Chapter 659 - 659: [659] : Helping Mom Hide Things from Grandma—Such a Good Daughter

It was now noon, in the skies above Itogami Island.

Hummm—

As golden magnetic field light descended from above and landed atop Keystone Gate, Bokue and the others materialized from within.

"We're here."

Only after hearing the young man's voice did Runeas and Chysis slowly open their eyes.

The scenery before them left them—completely unprepared as they were—with lips slightly parted in awe.

"This is... hmm~ It feels like we're somewhere really high up. And that huge lake in the distance... wait, is that actually the legendary ocean??"

Runeas's surprised voice rang out continuously.

But this was understandable. After all, the Underworld had no ocean—only large lakes at best.

No matter how big a lake was, it was still surrounded by land. It couldn't wrap around the land like the ocean did, stretching endlessly to the horizon.

Being able to see this thing called "the sea" with her own eyes was something entirely novel for Runeas.

"That's right—that's the legendary ocean."

Bokue went along with Runeas's words like he was humoring a child.

"Want to go play at the beach?"

"Absolutely!"

Without a second's hesitation, Runeas rushed right up to the young man, eyes practically glowing. She tilted her face upward, pale little fists clenched excitedly at her chest. Her heart-tipped devil tail swished back and forth behind her. Her entire being radiated "excited anticipation."

Bokue: "..."

Like he'd thought—this ancestor was really easy to satisfy.

After a brief pause, the young man cleared his throat.

"In that case, let's all go to the beach this afternoon. I built a vacation island a while back that I haven't visited in some time."

"Yes yes!"

Runeas nodded her little head rapidly. Her face was even slightly flushed from excitement.

"Uh... but staying overnight there probably won't work today. Since Rias and the others have school tomorrow, we might not have enough time in the morning if we stay there. So we'll need to come back tonight."

Saying this, Bokue pointed toward the beachside villa not far away.

"Anyway, Grandmother and Senior Runeas, please come with me first..."

"Ahem ahem!"

But before the young man could finish, a certain elegant woman's light cough suddenly came from the side.

??

Bokue slowly formed two question marks.

Turning to look, he saw Venelana had just lowered the hand covering her mouth. Eyes closed, she spoke with complete seriousness.

"Bokue, I think it might be better not to have Mother and Lady Runeas stay at the beach villa."

"Huh? Why..."

"Because Mother and Lady Runeas have always lived in traditional Underworld aristocratic castles. Suddenly switching to this kind of modern human architecture might be uncomfortable for them."

Venelana's reasoning sounded perfectly logical.

But—

Bokue looked around somewhat hesitantly at the top level of Keystone Gate.

Honestly, in the roughly two months since they'd moved to Itogami Island, quite a few buildings had been added to the top of Keystone Gate. A considerable amount of space was already occupied.

Building an entire castle under current conditions... setting aside whether there was even enough space, the overall proportions of the building complex would look completely out of balance.

Plus it would block all the sunlight.

Unless he expanded the area, but that would mean...

Just as Bokue was genuinely believing Venelana was thinking of Runeas and Chysis's comfort—his mind racing through expansion plans—Runeas, who had practically been pressed up against him, suddenly spoke.

"Oh, that's not necessary at all. I've lived in castles for so many years that I'm tired of them. Right now I'm actually more interested in human architecture~"

Runeas smiled cutely and tilted her head.

"When you visit a new place, you should experience the local flavor, right? Otherwise, if I live in a castle in the Underworld and then come to the Human World just to live in another castle, that would be so boring."

"..."

That actually made some sense.

Bokue thought to himself.

And since Runeas said so, Chysis naturally had no objections either.

"Alright then—Grandmother and Senior Runeas can stay at the beach villa for the next few days."

"I told you, no need for 'Senior'—just call me Runeas~ Let's go, let's go, Chysis-chan!"

"Yes, Lady Runeas."

"..."

And so, only after watching the three figures gradually disappear into the distance did Venelana—still standing in place—quietly let out a soft sigh, rubbing her forehead somewhat helplessly.

Truthfully, her suggestion just now hadn't been entirely for Runeas and Chysis's sake.

If she could have gotten those two to stay somewhere else, then for Venelana herself, being with Bokue and Rias tonight would be... considerably more convenient and safer.

But now, the way things had turned out, it looked like there'd be no chance for the next few days...

Just as the elegant woman was sighing internally, Rias's voice suddenly reached her ears.

"Um... Mom, if having Grandmother and Lady Runeas here makes things inconvenient these few days, why don't you come to the old schoolhouse tonight after we get back from the vacation island? We can all... together... after all, last night we already..."

Bringing up what had happened last night in the Gremory Castle bath, even someone as worldly as Rias couldn't help but blush slightly. Her voice trailed off as well.

But... it was indeed a good solution.

Venelana mentally calculated for a moment, then quietly swallowed.

"Mm."

❁❁❁❁

Starting from one in the afternoon, Bokue first helped Runeas and Chysis settle into the beach villa. After preparing all the beach toys, barbecue grills, and ingredients they'd need for the afternoon trip to the vacation island, he gathered everyone at the villa before teleporting to the island together.

A leisurely Sunday. An afternoon-long celebration.

And so, by the time everything was over, the deep curtain of night had once again fully descended upon Itogami Island.

It was now eight o'clock in the evening.

The beach villa—which had been stationed at the vacation island for most of the day—had been teleported back to the top of Keystone Gate. The girls had all returned to their respective homes, and the villa that had been bustling all afternoon finally quieted down.

Inside a bedroom on the villa's second floor, Runeas and Chysis were currently sitting together by the tea table near the window, sipping tea while chatting about their beach adventures earlier.

"Today at the beach was so much fun~ I never imagined the Human World had become so much more interesting than the Underworld!"

"Indeed, Lady Runeas. And I hadn't seen Rias in several years either. I didn't expect she'd already grown into such a fine young lady, hehe~"

While this "returning to the hotel to debrief" behavior did seem like something a child on their first trip away from home would do, for Runeas and Chysis, this really was their first time traveling so far—crossing realms entirely to vacation in the Human World.

At least this would have been absolutely impossible back when they were serving as family heads.

"...Huh? Isn't that Bokue and Venelana-chan??"

Just then, Runeas's sharp eyes suddenly spotted two familiar figures outside the window, in the evening gloom near the entrance of the old schoolhouse not far away.

It was Bokue and Venelana.

Bokue seemed to have arrived earlier, while Venelana was still walking over.

In the twilight, the two met at the old schoolhouse entrance. They seemed to exchange a few words, then opened the door and went inside together, closing it behind them.

???

Runeas pouted, suddenly feeling a bit miffed.

"Honestly~ What's going on? It's already this late, and they said we should rest early tonight. But it turns out there's some other activity after coming back—and they're hiding it from me, the origin of the Gremory family?"

"Absolutely unacceptable! Chysis-chan, let's go check it out!"

"Yes, Lady Runeas."

The gentle crimson single-ponytailed woman across from her smiled softly and rose to her feet.

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