Chapter 56.

Pawns between kings and a hint of things to come.

I kept staring at the contract in shock as I read through it. I occasionally glanced at a nervously blushing red Hana, who was looking everywhere but at me. The contract was similar to the one Rias and Ravel had with me regarding outs and the dowery, but a few minor things made me raise my eyebrow. Some of those were extra protection clauses for Hana and another big thing. As I read on and on, the big question that I had grew and grew. When I finished reading, I asked the question that was bothering me so badly.

"Why?"

My eyes met Yasaka's, who was still wearing that smile now revealed to be one of approval.

"There are multiple reasons why Chikatetsu no eiyū-kun. My first one is that you got our family justice. My beloved younger sister was in the subways that day with her new human husband on their honeymoon. They were in the first station hit. I swore an oath to the Shinto that day to reward whoever gave them justice well. The next reason is that I want better relations with devils for your deeds, and now that I know Himura ruined the last set of talks. This shows Ambassador Leviathan that I am serious about this. Yet the most important reason is that the Shinto told me what you have done for them and Japan and who you are last Saturday night. They have told me of the true hero who denied boon after boon from them when they offered them to you. They told me all of what you have done as the Gorgon to protect the people of Japan and the rest of the world. They told me of the trick you shared with the Principle Clans that has strengthened the Shinto in ways not seen in a very long time. That and the last reason of wanting my daughter to get her dream of a noble hero that the Shinto tell me you are. When you took my boon, and instead of asking me for something for yourself, you asked for others. My boon was a test, and you passed it with flying colors, making me commit to this contract."

I was dumbfounded by all of this and looked at Yasaka and, to an extent, a blushing Hana in shock. The young kitsune was now looking at me with her gold eyes, especially at my scar, in fascination and a tiny bit of awe. Serafall cut in now for me.

"I was surprised too when this idea was pitched on Monday."

I wanted to glare at Serafall as this was so unexpected. She has earned a massive grudge for this, but I had sworn to help her, and thus, I held it in before I asked a still-blushing Hana.

"You are really ok with this, milady?"

Hana was still blushing, and my comment increased the blush. Only a few seconds later, her gold eyes finally looked at me before she whispered.

"I am."

I looked at a particular contract clause again, and Serafall saw me glance at it.

"I argued for that, and her grace agreed to it for another concession in terms of the dowry."

My red eyes remained on Hana for a moment before they met Yasaka. The older woman smiled wide, showing her canines, and the smile was happy.

"I have been told how you treat your peerage by the Shinto. They assured me that Hana would have both a wonderful husband and king. I already knew about the laws in the underworld that devils have for their issue."

Hana blushed, and their fingers poked together rapidly. Kiyomi, it seemed, knew the clause too, and her tails flicked about in agitation. She halfway glared at me, while Kunou showed a new side of her as she smiled kindly at her youngest sister.

"You have always been fascinated by devil magic and its theories, Hana, so this could be a safe way to experience it. He seems like Mother said he would be so far and has my tentative support."

Hana blushed again, finger poking more as her sister said that, and her nervousness did something as an illusion fell on her face. Now, there was a pair of glasses before her gold eyes. She blushed ultra red suddenly and violently as she turned from me, looking away in shame now.

I saw Yasaka put an arm around Hana in support, and as I looked at Hana, a very surprising thought crossed my mind. Hana had been striking before. Now, she was even more so, and something seemed to show on my face as I looked at her. The younger kitsune looked up at me from the corner of her eyes. She blushed deep red again and seemed to look at my face, amazed by whatever was on my face. Kunou and, to a lesser extent, Kiyomi get the same smile as their mother now before Serafall coughed gently.

"Perhaps we should let the two of them discuss this by themselves. While they do that, we can start preliminary talks."

Yasaka gave Serafall a tilt of her head yes and whispered something to Hana that had the younger kitsune keep her now almost permanent blush. Hana slowly got up off her knees, as did I, and the two of us moved slowly around the table. We didn't know what to do when she and I got closer until I gentlemanly offered her my arm. Hana kept blushing and slowly took my arm as we walked slowly to the bridge. Just as we began climbing the planks, a silence ward went up, and soon, we were in the middle of the bridge looking out at the pond. Hana and I were silent, looking at everything in the koi pond and gardens but each other. Finally, I awkwardly tried something as I looked at her.

"Are you truly okay with this, Milady? You can be open and truthful here. If you don't want this, I will speak up for you and accept your decision."

Hana was silent for a moment, composing her thoughts.

"I don't know if I am sure or not."

That confession was made before she gulped and continued.

"I have always known that I would end up in a betrothal. Kuno and Yomi have theirs, and I have long worried that I, the weak and overlooked daughter with these things on my face, would get one that would be loveless."

Her gold eyes were so ashamed of the glasses that she turned her face away from me.

"Mother told me your story of how you are a once-in-a-lifetime hero who has done great things for Japan and the world. She told me that if I agreed, I would finally get a brave, heroic, noble prince who would treat me like a queen. I have long wanted that dream of a brave and handsome hero that would sweep me off my feet. I want to believe her about you, yet despite my fascination with devil magic, I know how vile they can be and how disgusting their society is. I am torn between the dream of happiness with my possible heroic husband and the reality of what I will face if I say yes from them."

Hana had turned to face me at the middle point of that. Her gold eyes behind those glasses were slightly teary, and I moved my hand to hers before I squeezed it gently in support. Hana's tears kept falling now as she looked at me again.

"I want to say yes, yet I fear I will be another number to you in your harem and be pushed into the background. The others in your harem must be beyond beautiful to be with a hero like you, while I'm held back because of these."

She truly hated her glasses, and as my hand squeezed hers, I wondered what her story with them was.

"My harem isn't like that at all. We are more of a close family where we are all equal in this and have come together through various and sometimes strange circumstances. As for you being plain because of the glasses, that's a horrible lie."

