Author's Note:
As mentioned before, this is a timeskip chapter meant to summarize everything that's been happening. I've covered most of the important points, the political and economic developments, how the territory is progressing, and what the new characters have been up to.
After this, we'll be moving into DxD canon, before eventually heading into Marvel to explore the consequences of the coma from our very unlikable bald man, along with everything else that's been happening. I'm really excited for that part. Next chapter are a couple of different PoVs to show how things are progressing around the world.
Either way, enjoy. I have some important assignments from Uni these days, next chap will be at the earliest on Wednesday night or most probably Thursday.
A Marvelous Devil.
Chapter 39: The Ashen Court.
The Underworld.
Dante Andromalius. Six months later.
No, I wasn't unimaginative enough to repeat my previous domain's name here in this universe.
Not exactly, at least. This time, it wasn't even me who said such a name for the first time.
It had been my mother, of all people. And as soon as the word Ash came out of her mouth, I couldn't help but declare it as so. She proposed calling it the Ashlands once I mentioned that I planned to change the name.
I didn't approve, for obvious reasons. Still, only one name fit.
The Ashen Court. The territory in the underworld was filled with ashes at night, thanks to the Dark Force-infused Hellfire in the center of it.
I never expected to use that name again. Losing everything to Mephisto was bad enough, but now it was under the control of his even worse man-child, Black Heart.
So yes, it was an interesting coincidence. For those who believed in such things.
I didn't. I just knew that the great narrative had a funny sense of humor.
But even that was something not even I, as Seere, bothered with. The less you paid attention to such things, the freer you'd be, not wondering if your every move was decided even before the idea of your existence had been born.
I shook my head in amusement and cleared my thoughts. Standing on the balcony of the newly finished castle, watching the three towns sprawl around it, I had to admit it felt right.
Gentle light from the fake sun danced around hellfire embers, lending an otherworldly touch to the newest, most curious place in the underworld.
It wasn't the same as the previous Ashen Court, obviously. My original domain had been a throne built on eons of accumulated power, faith, and fear, nestled in a dimension under my total control.
I could bend my original domain to my desires, which is impossible here, especially considering its dead Lord's lingering will.
This new place felt painfully mortal. It was just stone and ward work, built by mortal hands over land not originally mine.
But it was something different after half a year of half work by more devils than I could even name… Ajuka and Nyra were both overachievers.
Back then, it had been a graveyard. A memory of a war and one of the worst fights the underworld had ever seen in recent memories. Now? Now, it was mine, flourishing under the hands of my family, and that made it even more… valuable to me.
There was a difference between snapping your fingers to birth a dimension that did whatever you wanted and helping to build something from scratch.
I felt two pale, thin arms wrap around my torso from behind, followed by the gentle weight of a head settling on my shoulder.
"What's in that cute head of yours?" Tandy asked after kissing my cheek, dressed only in one of my spare shirts.
Tandy snapped her fingers, causing two cups of coffee infused with her light force to appear.
Another hit with the underworld, but that was for later.
"Just thinking about what to do," I said calmly, as I turned and hugged my bishop.
Her light came out of her body, and my dark force ate it like it was the best thing in existence. Which it was, obviously.
After feeding the disobedient child, Tandy tittered once she finished our morning routine, "I wouldn't call that thinking, Dante. I think brooding is a better term. Are you bored already?"
"Am I too obvious?" I asked after kissing Tandy on the lips and enjoying her warmth for a few minutes.
"Only for people who know you," she reassured me. "Mom keeps telling Dad we'll go on an adventure soon. You have to admit she knows you very well, dear."
I smiled at Tandy. She was different now. Not physically, or at least, not noticeably with her clothes on. Her training had replaced some softness with tightness and definition where it mattered. But the biggest change was her power and how she acted.
She was a real devil now, one with her own fair share of fans in the Ashen Court and some loyal clients in the human world. A high-class devil, a solid one at that even if not recognized by the government, and with her light force, she hit harder than that label suggested. Her combat instincts had sharpened into something noteworthy, something that had earned the respect of my new vassal.
And she even had a cute little rival. One that she probably wanted to smother in his sleep, even worse than with Gerald. That damn cat.
