Volume 3: Emergence at DesuMachi
Chapter 148: I Simply Found Your Reactions… Amusing.
Underworld, DxD Planet…
As Alice and Anisphia sent Hajime away to cool off, the leaders of the Three Factions—along with Odin and Rossweisse—watched the scene with mixed expressions. There was a small fear over what Hajime might do if he didn't stop himself, and equal confusion over how easily Alice and Anisphia had handled him, like a scolded child rather than a walking calamity.
"Everyone, on behalf of our family, I would like to apologize for that display," Euphyllia said, bowing deeply. "Hajime-sama means no harm… at most, he would only embarrass those who mocked Sona-san."
"Even if it looked excessive," Lavinia added calmly, "Hakkun understands his limits better than anyone. He knows exactly where the line is."
"Please don't worry yourselves too much, Ms. Euphyllia, Lavinia," Azazel said, speaking for the Three Factions. "We trust Nagumo Hajime. If he did act, it wouldn't cross into something irreparable."
Michael nodded in agreement. "He is someone Noah-dono considers an equal. Someone he fully trusts. Extending that same faith is only natural."
"Muu… personally, I wouldn't mind if Hajime-chan taught those old fogies a lesson or two," Serafall muttered, puffing her cheeks as she crossed her arms. "But even I know—if he really did something here, it would turn into a massive incident."
"And with his actual strength," Sirzechs added, voice measured, "I doubt we could stop him even if we tried. The fact that he allowed himself to be restrained… that alone proves he understands the consequences of his actions."
His words earned nods from Ajuka and Falbium, who both agreed with Sirzechs' assessment.
"Thank you, everyone, for your trust." Euphyllia let out a small smile, her shoulders finally relaxing. Her heart felt warm knowing that the people of this world placed such faith in Hajime.
"Hehehe! To be honest, the most important reason Hakkun stopped and didn't do anything," Lavinia said with a playful grin, "was because he didn't want to ruin Sona's spotlight. And more than that—he knows the current Sona can handle those people who mock her."
Back in the hall below, the whispers never truly stopped. Mockery mixed with not-so-hidden contempt from the old devils and even some of the younger ones began murmuring along, casting looks her way as they sneered at her dream. The members of the Sitri Peerage had to be held back by Villhaze and the rest of the Gremory Peerage to keep them from lashing out. Even Sairaog watched the old devils with open disdain.
Yet Sona—the target of it all—remained unmoved. The smile on her face never faltered. Just as Rias and Sairaog were about to step forward and put an end to the pathetic display, a soft chuckle escaped her lips, drawing every attention within the hall.
"Sona?" Rias murmured in surprise as she watched her friend laugh.
Even Sairaog raised an eyebrow, confused at the sudden change in her demeanor.
"…Is something funny, Heir Sitri?" one of the old devils asked.
"Apologies for laughing. I couldn't help myself," Sona replied, calming her chuckles. "I simply found your reactions… amusing."
The hall fell into complete silence.
"If it were the old me standing in front of all of you today… I might have started doubting myself. Doubting my dream," Sona said, her eyes clear and unwavering as she looked at the old devils. "But now? I am Sona Sitri, whose horizons were broadened by the Trailblaze. Someone who has seen what people like you dismiss as impossible, foolish, or nothing but a mere fantasy."
She placed a hand over her chest, directly above her heart. "And I believe you've all forgotten one simple fact."
Her smile sharpened, confident and unyielding. "I am a proud member of the House of Reason of the Trailblaze. One of the 'heroes' who stood against dimensional monsters that nearly brought our world to destruction. The partner of the Godslayer, a foolish human who achieved what we once believed could never be done."
Her eyes scanned the crowd, staring at those who openly mocked her. "Killing a god. Taking their authority. Things you once laughed off as myths."
The old devils—and even the younger ones—had no words to offer. Everything Sona spoke of was true. It was common knowledge allover the world that she had helped lead the defense against the Quantum Shadows during the Stellaron disaster. She had also worked side by side with countless volunteers to restore the world in its aftermath.
