76. Ultimate Class Magician Examination.
Rudiger's POV
It's been two months since I met with Sir Akatsuki. Since then, my son has completely recovered. He's like a normal kid now, playing outside with others. He doesn't have to stay cooped up in his room all the time, waiting for his death.
I've also put him under strict supervision with a teacher to help him use his sacred gear safely. I still can't believe this all happened. I thought I would lose him.
First with Sir Dulio, and now with Sir Akatsuki. When I sent that letter to headquarters, I never expected Sir Dulio to come just a few days later and meet my son.
He's the kindest exorcist I've ever encountered. If the other exorcists were like him, we wouldn't be stuck in these pointless conflicts.
After our meeting, a month later, Sir Akatsuki appears to have launched those soul-nourishing potions, but of lower quality on his website. I even vouched for the potions myself.
Today, I've gathered all the major magician organizations so that he and Lady Izayoi can take the Ultimate Class exam. It wasn't easy to assemble all the Ultimate Class Magicians as examiners, especially since these exams rarely occur.
We had to wait for all the examiners from different organizations to become available. I did my best to expedite the process. It took nearly two months, and I suspect some individuals were making excuses to delay once they knew who was taking the exam today. Nevertheless, the exam is finally happening.
"I never thought you would be the one to gather us here today," said Mephistopheles as he took his place beside me, snapping me out of my thoughts.
"It just happened," I replied.
"Tanin has been eager to meet him for some time now. I've been wanting to arrange a meeting myself. Today might be a good opportunity to chat after the exam. I also heard about your son. Congratulations," said Mephistopheles.
"Thanks," I replied. It was probably obvious to everyone by now who had helped my son. The others also took their place and congratulated me.
"Is he really Akatsuki? Don't you have any other information about him aside from these?" asked MacGregor Mathers, another fellow devil, looking at the papers provided by my organization.
"That's all we have on him," I replied with a smile.
"And what about the other girl? Isn't she the one who's always seen with him? So, her name is Sakuya Izayoi," added Mephistopheles.
"They haven't provided details like age or anything else. Do they think becoming an Ultimate Class Magician is easy? Can they even use magic? Using the abilities of his sacred gear isn't part of the test," remarked Markus Ambrosius discontentedly and mockingly, focusing on Sir Akatsuki on the panel.
Sir Akatsuki was situated in an abandoned cityscape, required to demonstrate at least one new type of magic capable of affecting the entire city to earn the Ultimate Class Magician Certificate.
I shot a glance at the magician serving the Pendragon Family. He used Merlin's title, akin to how the Pendragons used Arthur Pendragon's title, though he had no blood relation to Merlin himself; the title alone was his claim to fame.
But was this idiot really serious? Did he not witness both of them using largescale Time Magic several times in those videos? That alone was something not even an Ultimate Class Magician could achieve so easily.
Did he underestimate the difficulty of using Time Magic on such a large scale, or was he simply deluding himself with his namesake?
"He won't be using the abilities from his sacred gear, I believe. Enough talking for now. Let's focus on the exam," said Mephistopheles, noticing my glare at Markus.
"Yes, we shouldn't delay any longer. Lord Rosenkreutz, you understand you're only a spectator, right? As the organizer of the exam, you can't be an examiner," clarified Mathers.
"You don't have to worry. I'm aware," I replied.
With nods exchanged, we prepared to begin the exam. We activated the audio function of the panel displaying Sir Akatsuki's live feed. He also had a receiver to communicate with us.
"Greetings, Akatsuki-dono. I'm Mephistopheles from Grauzeberer. Today, MacGregor Mathers, Markus Ambrosius, and I will judge the examination," announced Mephistopheles.
"Hello. It's nice to meet you all," replied Sir Akatsuki, facing the floating camera.
"Now for the rules of the exam. You must demonstrate one of your own magic creations that can affect the entire city, at the very least. Please keep that in mind," instructed Mathers.
"You cannot use any magic items to enhance your power. Additionally, use magic, not the abilities of your sacred gear. Don't try to cheat, or we will know," scoffed Markus, his tone disrespectful. Sir Akatsuki didn't show a change in expression, but I'm sure he felt offended.
"Markus..." we all gave him a stern look, urging him to behave appropriately.
"Now, you have exactly 15 minutes to showcase your magic. Take your time to complete your calculations and magic circle," I added, looking at the panel.
Shortly after, with a ding sound, the exam commenced, and an illusionary clock counting down from 15 minutes appeared both in our room and above Sir Akatsuki in the air.
Sir Akatsuki began levitating in the air without using his wings, initially giving the impression of wind magic. However, the absence of visible wind currents indicated otherwise.
"He's utilizing Gravitational Force. Gravity Manipulation is one of the most challenging magics to master, but he's handling it smoothly," observed Mathers.