Hana's tears stopped flowing as her gold hit my red in disbelief.

"Those glasses enhance a beautiful person and make them even more beautiful. I don't know why you feel that way about them, but I don't believe they make you plain. I am willing to try this between us despite how it was suddenly dropped on me. If you don't want this, I won't be offended and will urge Lady Leviathan to drop this from any talks with your mother going forward. If you say yes, then there are plenty of outs for you in the contract, and if I ever do something you dislike, you are welcome to demand it end at that point with any of said outs. You don't have to reincarnate until you know this is what you want."

Hana looked at me in pure disbelief at first. However, her eyes saw something on my face, and the gold eyes kept looking at my red ones before a tiny smile crossed her as she again blushed beet red. She squeezed my hand, and we were silent for a few seconds, looking at the koi pond. As the fish swim, Hana's face goes through a million emotions. I could barely get even a third of them before her hand squeezed mine tighter and tighter. Then her gold eyes hit mine again.

"I will accept this and possible eventual reincarnation. I know I will lose the Shinto, but I have never been religious enough for them despite being the daughter of their champion."

As she said yes, Hana had a dreamy look on her face. I could see this was definitely a crush, as her tails also began wagging in excitement. That was cute, along with the smile on her face and those glasses. She blushed red again, seeing my face before the dreamy smile returned, as I did warn her.

"I will need to tell the others about you. However, I know one of them will likely be your biggest supporter among the group. I want to get to know you better this next week. May I have the right to call you Hana-chan eventually?"

I can easily see Shirone liking Hana given their similarities with Kuroka supporting her sister. Given their existing contracts, who I think won't like Hana is actually Rias and possibly Ravel. Hana got a look of worry before that smile of hers returned.

"You may, and I would like to get to know you, too. May I call you Gregor-kun eventually?"

I squeeze Hana's hand gently.

"You may though I am a Western boy in many ways. When were you supposed to leave if you said yes?"

Hana looked nervous now.

"I was to leave Er-Kyoto as soon as the contract was agreed upon."

I saw she was reluctant to do that and squeezed her hand.

"Don't feel obliged to. Maybe we can have you come tomorrow?"

Hana looked relieved and squeezed my hand tight.

"I would love to."

With that decided between us, we began our slow walk back towards the table. As soon as we stepped off the bridge, the sound returned to us from the gardens, and we heard Yasaka saying something to Serafall.

"… we have a few empty buildings in Er-Kyoto that could serve as an embassy for devils. They are all close to the palace and two in particular would be well suited for your man near the city's best food quarter."

Serafall was wearing a massive grin, and I finally discovered her sin. It was pride, and she was feeding it well here. Yasaka, however, was not completely oblivious to the rest of the gardens as her nine tails moved slightly in our direction, hearing our footsteps. That drew Yasaka, Kunou, and Kiyomi towards us, and the four waited with bated breath for the answer. Hana blushed, seeing the knowing looks on her mother and Kunou before Serafall said to them.

"Did you two agree?"

Serafall then looked at the two of us in question, and I gave Hana a look, telling her I'd support her decision now if she had doubts. The kitsune blushed again before she said with a soft voice.

"I agree on probation."

Yasaka had a knowing look on her face, along with her daughters, and Serafall looked at me. I told her with a straight smile covering the fact I wanted to strangle a magic girl.

"I agree on probation, too. I ask that Hana-san be allowed an extra day to pack accordingly."

Serafall saw the look and accepted it, hearing my confirmation. The request put a slight smile on Hana's face while Yasaka let her smile go into a tease.

"I told you he would be good to you, Hana."

Hana blushed again before her tails curled awkwardly in embarrassment. Kunou was giving Kiyomi a look of I told you so while the other kitsune glared at me with her gold eyes.

"Let it be said here, Chikatetsu no eiyū, despite your deeds for us and Japan, if you ever hurt my little sister, then there will be a bath of fox fire waiting for you, that I will dunk you in repeatedly."

Her gold eyes held a hidden truth: Kiyomi was a massive sis-con.

"Understood loud and clear, Kiyomi-sama. I will take the punishment without question and ask that you add another harsher one afterward."

Kiyomi eyed me again critically, now with a tiny hint of approval and question. Hana was beyond embarrassed by her sister sitting down next to her mother. Serafall looked pleased as I sat beside her before she turned to Yasaka.

"I will let Ed know his new role when I return to my building and have him move his office here by late afternoon. I would like to settle a few more things….."

Thus, Serafall and Yasaka continued talking with Kunou, adding a few things while Kiyomi glared at me and Hana kept blushing. As they talk and talk, I imagine how to make Serafall suffer for this debacle. My imagined vengeance on Serafall kept me not bored as the talks continued for another two hours with the occasional drink of tea or a bite of bread. Finally, after one last small sticking point regarding the possibility of future trade, Serafall and Yasaka finish their preliminary talks with both very pleased and prideful faces.

Serafall extended her right hand to Yasaka, and Yasaka did the same. They shook hands underneath the sakura tree before Serafall asked.

"When should I pick up Princess Hana, and are you open to meeting again tomorrow?"

Yasaka looked at Hana, who whispered something to her mother before she nodded to Serafall.

"You can pick her up on Monday morning. As for meeting again tomorrow, yes. I will meet with you as often as need be until we iron out everything. Take these and present them to any of my portal or regular guards, and you or your man will get quick access to my palace."

Yasaka handed over two badges with a fox face, which Serafall took before she stood up and put away the badges. She then gets up to make a spell call slightly away from the table. Kunou, Kiyomi, and Hana stand too as the three sisters go towards the door Hana had entered from. The young kitsune sent me one last dreamy smile before they entered the doorway and disappeared. I saw my opportunity and took it as Yasaka was taking a drink of tea, and I whispered to her softly.

