GREMORY MANSION
Gasper was sitting in one of the armchairs in the room reserved for his own peerage, while Ravel, Selene, and Xenovia occupied the sofa in front of him. The previous night had ended with Xenovia's reincarnation, but now came the more troublesome part: turning three women from completely different backgrounds into a functional group.
Ravel maintained her elegant posture, her hands resting on her lap. Selene silently observed Gasper, while Xenovia sat far too straight for someone on a sofa, as if she were still awaiting orders inside a Church base.
"Well, girls." Gasper rested one arm on the back of the chair as he looked at the three of them. "As your King, I need to establish a few roles and give you certain orders."
Ravel immediately straightened her posture. Selene also became more attentive, but Xenovia was the only one who seemed to interpret his words as the beginning of a military mission.
Gasper turned his gaze toward Ravel.
"You're a pure-blooded devil and grew up in the Underworld." He gestured briefly toward Selene and Xenovia. "I want you to teach them the basics of our society, contracts, rules between families, and everything a reincarnated devil needs to know."
Ravel rose from the sofa, pleased to receive a clear responsibility. Ever since joining Gasper's peerage, she had been looking for an opportunity to show that she could contribute with more than just magic.
"It will be my pleasure." Ravel kept her voice controlled, although the gleam in her eyes revealed her enthusiasm. "I'll prepare a study routine and make sure they both understand the most important rules."
Gasper nodded before looking at Selene.
"You've already gone through reincarnation and started understanding the changes in your body and magic." He crossed one leg over the other. "I want you to help Xenovia avoid basic mistakes and behave appropriately while she adapts."
Selene looked at Xenovia and immediately understood the reason for the order. The exorcist had grown up within the Church, surrounded by rigid doctrines and distorted descriptions of devils.
Her earlier question about sexually satisfying Gasper had already been more than enough proof that Xenovia needed help.
"Understood." Selene nodded. "I'll explain what I've learned since I was reincarnated and stop her from asking strange questions in front of other people."
Xenovia shifted her gaze toward Selene.
"Was my previous question inappropriate?"
"It was," Selene replied without hesitation. "Very inappropriate."
"I understand." Xenovia accepted the correction with the same seriousness she used when receiving instructions before a battle.
Gasper had to suppress a smile before continuing.
"Xenovia, learn from both of them." He leaned slightly forward as he looked directly at her. "You're excellent with a sword, you have strength and combat experience, but you still need basic knowledge about devil society and how to live outside the Church."
Xenovia placed a hand over her chest and slightly lowered her head.
"I promise I'll do my best."
"Good." Gasper relaxed back into the armchair. "Ravel will be responsible for formal studies. Selene will help you with the practical side of adapting."
Ravel sat down again, already mentally organizing everything she would need to teach. Selene seemed satisfied to have been given a useful role, while Xenovia displayed the willingness of someone who would accept any training without complaint.
Gasper watched the three of them for a few seconds.
This is better than I expected.
Until recently, he had needed to personally deal with every problem. Now he had subordinates capable of dividing responsibilities, teaching one another, and handling matters that did not require his direct presence.
Ravel understood etiquette, politics, and devil traditions. Selene could explain the experience of someone recently reincarnated. Xenovia only needed to listen and try not to interpret everything as literally as possible.
Having subordinates really does make things easier.
A small smile appeared on his face.
I can dump the work on them and live life on easy mode.
The idea seemed far too pleasant to ignore. Gasper could train whenever he felt like it, spend time with Rias and Akeno, take care of his own interests, and let the peerage organize itself under his orders.
At least until the next enemy shows up.
Experience had already taught him that peaceful periods never lasted very long. Even so, Gasper intended to enjoy every available day before another faction, creature, or lunatic decided to attack Kuoh.
"You can start tomorrow." Gasper rose from the armchair, bringing the meeting to an end. "Today, I just want you to rest and get used to your rooms."
Ravel also stood up.
"I'll prepare the necessary materials."
Selene followed suit.
"I can help."
Xenovia remained seated for a few seconds before standing.
"Should I bring my sword to the lessons?"
"No," Ravel answered before Gasper needed to. "You're going to study history and social rules, not fight an enemy."
"Understood."
Gasper watched the three of them leave the room and slowly exhaled. For the first time since receiving the Evil Pieces, he was starting to feel like he truly had a peerage.
____
OCCULT RESEARCH CLUB – KUOH ACADEMY
"I'm dead tired." Rias dropped onto the clubroom sofa, completely abandoning the elegant posture she usually maintained in front of the students.
The work of restoring Kuoh Academy's routine had begun before dawn. Grayfia had repaired the physical damage, but erasing memories, adjusting accounts, and preventing the humans from noticing inconsistencies required hours of magic and careful attention.
