Why does fanfic keep changing my stories' cover REEEEEEEEE

Thanks for the support m8s

Regarding the poll, damn… A lot of you are thirsty for Yasaka huh. 1/4 of the voters went for the fox. Far second is Roygun Belphegor and close third is Sairaorg Bael. 14% and 13% each at this exact moment

You boys have 1~2 chapters left before this 'cool down' arc aka filler fluff ends, so if you want to make a change, go to my profile, and vote there you lazy bastards.

Or I'll be taking you not voting as a vote of confidence in your belief in me as the writer to write up good shit whatever happen and stroke my ego with it

A Tale of Flame and Frost

[Chapter 4]

||Cooling Down in the Heat||

With the end of the trial by combat, so did the court case.

Well, not really. The meeting was still ongoing, discussing the finer details of what had been revealed by the defeat of a Chaos Karma Dragon in the hands of two magi and one Yōkai, but Issei and Lavinia were 'excused' under the pretext of 'having to take a long rest after their arduous trial against a dragon'. Which wasn't a false implication either.

They did need to sleep so their brain could rest. Mental health and stamina carried far more importance to spellcasters than their physical health - though they still need to keep themselves in shape.

Nobody would want to contract a pudgy Wizard. Appearance does matter for Devils, unfortunately.

Kuroka was given her freedom -albeit limited-, and she stuck out a tongue at Lord Naberius who just couldn't believe how bizarre his day had been so far. He had the chance to avenge his son, but without any champion willing to do so because the Black Cat was too risky to take alone, but then a Dragon King showed up, only to be defeated by the pair of human Wizards. Archwizards or not, humans shouldn't be able to dispatch a Great Dragon King with that terrifying show of a methodical approach to a Satan-level threat.

And with that, Issei knew he could no longer stay undercover using his guise of a jokering fool; a topic which Lavinia Reni brought to life as she brought a spoonful of the steaming hot shepherd's pie - ground red meat cooked in vegetable broth and topped off with a layer of melting mashed potato.

To which he gave her a look that stated, 'Really? Are you trying to burn my tongue?'. She responded with a giggle as she blew a cold wind over the dish.

"Will this be alright?" she asked, humming in content as Issei ate her chilled offering. "Will any of these recent events put a damper on your goal?"

He shook his head, swallowing the final piece of their shared lunch before replying, "Neither of us chanted anything. For all they know, you might've just done all the work while I hang around, acting like I'm doing something."

"Surely you don't think all of them as halfwits."'

" 'course not," Issei snorted, "I've met several of the m'lords and m'ladies before." The ones with the title of a Duke and higher, at least. "Now we'll just wait and see who's going to give me favorable treatment. Besides, the Great King himself was watching. The Court Jester has to put on a good show for His Majesty."

"Oh don't be silly…only misguided fools blinded by pride see you as such."

"Mhmm." Exactly his point. Some were more sneaky. More crafty. They didn't bluntly claim he was stupid out in the open, but in the shadows where they lurk and scheme and talk bad and complain about individuals where they thought no one was able to hear them.

Well. He couldn't, but Sirzechs and his spies certainly could, otherwise Issei wouldn't know any of it. He was an honorary guest, not someone who was free to plant a bug here and there.

But one of the feats of befriending the unofficial spymaster of the entire Underworld Empire was that he always knew he was being listened to. Unfortunately for the Crimson Satan, all smart Wizards always learned Dispel Magic. A Tier-3 spell that had saved many secrets from leaking and many magical traps from springing and hurting.

"Will this mean you're coming home soon?" Lavinia asked the question, carefully placing the empty white plate over to the bedside table on her end, and made herself snug to him, splaying her long nimble fingers over his warm chest. "My chamber feels awfully large and terribly lonely without you in it."

"Why not stay here? You're an Archwizard too, you know." Archwizards had the leverage of being allowed to go around as they pleased without supervision as long as they didn't taint the name of the Grauzauberer.

"Much as I would like that, my adorable apprentice isn't yet able to fly with her own wings, unfortunately."

"Ah right, Natsume," Issei hummed the name, nodding to himself, knowing exactly who she was talking about. The upbeat Minagawa Natsume had shown potential despite still being in her teenage years, and he knew better than to doubt Lavinia's judgment regarding talented individuals. Her vigor reminded him about Irina, only she carried less… er… prejudice to 'evil'.

"How's she doing?"

Lavinia gave him a hintful smile. "Well."

"So by that, what you're actually saying is she's being enslaved by Z." A code letter for the Governor General, which Lavinia replied with a giggle and a nod.

"He needed someone to occasionally help his new dog." Ikuse Tobio, she meant. "And I thought it would be a great experience for her...considering how far you've progressed under his wings."