"You may want to double your guards and recheck your ward scheme. A month and a half ago, I ran across a monkey youkai who was gathering information about your palace and ward scheme. I felt an almost cracked wardstone at the edge of the scheme as I was escorted here and, if fully cracked, could bring the whole scheme down."

Yasaka kept drinking her tea nonchalantly, and the only hint she heard was a slight twitch of one of her fox ears. She kept her teacup up and then set it back down with a practiced noble face. It was then that Serafall returned and knelt at the table again.

"I have informed Ed of his new position here. Sadly, I have another big meeting, and I need to prepare for your grace. Thank you for this. Hopefully, soon, we will enter a new age of peace between us."

Yasaka nods her head.

"I hope so too, Ambassador. That copy of the scroll is yours to keep."

Serafall wrapped up the scroll and handed it to me, which I put in a pocket in my shirt before the two of us stood up. Serafall and I gave Yasaka a bow before the kitsune snapped her fingers, and Suten came over. His sudden appearance and stealth made me sweat, as I had forgotten the massive oni had been here the whole time. Yasaka turned to him.

"Please escort them to the portal in the Market District and have Daisuke sent my way."

Suten saluted and then began leading Serafall and me out of the gardens. As we followed behind the oni, I leaned close to Serafall and growled softly.

"You owe me another favor for this."

Serafall kept walking and shook her head.

"You promised to help me, and that contract does in many ways."

I growl again at her.

"I want another favor, or I will pull back support for Sona's school."

I wasn't going to do that, but the threat made Serafall turn her head slightly my way now as her sis-con nature kicked in.

"Please don't pull it back. My So-tan was the happiest she has been in five years seeing it last night. I'll give you one more favor."

My wrath from this surprise was now fed, and I stopped my glare as the two of us continued following Suten into the throne room.

"I am willing to help the Satans and the NKF, as you saw on Tuesday, but I need to be told everything first. What is your other big meeting today?"

Serafall sighed and looked a little ashamed now for not telling me.

"I understand the frustration, and I am sorry, but I needed something to help with potential future talks. A marriage contract does that in so many ways. My second meeting is with Azazel at the DMZ. We hope that by sometime next week, we can hold the peace talks."

I want to sigh but don't, as her apology was truthful. It seemed we would need to step up operations to try and gain more information on the Brigade before the summit. I again offered to Serafall as I threw Mittelt under the bus.

"Offer up the Legio Base as the conference point. Heaven should agree to that, and if Grigori objects, tell Azazel that he will find what he is looking for there."

Serafall gave me a strange look before she sighed.

"I'll tell him and agree to that. We were leaning more that way for the location as it didn't favor any of the three factions and would be more inconspicuous than Kuoh."

I had figured that, but it would be a better place for a trap for the Brigade. Suten was leading down the palace's steps, and as we walked, I felt eyes on me again. I looked over my shoulder to see Hana on a balcony, looking down at me. Her face was still in that dreamy smile, though the glasses were once again hidden. She only stopped looking at me when Serafall and I left the palace grounds.

As we walked down the streets of Er-Kyoto, the youkai, upon seeing Suten, cleared the path quickly, and I wanted to sigh again when we ran across the same group of nekomata teens outside a tea shop. They again got heart eyes seeing me with their tails curling. Once again, Alex strayed from my side to watch them, and I heard him mutter that he would have loved Er-Kyoto. I internally sweat dropped, shaking my head at the other me.

Suten continued his mission, and soon, we reached a massive open marketplace with youkai of all kinds hawking their wares. The oni led us to a building at the edge of the market, which was another gift shop. He stopped at the door and gestured to it. Serafall and I gave him a respectful bow before we entered the shop. Inside it, a raccoon youkai man was reading a book. He heard our footsteps and looked up. Suten poked his head into the shop and grunted.

"Two leaving Sozen."

The man shrugged before he flipped a switch with his tail, and the back of the shop opened to show a portal. Serafall and I stepped through it. On the other side, we landed in the counterpart shop manned by another youkai woman, tho I couldn't tell what she was. The black-haired woman waved us out as Serafall, and I stepped into a vast open-air market in real Kyoto. People were shouting their wares, and children were joyfully squealing as they ran up and down the stall aisles. The sight continued as Serafall, and I walked through the market for five minutes to find an isolated spot in an alleyway to the portal to Serafall's office building. The two of us landed inside the building on the top floor outside a large office, and then Serafall relaxed.

"Thank you for helping despite the reveal. You can make a portal home from the lobby."

I sighed and got ready to face the queens.

"You're welcome. Please don't do that again."

Serafall nodded before she began feeding her pride as a wide smile crossed her face. As I walked down the hallway towards the staircase, a door close to Serafall's office opened, and a man I recognized stepped out. There was the famous British diplomat, Edward Grey. He began speaking with Serafall as I descended the stairs to the lobby.

Once there, I opened a portal to the clump of trees at the edge of my street and began walking towards the manor. On the walk there, my adrenaline from expecting the Hero Faction flowed out of me, leaving me exhausted as I walked through the gate and onto the grounds. I then heard a shriek of glee before someone slammed into my leg. I looked down to see Alaric looking up at me with his pink eyes.

"Greg!"

Alaric, being his cute self, put a smile on my face.

"You are getting faster, buddy."

That put a big grin on Alaric as he began bouncing in excitement.

"I practice every day to be like you, Greg!"

Alaric's face showed he was determined to accomplish that goal before he started excitedly saying.

"Greg, I want a robot like Aaron!"

I chuckled as I slowly moved towards the door with him.

"I'll get Hetvia to build you one, buddy."

That excited Alaric, who bounced, claiming he would have a big sister in this soon-to-be robot. When we entered the front hall, we found Neri talking to Xenovia and Kuroka. Seeing his mother, Alaric charged across the hall, shrieking in glee.

"Mommy, Greg promised to build me a robot!"

Neri picked up her son and listened to Alaric tell her about his robot. I approached the group and told Neri when I was close enough.

