Chapter III

Greetings to everyone reading this chapter on this...whatever day it may be when and where you are reading this. Anyway, as you can probably tell this is the next chapter of Legends of Chaos: Dragon of Zerbst. As a reminder, this story and Dragon of Zero are sort of competing for which story I will continue. Be sure to leave a review telling me which story you like better as it will effect which of these two stories I continue. There is also a poll on my profile page that you can vote in to more concretely represent your opinions. As usual I would like to thank my coauthors Bakuto Masaki and TheLastNanaya for their help with this story. So, shall we move on to the reviewer responses?

Zero Entertainment: Cool.

1: Do you mean from Dragon of Zero of from Familiar of Zero canon? Because it will be different from Dragon of Zero and immensely different from canon.

2: Naturally. Of course she will.

3: I...do not really want to think too hard about that. Honestly Futanari is one of the most disturbing things on the planet as far as I am concerned so Futa is not something you will ever EVER see in my stories. There may be some yuri-type stuff in the lemons in future, but it would be part of a lemon with Kazuma and more of an attempt to get to him than anything else.

Hopefully this answered your questions to satisfaction.

Lone Gundam: That is kinda the idea. It will not seem to diverge too greatly at first but it will.

Well, that wraps up the reviewer responses, so time for the main event.

Kazuma, Siesta, and Sheele stood on a deserted road after Kazuma had worked to save Siesta from the hands of Count Mott. Siesta had witness Kazuma and Sheele finishing off a group of bandits that had come to attack them, and was now curious about two things, why Sheele called him Kazuma rather than Ddraig, and who Sheele herself was.

Kazuma gulped and said, "Ah…well…that's a long story…"

Sheele looked at Kazuma and said, "I think she deserves to know at least a little."

Kazuma sighed and then turned to Siesta. "Well…I can tell you this much: Ddraig isn't my real name. It's just an alias I was using in case there was anyone around, enemies specifically, who knew me by my name. And Sheele is a close friend from my home world."

Siesta looked at him curiously. "I don't quite understand all of that but I believe I get the general idea."

"Good. For now we should be heading back before anyone gets incredibly worried."

Siesta nodded in agreement as the three turned to go back to the academy, though Kazuma sighed heavily and asked, "Siesta, do you remember the way back?"

Siesta laughed amusedly. "Yes, don't worry."

"Good, 'cuz I didn't think to memorize the path I took."

It was almost sunrise when the group finally made their way back to the academy, Kirche seeing Kazuma and Siesta approaching as she, Guiche, and Tabitha stood at the front gate watching and waiting.

Kirche pointed ahead and shouted, "There! There's Ddraig!"

Tabitha narrowed her eyes. "There's someone with him."

Kirche put a hand above her eyes to block the sun and wondered aloud, "Who is it?"

"Don't know," Guiche interjected, "but she's quite beautiful."

As the group approached the academy Kazuma noticed Kirche and the others standing at the entrance. Putting a hand to his face he sighed in annoyance. "I was really hoping to avoid this nonsense for a little bit longer."

Sheele asked, "Who are those people?"

"The busty redhead is my current master in this world."

Sheele raised an eyebrow in thought. "I thought Rias was your master."

Kazuma scratched the back of his head with a sigh. "Yeah…so did I. But I don't even know how much time has passed since I killed that big black bastard."

Sheele looked at him in surprise. "You actually beat it?"

Kazuma grinned as they approached. "Yep. Left me feeling like, well like I just beat a god among dragons but I beat him."

Siesta just looked at the two puzzled.

Kirche frowned as Kazuma and the others approached. "What were you thinking running off like that?"

Kazuma motioned to Siesta and said, "Rescuing her. It seems Count Meathead got himself wrapped up in a bandit attack. Siesta was the only survivor when I got there."

Kirche sighed in response. "You always seem to do crazy stuff. Well I guess since everyone is save it's fine. Although I am curious, who is this with you?"

Kazuma motioned to Sheele and said, "This is Sheele," the purplette bowed respectfully, "my wife."

"What?!" Kirche and Guiche shouted in unified shock.

Sheele waved happily.

"So does that mean she's…one of the people represented on your arm?" Kirche asked unsurely.

Kazuma raised an eyebrow in thought. "No, I don't think so."

Kirche frowned in disappointment. "Just how many wives do you have exactly?"

Sheele began counting and Kazuma interjected, "Don't count for her!"

Sheele laughed uneasily.

Guiche then asked, "So this beautiful lady is taken?"

Kazuma knocked him on his face and said, "Yes, she is. And if you try anything Louise I'll kill you."

Guiche stood up and shouted, "My name's not Louise, it's Guiche!"

Kazuma sighed and then turned to Sheele apologetically. "Sorry your introduction to this place is so messy."

Sheele shook her head with a smile. "Not at all. It's almost as fun as our time in DxD."

Kirche looked at them in confusion. "I have no idea what you're talking about and I don't think I want to know."

Kazuma shook his head. "And even if you did I wouldn't tell you." He then turned to Siesta and said, "I'll take you back to Marteau if you like."

Siesta nodded in agreement as she, Kazuma, and Sheele walked past the group.

"There's so much about Ddraig that I don't know," Kirche as they walked away. She then smirked lightly. "I suppose that's part of what makes him so interesting."

Kazuma knocked on the door to the servants' quarters and saw Marteau open the door. He motioned to Siesta and said, "I've brought her back home."

Marteau looked at the two surprised and then grinned widely before nodding. "Thank you our sword."

Sheele asked, "Our sword?"

Kazuma sighed and explained, "They consider me to be on the same social rung as them and because I took that blonde noble back there and kicked his ass they consider me their sword against the upper classes."

Sheele giggled happily. "I see, Chaos King."

Kazuma looked off to the side with a light blush. "I really reject calling myself that." Kazuma then looked at Marteau and asked, "Hey, Marteau, you wouldn't happen to have a spare room I could borrow for a night or two do you?"

Marteau looked at Kazuma confused and then nodded with a wide smile. "Of course, there's plenty of room!"

The next morning, Kirche wandered around the school worriedly.

Kirche then saw Tabitha and walked up to her. "Tabitha, have you seen Ddraig?"

Tabitha shook her head in response.

Kirche put a hand to her cheek in confusion and sighed. "I can't find him anywhere."

At that moment a servant walked by and explained, "He asked Marteau if he could use a room last night, try looking in the servants' quarters."

"Ddraig? He and his lady friend took one of our spare rooms last night," Marteau explained.

Kirche looked at him shocked and then turned to Tabitha who nodded with her normal expression.

"You said he's in a room with that woman?" Kirche asked confused.

Marteau nodded with a raised eyebrow. "Yes, I can show you if you like."

The two nodded in agreement.

They soon reach a room in the back corner of the servants' quarters and Marteau motioned to it. "This is the room they took."

Kirche nodded to Tabitha and opened the door.

"Ah, I wouldn't do that if I were you."

"Ddraig!" Kirche shouted in exasperation as the door opened, her eyes widening when she saw Kazuma and Sheele lying in the bed beside each other, completely nude.

Kazuma flinched before slowly waking up and sitting up to look at the intruders. He frowned and asked annoyed, "Is there really a reason to wake me this early?"

Kirche gazed in surprise at Kazuma's muscular and scarred torso. However, her admiration quickly died down when she processed the situation, causing her head to dip.

Tabitha narrowed her eyes and aimed her staff at Kazuma.

"W-wait…" Kazuma pleaded.

"Pervert," Tabitha muttered monotonously before shooting a blast of wind from her staff.

Outside, several students walked around the courtyard as a section of the servants' area of the academy suddenly exploded.

"What was that all about?" Guiche asked in confusion.

"Nothing you need to worry about," Montmorency snipped as she pushed him along.

Tabitha continued to glare as Kazuma and Sheele lied in a pile of rubble before glancing at Kirche.

Kirche looked at Kazuma with pouting frown.

Kazuma sighed and looked at the two annoyed. Kazuma then flicked a finger after activating his Tenshigan, sending both them and Marteau flying out of the room with a blast of gravity, closing the door with wind. He then used his powers to fix the bed as Sheele got back on it.