Twelve jet black wings, to be exact. "Well then. What I'm hearing is another reason for you to justify hanging around here… although, I do think it's nearing the time for me to come home."

A warm feeling enraptured her chest. Hope was a cruel thing. Easy to come and easy to leave. "Will you?"

"Possibly," he said, not promising. "Take a little off until the heat here dies down. So the lords think I'm an arrogant peacock who leaves after showing off my tail."

"Mmnn...you did cause quite a lot of heat back then," Lavinia purred. Her sultry voice gave him a very pleasant migraine. "Come with me and ditch this...barbaric lands where might makes right."

Issei sniggered. "No, no. The truth here is more concise: might makes."

"All the more reason to leave then," she purred, drawing abstract circles on his chest with a glossy fingernail. "What reasons do you have to extend your stay?"

"There's a Rating Game going to be held. This Saturday, I think… So that's what? 3~4 days?" He cocked his eyebrows, unsure but not really care enough to be sure. "Either way, hang by and you can see up close how Ajuka's system works."

"Can't you just tell me?" Lavinia bargained, laying her head on his shoulder. "In my chamber… where it's much warmer and less…" her eyes swept across the guest room, to the plenty of ornaments and velvety carpet covering the entire floor and the golden engravings on the wall. "...regal."

Issei got her point. Born in a rather minimalistic family, Issei was no stranger to fine shiny things, but the palace was just a bit too much. Serafall's bedroom wasn't that different either, only that it had a slightly larger bed and her personal 'shrine' where she kept pictures of her 'adorable little baby sister', complete with her childhood toys and other memorabilia of their sweeter time.

And Serafall actually had the gall to wonder why her sister was avoiding her.

Satans and little sisters were by far the strangest thing he'd found here.

"You'd want to at least take a look, Vinny."

Lavinia immediately frowned. "Don't use that embarrassing nickname… it's embarrassing."

"Yes? What embarrassing nickname do you want me to call you then? Lala? Vivi? Reni? Lani? Vincent?"

"Stop teasing my name… that's rude and mean," the Ice Princess whined. "We agreed to stick with Lavinia, yes? I like hearing my name roll off your tongue."

"Ehh… but it's a mouthful. La-vi-ni-a. That's four syllables, y'know. Doubles than what I have."

"Well we aren't all gifted with uncomplicated names, Issei. Besides, you have three, not two."

"The second 'i' is silent."

"Says you," Lavinia giggled, picking up the wine glass filled with water and bringing it for him to drink. "So I assume you're staying here until the Rating Game is concluded?"

Issei shrugged as she resettled the glass on the end table. "Depends, I guess. The Satans are looking for allies, both in and out."

Externally, she understood why. The Underworld Empire had so far forged no alliance other than their shaky white peace with the other Two 'Formerly Great' Factions. In case of an invasion or, say, a rebellion occurred, they'd have no reliable support in case things went from bad to worse. The Grey Wizards would help, but would never sacrifice their own as they were ultimately an organization, not a country let alone an empire.

But internally?

"In?" she asked, confused.

"Mmm," Issei nodded blandly. "Sirzechs sniffed out there are some lords and ladies that might be a bit too eager to switch sides or declare independence if things turn ugly. The Black Lion is the glue holding this entire thing together, and he's not growing any younger."

"King Zekram… Doesn't he have an heir?"

"Yes. An heir who has a certain negative predisposition towards reincarnated Devils and pretty much anything that isn't pureblooded Devil. Lord Bael will tear down everything his father and the Satans have carefully built for decades within a single week."

"That's quite the observation you make. Have you spoken to the man himself?"

"No, but I've seen how he treated his sons and heard what the Satans thought about him," Issei frowned. "He's a person too engrossed with his family name rather than his family. A bitter man with too much power in hand, but at least he listened to his dad. Still, giving him an empire is the same as giving a baby to a lion and trusting it to not maul it."

"Hmm… I see. Your morbid analogy aside, it's still within possibility that his son will rise the empire he raised just as well. Perhaps with a few minor differences but… surely better than shattering the entire realm, no?"

"I don't know if the Satans are willing to gamble their home on those 'few minor differences'. But shattering the realm is a bit too extreme. I'd bet they'll hold an election among the Pillars to choose their second Great King. Hell, they might even completely abolish that title in honor of Zekram Bael, the Greatest of Great Kings Hell had ever had. Sounds a lot nicer than just retiring the title so his son won't be able to eat it up, don't you think?"

Lavinia stared at him. "...Hm. Have I just taken a glimpse into your politically astute mind? You're scaring me a little, Issei."

"Hey, I'm no expert. These are all just speculations of a twenty-ish year old boy."