After floating in the air, Sir Akatsuki gestured downward with his hands, causing a substantial wind current. This made a square-shaped cut appear in the ground when he clenched his fists. Then, raising his hands again, the entire cut-out cityscape began to float in the air.
"That's impressive wind magic to cut and suspend such a large city in mid-air," remarked Mephistopheles.
Next, the entire cityscape was surrounded by what appeared to be a circular, ashen-gold orb adorned with runes.
"Is this the result of his Time Magic? What exactly is he planning?" asked Mephistopheles.
As the cityscape was being destroyed by some mysterious force, the orb surrounding it shrank, exerting pressure that caused the structure to compress into a circular shape. Heat began radiating from the orb, turning the surface red and fiery. The flames intensified, changing from yellow to dark blue, while runes encircled the ashen-golden orb. It felt like millions of years had passed inside the orb.
The transformation concluded with the massive circular structure morphing into a beautiful diamond, erasing all traces of the cityscape.
"It must have reached temperatures of at least 1200 degrees Celsius, with pressure exceeding 725,000 pounds per square inch (5 gigapascals) or more. That's quite remarkable. Turning a city into diamonds, no—dirt in diamonds. Ha ha ha," laughed Mathers.
The sheer scale of Sir Akatsuki's display left us astonished, contemplating the incredible feats he had achieved.
"Hmm. Indeed, it's enough to consider him passed. He did pretty well," remarked Mephistopheles.
"Hmph. I suppose he passes," grumbled Markus.
We all thought that was the conclusion, but we were mistaken. Sir Akatsuki proceeded to manifest pressurized water streams, shaping the diamond into a massive serpent dragon. He then propelled the dragon into the sky, where it vanished from view—likely a result of being propelled into space using Gravity Manipulation. Moments later, he manipulated gravity again to bring the fiery dragon crashing down to the ground like a meteorite, generating immense shockwaves that reverberated through the land. The impact created a crater at least four times larger than the original cityscape, leaving us stunned by the sheer scale of destruction.
As we were preparing to announce the end of the exam and his passing, we were shocked yet again. What happened next was truly extraordinary. The entire crater became enveloped in the familiar ashen-gold orb adorned with various runes. In an instant, the devastated area transformed back into the original cityscape—or rather, into something even better than before. It was as if time had rewound, restoring the city to its prosperous state from thousands of years ago, before the Great War ravaged it.
Sir Akatsuki's abilities far surpassed our expectations. Not only did he demonstrate immense power and devastation without apparent effort, but he also restored the city to its former glory in a breathtaking display of magic.
This extraordinary feat left us all in awe, realizing that Sir Akatsuki had exceeded all our wildest dreams for the exam.
"You seem to have a good relationship with him, don't you, Rudiger?" Mephistopheles suddenly asked.
"Somewhat. Why?" I replied.
"Oh, nothing. Now I'm even more eager to meet him. Tanin would be thrilled. Ha ha ha," Mephistopheles chuckled.
"I'd be watching my back if I were you," Mathers added, directing a creepy smile at Markus, who appeared annoyed and uncomfortable.
After Lady Iazayoi made her appearance, her soft-spoken demeanor and stoic expression were quite noticeable to everyone. Her face gained widespread attention after she was seen alongside Sir Akatsuki, with many noting her striking resemblance to Lord Lucifer's Queen, Lady Lucifuge. This sparked curiosity among people, leading many to speculate whether she was a devil or even Lady Lucifuge's sister.
However, one day Satan Leviathan clarified that they were not related at all and that Lady Iazayoi was, in fact, human. Sir Akatsuki also provided a statement about her on his website, which added to the intrigue surrounding her identity and background.
Now we have her file and only know a bit about her. But a part of me really wanted to know what would happen if those two met each other.
Soon, the exam started, and the entire city decayed because of her Time Magic. The way she triggered it remained a mystery—we couldn't tell when or how she activated it. Perhaps Sir Akatsuki could do something similar but chose not to demonstrate fully to help us better understand.
Then, a huge barrier enveloped the whole city. Just seeing the barrier itself, such a powerful defensive ability, would have been enough to let her pass the test.
Mephistopheles was very impressed with the barrier, and we all could agree that it would be challenging for even us to break through. But we wouldn't know unless we tried.
Then from every corner of the barrier, wind slashes sliced through the cityscape, dividing it into perfect smaller cubes. Soon after, multiple huge tornadoes appeared, wreaking havoc and further devastating the area. Suddenly, space quakes and space slashes materialized out of nowhere, cutting through the fabric of space itself. Within seconds, everything was obliterated and vanished without a trace.
"My goodness! Time, Barrier, and Space! All three of those abilities of hers far surpass the Ultimate Class, at least! Where have these monsters been hiding all this time?" exclaimed Mephistopheles.
We all shared the same sentiment. Today had been incredibly hectic, with mind-boggling displays of power that surpassed our expectations.
Both of them would be awarded certificates at a later date. Prior to the practical exam, they had to undergo a written examination, which they aced, showcasing exceptional theoretical knowledge.