"Hetvia should be in her robotics lab in the underworld manor. Tell her to start building another casterlira for Alaric."

The castelira was a new robot design Hetvia had pitched to me on Thursday night in our robots' chat room on the Noosphere that used the castellan chassis but was smaller, had human hands, and a voice modulator. She had proposed it as our new work robot with several different marks for various roles. Her first four casterliras should be finished by Monday, and they already had spirits for their matrixes. Neri gave me a nod before she held Alaric close and descended the stairs toward the basement. Once she was gone, Xenovia asked me with a nervous face.

"How was your meeting Beloved?"

I sighed quietly.

"It went as well as it could have with what happened."

That made Xenovia let out a breath of air in relief while Kuroka tilted her head curiously.

"What happened, nya?"

I sighed again before I pulled the contract scroll out of my pocket and handed it to Kuroka. Kuroka takes the scroll and opens it as Xenovia peered over her shoulder. My queen then gasped a second later as her eyes read the scroll. Her mouth dropped to the floor, and her tails stopped moving. Xenovia sighed in relief, and then Kuroka found her voice.

"This is…"

I finished it

"A marriage contract for the likely next member of the queens and possibly the next member of the peerage. She seemed nice, but there was something that I didn't get about her. Is there some sort of stigma for glasses in youkai society?"

Kuroka blinked twice.

"There is nya. It is considered a big sign of weakness in many of the older generations of youkai. It's the same if you need hearing aids nya."

I feel more pity for Hana now, and Xenovia frowned deeply. Kuroka kept reading, and it was then that an eager and happy Rias came down the stairs with Ravel, Shirone, and Murayama. They all stopped at the bottom of the stairs, seeing Kuroka reading the scroll. Ravel frowned and then came over to us, looking over Kuroka's other shoulder, and then her eyes widened. That action brought the others over, and when Rias saw the scroll and read the top part, she gasped.

Her sea-green eyes looked at the contract briefly before they turned to me.

"Gregor-kun. Did you…."

I heard the hurt in her voice and took her hand.

"I didn't know about this, Ria, until later. Serafall dropped this on me."

That made some of the hurt on Rias's face disappear before she looked at the contract that Kuroka was now showing to the others again. Then Rias asked in a tiny voice.

"Did you say yes?"

It was clear that Rias was a little scared of the answer. I squeezed her hand gently.

"I did on probation, and she did the same. She would still have to go through all of you before I said yes totally."

That answer both relieved and hurt Rias. Ravel said from over where she was with the others.

"Why was this made?"

My eyes met Ravel's.

"For my time as a stray hunter, Kokabiel, and for something I did for the Principal Clans last Saturday."

Ravel nods as the big picture comes together for her. Rias is now looking at the contract scroll with sadness and a little fire of hate as her hand tightens around mine, making my eyes return to hers.

"Ria, I gave her plenty of chances to back out. I promised to support her in that decision with her mother and Serafall, yet she still said yes. You know I wouldn't lie to you about that."

Rias closed her eyes and put her head on my shoulder. She nodded into my shirt as a few tears fell into it. Murayama came over to put a hand on Rias's shoulder in support. Then Shirone and Xenovia came over to support their king as Shirone began purring for Rias. Xenovia's eyes flashed blue three times before she told Rias.

"The other person is a lot like you, Rias-chan. She has heard stories of a hero and prince and wants one like Beloved. Can you blame her for that?"

Rias lifted her head with two tears in her eyes, surprised at Xenovia's words. Shirone looked surprised, too, before her yellow eyes grew far off as she purred louder. I squeezed Rias's hand again, which seemed to calm my redhead. She sighed as the two tears fell, and then she whispered.

"I can't. I'll meet her. I am unhappy, but I know you wouldn't lie about this, Gregor-kun. Please tell me she isn't coming today."

I squeezed her hand and kissed her on the cheek.

"She was originally, but I argued for an additional day. She will be here on Monday."

That made Rias sigh in relief as she squeezed my hand back.

"I would like to meet her properly before I say yes or no."

I hugged Rias, and my redhead hugged me back before I tried to bring up the mood with her.

"I can't wait to see how your folks react to Aaron."

That idea put a tiny smile on Rias as I kissed her cheek and continued.

"I'll also show them the teleporter today so they can visit you more often."

Her smile grew wider, and Shirone kicked up purrs for Rias. That finally drove the sadness away as she let go of me. Her face was now one of eagerness for her bragging and cautious optimism for Hana tomorrow. The others seemed to get the same feeling before Murayama got very excited.

"Mom and Dad sent me a message saying they would be at our base in an hour and fifteen minutes. Is their room ready at the manor?"

I chuckle at the enthusiasm, as did Kuroka.

"I don't know. My dad said he would furnish the manor today, but I haven't visited it yet. If it's not ready, I'll offer them a place here."

Murayama nodded and looked ready to drag me to our base. Everyone was smiling at this sight except for Ravel, who now holds the contract. Her blue eyes read the scroll with interest.

"I want to read this through fully."

I expect nothing less from her, as Murayama, Xenovia, and Rias crowd around Ravel, who told me with a sigh.

"I got a message from Adria while you were away. She wants to meet with you about the factory heads before the fitting starts."

I glanced at a clock to see it was ten forty-five.

"I'd be happy to talk to her before the fitting as it gives me extra time to make more bionics in case we see a massive number of veterans when Sona shows up. We must also sort through the coming people for those wanting familiar powers activated. However, I would like a small nap before we meet them."

Ravel and the others could see how tired I was now. Kuroka smiled and told me she would give Ingvild her next senjutsu session. Shirone went over to her sister and began whispering together as they went upstairs. I left Ravel and the others, still reading the contract, on the couch to lie down as I closed my eyes. I soon fell asleep.