Kazuma sighed exasperated as Sheele turned to him.

Rubbing her eyes, Sheele looked around and asked, "What was all that?"

Kazuma shook his head and responded, "Nothing important. So, are you feeling energetic?"

Sheele smiled sweetly at Kazuma.

Kirche corrected herself and sat up, frowning in frustration. She then sighed and remarked, "I suppose all we can do is wait until they're ready to come out of there." She then stood up and walked away.

Tabitha watched as Kirche walked off and turned to the room Kazuma and Sheele were in with an annoyed glare before following after Kirche.

Sometime later Sheele and Kazuma emerged from the room as a few servants entered the room and shrieked in horror.

Kazuma scratched his cheek and asked, "Were we too vigorous?"

Sheele shook her head, "I don't believe so."

Kazuma shrugged in response. "Sounds fine for me."

After leaving the servants' quarters Kazuma was interrupted by another of the servants who said, "Old Osmond wants to speak to you in his office."

Kazuma scratched his cheek and asked, "Erm…where would that be exactly?"

Kazuma and Sheele reached Osmond's office with the help of the other servant and Kazuma noticed Longueville standing outside the office door.

Longueville turned to the two and smiled. "Welcome. Unfortunately the headmaster's in a meeting. You don't mind waiting until he's finished, do you?"

Kazuma shook his head with a smile. "Not at all. Are you his secretary?"

Longueville looked at him thoughtfully before nodding. "Yes. My name is Longueville."

"Nice to meet you. My name is Kaz, er, Ddraig," Kazuma said with a slight slip.

As several minutes passed with no activity Kazuma asked, "If you don't mind feeding my curiosity, how long have you worked at the old man's secretary?"

Longueville raised an eyebrow and then answered, "I've been here for a little over a year now."

Kazuma nodded in understanding.

After several more minutes of waiting he then asked, "Do you have any family?"

Longueville narrowed her eyes but quickly returned to normal and said, "My, you are a curious one, aren't you?"

Kazuma smiled apologetically. "Sorry, I don't like waiting, I get a bit talkative when I'm bored. Especially if there's a pretty girl around."

Longueville smiled in response, "That's good to know. I'll make sure you aren't bored again."

Kazuma flinched. 'Ow…I do believe I was just rejected.'

'Seems like it. But at least she was graceful about it,' Ddraig eased.

Longueville then added, "Though if you truly are that curious I have a little sister." She then added bluntly, "She doesn't live around here."

Kazuma smiled weakly. 'She is just beatin' me down.'

'With as cute as she is I assume she's used to being hit on all the time. You'd need to use a genjutsu or something to get passed those firmly built defenses of hers.'

'Well…I might give it some thought.'

As the time passed further Longueville sighed and walked into the room, very annoyed.

After a few seconds a well-dressed noble stumbled out of the room hurriedly.

Kazuma watched him go frantically as Longueville stepped out with a sweet smile. "He's ready to see you now."

Kazuma nodded in worried understanding. 'Damn, she's almost as scary as Akeno.'

As he and Sheele walked into the room Longueville closed the door behind them.

Kazuma looked around the room curiously before noticing Osmond at the large desk at the back with Marteau and Siesta on one side.

"Come forward now," Osmond said.

Kazuma and Sheele stepped towards the desk as asked.

"Ooh," Osmond mumbled as he eyed Sheele.

"Ahem," Kazuma cleared his throat roughly.

Osmond looked up and noticed Kazuma's not at all pleased glare and gulped. "Eheheh…anyway, you two are probably curious why you're here, correct?"

Kazuma nodded. "Just a little bit."

"The answer is quite simple. After the help you've given us, getting Siesta back, repelling the bandits that tried to hurt her and killed Mott and the others…" Osmond paused as he observed Sheele and Kazuma but continued when he received no reaction, "Marteau and I came up with a solution as to how to repay you."

Kazuma folded his arms and asked, "And what might that be?"

"Simple. Unless you disagree, Siesta will now become your own personal maid."

Kazuma blinked curiously as he looked at Siesta.

She smiled and nodded in agreement.

Osmond added, "As we were discussing how to pay you back she is the one who actually suggested this."

Kazuma sighed in response and then smiled before turning to Siesta. "I don't mind. Having you around more often to help will actually be beneficial. Of course your presence is always appreciated as well."

Siesta smiled happily in response. "That's good to hear. I hope you enjoy having me as your maid."

Kazuma nodded in return. "I can't see any reason why I wouldn't." He then turned to Osmond. "There is one issue however, though it has no direct relation to Siesta."

Osmond raised an eyebrow and asked, "And what might that be?"

"With myself, Siesta, Kirche, and Sheele all in the same room, such a small space will become quickly crowded."

Osmond nodded in understanding. "What is it you are suggesting?"

With a nod Kazuma responded, "Either a bigger room for Kirche or a separate room for myself, Sheele, and Siesta."

"I see…well unfortunately I can't grant either of those requests."

"What? Why?"

"It is simple. When a student's room is decided, barring no unforeseen accidents, that is the room they keep until they graduate. We also cannot separate a Master and their Familiar unless it is under the Master's express request."

Kazuma frowned in frustration.

"There is one possible workaround however."

Kazuma sighed and asked, "What might that be?"

"There is a spare, unused room right next to Miss Zerbst's. We could move Siesta and your friend into that room right next to the one you currently occupy."

Kazuma scratched his head in thought and then nodded with some annoyance. "I don't particularly like it but I suppose it's acceptable." He turned to Sheele and Siesta and asked, "Does that work for the two of you?"

Siesta and Sheele nodded in agreement.

Kirche looked at Kazuma, Siesta, and Sheele standing in front of her with surprise. "Is that so?" Kirche asked.

Kazuma nodded in response. "Yes. Siesta has become my personal maid and both she and Sheele will be sharing a room next to this one."

Kirche narrowed her eyes but sighed and then shrugged. "That's fine. You…will share her services, won't you?"

Kazuma turned to Siesta.

Siesta nodded. "I don't mind."

Kirche nodded with a smile. "Good."

Kazuma narrowed his eyes. 'I don't think she's happy.'

It took only a couple hours for the room next to Kirche's to be set up for Siesta and Sheele.

Kazuma asked with a sigh, "Sure you'll be fine over here?"

Sheele nodded with a smile. "I spent a thousand years not knowing whether you were alive or dead, being in the room right next to yours knowing you're just fine is nothing."

Kazuma chuckled weakly in response. "You certainly have a more positive outlook than I do. But as long as you're okay with it I can accept it."

Siesta looked at the two puzzled as she patted the comforter flat.

The next day, after getting the rooms sorted out, Kirche left her bathroom after preparing for class and noticed Kazuma was missing. She frowned and walked out of her room.

As expected, she found Kazuma in the room next door with Siesta and Sheele.

Kirche frowned in disappointment and cleared her throat to get Kazuma's attention.

Kazuma turned to her and walked over. "Need something?"

Kirche nodded in response. "Yes, I'd like you to accompany me to class today."

Kazuma raised an eyebrow. "But I thought Familiars weren't permitted in the classroom."

"Normally no, but this is a special case. In addition, the Familiar Exhibition is coming up in the next couple days, and I'd like to plan out what we'll be doing."

"Familiar Exhibition?"

"I'll explain on the way."

After that they left, though to Kirche's frustration, Siesta insisted she come along.

However, as they were on their way to the classroom, the three were interrupted by Tabitha.

"Oh, Tabitha, is something wrong?" Kirche asked.

Tabitha pointed to Kazuma.

Kirche looked at her puzzled. "What do you need with Ddraig?"

"Secret," Tabitha responded succinctly as she walked past Kirche, grabbed Kazuma by the arm, and began dragging him away, leaving Siesta and Kirche equally confused.

Kirche frowned in suspicious irritation. "What could be so secretive that she can't tell me?"

As the two walked away, Kazuma asked curiously, "Erm…where are you taking me exactly…?"