As for her demeanor? By Seere, I loved her confidence. The Tandy who had cried in my arms after… Gerald's first kill was gone, and in her place stood a woman who could sit across Serafall and tease the ever-living shit out of the adorable Satan who treated me as if I was the second coming of Lucifer's wet dream.
"What about you, love? Do you want to do something for yourself? Got any deals that need your attention in the human world?" I led her toward the bath and began lathering her beautiful blond hair.
Tandy closed her eyes, smiled, and shook her head. "Nothing pressing. I'm happy as long as I'm with you."
"Though…" she bit her lip for a moment, a wicked glint entering her eyes, "I have a debt to call. I think we should visit Sona before we do anything pressing; she owes me after her last stay in the castle."
My eyes glazed with the memory of Sona trying to dominate my light after she spanked her ass red while we were fooling around.
A snort left my nose after a moment, knowing that Tandy had allowed Sona to get her way, because she planned to get her due the next date.
It was a game they played, but seeing those two together, I had no complaints.
They were marvelous.
"What do you have in mind?" I asked, ready to put my foot down if she got overly excited about her plans.
She could be petty to extremes when she wanted to.
Closing my eyes, I enjoyed the way Tandy soaped her own body before cleaning mine while rubbing herself all over me.
Dante Jr. made its appearance, but with just a tiny amount of will, it relaxed under her hands.
Tandy pouted at me, but I just smirked.
She wasn't the only one who could be petty. Blue balling myself was a shame, but I was petty enough to do it to make our next time more intense.
"I want her to eat me out," she whispered with a blush that rose all the way to the tip of her ears, "you know how she gets when it comes to playing around with another woman, and I know what you're planning with Serafall and her. I was thinking of tying her up and denying her orgasm until she made me happy."
I'd created a monster. Not that I was about to complain.
"How much does your repressed bisexuality have to do with this plan of yours?" I asked curiously, drying ourselves with a snap of my fingers.
Tandy pulled my arm until we were in front of the closet, and she started picking up our attire for the day.
"A little. But it's your fault," she sent a glare my way, "ever since you turned me into a devil, all these feelings have been more pronounced. And it's not my damn fault she's so adorable. I'm half a mind to push Nyra under your desk as long as she lets me have fun later. God knows she needs a dicking after all you made her go through."
"You think so? I find myself quite gracious," I said, lips twitching in amusement.
I hadn't failed to see how… tempting Nyra had started to act with me after a couple of months of dealing with so many troubles of managing a new territory.
The problem? She tried to tempt me; I wanted her to make a move.
So we're at an impasse. And I am petty enough to insist things happen my way, not hers.
"You are," she said calmly, "but I think that what makes her hornier. You know how much she likes competent devils, and everything you have achieved in such a short time? She wants you, and badly. That's not even mentioning her bad boy kink… You should have seen her the first time Ajuka visited, and you were joking around like you were old friends."
"We accomplished this," I corrected. "Without you, I wouldn't have done it fast enough. You, my light, are the best bishop I could have asked for. I can't deny what Nyra has done, or what everyone else contributed."
Tandy made a small, bashful noise that made me hug her once more.
Adorable.
Once we finished dressing, we stepped out into the dining hall. A full spread had already been prepared for the ones living inside the castle, Celestine standing near the pantry, going over something and completely ignoring us.
She still refused to let servants near the kitchen, and even letting them clean the castle had taken more arguing than it should have, mostly between her and Tandy.
I didn't fault her; I understood how different her life was now that the Andromalius were back among the 72 pillars. That was why I didn't mind her continuing to work where Sona had placed her months ago.
Her new friend suggested it would help her adjust, and maybe it had, a little.
Amusingly, she mentioned having far fewer problems from other devils since the announcement. Now, devils were too wary to correct her, too conscious of her new status as a noble's mother, while she continued working just as flawlessly as before.
She wasn't used to any of this. The scale, the luxury, or even being served like the servants were paid to do. But she was still only one person, no matter how much she insisted otherwise.
On the table, Nyra sat while waiting for her plate. At first, she had been uncomfortable letting my mother do these kinds of things, but if Celestine was good at anything, it was making sure everyone younger than her followed her orders. It also helped that the group was close-knit, making her feel at home and giving her something she sorely needed.