The sight before me had put a massive smirk on my face. Finally, the moment of truth came after six years of hard and dedicated work. Three-fourths of my classmates had failed this most critical of exams. They were hanging their heads in shame as they were led out of the classroom by a man with a maul dressed in armor. Once the last of them were gone, the door shut as the teacher faced the remaining thirty of us with a scowl. She barked at us that many barely passed and only fifteen of us had potential. She then made me scowl as she singled me out as one of those fifteen. Saying to the others that the street rat had scored the highest out of them all.

When she did that, the rest of the class glared at me in renewed and now strengthened hate. As I looked at the instructor, I swore I would get revenge on her for this. My rage at her was so great that I gripped my desk so hard that I made it creak.

I blinked open my eyes, hearing the creak, and raised my head to see what had made the noise. It was Murayama who was near the entrance to the living room with Rias, Ravel, and Xenovia next to her. My knight looked apologetic, but her face showed me it was time. I pop my back and shake the drowsiness for me before getting up off the couch. As soon as I was to the four, Murayama wrapped her arm around my left arm while Rias took my right. I turned to Xenovia with a slightly tired smirk.

"I'd like to spar with you after the fitting Xenovia."

That made a competitive smirk cross her face.

"I would love that Beloved~"

That said, she followed us as we made our way to the teleporter to greet Murayama's parents.

As the five of us landed on the other side of the teleporter and began making our way toward the front of the school, we passed by various Skitarii or Manakel, helping an injured man get to Saiyo's office. As we passed a classroom close to the front doors, I was surprised to see Issari talking with ten Skitarii led by Albert the Bavarian and two new castellans. Ravel finally came out of planning mode as we passed the room and began telling me the system as we exited the school and waited in the courtyard.

She was about to describe it when a nondescript white van pulled across the road from the school. Then Taira and Ichihara stepped out of the van's back doors and brought out suitcases. Murayama brightened and pulled our group toward the edge of the wards. When we stepped out of them and into the eyesight of Taira the older woman got the same smile of excitement as her daughter. Ichihara was getting two more suitcases out when we arrived on the other side of the road; Rias, Ravel, Xenovia, and Murayama began helping Taira with her suitcases while I moved to help Ichihara with his. Soon, the van was empty of suitcases, Ichihara said to the driver before closing the back doors.

"Thank you, Yoson-kun, for dropping us off here."

The driver rolled down his window and popped his head out. It was the young man Ichihara, and I had popped the arm back into place last Saturday.

"Not a problem, Ichihara-kun. Stay safe."

The young man pulled his head back into the car, rolled up his window, and then drove off. Taira looked at Rias, Ravel, and Xenovia before she turned her eyes on her daughter.

"Mura, who are these people?"

Murayama excitedly introduced the three to her parents as we moved the suitcases across the road toward the edge of the wards. Rias showed her people skills again with Taira, and the older woman, despite still being hesitant with devils, fell into an easy conversation over katana uses. Xenovia would chime in every so often till we reached the ward scheme edge, and it began to affect Taira and Ichihara. Rias quickly keyed them into the scheme, and our group stepped onto the school grounds. As the seven of us were moving towards the school with the suitcases, Ichihara turned towards me excitedly.

"So, how far along is this car factory?"

Ravel had turned her blue eyes towards the man.

"It is about eighty-five percent done, according to our last report this morning."

That sent the two into a discussion as we opened the doors to the school to see the kill team and Issari exiting the classroom. The ten Skitarii, Issari, and two robots were walking off down the hall, and that sight made Ichihara freeze for a moment before his lust for cars went into overdrive. A massive lustful smile crossed his face as he pestered Ravel for information, and that look made Taira roll her eyes before she returned to talking to Rias and Xenovia. The six of us continued the halls of the school till we reached the teleporter room. I stopped the group to configure the teleporter for the underworld for a minute. Ichihara and Taira stopped, confused, before Murayama pulled them through the teleporter as Rias, Ravel, Xenovia, and I followed.

As we stepped off the pad, I was beyond impressed by the sight of the fully furnished great hall. All the furniture was sleek and modern without being extravagant or flashy. Above the center point of the hall was a massive new, expensive chandelier curved in a loose circle of white. Under it, Murayama was grinning as her parents looked around the hall, dumbfounded at the wealth here. Ichihara and Taira continued staring for a few more seconds before Murayama led them toward the next teleporter, and we began the house tour.

We started on the second floor and soon passed room after room of furniture. Most of the second-floor rooms were spacious bedrooms with a connected bathroom and kitchen. The third floor was much the same for my peerage, Rias's, and for when our people might get their own peerages. Then we made our way up to the fourth floor, which was the same but where my in-laws would live or use while visiting. The one Ichihara and Taira picked out was close to the teleporter. Murayama excitedly told her parents about Ryza as she helped them unpack while Rias, Ravel, Xenovia, and I moved to the fifth floor.

This floor was empty and was for future children. Then came the sixth and final floor, which was ours. There were multiple rooms for the queens to use for their hobbies, and we went to the master bedroom. Inside was an even bigger bed than the manor topside, along with multiple massive closets, dressers, and a huge bathroom. Rias sat on the bed and then sighed in pleasure as she fell onto it. Ravel poked it, too, and smiled wide when I asked her why; she smirked.

"The bed has gryphon feathers and is what most devil noble beds use."

I sat on the bed carefully, then gaped as it was so comfortable. Rias sighs in comfort, turning and looking ready to curl up and sleep. Rias Xenovia and I enjoyed the bed for a few more moments before we reluctantly got off it and moved down to the great hall. It was there we found Aaron, who was chasing after a laughing Alaric while Neri and Maéva watched on.

Alaric ran fast, with Aaron following him, before Neri picked her son up, hugged him, and whispered something to him. My maid faces us, ready to do her part today. I told Maéva as I opened the door to the outside.

"We will be having dinner down here."

Maéva nodded before moving towards the kitchen while Neri held Alaric, who wrapped a free hand around one of Aaron's claws.

