67. Italian Adventures: Part 3.
Omniscient POV
Upon returning home, Esri was surprised to find Dia playing alone in the dining room.
"Dear, where's the nanny?" she inquired, noting that it was still early for the nanny to leave.
"Oh, Aunty! Daisy's gone home. She had some work to do," Dia replied with a radiant smile as she hugged her aunt.
"When did she leave?" Esri asked, gently patting Dia's head.
"Probably around an hour ago," Dia answered.
Esri sighed inwardly. She would have to have a talk with Daisy. Leaving Dia alone without informing anyone first was unacceptable. Irresponsible teenagers!
"Have you eaten dinner yet?" asks Esri.
"No," replies Dia.
"Then wait for a bit. I will make Ragu with sage pesto. I had already finished the prep work before leaving," says Esri as she heads to the kitchen to prepare dinner.
Dia's eyes light up at the mention of the dish. She eagerly makes rounds around the kitchen, watching Esri as she cooks. After Esri finishes preparing the meal, she serves Dia dinner.
"Here," says Esri as she hands Dia the plate and sits down beside her.
"Where's your plate? Aren't you gonna eat?" asks Dia innocently.
"Sorry, dear. I already had dinner outside. But I will stay beside you. So finish your meal," says Esri with a warm smile.
After a while, Dia finishes her meal and tries to help her aunt by taking her utensils to the dishwasher. After cleaning everything, Esri turns to Dia for an important conversation.
"Sweetheart, is there something you are hiding from your aunt?" asks Esri softly, her eyes serious.
Dia was taken aback by the question, her eyes darting around the room as she avoided making direct eye contact with her aunt. She hesitated for a moment before softly saying no, a sense of unease evident in her demeanor.
"Are you sure, dear? You know you can share anything with me. You shouldn't lie to your family. Lying is bad," says Esri gently, her tone filled with concern and understanding.
After some persuasion from her aunt, she finally let her guard down and answered honestly.
"Nnn. I have a sacred gear I awakened a few months ago and have been practicing to use it since then whenever I am alone. Sorry I didn't tell you," says Dia softly, mist covering her eyes, feeling a bit guilty.
"You don't have to apologize, dear. But you know it was dangerous for you to use that all by yourself. You could have gotten hurt," says Esri as she hugs and comforts her warmly.
"Sorry," says Dia softly.
After a while, when Dia stops weeping, Esri releases her from the hug.
"But when have you ever been alone to do this? Shouldn't Daisy be with you whenever I cannot? And where do you even practice?" asks Esri curiously.
"Oh. Daisy is always busy on her phone. So it isn't really hard to escape her eyes. And I usually use the library where some of the magical books are kept or the garden," says Dia, prompting Esri to sigh again and start thinking of hiring someone new. Daisy's priorities are definitely not in the right place.
"Did anyone know or see you using your powers?" asks Esri nervously.
"Umm... No. I don't think so," replies Dia.
"Hmm... Do you want to learn from a professional?" asks Esri after thinking for a while. It's probably better for her to learn properly when she has already gotten involved with this side of the world. But how would she explain it to her brother and sister-in-law?
"Yes!" replies Dia excitedly.
*
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Serafall Leviathan has been feeling the strain of recent events. The emergence of that video has thrown the Underworld into chaos, with everyone clamoring to uncover more about Akatsuki and his true identity.
The devil council has been in constant discussion on the matter, with some members scoffing at the Cadres' defeat and others recognizing the potential threat posed by this unknown individual.
Amidst the chaos, many are eager to ensla... recruit Akatsuki into their peerage, sparking curiosity among the council members.
However, amidst the banter and speculation, the Satans and older devils are acutely aware of the power wielded by Kokabiel and Satanael.
Having faced them in battle, they know firsthand that defeating both of them is no small feat. They recognize the need to investigate this new individual, unsure whether he could be a valuable ally or a potential enemy.