"So it seems… at least for the moment," she sighed. She'd rather not have him entangle himself into this giant puddle of mess belonging to the Devils, but she wasn't his master anymore, and must therefore respect his decision as an individual.

But as his lover… things could get… quite meddlesome.

Lavinia stored the thought for another time. If she had to use her status as his darling sorceress to stop him from endangering himself, then she'd first expend her spells to keep him safe before relying on begs and lady tears.

"And how do you plan to rescue this shaky empire?"

"Me? No, no. This isn't my country as far as I'm concerned," Issei sniggered guiltlessly. "It's their empire. Their responsibility. I'm just here to do what's written on my contract with Serafall."

"Which is to offer aid whenever required…"

"Whenever I'm able and willing," Issei completed. "Don't forget that last part. That's the most important. Like the sentence after a 'but'."

Lavinia sighed. That was relieving to hear, but the worry in her chest was a bit stubborn to leave.

"Just don't push yourself too much, Issei… never again," she whispered softly, splaying her palm above his gently beating chest. "Remember there may still well be a time when we, too, will need you. Many places are seeking out our help, rather. Sylvania, Old Kyoto...even Hades has contacted the Grandmaster. But with Nilrem still on the loose and heated rumors of Walburga betraying the Norse among all else… I fear that the peace you seek is swirled by terrible dark clouds."

"I know, I know," Issei huffed as well. Serafall's problems were just one giant issue with many bullet points underneath. The Devils were actually the only faction kept in the dark that the Grey Wizards never restrict themselves when it comes to partnerships. As long as the benefits they gained, be it fiscal or non-fiscal materials, outweighs their cost, Mephistopheles considered it as good business.

But so many things were happening. So little time to deal with them appropriately.

"But chaos precedes all great changes, eh?" Issei recited their Grandmaster's arc words. "Troubling as it is, it might be just what they needed. The factions, I mean, to finally link hands and sing around a campfire to keep the monsters at bay."

The mental image caused Lavinia to giggle. She could vividly picture Serafall leading the singing and even dancing, then perhaps the Archangels and their too-good-to-be-true gospels, but Ajuka and Falbium? Doing that was the same as making them wear cheerfully colored clown suits complete with the bright red nose.

Issei noticed her frown, and brushed her lips with a thumb to regain her attention. "My bad. Did I make you worry?"

Lavinia let out a sigh along with an understanding chuckle. "We're the Grey Wizards; we always worry."

"Mmm… I worry about you worrying too much."

"Sadly an unsuppressable urge whenever you're constantly away."

He quirked one brown eyebrow. "How very clingy of you. Where did my ice cold mentor go?"

"Melted away the moment you pragmatically cast Meteor Swarm on her fragile body," Lavinia shifted closer to his body, embracing his warmth as she embraced him.

"It was either that or an Overcasted Disintegrate," he reasoned, squeezing her smooth shoulder with a hand. "...Is this part of my 'cooling down'?"

"Who ever states it is unwise to cool down with the so-called Ice Princess?"

Issei raised his brown eyebrow. "You? Icy?"

"Nh…" A soft moan escaped her thin lips as Issei unceremoniously tucked a hand between the hem of her white robe and her navy blue undershirt, barely able to grasp her bust as he felt her warm flesh sink between his fingers. "Must every single one of our recent encounters descend to a carnal activity…?"

Such was the statement of her mouth while Lavinia positioned herself on top of him, unstrapping the golden buttons holding the upper portion of her robe in place, revealing the blue dress shirt underneath. She let him peel off her white robe with blue accents from her light skin, exposing her upper arms as he promptly tossed it away to the side. Her blue shirt was the only article between his hands and her bust, but they jiggled temptingly as she leaned in for a kiss.

"You never refuse," he said, eyeing her lips then her bright golden eyelashes, staying in her soulful blue eyes as bright as any glacier yet so very warm.

"Why would I refuse an alluring offer?" She pinched his lip with hers, and Issei returned the favor, nibbling her upper lip before eventually snaking a tongue between them, gently flicking hers playfully, drawing out a breathy moan as he had sparked a fire in her no other soul could ever ignite.

A string of their mixed saliva could be seen bridging their lips as Lavinia drew her head back, straightening herself as she prepared to strip herself off her magician outfit. Her cloak had long since untangled, dangling on the coat stand along with his grey fur jacket. Issei took his time, watching her undress button by buttons, watching her shirt grow loose as her sizable bust settled in their more natural shape, as if trying to break away from their cloth prison.

He flicked a finger against the hem of her blue shirt, pulling one breast into view, almost like it was spilling out of her outfit. The silky rose colors already a tantalizing sight. Everything about her was natural and it took him everything not to ravage her at this very moment, because he wanted to let her think she was in control of him, and that she was more than an object of pleasure. It excited her more, as he recalled. Not that he planned on staying submissive. That was simply against his nature.

