The Eligos Territory, Ancient Battlefield Camp.
A magic circle rotated and appeared before the campfire, pulsating from top to bottom. Following its rhythm, the figures of Leon, Ravel, Ram, and Rem gradually manifested.
"So this is the Eligos Territory?"
Ravel glanced around her surroundings, looking somewhat curious.
Ram and Rem also surveyed the area, though they didn't scrutinize it as intently as Ravel. It was as if where they went didn't matter at all; they quickly returned their gaze to Leon.
They stood flanking Leon on either side, attending to him like genuine maids. Their self-disciplined demeanor bore a striking resemblance to Grayfia, who always followed Sirzechs. It was impossible to tell that their delicate bodies contained staggering power, let alone that they were Peerage Devils.
Leon had asked the two if they wanted to change their outfits, but both had refused.
"For ten years, Ram and Rem have lived this way. We are long accustomed to it, so please do not worry, Lord Leon."
"What Elder Sister means is what Rem means. Rem can go to the front lines when combat is required, but when there is no battle, please use Rem and Elder Sister as maids."
That was how the two expressed it. They seemed determined to treat their maid uniforms as both their everyday attire and their combat gear, with no intention of changing.
"So, you're saying you're very skilled at maid work?"
Leon had asked this out of curiosity.
"Of course," Ram said, puffing out her chest. "Just leave everything to Rem."
"Yes," Rem added, also puffing out her chest. "Elder Sister is amazing, but Rem will handle all the chores."
In just two sentences, the professional capabilities of these so-called maids were made perfectly clear.
Regarding this, Tiamat had also cautioned Leon.
"Though their strength is somewhat lacking, Rem is nearly omnipotent when it comes to maid duties; there is nothing she isn't skilled at. Ram, on the other hand, is unexpectedly clumsy—"
It could only be said that the sisters were complete opposites. One was exceptionally gifted in magic but clumsy, while the other was slightly lacking in raw power but a master of housework. In a way, they complemented each other perfectly.
Of course, while Ram was a bit clumsy and occasionally acted quite haughty, she was very intelligent. Not only was she highly knowledgeable and aware of many secrets, but she was also said to be proficient in the languages and scripts of various major races—a veritable child prodigy.
Rem appeared calm and steady, but she was actually a bit simple-minded. To put it another way, she was somewhat dull, which occasionally led her to be incredibly stubborn. However, once she committed to something, Rem would persist to the end, which was a type of excellence in its own right.
"These two children each have their own characteristics, yet both possess infinite potential. Whether you can utilize them well depends on your own ability as their master."
Tiamat had left behind those meaningful words before returning to the Familiar Forest, leaving Leon with no choice but to bring his three newly acquired Peerage members back to the Eligos Territory.
"It's not dawn yet; your seniors should be resting," Leon said to his three followers after checking the time. "How about this: find a tent nearby and get some rest tonight. I'll introduce you to each other tomorrow."
Ram and Rem had no objections, nodding with expressions of utter indifference.
Ravel naturally had no disagreements either. She had already met Yukino Yukinoshita and the others, so the introduction segment tomorrow didn't involve her.
The three had gotten to know each other somewhat today and could manage a bit of conversation, so they walked off together to pick out a tent.
Leon watched them leave, staring at the burning campfire for a while afterward, lost in thought.
The next morning, at dawn.
When the sky was just beginning to turn grey, Yukino Yukinoshita and the others had already finished washing up and left their tents to gather outside.
They were all dressed in tracksuits, chatting while stretching their limbs in preparation for their routine morning basic training.
"Yo, you're up?"
Leon's figure appeared right on time, waving his hand as he greeted the four girls.
Yukino and the others, who were busy warming up and talking, froze for a moment. Then, they collectively showed expressions of surprise or joy.
"You're back, President!"
Asuna Yuuki was the first to speak, her voice brimming with delight.
"Welcome back, Senpai."
The moment Mahiru Shiina saw Leon, her delicate face visibly softened, looking as though she had found her pillar of support.
"When did you get back?"
Yukino asked, sounding surprised.
During Leon's absence, as the only one in the Eligos Peerage skilled in detection, Yukino had naturally taken on the role of sentry. Even while sleeping at night, she maintained a certain level of detection magic to monitor the surroundings. Yet, she hadn't sensed Leon's return at all, which left her baffled.
"The barrier I set up around the perimeter didn't react at all either."
Utaha Kasumigaoka was equally startled. Worried about unwanted intrusions into the camp, she had set up a barrier long ago. Even if someone could break through it, it shouldn't have been possible without alerting her. Yet, like Yukino, she had detected nothing.
"I got back last night," Leon replied while answering their questions. "I didn't want to disturb your rest, so I intentionally bypassed the detection and the barrier."
The magic detection Yukino used was a specialty of the Eligos house; Leon knew it better than anyone, so bypassing it was incredibly easy.
As for Utaha's barrier, he had simply used his immense mana to push through and ignore it.
With Leon's current mana equivalent to a ten-winged devil, ignoring a barrier set up by a Sacred Gear user who could only fend off high-class devils was just as simple.
Again, the gap between their two levels was a literal chasm. Furthermore, Leon understood the inner workings of his own Peerage's Sacred Gears intimately. As long as he was willing to expend the vast amount of mana required, he could teleport directly into the barrier via a magic circle without Utaha ever noticing.
Of course, this was also because Leon had already set fixed coordinates for magic circle jumps within the camp. Without those coordinates, even if he could break the barrier, he wouldn't have been able to do it without alerting Utaha.