Furthermore, the unexpected display of power by the Ouryuu has left many shocked. While they had heard of his talent, they never imagined he could take on multiple fallen angels and two Cadres single-handedly. It's a revelation that has opened their eyes to the true extent of his abilities.
Despite their curiosity, the devil council struggles to uncover the true motives behind the altercation, as the Nakiris remain elusive and Azazel remains unresponsive despite the numerous calls. What on earth is even Azazel doing?!
Nevertheless, the Satans remain vigilant, knowing that Akatsuki's emergence could potentially disrupt the delicate balance of power in the Underworld.
Meanwhile, Serafall, as the Head of Foreign Affairs, is bearing the brunt of the chaos. She had heard about Akatsuki from Kouske before, in their few interactions where they met a few times.
So, Serafall even went to Kouske's house a few times to find anything she could about Akatsuki. But to her dismay, that boy's out of the country!
'How long is that brat planning to tour?!'
As the pressure and workload mount, Serafall curses Akatsuki and wishes he chokes on his food for making her work so much harder!
*
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"Sister Griselda, any sign of him yet?" asked one of the exorcists, his frustration evident in his tone.
"No, nothing," Griselda replied, her brow furrowed with worry. "It's like he's vanished into thin air."
"This is embarrassing. How can we let one man elude us like this?" another exorcist grumbled, kicking a stone in frustration.
"We need to find him, no matter what," Griselda declared, her jaw set with determination. "Keep searching every inch of this territory until we find him."
As the exorcists dispersed to resume their search, Griselda's mind raced with worry. How could they not find Akatsuki's trace at all? Frankly, it was humiliating for the Church not to find him in their own territory, and she could sense the frustration growing among the exorcists. Some were taking it personally, their impatience starting to boil over.
But despite the doubts and mounting pressure, Griselda couldn't abandon the search. The orders from the higher-ups were clear, and they needed to find Akatsuki to understand his intentions for entering their territory. He was a wildcard, and they couldn't afford to underestimate him. No matter how long it took, Griselda was determined to track him down and get the answers they needed.
*
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Spirit Realm
In the throne room of the Phoenix Emperor, an injured phoenix knelt before the ruler. The man was a skilled informant cum assassin from the royal guards, boasting a B ranked power level. Despite being a phoenix, his wounds showed no signs of healing or worsening.
"What happened? Did you complete the task?" inquired Felix, the current Phoenix Emperor, his gaze fixed on the assassin.
"Yes, Your Majesty. I've gathered all the information regarding the one who contracted with the princess," the assassin began, detailing everything he knew about Kouske and the others.
However, he omitted any mention of Akatsuki, as he had never encountered information about him due to Kouske's constant teleportations and the interference of a certain maid.
"Hmm. He doesn't seem too bad. Nevertheless, keep a close watch on him and remain near my daughter," commanded Felix after a moment of contemplation.
"Um, your majesty. Observing him will become increasingly challenging from now on," nervously interjected the assassin, prompting Felix's curiosity.
"Why? Is that also the reason for your current condition?" inquired Felix, raising an eyebrow.
"Yes. Um, there's a dangerous maid in that household. I couldn't sense her aura, but I always felt her menace. Initially, she didn't obstruct my surveillance, but after a few months, she became aggressive. One day suddenly, she was right behind me, I didn't even know how or when, warning me not to spy on her master anymore. When I tried attacking her, I was instantly in this state without even knowing how and what happened. She didn't kill me and just left me with a warning and stated that there would be no next time. But, she still permitted me to remain close to the princess," recounted the assassin, visibly shaken by the memory of his encounter with her.
"How powerful was she, and why hasn't your wounds healed yet?" queried Felix, already suspecting the answer.
"I'm uncertain of her strength, but she effortlessly outmatched me. As for my wound, it refuses to heal, no matter what remedies I employ, even my own healing factors totally stopped working. Even the fatigue and the blood loss are still the same. It's as if my body is trapped in a static state," explained the assassin.
