Tale of Discovery

Chapter 219: An Innocent Angel's Jealousy

"You performed well," I say to the panting Rias once the training session is over.

Due to having exhausted her body, Rias is unable to muster a proper response other than nodding her head as a gesture of gratitude.

A small smile forms on my lips as I approach Rias and crouch beside her before saying, "You know, whenever I practiced with Akeno and Koneko, I would make use of an ability of mine to restore their stamina."

Hearing this, Rias looks into my eyes with curiosity written all over her face. From the looks of it, she's most likely thinking about the uses of such an ability.

"Would you like to try it?" I offer while preventing myself from grinning.

As a response to my suggestion, Rias takes a few seconds to stabilize her breathing before saying, "If Your Holiness is fine with it."

"I wouldn't have mentioned it if I wasn't," I reply while moving even closer to her.

Then, I place my left hand under Rias' chin, earning me a puzzled look from her.

However, that look on her face doesn't last long, as, the next moment, I press my lips against hers. Startled, Rias immediately attempts to move her head away but is unable to do so because I place my hand on her nape.

Soon, I begin to channel my Holy Energy into my tongue before prying her mouth open with it. That results in Rias' body to melt into my embrace as if she has given up altogether.

After a dozen or so of kissing, I let go of her and hastily get back on my feet.

Looking down at the dazed Rias on the ground, I let out a small sigh. Truthfully, she has improved a lot compared to before, which is only to be expected. After all, interacting with a being perceived as God is nothing to scoff at.

Normally, someone like her would have used that as a factor for their pride, but after having 'suffered' at my hands, she will hardly have such thoughts.

"Ugh," Rias voice reaches my ears, causing me to shift my attention back to the now-refreshed aesthetic devil.

After having gotten back on her feet, Rias has an intrigued expression as she inspects her body by flexing her arms and legs.

"It's amazing, isn't it?" I say while smiling at her actions.

"Yes," she absentmindedly responds while still flexing her arms.

"Congratulations on being the last one among the female members of your peerage to experience this."

Immediately after the words leave my mouth, Rias' expression shifts to that of bafflement as she gazes at me and asks, "You have done this with Akeno and Koneko?"

Shrugging my shoulders, I respond, "I said that before doing it, no?"

Hearing my response, a conflicted look appears on Rias' face for a split-second before she shakes her head and adopts a serious expression.

"Are we going to continue training?" she asks while getting into a defensive stance, seemingly not taking 'no' for an answer.

---

"You all look tired," I remark while looking over at the angels and devils.

"Papa!" Mittelt calls out to me before flying over to me.

Taking a look at her, I notice that seems to have had it the worst. Not only is her body injured all over, but she shows signs of both mental and physical fatigue.

Seeing this, I reach my arm out to pat her head and utilize Healing Factor, earning me a wide smile from her, as if she just went through countless tribulations for this moment.

Suddenly, a gust of wind strikes my face as Mittelt disappears from my line of sight.

After a moment of confusion, I sense that she is lodged into the wall of a building quite a distance away.

The heck? Who could've?

My thoughts trail off as my sight lands on a certain overly-zealous little angel.

"Aruru?" I say in a slightly awkward tone, "How come you're here?"

"I wanted to come too when I heard they will be visiting Father," she responds.

"Raynare brought you over, right?"

"Yes," Aruru responds while turning around to beam a smile at Raynare.

Raynare's body immediately jolts as she hurriedly looks back at Aruru and forces a smile.

Ah, now I understand why the angels would be exhausted as well. It seems like Aruru has been helping them increase their strength and endurance.

After a short while, Mittelt detaches herself from the wall and begins to slowly make her way over here with a forced smile on her face.

"Papa," she says once she's close enough, only to be slammed into the ground the next moment.

"Aruru!" I subconsciously exclaim.

"Father?" Aruru looks over at me with an innocent look on her face as if she has done nothing wrong.

"Why are you doing this?" I inquire, despite already having a general idea of what's going on.

[All-Father.]

I'm a little startled by Raynare's voice suddenly resounding within my head, but I don't let it show on my face.

"Raynare?" I mutter.

[Whenever Mittelt would utter the word that All-Father has allowed her to use, this would happen.]

As I thought. The words that Raynare is referring to is none other than 'papa'. Now, what I'm unsure of is if Aruru is just jealous or thinks that it is discourteous to call me as such.

"Thank you for telling me this," I mutter to Raynare before looking into Aruru's eyes.

"Do you want to call me 'papa'?" I bluntly ask her.

The next moment, a look of pure excitement appears on Aruru's face as she energetically nods her head.

"But I want to be the only one," she states.

"The only one? That's quite the selfish thing to ask for."

Despite hearing my words clearly, Aruru doesn't seem to be willing to back down.

Have I perhaps spoiled her too much?

Even so, I can't get myself to berate her for her actions, as all I can see is a child fighting over the affection of their parent.

Crap, I'm starting to accept my role as an actual father...

"Daddy!" I suddenly hear Mittelt's voice, causing my brain to blank out for a few seconds.

Once I've regained my clarity, I look over at everyone present, only to be met with the sight of various degrees of surprise on everyone's face, apart from Aruru.

Akeno is the second to recollect herself as she presses her hand against her mouth and says, "Ara~"

"Is this fine?" Mittelt asks in a challenging tone while still lying on the ground.

Aruru takes a moment to think by closing her eyes and tilting her head before suddenly opening them and exclaiming, "It's fine!"

Phew. Looks like this matter has been settled.

[It's fine, right?]

Hearing Mittelt's nervous voice in my head, I issue a light chuckle before muttering, "Of course."

[Yay!]

Shaking my head in exasperation, I proceed to slam my palms into one another, resulting in a shock-wave that breaks everyone out of their stupor.

"That's enough for today," I proclaim.

Then, I turn to face Rias, who is beside me, before reaching my arm out and stroking her cheek.

As a result of my actions, a ruddy hue spreads across Rias' face as she turns her head away I embarrassment.

Seeing this, I laugh a little before saying, "Tomorrow, you and your peerage are going to work with the angels to fight against me. Think of it as a major event of sorts."

Then, before she can say anything as a response, I appear behind Koneko and scoop her into my arms.

"Until tomorrow," I say before exiting the Arena.