"To the forest," Tabitha explained.

Kazuma gulped and asked unsurely, "For what purpose?"

"Sylphid wants you as her mate," Tabitha said plainly.

Kazuma stopped and freed his hand from her. "Wait, what?! You do realize she's a normal dragon and I'm not, right?"

Tabitha shook her head and pointed up as Sylphid flew down to where they were.

The dragon looked at Kazuma and growled happily before licking its lips.

Kazuma gulped and said weakly, "Ah…well…while I'm flattered, mixing humans and dragons doesn't work very well."

Tabitha nodded and turned to Sylphid before nodding.

Sylphid responded with a confused howl before Tabitha said, "It's alright."

Sylphid looked at Kazuma before its body was enveloped in light.

Kazuma raised an eyebrow and thought, 'What's going on now…?'

The illuminated form of the dragon began reshape and shrink until it was the size and shape of a human. The light then burst from the humanoid shape allowing Kazuma to see what Sylphid had transformed into, a teenage-looking girl with waist-length, medium blue hair, two locks extending down the front of her body, barely covering her large breasts, two sections of hair near her ears resembling small wings, and bright green eyes who wore no clothing at all.

Kazuma looked at the naked girl in front of him and blinked curiously. "Okay…wait what…?"

Tabitha pointed her staff at Sylphid and said, "She is a Rhyme Dragon, and is able to take human form."

Sylphid nodded in agreement and said happily, "Illococoo wants to make eggs!"

"Ha?" Kazuma asked in confusion.

Tabitha clarified, "She wants you as her mate."

Kazuma blinked in bewilderment and then sighed. "Oh boy. So you're saying your dragon…Illococoo was it?" the dragon-girl nodded in agreement, "You're saying your dragon wants me to be its mate?"

"She!" Illococoo corrected. "Illococoo is a she, not an it!"

Kazuma sighed in exasperation. "Right…but why…?" 'I'm not complaining, I'm just confused as hell.'

Illococoo frowned in confusion. "But you're so strong, a big strong dragon. Illococoo wants you to claim her!"

Kazuma scratched his head in thought. "But isn't there usually some form of ritual that has to go into dragon mating?" 'Unless things have changed.'

Illococoo nodded in agreement. "Yes, but Illococoo told Big Sister to get a gift for Ddraig, and Big Sister gave it to Ddraig."

Kazuma raised an eyebrow and then remembered. The Longtomb Special then appeared in his hand in a flash of light. He then looked at Tabitha who nodded in confirmation. Sighing, Kazuma sent the gun back into his Requip circle and thought for a moment. Looking at Illococoo's innocent expression and very attractive body, Kazuma thought, 'Damn…she reminds me way too much of Musubi.' Kazuma then walked up to Illococoo and put his hands on her shoulders. He winced at the look of sheer admiration she gave him and was about to tell her something when a familiar voice echoed through the area.

"Ddraig! Where are you?!" Kirche called as she, Siesta, and Sheele ran up to where Tabitha had taken Kazuma.

Kazuma snarled in annoyance. "Dammit, couldn't they have wait just a few more seconds?"

The three approached and Kirche stopped when she saw Kazuma standing with his hands on the shoulders of a naked Illococoo.

Kirche pointed weakly and asked in bewilderment, "Uhm…what the hell is going on…?"

Siesta tilted her head in confusion.

Sheele merely stood calmly.

Kazuma noticed Kirche pointing and then realized why she was confused and pointing. "Oh crap." Kazuma then pulled his hands off Illococoo and remarked, "What I'm doing is more or less none of your business."

Kirche frowned. "I see…"

Kazuma twitched an eyebrow. 'Dammit…I am seriously striking out here…everything I do makes her angrier…' Kazuma sighed and then turned to Illococoo with an apologetic smile. "Sorry, there are still a few things you need to learn before I'm ready to give you what you want, Illococoo."

"Mooouuu…" Illococoo moaned in irritation as Kazuma walked off, before sighing in defeat.

Tabitha turned to her and stroked her back sympathetically.

Kazuma, Kirche, Siesta, and Sheele then walked away from the area.

"Although it may be none of my business," Kirche bit sharply, causing Kazuma to wince, "I would like to know why you had your hands on that naked girl."

Kazuma folded his arms in response. "What would you do if I refused to tell you?"

Kirche turned to him with a pouting frown.

Kazuma flinched in response. 'Shit…such an expression on someone so hot is really effective…'

"Just tell me, please."

Kazuma sighed and then answered, "Turns out Tabitha's dragon wants to mate with me."

Kirche and Siesta looked at him surprised. Sheele, however, did not.

"I-is that true?" Siesta asked.

Kazuma nodded.

Kirche suddenly raised both eyebrows in realization. "So then…that means…"

Kazuma looked at her puzzled. "That means what?"

"When Tabitha pulled me away from you back in the city she was asking me to find something you would like. So…was that all a part of this?"

Kazuma nodded in response. "Yeah, it was."

Kirche sighed. "She really should've just told me, otherwise I would've had her get you something more appealing than a gun."

Kazuma shrugged with a smile. "It's alright. I'm a weapon nut, so a gun is probably the second best thing I could get."

Kirche raised an eyebrow. "What's the best thing you could get?"

"Don't you have a class to go to?" Kazuma diverted.

Kirche widened her eyes as she remembered. "Oh no, sorry, I gotta go!" She then ran off down one of the hallways.

Kazuma sighed in exasperation. He then turned to Sheele and Siesta. "How about we go back to the room?"

The girls nodded in agreement as a powerful gust of wind suddenly blew through the area, causing both Sheele and Siesta's skirts to fly up.

Kazuma felt blood drip from his nose when Siesta's flew up, while Siesta immediately patted it down.

Siesta looked at Kazuma reddened with embarrassment. "D-d-did y-y-you see anything…?!"

Kazuma shook his head unconvincingly with a drop of blood hanging from his nose.

"Ooohhh…" Siesta moaned in embarrassment.

Kazuma sighed as he scratched his head. "Well…that was interesting."

"Please don't say that!" Siesta begged.

Sheele looked at Siesta surprised and asked, "You don't wear any panties?"

Siesta shook her head in response. "No, servants can't afford them."

Kazuma sighed in frustration. "Let's get back to the room before that happens again in case anyone else is around."

Siesta nodded in fervent agreement.

Back in Siesta and Sheele's shared room, Siesta sighed in exasperation while Kazuma stood in the doorway.

He turned to Siesta and said, "If it's any consolation I'm the only one who saw."

Siesta looked at him with a slightly annoyed expression before sighing lightly. "I guess that's some relief."

"Yeah, we really should do something about that."

"But what? I don't have enough money."

Kazuma tapped a finger in thought.

Sheele suggested, "Kazuma, couldn't you use your alchemy and make some panties for her?"

Kazuma slumped his shoulders in defeat. "Yeah…if I knew what they were made of…"

Sheele blinked and then asked in confusion, "You never learned that?"

Kazuma looked at her with mild annoyance. "That's not really a detail I focus on when most of the time I'm simply removing them from whoever's wearing them." He then raised an eyebrow in thought. "Well…it's stupid but I might have a solution."

Siesta turned to him hopeful. "What is it?"

Kazuma put up a finger to stem her excitement. "Let me make sure first. If you guys don't mind waiting, I'll be right back."

After getting the idea in mind, Kazuma left the tower and looked around trying to find the proper one. "Let's see…right about now they should be learning water magic, which is…" Kazuma trailed off as he noticed Guiche standing nearby in a flirtatious posture. 'For crap's sake, what's that moron doing now?'

He overheard Guiche spout, "Your hair falls like rivers of sparkling water, your eyes shining like bronze."

Kazuma twitched an eyebrow in response. 'Seriously? For such idiocy, he deserves a rock to the bonce.' Kazuma outstretched his hand a small pebble formed in his hand as red energy sparked. He reared back his hand and then threw it forward.

Guiche stood in front of a maid attempting to sweet talk her when he was suddenly struck in the side of the head by a stone. He gripped his head in pain and looked around angrily as Kazuma walked up to him. "You! You're the one who threw that stone, aren't you?!"

