I Sealed Sukuna’s Finger#499+500: Kuroka: This Is the Legal Wife's Presence! Heaven's Sincerity

Of course, the meeting room didn't only hold Venelana, Sirzechs, Serafall, and Michael.

Besides the above four, Koneko Toujou, Mio Naruse, Maria, Celis, Zest, and others were all present. Plus, led by Tsubaki Shinra, numerous servants belonging to Sona were also all there.

They didn't sit like Venelana. Rather, they lined up against walls on both sides by the meeting room entrance.

Same old saying—the Underworld always revered strength. Hierarchy was strict. When Maou sat down discussing important matters, even if usually treating people casually in private, at this time others must stand.

This was the rule. Insurmountable.

But somehow, Akeno wasn't present.

"Eh? Where's Akeno-senpai?"

Bokue scanned once and couldn't help asking aloud.

Quite strange. Logically, as Rias's close friend, best sister, and initial peerage member, Akeno absolutely should be present at this time.

Even if any other person wasn't present—only Akeno shouldn't be absent, right?

"About Akeno..."

Rias paused slightly.

"Because today is Saikai Academy's open house, every classroom is busy decorating. She and Xenovia just went to the teaching building to call Asia and Irina who are still helping in class. They should come over immediately."

"I see."

Nodding lightly to indicate understanding, Bokue again stepped forward, passing Rias standing at the entrance alongside Sona. He came directly to the meeting table's main seat. Before two Maou plus one twelve-winged Archangel, he pulled out a chair and sat down.

Kuroka followed behind Bokue the entire way. Like Grayfia standing behind Venelana, she also stood behind the young man.

This was Kuroka's privilege.

Unlike Rias whose strength currently still stopped at high-class devil level, Kuroka's power had long ago—under Bokue's careful irrigation—broken through Maou-class years ago. Now she'd completely surpassed transcenders.

As the world's strongest nekomata, bluntly speaking—as long as Kuroka herself wished, she could casually slap anyone at the table besides Bokue to death with two palm strikes.

Naturally including a certain Fallen Angel Governor who hadn't arrived yet.

Usually at home joking around competing jealously for "workstations," everyone was good sisters. But on formal occasions like this, Kuroka was the empress below one person.

No one present had objections to this.

"First meeting. I'm called Michael—leader of angels, representing Heaven participating in the Three Factions conference."

Just as Bokue sat down, simultaneously the twelve-winged golden-haired male sitting right of the main seat opposite Sirzechs and Serafall smiled as he turned to greet.

"..."

Honestly, this was Bokue's first time clearly seeing Michael's appearance.

Different from expectations of sacred solemnity—though Michael's clothing and surrounding radiance gave strong angelic déjà vu, his actual appearance was surprisingly... somewhat cute.

How to put it? Bokue had previously internally complained that Sirzechs completely forced his sister Rias's features onto a male face. Though also quite refined, from facial contours you could still see male-characteristic sharpness.

But this Michael was completely "draw girl, call boy."

Disrespectfully speaking, if attaching a voluptuous female body below Michael's head, having him cosplay as gentle perfect housewife would be absolutely no problem.

Plus, speaking also unhurriedly gave an impression of being a pushover.

Could such personality really command the room?

Though internally complaining, Bokue's mouth still gave normal response.

"Hello. I'm called Bokue Keikain, owner of Itogami Island. Call me Keikain or Bokue—either works."

"Hello, Keikain-san."

The extremely polite Archangel smiled and nodded.

Seeing the two had simply greeted, Serafall sitting beside Sirzechs couldn't help pouting with curious sounds.

"Ara? Why does Keikain-kun seem a bit sleepy today? Didn't sleep well last night?"

"No, just simply got pulled from bed by Rias..."

As Bokue spoke, he yawned again.

"Still sleeping in?" The magical girl narrowed her eyes. "Feels like Keikain-kun doesn't take this conference seriously."

"That's exactly it... why should I take it so seriously? If you sincerely want peace talks, even without me you can still negotiate. Conversely, even if you sign agreements before me, afterward you'll still violate them if you want."

"Though true, we Heaven truly came with full sincerity to discuss ceasefire. But personally, I still hoped to meet Keikain-san."

