"So, what is the real reason you wanted us to help with security for your conference?"

"We fear that the measures that we have currently won't be able to deal with a potential threat that we fear will strike at that time?"

"Who in particular do you think is a threat?"

"The same individual who's responsible for the breach in the Holy System that led to the fall of Heaven."

Volume 4: Divine Traitor of the Security Breach

"Hmm. Checkmate."

I honestly don't know how I did it, but I just won a game of chess against Sona Sitri.

Rias and Akeno had only been teaching me how to play for a week and a half now. I didn't know what I was doing half the time, but I managed to break down her defenses and I eventually checked her King.

"Oh. Wow! You actually did it!" Rias said, adjusting the garter on her uniform. "I only told you to give it a try so I could run through the shower!"

That would have normally been quite the distraction, but I was so focused on not getting absolutely humiliated by Sona that I somehow resisted my curiosity to glance at her silhouette in the other room.

I was expecting Sona to be absolutely flabbergasted, but she had quite the smug look on her face.

"Did you know I once broke up with a fiancé because he wasn't able to beat me in chess?"

"Wait. Is that true?" I asked her.

"It is true," Rias replied. "She refuses to marry a man who can't rival her intelligence,"

"Wait," I asked. "Then what does that mean about me?"

If Sona is implying what I think she's implying, I just crushed Saji's dreams by complete accident.

She chuckled and began to leave the room, "Nothing, really. See you around, Makoto."

One thing is for sure, I have somehow won the hearts of all three of the most popular girls in school. This is an odd stroke of luck indeed.

"Good grief."

"Looks like Serafall's sister has taken an interest in you as well, Makoto."

"Big brother!" Rias exclaimed as she noticed Sirzechs and Grayfia entering the room. "What are you doing here? Don't you have work?"

"Yes, but in a sense, this falls under it. I wanted to assure that Milcom Amon won't try any funny business while trading his Rook with my dear sister. Father and I also wanted to spend extra time observing the place before the official Class Visits. Lady Gabriel has agreed to lend a room for me and my wife-"

Grayfia began pinching Sirzechs' cheek.

"My apologies. Lord Sirzechs likes to tell silly jokes like that," she said as he was protesting in pain. "I'm simply the maid to the House of Gremory."

Didn't she straight-up tell me they were married earlier? I guess it was the alcohol speaking.

Also, I'm glad my mom is hospitable to more than just potential suitors, even if it is relatives of potential suitors.

Koneko suddenly burst into the room.

"Makoto. I need your help."

I followed her into the hallway of the main school building where there was much more clamor than usual before class.

I found out the reason before long. There was a group of first-years surrounding a familiar black-haired girl.

"Yuma?" I muttered.

As I approached her, Koneko suddenly jumped on my back and pinned her against the wall.

"Goodness, Makoto. If you were this happy to see me, you should have done that yourself."

"I'm not that happy to see you…" I commented.

"What are you doing here, Raynare?" Koneko demanded.

"Umm…." she said, feigning embarrassment. "I think you have the wrong person. My name's Yuma Amano."

"As in 'the evening daze of heaven,' right?" Koneko commented. "Is that when you plan to kill Makoto?"

"You shouldn't make such baseless accusations in a public hallway, you know?"

"She's not trying to kill me, Koneko," I said.

"Toujou! Get off Makoto's back, that isn't proper."

She got off my back after Sona suddenly appeared next to us.

"Also, you will not harass Miss Amano during school, regardless of any history you may have had with her."

"Okay," she said, in her usual stoic tone, as if she complied out of obligation.

"Get to class, all of you," Sona said.

All the other first years dispersed, and I was about to head to my class as well.

"Can I borrow you for a second, Makoto?" Sona asked. "I have a favor to ask of you and your peerage."

"Yes?"

"The school's pool will be opening up soon. Could the four of you help clean it for us? We've got our hands full right now"

"Sure!"

"Thank you so much! But do it after school. I don't want to see you cutting class again on my account."

After class, the four of us went down to the Pool to help with Sona's request. Yuuto, Koneko, and Ravel decided to help out as well. The rest of the club would have helped, but they had something else to take care of.

We drained the pool and cleaned the inside of it to get rid of all the moss and gunk that accumulated over a year of non-use.

After we scrubbed it real good, I stepped up to the diving board and outstretched my hand.

"Okay. Here goes nothing."

Akeno had taught me water magic earlier. Now to see if I can use it to fill an entire pool.

The big thing is focus. Focus on what I want.

I outstretched my hand and summoned a magic circle right above the pool. And then water began flowing out of it!

"Oh wow! That's impressive!" Ravel said as the rest of the group began clapping.

"Well, we managed to get so far without any awkward sexual tension…"

After an awkward silence from everyone, we decided to get changed to have first dibs at swim time.

"We finished changing! How do we look?"

Asia and Koneko came out first after Yuuto and I. They opted for the standard school swimsuit.