Kazuma shrugged in response. "Depends on which stone hit you. I did throw a stone, but there's not much guarantee that's the one that hit you."

Guiche twitched an eyebrow in response. "You really expect me to believe that nonsense? Leave me, I am busy speaking with this fair maiden."

Kazuma walked up to him incredulously. "What fair maiden?" He looked to his side and widened his eyes when he saw a tall and buxom woman with long, navy blue hair that covered her right eye, both eyes being brown, wearing the same maid uniform as Siesta. Kazuma said in shock, "K-Kalawarner?"

Guiche frowned in anger. "You know this maiden? It doesn't matter, one as vulgar as you-"

Kazuma didn't let him finish as he placed his hand on the back of Guiche's head and slammed him down into the cobblestone walkway headfirst.

Guiche merely twitched weakly.

Kazuma sighed and then looked at the woman as he walked up to her. "Kalawarner, what are you doing here?"

The woman, Kalawarner, looked at him equally surprised. "I can't say for sure. When you sent Sheele and I into the Eternal Sword's dimensional gap we wound up here moments later and got separated."

Kazuma nodded in understanding. "Unfortunately we can't talk here. Though looking at you it seems there's a big story behind this."

Kalawarner looked to the side annoyed. "I'm not fond of this place."

"You can tell me about it in a bit." Kazuma then pointed to a nearby tower. "Actually, now that you're here, there's something you might be able to help me with, want to follow me there?"

Kalawarner nodded in agreement.

Soon enough the two arrived back in the room and Sheele looked in surprise as the door opened.

"Kalawarner!" Sheele shouted in surprise.

Siesta blinked curiously. "Kalawarner? I thought your name was Kana."

Kazuma raised an eyebrow.

Kalawarner folded a hand under her bosom. "Kana was merely a pseudonym I used to work here, Kalawarner is my real name." She then glanced over at Kazuma. "I assume that since she's in here with Sheele saying something like that is fine."

Kazuma nodded. "It is."

Kalawarner nodded as she walked into the room and Kazuma closed the door. She then turned around to him and asked, "What was it you wanted to talk to me about?"

"Oh, right that. Well you see, it's actually a favor for Siesta here."

Siesta looked at the two curiously and then gasped. "D-Ddraig! You shouldn't do that!"

Kazuma waved a hand dismissively. He then turned back to Kalawarner. "What I was hoping is if you could loan Siesta some of your panties for a while."

Kalawarner looked at him puzzled and sighed. "Do I even want to know why you want me to do that?"

Kazuma walked up to her and whispered.

Kalawarner raised an eyebrow and then shrugged. "I suppose that's fine."

Siesta gasped in shock. "Y-you're serious?!"

Kalawarner nodded. "Yes. As long as you're fine with it I don't mind."

"O-oh, thank you Kana, I-I mean, Kalawarner."

Kalawarner shook her head with a smile. "Don't worry about it." She then chuckled and added, "Besides, we all need to help each other, since he's about as useful as a bump on a log with this kind of stuff."

Kazuma frowned in annoyance at her.

Kalawarner merely laughed lightly.

Kazuma sighed and then scratched the back of his head. "So, about what I asked before, what exactly are you and Sheele doing here?"

Kalawarner turned to Siesta concerned.

Kazuma put up a hand. "Like I said, I trust Siesta, you don't need to worry about her."

Kalawarner nodded as she sat down next to Sheele. "Sheele and I appeared in this world a little over one year ago. I'm not certain how long the time between when you sent us through the Eternal Sword's dimensional tear and us appearing here lasted but I do know we have been here for just over a year. With no understanding of this world or what it was we had to search around for employment."

Kazuma narrowed his eyes in response.

Sheele waved a hand at him. "We became mercenaries, nothing like what you seem to have immediately thought."

Kazuma nodded in understanding. "That explains some of it, but how did you end up here specifically?"

Sheele chuckled weakly. "Count Mott."

Kazuma raised an eyebrow.

Kalawarner explained, "Someone put a price on Mott's head, Sheele and I came to collect it."

Kazuma sighed in annoyance. "I see. Sorry for stealing your kill."

Kalawarner shook her head. "Don't be. It simply means we'll need to divide the reward up some more." She then smirked playfully. "Of course, since Sheele and I did the hard part we'll get more than you."

Kazuma twitched an eyebrow. "You suck."

Kalawarner smirked and then turned to Sheele. "Did you get the proof of the kill?"

Sheele nodded and pulled a fancy, gem-encrusted ring from her pocket.

Kalawarner nodded and then noticed Siesta, trembling in the corner, blue with fear.

Kazuma asked concerned, "Erm…are you alright…?"

Siesta, trembling with fear, thought, 'These people are crazy…'

Inside Osmond's office, Osmond tapped his finger in thought and then nodded in agreement. "I don't see a problem with it."

Kirche raised an eyebrow as she, Kazuma, Siesta, and Kalawarner stood opposite Osmond's desk.

Osmond nodded once more. "Yes, I believe Kana being another personal maid for you won't be an issue."

Kazuma smiled with a nod. "Thank you for your graciousness."

Longueville narrowed her eyes as she noticed the peculiar look about Kazuma's eyes whenever she stepped beside him.

As the group left Longueville turned to Osmond and began, "Sir, I believe that familiar was-"

Osmond put a hand up in response. "Yes, I know he was using some sort of spell to influence me. But I honestly don't see an issue with it, we've got so many pretty young maids that handing one or two over to Ddraig, especially with how he helped young Siesta, isn't a big issue."

Longueville sighed in defeat before cringing as she kicked her leg to the side, sending Osmond's mouse familiar flying across the room.

"Oh no!"

After that, the group returned to their respective rooms. As he entered his and Kirche's shared room he noticed her sitting on her bed looking frustrated.

"Something wrong?" he asked.

Kirche nodded slowly. "Yes, the day after tomorrow is the Familiar Exhibition, and so far I haven't got anything in mind for us to do."

Kazuma nodded as he sat down. "Alright, so explain to me what this Familiar Exhibition is, I might be able to help."

"Right. The day after tomorrow is the Familiar Exhibition. During the exhibition all of the second year students are required to show up with their Familiars on a stage and perform some sort of choreographed presentation to show how in sync they are with their Familiar or what kinds of skills their Familiar has."

Kazuma nodded in understanding. "What's the issue?"

Kirche sighed heavily. "The issue is we don't have any sort of act to put on to show to the judges…"

Kazuma shrugged in response. "I think just me transforming into a dragon oughta do it."

Kirche perked up in response.

"I mean everyone around seemed pretty amazed by that, didn't they?"

Kirche nodded excitedly. "So…can you do anything else?"

Kazuma scratched his cheek in thought. "I can do a lot of things."

Kirche narrowed her eyes in thought. "Can you create weapons?"

Kazuma snapped his fingers and several weapons of varying types emerged from the ground in bursts of red energy, then disintegrated.

"How about transform into things other than a dragon?"

"Like what?"

"Hmm…a horse."

Kazuma's body lit up with bright red, crackling energy before the shape of his body changed and the energy dissipated to reveal a horse.

"How about transforming into other people?"

After returning to his normal form Kazuma asked, "Like who?"

"Mr. Colbert," she answered immediately.

Kazuma nodded and red energy sparked at his feet before riding up his body. When it finished he had transformed into a perfect copy of Colbert.

Kirche folded her arms under her bust in thought as Kazuma returned to his normal form. "How about dancing or swordplay?"

Kazuma nodded in response. "I know a few dances, Lilith wouldn't let me go without having done so, and I fancy myself a master swordsman so I know a few moves."

"Is there anything you can do that I haven't thought of?"

"I can use a special type of magic none of you seem capable of doing and I have contracts with several Summon Spirits."

"You told me about tha-wait…you actually have contracts with some these Spirits?" Kirche asked.

Kazuma nodded.

"Can you show me some of them?"