In truth, not every High-Class Magician can take this exam casually. They must accumulate significant achievements and receive recommendations from one of the Ultimate Class Magicians.
As the founder of one of the largest magician organizations, I ensured everything was prepared for the exam without any obstacles, facilitating a smooth process for their participation.
Kouske's POV
It's been about a month since the exam, and both of us have received our certificates. Now we can issue identifications and magician certificates up to the High-Class level without any issues to our members.
After the exam concluded, I met with the examiners. Markus attempted to make amends for his previous idiotic behavior and tried to flatter me, but I ignored the fool throughout our meeting. I had half a mind to make him suffer somehow, but I realized that I must be capable of handling such taunts if I wanted to lead an entire organization.
I conversed with the other three. Mathers was quite polite and spoke in a gentlemanly manner, although he gave off a somewhat unsettling red aura. He felt like a guy who might cut you up to look inside your head for magic research purposes.
Meeting Mephistopheles was interesting. He suggested some joint classes for our members, and I suspect he wants Sakuya or me to give lectures on our magic at a later date. I don't mind sharing some knowledge—it could greatly benefit our organization's members to learn from real magic professors. Mathers and Rudiger seemed to have similar ideas, and I'm open to fostering friendly relationships and partnerships if they benefit us.
Sakuya stayed quiet beside me during the meeting. Markus even had the audacity to flirt with her. Does he think he has got Merlin's rizz despite having no relation to him?
Sakuya's cold glare and disgusted expression must have left quite an impression on him, to say the least. While we stifled our laughter, Markus tried to play it off coolly to hide his embarrassment.
Afterward, Mephistopheles mentioned that Tanin had wanted to meet me for a while, so I decided to visit the former Dragon King at a later date.
After a few days, we met and sparred a bit, but unfortunately, he still outmatched me in pure physical strength. I also sparred with two of his wives and his eldest son, defeating them all. Then there was his rebellious third son, Bova Tanin. He was initially rude but straightened up after a few rounds of beat-up and started calling me Aniki.
Meeting Tanin on Dragon Mountain was great, and I have genuine respect for the guy.
He was reincarnated into a Devil by Mephisto Pheles, as his Queen. Tannin's transformation served dual purposes: first, to partake in the Rating Games, and second, to secure Dragon Apples—a fruit exclusive to the Underworld's Devil territory that is very important for the younger dragons and a delicacy for the older ones.
Tannin excelled in the Rating Games, reaching the Top 10 and achieving Ultimate-Class Devil status, granting him a territory where Dragon Apples grew. Soon he also delved into research on cultivating these apples artificially. Prior to the canon time, Tannin had semi-retired from the Rating Games to train younger dragons, displaying genuine care for his kind.
He mentioned that my apples had effects similar to Dragon Apples. I also introduced him to the DraconisPom Tree fruit, it also has the ability to slowly enhance dragons' power and has exquisite taste. We struck a deal where I would supply him with a substantial quantity of these apples at a significant discount, wanting to show generosity towards his cause. Unlike my usual deals, he can purchase as many as he requires.
Given his dedication to the dragon race, including sacrificing his title to secure Dragon Apples and even becoming a devil, I felt compelled to support him in this way. Visiting Dragon Mountain occasionally amidst the dragons could provide a refreshing change of pace.
Additionally, I negotiated with him to acquire some dragon infants. Initially hesitant, he relented after I assured him of their safety and potential for rapid growth under the care of a Dragon Tamer aided by my Time Magic. Tannin requested to meet this Dragon Tamer in person.
Subsequently, I transported fifteen dragons to rear in the Demiplane, where they will thrive under safer conditions than Dragon Mountain's harsh environment. Dragons there face constant survival battles from birth, though they receive ample food until they mature into Low-Class Dragons. In this unique ranking system, Low-Class Dragons rival Middle-Class Devils, Middle-Class Dragons match High-Class Devils, and High-Class Dragons are on par with Ultimate Class Dragons.
In Tannin's territory, dragons engage in arena battles to gain strength and status. These battles are a constant feature, shaping the hierarchy and fostering growth among the dragons.
77. The Dragon Priestess, and Serafall's Unheard Pleas.
Kouske's POV
"Are you sure they will listen to me?" Asia-chan asked a bit unsurely.
"Yeah, don't worry. Those little ones will love you!" I replied confidently, giving her a thumbs up.
"If you say so, I will do my best!" Asia-chan said more confidently, clenching both her fists cutely. She seemed pumped up. Damn, she's cute!
Unconsciously, I patted her head, causing her to tilt her head in confusion. But soon, she began to enjoy it, smiling goofily as she raised her head slightly.
"Ehe he he..."
Then, together, we entered the Demiplane, which was bustling with people happily chatting, training, and joking around with each other. I always believed that a happy, flexible working environment is far better than a strict, rigorous one with rigid rules.