The Sona Sitri they had mocked was no longer defined solely by devil society. She's someone who was recognized by the wider world itself. Other factions watched her closely now, and like Ingvild, she too had become one of the Nameless.
"So your mockery and contempt mean nothing to me," Sona continued calmly. "Not to me, and not to my dream. I know who I am—and I know my dream is neither impossible nor foolish."
A faint smirk crossed her lips. "Still, as I said earlier, the school I will build will accept anyone. We will not turn away your progeny should they wish to enter. If they choose that path, they will be welcome."
Behind her, the Sitri Peerage—Tsubaki, Momo, Renya, Tomoe, Tsubasa, Ruruko, and Saji—stood tall and resolute. They would follow her without hesitation. This dream was no longer hers alone, but one they had all chosen to carry together.
Ingvild and Villhaze moved to stand beside Sona and her peerage, their presence alone making their support unmistakable. Rias caught Sona's eye with a grin, and Sairaog followed suit; neither said a word as they stepped forward, their peerages falling beside them without hesitation.
"Sona-san, just as I said earlier," Ingvild said softly, her fingers tightening around Sona's hand. "I will stand beside my new family. So go on—take your steps forward with confidence."
"Well, would you look at that," Rias laughed lightly. "Sona saying something cool… kind of makes me feel fired up too."
"Ahahaha! Somehow, my dream of becoming a Maou feels small compared to yours," Sairaog admitted, scratching his cheek with a sheepish smile. "But in a good way."
High above them, Serafall pressed a hand to her face, unable to stop the tears falling from her eyes. "Huhuhu… my So-tan has really grown up!"
"Ayaya. She just went straight through them and shut them out completely, huh?" Anisphia said as she and Alice returned to the hall.
"I think it's justified," Alice replied calmly. "And everything she said was true. Sona's future isn't confined to a single world anymore. She, just like Ingvild, is now part of something far wider than any of them can imagine."
At last, Sirzechs stepped forward and addressed the younger devils. "That was a splendid dream, Sona. It is the kind of dream we—the leaders of the Three Factions—hope to see realized."
—--
Outside the event hall, the stunned group slowly gathered themselves. Issei, Koneko, Kuroka, and Bikou exchanged looks as the pieces finally fell into place. Absurd as it sounded, but undeniably the truth, this was exactly why Hajime had been removed from the function.
"...I never thought the man revered by all got kicked off the event like a scolded kid," Bikou muttered, shaking his head as disbelief lingered on his face.
"And that's the same man Vali wants to surpass," Kuroka added, her ears twitching with a wry smile.
"Even if Nagumo-senpai is the embodiment of Reason," Koneko said in her usual flat tone, "he's still capable of losing sight of it."
Issei rubbed the back of his head, letting out a slow breath. "Honestly… I get it. If someone mocked Buchou's dream right in front of me, I'd probably do the same thing Nagumo-san almost did."
Slightly embarrassed, Hajime rubbed the back of his head. He coughed once to pull himself together before turning toward the so‑called 'wanted criminals,' Bikou and Kuroka.
"Ehh… well… enough about me. What are you two doing here, anyway?" he asked. "You're still on the wanted list, the last time I checked. Being members of that Chaos group and all."
"Muu! Is it really so bad that I wanted to see my little Shirone after being apart for so long?" Kuroka pouted, wrapping Koneko in a tight hug.
Bikou shrugged. "We're on standby in the Underworld right now. Since we are bored and have nothing to do, Kuroka wanted to see her sister, and I came along."
Hajime raised an eyebrow. "Your band of thugs sure sounds awfully free."
"What can we say?" Bikou replied with a crooked smile. "We're just a ragtag bunch with our own ambitions and plans. The only thing tying us together was the blessing of the Infinite Dragon God… who is now with you guys."
His eyes went to the small Dragon God between Sagiri and Hajime, who was busy munching on her snacks.
