack a mountain this time?"
Hajime let out a sigh, his expression deadpan as he opened his mouth to protest then closed it again. "...No promises."
Anisphia burst out laughing, doubling over with zero restraint, while Alice barely managed to hide her snickers behind her hand.
Back in the lounge, Lumine gave a light snort from her cozy spot on Noah's lap. Kiana folded her arms with a dramatic huff, the corners of her mouth twitching upward despite herself. Even Elysia cracked into a bright laugh, unable to hold back.
Sirin's emblem gave a light pulse, her amusement brushing over them like a casual nudge in the ribs.
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As the call ended and the holoscreen disappeared, the lounge switched back to its usual liveliness. Well that is until Kiana's eyes locked onto Lumine.
"So," she said slowly, arms still crossed, "when exactly are you getting off his lap?"
Elysia leaned in with a grin that didn't quite reach her eyes. "Yes, Lumi~ don't you think you've had enough cuddles for one day?"
Lumine didn't budge. Sitting comfortably in Noah's lap, she glanced at them with a self-satisfied look.
"Nope," she said simply, then leaned deeper into Noah's embrace with a happy hum.
Kiana twitched, her eye twitching visibly.
Elysia puffed out her cheeks with exaggerated fashion. "Captain!! This is blatant favoritism! I want my fair share of cuddles too!"
Noah gave a soft laugh, casually ruffling Lumine's hair, clearly enjoying the rising chaos.
"You're welcome to join," he said with a smile that looked far too innocent to be trusted.
Kiana and Elysia stiffened like they'd been caught off guard, a faint pink creeping up their cheeks.
"Th-that's not the issue here!" Kiana stammered, pointing at him like he was the true villain.
"You're using cuddles as a weapon!" Elysia accused, waving her arms as if personally betrayed.
Meanwhile, Lumine remained nestled in Noah's arms, a satisfied smile tugging at her lips, like the smugness of a queen who had won without lifting a finger.
Kiana let out a loud huff and stomped her way over to the couch, plopping herself down right beside Noah with arms crossed and a glare aimed directly at Lumine.
"Fine! I'm staying right here, then!"
Elysia blinked in surprise, watching Kiana claim her place. She hesitated, clearly battling pride and temptation, but it didn't take long. With a dramatic sigh, she marched over and flopped onto Noah's other side, looping her arms around his free arm like it was the last cookie in the jar.
"Well, if there's a cuddle line, I'm cutting in," she announced with a theatrical grin.
Noah chuckled and welcomed them both without a second thought, gently pulling them closer. His arms now wrapped around three very different girls but all of them precious to him just the same.
Lumine hummed in triumph, clearly proud of her victory. Kiana let out another exaggerated sigh but gave in, leaning stubbornly against Noah's side with a grumble. Elysia, of course, slid in with a grin that spelled trouble, nestling comfortably with a sparkle in her eyes.
The moment carried a warmth, laughter shared, eyes meeting, and a sense of peace settling around them. Sirin's emblem pulsed gently beside Kiana's, as if to say, "I'm here too."