Taking a seat on the sofa opposite Adam and Eve, Rias looked at Kiba and requested, "Kiba, do you mind bringing down some tea for us?"
Nodding, Kiba answered, "Understood. I will be right back."
Meanwhile, Koneko stood at attention behind Rias, though her yellow eyes focused on the snacks more than anything else.
"Well, then, Adam, considering you suggested becoming a teacher here, I was hoping to learn a bit more about you. If you don't mind."
"Feel free to ask whatever you wish," Adam replied with a gentle smile. "Also, your friend seems interested in the snacks as well. She may as well sit with us as well. No need to treat me too formally."
Lips rising into an appreciative smile, Rias nodded before looking back at Koneko, tapping the cushion next to her, and saying, "Go ahead and sit with us, Koneko."
"Un. Okay."
Koneko quietly plopped down on the couch next to Rias and scooped up a few cookies to nibble on.
"So, Adam," Rias continued, "You are that Adam, right? The first man? I know you said it already yourself, but I still find it hard to believe."
Leaning back against the sofa, Adam chuckled and replied, "Whether you believe it or not is up to you, but it does not change who I am."
Crossing her legs and leaning forward, Rias's blue eyes shifted to look at Eve as she asked, "In that case, how can Eve be your wife, unless she is not the original Eve?"
"How familiar are you with alternate timelines or planes of existence?" Adam asked in return.
Brows raising slightly at the suggestion, Rias contemplated the question in silence for a few moments before asking, "I am aware of the concept, but am unsure what exactly you are implying."
"Eve and I are indeed the original first man and first woman, but from another plane of existence, a parallel world, if you will. Does that answer your question?"
Rias frowned slightly and retorted, "That is rather farfetched, don't you think? Even moreso than just being the first man."
"Is it?" Adam simply asked in return. He then wrapped an arm around Eve's shoulders, allowing her to lean into his chest. "Feel free to determine for yourself."
Switching which legs she had crossed over the other, Rias stared straight into Adam's eyes as though searching for any hint of lies. Eventually, she sighed, briefly averted her gaze, and said, "Alright. Let's say I believe that. How could you be here, then?"
"Storytime it is, then," Adam answered. He closed his eyes as though reminiscing and explained, "In my original world, the gods wanted to eradicate humanity, but the Valkyries did not want to see my children slaughtered, so a battle for survival was formed. They organized a battle of representatives, thirteen humans to fight thirteen gods. If humanity, my children, claimed more victories, they would be allowed to live. Thus, I chose to fight."
Eyes gleaming with curiosity, Rias patiently listened. Next to her, Koneko also stopped nibbling on a cookie due to the heavy tone in Adam's voice. Around this time, Kiba also returned with a tray holding a teapot and some teacups. He set out cups in front of everyone and then returned to his post standing behind Rias' sofa. His eyes focused on Adam as he also quietly listened to the tale.
"My son, Lu Bu, was the first to fight. He fought bravely against his opponent, Thor, but he unfortunately fell after a hard-fought battle."
"Hmph. Stupid gods," Eve mumbled under her breath.
Rias blinked in surprise upon hearing Eve's statement. Even both of her Peerage members with her did a double take after hearing such a thing from a woman who seemed so innocent until now.
Brows wrinkled due to fully immersing herself in the story despite how little she had heard so far, Rias interjected, unable to help herself, "Wait… that Lu Bu? The famous warlord? And you called him your son? And he fought Thor of all people?"
"Correct. All of humanity are my sons and daughters," Adam answered. Then, he continued, "Once my son Lu Bu fell, the second battle began, and I stepped forth to fight for my children."
Tilting her head in confusion at the fact that Adam would be the second combatant, Rias forced herself not to interrupt again.
"My opponent was Zeus, the leader of all the gods of all pantheons, and my creator in that world."
"Eh? Wait, what did you just say?"
"I know it sounds strange considering the background of this world, but my original world was like this," Adam explained. "My battle against him lasted for a long time. For a while, I held the upper hand, but once he used his ultimate form, it turned into an equal exchange of blows."
The three young Devils, entirely rapt by his tale, waited for the conclusion with baited breath.
"And that is where I died, fighting to protect my children, yet failing in the end," Adam concluded with a rueful and self-deprecating smile.
Tightly gripping Adam's hand, Eve teared up and exclaimed, "You didn't fail, husband! That ugly Zeus fell to his knees in front of you! And you remained standing even in death! You gave our children hope. You showed them that the immovable gods could be knocked down."
"Thank you, Eve."
"Mhm."
"That's…" Rias started speaking but then trailed off, not wanting to interrupt the emotional couple just yet. Part of her still wondered if they were making things up, but at the same time, she could easily see how raw their emotions were.
"It was immediately after that fight that I found myself here in this world alive and well. Father of yet another dimension sent me here along with knowledge of this world and the one He was in."
Rias, Koneko, and Kiba all showed uncomfortable expressions at the mention of God this time. Each of them experienced slight headaches, which also informed them that Adam was talking about a different creator now, the One more familiar to them, they assumed.
"That's a crazy story," Koneko muttered while biting into another cookie.
"Indeed," Rias agreed. "However… is that all? The story ends there? What about the end? Did humanity win? Did they beat the gods and survive?!"
Raising a brow at Rias' steadily increasing fervor in her questions, Adam simply shook his head and answered, "I wish I knew. Maybe I can find out someday, but for now, I can only be content looking after my children in this world."
Slumping back against the sofa cushions, Rias mumbled in a nearly inaudible tone, "I can't believe I just got a cliffhanger in real life."
"Even though they aren't your children from your world?" Koneko asked in a puzzled tone.
"I am the father of humanity. No matter where they are from, I am their father, and it is a father's duty to look after his children, no matter what."
Everyone in the room fell silent upon seeing the confident yet gentle gaze Adam's blue eyes displayed at this moment.
"Don't forget our step-children, too, husband. They also need a good father," Eve added, glancing at the three young Devils.
Smiling in recognition, Adam chuckled and replied, "Of course."
"What do you mean step-children?" Koneko asked, now even more puzzled than before as indicated by her tilted head and furrowed brows.
"You all. The Eve of this world is your mother, all things considered, so Eve and I are more than happy to look after her children as our own as well."
Rias, Koneko, and Kiba all widened their eyes at Adam's declaration. None of them knew what to say after hearing that, but each of them felt a rather unfamiliar warmth in their hearts. As crazy as Adam's words sounded, each of them found themselves easily trusting his words.
Eventually, Rias quietly cleared her throat and asked, "Although your story is quite unbelievable, I will choose to believe it for now."
In response, Adam simply gave Rias a knowing grin that made her feel like he could easily see through her.
"I might choose to believe you, but I can't speak for other Devils," Rias added.
"Of course. Personal freedom is important, but my care for my children does not hinge upon their trust in me."
Once again, Rias, Koneko, and Kiba stared at Adam in dumbfounded silence. So this was the father of mankind. Inwardly, Rias subconsciously compared her own father to Adam without realizing it.
Koneko shifted her feet back and forth slowly against the rug below her shoes and wondered what it would even be like to have a father.
Behind them, Kiba narrowed his eyes and clenched his fists while thinking to himself that this was what it meant to be a man and mentally set Adam as a role model in his mind.
Before they could speak further, the front door burst open with a bang, and a ball of energy jumped into the room.
"Hello! The great Levia-tan has arrived!"