Therefore, I try to accommodate people as long as they don't go too far. Inside the large building on the left, there are large Quest Boards where people can take quests to earn rewards such as better facilities, stronger tamed familiars as partners, money, or any other equal requests, depending on their preferences.
I try to maintain flexibility in managing things. Initially, it was challenging due to this very flexibility, but after a few years, things have settled down nicely. I am quite proud of my work.
When people saw me coming, they weren't scared or tense like people typically are around their leaders. Everyone was very chill and greeted me and Asia-chan cheerfully. After a while, I went to a restricted area in the Demiplane where I had kept all the baby dragons for rearing.
Even though they were small and young, they were still influenced by the Dragon Mountain and their own nature, which led them to fight among themselves from the start.
The fights weren't pleasant at all, and I had to intervene to stop them. It will take a while to break these habits. While Dragon Mountain is all about harsh training that often involves fighting to survive, these little ones are quite aggressive. So, I usually have to use my aura to force them to listen. But now, the scene before me is quite different.
"Kouske-san, you were right. These little ones are so cute!" Asia-chan exclaimed, surrounded by all the dragons. They obediently listened to her every command and played enthusiastically with her. Cute, huh?
"Stop, stop, stooop! I will get mad if you fight agaaiin! Humph!" Asia-chan scolded the two dragons who were vying for attention, glaring and bickering with each other.
Now Asia-chan was giving them a cute glare and scolding them, causing the two dragons to instantly stop and sulk a bit.
Meanwhile, the other dragons looked smug and acted as if they were the best of friends.
Yeah, dragons are pretty smart and cunning creatures. But the Dragon Priestess is even more OP. And cute too.
Unlike me, she doesn't have to intimidate them to make them listen. She has this strange aura that makes dragons more empathetic towards her. It boosts your emotions, making you want to protect and listen to her.
After that, I introduced Asia-chan to Tanin-san too. He also mentioned feeling more empathetic towards her just by looking at her.
I know, she radiates a strange aura—an aura of protection. Asia-chan was extremely fascinated, even after seeing the big bad dragon in real life. She was excitedly poking and patting Tanin-san, and he wasn't even scolding her for it. It was quite a scene. She also liked the smaller version of him.
After she met everyone in Tanin-san's family, her tiny bit of anxiety was finally gone. Everyone was friendly with her, even some of the violent ones who were fighting, 'begrudgingly' stopped their fighting when she started saying things like that they shouldn't hurt one another.
Even the rough and tough delinquent Bova-kun was being a tsundere, and it was quite something to see. I have videos, and I will blackmail the poor guy for the rest of his life! ?
Rey-chan suddenly arranged for a sleepover and even invited Sona. It was Sona's first time staying over at my place, and the only request she made was to keep Sera away for the night so she could relax without any unexpected threat of being suddenly jumped on.
Rey-chan agreed, and here we are having a barbecue on the roof under the starry night sky. Tomo, Momo, Asagi, and Sona's now official Queen Tsubaki are also here.
Sona, now 13 years old, already received her evil pieces a few years ago. Tsubaki is much more relaxed with us now.
Sakuya and I are in charge of making the barbecue. We were all having a great time laughing, talking, and playing games.
However, after the barbecue party, Sera suddenly appeared. I don't know how she knew, but she showed up just as we were getting ready to sleep.
I thought I wouldn't see her for a while due to her trauma. I had created some "slightly" disturbing magical girl anime that might traumatize even the most ardent magical girl enthusiasts.
I'm still debating whether to publish it or not; perhaps I'll revise the story to reduce the trauma. However, I had sent Sera the full version of these anime on Blu-ray DVDs.
For a while, she stopped wearing magical girl costumes and seemed pale whenever magical girls were mentioned. But after some time, she returned to her usual self and started bothering me again, even more, out of spite. How does she get so much free time? Isn't she a Maou?!
So, I mentioned my new (nonexistent) magical girl project to her. Since then, she disappeared, but now she's hanging around my barrier as if her life depended on it.
"Kou-chaaan! So-taaan! Sakuya-chaaan! Let me iinnn!" I stepped outside to find the source of the loud nighttime commotion. She's going to wake up the whole neighborhood!
"What are you doing, Sera-chan?" I asked, observing the girl floating in the air. To a passerby, it would seem quite unusual. She lay on my barrier, throwing a tantrum. I quickly added a second barrier to contain the noise.
"Let me in, Kou-chan. Onee-chan wants to sleep hugging both you and So-tan tonight. Onee-chan feels lonely!" Sera pleaded with crocodile tears, noticing the added barrier.
"Sera-chan, you're always welcome to sleep over. But tonight isn't possible. You'll have to come tomorrow," I replied.
"Nooo! Kou-chaan! Onee-chan wants to come today. I'll be busy tomorrow. Let me in, pretty please? Sakuya-chan?" Sera pleaded, looking hopefully at Sakuya.
