Non Serviam: Chapter 11

Chapter 11: The Prerogatives of the Strong

“I don’t know how you managed to make Akeno more mad at you while I was gone,” Rias said.

The entire peerage, except for Gasper, sat in the living room of the condo. My favorite cute dhampire was represented in spirit by an equally petite and effeminate fallen angel, which was a comparison they would both contest. The moment Rias had returned from the underworld, she’d sat everyone down to explain what would happen next.

To her question, I could only shrug. “Must be natural talent.”

“Truly,” Akeno added.

“Mou…” Rias folded her arms. “I need everyone working together on this, you know!”

I got the feeling she was more worried about her queen and ace instead of her quirky and intractable pawn. “I’ll play nice,” I said.

She smiled, leaning over to hug me. I sighed, patting her on the back. The couch was big enough for three, so I also got to enjoy Akeno glaring at me over the top of Rias’s head.

Mittelt snickered quietly from where she perched on the arm of the couch, but quieted once everyone’s attention shifted to her.

“Now!” Rias straightened. “First off, Mittelt has been officially accepted as a member of my peerage on probation. Azazel sent a thumbs-up emoji and everything.”

I pinched my nose. “Was that all he said?”

“I’m sure he got to the heart of the issue,” Mittelt said. “But Lord Azazel is still hip with the kids, as they say.”

“I’m not certain they’ve said that since before you fell from heaven,” I replied. Mittelt sniffed. “Also, weren’t you supposed to be a member of my peerage?”

“Well, you don’t have a peerage yet, Taylor.” Rias patted my hand gently. “So, I’m basically holding her in trust for you! I got a few comments about how holding onto a fallen without spending a pawn is a ‘good deal’ from some of Leviathan-sama’s staff. Thanks!”

I rolled my eyes. “Ever at your service.”

Rias giggled. Akeno glared.

Mittelt leaned half over my shoulders. “If I were such a hot commodity, I would have come to the underworld much sooner.”

“Yes.” Rias turned her head, eyes narrowing. “As long as you remember that us devils are a lot less forgiving of traitors.”

“Traitor, moi?” Mittelt leaned back, batting her eyelashes. “Why I would never.”

“Well, her position is technically ‘cultural ambassador’,” Kiba said, “so I’m sure she would never have the urge to betray you, prez.” While Kiba’s words sounded kind, his smile made Mittelt sit back and shut her mouth.

Rias nodded, either missing or ignoring the byplay. “After that was settled, I spent some time with my brother. He’s always trying to get my attention, so it wasn’t hard to go along with it for once.” She waved a hand. “When I was sure we were alone, I gave him the rest of the information regarding Kokabiel.”

“And?” Akeno asked.

“Sirzechs and Leviathan will begin rotating a few more powerful devils into Kuoh, people strong enough to deal with any trouble the Grigori might send our way, short of Kokabiel himself.”

I raised an eyebrow. “Isn’t that exactly the type of attention you were trying to avoid?”

“Oh, we’ll get some attention.” Rias shrugged. “Unfortunately, it will come from me finally developing an interest in rating games.”

“Ooo,” Mittelt cooed. “That’s quite devious, actually.”

Rias preened. “Thank you! I thought of it myself.”

I tilted my head. “Sorry, am I missing something here?”

“Ah, right, I haven’t explained rating games yet.” Rias waved her hands. “They’re the most popular sport in the underworld, where High Class devils pit their peerages against each other to see who’s the strongest.” At my expression, she added, “It’s completely safe; no one’s died or even been seriously hurt in one for years.”

“Ah.” That made more sense. “They’re a perfect way for devils to train for war, and since war is what we’re expecting…”

“Good practice.” Koneko punched her fists together. “Gonna smash them.”

There were worse mindsets to have.

Rias laughed. “Well, yes and no. Really, the rating games are going to serve as a cover for why people keep coming here from the underworld: to train me and my peerage. Though, I’m sure once I mention the idea to Sona, she’ll be interested too!”

“To everyone else, it looks like the young Lady Gremory and the Lucifer’s favorite little sister is just getting more special treatment,” Mittelt said. “While a bunch of heavy-hitters are secretly seeded around the city. Really, I’m surprised you’re spelling this all out in front of me.”

“Oh, don’t worry about that.” Rias waved her hand. “One or two of those people are already here, after all.”

“Ah…” That made the fallen angel a bit more concerned. “I’ll behave. Promise?”

“Great!” Rias smiled at Mittelt. “And in better news for you, we managed to get almost all of your funds unfrozen for you to use.”

Mittelt’s smile turned immediately genuine, before she managed to catch herself. “Almost all?”

“Except for the parts some other fallen had already snapped up.” Rias shrugged. “I think one of your businesses experienced a sudden hostile takeover, but it really wasn’t that important percentage wise.”

Mittelt bristled. For a second I thought she was going to be upset about something reasonable, like losing a whole business, but then she said, “Why, I know exactly who’s behind it. Shamiel that little slut. I’ll get him back for twice as much.”

Kiba coughed. “One would think you’d be more concerned about the monetary loss.”