Kazuma nodded and waved a hand for her to back up. 'I've still got Celsius and Volt's Spyrite crystals, correct?'

Ddraig answered, 'Yes, I can still sense them.'

Kazuma nodded and ordered, "Come to me, Celsius, Volt!"

At that moment two magic circles, one blue-green and one bright blue appeared, flanking Kazuma.

On his left was a young-looking woman with pale grey skin, red eyes, and ice blue hair that extended down to her shoulders in icicle shapes with a sleeveless. black, one-piece outfit that lacked a right leg with a partial skirt that was white with hexagonal shapes and blue lines on it, a long glove of a similar design on her left arm, ice-like pieces on the sides of her head and as an eyepatch over her left eye, and short boots with wide bronze tops.

On his right was a young-looking man with fair skin, wild, light-brown hair, and pink eyes who wore a black one-piece outfit with purple circuitry designs on it that exposed his right arm and right leg, a black tunic that extended to just above his knees, a black shoulder cape with yellow lightning bolt designs that extended down to the ground with large hands on the ends that he seemed to have control over, a lone black shoe on his right foot with the same design as his outfit, a black eyepatch with purple circuitry patterns on it and a large golden ring floating behind him with six circle with spiral patterns on them.

Kirche widened her eyes in shock.

The woman looked around and then looked at Kazuma. "Master, why are we here?"

Kazuma nodded in understanding. "I am this girl's familiar, Celsius."

Celsius turned and looked at Kirche. "Is she related to Rias?"

Kirche raised an eyebrow.

Kazuma shook his head. "I doubt that."

The young man then mumbled, "Bzt bzt bzt bzzt."

Kazuma shook his head. "No, Volt, we're not."

Kirche pointed to the young man, Volt, and asked, "You can understand him?"

Kazuma nodded. "Yes, since I have a contract with Volt I can understand what he says. If I didn't I wouldn't be able to."

Kirche thought for a moment and then asked, "While I'm thinking about it, who's Rias?"

"Someone I used to know, that's all."

"Ah…that aside, are these truly Summon Spirits?"

Kazuma nodded once more. "Yes, Volt and Celsius are the Great Spirit of Lightning and the Great Spirit of Ice respectively."

"Their personalities are…"

Kazuma suggested, "How about I just come up with something for tomorrow?"

Kirche sighed heavily. "I suppose of all the possibilities that is the best option. I guess I'll just get ready for bed."

Kazuma nodded as he snapped his fingers, Volt and Celsius vanishing in flashes of light.

At that same time in another location, a hooded figure with green hair floated onto the roof of a building. Whispering a spell, the floor under her feet collapsed into sand as she dropped into a room filled with treasures.

She smirked as she walked over to a chest and pointed her wand at it.

The chest popped open after a few seconds and a sculpture emerged which she took in her hands before leaving.

Moments later a group of mages burst into the room and saw the hole in the ceiling before seeing words scribed on the wall that read, "Fouquet was here."

One of the mages scowled angrily.

The next day, Kazuma awoke to find that Kirche was gone. He was not terribly surprised by that but as he stood up he sighed lightly. "Man, I've been wearing this armor since I got here, it's starting to weigh on me a little." After a moment his armor vanished in a flash, leaving him with the black under armor underneath and his greaves only.

He then made his way over to Siesta, Kalawarner, and Sheele's shared room where the three were talking until he walked in. "Hey, what are you three up to?" he asked.

The trio turned to him, Siesta getting flustered at Kazuma's physique, Kalawarner saying, "Merely trying to figure out what this exhibition everyone is going on about is."

Kazuma shrugged and explained plainly, "It's about the students showing off their Familiars. Simple as that."

"Do you have anything planned?" Sheele asked.

"I've got a few ideas. But I plan to mostly wing it."

Siesta weakly put up a hand and asked, "Erm…why aren't you wearing your armor…?"

Kazuma raised an eyebrow. "What's wrong? Don't like it?"

"I…uhm…that's not it…ohh…nevermind."

Kazuma chuckled in amusement. "Don't get so worked up, I'm only teasing."

"So what do you plan on doing today?" Kalawarner asked.

Kazuma scratched his head in thought. "Well I was hoping to bathe actually, it's been a while since I did and I'm still a bit gunky from a previous battle." He then turned to Siesta and asked, "You don't know anywhere I can do that do you?"

Siesta shook her head.

Kalawarner added, "There's a fountain on the far side of the courtyard."

Siesta looked at her shocked and confused.

"Works for me. Guess I'll just bathe there and hope no one shows up."

Siesta blinked curiously. "Uhm…do you want me to come with you?"

Kazuma looked at her thoughtfully. He then shrugged.

As they made their way to the courtyard, Kazuma glanced to Siesta and said, "You know, you didn't have to come with me."

Siesta shook her head in response. "It's alright. I'm your personal maid, so it's only right that I join you in this. Even if it is unorthodox."

Kazuma raised an eyebrow as they approached the fountain in question. "Oh, and why is that?"

"Well…because people don't generally bathe in the fountains."

"I'm kinda stuck since that steam bath sounds ludicrous. What about you servants? Do you bathe, or just use the same steam baths as the nobles?"

Siesta turned red at the question and sputtered, "I-I-I bathe! It's just that…servants aren't permitted to use the steam baths so we merely sponge down when we get the chance."

Kazuma sighed in frustration. "For crap's sake. These nobles treat you people like dog shit."

Siesta frowned sadly. "Perhaps…but it's our only choice. Either you are lucky enough to be born or adopted by a rich family or you live as one of the lower class."

Kazuma hissed in derision. "Tch, bullshit. I haven't dealt with this crap since that time Roa was in the body of a fat prime minister back in the Imperial Capital."

Siesta tilted her head in bewilderment. "…What…?"

Kazuma sighed in exasperation. "I'm just babbling."

Siesta nodded in understanding. "We're here."

Kazuma walked over to the fountain and frowned. "It's cold." He placed a finger in it and red energy sparked from his hand as the water started steaming and bubbling.

After a short time, Siesta was standing beside the fountain, though with her back turned so as to not to see anything, while Kazuma sat in the water washing.

Though Siesta occasionally glanced over to him as he washed. Attempting to break the silence she asked, "S-so…have you and Ms. Kirche planned anything for the Familiar Exhibition?"

Scrubbing his head with shampoo in it he answered, "I showed Kirche a few examples of my abilities and she entrusted me to come up with something."

Siesta turned to him surprised. "Really?"

Kazuma nodded. "Yup."

"She must really trust you then since I'm sure she knows Princess Henrietta will be at the exhibition."

Kazuma stopped and then turned to Siesta, his head still bubbling with shampoo, and asked, "Princess Henrietta?"

In Osmond's office, Longueville was standing in front of the old man's desk with several papers detailing the events of the Familiar Exhibition.

As she spoke, Osmond furrowed his brow with deep concentration.

On the floor, Osmond's mouse slowly inched forward to Longueville's ankles, but immediately ran off as she stamped a foot behind her.

The mouse ran up to his shoulder and he whispered, "Phew, that was a close call. So, what color were her panties this time?"

The mouse squeaked at him.

Osmond frowned in disappointment. "What do you mean you couldn't see them?" Osmond looked ahead and paled as he saw Longueville cackling darkly as her bangs shadowed her eyes, bending her wand in anger.

Outside, two faculty members walked by as loud crashing, banging, and screaming erupted from within the office.

Siesta looked at Kazuma curiously. "You don't know who Princess Henrietta is?"

Kazuma shook his head. "No, I'm not from this Realm. Or rather, I haven't been here in a very long time, so I've not heard of her."

Siesta nodded in understanding. "Princess Henrietta de Tristain. She's the crown princess of our country. While her mother is still technically queen, after the death of the king most of the duties of leadership fell to Princess Henrietta."

Kazuma continued scrubbing his head as he asked, "So then why doesn't she just take the position as queen?"