The courtyard now had green grass and a half dozen saplings lining each side of the pathway to the manor. Aaron led Alaric off to another part of the yard with Xenovia while I opened a pocket spell and let bionics fall out of it as I got the anvil out. Rias and Neri began making piles of legs and arms for themselves before the white marble steps of the manor. I made more bionics, and Ravel left to find Adria and get some of the levy for security for the fitting.

Limb after limb flowed off the anvil as the pile grew and grew. This continued for twenty minutes before Ravel returned with Adria, four commoners, and fifteen of the levies led by Trina. The levy began moving around the courtyard for guard duty or to help process people with Ravel directing them. Adria and the four devils, split with two men and two women, approached me, led by Trina. I wanted to raise an eyebrow at one of the four. It was the little girl's father, and he, unlike the other three devils, was not submissive, looking directly at me. The four devils looked at the anvil in curiosity before their eyes caught sight of Alaric with Aaron as the two played.

The four devils and Adria gaped at the robot before Trina reassured them.

"The robot is not hostile. It's like a golem."

The four devils and Adria relaxed slightly before Adria straightened up.

"Milord, I saw the message you sent me Monday asking me to look for people who know numbers and have been supervisors. These are the four best I could find here."

I glanced at the four, and the three other commoners lowered their heads submissively with some fear, thinking I was ready to punish them. I reassure them with a kind smile.

"You are all not in trouble. I am pleased that you have this knowledge."

The three other commoners were dumbfounded as their eyes met mine while the father brightened.

"The reason I asked my Forge Mistress to find those who have this knowledge is not for punishment. Rather, it's because I have jobs awaiting the four of you. Please tell me how you learned to count."

Adria blinked at the title while the three commoners gaped, and the father smiled ultra-wide.

"I learned the skills milord thanks to school and working on a farm."

I had suspected as much, but it was good to hear it said. As I made more bionics, I gently prompted the others to tell their stories. The two women had also learned the skills from farming grapes here in Astaroth territory while the other man learned his skills by being from a small merchants' guild that had gone under in Aphorni. Adria was drawn away to talk with Ravel about different issues, and when the four commoners asked what they would be doing, I told them the truth.

"You each will be running what is called a manufactorium. All the manufactoriums save one will be producing products that will be sold to the rest of the underworld and eventually the topside. You will all be well paid for this work, and if you see or think of something that proves to increase productivity, there will be a monetary reward for you."

That shocked the three other devils, while the father was now beyond eager for this, as his sin was greed. One of the two female devils asked with a face that was beginning to show hope.

"What would our manufactoriums be making milord?"

I smirk slightly.

"They will be producing items to help make life easier for people. This includes things that will make harvesting grapes faster."

That made the woman with a slight hunch smile. The others gave me hopeful looks, too, and I continued.

"You four will be running these manufactoriums with help from a robot and one of my pawns that will help teach your future workers how to assemble the things we are making. The robots should be done being made soon, and I will have them get with each of you to start discussing things."

The four devils looked at Aaron again, who had Alaric on his shoulders. I explained a few more things to them before Trina gave a tiny cough, which turned the five of us to her. My skitarii captain smiled a bit before saying.

"The first veterans are beginning to appear at the city entrance along with Lady Rias's parents and sister."

I held in the sigh I wanted to make.

"Thank you for informing me, Trina."

My eyes returned to the four more relaxed devils before settling on the group.

"I will have Trina bring you all to me sometime this week for another meeting."

My captain nodded her head before she led the four devils down the pathway toward the raised steel gate. With that settled, I started making more bionics and helped sort them into Rias and Neri's piles before the first group of people came around the corner. Heniya wore her mage robe, followed by Zeoticus and Venelana in noble grey and purple clothes. They curiously looked at the piles of bionic and the manor as they approached Rias. Zeoticus still had anger and worry for the battle, but seeing Rias whole and well made it disappear. Rias beamed wide as Heniya, Venelana, and Zeoticus came close to her, and she was now wearing her supernova smile.

Rias rose from the steps and then charged to her father as Zeoticus extended his arms for a hug as Rias quickly hugged him.

"I'm ok, Daddy. I was never in danger. Gregor-kun ensured I was safe and ready for it before stepping on that field. Please don't be angry with him."

Zeoticus hugged her tighter.

"I'm glad you are safe and will try not to be. I was just so worried for my little girl Ria."

Zeoticus was completely wrapped around Rias's fingers here, too. The two continued hugging, and Venelana watched on with a big smile. Then her eyes caught sight of Aaron, making Rias break the hug as she got excited.

"That's Aaron! He was the one who took all the videos during the battle and put them on the net! I'll introduce you all to him!"

Rias pulled her parents and Heniya that way as I followed them. Aaron was tweeting something to Alaric, who went to sit with Neri before his red face plate saw Rias coming over with her folks. The robot raised his hand to wave at them before tweeting hello. Zeoticus and Venelana were bewildered by that, and Heniya poked at me as Rias introduced her parents to Aaron.

"How do you get your robots to act and think like a living being? My bishop Cleria is certain that it's some enchantment like you would find on a war golem but far more advanced. Is it that?"

I smirked at Heniya.

"It's not an enchantment. It's actually much simpler."

Heniya gave me a face to elaborate on the robots. I don't making Heniya mini glare as she thought over that paradox. Aaron tweeted things to Zeoticus and Venelana that Rias translated. Rias eagerly describing things she and Aaron did during the battle to her parents, and this continued for a few more minutes before I caught the sounds of a vast crowd approaching us. The massive amount of noise and footsteps echo before people begin coming through the open steel gate.

