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Chapter 4: Rias Gremory's Pawn
🕑 Added 2024-08-12 02:08:26 +0000 UTC10+ Advance Chapters: patreon.com/Accel14
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"What's taking them so long?" Rias asked impatiently as she constantly glanced at the clock, the rhythmic tapping of her foot signifying her irritation.
"This is why you should've just summoned him," her Queen sighed.
"Maybe, but he's been pretty gung-ho with his studies ever since we made our contract so I still think it was for the best that I didn't risk interrupting anything," her ears perked up at the sound of the clubroom door opening. "About time."
"Sorry we're late Buchou," her Knight apologized to which she simply waved off his concern.
"It's fine," she took an internal step back upon noticing the disheveled and near zombie-like appearance of her Magician. "Takauji," her brows knitted together.
"I'm Takauji," he replied promptly.
"You haven't been sleeping have you?" Even a goldfish could figure that out just by observing the state of him. Eyebags, bloodshot sclera, a droopy face, the whole shebang.
"My hours were well spent in the pursuit of knowledge, it was worth it."
She rolled her eyes. "I don't know how many times we've been over this, but you really need to start taking better care of your health. Unless you'd rather myself and Akeno babysit you round the clock."
He shuddered at the thought of having his treasured study time interrupted. "You wouldn't dare."
"We would," both leaders of the club responded in unison.
The Devil's have shown their true colors, I should have foreseen such betrayal.
"Fine, I'll cut back one hour a day. Satisfied?"
They turned to each other with deliberating looks on their faces.
"Make it two," Akeno added, to which Rias met with an affirmative hum.
"Now that's just borderline extortion," he complained.
"You're the one who signed the contract," she shrugged innocently. Bringing out the sheet of paper and waving it in front of him.
And boy do I regret it, luckily there's only three days left on it. If I end up making a new one I shall make sure to push for unlimited study time.
"Uhm President, who is this?" An unfamiliar voice spoke, belonging to a young man with spiky chestnut hair wearing his uniform.
"This is our contracted Magician, Ashikaga Takauji, a third-year. And Takauji, this is Issei Hyoudou, a second-year and the new member of my peerage Kiba should have told you about," her Magician approached the Pawn.
"A Magician? Like someone who does card tricks and stuff?" She responded with a chop to his head, causing him to rub his scalp in pain.
"Don't be ridiculous Issei-kun. A Magician is just a term for a human who uses Magic," his expression conveyed a verbal "Ohhhh."
"Sorry about that," he walked up to him and extended his hand. "Nice to meet you, Takauji-senpai."
"It's fine. And likewise, Issei-kun," he clasped his hand tightly, causing his underclassmen to wince a little under his Hairo-powered strength.
"So what does being a contracted Magician mean?" He wondered.
"It means in exchange for providing us with valuable research and his strength, I allow him to make use of my family's resources and my own power base and knowledge in order to support him."
"Yeah I think the strength thing will need to wait, I've only been learning how to use my power for about four days."
"Oh, so you're also a new guy like me? Guess that makes us buds," he smiled.
"Please don't attempt to drag Takauji-senpai into your perverted mannerisms, Issei-senpai. It's unbecoming," Koneko's harsh comment was like a dagger through his heart, causing his shoulders to slouch.
That's the first time I've ever heard her talk.
"You can save the banter for another time, right now I need to teach you about your responsibilities as a Devil, namely your duty to make contracts," Takauji shuddered at the mention of the dreaded c-word.
"Contracts?"
"Mhm. It's one of the requirements you have to meet if you ever want to get promoted and achieve your dream of obtaining a harem," like a switch had been flipped in the back of the Pawn's head, he had suddenly become all eyes and ears.
"Bestow upon me my duty, wise one," he beckoned, causing her lips to twitch nervously.
"To summarize, contracts are basically exchanges between Devils and humans with a strong enough sense of greed to warrant our presence. You'll have to go meet with these people and convince them to enter a contract with you, of course if you have any questions on what can and cannot be granted, as well the prices for certain exchanges then you can just ask me."
"So basically all you need me to do is convince these people to trade with me?"
"That is about the jist of it, yes," she affirmed.
"Easy-peasy, I can already hear my harem calling out to me from the great beyond," he huffed as he struck a confident pose.
"Try not to get too overconfident," she walked over to him and conjured a teleportation circle beneath his feet. "I'll be teleporting you to your first client now, make sure you behave while you're talking with them. You represent our group as a whole when you're on official business."
"Fret not Buchou, if it's for the sake of my dream no one is more serious than I am," she smiled a little, which did not go unnoticed by her Queen.
The teleportation circle continued to brighten as Issei's figure was surrounded by its radiance, the light only disappearing after he had been sent on his way.
Or at least, that was how it was supposed to go.
"Ar-e? What happened?" Issei wondered, confused as to why he was still in the club room.
"Ara ara, it looks like you've run into quite the unfortunate predicament Issei-kun," Akeno giggled with her palm covering her mouth.
"Uh Buchou, a little explanation would be nice right about now."
"Teleportation circles require the person being moved to possess a certain amount of Demonic Power. Actually the prerequisite is so low that even Devil children are capable of passing through it," she said woefully with a hand on her forehead.
"Then, what does that mean for me?"
"It means that your Demonic Power is even weaker than a child's Issei-kun," Takauji's face was quick to turn beet red as he tried not to laugh, still letting a few brief giggles slip through.