"Keep the rest," Issei ordered, a tiny hintful smirk on his face, "you look as good as you are without, but I love how it highlights your curves."

Lavinia responded in kind, smiling a smile of her own as her hands slipped down her slim body and onto his boxer briefs, pulling the dark green piece of clothing down. She yelped as she felt his warmth against her soaked panties, and tittered to herself, shifting her underwear to the side of her lower lips, and eased him inside her slowly.

"NHH—?!" A sudden thrust crashed her body into a painful pleasure. Issei had no interest in starting slowly, and had grabbed a hold of her juicy thighs as he spread her legs, causing her to be off balance and ultimately impaled herself on him. Her wet hot walls contracted as Lavinia tensed, shuddering from the burst of ecstasy.

Her lips quivered, frowning, but she wasn't entirely against it as shown by the scarlet red flushing her cheeks.

"...That was foul play…" she rasped, her voice now huskier and even more seductive than it already was. "It hurts… you know? Striking me at my most vulnerable moments...and you call yourself a man."

"Best time to strike someone."

"Spoken as though you are a sellsword…"

"Aren't we all? We just sell different parts of ourselves for some form of compensation," he paused to ponder his sentence. "Sounds a bit whore-ish."

"Spare me your pessimistic worldview," Lavinia breathed shakily, taking his hands off her thighs as she linked their fingers, "true as it might be…"

Issei gasped, but not because the fine woman on top of him was starting to have sex with him. "The handholding maneuver…Lewd."

"Mmhn...silly wizard," Lavinia giggled sensuously, the fire he sparked now spreading through her entire body, burning brighter fueled by her increasing desire as she felt him growing harder inside her. "What do you...mmh...have in plan now?"

"Other than letting you fuck me until I get frustrated? Who knows. Probably hang for a while...see what's going to happen to the cat…" Offhandedly, he moved his right hand to her swaying breast, seeing and feeling it bounce against his palm as Lavinia picked up her pace. "Why do I feel like I'm not the only one who's growing in size here…"

"How vulgar…" Lavinia moaned, feeling him getting harder, bigger and pressing against her walls. "But yes…ah yes, pinch a bit harder… They seem to yet again decide that their size was not satisfactory and agreed to further torment my back."

Issei marveled at how they bounced. Their perky orangish-red tips were practically begging to be suckled upon, but he settled by using his thumb and index to give it a nice pinch, drawing out a nice mewl from her throat.

"So that's what… L now? Heh, your initial."

"It's not as amusing for me as it is for you, unfortunately," she slowed down, swaying her hips in a circle, "ah...my selection of undergarments have grown smaller and smaller yet again."

"You're a Wizard. Just cast two Mage Hands and let them carry your tits."

She blushed a little bit redder from his usage of vulgar terms. It made her oddly conscious and embarrassed for a reason unclear.

"You're a mage with two hands," she hummed, taking his hand and pressed it against her unoccupied breast, and started her movements again, slapping her rump against his thighs. "Mhhn...look at the woman you have created, Issei…a respected Grey Wizard now nothing more than—ah! ...A woman with impure thoughts and humanly desires..."

"And actions," he added, breathing a growl-like groan as her soft, stifled moans devolved into the passionate sweet little cries he knew and enjoyed on hearing. Music to his ears, to put simply. Lavinia on her own was stunning. Either done subconsciously or intentionally, her arms were raised, running her fingers across her bright blonde locks, her defenseless neck exposed as she craned her head, perhaps perfectly aware that in doing so she was flaunting her smooth underarms and her slim yet voluptuous figure.

That was it. He couldn't contain himself anymore.

"Oh!" Lavinia yelped in surprise as she was suddenly falling backwards, right onto the springy mattress as Issei positioned himself between her legs, tossing the skirt portion of her robe to the side, revealing her wet inner thighs and her plump lips gripping him nicely. He stared long enough to cause a furious blush splaying her pearly cheeks.

She gulped. "I-Issei...I thought we had an agreement…"

"What agreement? We never negotiate."

His hands went to both sides of her waist, where her shapely peach-shaped ass connected to her slim body. Lavinia swallowed again and inhaled deeply as she caught the fire flaring in his brown eyes, and groaned coarsely as he began to move. A slow pace that quickly gained speed after each thrust. Deeply aroused, Lavinia reached a hand down to his loins, splaying her fingers on his skin before toying with herself, flicking and rubbing as her groan turned to a moan.

And she screamed as he put his weight behind a thrust. A scream that was mingled with breathy laughter once the pain dissolved into pleasure, enough that Lavinia started to move her body as well, bouncing herself against him as her delightful mounds of flesh flounced between them, begging to be grabbed and squeezed.