Michael continued smiling.

"Actually, I've always had something I wanted to apologize to Keikain-san about."

"Me?"

Having finished yawning and lowering his hand, Bokue looked at him questioningly.

"What are you apologizing to me for?"

"Naturally about... Asia-san's matter."

Michael paused slightly when getting here. He stood from his seat, bowing slightly toward the young man still seated at the main seat. Then he turned to nod at the two Maou seated as well.

"This matter can be openly stated here without issue. I think probably everyone present already knows—the fact that God is no longer here."

"Currently all faith collected by the Church operates through a system we created. Without God's power, even I can only barely maintain it to ensure stable operation."

"Precisely because of this, this system can no longer tolerate even the slightest impurity. For this, we Heaven had no choice but to expel all believers whose faith was mixed with impurities, thus avoiding the faith system's collapse."

"Truly... deeply sorry to Asia-san."

Finishing, Michael sincerely lowered his head.

"I see."

But Bokue only glanced at him before withdrawing his gaze.

"You shouldn't be saying this to me. When people arrive, you should personally tell Asia yourself."

As the young man's words settled, simultaneously footsteps came from outside the meeting room door's corridor.

A few seconds later, Akeno Himejima led the way entering from outside, plus following close behind were Xenovia, Irina Shidou, and Asia.

"Akeno, you're back."

Rias turned toward the sound.

"Yes, Buchou."

Akeno smiled faintly, then turned toward Bokue at the meeting table plus the other three on both sides of the main seat.

"Eh? Sirzechs-sama, Serafall-sama, and Archangel Michael all arrived. The Fallen Angel side hasn't come yet?"

"Yeah, seems like it."

❁❁❁❁

Meanwhile, in the shaded area behind the administrative building's greenery belt, a certain Fallen Angel Governor who'd yet to arrive helplessly looked at the middle-aged man before him—fists clenched tightly, silent. Behind them, Vali leaned against the wall with arms folded across chest, eyes closed meditating, completely uninvolved.

"Baraqiel, you should about adjust your mental state to see your daughter, right?"

"Yes, I know. Just... give me a little more time..."

<><><><><><><><>

Perspective returning to the meeting room.

With Akeno and others' arrival, the meeting room atmosphere immediately gained subtle tension compared to before.

After all, previously everyone inside the meeting room held their own firm positions.

For example, Rias, Sona, and others undoubtedly stood on the Underworld's side—including Sirzechs and Serafall as well. Bokue purely existed as a witness representing the fourth party. Kuroka's position depended on where Bokue stood—wherever he was, she'd be there.

Only Irina Shidou, Xenovia, and Asia were different.

They'd been the Church's Holy Sword wielders and saint. Should've stood on Heaven's side. Yet now stood beside devils.

Simultaneously, Archangel Michael—who'd just sat down earlier—suddenly stood up. His gaze turned toward the three at tableside, smiling.

"So the conference hasn't officially started yet, right?"

"Of course~"

Before the other two could speak, Serafall propped up her cheeks to answer for them.

"After all, Azazel's side hasn't arrived. Since it's a Three Factions conference, naturally all three sides must arrive before starting... what, want to use the bathroom before the conference starts?"

"Hehehe, of course not."

Facing the Four Great Maou's teasing, Michael showed absolutely no anger. Just chuckling lightly, he walked down from the meeting table toward Rias and others standing against the wall by the meeting room entrance.

More accurately—he looked toward Asia, Xenovia, and Irina who'd arrived earlier following Akeno Himejima.

Then deeply bowed his head.

!!!

Completely not expecting such development, Asia's mouth opened slightly. Shocked nearly speechless.

Michael maintained this bowing posture, using extremely sincere tone to speak words everyone present could hear.

"Asia Argento-san, regarding what happened to you previously... I truly am... deeply sorry."

This...

Asia froze completely.

"Before this, I explained this matter to Keikain-san. But though having countless reasons, ultimately it's still because my abilities as administrator were insufficient—causing your misfortune, Asia-san."

Completely unlike his usual gentle relaxed tone, current Michael's voice carried full self-blame and regret.

"Of course, the same applies to Irina Shidou-san and Xenovia Quarta-san."

"Eh?"

"Why us too..."