Siesta shook her head in response. "I'm not sure. I don't understand everything but I think it has something to do with that many of the noble families consider Henrietta unfit to rule, especially without a husband to rule as king. And if Queen Marianne were to step down it would create problems. At least…I think. Honestly I don't really know why." She then noticed, while Kazuma rinsed his hair, that he still had one article of clothing on, a necklace with two symbols hanging from it, both resembling swords. One was a black sword with a curved blade and the other was a blue-green sword with a straight blade. "Uhm…pardon me but…what is that necklace?"

Kazuma blinked and then glanced down at it. "It sort of represents two important people in my life."

In another area of the school, Colbert was speaking to a group of guards in a dark hallway in front of a large wooden door. "I want the two of you to guard the main gate once the festivities start tomorrow."

The guards nodded and walked away.

As they did, Longueville walked up to Colbert confused. "Excuse me, but shouldn't there be guards at the vault?"

Colbert shook his head. "Keeping those two here is more of a formality than anything. This vault door has multiple layers of seals placed by several square-class mages. Even a triangle-class mage couldn't hope to break through it without large amounts of time."

Longueville nodded in understanding as the two walked away.

A short time later many of the students were gathered by the front gates of the school with several guards at the gates as well, a long red carpet extending from the front entrance out a considerable way.

Moments later an extravagant carriage pulled by many horses, with several armed horsemen rolled up.

Driving the carriage itself was a man who sat next to a young woman with a stern expression who had short, light brown-orange hair in a mixed hime/bob cut, narrow grey eyes, and wore a green uniform with black pants, pieces of armor covering her average sized chest as well as her shoulders, wrists, and ankles along with a long white cape strapped to her shoulders as well as a sword and a pistol at her side..

As the carriage stopped, the woman stepped down and walked around to one side, opening the door to the carriage.

As she did a young woman with short, wavy purple hair with bangs framing her face as well as several hanging just above her bright blue eyes wearing a silver, three-pronged tiara with a jewel in each prong, a long white dress with puffed shoulders and a wide skirt that hugged her curves, exemplifying her large bust as well as a long purple cape held closed with a blue gem and a ring on her right hand that had a deep blue jewel in it.

The armored woman bowed to the purple-haired woman and said, "This way your highness."

The purple-haired woman nodded with a smile. "Thank you, Agnes."

Agnes nodded in return as she and the purple-haired woman walked over the carpet towards the main building of the academy where Osmond, Colbert, and the other teachers stood waiting for them.

As the two walked by the amassed group of students, Kirche stood in the group with a smile. "Princess…" her smile dropped somewhat however before she lowered her head and left the group.

The two walked up to the teachers and the faculty all bowed, with Osmond beginning, "Thank you for honoring us with your presence, Princess Henrietta."

Henrietta bowed lightly in return. "No need to thank me Mr. Osmond. It's my pleasure to come and observe all of the different students and their Familiars."

Osmond motioned to his side as Guiche walked up to him. "If you don't mind Princess, Guiche de Gramont will show you around the school grounds. Then we'll have Mr. Colbert show you to the room you'll be staying in until the exhibition tomorrow."

Henrietta smiled happily. "I do not mind at all."

Siesta looked at Kazuma as he rested in the warm water. "Haven't you been in there for a long time?"

Kazuma peeked a single eye open at her, his hair finally rinsed of the shampoo and muck that had collected in it. "I haven't been able to bathe in a very long time. It feels wonderful to get a chance to just sit in the warm water like this." After a moment Kazuma sighed before sinking underneath the water level.

Siesta just sighed in confusion as she waited for Kazuma to finish. She tensed however when she heard voices approaching. 'Oh no…this is bad…Kazuma could be punished for bathing in the fountains if they find him…' She paled however when she realized who was approaching, Henrietta and Agnes. 'Oh no…this is really bad…'

As the group walked towards the area, Guiche was posturing in his normal manner when he motioned his wand ahead of him and said, "This area back her is not used for very much but…" He blinked in confusion as he saw a trembling Siesta standing near the steaming fountain. He narrowed his eyes and asked in annoyance, "Servant! What's going on here?!"

"N-n-nothing a-a-at a-a-all…" Siesta answered in a tremulous voice.

Guiche narrowed his eyes and then looked at the fountain, asking, "And why is this water-?"

His question was silenced as Kazuma burst up from the fountain, splashing the noble with hot water and knocking him to his feet.

Guiche gaped as he looked at Kazuma standing in front of him, partially because he just emerged from a fountain, and also because he was completely naked.

Kazuma raised an eyebrow and asked, "What are you doing here Touché? Are you into guys now?" Kazuma then noticed Siesta gaping in frightened shock. He raised an eyebrow curiously. "What?"

Siesta weakly pointed to the side.

Kazuma turned and saw Henrietta and Agnes standing nearby.

They both looked at him agape, as nothing was hidden, however Henrietta proceeded to collapse with blood coming from her nose.

Agnes clenched her fists and then unsheathed her sword and charged at Kazuma. "How dare you expose yourself in front of the princess!"

Kazuma tensed and jumped into the air, using his Tenshigan to force all of the water from his body and dry off instantly, then equipping his armor as he landed. He then reached for the two miniature blades on his necklace, yanked them from the chain and squeezed one in each hand, the black in his right and the blue-green in his left. Light emanated from his hands before full-sized versions of the blades appeared in his hands.

Agnes narrowed her eyes. "You honestly plan to challenge the captain of the musketeer squad?"

Kazuma readied a combat stance with the black sword in front of him and the green sword parallel to the ground next to his head, facing forward. "You attacked me first, Ms. Captain."

Agnes flinched in annoyance. "I'll forgive you if you apologize to the princess."

Kazuma raised an eyebrow. "Princess?" He turned back to the girl behind him. He blinked curiously. "That's...the princess?"

Agnes twitched an eyebrow. "You...didn't know...?"

Kazuma turned back to Agnes. "No, now, is our fight actually going to happen or are we just going to stand here?"

Henrietta, who finally managed to stand back up, looked at Agnes concerned. "Please Agnes, don't fight an unnecessary battle."

Agnes narrowed her eyes and sighed, sheathing her blade.

At the same time Kazuma's blades lit up and then returned to their pendant forms on his necklace.

Agnes huffed at Kazuma as she walked by. "You're lucky that the princess was here to stop me from killing you."

Kazuma smirked in rebuttal. "You say that like you could kill me at any time."

"Do you wish to test that theory?"

Kazuma raised an eyebrow and then smirked. "How about we do just that? I'll be participating in the Familiar Exhibition. How about you and I have our actual match there?"

Agnes raised an eyebrow and then nodded with a competitive mien. "I like that idea."

As the two walked away, Kazuma folded his arms in thought.

Siesta turned to him with slight annoyance. "Are you really going to fight her?"

Kazuma nodded in agreement. "Yeah, I don't care how good she is, she won't beat me. She could provide me some entertainment though."

Siesta blushed in response.

Kazuma sighed and asked in mild annoyance, "I mean an exhilarating battle. Why does your head always go to the gutter?"

Siesta just moaned in exasperation.

Kazuma stretched his shoulder as he walked down one of the academy's hallways as he watched another student walk through the halls. He looked up and grumbled as he watched a stone from the upper edge of the wall slide out and fall down towards the student. He flicked a finger to the side, causing the stone to fly to the side avoiding the student.

The student gasped as the stone crashed on the ground.

Kazuma merely sighed as he walked by the student. He looked up and sneered.

As Kazuma continued his trek he noticed something unusual, a string extended across a doorway. He looked up and saw a bucket in the rafters. He glanced to the side in annoyance. "Resorting to the most basic of tricks, are we?" He snapped a finger and the string and bucket disintegrated. He leaned his head to the side with a tic mark. "I think that's enough out of you."

A figure floated next to him and flailed tiny arms.

Kazuma twitched an eyebrow as he extended a hand forward. "I've been kind to you so far, but I think you've caused quite enough trouble as it is. Zangetsu!" At that moment, a massive katana with a blade as long as Kazuma was tall and incredibly wide with a golden hilt and pink fabric wrapped around the handle appeared in Kazuma's hand.

The figure froze stiff and then flew off.