And grab and squeeze he did, as Lavinia moaned louder as he nipped her hard yet soft nipple, suckling her like the ravenous beast hidden beneath the appearance of a young man. Her hands reached out to him, running through his soft brown locks, from rich caramels to the deep earthy hues, a calming color in every light.

If only she could see it, because she head her head forced to look at the ceiling as Issei planted deep kisses on her neck, imprinting his marks of bluish red, as if to declare she belonged to him and only him, and frankly, he wasn't wrong, and Lavinia wasn't entirely against the idea. She had taught him how to conjure a myriad of spells, and in return he taught her the pleasures only a woman could receive in the hands of a shamelessly adept pervert, given the right moment, right time and the right place.

That there were more pleasurable ways to let loose of her pent up stress rather than having to wait for a Stray Magicians or any 'evil' individuals whose confidence had turned them into a reckless moron, thinking they were capable of taking out an Archwizard in the middle of her strolls throughout the realms.

Her mind blanked as Issei kissed her lips, immediately roughing her mouth with his hot tongue as Lavinia could only gasp and moan in return, unable to return the favor as her entire body convulsed, her walls tightening around him, her legs quivering as she climaxed.

"Mmm-mmh…Ahh! O...Oh!... Aghh! W-wait— I'm stil— AH!" Her desperate plea was unmet as Issei grabbed a hold of her delicate wrists and granted no mercy. The rhythmic slapping of their reddening skins became louder and more pronounced, resonating throughout the guest bedroom along with Lavinia yowling out his name on the pile of bed sheets slowly being dampened by her pouring sweat and her lewder kind of bodily liquid.

By the time he was done with her, Lavinia was breathing into the sheets, body completely limp and mind at the moment spent and exhausted, numbed to the runny feeling of their mixed cum travelling down her thighs.

Face down and her bountiful hips up, her beautiful blonde hair a complete mess, but not as messy as her wizard outfit, semi-transparent liquid dripping from her pussy, Issei hung back against the bed, giving himself a pat on the back for a woman thoroughly satisfied. And him, too. At least for a couple of minutes until his repressed degenerate started to claw out again. He used to admire girls in lewd books and now he was able to admire them directly before his eyes. A significant progress, if he had to say.

His eyes lingered on the red skin of her fleshy asscheeks for a little while, idly wondering to himself if he went a bit too far. But in his defense, he hadn't seen or been with her in months, and the noises Lavinia let out during their group exercise had no rights to be that erotic. As a man with desires, of course he would want to hear them more and preferably louder.

After his musing, he took her hand, and she shivered in response, jittering a little as he brought her back to him. She fell limply on him, but then managed to wrap a powerless arm around his chest. He wiped the drying tears staining her cheeks with a thumb, but then unceremoniously slid his fingers inside her panting lips, and toyed with her hot tongue for a bit.

"Mnhaa...Isshei…" she slurred, mind still in a messy state to even process how shameful she must have looked and sounded. "Take mhy… clothes off… if you would..."

Not that hard considering she only had her blue dress shirt. Took him a few seconds to throw it somewhere else.

"You held out longer this time," he said, fingering her mouth again. "Well done?"

Not having energy to respond to his tease, Lavinia rested her eyes instead, letting him do her mouth as he pleased, as long as she could enjoy his affable body heat and lie next to him. Nothing else mattered at the moment.

Noting her exhaustion, Issei drew out his slick fingers out her plump lips, and channeled the dancing Winds of Magic to cast Telekinesis. He floated a box of tissue on the bedside table, drew some of its thin white papers, and began cleaning himself and her by first scrubbing his fingers. After he was done, flicked open the bathroom door with a waddle of his finger, as a pair of white fluffy towels came marching out, flinging themselves onto his face because he kinda forgot to command them to slow down.

Not the first time it had happened to him.

Either way, he made good use of the towels. Gently caressing them on Lavinia's tantalizing figure as she hummed in content, not yet asleep but willing to let him do all the work. He cleaned her arms first off her sweat, and then her chest, the sacred place hidden underneath her marvelous boobies, the smooth plains of her stomach, her legs, before eventually climbing up to her thighs and her dripping core.

She wiggled a little. "...Mhmhm...that tickles…"

God she's so cute.

Smiling to himself, thanking whoever god had sculpted this divine woman, he worked on his own body next. He wasn't as drenched, funnily enough, perhaps because he was accustomed to heat more than the Ice Princess, but droplets of sweat were here and there. Bit of a shame Lavinia had no vigor left to help him clean off a specific part of his body, preferably with her mouth and tongue, but Issei knew she needed some rest.