Not gonna lie, the combination of the Japanese school swimsuit on a foreign girl like Asia looked quite good.

I gave a thumbs up in lieu of saying anything weird.

"Thank goodness!"

Xenovia and Irina took a bit longer, they went for two-piece suits, albeit simple, and Ravel…

"Why didn't you change, Ravel?"

"Fried chicken princess is scared of the water," Koneko answered me.

"I am not! And stop calling me that!"

"Hey, at least you're not an enemy fallen angel."

"I still can't get over how she's a year below me," Asia commented.

"I told you, before, Koneko. Yuma saved my life. We don't have to worry about her anymore."

"Just because she saved your life before doesn't mean she still doesn't have ulterior motives." Koneko replied. "She tried to get you to join her coup when we were still fighting, remember?"

"You didn't trust me at first, either, remember?"

"That was different. I thought you were just a rude smartass at first, but at least you didn't have a bunch of exorcists try and kill us."

"Can I just get onto helping you and Asia swim?"

Apparently neither of them ever learned how to swim. I would understand Asia not knowing, since she lived in a convent for most of her life, but as tough as Koneko is, I thought she would know already, but alas.

Asia specifically asked me to help her. After all, the swim team was one of the teams I didn't make because my natural strength boosts as an angel could be mistaken for juicing.

I didn't mind helping Koneko and Asia out, as teaching a Servant and a Junior isn't much of a stretch from teaching a child to swim, but during Asia's session, my mind was wandering onto how awkward it would be if it was Rias or Akeno in her position.

As I was lost in thought, I nearly forgot there was a wall right behind me.

"Is everything alright, Makoto?" she asked me. "Am I troubling you?"

"No! No! No! Not at all! It's not you…"

"What's going on? You can tell me…"

I sighed. "It's just that… I have… a crush on someone…"

"It's the President is it? Or is it Akeno?"

"Is it that obvious?" I asked. Koneko nodded and gave a thumbs up.

"I guess you could say it's both of them. The problem is that I can tell that they both also have feelings for me as well. This may be overthinking, but I'm afraid that if I confess to one of them, the other one will get mad… or depressed… That's not even getting into what others who may or may not have feelings for me might think."

"Well, you don't have to worry about us!" Irina said. "Whoever you decide, I'll have your back!"

"I doubt that…" Xenovia commented.

"Hey! I will!"

"As a Knight, I'm sworn to serve Rias Gremory and her allies," Yuuto commented. "You helped me out once before, so I would be glad to return the favor and help you through any awkward relationship issues you may have."

"Same," Koneko said concisely.

"Yeah. We're your Knights!" Xenovia said, suddenly clenching her left fist. "If neither of them aren't willing to bear your children, then I'm more than happy to serve you!"

"Okay. Now you're making this weird," I said to her.

"I'm just saying. Your genes are quite impressive. That weird cat from earlier said it herself."

"Hey. I'm his childhood friend! I should have that responsibility!" Irina said.

"It was one summer, that's hardly grounds for 'childhood friend' material," Xenovia replied.

"And I thought angels would behave themselves in these matters…" Ravel commented as they started arguing, going back to reading her fashion magazine on the pool chair.

"It's gonna be okay, Makoto!" Asia said, hugging me. "We're here to help you! You'll get through this!"

"Everyone join in!" Irina said as she jumped in to start a group hug that Yuuto and Xenovia quickly followed.

Ravel then screeched as Koneko pushed her into the pool before jumping in herself to join the group hug.

Surprisingly, Ravel quickly recovered as she swam towards us with better technique than any of us.

"I didn't know you were such a good swimmer Ravel. I thought you didn't care for it!" Xenovia commented.

"I was taught when I was young, but water feels weird and it ruins my hair. But I guess I'm here for you too, Makoto."

"Thank you all. I feel a lot better."

I would have loved to help Makoto clean the pool, but I was already hit up by the President to help oversee her exchange with Milcom Amon.

I was in the Club Room with the President and Akeno, along with Lord Sirzechs and Lady Grayfia.

"I can see why Akeno is with us, but why did you choose me specifically?"

"If I had my way, I would have had the entire peerage here, but Sona had to hit Makoto up last minute and it didn't feel right having the four of them do it alone, so I let Yuuto, Koneko, and Ravel help him. I wanted you to stay because you were the one who defeated his prized Queen. That might discourage any funny business."

"Oh. I see…" I replied.

"Besides, I also wanted to ask you an unrelated question," she added. "I know this is kind of random, but why have you bought so much underwear recently?"

"A girl can't have too much underwear…"

"True."

"Trust me. I know Grayfia has accumulated quite the collection hersel-"

Lady Grayfia glared at Lord Sirzechs before he could finish that statement, and he began to chuckle nervously

Shortly after that, Milcom Amon and his two servants had teleported into the club room.

"Oh. Lord Sirzechs," Milcom said. "Glad to see you came to see this exchange between your sister and I."

