"The girl is using a Spear of Light? The holy power isn't particularly dense, but it's definitely light."
A look of surprise appeared on Gabriel's face when she saw Akeno.
For a devil to be able to use holy light was indeed rather unbelievable.
"Sigh, this is probably another side effect of the system becoming unstable, just like how Asia can use Twilight Healing on devils."
Gabriel didn't know whether this was a good thing or a bad thing.
Ever since God disappeared, the world had only grown stranger and stranger.
"Hey, Baraqiel, your daughter is using light. Doesn't that mean she's already forgiven you deep down?"
Azazel asked in surprise.
Standing beside him, Baraqiel himself looked lost.
What had happened back then had indeed been his fault.
Because of his own mistake, his wife had died, and he had very nearly failed to protect his daughter as well.
Although he had gone to find Akeno as soon as he learned of it, his wife's death had caused Akeno to come to hate him deeply.
Baraqiel did not deny it. After all, he truly had been a useless husband who failed to protect his wife.
Back then, before Akeno was taken in by Rias, he had wanted to bring her back to Grigori so he could protect her.
But Akeno had refused to go with him no matter what, and had even declared that she utterly despised the fallen angel blood in her veins.
The reason she had willingly become a devil servant in the first place was probably because of that.
For all these years, Baraqiel had never had any contact with Akeno.
However, after learning that his daughter would be participating in this Rating Game, he had strongly insisted on coming with Azazel to watch.
And now, seeing Akeno openly using the power of light in front of everyone, was this her way of acknowledging her bloodline and trying to reconcile with him?
At that thought, Baraqiel's emotions surged, and tears of weakness began to stream from the corners of his eyes.
Meanwhile, on the other side, weak tears were also dripping from the corner of Rod's mouth.
How could a spectator sport possibly be complete without barbecue delivery?
Of course, the blue-and-yellow delivery armies had yet to expand their business into the Underworld, but Rod's storage space held all sorts of random things.
There were grills, ingredients, spices, and seasonings, everything one could possibly need.
He even had prepared food inside.
Since anything placed into storage space, aside from living creatures, remained frozen in the exact state it had been put in, he had stuffed plenty of finished dishes in there as well.
At the moment, Rod was holding several freshly grilled beef skewers, eating while he watched the match.
The instant the delicious meat juices burst across his tongue, tears began leaking from the corner of his mouth.
The people seated near Rod also each received a skewer.
"Oh? Is this for me?"
Gabriel looked genuinely surprised when she saw she had been given one as well.
She had wanted to decline, but the rich, mouthwatering aroma instantly awakened her appetite.
Although she was an angel, her bodily functions were no different from a human's.
She still needed rest, food, and baths.
The only real difference from ordinary humans was that angels could endure hunger much better, and would be fine even if they went a week without food or water.
Of course, angels were not ascetics. Unless work was too overwhelming, they still kept to the custom of eating two meals a day.
It was just that their food was very plain. Aside from being green and healthy, meat was nowhere to be seen.
In the end, Gabriel still accepted Rod's gift.
Heaven had never advocated vegetarianism. All one had to do before eating, especially before partaking of the food of humankind, was pray to God and thank Him for granting them delicious food.
Gabriel held the skewer in one hand and drew a cross over her chest with the other. The moment she did, Kuroka, who had been eating messily without a shred of grace nearby, suddenly clutched her head and cried out, "Ow, ow, ow!"
"Sorry, that was just a reflexive habit."
Gabriel sincerely apologized to Kuroka.
After receiving Kuroka's forgiveness, she lightly bit into a piece of beef, crisp on the outside and tender within.
The moment the flavor of the beef and seasoning spread through her mouth, an expression of pure intoxicated delight appeared on Gabriel's face.
This... this was far too delicious.
Could human food really taste this good?
Gabriel's face flushed slightly red, and she parted her lips just a little, her tongue peeking out as she exhaled softly.
Rod could not help but complain inwardly, "A sexy person looks sexy no matter what they do. If seeing an angel like Gabriel like this still doesn't make someone fall, then that person truly is a saint."
"You kids are actually eating barbecue here, huh? But if you're eating meat, how can you not drink? Come, come, let's drink together."
Drawn over by the food, Odin's eyes lit up at once, and he patted his belly as he warmly invited Rod.
If he had been just a bit fatter, and shouted something like "Happy hour is about to begin," the image would have been even more fitting.
"No thanks. I don't really drink."
Rod shook his head.
"How can that be? A true warrior can't not know how to drink. Rod, you're too weak!"
Odin showed no mercy at all.
He then lightly tapped the air with his staff, and several wooden bottles instantly appeared on the table.
"Come, come, come, let me teach you how to drink!"
"No, no, no, Lord Odin, doing this really harms your dignity!"
Rossweisse hurriedly tried to stop him.
But once his urge to drink had kicked in, Odin paid her no mind at all.
In Norse mythology, alcohol carried a particularly special significance. Every hero and warrior of Asgard was a battle-hardened drinker.
Odin himself was naturally no exception.
"Oh, right, Rossweisse, since you're a Valkyrie, I should give you a lesson too."
"As a Valkyrie, not being able to drink is unacceptable, so you're drinking too."
"But... this is still work time..."
"It's fine, I won't blame you. Besides, holding your liquor is supposed to be one of a Valkyrie's skills. If you can't drink, you'll have a hard time finding a boyfriend. In fact, isn't that exactly why you still don't have one?"
Odin used a taunt.
Rossweisse took the bait. It was super effective.
"M-My alcohol tolerance is very good! I practically drink as much as water in daily life! So me not having a boyfriend has absolutely nothing to do with that!"
Rossweisse angrily refuted him, then made a grand declaration that whoever got drunk first was a dog.
Yet not long afterward, a thud rang out.
Only moments ago, Rossweisse had been making grand pronouncements. Now she was sprawled on the carpet of the VIP room, sound asleep and not saying a word.
Still, she continued mumbling in her sleep that she could keep drinking, and that they should give her a hundred more bottles.
"That's it?"
Rod gave a soft laugh.
"Sigh, this girl is actually a very good Valkyrie. She's just too rigid and inflexible, which is why I brought her out to see more of the world."
Odin sighed.
"I actually think she's pretty nice. If everyone had the same personality, wouldn't the world be a lot less interesting?"
Rod said.
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