"Nothing happened while I was away, I assume?"
After explaining, Leon began to ask about recent events.
"Of course not," Yukino shook her head. "You were only gone for a day and a night. What could have happened?"
"We just trained as usual," Utaha said, brushing her hair back and glancing at Leon. "Since you weren't here, the morning basic training was much easier. The night combat training, however, became more dangerous. Without someone watching over us, the pressure is entirely different."
"That's right," Asuna said, appearing to be in a very good mood as she smiled at Leon. "Everyone is used to this special training now. Even if you're not here, President, we won't slack off."
"Where is Ravel?" Mahiru looked around and asked. "She should have come with you, right?"
In the Eligos Peerage, Mahiru had always been the youngest junior.
Leon and Utaha were eighteen-year-old third-year high school students, while Yukino and Asuna were seventeen-year-old second-year students. Only she was a sixteen-year-old first-year student, making her the junior among juniors.
In the Gremory Peerage, the one the same age as Mahiru was Koneko Toujou, who looked very much like a loli, showing just how young Mahiru actually was—she just didn't look it.
In this regard, Yukino probably had much to say.
After all, as a senior, she was not only smaller than Utaha and Asuna, but she couldn't even compare to Mahiru—
However, Yukino felt that this was just an outlier, not her own fault; it was just that Mahiru was too well-developed.
But after seeing Ravel yesterday, she began to doubt that conclusion.
Ravel was also very well-developed—even better than Mahiru.
And Ravel was sixteen this year, just like Mahiru—
Well, life simply wasn't fair.
Mahiru didn't think too much about it. Finally having a peer her own age in the Peerage, she naturally wanted to get along with her.
"She's here, of course." Leon had no reason to hide it and said frankly, "Not just her; two more of your companions have arrived as well."
Hearing this, the girls' spirits lifted.
They knew why Leon had left the Underworld with Ravel to go to Tokyo.
When Tiamat had entrusted Leon with finding the Tablet of Destiny, with the exception of Mahiru, everyone else had been present.
Thus, they knew that once Leon found the Tablet of Destiny, Tiamat would introduce two exceptionally talented members to join his Peerage.
Now, it seemed the matter was settled.
"Perfect, they're coming over now."
Leon sensed something and turned in one direction, drawing the girls' attention.
A second later, Ravel appeared, walking toward them with the twin sisters.
"Good morning, Miss Yukinoshita, Miss Kasumigaoka, Miss Yuuki, and Miss Shiina."
Ravel lifted her skirt and performed a graceful lady's bow to the girls.
Ram and Rem silently bowed to the group, leaving the girls stunned.
"Maids?"
"Those are maids, right?"
"Wh-Why are they dressed as maids?"
"What cute twin maids—"
Yukino, Utaha, Asuna, and Mahiru looked at each other, then simultaneously looked at Leon with very subtle expressions.
"Why are you looking at me like that?" Leon was startled for a moment before realizing what they were thinking. He narrowed his eyes and snapped, "Let me state for the record: I didn't make them wear those. I don't have that kind of specific fetish."
The girls all narrowed their eyes as well, looking as though they didn't believe him for a second.
"I can testify to that," Ravel giggled, covering her mouth. "This wasn't Lord Leon's order. Ram and Rem worked as maids before; it's their profession."
Just as Ravel finished speaking, Ram and Rem spoke in unison.
"I am Ram, Lord Leon's 'Pawn' and maid. Pleased to meet you."
"I am Rem, Lord Leon's 'Pawn' and maid. Pleased to meet you as well."
The two seemed to truly view being a maid as their profession. Even after joining Leon's service, they had no intention of changing. Their attitude toward Yukino and the others wasn't that of equal companions, but rather treating them as people they needed to serve.
Fortunately, none of the girls present were from ordinary families. Many had maids or servants at home to attend to them, so they didn't find it unnatural. Their attitudes softened, and instead of treating Ram and Rem like actual maids, they began introducing themselves as companions.
"How old are you two?"
Seeing the petite and cute appearance of the sisters, Utaha assumed that these overly beautiful twins might be sixteen-year-old first-year students, just like Mahiru and Ravel.
Unfortunately, she was wrong.
"Ram is seventeen this year. In the human world, I would be a second-year high school student."
"Rem is naturally the same as Elder Sister."
The sisters' words left Mahiru a bit disappointed.
Two more seniors.
"Seventeen—"
Yukino glanced at Rem's chest and felt a blow to her confidence.
Is... is this even humanly possible?
You're also seventeen, so why are you so "gifted"?
It was one thing for Asuna to be like that—at least she was tall—but how did your body grow like that with your stature?
One Ravel was enough; why did there have to be a Rem too?
A dejected Yukino couldn't help but look at the older sister, Ram—
Then, she was suddenly comforted.
She thought she was the bottom of the barrel, but she didn't expect there to be someone even worse—
"Hello, I am Yukino Yukinoshita."
Yukino, whose mood had inexplicably improved, took the initiative to greet them with a smile on her face, causing Asuna Yuuki to gape in shock.
What happened to Yukino? Is she possessed?
My Yukino could never be this approachable! Whoever you are—get out of her body!
Asuna almost shouted those words out loud.
"—For some reason, Ram doesn't feel happy at all."
Ram looked at the smiling Yukino and frowned, looking quite displeased.
The Peerage members began chatting together, appearing harmonious and happy, which left Leon feeling deeply gratified.
As expected of his future wings—it's good that they get along.
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