Kazuma narrowed his eyes as he stood up. "I think that's enough troublemaking from you, you damned Ghost." He then immediately darted after the figure, his sword, Zangetsu swung behind him.

Kirche walked through one of the halls of the school with Tabitha when the short bluenette stopped.

Kirche blinked and asked, "Is something wrong Tabitha?"

Tabitha pointed to the side.

Kirche followed where she was pointing and gaped. Kazuma was racing down the halls of the academy with a giant sword, swinging randomly at the air. "H-has my Familiar finally gone insane…?"

Tabitha interjected, "You should stop him."

Kirche nodded and ran over to where she saw Kazuma heading.

"Get back here dammit!" Kazuma snarled as he swung his blade through the air once more.

"Ddraig!" Kirche shouted as she ran after him, "What's gotten into you!?"

Kazuma then jumped forward and grabbed the figure floating in front of him, which no one else seemed to be able to see and pinned it to the ground.

Kirche looked at him in shock and confusion as this occurred right in front of her.

Kazuma raised his sword into the air and then swung it down, smacking the butt of his sword against the figure he had pinned. "Konso!"

Kirche ran up to him and was about say something when her eyes widened greatly as the figure he was quarreling with became visible to her, a ghostly figure with long, wavy pink hair. "L…Lou…ise…?" she gasped before collapsing on the ground, unconscious.

"Now look what you did!" the ghostly girl shouted at Kazuma.

Kazuma narrowed his eyes as he stood up. "I'll deal with you later," he said sharply.

The girl shrunk back before turning to Kirche. "You should help her…"

Kazuma picked up his unconscious Master. "That's what I intend to do. But I can't have you running around causing anymore trouble."

The girl frowned and asked with annoyance, "Why don't you help her and I'll…I'll just follow behind?"

Kazuma narrowed his eyes but nodded in acceptance.

Soon the trio, though it appeared merely as a duo to most, arrived in Kirche's room and Kazuma set the busty redhead down on her bed. He put a hand over her forehead and sighed in relief. "Alright, she's just unconscious. She should wake up soon." He then turned to the girl with a frown.

The ghostly girl flinched with a worried gulp.

Kazuma raised an eyebrow as he glanced over at the photo Kirche kept in her room and then to the ghostly girl. He then sighed. "I see, you're Louise I take it?"

The ghostly girl, Louise, raised an eyebrow and then nodded. "Y-yeah…I am. Why do you care?"

Kazuma pointed to the picture.

Louise turned and noticed the photo.

Kazuma scratched his head lightly. "I'm kinda annoyed it took me this long to make the connection. So, I take it there's probably a reason behind your actions?"

Louise nodded in response, annoyed. "Yeah…to get back at those jerks."

Kazuma raised an eyebrow. "What do you mean?"

"All the students. They were all mean to me so I'm going to get them back."

Kazuma narrowed his eyes in thought. "That student you tried to drop a stone block on didn't do anything to you."

Louise turned to him irritated. "Oh yeah!? How would you know!?"

"He's a first year, he wasn't even here last year."

Louise shrunk back from him. "W-well that's…"

"Misplaced aggression?"

"Ohhh, shut up!" she snapped. She tried to swing at him but Kazuma raised a hand, lazily blocking her punch. She twitched an eyebrow and tried again, unsuccessfully. She tried again, and again, and again, not landing a single blow.

"Why don't you stop wasting your time?"

Louise sighed heavily. "So what do you want?"

"That's what I should be asking you."

Louise huffed in irritation. "What's that supposed to mean?"

"Nevermind. Listen, for some reason I couldn't use Konso on you, meaning I can't help you pass on."

Louise looked at him irritated. "The lady in the black clothes said that too."

Kazuma raised an eyebrow. 'I'm guessing a Soul Reaper was sent to try and help her pass on. Hmm…'

"What? You look creepy."

Kazuma twitched an eyebrow. "Look you little runt…"

Louise puffed her cheeks. "I'm not a runt! I…I just didn't have time to mature!"

Kazuma sighed and waved a hand. "Nevermind, not what I meant. Anyway, like I said, I can't help you pass on, which is what needs to happen in this situation. If you stay here like this it'll cause problems, beyond your own actions."

Louise lowered her brows.

"So, under normal circumstances I'd use my Zanpakuto to just slay you and be done with it."

Louise backed up, widening her eyes.

"Don't worry, that's a last resort, and I'd prefer not to do that."

Louise calmed down somewhat, though kept a suspicious expression.

"So, tell me something, there has to be some reason you stay here, rather than going off to find sources of mana."

Louise looked slightly to Kazuma's side and frowned.

Kazuma raised an eyebrow and glanced to Kirche. "Is it because of her?"

Louise looked at him surprised and then lowered her head and nodded slowly. She then raised her head slightly with a somber expression. "She was the first person who found me…and she stopped the other students from making fun of me after I was gone."

Kazuma frowned slightly. "Meaning you realized you had a friend you didn't know you had."

Louise nodded. "And so…whenever the other students would make fun of her, I'd get'em back."

Kazuma narrowed his eyes. 'Now it's making a little more sense.'

"So…are you…going to get rid of me…?" she asked with a worried expression.

Kazuma sighed heavily and ran a hand through his hair. "No…I'd say it seems that you aren't really doing any of this out of true malice, just frustration. So, I'll make you a deal: you stop messing with the rest of the students and stick near me or Kirche and I won't have to slay you. Sound good?"

Louise looked at him surprised and nodded.

At that moment Kirche moaned quietly as she came to. She cracked an eye open slowly as she saw Kazuma sitting next to her on her bed. "Oh…Ddraig…" she trailed off as she looked to the side and saw the ghostly form of Louise floating nearby. Her eyes widened in shock.

Kazuma slapped a hand over her mouth. "Shhh, don't scream," Kazuma said quietly.

Kirche nodded slowly as she sat up and looked at Louise in shock. "Louise…? Is that…really you…?"

Louise turned away slightly, somewhat embarrassed, and nodded. She then turned back to Kirche fully with a smile. "Yeah, it's me."

"But how…you…you were…" images of Louise's motionless form entered Kirche's mind, causing her to curl up, putting a hand over her mouth.

Kazuma put a hand on her back and rubbed slowly. "Come on, try and calm down."

Kirche took several breaths and then sat up and looked at Louise. "How…?"

Louise shook her head and looked at her spectral tail. "I don't know. I just know that I got really sleepy after I took that poison and then…then I saw you standing next to me but…I saw it from behind you."

Kirche frowned in confusion. However, her frown then turned into a smile.

Louise looked at her puzzled. "Wh-what…?"

Kirche shook her head in response. "I suppose the best way to say it, is it's good to see you again."

Louise looked at her surprised and glanced to the side in slight abashment. "Y-yeah…"

Kazuma smirked silently. 'I didn't realize Pluses could blush.'

'She is not a Plus,' Zangetsu remarked.

Kazuma raised an eyebrow. 'You don't say.'

However, their conversation was cut short when a knock was heard at the door.

Kazuma narrowed his eyes and glanced at Louise. "You should probably make yourself scarce."

Louise nodded as she faded from view.

Kazuma walked over to the door curiously. "Who could that be at this time of night?"

A person in a hooded cloak burst into the room and closed the door quickly.

Kirche stood up from her bed in shock and Kazuma reacted on instinct, putting his arm around the person's throat and pulling Derfflingher from his Requip armory.

The hooded figure pleaded, "Please, wait!"

Kirche raised an eyebrow in confusion. "That voice…" her eyes then widened, "Ddraig! Release her!"

Kazuma raised an eyebrow but nodded in understanding, releasing the intruder who pulled down her hood to reveal Henrietta.

Kazuma blinked in confusion and then sighed heavily.

Henrietta sighed as Kazuma released her and then turned to Kirche. "It's been a while, Kirche," she said with a smile.

Kirche nodded slowly, looking off to the side. "Yes, I suppose it has."

Henrietta frowned slightly. "Are you still unable to look me in the eyes?"

Kirche curled her lips down in frustration.