"I am afraid I can't change Sona-chan's mind about tonight. So I cannot help you today," Sakuya said, disappointing Sera.
She looked betrayed and began another tantrum. It seemed the other girls were coming out to see what the commotion was. So Sakuya and I entered the house to calm them down, leaving the tantrum-throwing child in an adult's body behind.
Wait, is that even an adult body? Her height aside... But those boobs... Hmm... Something to ponder on later.
"Kou-chan! Kou-chaaan? Don't leave me here! Kou-chaaan! Uwawaa!" I could still hear her from inside. Thankfully, my house has good insulation, letting the girls sleep in peace.
Even after an hour, she still hadn't left. So I went back outside to talk to her.
"Sera-chan. How long do you plan to stay here?" I asked, a bit annoyed.
"Until you let me in!" she exclaimed, swinging in the air while clinging to the barrier like a koala.
"But Sera, I can't break my promise to Sona-chan," I replied.
"Then how about we make a deal?" Sera suggested after a moment of thought.
"A deal? Hmph! I won't betray her for just any deal," I replied confidently.
"Hehehe," Sera chuckled confidently, causing me to raise an eyebrow in question.
"How about Onee-chan cosplays for a while in anything you want? I know how you look at Onee-chan. Devils mature fast. You are already at that age," Serafall said, squeezing her bodacious boobs a bit.
"Hmph! Don't you always cosplay? What's new about that?" I asked, glancing at her boobs.
"Fufufu. But now you get to choose what I wear..." Sera replied mischievously, making me think and unconsciously gulp a bit.
"Uh... costumes?" I mumbled.
"Hmm? What did you say, Kou-chan? I didn't hear you," Sera asked.
I looked around and, not seeing anyone, I replied, "How many times are you willing to do it?"
"Hgnnn... How about three?" Sera suggested, showing me three fingers after some thought.
"15."
"No, 5."
"13."
"7."
"No, 11."
"10, that's as far as I will go. I am also busy you know. I can't stay all day cosplaying," Sera said.
"But you can whine here all night?" I replied, to which she looked the other way and mumbled something while avoiding eye contact.
After negotiating for a while, we reached a compromise. So she came down from the top of the barrier, and just as I was about to open it for her...
"What are you doing, Ko-kun?" asked an angry-looking Rey-chan.
"You haven't slept yet, Rey-chan? I thought you had fallen asleep already," I replied nervously.
"Who sleeps on a girls' sleepover?" Rey-chan said matter-of-factly.
"Ha ha ha... How long have you been here, Rey-chan?" I asked.
"Since the time you asked for 15..." replied Rey-chan, seemingly disappointed. It seems I was so engrossed in my talk with Sera that I didn't notice who else was there. Acting like a pervert makes you dumb, huh?
After that, before Sera or I could say anything, I was dragged inside by an angry Rey-chan. I was kept in a corner of the room while they chatted all night. Rey-chan seemed upset, so I didn't cause any more trouble for the night. Sera went back home sulking, probably to the Sitri territory to wait and pounce on Sona.
Before she left, she left a message on my phone, wanting me to meet Sirzechs to discuss acquiring the available territories of the Sabnocks to my name. The other noble houses had already taken about 40% of the Sabnock's territory.
The remaining 60% was saved only because of the Extra Devil Clans that were still loyal to the Sabnocks and their efforts.
As Sirzechs is the Head of Domestic Affairs, I have to meet him to get the paperwork done in order to secure the lands and start redeveloping it. I guess I will be meeting him soon.
After a week, I ventured into the Underworld to meet Sirzechs. The Underworld is the home of the Devils and Fallen Angels, and by extension the Gods of Hell.
The Underworld is comparable in size to the human world but with a larger landmass, lacking oceans and mostly dotted with lakes.
The sky was originally purple during both the day and night, but the current Four Great Satans adjusted the flow of time to match it in the human world for the sake of the reincarnated Devils.
They reproduced an artificial moon using Demonic Power and made the night's darkness the same as the human world.
The Underworld was originally split into two regions: The Devil's Region and the Fallen Angels' Region, which ended after the creation of the peace treaty between the leaders of the Three Factions, in the future.
I am currently in Lilith, the current Capital of the Satan territory ruled by Sirzechs Lucifer. It has one of the most advanced hospitals, which is named Serafall Memorial Hospital.
It is the hospital created by the Serafall from the natural reserves of her former Clan. It is famously known throughout the Underworld for not only possessing the best of her family's medical facilities but also for being named after her which increased its popularity, as she is the most famous female Devil in the Underworld.
As I wandered, lost in sightseeing, I received another message from Serafall reminding me to head to Lucifer's Office.
Unfortunately, Serafall couldn't accompany me as she was temporarily out of the Underworld. This prompted me to make my way towards Lucifer's Office without delay.
Approaching the massive castle, guards intercepted me.