Bahahahaha! Low Mana? Can't relate!
"Is that three hours I hear? Takauji," he was quick to shut up. "That's what I thought."
"That can't be… hold on, then how am I supposed to make my contract?" He pleaded.
"It looks like you'll have to go by foot," she admitted.
"Seriously?"
"Seriously, now hurry up. The longer you make your client wait the lower chance you have of them making a contract with you, punctuality is important," his eyes widened as he rushed out the door.
"I refuse to lose my harem!" He yelled as he took off in a full sprint.
"Yuuto-kun, Koneko-chan. I'll send you two off now as well," they nodded as she conjured a teleportation circle beneath them, which actually ended up succeeding.
Now it was just the three of them left in the clubroom.
"I assume that I'm allowed to go as well now?" Takauji asked as he took a step towards the door.
"No, you're staying here," his mood immediately dropped.
What's the difference in treatment? It's because I'm a human isn't it? You're discriminating against my race right? This is clearly a conspiracy to prevent me from enjoying my well-deserved Korean BBQ.
"Fufufu, don't look so grim. We just want to check up on your progress," Akeno said as she motioned for him to come sit beside her. "I even prepared some snacks to make sure you're comfortable."
Unless it's Korean BBQ I'm not interested.
Making no effort to hide the reluctance on his face, he did as they asked and sat down with folded arms alongside a pout on his face.
"I mean if you really want to leave you can but," Akeno reached down and pulled out a thick book. "If you did that I wouldn't know what to do with this textbook on intermediate magic theory I just happen to have laying around, I guess I'd have to give it to someone else." She side-eyed him. "Ah, what a shame."
"Wait wait wait wait wait," he slid towards her. "Let's not do anything rash here shall we?"
"Oh? Are you saying that you are perhaps interested in this book backed by the organization belonging to the great Mephisto Pheles, Ashikaga Takauji?" She said in an exaggerated tone.
"I am indeed interested in that book backed by the organization belonging to the great Mephisto Pheles, Akeno Himejima. As the contracted Magician of your group, I do believe it only natural you hand it to me, wouldn't you agree?"
"Are you now?" She hummed with a finger placed on her lip. "I see reason in your argument, however perhaps complying with our previous request would motivate me to comply with yours."
This bi- I mean woman!
"Well, for starters I finally managed to learn my first spell right before you sent Yuuto-kun to bring me here," their eyes went round as they heard him speak.
"You, already learned a spell?" His contractor felt the need to ask again.
"Yeah."
"Care to demonstrate?" She prompted.
"Sure," he stood up, his Magic Circle appearing in front of him as he took a deep breath. Remembering the still fresh sensation from a few moments ago. "Shamak," the room was quickly covered in obsidian colored smoke.
Both Akeno and Rias were shocked to find themselves unable to properly hone their senses, thanks to their increased resistance as a result of their superior strength they weren't exposed to the full strength of Shamak. But the fact that Takauji's Mana could affect them at all at such an early stage was something to take note of.
"The spell basically distorts the mana around you, feeding your brain false information about your surroundings, allowing me to get the jump on you," he deactivated the spell before they felt the need to dispel it themselves. "It has quite a few limits, but I'd say it's pretty useful considering the fact that it's supposed to be one of the weakest spells my affinity has."
The lack of information on rare affinities such as Darkness and Light served as a double-edged sword, sure it made it hard for the caster to progress their expertise. But at the same time it meant it was harder for the enemy to form counter-measures for their spells.
"Honestly, I don't know whether I should praise you for progressing this fast or scold you for putting your studies above your health," his contractor brooded.
"Well for starters," he leaned further towards Akeno. His chest pressing against hers as he yoinked the book out of her hands. "I think I've earned this much."
They couldn't help but agree, though his success did nothing to ease their worries about his self-preservation.
"I was planning to give you the book anyways," Akeno confessed. "But could you at least get some proper rest tonight, we're genuinely worried about you if that wasn't already obvious."
We haven't even known each other for a week and you're already getting all sentimental on me. I thought your society valued strength above all else? I fail to see the cause for concern.
He was forced to meet their expecting gazes as he swallowed the urge to click his tongue. Their affiliation was based on a contract making it a business relationship, why did he have to put up with their misplaced worry?
"I planned on enjoying myself a little before you summoned me here anyways, relax," that was about the best he could do as far as reassurance went. "Anyhow, I'll be taking my leave now," he got up from the couch.
"Goodnight," they both said in unison.
He waved at them with his back still facing their direction. "Yeah, goodnight."
"Rias, you were right about his talent. But it won't count for much if we can't do something about his lack of concern for his well-being. Remember what happened when Kiba-kun started acting out a few months ago?"
"Like it was yesterday," she sighed. "But Takauji's going to be a lot harder to handle, setting aside the fact that he's like Sona. I don't think he actually acknowledges our concern to begin with."
Akeno nodded approvingly. "I concur, but maybe that isn't entirely a bad thing."
"What do you mean?"
"I mean, why don't we just ask Sona for help? If anyone can get through to him, it'd be her," her point was solid.
"Yeah…"
"You don't want to ask her for help do you?" She inferred by the look on her King's face.
"Not really," she replied.
"I doubt Sona will see this as a way of getting a one-up on you, I mean it's not as if either of you have had experience dealing with a contracted Magician before."
"But it's not really about the position, but rather the person itself isn't it?"
"You have a point."