When the crowd came into sight, it was split into four groups, the smallest being Astaroth veterans led by one of Ajarken's guards. Behind them came a large crowd of Gremory veterans led by two men who had bionic arms and were proud to be wearing the Gremory coat of arms. Then came a massive crowd of Sitri veterans, which was easily over three hundred people, with Sona and her father along with a Sitri levy at their head. Finally, behind them came a decent-sized group of nobles looking around the city in awe, led by Trina's second, all wearing faces of hope. When the Sitri veterans saw the massive piles of limbs waiting for them, many got tears in their eyes. Rias saw the crowd and almost ran to her pile with Aaron clunking behind her. I moved with a now relaxed Zeoticus, Venelana, and Heniya toward the front steps and whispered to them.

"I have a peace offering for you both that I'll show you after this."

Zeoticus was still slightly upset with me, but before he could say anything, Venelana smiled wide.

"This peace offering better be good, dear son-in-law."

I smirk at getting ready to sit on the steps.

"It's beyond good and should make your decade at least."

Venelana gave me a look to keep that promise before she pulled her husband and Heniya over to where Sona and Lord Sitri were standing. The group began talking, and as I sat, my levies began forming lines of the veterans for Rias, Neri, and myself. Another line was formed for those who were here for family powers, and they were told that they would get their powers after the veterans.

Soon, an orderly process started, and people began moving forward. Rias beams wider and wider each time a Gremory veteran calls her the Lady of Iron and or looks at Aaron in awe as they accept their limbs. That was contrasted by Neri's line where she had to constantly reassure the Sitri veterans that they owed nothing to me for the limbs. Despite that knowledge and reassurance, they often looked ready to grovel at my feet, looking at me with love in their eyes. Alaric watched his mother apply the limbs with fascination but was silent as he sat beside Aaron's feet. My line with the Astaroth veterans was going fast, with nearly all of them done in an hour. Each veteran swore to help me here, and several talked with the levies around the yard about ways to do this.

Everything in the courtyard was seen by the nobles. Their faces were mostly schooled but some had shame on their faces seeing the sight. They continued watching until the Astaroth veteran line started dwindling to nothing. Soon, the last of my bionics were attached to a man who had lost both his legs. He was beyond happy to stand again and swore to do anything I asked. I shake my head and say to work hard in whatever job he wants. That made the man beam, saying he'd used to be a sheriff before the Civil War and would be happy to do that again here. He was led to Trina, where the other Astaroth veterans were being led off before I turned my eyes to the nobles.

They looked at me with hope as I said loudly to them, standing up on the steps.

"Apologies for the wait. Please form a line, and I'll get my invention that activates familial powers."

Venelana, Zeoticus, Heniya, Lord Sitri, and Sona looked my way in shock upon hearing this, while the nobles quickly formed a line as I brought out my scanner. Their faces held bare, naked hope for this, and I felt my in-laws, along with Sona and her father's eyes, on me. I gestured for the first woman to come forward, who was wearing the badge for House Amon. She practically ran to me and looked ready to babble thanks and promises to me before I shook my head.

"I want nothing for this, so please don't offer anything."

The woman got ready to protest before my scanner was activated near her. It beeped, and then I said to the woman.

"Try your ability now."

The woman closed her eyes, and then suddenly, a translucent shield of blue energy formed on her right arm, and its appearance made the rest of the nobles gasp in shock and amazement. Their eyes focused on the shield, and some looked ready to cry now. The woman opened her eyes and saw her shield. She almost fainted in shock at the sight and was only kept upright by my hand keeping her up. She calmed down and let go of my hand before she stepped away. She ran towards the back of the line to a man and began squealing joyfully at him, and I noticed they were cousins.

I gestured for the next person to come forward, and the man did so with a happy smile. Thus began the next two hours as the line started moving, and the faces of each person who came through my line lit up as soon as they activated their powers. All looked ready to promise things, yet my face made them stop midway through. As they walked away from me to their fellows, they started forming excited groups showing off their new abilities to each other or tried talking to Ravel. Soon, Rias finished with the Gremory veterans and began helping Neri with the Sitri ones. My line continued getting smaller and smaller before I was down to three people. I activated the power of an older man from House Valac, and he smiled wide before bowing in thanks. Then came a young woman who was my age from House Berith. She blushed bright red, looking at my scar before, and in a soft voice, she thanked me. She walked away with a spring in her step towards a person I recognized. It was the cousin of the Shax, and the two talked eagerly before the final person came. The woman looked old enough to be my first mom and was from House Oriax. I quickly activated her family ability, which was a nature-based one. She focused her power and sent it into one of the trees here in the courtyard. It went from a sapling to a year-old tree in a few moments before the woman bowed her head in thanks with tears starting to form. She then began playing with her ability on the other trees in my courtyard before Trina's second, along with most of the others from my levy, began gathering the excited nobles and slowly herding them out.

I turned my head to see Neri and Rias applying the last of the bionics to the final two Sitri veterans. The two men smiled wide, calling Rias her title and thanking Neri profusely before they gazed at their new metal arms in love. They were escorted away by the Sitri levy while Lord Sitri and Sona made their way to me, with Zeoticus, Venelana, and Heniya going over to Rias and Aaron.

Neri excused herself, picking up her son, with Ravel following behind them as the three moved into the manor. I noticed as I put the scanner in my pocket that Lord Sitri was a little wobbly, though it wasn't anything that would have been easily caught. Despite the wobble, he and Sona reached me quickly, and the older man appraised me for a moment.

"Heir Astaroth, it is a pleasure to meet you. Sona has gone on and on for the last two days about you to me. Can I perhaps interest you in playing chess against my daughter?"

I chuckle as Sona gets an annoyed look.

"I have already played against her and lost Lord Sitri."

Sona smirked at her father, and Lord Sitri sighed.

"I would like to thank you for helping my daughter with her dream."

I shrug, getting up off the steps.

"Her dream is noble, and I am happy to help it. Her school has my full support."

Sona got a bit of a blush there while her father smiled at his daughter fondly.