He did too, actually. He'd burned the majority of his spells, and though he was dangerous regardless if he could cast his higher-tier spells, he wouldn't be as dangerous as he could and would have to rely on his physical prowess more than he liked to.

After all, why work out a sweat dodging and throwing precise punches when he could Disintegrate his opponent's face?

Wizards were very lazy individuals who disagreed and despised the basic phrase 'work hard, play hard'. They work smart, not hard, but play as hard whenever possible. Otherwise they would stress themselves out and break their precious mind.

He yawned as he lifted the now-dirtied towels off their reasonably-cleaned body to the corner of the room. He'd deal with those things later. First of all, a long rest.

Briefly, he searched for his missing boxer briefs, and spotted it trapped under the side of her waist. With a yank, he rescued his underwear and put it on. Because unlike the girls, he had a dick and balls. And he didn't like getting his family heirlooms scrubbed against the bed or the blankets.

.

.

But before he could slink down to the bed, Lavinia was rudely awakened as the door of their bedroom clicked open, and a very jealous Serafall Leviathan barged into their room. Cheeks swelling and face threatening to cry and everything.

Crocodile tears, of course.

She promptly shut the expensive hand-carved wooden door behind her, before yelling, complete with an accusatory pointing of her index finger, "AAAAAAAHH—! Here I was looking for you everywhere and yet here you are in my own castle!"

"Ah...Satan Serafall…" Lavinia clutched him closer, snuggling onto his chest as she didn't bother to hide her malicious intent to spark childish jealousy. "Your arrival is most opportune...we've just finished our lunch recently. Your maidservants' shepherd's pie is marvelous, might I add."

"Ser A Fall," Issei exclaimed, lifting the blanket on his left, revealing an empty spot, "Before you ask; yes, this is exactly what it looks like. Hop on in."

"Wha—buh— I can see that!'' the Azure Satan stammered at his blunt honesty, but appeared to be considering his blatant offer, and decided that there was no use crying over spilled milk. Her green formal outfit and skirt was quickly shed off her youthful body, and Serafall leapt into the empty side of the bed, unhooking her purple brassiere and promptly tossing it away to the floor on top of the other clothes.

"Me next," she demanded. "Preferably now."

"While I'm still here? Tactless, are we?" Lavinia teased, not bothered to reveal her enchanting sapphire eyes.

"You fucked him in my house. Who's tactless here?"

"My, my... how crass. I believe 'making love' is the more appropriate term." Lavinia tittered, unthreatened, fully knowing the Satan couldn't touch her no matter how badly she wanted to, because she meant too much for the Young Archwizard. "What's the matter? Jealous I'll keep the Grey Wizard for myself?"

"I'm not jealous, I'm terrified. You Wizards are a crafty bunch."

Lavinia tittered tiredly. "Mmm…then you best be mindful of your words, Leviathan… You've been outwitted once by a Wizard. There's no telling how it won't happen the second time."

"Gah- whatever you say, you witch," Serafall pouted, but Lavinia actually rolled away, shifting to the relatively not-messy end of the ridiculously large bed that could comfortably fit six people on it if need be, and stayed there as she rested on a pillow and blanket herself with a clean duvet.

This 'guest' bedroom was basically his, after all, whenever Serafall wasn't around because of her satanic duties, or whenever he came by to take a quick nap.

Why not just let him sleep in her bedroom? Because Grayfia existed. Because Lavinia existed. Because these women couldn't get their grubby hands away from her Wizard — which wasn't technically hers as their contract was not at all a form of ownership, but still! Serafall wanted him the most. Probably. At least equal amount of 'want'.

Would she trade him with her adorkable Sona? ...Probably...not...actually yes, but then again; no. She didn't know and didn't want to make this kind of cruel and unfair decision.

All Serafall wanted was to coerce him into prolonging his monthly visits, especially as she realized after what had just happened, he couldn't really stay under the radar to continue his unassuming observation. His face had permanently burned inside the mind of every noble as the Wizard who contracted the bloody Chaos Karma Dragon as his Familiar. Which was still an issue of itself.

She's the Guardian of the Familiar Forest, maintaining its ecosystem from illegal poachers or hunters or sick minds that wanted to collect all familiars for the sake of 'catching them all'. If he took Tiamat along with him, which was within his entitlement as her Master, the Devils would have to find a replacement. Be it temporarily or permanently.

Luckily Sirzechs had offered Tannin to take over Tiamat's duties whenever she wasn't around. Though not as strong, Tannin was more sensible. With him as the Guardian, perhaps more young Devils were brave enough to go there to fetch Familiars for their new Servants.

Regardless, Serafall punctually placed her hands on his face and turned him away from staring at Lavinia's admittedly alluring backline and the nice curvature between her chest and waist, and brought his eyes back on hers.