Completely not expecting even they'd be included, the two former Holy Sword wielder girls who'd been merely shocked were also slightly startled.

Michael continued explaining: "In the Kokabiel incident, learning God had died must have dealt you considerable shock as well. That was likewise because my insufficient managerial abilities forced this inferior strategy."

"Since God's death, no one could adjust the faith system. With my abilities, I can only barely maintain stable operation. But once the world learned God had died, it would inevitably cause massive faith upheaval. The entire faith system would completely collapse."

"So to avoid the above situation, as Heaven's new leader I could only be forced to suppress news of God's death. Truly... deeply sorry."

Words settling, the meeting room fell silent.

Michael spoke these words completely without evasion—publicly revealing Heaven's confidential secrets that by his position absolutely shouldn't be disclosed.

This was Michael's way of demonstrating sincerity. Simultaneously a huge gamble. Moreover, a method with no alternatives.

Without Biblical God's dominance in the present, Heaven could no longer birth new pure-blood angels. He himself, exhausting all effort, could only barely maintain the faith system's operation.

From a long-term perspective, Heaven's combat power would only continue weakening with time.

Of course, the same logic applied to Fallen Angels.

Even compared to angels led by Michael, Fallen Angels—unable to receive faith system enhancement—faced even more awkward circumstances.

In other words, without finding methods to revive Biblical God, the Underworld's sole dominance afterward was nearly inevitable.

So he must demonstrate sincerity here. Finalize this Three Factions conference's peace agreement.

This was the only thing he could currently do as Heaven's leader.

"So that's..."

"I see..."

Not until long afterward did the three girls gradually recover from massive shock.

Xenovia covered her forehead, sighing lightly.

"I... originally came today wanting to use this opportunity to return the Holy Sword I'd forgotten to give back to the Church."

"Holy Sword?"

Michael first showed confusion, then immediately reacted.

"Oh, is Xenovia-san talking about Holy Sword Durandal?"

"Yes. Because I could never perfectly control Durandal's flames, for a long time it's remained locked in alternate space. After storing it too long, I almost forgot its existence..."

"I see. Then please continue holding it, Xenovia-san."

Michael smiled faintly.

Eh?

Not just Xenovia—even Rias and Akeno beside her froze.

"Continue holding? But I've already..."

"May I ask, after leaving the Church, has Xenovia-san used Holy Sword Durandal for evil?"

"That... of course not."

"May I ask, after leaving the Church, has Xenovia-san still used Holy Sword Durandal to uphold justice?"

"That, I have done..."

The blue short-haired knight girl seriously recalled how last week at the supermarket she'd used the Holy Sword to knock out a demonic creature harassing a young female clerk, successfully escorting him to police.

Barely counted, right?

"Then may I ask—if in the future someone Xenovia-san cares about needs your help, would you be willing to assist?"

"I would."

This time Xenovia answered quite quickly. But after answering, she immediately glanced at Bokue still at the meeting table, seemingly hesitant to speak.

She'd once sworn to him that from now on her sword would only be wielded for him. But later discovered this guy was ridiculously strong—completely didn't need her help.

"Having that heart is enough."

Understanding the girl's thoughts at a glance, Michael smiled faintly.

"Holy Swords weren't created for you to serve the Church. As long as you still walk justice's path, you still possess qualifications to continue holding it. The same applies to Irina Shidou-san."

"Eh? Me... me?"

The twin-tailed former Holy Sword wielder girl froze.

The next second, Michael opened his palm. Lying quietly in it was a silk girl's armband.

"This is... Mimic Holy Sword?"

Irina recognized at a glance this was the Holy Sword she'd once used. After the Kokabiel incident, she'd returned it to the Church. Never expected it now back before her.

Though after that, Bokue had already made another armlet similar to Mimic Holy Sword for her.

If accepting Mimic Holy Sword now, then...

"Since it was brought, just accept it."

Just then, Bokue sitting at the meeting table—propping up his cheek while watching the entire scene—spoke.

"Refusing gifts specifically delivered is quite rude. Plus, this is Heaven demonstrating sincerity to us."

Incidentally... let's see what sincerity the Fallen Angel side has afterward?

Mmm, feels slightly like receiving tributes.