Kazuma narrowed his eyes in confusion. "If you don't mind, I'm a little lost. How do you two know each other?"

Henrietta turned to Kazuma and raised an eyebrow. After a moment her face turned red. "Y-you are…!"

Kazuma looked at her puzzled. "Oh yeah, you were with that knight woman when I was bathing in that fountain."

Kirche looked at him flatly. "Do I even want to know…?"

Kazuma shrugged in response. "It's a long story. So, how do you know our fair acquaintance here?"

"Louise used to go over to the palace and play with the Princess, but, well…you know…"

Kazuma then turned to Henrietta.

"Kirche was there at Louise's funeral and, well, we just started talking," Henrietta explained.

Kazuma nodded in understanding to the surprisingly simple explanation.

Henrietta then looked at Kazuma and asked, "So…you are Kirche's Familiar?"

Kazuma nodded. "Yes, I am."

"And despite how he looks, he's actually a dragon," Kirche appended.

"But…he looks like a normal human," Henrietta remarked.

"I have the ability to transform, and I simply prefer this form," Kazuma explained.

Henrietta nodded slowly in understanding. "In addition to seeing you once again, Kirche, I also wished to see the one they called the best Maestro Dragon, if that's who you are."

Kazuma smirked slyly. "Last I checked you've already seen my entirety."

"Eh…" Henrietta mumbled as the image once again entered her mind, causing her face to turn red.

Kirche narrowed her eyes. "Now I have to know, what happened?"

"I was bathing in the fountain out behind the academy and Henrietta and her tomboy bodyguard stumbled on me there, unfortunately they saw a little more than I'm sure they expected," Kazuma answered.

Kirche blinked curiously and then sighed in exasperation. "Why didn't you just ask to use my bath? It would've been much simpler."

Kazuma just shrugged.

Henrietta then commented, "I heard how Ddraig intervened on those bandits that attacked Count Mott's carriage. I'd like to say it was a shame Mott himself wasn't saved…"

Kazuma raised an eyebrow in thought. "Oh, heard about that already?"

Henrietta nodded in agreement. "Yes, it has been making its rounds through the castle. Kirche, you have a good Familiar."

Kirche nodded slowly in response. "I suppose. Though he's a real handful. It doesn't help that he's a pervert."

Kazuma wagged a finger in the air dismissively. "Nuh-uh, you messed that up."

Kirche looked at him suspiciously. "How so…?"

"I'm a big pervert, don't forget that part."

Kirche merely sighed while Henrietta laughed heavily in amusement.

"It's so much fun just to be around you two. I hope you perform well, Mr. Ddraig," Henrietta complimented.

Kazuma nodded in appreciation as she walked out the door.

Kirche then turned to Kazuma. "Was there a reason for that?"

Kazuma shrugged. "She still had sadness in her eyes, I could see it. So I thought I'd amuse her at least a little."

Kirche looked at him quietly and then gave a small smile. "Well, I suppose that's something nice. I honestly haven't seen her laugh that much in a long time." Kirche then turned to the side. "Louise, are you still there?"

After a moment the pink-haired ghost reappeared with a nod.

"How was it seeing Henrietta again?" Kirche asked curiously.

Louise nodded and then frowned sadly. "I wish I could've talked to her." She then looked up in surprise and looked off to the side brashly. "B-but it doesn't matter…!"

Kazuma and Kirche chuckled in amusement.

"What's so funny?!"

The next day, regular classes were halted for the familiar exhibition.

Kazuma and Kirche sat in the crowd with the other students as the rest performed their acts.

Kirche sat tensely, uncertain what "Ddraig" had planned for the day and apprehensive about seeing their competition.

Kazuma, however, sat calmly, watching the other students curiously.

He sat disinterestedly as multiple students passed over the stage, performing basic movements and tasks with their Familiars.

His interest picked up mildly when Guiche walked on stage, though he was disappointed when all that happened was Guiche posing with his oversized mole.

However that seemed to be enough to impress many of the girls among the audience, save for a small few.

Soon after that Montmorency did a dance with her frog familiar, which now had a bow on its head.

However, the crowd became irritated when Tabitha's name was called and she failed to appear.

Moments later a gust of wind erupted as Tabitha, riding on Illococoo's back, flew over the crowd before performing a few small stunts and then landing on the stage, eliciting energetic applause from the crowd.

Even Kazuma gave a nod in acceptance. 'For such a young dragon she's rather deft in the sky,' he thought.

'She's a Rhyme Dragon, that's not surprising. Her kind have always had a particular knack for flight and magic,' Ddraig explained.

'Really? Now that I think about it, Illococoo's probably the first Rhyme Dragon I've met.'

'Yes, they're extremely rare. The only reason I even know about them is Igneel used to play around with a few of them when he was raising me.'

'Ah…you know…actually, nevermind.'

'It's best you don't know.'

'Yeah, I figured that.'

As the crowd died down, Kirche's named was called.

Kirche took a slight breath as she and Kazuma walked up to the stage.

As they approached the steps to the stage from the side, Kirche put a hand on his shoulder and said, "Just…try not to be too weird, alright?"

Kazuma nodded with a smile, putting a hand on the redhead's shoulder, "Don't worry, I will."

Kirche nodded in acceptance.

As the two arrived on the stage, Kirche bowed to the crowd, though she was somewhat frustrated Kazuma didn't.

Kazuma noticed her irritated glance and followed suit, bowing to the crowd.

As they both stood up straight, Kirche then announced, "I am Kirche Augusta Frederica von Anhalt-Zerbst. This is my Familiar, Ddraig."

The crowd began murmuring in confusion.

"Ddraig? That's Ddraig?"

"I thought it was a dragon."

"That's just a simple commoner."

Kirche frowned in disappointment but stopped when Kazuma put a hand on her shoulder. "Ignore them. They're just stupid."

She took a breath and was about to speak when suddenly the wind kicked up powerfully as a loud whirring noise filled the air.

Kazuma raised an eyebrow as the area darkened. He looked up and his jaw dropped slightly. "What the hell is that?"

Everyone looked up and saw a massive, mechanical ship shaped like a white dragon, wings spread out wide as multiple dragons soared around it as guards.

Kazuma blinked curiously. "That…is one hell of a ship."

Osmond's eyes widened as the ship descended nearby. "What is she doing here?"

Kazuma heard the old man's question and raised an eyebrow. 'So the captain of this thing is a woman? This oughta be interesting.'

After a few moments the large machine landed and the front gate below the "dragon's" neck opened and multiple people walked out.

Many were knights in full-body armor, Kazuma didn't care about them. Another was a man in blue armor, Kazuma didn't care about him either.

What Kazuma did notice, however, was the person walking amongst the group.

A tall, beautiful woman with long blonde hair that reached past her waist, several bangs hanging down over her forehead, some framing her face, and deep, piercing blue eyes, wearing elaborate silver armor with blue highlights that had thigh-high greaves, elbow-length gauntlets with blue sleeves underneath, large, rounded shoulder armor, a high, pointed collar that was attached to a long, flowing purple cape that flowed behind her, and a main body section that more resembled a swimsuit than armor, with a mostly open section at her chest that showed off her booming bosom. Her large breasts shook enticingly with every graceful step she took, though Kazuma soon noticed one other piece of equipment, a massive, blue and silver sword strapped to her back, the end curving out like an ax head rather than coming to a point.

As she approached the gathering of people, Osmond walked up to her and bowed respectfully.

"So, Miss Veronica Lautreamont, to what do we owe the honor of your…rather unexpected appearance?" Osmond asked.

Veronica nodded in return and answered in a calm, formal tone, "I have come for one simple reason. I wish to challenge the one known as Ddraig."

And that is a wrap. Hopefully you enjoyed the chapter, if you did be sure to post a review. If you did not go ahead and post a review as well, just keep it civil. Also, do not forget I am weighing this story against Dragon of Zero so be sure to leave a review on which story you like better and vote on the poll. Once I have this story up to the same number of chapters as Dragon of Zero I will take a look at the statistics and decide which story will continue and which will get abandoned.