Akeno remained near the table, organizing the final reports.
"Well, at least we made sure none of the humans remember what really happened." She closed a folder and placed it beside the others. "As far as they're concerned, part of the school was damaged because of a structural accident."
"I know." Rias rested her head against the back of the sofa and closed her eyes. "And to make things worse, Gasper-kun isn't here."
Akeno looked at her with an amused smile.
"I wanted him here too, but Gasper-kun stayed at the mansion to take care of his own peerage." She approached the sofa. "Are you going to class?"
Rias opened her eyes and gave her an indignant look.
"Obviously not."
Akeno laughed as she picked up the teapot from the table.
"I figured." She poured the freshly prepared tea and handed the cup to Rias. "Here. This should help."
"Thank you." Rias held the cup with both hands and felt the warmth against her fingers before taking a sip.
Akeno sat on the opposite sofa.
"Did Grayfia say anything after leaving the school?"
"Not yet." Rias rested the cup on its saucer. "But my brother contacted me, and judging by his tone, something important is about to happen."
Part of Akeno's smile disappeared.
"Anything involving Lucifer-sama can only be serious."
"Yes." Rias looked toward the clubroom window. "He didn't give me any details. He only said he would speak to us when the time was right."
Akeno understood enough about Underworld politics to know that Sirzechs rarely withheld information from Rias without a reason. If he was waiting, he probably needed to confirm some decision before involving the rest of the group.
"For now, all we can do is wait." Rias took another sip of tea, although her uneasiness had not disappeared.
Akeno did not respond. The battle against Kokabiel had ended, but the consequences continued to pile up, and the lack of information made it difficult to believe Kuoh would remain peaceful.
_____
UNDERWORLD – SIRZECHS LUCIFER'S OFFICE
Sirzechs remained behind his desk while examining the reports sent by Grayfia. His wife stood before him in her usual maid-like posture, her hands clasped together and her expression cold even though she was alone with her husband.
"I'm glad to have you by my side." Sirzechs closed one of the documents and smiled at her. "You continue to notice everything that happens."
"I'm simply doing my job, Lucifer-sama." Grayfia did not change her posture.
Sirzechs let out a quiet laugh.
"You still address me that way even when we're alone."
Grayfia ignored the comment and kept her gaze on the reports.
"We are discussing an official matter."
"Of course." Sirzechs realized he would not manage to make her abandon her formality at that moment. "In any case, thanks to the investigation, we were able to confirm that the barrier was provided by members of the Old Satan Faction."
Grayfia nodded.
"Kokabiel believed he was using the faction to achieve his own objective, but apparently they were the ones using him. Azraelion knew even less."
"Capturing both of them also made the conversation with Azazel much easier." Sirzechs rested his arms on the desk. "He had no reason to dispute our version after we handed over Kokabiel and his companion alive."
Grayfia remained silent for a few seconds before answering.
"I didn't contribute as much to their capture as it may seem." She turned her gaze toward Sirzechs. "Gasper paralyzed both of them with the Forbidden Balor View. I merely ensured they remained restrained."
"I know." Sirzechs's smile widened. "I intend to thank him personally when I visit my sister."
Grayfia had personally witnessed Gasper's growth throughout his training and knew better than anyone how much he had improved. Even so, paralyzing Kokabiel and Azraelion at the same time represented a greater advancement than she had expected at that point.
Sirzechs picked up another document.
"We also need to discuss the Peace Conference."
Grayfia narrowed her eyes slightly.
"Are you certain you intend to hold the Three Factions Conference in Kuoh?"
"Yes." Sirzechs placed the report on the desk. "We need neutral territory, and the human world remains the most suitable choice."
"Kuoh was attacked recently." Grayfia kept her tone respectful, but did not hide her concern. "Furthermore, the Old Satan Faction has already shown interest in the area."
"That makes the city even more important." Sirzechs rose and walked toward the office window. "The angels, fallen angels, and devils need to demonstrate that they won't be driven away by a common threat."
Grayfia silently watched her husband.
"The conference will also gather many important targets in a single location."
"I know." Sirzechs looked at her over his shoulder. "But I trust the people who will be there to protect it."
Grayfia immediately understood that he was not referring only to the leaders of the three factions. Rias, Akeno, Sona, and their peerages would be in Kuoh, along with Gasper and the new members of his group.
"So be it." Grayfia accepted the decision, although she was already calculating every measure necessary to protect the location.
Sirzechs returned to the desk and looked over the documents once again. The conference was meant to represent a step toward peace, but the connection between Kokabiel and the Old Satan Faction showed that not everyone would accept that alliance.
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