Perhaps sensing his stare, Ophis looked up at Bikou. She blinked, then reached into her pouch and pulled out a cookie, holding it out to him.
"You want… some, Monkey?"
"Ehh… n-no, thank you, Miss Ophis," Bikou declined awkwardly.
"You… sure? It's delicious. Sunny made it," Ophis said simply.
"Sunny?" Issei voices the question in the thoughts of Bikou, Kuroka, and Koneko.
"She means Noah," Hajime answered, patting Ophis on the head. She squinted happily under his touch.
"...I still can't believe it," Bikou muttered, watching Ophis let Hajime treat her like an ordinary child. "The most feared being in our world, treated like this."
"I know exactly what you mean," Kuroka agreed, her tone equally in disbelief.
"Hmph. That's because the people of this world never tried to understand Ophis," Hajime replied, snorting softly. "They slapped labels on her and chose fear instead."
He lowered his gaze to Ophis, his voice easing. "The truth is, Ophis is nothing more than an innocent child. She only acts based on what little she understands about the world."
"...Can't argue with that," Bikou admitted, and Kuroka simply nodded in agreement.
Sagiri glanced at Hajime with a wry smile. "I think it's less that they wouldn't try… and more that they couldn't. Not everyone can look past what they're taught is 'normal.'"
Ophis stared at Hajime for a moment, then slowly raised the hand holding the cookies she had first offered Bikou.
Hajime smiled and bent down, taking a bite. "Thank you, Ophis."
She nodded, then turned and offered the half‑eaten cookie to Sagiri. Sagiri blinked, her cheeks flushing as she stared at it.
"Saa‑chan… don't like?" Ophis asked innocently.
"Hehehe, of course Sagiri‑sama loves it, Ophis‑sama. She's just shy," Ram said with a grin, giving Sagiri a silent look that clearly said, 'You won't disappoint Ophis‑sama, right?'
"E‑eh… you don't actually have to eat it, okay?" Hajime added, scratching his cheek awkwardly.
"N‑no… it's okay," Sagiri said, bending down slightly as she took a careful bite of the remaining cookie. "…It's sweet."
Hajime turned away almost immediately, his ears burning red. Ophis simply blinked, unaware of the sudden tension, while Ram clamped a hand over her mouth—only for a laugh to slip through anyway. Sagiri shot her a sharp glare, which did absolutely nothing to stop it.
"Yeah… sweet, alright."
"Might be a bit too sweet…"
"I think it's sweeter than any snack I've eaten so far…."
"…What even is this atmosphere?" Issei muttered. "I don't even have the energy to be jealous."
'Please be quiet, peanut gallery,' Sagiri silently pleaded through her glare. The teasing only intensified, but under it all, the warmth between them remained easy, familiar, and unmistakably genuine.
Hajime then took out his picnic set, complete with tables, chairs, snacks, and drinks, while Ram, from who knows where, took out some food that she had slyly taken from the party, which she showed to everyone smugly. And when Hajime asked her how she got the time and chance to take that food. Ram puffed her chest as she answered with a satisfied expression.
"As a maid who serves Sagiri-sama's family and the Nameless, this kind of skill is just expected."
Sagiri simply let out a sigh and chose to ignore Ram's boasting and took a sip of her tea to get herself relaxed from all the chaos in her life.
"Oh! Right, I remember now!" Bikou suddenly perked up. "The leaders of the Three Factions are also meeting Odin tonight, right?"
"That's right," Sagiri confirmed. "Slash/Dog and I escorted him together with Lord Michael to the function."
"Then—then! How was it?" Bikou leaned toward Hajime, eyes twinkling like a child waiting for a story.
Hajime raised an eyebrow over the rim of his cup. "How was what, exactly?"
"Tsk, tsk, tsk! Don't play dumb, Demon King-sama!" Bikou laughed. "This was a legendary meeting between a famed God of War and the Godslayer! There had to be something, right? Explosions! Auras flaring! Trash talk! You know—that kind of stuff!"