"...My time now."

"Your time," Issei affirmed with a nod. The girls had tolerated his three-timing. Least he could do was give them their time and the affection they so desired. Not at all a challenge, since he did enjoy being with any of them, or all of them at a time. Loving them was easy when they were all simply lovable and loved him back. A healthy form of give and take, he'd say, which all good relationships-including friendship-were built upon.

But before giving, a question to satiate his curiosity regarding the Black Cat's fate. "How's Kuroka, by the by? What happened to her?"

"Kuroka? What about me!" Serafall cried, but was quickly appeased by a quick peck on her lips that turned her into a grinning idiot. "...She's my Bishop now," she told him. "It's the only way to keep her safe and reasonably leashed while keeping the nobles from being paranoid."

He raised both his chocolate brows. "Really? Great news. A peaceful conclusion to an otherwise messy predicament. How hard was it to convince her you're not going to enslave her?"

"Not that hard. I told her she could see Koneko at least once a week to not bother Rias' schedule too much, and she instantly agreed. You're right about her… about her and her sister. I can't imagine being in her place and being so close yet so far with my cute Sona-ta… Oh! The pain of only being able to see her adorable face once a month… Can you imagine this torture?"

"Aren't you already?"

"Shaddup. You can't say that," Serafall swelled her cheeks, frowning and glowering. "That was uncalled for. Prostrate yourself. Preferentially in between my legs."

"Fft—" Issei snickered. He could hear a giggle coming from the right side too. Lavinia wasn't fully asleep, it seemed.

Serafall looked so proud of herself too. The smugness didn't stay long, however. "But I have a feeling she knew no one would dare to touch her if she's in my Peerage, so…"

"Mm-yep. She's the opportunistic type, I feel. She used me as a humanshield when we first met," he recalled. Doing that probably saved her life and also ended his issue with Tiamat. "So where's she now? You don't have a room for cats, do you..."

"If I were evil I'd have put her in the dog pen with Cerberus, but one of my maids took her to a guest room. Somewhere, sleeping like a log… with the shape of… a cat, I guess…" she trailed off her tangent, but jumped back on track. "And I know she's an opportunist. Just not sure if she's the good kind or the bad kind… or the kind that just sticks around as long as she gets what she wanted."

"Bit of everything, most likely."

"I think so too as well. The nobles are still very wary of her but… She's not the type to start unnecessary troubles. Hopefully, at least."

"Having second thoughts about your new Bishop?" Issei asked, idly cupping a palm underneath her shapely and perky pair of breasts because he could, then giving her a good squeeze.

Serafall instinctively hooked her arms around his neck, beckoning him to play with her chest more. "...Well she isn't that bad… Anyone who can stall a Dragon King and get hit and still alive is a worthy individual in my book, but still! I'm reserving my last Bishop for you."

Maybe he should tell her Kuroka's capabilities were immensely enhanced by a touch of magic and arcane arts, but then again, he wanted to see how they'd come to terms once she found out - or Kuroka told her outright.

"Not happening, Sera," he said. "No Grey Wizards have ever been under the servitude of a Devil," practically a lie, since their Grandmaster was a Devil, but nobody outside of the Grauzauberer needed to know that. "And there's more reason than just not wanting to be the first Wizard-turned-Devil Wizard."

"Why not! You'll get power and stuff."

"Power corrupts, unfortunately," he said hintfully, " 'sides, it's not that I minded being stuck here with you. I just don't want to be stuck here."

"...You know I'll give you freedom… you can still go anywhere you want. With me or without."

He rested his knuckles against her cheek, and Serafall planted a kiss before nuzzling it. His smile softened. "Because being a Devil has its own… disadvantage. Harder to build trust as you likely know too well. Engraved as the 'traitorous race who defied a God'... We need to make deals with deities too, you know. If one Grey Wizard turns into a Devil, then it's like the Swiss joining the Allies or the Axis; we'll lose out on investments."

"..." Serafall sighed. "It's not like the Great War is our fault. Stupid grumpy old Satans... Now we have to deal with their mess... a few hundred years later."

"Which kinda confuses me as to why you still use their name as honorary titles, but not my place to judge."

"Ugh… I know, right? We should've gone with colors instead of names… Like the Four Satan Rangers or something… Sirzechs' red, Falbium's purple, Ajuka's green, and me; pink!"

"Like this tip?" Issei pinched her nipple, and she squeaked.

"Lewd!" she laughed, before a wave of melancholic sadness splashed over her face, causing a tongue-in-cheek pout.

Her sudden silence caused him to bring his eyes up to her twin violets.

"You're not leaving, aren't you?"

"You know I'll have to. Sooner or later. Lavinia being here has nothing to do with it."

