"Your maid gave me a house-call after Raiser's match, and basically tried to turn me into a Popsicle." I said as I prepared a trigger in my mind in the event I needed it. "Then after the fight with Kokabiel, she has been keeping an eye on me from a distance, even more so when Rias is around."
"…"
...
I had been keeping the bit of Grayfia following me to myself for some time, and quite frankly I was surprised at the amount of patience I had. There had been the incident where she confronted me after my fight with Regeis, but that was on somewhat mutual terms. After the fight with Kokabiel and me claiming custody of Excalibur, I became aware of her presence around me. She was good in hiding her presence, but for someone like me whose senses were attuned to finding Dead Apostles and hidden traps on a daily basis, she could not do so for long. Coupled with help from [Hell's Trident] and occasionally Excalibur, I had at times waved back at her with a smile approved by Rin Tohsaka.
Rather entertaining to see the maid disappear with an expression that could be considered as a disgruntled frown.
"Even now, I can sense her presence at the far end of the building, watching us from the roof." I motioned with my thumb at the general direction. "So I would like you two to stop beating around the bush and start being straight with me."
The neutral expression that appeared on his face was telling enough.
"Ah, that. Well…" He seemed to gain a light twinkle in his eyes as he looked at me. "Guess you found us out."
"No doubt you already knew about the first meeting and from what little I know, you merely gave a slap on the wrist." I continued to test the waters between us. "Then again, anything is fine when it comes to your sister." For a while Sirzechs looked at me before letting out a chuckle. It was a quiet chuckle and it sounded innocent, but the Prana leaking out of him was clearly showing his agitation and to my slight discomfort, an odd excitement to my answer.
"Seems like you saw through our actions."
"Not much to go on, but so far, Rias and her crew had been pretty consistent when it comes to their group of people and how they do things. For her part, the phrase of the apple not falling far from the tree is a good thing." I said as I noted our positions and current location in the event of a fight. "But what little I have known, it seems the overprotective traits of the Gremory Clan are quite strong, and if there is ever a presence that proves harmful to Rias, you would most certainly do something. And now that I have the Excalibur Shards, it would not be that weird if your side wanted to make sure I don't go on an extermination run."
At that, the crimson devil let out a rather loud laughter as he clutched his head and his stomach. Through my senses, I could tell from the fluctuating Prana levels that Grayfia was not expecting this type of reaction and was a little unsure of what to do. After a few more seconds, Sirzechs seemed to have regained control by taking a few deep breaths and looked at me in the eye with a smile. "You are an interesting fellow. Sure you never dealt with any devils or anyone from the other factions before?"
"I tried, but they always believe I wanted a hair-cut, right through the neck." I replied as one hand was preparing to hold a weapon.
"Well then, how about this?" The smile became a little bit more mischievous as he spoke. "As someone who was involved with the fight and the current custodian of the Excalibur Shards, I would like to invite you to the meeting."
Oh I see, that was what he wanted… Wait.
"What?"
...
"I will say this. You are perhaps the first human to have this many people interested in such a short time." Mitelt wiped the plates that I handed to her and placed them on the rack. "I mean, going to a meeting with the Big Shots from the three major factions within a few months of entering this town? That is an achievement most can hope to get after a few years. I don't think the current Pope has that honor at all."
"Perhaps, though I am uncertain about the situation." I tied up the waste bag and moved to throw the rubbish outside of the store. "This is quite a big thing to deal with."
"I will say that it is a good thing that you are getting invited." Xenovia put in her opinion as she came into view with a set of plates in each hand. "Most of the time they won't call any humans along unless it is something really important. There goes to show that you have garnered the interest of the higher factions if they are willing to include us for that matter."
"Yup, it also helps that you have obtained the Excalibur Shards and combine them into one form." Irina came along with a small tray of cups and bowls. "You are the first one to do so, so at the least, the Angels are certainly going to be wanting to meet you."
"Maybe." I decided to hold back on what I knew about higher beings to myself, not to mention the whole conversation I had with Sirzechs, and let them continue on with their misconceptions. Granted this was a different world, but if anything came out from the memories of the Noble Phantasms and my fights with near god-like creatures, no higher being would acknowledge a human from the get-go.
Ever.
"It seems that you are getting the hang of the job." I decided to put the matter on the back burner and commented on the exorcists, noting the current clothing they have in the form of a light brown shirt and a skirt that went just below the knees, with an apron to compliment the look. When it became clear that they would be staying for quite a while, I decided to ask Kawako and Kano if they could give them something to work with while paying off the rent. Kawako basically went all out in giving them the clothes, the tasks needed to be done and some ground rules, much of it involved them not getting me into trouble.