"It's likely time magic. Use this right now," instructed Felix, tossing him a vial of Phoenix Tears crafted by himself.
"Thank you, Your Majesty," expressed the assassin, applying the Phoenix Tears and witnessing gradual healing.
"Hmm. It's potent. Ordinarily, my Phoenix Tears would instantly heal wounds, but it appears they faced resistance, likely from her magic. She must possess considerable power. Avoid engaging her in combat. Focus solely on protecting my daughter," directed Felix, contemplating how to relay this information to his wife.
"As you command, your majesty," expresses the assassin.
"Hm. Now, what does my daughter do there?" pondered Felix.
"She mostly occupies herself indoors and plays human games. Then sleeping, shopping, and occasionally venturing out for tours," reported the assassin hesitantly.
Felix was taken aback by this revelation. He had anticipated her exploring the human world more extensively.
"Are the games truly that captivating?" muttered Felix.
"I've brought the one she was recently engrossed in," offered the assassin, handing the game to a nearby guard.
After that, Felix dismissed everyone, having much more to contemplate. As he held the game in his hands, if his wife and daughter were to have anything in common, he might find something new to occupy his wife's time and lessen the brunt of her mood swings. Felix still didn't know, that this simple decision of his would give birth to Japan's number one professional gaming duo. But that's a story for the future.
*
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In a dimly lit apartment nestled closer to a slum area in Italy, the sounds of laughter and music filled the air as a party raged on. Amidst the chaos, a mother stood in the center of the room, her newest rich boyfriend by her side, her face contorted with anger and frustration. She had reached her breaking point, unable to bear the weight of her own troubles any longer.
"Get out!" she screamed, her voice cutting through the noise of the party. "I can't take care of you anymore! You're nothing but a burden!"
Tears streamed down the cheeks of the young girl, her heart breaking at her mother's words. She begged and pleaded, but her mother's eyes remained cold and distant.
"Don't ever dare to think about coming back!"
With a shove, she was pushed out into the cold night, the door slamming shut behind her.
In the crowded party house, amidst the laughter and music, harsh whispers and judgmental stares were exchanged as the malnourished young girl was thrown out onto the streets.
"What a disgrace," sneered one guest, casting a disdainful glance at the bony girl.
"She's filthy," remarked another, wrinkling their nose in disgust as they looked at her through the glass window. "She belongs to the slums. No wonder she's been kicked out."
"Mama! Mama! Please..."
But her cries were drowned out by the jubilant noise of the celebratory party, as her mother was swept away by the excitement of her boyfriend's proposal.
Alone and vulnerable, the young girl wandered the streets, her stomach growling with hunger. She searched desperately for scraps of food, even resorting to rummaging through trash bins in a futile attempt to ease her gnawing hunger, fighting off street dogs for a single bite of the spoiled food. But the spoiled food she found only made her vomit and sick.
As the young girl stumbled through the alleyways, desperately searching for scraps of food, the reactions of those around her grew even colder. Mothers pulled their children away, their faces twisted in disgust as their little ones pointed at the girl in tattered clothes, dirt smeared across her face.
"Don't look at her, darling," one mother scolded her child, tugging them along. "She's dirty. Probably from the slums. We don't associate with people like that."
The young girl felt the sting of rejection with each passing gaze, each whispered insult cutting deeper into her already wounded spirit. But she pressed on, her determination to survive outweighing the cruel words and judgment of those around her.
After days of wandering the streets, she stumbled upon the place she once called home, only to find it sealed with a notice of being sold. Her mother had abandoned her, leaving her to fend for herself on the streets.
With her last bit of hope shattered, she collapsed in the alleyway, her heart broken and her spirit crushed. In her weakened state, she could barely see through the tears that blurred her vision.
As her strength waned and her vision darkened, street rats biting into her flesh, she caught sight of a silhouette in the shadows. With the last of her energy, she cried out for help, her voice barely a whisper in the night. And then, everything went black.
"He..lp..."
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