At his words, everyone paused, expressions briefly lining up in shared realization.
"…I think you've watched too much shounen anime, Monkey," Hajime replied dryly, a wry smile tugging at his lips.
"Hmmp! Exactly," Sagiri added, unfazed. "Rather than a fight, Odin offered Nagumo Hajime a valkyrie instead."
Hajime instantly choked, coughing as tea spilled from his mouth. He stared at her in disbelief. "Sagiri?!"
"WHAT?! SERIOUSLY?!" Bikou's eyes widened so much it looked like they might pop right out of their sockets.
"…As expected from Nagumo-senpai," Koneko said calmly as she munched on her sweets. "His charm really is something else."
"Kuh! Damn it… I'm so jealous!" Issei clenched his fists, teeth grinding.
Ram smoothly stepped to Hajime's side, wiping away the spilled tea and refilling his cup with familiarity.
"Sagiri-sama is simply jealous, Your Majesty," she said sweetly. "Nothing that a few cuddles and a little pampering from you couldn't fix."
This time, it was Sagiri's turn to choke, tea sputtering out in surprise. "R-Ram?! Just what are you saying?!"
"Ram is merely voicing what was hidden deeply in Sagiri-sama's heart," Ram replied with a gentle smile.
For a brief moment, Sagiri froze, words failing her. Almost without realizing it, she glanced toward Hajime—only to find him looking her way as well. They both blushed instantly and looked away at the same time. Ram let out a quiet snort, shaking her head at her masters' shared innocence.
"Pff—nyahahaha! Is this for real?!" Kuroka burst out laughing, clutching her stomach. "You two react just like kids! It's too cute—so innocent!"
"Pfft! Sorry, bro, but Kuroka's right!" Bikou added between laughs. "You're already engaged to multiple women, and you're still acting like a guy who just had his first brush with romance!"
"You damn monkey! Just what are you implying?!" Hajime shot back, his cheek twitching.
"T-That's right, Bikou-san!" Sagiri exclaimed, flustered. "Our relationship is pure and honest! Th-Those kinds of things should only happen after marriage!"
"Nyahahaha! You ninja girl are adorable!" Kuroka said gleefully. "I can't help but cheer for you!"
"Hmm, hmm," Ram hummed thoughtfully, resting a finger against her cheek. "While Ram finds Sagiri-sama's purity charming, Ram cannot help but worry that Sagiri-sama will be left behind by our other Queens."
She sighed dramatically. "Thankfully, His Majesty is most understanding—and cherishes Sagiri-sama exactly as she is. Otherwise… Ram fears for her future."
"RAAAMMM!!!" Sagiri shouted, her face burning with embarrassment—only making Bikou and Kuroka laugh even harder. Even Koneko couldn't suppress the faint twitch at the corner of her lips, while Issei had to turn away entirely, shoulders shaking as he struggled not to laugh.
Amidst all of that, Ophis remained unbothered by the chaos. She simply watched them enjoy themselves as she continued eating, calm and content. Without realizing it, a small—almost imperceptible—smile formed on her lips.
"Seriously! You Nameless are truly interesting to be with!" Bikou said, wiping the tears from his eyes from laughing. "Now, I'm jealous of Tobio and the others for getting the head start and officially joining you guys!"
"No worries, no worries! After we are done with the things we have to do, we can join the Nameless just like the Slash Dog!" Kuroka said, patting Bikou's shoulder.
Hajime shook his head as he picked up his cup, "Just like what we said to Tobio and the others, the doors of the Astral Express will always be open to those who wish to walk on the path of Trailblaze."
Ram, Sagiri, and even Ophis look at the two. Hajime raised his cup, offering a cheer to them.
"So we will welcome you guys any time."
"Despite your teasing, I will, of course, welcome your group if you ever join us," Sagiri said with a small smirk. "After all, compared to your group, the main crew is more handful."
Their warm gathering was interrupted without warning.