"Stop, kid. Who are you, and what's your business here? You cannot enter without any previous appointment. Do you have any?" the guards demanded, their tone brusque, likely detecting my half-devil heritage since I had ceased using my race-concealing skill.
"I am Kouske Sabnock. Here's my letter of appointment," I replied, handing over the letter while suppressing my anger to avoid unnecessary conflict.
"Sabnock, huh? Have you heard of any other Sabnock brats around, Luther?" one guard asked his companion.
"I've only heard of one in young master Sairaorg's peerage. This seems suspicious, don't you think? Is this letter authentic?" the other guard, Luther, remarked, eyeing the letter skeptically.
"You're right. I doubt its authenticity. Leave, kid," said the previous guard dismissively.
"You haven't even looked at the letter yet. It bears Satan Leviathan's seal. Don't you have eyes, or are you just blind?" I retorted, glaring at them.
"What?! Are you threatening..." one of the guards attempted to respond aggressively, but his companion, Luther, restrained him.
However, I was already exerting my pressure on them, causing them to go pale. Despite their bluster, these guards were of the lowest class and possessed only around middle-class prowess. I didn't need to exert much pressure to make them tremble in fear.
As I released a bit of my aura, I sensed a powerful presence descending to the lower floors. The aura exuded a sense of devastation, unmistakably belonging to Sirzechs.
It became apparent that Sirzechs was likely coming down because of my sudden aura release, although it was only at a high-class level.
In Lucifer's Office, one doesn't typically release threatening auras unless under attack, which likely prompted his investigation.
78. Meeting Maou Lucifer.
Omniscient POV
Maou Sirzechs Lucifer was going about his usual routine, though he would much prefer spending time with his young son or Ria-tan instead of tirelessly working. Who even invented paperwork?
If only he knew, he would have obliterated that person from existence. Paperwork is truly evil—the root of all evil. He wishes that even his enemies didn't have to endure this burden.
Sirzechs longed to escape, but there always seemed to be a certain someone keeping a watchful eye on him to prevent any attempts to flee. The desire to escape weighed heavily on his mind.
Just as he finished pondering his idle thoughts, he suddenly remembered that the Sabnock Heir was due to arrive today.
His thoughts about the young heir were tinged with suspicion, particularly given the connections he had heard about through Serafall.
The mention of Akatsuki, a mysterious organization that suddenly emerged out of nowhere, raised red flags in Sirzechs' mind. Would he still be loyal to Underworld even after being connected to another organization?
The emergence of new organizations in the supernatural world was not uncommon, but many of them failed to stand the test of time against the established ancient factions. Would Akatsuki be any different?
But it had captured everyone's attention and remained a topic of widespread discussion. Its impact and influence seemed to transcend the usual fate of fledgling organizations, intriguing both newcomers and seasoned figures alike within the supernatural community.
This organization seemed to specialize in selling supernatural items like potions and even supernatural foods, causing quite a stir in the supernatural world. Sirzechs recalled a recent incident involving Freyja and a rare fruit sold by Akatsuki.
The whole of Norse mythology was in turmoil because Lady Freyja was adamant about obtaining another fruit even after her first purchase by winning the bid. Lord Odin certainly had his hands full dealing with her demands.
Fortunately, despite someone anonymous winning the bid for the second one, Akatsuki cleverly postponed the meeting requested by the Norse, likely to avoid further entanglement. Perhaps he also didn't wish to be entangled in such matters either. The complexities of supernatural dealings were enough to keep anyone cautious and wary. And nobody wants to deal with unsatisfied goddesses, especially someone like Lady Freyja.
Serafall also mentioned that the Sabnock Heir is exceptionally talented and strong for his age, displaying maturity beyond his years. But restoring the Sabnock family, renowned for their blacksmithing prowess, to their former status among the pillar devils would pose significant troubles.
Unlike the Sabnock member in Sairaorg's peerage, this heir possesses his bloodline power, making his allegiance crucial for securing future armaments for the devils, provided we can nurture and train him effectively.
However, before I can trust him completely, I must personally assess his loyalty.
Following that, there will be a challenging battle with the old coots in the devil council to reinstate him among the 72 devil pillars.
These individuals were ungrateful despite the Sabnock family's substantial contributions during the Great War, ultimately betraying and expelling them from the pillar devils to further their own agendas and profits.
As he contemplated these matters, he sensed the menacing aura of a high-class devil permeating his office. Even though known for his benevolence, Sirzechs rarely faced open provocation within his own office.
"I will go check on this," declared his Queen, Grayfia Lucifuge, who had been steadfastly standing by, ensuring Sirzechs couldn't slack off any further.
"No, I will handle it myself," Sirzechs responded firmly.
He could have delegated the task and gathered information later, but the rare opportunity to escape his workload early was too enticing to pass up.
Hastily, he descended the stairs, with Grayfia silently trailing behind him, fully understanding his true intentions with a resigned sigh.