A family.
She was dressed in a smart secretary outfit, and next to her, a second gem and the second most helpful devil alive sat. The brown-haired woman drank some tea as she giggled at something she read on her phone.
"Misla! How are you?" Tandy hugged the stuffing out of her.
Yes, Misla Bael nee Vapula, Sairaorg's mother, and a complete MILF as some mortals called her kind.
I obviously didn't say that to my friend. As thankful as he was for everything I'd done for him, I didn't doubt for a second that he would try to kill me, and as amusing as that was, I didn't want to deal with him pouting in my direction.
"Tandy, dear," Misla smiled brightly, hugging my light back with equal excitement, "I slept fine, thank you for asking. I would ask the same, but I believe the whole castle heard you last night."
Nyra snorted her coffee out of her nostrils, coughing with a bright blush on her pale face.
I took a moment to notice the small changes that had started appearing a month or so ago.
Her black lipstick and dark mascara, to be exact. She truly looked good like that.
She wiped her nose with a napkin and glared in my direction, "Yes, weird, right? Especially since I know that Lord Ajuka put silencing wards in all rooms."
"Did he?" I asked innocently, "My bad. They must have malfunctioned."
"Uhu, of course, my dear. The work of the most intelligent devil alive malfunctioned," Celestine huffed as she took her seat, "Do you think of us as fools?"
I grinned, shaking my head, "What about father? Will he not join us today?"
A dangerous glint entered Celestine's eyes.
"He's been overseeing the construction of the fourth town. I think he wants to feel useful, and Nyra didn't feel it was worth it to fight with him over that," she muttered under her breath, "I swear, that man can't stay in one place."
"Oh dear, let him be," Misla chuckled, "It's something of the norm for an older devil to act as they have a lit fire on their behind when their son is so unique. The same thing happened to poor Zeo once Sirzechs was born."
"Speaking of family, Misla," I looked in her direction, eating at a sedate pace. "What about Sai? How is he after the last… stunt your husband pulled?"
Tandy was inhaling her food, earning a wide grin from my mother.
"He's still angry, and I fear he's taking it out inside the sealed zone. I fear he brought in one of the most problematic soldiers… I'm sorry," she bowed her head, "Thank you for calming him down."
I waved my hand airily as Tandy and Nyra winced in pain for the poor sod that suffered Sai's own brand of madness.
About her husband… well, things were complicated, obviously. Marriage as a whole didn't matter much to devils the same way as it did to humans, but the whole race was a bit… peculiar, and depending on which families the participants came from, the power imbalance between the partners showed through.
Misla was previously a Vapula, and while they were a noble house, they didn't compare in the slightest with the Baels, for whom they couldn't even help their grandson as much as they wanted to. Hell, they couldn't even care for their daughter even while she was in a coma, having to leave her with Sai and her butler.
As for what problems that brought… well, one could say that Lord Bael wasn't exactly happy to learn that his wife was awake and well and didn't want to see him. He was pushy, but he couldn't make any over moves because we had the support of the Satans, and well… again, Tandy's presence made the Andromalius name soar through the sky with our products.
They couldn't put more pressure on me, at least openly, and I didn't care about invoking their wrath. Their usual methods of messing with my products didn't work because they were endorsed by the Satans themselves, and when they tried to ban Tandy's leaves and reenergizing waters with other families in the Great King Faction, we just stopped selling them there.
Some low-class devils were still rioting about that inside their territories. Obviously, everyone could get our products another way, even if they had to pay more, but we weren't trying to deprive them of them. I just wanted to cause them other problems to keep their focus away from us.
And that wasn't mentioning how pissed Sai got when I explained about the sleeping sickness. I didn't doubt he was ready to gut his father, understanding that he must have been the one who ordered someone to curse Misla because Sai wasn't the heir he dreamed of.
The kid was crazy, and that was me saying it. I managed to calm him down and convinced him to become my vassals, living inside my territory under my protection. I didn't ask for much, since I honestly didn't exactly care about what he did in his free time.
In fact, everything he did to help us was of his own volition. He was basically training my whole battalion of guards, courtesy of Nyra, while he made a name for himself in the Rating Games.