Hajime was the first to sense something. Even Ophis paused mid‑bite, lowering her snacks as both of them turned toward the event hall, much to the other's confusion.
A split second later, a massive explosion erupted from the direction of the hall.
The shockwave followed immediately.
Ram moved on instinct, throwing herself over Ophis to shield her. At the same time, Sagiri stepped in front of them both, forcing them to crouch down as she braced herself for the incoming impact. Hajime wrapped his arms around the three of them, planting his feet as he took the force head‑on.
The rest reacted just as fast. Kuroka pulled Koneko under the table, covering her sister with her own body. Bikou kicked the table upright in a single sharp motion, and he and Issei held it firm as debris and pressure slammed into their cover.
Then....slowly...the shaking of the ground from the explosion passed.
One by one, they raised their heads, staring at the devastation the explosion had left behind.
"…?!" Koneko was too shocked to say anything.
"W‑what just happened?!" Issei blurted out. His voice was trembling.
Hajime's expression had darkened. Though he trusted Alice, Anisphia, and the others to be strong enough to survive, the worry still gnawed at him. He turned quickly to Sagiri, Ram, Ophis, Issei, and Koneko, scanning each of them for injuries.
"…Good," he muttered when he saw they were unharmed.
"Tsk… an ambush, huh?" Bikou clicked his tongue, eyes scanning the damaged surroundings.
"Did someone manage to bypass the event's security?" Sagiri muttered, already thinking through the possibilities.
"Someone actually tried to attack the event?" Issei's eyes widened as the implication sank in.
"There's no shortage of people who would want to see the alliance of the Three Factions fail," Kuroka said, her gaze sharpening.
"Whoever the attacker was," Hajime said in a grave tone, "it was most likely a god. It's faint, but I can sense another divine presence, one that isn't Ophis or Odin."
His words immediately put everyone on edge. Kuroka and Bikou exchanged a look.
"Perhaps the god you sensed is Loki," Kuroka said carefully.
"Loki…" Hajime repeated, his eyes narrowing as the pieces fell into place. "Then this attack is probably tied to his legend. Ragnarok, isn't it?"
"…Yes," Kuroka confirmed with a small nod.
"Ragnarok… the war of gods," Sagiri murmured as she arrived at the same conclusion. She looked at Hajime. "What's our next move?"
"Bikou. Kuroka," Hajime said firmly, turning to them. "I think it's best if you two leave."
"Wha—?!" Kuroka's eyes widened.
"Oi, oi, oi! Demon King-san, don't just dismiss us like that," Bikou protested.
Hajime shook his head. "The situation's complicated. Loki is likely tied to the Khaos Brigade. If he sees either of you here, it'll put you in danger."
Their expressions darkened. Neither of them wanted to retreat—not like this.
"...Nee-sama. Nagumo-senpai is right," Koneko said quietly, placing a hand on Kuroka's arm. "If a member of the Khaos Brigade discovers that your group is secretly cooperating with the Three Factions, it would put you in danger."
"And aside from the leaders of the Three Factions—and those who fought alongside us during the last incident," Sagiri added calmly, "no one else knows you're actually allies. To the rest of the Underworld, you'd be seen as the criminals responsible for attacking this event."
Bikou and Kuroka's expressions darkened. They knew Koneko and Sagiri were right—and yet, leaving like this still felt wrong.
"Don't worry," Hajime said firmly. "I'm here. If things turn ugly, I'll step in myself. I'll handle it."
After a moment, Kuroka and Bikou let out a heavy sigh.
"…Then we'll leave it to you, Nagumo-san," she said.
"We'll inform Vali and the others about what happened here," Bikou added.
Hajime nodded. Kuroka pulled Koneko into a tight hug, whispering words of encouragement before letting her go. After giving one last nod to Hajime and the others, Bikou and Kuroka vanished in a flash of light.
Once they were gone, Hajime turned to Sagiri, Ram, Ophis, Issei, and Koneko. Without another word, they broke into a run toward the building.
======