When Sirzechs emerged, he observed a young boy, roughly the same age as his cute Ria-tan, exerting pressure on the guards. Sirzechs was impressed by the boy's evident power at such a young age, realizing that this must be the Sabnock Heir he was scheduled to meet.
The guards sprawled on the floor were among those 'recommended' by the Great King faction to serve in Maou Lucifer's office—a transparent attempt to infiltrate his domain.
Aware of their true intentions, Sirzechs had assigned them menial positions. However, their current behavior confirmed his suspicions—they were already causing trouble.
Internally sighing at the situation, Sirzechs knew he had to maintain a composed front in front of everyone.
"Who are you? Why are you threatening my staff?" Sirzechs inquired, releasing a fraction of his aura to assert his authority. He couldn't allow anyone to underestimate him or start a fight in his office without consequence.
"I haven't attacked anyone, Maou Lucifer. Is this how you treat all visitors?" the boy retorted, halting his own aura before speaking.
Sirzechs was surprised to see the boy withstand his aura, suggesting the boy possessed more strength than he initially let on.
"What's going on here?" Sirzechs asked, ceasing to exert any further pressure on those present.
"Sir, this boy attempted to trespass. When we tried to stop him, he attacked us," one of the guards explained, while the other seemed to attempt to intervene. At least one of them displayed a fraction of common sense.
Sirzechs turned his attention to Kouske to hear his side of the story.
"I am Kouske Sabnock. Maou Leviathan sent me to meet you. Here's her letter. But these guys refused to let me in even after I showed this," Kouske replied, visibly angry as he handed Sirzechs Serafall's letter.
"Why did you refuse him entry even after seeing the letter and her seal?" Sirzechs asked, applying pressure on the two guards.
It was clear they were already causing trouble and aiming to make him lose face. Sirzechs was already considering grounds to dismiss them, and today's incident would serve that purpose. He questioned them further before ordering others to detain them for later interrogation.
"I apologize on behalf of my staff. Come, I was waiting for you," Sirzechs said, leading Kouske into his room.
"Please have a seat. This is Grayfia Lucifuge, my Queen," Sirzechs introduced, pointing towards Grayfia.
"Greetings, Lady Lucifuge," Kouske responded politely.
"Greetings, Lord Sabnock," Grayfia replied with a polite bow before excusing herself to prepare refreshments.
"I'm truly sorry you had to experience this on your first visit. I'll handle the matter," Sirzechs assured Kouske.
"It's alright, I suppose. Serafall mentioned you wanted to meet me," Kouske replied.
"Yes, I wanted to discuss your lands. May I call you Kouske-kun? And you can call me by my name as well," Sirzechs suggested with a friendly smile.
"Of course, Sirzechs-san," Kouske agreed, earning a slight smile from Sirzechs.
By this time, Grayfia had returned with snacks, offering them to both of them. The conversation delved into the troubles and state of Kouske's lands.
"Forty percent of the lands have been claimed by other clans. I'm sorry we can't do much to help with that. Filing a complaint would only lead to a meeting board, which may not be very effective. I advise against taking aggressive actions against the other clans as you establish your family anew. It's best not to antagonize them too soon," Sirzechs advised.
"I'll keep that in mind," Kouske nodded.
"It's fortunate you still have 60% of your original properties, thanks to the support of the Extra Devil Clans loyal to your clan in the past. I can introduce you to them if you'd like," Sirzechs offered.
"Sure, I'd like to meet them," Kouske agreed.
"Here are the necessary papers. After this, it will be up to you to develop the lands. Unfortunately, some of the cities in your territory are barely functional and have fallen to monsters from the Pits. Many are considering evacuation. While we can't openly show favoritism, you can always reach out if you need assistance," Sirzechs explained.
The conversation continued until Kouske suddenly felt a mental intrusion. Noticing this Kouske's eyes sharpened and he unconsciously started leaking out his aura.
"[Kouske! Don't attack him. You still can't beat him!]" Clarice cautioned.
"Yeah, relax for now, kid. There's nothing good that will come out of fighting here. Besides, that maid is staring at you," Vritra added.
Sirzechs sensed the shift in Kouske's energy. He had been subtly trying to probe Kouske's thoughts and allegiances regarding the Devil Faction and Akatsuki.
Although Sirzechs found Kouske to be reasonable during their conversation, caution was paramount. Before potentially opposing the Devil Council on behalf of Kouske's clan, Sirzechs intended to conduct a discreet interrogation through hypnotism.
He assumed Kouske wouldn't notice, but the change in behavior suggested otherwise. Now, Sirzechs regretted not delegating this task to Ajuka and anticipated Serafall's displeasure after learning about this. That girl seemed quite fond of this boy.
"Kouske-kun, I believe there's a misunde..." Sirzechs began, but Kouske interrupted by raising his hand.