Her pout turned into a sad frown. "...I don't want you to leave."

"The world will be too boring if we always get what we want," Issei preposterously said, fully aware he was being preposterous, and just couldn't care enough as he was just joking around. "I'll hang by for a couple of days. Watch that Rating Game you keep hyping up about. But after that? Can't promise you anything."

"Hrmmm… Where will you go?"

"Bury my head in books. Search for lost spells. Find magical artifacts. Pawn them off to the highest bidder." Also known as Azazel. "Hide under Grayfia's skirt. I dunno. The possibilities are endless."

"...I wanna go with you. I'm going with you if you're going somewhere." Except for going under Grayfia's maid dress. "I have that much authority."

"Abusing your position I see."

"Devils are known to take advantage of everything they have," she proudly defended herself, all smug, before falling to a serious look. Her standard look as a Satan when she couldn't fool around. "...I might have to go to Old Kyoto soon, you know. I had a talk with Zekram and he thought Kuroka could help us build a bridge there. Prove her that we Devils look after our own… I might need you there, Issei. As a semi-neutral third party."

"Finally raised the diplomatic effort?" Issei commented, making her pout. "Well… in that case, sure. Lavinia, you tagging along?"

"Wha—"

"Mmmn…" the blonde Wizard whirred a light teasing tune, still with her back against them. "Let's see… a chance to interrupt a date…? Why not? I'd love to see little Kunou as well."

"But I don't mean she has to tag along!"

"Tagging along?" Lavinia tittered, an icy blue eye looking past her shoulder. "Dear, dear… I happen to visit there under the interest of the Greys to better strengthen our relationship with the Yōkai Faction... or rather, as a fully-neutral third party."

Serafall grumpily sulked. "Should've talked about it in secret."

"She'll find out either way," Issei said, chuckling. "I have to report wherever I go, you know."

An uncharacteristic frown reclaimed its place on her soft pink lips. "Fine."

"So what about Tiamat then?" he asked, curious.

"She's a Dragon. She'll be fine. We won't do anything against you keeping her as Familiar since she's legally not under our jurisdiction… but still… That was scary, you know…" she began, her voice barely a whisper. "I never thought my first time watching you fight would be you against a Dragon King… apparently the strongest one too, according to Tannin."

"There were three of us, I'm pretty sure," Issei brought another hand under her chin, and squeezed her cheeks. Serafall lowered her eyelids at his childish gesture as he continued, "I have reliable backups, and I'm their reliable backups."

"That's smart of you, using your silly taunts to stop her from transforming into a Dragon. Do you think you can handle her then?"

Issei pondered for a moment. Tiamat in her human form was the toughest opponent they had faced so far, and surprisingly, neither he nor Lavinia burned as many spells as they thought they would. But still, Tiamat wasn't thinking straight the entire battle. A Dragon that wasn't enraged would have fought them differently, and probably ending with a different result.

All in all, he wasn't sure, but he was sure he didn't want to face another Dragon today. "Dunno. But all's well that ends well, hm?"

"...Guess you're right," he came out fine, and that was what mattered most. "...So which one of you called down those spicy meatballs from the skies huh? Actually, which one of you cast which? It's confusing watching magical stuff come bursting out of nowhere."

The smile in his eyes immediately told her he wasn't planning on sharing, which resulted in a disgruntled frown.

"Sorry. Wizards can't reveal their secrets to non-Wizards."

"Meeeehhhhh… fine. Make me even more jealous of her, won't you."

He kept his easy gaze on her fuming eyes, still cupping her cheeks and overall the lower portion of her small face. Either she had a tiny face or he had giant hands. Possibly a little bit of both.

"You still have the cutest cheeks."

Serafall blinked, ruminating his statement. "...Alright, that's either you calling me I look like a kid or actually saying I'm cute."

"Both," Issei 'heh'ed. His stupid little titter when he found his own joke to be funny.

"...Can't say if I'm offended or delighted."

"It's probably because of your twintails."

"..." Serafall suddenly blushed fervently as she thought of something clearly naughty and involved a rather unique usage of her twintails. "...I mean…you're the one who showed me how twintails can be a not-so-childish hairstyle…"

Issei couldn't stop himself from smirking. "I did, but you gave me the idea. And I did ask, you know."

"...M'kay, I'm getting wet," as proven by her violet laced underwear that was becoming damp by the moment as its color had darkened a few shades. "Let's fuck."

He snorted. "Alright you horny Satan. Excuse me for attempting to be a gentleman."

"You? Gentleman? Don't make me laugh… Now grab my twintails and do me like you did me that time."

To be continued...

Two lemons in a row. Surely this is a coincidence. Go check out Refugees' latest chapter if you horny bastards are still horny.

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