"It is, and you have earned a friend in the Sitri for this. I'm eager to see what comes out of this city. Sona has told me that you invented something very interesting, which is a game changer for us devils. What is it?"

I smirk evilly.

"Better to see it for yourself. Follow me."

Lord Sitri and a smug Sona followed me towards the front door, and the movement made Rias do the same with Zeoticus, Venelana, and Heniya. I opened the door for the group, and I was about to follow them in before a nervous cough came from behind me. I looked over my shoulder to see a strange and worrying sight.

Trina was back and standing nervously away from an unwelcome face and another. The maid of the Great King was standing blank-faced next to a very timid Magdaran Bael. The young man was dressed in brown noble clothes, his black hair kept short, and his violet eyes showed he didn't want to be anywhere near the maid. She gave me a disrespectful bow before saying.

"Heir Astaroth."

My eyes stayed on the two before Rias returned to the porch with Xenovia and froze. I tell them with a guarded voice.

"Go ahead and show your folks and Lord Sitri the surprise. I'll be back soon."

Rias nodded before she and Xenovia disappeared, closing the door. I turned my eyes back to the two, and then I said politely.

"How may I help you, madam maid?"

The maid looked at me and then Magdaran with disdain.

"The Great King has heard you know a way to get other the burdens their family ability. He wants to know if this rumor is real and asks you to do it for his grandson."

My eyes stayed focused on Magdaran as he flinched, hearing the word burden. So Sariaorg and he had switched places here like so many others did. There was deep hope in his violet eyes yet also fear, and I turned my eyes to the maid.

"I can do it, and I'd be happy to do so for him."

Magdaran gave one look at the maid before he pretty much power walked away from her towards me with hope, now the prominent thing on his face. As he walked towards me his eyes would glance at me then the maid several times in fear. When he stopped just before me, I saw in his eyes a person who had lived a life of emotional neglect and abuse. As I looked into his eyes, pulling out my scanner, Magdaran took a breath to say something.

"Thank you, Heir Astaroth."

I shrug at him before placing my scanner near his chest.

"No thanks needed, Sir Bael."

I click the device and pull it away from Magdaran.

"Try now."

Magdaran hesitated before closing his eyes and concentrating. Just like with Rias, small balls of red appeared in his hands, and their pops made him open his eyes. Happy tears appeared in his eyes as his face took on a massive smile.

"I would like to join your peerage, Heir Astaroth."

I raised my eyebrows at this strange request and the guilt on his face. My mind went into overdrive as I saw a hint of the Great King's game plan. I was about to kindly deny him when the maid spoke.

"The young sir is an 'accomplished' botanist and alchemist. His most recent 'accomplishment' is the return of a 'useful' flower."

My eyes were on her and Magdaran as I heard the scorn in the maid's voice. The young man looked down in shame, and I kept my blank face. The Great King wanted information and what better way than a mole. Magdaran was caught between us, and despite his likely orders, he had done nothing wrong. His face came up, and I saw one last plea for help in his violet eyes and to be acknowledged as real. I remember another person who had this face, and the maid didn't see his look.

"The Great King will offer you a political favor should you agree to take his grandson into your peerage."

My face was blankly looking at Magdaran's face and not the maid's when that was said. The favor was a very good and unexpected bonus but didn't sway my decision.

"I will accept you in my peerage, Sir Bael. I assume you are already packed for this?"

The pure relief and guilt on Magdaran's face was clear to see.

"I am Heir Astaroth."

Zekram is playing a dangerous game and should remember that moles work both ways. Especially those who have probably seen and heard things said while being regarded as furniture.

As their group was guided down the streets of this ultra-strange place, the nobles continued to be in shock and awe. All of them wanted a way to repay the man who had done this for them, yet they saw he wouldn't take anything, and those who asked his Phenex betrothed got the same answer. They considered rewards in their heads for him, including the young woman from House Berith at the back of the group and her cousin from the Shax. She was walking slowly, thinking about a reward for her new hero, when the group of nobles, she and her cousin passed by a building here in the residential zone.

The others were so busy talking excitedly with one another about how they would rub this in their family's faces that they missed the sight of a mother holding the hand of a little girl with a crudely made rabbit entering the building. The young woman and her cousin didn't miss that sight. They turned their heads to see the cog with a human skull split in half over the entrance to this place. It was the same one that had been on the chest plate of the Astaroth and his peerage in his ratings game. The two stopped to look at it, and inside the building, they saw multiple people. All were commoners, but three people were dressed in the same armor the guards escorting them were wearing. The two nobles' curiosity peaked as they drew closer to the building entrance and then froze, feeling the holy nature of this place.

They got ready to flinch on instinct, yet neither felt pain. Blue and green eyes widened to saucer plates as the two looked up at the cog above the building. Their curiosity grew further as they approached the entrance of the temple. With each step closer and with no pain, the pair moved a tiny bit faster before they realized they had crossed the threshold of this temple. As the two gazed around the building in awe, they heard a faint song that was hauntingly captivating. It was one of pipe organs and steam mixed with a human heart playing in an eternal loop. This song was the most beautiful thing that either devil had ever heard in their lives. So caught up in the music and awe at this place, the pair didn't hear the sound of metal on stone. Then, a voice came from their right, shocking these nobles.

"Welcome to the First Forge Temple of the Cog. I am sure you must have questions, as many others have when seeing this place for the first time."

The noblewomen turned to see a curly brown-haired commoner woman with a metal leg dressed in a rough robe of scarlet red underneath another cog with the skull split in half on the arch above her. She didn't act submissively to her social betters as one of their class should, and this woman talked to them as equals. The nobles looked at the other, trying to understand this place and how they could be there. Questions began to flow from their lips like a waterfall as that haunting, beautiful music echoed in their ears.

Four beings stood completely still in shock, while another smiled wide. The smiler let the others gape at this revelation. He would now definitely have to step up his original plan. The faint hope he had long nursed had finally been confirmed beyond doubt.