"More like oversee to keep you from trying anything funny with my little sister."

"Who do you think I am? Diodora Astaroth? There's no reason for you not to trust me."

"After what you pulled with the House of Phenex, I have plenty of reasons. Not to mention that I know about you taking my little sister hostage to bait the White Dragon Emperor."

"And you and me both know that you don't have the evidence to prove my association with the Khaos Brigade in court. The advent of hypnotism has made mere testimony insufficient."

"That's enough, you two," Lady Grayfia demanded. "Let us focus on the issue at hand."

"Thank you, Lady Grayfia," Milcom said. "Are you ready to make the exchange, Lady Rias?"

The President nodded.

Milcom and the President stood on opposite sides of the magic circle in the room, with her unused Rook and Hagane inside the circle on their masters' respective side.

They lifted their hands and the circle began glowing red on the President's side and indigo on Milcom's side. The President's Rook and Hagane glowed the same color as the side they were on inside the circle, until after a few moments, they began glowing the opposite color.

The trade was complete.

The President outstretched her arms and Hagane walked over to her for a big hug as Milcom picked up what was now his unused Rook.

"I won't let you down, President!"

"I regret letting you go, but you seem, understandably, more comfortable with Rias Gremory. In a way, I'm glad."

"It wasn't you, Lord Milcom. I wanted to work for someone else besides the Goddess of Death. So, I jumped at the opportunity."

"As would I, but for now, my alliance with her is a means to an end."

"And what does that mean, Milcom?" The President asked him.

"I wish to offer you a warning. Both the Church's and the Underworld's conferences are in danger. I'm didn't wish to involve myself with this sort of attack, so I'd thought I'd give you a heads up."

"If it isn't by you, then whom?" Lord Sirzechs asked. "Is it someone else within the Khaos Brigade!?"

"Again, I am not involved, so I don't know for sure." Milcom said as he and his servants began to teleport out. "It was just something I overheard… from one high ranking devil to another."

And so there it was. My mother, a seraph, was having dinner with Sirzechs Lucifer, one of the four Demon Lords.

I know Christ dined with tax collectors, but this still seems wrong somehow.

"I know I said it earlier but thank you for being such a gracious host for my little sister."

"Think nothing of it." Mom replied to him as she pulled out a bottle of sake from one of the cabinets. "Anything for a fine young lady such as herself."

"That's wonderful. She was always such a good girl."

Rias was covering her face, which was becoming almost as red as her hair as I was sitting on the couch near her.

"Are you okay, Rias?" I asked.

"Oh. Nothing… Just… a little embarrassed that's all…"

"Tell me about it…"

"Oh!" Sirzechs exclaimed. "You actually got some of the local stuff! I'm surprised! You usually go for European wines."

"I just thought you would want to try it while you were here."

"I wouldn't mind that at all."

As Sirzechs poured out the sake, Mom commented, "I appreciate your men taking care of the damage that Kokabiel caused to campus so quickly!"

"Oh. It's nothing. Alternate dimension replicas and whatnot."

It definitely felt like nothing. The next day, it was like Kokabiel didn't even blow up the gym. I heard from Rias that her family helped establish the school. With how entrenched these devils are in the school, I was hardly surprised.

Later that evening, shortly after I showered and got into my pajamas, Sirzechs entered my room.

"Can't sleep?"

"Not in my room, no. Even though Lady Gabriel gave us a King-Size, Grayfia seems to not want to sleep with me. I guess she took my comment earlier personally. Is it a problem if I sleep in your room?"

"Not at all. Mom has a futon in the closet I can let you borrow."

"My. She definitely came prepared."

"You would think with how many bedrooms this place came with; she wouldn't need to keep one lying around. But alas."

Sirzechs quickly noticed the Xbox I had in my room and we spent the next couple hours playing on it. Never knew I would play deathmatch with a Demon Lord.

"I must say. For someone of your caliber, you have quite the skill," he said after I beat him for the second time.

"Thank you. I'm kinda new to this game, though."

"I was referring to your power. The way you were able to overpower even someone like Kokabiel."

"Hey. Mom defeated him. Not me."

"Even so, with your angelic power and your Balance Breaker, even in its incomplete form, I would argue your ranking is somewhere in the four, no, triple digits from the top.

"So, like, at least, Top 900?"

"At least."

"So, who would be number 1? You? Halja?"

"This world is full of strong beings. I don't even think I crack even the top 10."

I chuckled. "Nice to see the Demon Lord is humble."

"It pays to be in the position I'm in."

"I've been meaning to ask, but how can I more effectively use the power of Balance Breaker? The one time I was able to use it properly was when I siphoned the power of the Goddess of Death, and even then, it was for less than a minute."

"I don't know. You do have some powerful allies…"

He was deep in thought.

"What are you getting at?" I asked.

"Nah. I was just brainstorming. Forget I said anything."

And with that, I fell asleep in the same room as a Demon Lord. I'm not making this up.