Chapter 54: Waking Up
"Ugh… my head…"
A groggy voice murmured in the dimly lit bedroom.
Renji slowly opened his eyes, his head feeling unusually heavy. The remnants of last night's celebration flashed through his mind in hazy fragments—laughter, clinking glasses, and a wild atmosphere that blurred into oblivion.
He sat up, rubbing his temples. "Damn… how much did we drink last night?"
Even with his enhanced body, he felt the lingering effects of the alcohol. But this wasn't just any ordinary wine—last night's drinks were made from a special grape cultivated in the Underworld, infused with traces of demonic magic.
No matter how strong someone was, if they drank too much, they would get drunk.
As Renji's senses adjusted, something soft brushed against his palm.
"...What the hell?"
He turned his head, and his eyes widened.
---
Lying beside him, tangled in the covers, were Rias, Akeno, and Rider (Medusa).
All three of them were sprawled across the large bed in various states of undress, their expressions relaxed in deep slumber.
Renji's hand twitched. The softness he had just felt…
His eyes drifted downward.
Ah.
So that's what I was touching.
He barely had time to process before—
"Mmm… Darling, is it morning already…?"
A sleepy murmur.
Rias stirred beside him, shifting closer as she half-opened her drowsy crimson eyes.
The fog of sleep had yet to clear from her expression, making her look even more alluring.
Then—
"Wait… huh?"
Her sleepy confusion turned to realization as her gaze flickered around the room.
The tangled sheets. The two other women lying beside them.
Her bare shoulders against Renji's chest.
A moment of silence.
Then—
"WHAT THE HELL IS GOING ON!?"
---
At the loud outburst, Akeno and Medusa groggily awoke as well.
"Hmm~?" Akeno stretched, completely unfazed by the situation. A teasing smile played on her lips. "Oh my, Rias, you're being so loud first thing in the morning…"
She then leaned closer to Renji, her ample curves pressing against him. "Renji-kun, you weren't planning on sneaking away, were you?"
Rias's eye twitched.
Then, she turned her gaze toward Medusa, who simply remained calm, as if the situation was nothing out of the ordinary.
"Ake… no…" Rias gritted her teeth, glaring at her best friend. "Explain. Now."
Akeno pretended to cower behind Renji, placing a hand on his chest. "Oh no, it looks like Rias is jealous. Renji-kun, protect me~."
Rias's magical aura flared.
A faint red glow flickered around her as her Destruction magic surged. Even though she was still recovering from her hangover, her rage was fully operational.
At this rate, the bedroom might not survive.
Renji sighed, raising both hands. "Hold on, hold on—let's all calm down. I don't even remember what happened last night!"
"Exactly!" Rias shot back, still seething. "Which makes it even worse!"
Akeno giggled. "Oh, you don't remember? That's such a shame~. It was such an eventful night."
Renji narrowed his eyes. "…You're lying, aren't you?"
"Fufufu~ who knows?"
---
Just as Rias's patience neared its limit, a glowing crimson magic circle suddenly appeared on the floor.
A moment later, Grayfia Lucifuge—the strongest Queen of the Underworld, the maid of the Gremory household, and Sirzechs's wife—stepped out.
The air in the room shifted as her icy silver eyes calmly took in the scene.
She blinked.
Paused.
Then, as if nothing was amiss, she simply closed her eyes for a moment before speaking.
"I see you are… occupied," she said, her voice as calm and professional as ever.
But was that a brief moment of surprise?
Rias and Renji froze in place.
For a few seconds, no one said anything.
Then—
Akeno, still half-draped over Renji, smiled slyly. "Good morning, Grayfia. Care to join us?"
Grayfia ignored her completely.
Instead, she turned to Rias. "Lady Rias. I have come with a message from Lord Sirzechs."
Immediately, Rias straightened, her embarrassment fading. "From Onii-sama?"
Grayfia nodded. "Yes. But perhaps…" she glanced around the room, taking in the disheveled bed and tangled bodies, "we should move this conversation to the living room."
Finally realizing the situation they were in, Rias quickly cleared her throat and got off the bed, regaining her composure.
Renji sighed in relief.
At least now, he wouldn't get vaporized first thing in the morning.
Medusa stood up as well, still as calm as ever, while Akeno simply laughed to herself, clearly enjoying every second of the chaos.
---
After a quick clean-up, everyone gathered in the living room, where Grayfia awaited them.
Though her expression remained unreadable, Renji could tell—
She had definitely judged them.
Just a little.
And so, with Rias's temper still simmering, and Akeno enjoying the situation far too much, they sat down—
Ready to hear sirzech's message conveyed thro his queen, grayfia.
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