"I would say that would be the case." Xenovia pinched the material of her skirt with a raised eyebrow. "Though I question the need for such clothing." I could not really tell her that the uniforms they had on them were less for actual working environment and more of Kawako's maternal desire to dress girls up as though they were her own daughters. The light in the elderly lady's eyes were too bright for me to diminish.
"At the least you girls helped us maintain the shop, it has been getting a lot of business and well…." I tried to think of a way to describe the other assistants, but Mitelt came in with own comment.
"The other helpers of the shop are lazy bums who pushed all the work on us and just go smoking and drinking on hours." She rolled her eyes while drying her hands. Boy was she ruthless?
"Is that so?" Xenovia's eyes twitched while her hands were flexing the fingers. "Maybe we should have a word with them."
"Please don't." I massaged my temple while letting out a sigh. "Trust me, Kawako got that part covered." Through the gap between my fingers, I saw Xenovia and Irina shivered unconsciously, no doubt remembering what the elderly lady could do after getting scolded by her the first time they made a mistake in her presence.
"Well, at least you two are able to pull your load." I commented to distract them from their possible mental trauma.
"I lived in an orphanage before being taken to the church, while Irina had her father to deal with. Griselda basically manhandled us so that we can learn to survive." Xenovia replied with an even bigger shudder.
"Oh yeah, you learned under her tutelage longer than me." Irina put her fist in to a palm as she remembered their history. "That was also the time that she put you on that pony and…"
"NO!" I was treated to the sight of Xenovia kneeling on the ground with her hands on her head, an expression of pure horror on her face. "Anything but that! I will do the dishes, the sword training in a runaway train and training in the fire pit naked while surrounded by snakes, just not the pony training, the tutu and the candles again!"
"Err…" I exchanged baffled expressions with the fallen angel beside me before looking at Irina who looked unaffected from this scene. "Does this happen all the time?"
"Yup." Irina said as she looked on with her expression of cheerfulness, analytic and something that felt like mischief. "This is considered tame by our standards. When she hears the full story, now that will really be a scene." She said with a chuckle that sounded almost evil.
Note to self, Irina was a possible sadist for Xenovia's suffering.
Further thoughts were put on hold when one of the charms I placed on the shop got tripped, followed by the sound of a bell chiming and a Prana signature that flooded the area. By my side, Mitelt shuddered with an expression of fear plastered over her face.
"Are you two okay?" Irina looked at us with a concerned look, likely not feeling the same thing as us.
"We got company." I removed the apron and dried my hands before making my way to the front, preparing the mental trigger in my head. "Get ready."
"For what?" Xenovia asked having recovered from her brief episode of fear and now looking serious.
"Trouble." I gave that comment before walking out of the pantry and to the bar where there was only one man looking around the room.
"Ah, good afternoon. Is it open?" The man asked in a jovial tone as he came nearer, allowing me to take in his features. He was a man who looked to be in his twenties with his rather untidy black hair that ended with gold bangs at the front, almost covering his dark eyes. Combined that with a beard and his current attire of a dark suit, he looked rather roguish for his age while having an amicable attitude. But the scent coming off him was problematic.
Someone from Grigori it seemed.
"We are about to close." I moved to get him in my sights while ensuring he did not have a clear shot at the pantry. "But if you are here for a quick drink, we can allow one."
"Thanks, just give me some 'Scotch on the Rocks' with a bit of gin and mint." The man took a seat by the bar-top and looked at me. "So, you are the owner of this place?"
"The chef." I moved forward to grab the items needed for the drink. "Just part-time."
"And the bar?" The guy motioned with his hand.
"Occasionally when the boss is not around." I mixed the drinks and presented it to him. "Enjoy." The man took the cup in his hand and looked at it with a critical eye, before taking a sip. His eyes went wide as he looked at it again before taking a bigger sip of it.
"Here's a second." I pushed the prepared beverage to him and went about cleaning the utensils.
"Thanks!" The man grinned widely as he finished off the first cup quickly and went to savour the second slowly. "This is a very nice drink you made. So a talented bartender and supposed chef, huh?" His eyes wandered to me as he commented. "Quite a skill-set for a magician in hiding, if I may say so?"
"Magus, if you would." I replied without missing a beat as I replaced the items and placed my palms on the counter-top as I looked at him in the eye. "I thank you for the compliment, Mr Fallen Angel of Grigori."
...
A/N : The Story Needs More Power Stones ;)
PS : if we can reach 400 Stones by the end of the week, I will throw you an extra chapter
...
if you want to read ahead of the public release you can go to my p atreon :
p atreon.com/Aerle