Grayfia gave a faint smile at the Seraph's challenge. "Grayfia Lucifuge of House Lucifuge. I cannot decline a direct challenge lest My Lord end up thinking of me as a coward."

Sandalphon cocked a brow at the devil's confidence. She could sense the demonic power surging inside the devil.??

'A Lucifuge with long silver hair and crimson eyes.. it's her. The woman who killed thousands of my brethren in the war. Now she came to further disrespect us.'

Rage brewed inside her.

historical

Asahi noticed Sandalphon's enmity and patted Grayfia's shoulder. "She is on par with you. Let me handle her."

"My Lord, you can't kill her. It'll further strain the relationship between Heaven and Underworld."

Asahi grinned. "I know that much. I've more than enough spells to defeat her."

His sheer confidence puzzled Grayfia. His words implied he was stronger than her, enough to defeat a Seraph quicker than her without using his sure kill weapon. She clearly remembered their first meeting. He was weaker than most of the low-class devils. She could crush him with one hand, and now...

Grayfia nodded at his growth and stepped aside from the soon to be the battlefield of her Lord and a Seraph.

Asahi ignited his blazing wings and the Ride Lightning at the same time. He transferred all the momentum to his legs and rushed at Sandalphon. The Seraph barely glimpsed at the fist wrapped in lightning. The danger triggered her senses, and she ducked on a reflex.

"As expected of a top-tier angel, you can dodge it."

Sandalphon retreated with a flap of her wings and frowned. This man had an overwhelming speed advantage. She couldn't discern his race. He wasn't a devil at the very least since his spells had no hints of demonic power.

"Who are you?" she asked while signaling Heaven through her halo.

Asahi dispelled his reinforcement spells. "I came here on the invitation of your Creator."

"Our Lord will never invite a devil to a church."

Asahi let out a sigh. This stubborn angel was wasting his precious time.

"Can't you just ask him?" Asahi said and glanced at Grayfia. "You will die if you fight alone."

Sandalphon bit her lips. A Seraph's death will tilt the balance and morale of the ongoing war. She sighed and unarmed herself.

"Very well. I shall await Lord's order—"

"No need to do that, Child."

A voice echoed in the church as a brilliant white gate opened behind Sandalphon.

[Asahi's POV]

The old man God walked out with his arms clasped behind his back. He looked like that Xianxia protagonist's kind master who died to support the protagonist's growth.

"L-Lord," Sandalphon panicked.

"Return to the Sixth Heaven."

Sandalphon bowed at Biblical God's order and dashed into the portal made by God. The old man looked at us with a smile. Grayfia bowed in courtesy.

"You brought out Lucifuge's Heir with you." He shook his head and gestured at the portal. "Come with me."

He vanished into the portal. Grayfia lightly nudged me. "My Lord, it can be a trap."

She wasn't exactly wrong. The old man might attack us for no reason. No way I'm trusting the guy I met once. So, I took out my trump card—a circular shield with a woman's face on its front. From her snake-ish hair to her hollow eyes, the crafter did a magnificent job of capturing Medusa.

I covered the shield with a cloth and flashed a smile at my maid.

"What's this?"

"Let's say it can protect us from any god's attack."

"Is that a joke, My Lord?"

"Let's bet—"

"I believe you!" she interjected.

I chuckled lightly and brushed her cheeks. "I'm always ready for bets."

"Never!"

Putting the betting thing behind us, we walked into the portal. I almost lost my footing on the fluffy clouds beneath. Biblical God stood with a sci-fi screen behind him.

"It's my abode," he said. "Welcome, boy. Is that a shield?"

"It is, and please address My Lord as Asahi Marikawa," Grayfia insisted with a poker face.

Provoking a god for her master's respect, I don't know if I should be proud or angry.

"Asahi Marikawa, it is then. Do you remember my words from the first meeting?"

"About playing God?"

God nodded with a gracious smile. "This right here is the room I use to rule over the world. With this in your hands, you can become the absolute ruler. How about it?"

This guy was selling it like a commercial product. So professional.

"Stop spouting bullshit. It's unbefitting of the person everyone adores," I continued as he showed a bitter smile. "You're merely in the top ten of the world's strongest. Should I say, you were?"

He was weakened after sealing the trihexa. He would be 'Above-Gods' the level above the Maou's and under the God-level. A god-level at most. Even the lowest gods of culture, such as music and agriculture, counted as God-level.

"You knew of my condition," he sighed. "That creature was troublesome for an old man."

"Is this the system you planned to leave for Michael to manage Heaven?"

"How do you know so much about Heaven?"

I blinked innocently. "I just know."

"Yes, I wanted to give it to Michael. That child is too young to be the ruler of Heaven, and this isn't about that." He shook his head. "This seat was an offer to bring you to my side."

"Why go to such lengths for me?"

"You have dormant power in your soul. I will train you to make use of that power. So that one day, when that creature breaks my seals, you can end it once and for all."

I narrowed my eyes. "What if I ran away and never fought Trihexa?"

"Then.. it'll be up for every living being to fight that creature. It's a last-ditch effort by this older man to find a successor."

This man was willing to throw his seat, just for the hope that I'll help in the future. This deal only benefitted me as I'll be trained by this old man and get the throne of Heaven. Killing Trihexa will also profit me.

It was a win-win scenario for me.

I turned to Grayfia. "What do you say?"

Grayfia tilted her head. "Why is My Lord asking for my permission?"

I pointed at the god. "Would you marry this old man's successor?"

After all, she was a devil who spilled angels' blood in wars. If she marries me, her position will be no less than my own. It'd be awkward for her and the angels.

"That.." she shook her head. "I don't mind."

The god chuckled as he sat on a chair that appeared out of nowhere. "You'd put your devil maid over this position that every human dreams every day. Young man, you surprise me."

"She isn't just my maid; she is my future wife."

"I never agreed to it," Grayfia whispered and feebly punched my back.

"You heard her. I accept."

"Good."