“Pish tosh.” Mittelt fluttered her fingers. “I sink small businesses all the time for the tax write off. This is about the principle.”

“Far be it from me to question your investments,” Akeno muttered. Again, something strange passed through the air between them, but before I could interrogate it, Kiba jumped in.

“You know, boss, this means you have to let me spar with Taylor again.”

I cracked a smile. “You won’t find me as easy as last time.”

He grinned back.

“You two!” Rias crossed her arms. “I don’t want my cute family hurting each other. You’re all precious to me, and it hurts my heart to see you tear yourselves apart.”

“Some people communicate best through blades, prez,” Kiba said.

I shrugged. “Sweat shed now is blood saved later.”

“College!” Rias shouted. “Let’s talk about college!”

I blinked, but accepted the sudden topic shift. If we teased her too much, she might not let me fight Kiba again. He was my favorite sparing partner, because once you got through that noble façade, he stopped holding back entirely.

“Why are we talking about college? I’m not starting for a few weeks.”

“Is it the end of the term already?” Kiba asked, alarmed.

“Heh.” Koneko smirked lightly. “Behind.”

He cleared his throat, looking to the side awkwardly. “I just…have a few essays to finish.”

Rias giggled. “Let me know if you need any help, Kiba! Anyway. We’re talking about the college because some of the new security will be taking up teaching or administrative positions at the school. Don’t worry,” she said to me. “We’re making sure to pick qualified people for both roles.”

“How’d you know I would care?” I asked.

“Taylor.” Rias gave me a pitying look. “I offered you riches beyond mortal comprehension, power and leisure that would make king Solomon and his thousand demons weep, and you said ‘actually, I wouldn’t mind finishing my university degree’.”

I coughed. “Did Solomon really have a thousand demons?”

“Not the point~,” Rias sing-songed. “You don’t have to worry! Your college experience won’t be hurt by the changes; in fact, we’re looking to make things better.”

“…Better?”

“Well, since so many of the instructors will be supernatural, I convinced my family to take a more direct hand in running the university. We’ll be opening it to wider admissions. Sona and I will be starting a rating games major for devils and other supernaturals. In a few years it could be a new school for devils, yokai, wizards, and maybe even fallen!”

I blinked. “I can’t imagine that going well.”

“It’ll be fine, it’ll be fiiiine!” Rias patted me on the shoulder. “Besides, it means you’ll have people you can talk about the supernatural world with.”

“That it’s a chance for the Gremory to snap up promising recruits has nothing to do with it, I’m sure,” I said.

“Oh Taylor, we won’t have to snap up anything, I guarantee, plenty of recruits will come to us.” She shrugged. “Joining the peerage of a Pillar family is a good deal, you know! And I’m giving you a chance to recruit for your own peerage as well.”

I held back a frown, and at my side Mittelt was conspicuously still. Hoisted by our own petard, was it? “Well, thanks for the opportunity,” I said. “I don’t think as many people will be interested, compared to you.”

Rias shrugged. “I can afford to be much pickier. Besides, I love all of you! I don’t want to include new people who might not get along with my family just because they’re powerful; personality matters too!”

I saw Kiba, Koneko, and Akeno smile at that. For a second, I started to wonder if I was crazy.

Why was I the one who always ended up in these situations?

“Beyond that, it means we can use the university campus to build some better training facilities under the new rec center.” Rias smiled. “Because, despite my earlier protests, I will be taking training seriously, and I expect all of you to do the same.”

“My.” Akeno covered her lips with one hand. “That’s a change for you, prez.”

“What can I say.” Rias bumped my shoulder. “Seeing my cute little pawn work so hard means I can hardly fall behind, doesn’t it?”

I sighed, though it came out more fond than I would have liked. “It would be easier for me if you did, Rias.”

“Nope.” She hugged me around the middle. “You’re stuck with me for now. I’ll figure out how to get past your icy walls eventually!”

“That’s what I’m afraid of,” I said.

Rias giggled.

“Still, what do you mean a change?” I fixed her with a look. “You’re the heiress of one of the 72 noble families of hell. Why have you not been training?”

“Actually, my nephew Milicas is the heir.”

“Second in line then,” I replied. “Same difference.”

“If I may,” Mittelt said. “It’s because devils are lazy as sin, pun very much intended.”

“What?” I asked.

“Devils enjoy a unique advantage among the three factions,” Mittelt said. “Not only are they able to reproduce faster than angels, albeit not that much faster, but Devils also grow stronger with age. Angels are fixed from the moment of our creation. Simply existing and completing contracts is enough for Devils to grow quite strong indeed, to the point where it is seen as base, practically boorish, for a high-class devil to exert themselves through training.”

And then, to that utter nonsense, Rias nodded. “Exactly. It’s why my cousin Sairong Bael is still looked at as such a weirdo, even after he became the strongest of our generation.”

“Wait.” I held up both hands. “Wait, wait, wait. The strongest devil of your generation is the one who trains, and he’s still the only one?”

“Yes?” Rias tilted her head. “Why do you ask?”