"I think we're done here, Lucifer-san. It's better for me to leave. I don't think I'm in the mood to talk further. I'll discuss any remaining details with Serafall," Kouske stated firmly, locking eyes with Sirzechs and his maid who seemed ready to move if Kouske did anything rude.
Kouske's aura continued to emanate. Despite Sirzechs' attempts to continue the conversation, Kouske departed without hearing any more explanations.
Kouske understood that Sirzechs was merely fulfilling his duties and considering the future of the devil race, but being subjected to hypnosis unsettled him.
For some reason, Kouske couldn't calm his rage, even after an hour. He felt an unusual intensity of anger, prompting him to seek solace in the dungeon to release his pent-up emotions.
As Vritra had said, a dragon's pride could be destructive, but its effects were unpredictable.
Kouske returned home after a while, seeming calmer than before. However, he still felt unsettled. Being the host of an evil dragon was no easy task. Despite having a mental barrier thanks to the system, all of Kouske's senses and emotions were heightened like those of a dragon's.
"Where's Lavinia and Asia?" Kouske asked Elle, who was engrossed in an online video game battle against someone named Queen.
"Asia-chan's still not back yet. And Reni-chan said she'll be staying at Dia-chan's house tonight too," Elle replied without even turning away from her game.
Kouske couldn't help but notice how Elle, once enthusiastic about going out and exploring, had become a lazy hikikomori, spending all day playing games online. He resolved to 'encourage' her to be more active starting tomorrow. If kind words didn't work, he might need to be a bit more forceful.
Meanwhile, Asia had begun her training as a nun in a church located far from supernatural influences. Raised in an orphanage run by nuns and taught about Christianity her entire life, Asia's faith was important to her, and Kouske respected her beliefs.
He had made sure to find a church where she could pursue her calling without interference from exorcists. With his familiars and Ddraig by her side, Kouske felt assured of her safety.
However, one thing weighed on Kouske's mind—Lavinia was still upset with him, even though a week had passed since Serafall's tantrum.
Lavinia had chosen to stay at Dia and Esri's place, and Kouske found himself experiencing withdrawal symptoms.
After years of having someone sleeping beside him, the sudden emptiness left him feeling unusually lonely and longing for her presence.
After a while, Asia returned from her nun training.
"Did anything unusual happen around the church?" Kouske asked Ddraig telepathically.
"No, I didn't notice anyone from the supernatural in that town, so it should be fine," Ddraig replied.
"That's good then. Thanks for always looking after her," Kouske said sincerely.
"Hmph! No need to thank me. I am just looking after my wielder. Your familiars were helpful too," replied Ddraig.
Later, everyone in the Miyamura residence gathered to eat dinner together, except for Lavinia.
Although Sakuya was typically the one serving everyone food, on this particular day, Kouske took charge of cooking himself and didn't let Sakuya handle any of it.
After enjoying their meal and chatting at the dinner table, everyone eventually retired to bed for the night.
Kouske was still awake and feeling lonely. Suddenly, the door to his room opened a bit and someone peeked inside hesitantly.
For a moment, Kouske thought Lavinia had forgiven him and returned. However, upon closer inspection, he realized it was just Rurune.
"Yo! You're still not sleeping?" asked the Cerberus in a girl's body.
"No. Why are you here, Rurune-chan?" asked Kouske.
"I thought you might be lonely, so I might as well sleep with ya," said Rurune, blushing and looking away.
"I guess I might need some company," replied Kouske, patting the place beside him on the bed.
"Hai!" Rurune happily jumped onto the bed.
Rurune was particularly fond of Rin and Kouske. Rin was quite surprised when she saw Rurune talk and take human form, but since Rin was already introduced to the supernatural world, she quickly accepted Rurune, albeit a bit awkwardly at first. Rurune had a simple, straightforward, and outspoken personality.
After that, both of them fell asleep quickly. At some point, Asia and Tarte had also hesitantly joined them and fell asleep alongside them. In the morning, Lavinia finally returned.
"Ko-kun! Guess who's back?!"
Lavinia was adorned in a standard magician's robe, elegantly designed with white and blue colors, accompanied by a large wizard's hat that added to her dazzling appearance. Her attire sparkled like snowflakes, catching the eye with its magical charm.
She had spent the past week searching for supernatural designers to create cute and beautiful wizard dresses for herself with Esri and Dia's help, knowing that her Ko-kun liked cosplaying so much.
However, upon returning and seeing him happily sleeping with other girls in their bed while she had missed him throughout the whole week, Lavinia felt a mix of sadness and anger.
It wasn't because there were other girls here—she was close to all of them—but rather the feeling that he hadn't missed her at all.
Quickly, she teleported back to Italy. Seeing all this drama, Sakuya couldn't help but sigh. Serving such a master wasn't easy at all.
Before, she didn't intervene since everyone except her master knew what Lavinia was doing. But now, she had to go talk to Lavinia, and it was going to be a tiring conversation.
Lavinia was already around 15, a teenager. And dealing with teenage emotions is always difficult.