"Poor him," Tandy muttered after a moment in silence, "who was it? Do I have to heal him?"
"I believe it was Amadeus," Misla giggled, "you know he doesn't think before speaking, and I fear that Sai must have heard something coming out of his mouth."
Nyra looked like she was about to cackle, "Oh, that horny little shit! I don't feel that bad anymore. I still remember what he said about me when he thought I wasn't listening."
"He's quite… eccentric," Tandy's lips twitched in amusement before she shook her head, "but enough of that. Any news we should know of?"
The room grew tense for a moment while everyone gathered their wits, Nyra and Misla pulling out their phones and reading through their notes.
"Hm, let me see," Nyra tapped her lower lip with her finger, "Lady Serafall came through with her promise of advertising our product in her show, I believe that it will be on the next episode of Love Love Levi-tan. She explained that it would cure her after she was mind controlled by the during this arc."
"She does know that our product doesn't help with mind control, right?" I snorted.
"Ads are ads, Dante," Nyra shrugged unconcernedly, "Do you know those fast messages in some human products at the end of an ad where they explain everything in a way that people can't even understand? I think she will hide it inside a frame of the video, and that is more than enough to get her and use outside any legal problems."
"Truly, devils never stop surprising me," Tandy shook her head. "What about our sales? And the towns?"
I leaned in on my seat. This was important.
"The sales keep going up. At this point, you have enough money to finish construction of towns four and five, and to start construction of town six. Our accountants were crying in their dungeon because they had to go through so much data." Nyra's eyes twitched in irritation, "I think they are using their worker discount to match the quantity of some low-class towns by themselves."
"They do know that I don't care how long it takes as long as they don't make a mess out of things, right?" I asked curiously.
"They do," Misla giggled, "they also want their own bonuses for finishing everything on time. You have quite peculiar workers, Dante."
"Hm. Kick them out of their office," I rolled my eyes after a moment of hesitation, "and tell them to stop calling them fucking dungeons. I swear, as much as you all say things are better now with the original Satans gone, some devils act as if they missed their kind."
"Devils bow to power, Dante," Misla sighed, "and you've grown into an example of what a devil can do if they put their minds into it. The new rising star of the underworld."
"Ugh," I shivered at that title, "I swear I saw someone call me the morning star. Devils are weird."
"Ufufu," Celestine giggled in pride, "my son is the best there is. Do you have an idea how many devils ask me while I work when you will start filling up your peerage? I swear that if you were to announce some trials, the whole place would be filled to the brim."
"Humph," Nyra harrumphed with a dangerous glint in her eyes, "I swear, they all want to ride your fame to make a name for themselves."
… I deadpanned at her, not saying anything because I didn't need to.
In fact, everyone glanced in her direction.
"Didn't you do exactly that?" Tandy asked, amused.
Nyra blushed cutely before she shook her head firmly, "I did it before he was famous! There's a difference. Also, after all I went through, I deserve this shit!"
"That you do," I patted her head, earning a cute huff from her, "you've been really showing your worth, my dear."
Nyra lowered her head, but I didn't miss the way she pressed harder into my hand. Cute.
Tandy giggled perversely, "What about the political side of things, Misla?"
"Hm, for pressing matters? There should be none," Misla looked at her phone for the last time, "I mean, you seem to find it amusing to ignore my husband's letters, as well as the Phenex's invitations for some dinner."
"It is hilarious," I nodded firmly.
"I can imagine," she giggled, "but you shouldn't close all avenues, dear. I know you have the Satans support and that you don't honestly care about the money, but that doesn't mean you have to do everything alone. Many families are eager to talk with you, and not everyone is as… intense as some families."
"Fine," I rolled my eyes, "but only because you asked nicely."
"Son, don't pout," Celestine chided, much to the amusement of the room.
"Anything else?" I asked, not pouting.
"Ah, yes, my niece asked when you would be visiting the human world once more. I think she wanted to ask your help on something," Misla's eyes brightened, "she said that she planned to message you, but that she knows how convincing I can be when I put my mind into it."
I opened my mouth to say something, but Misla lifted her hand. "Dante, I owe her over ten birthday presents. I will drag you there if I must."
"Fine," I rolled my eyes, "whatever, if anything, it will piss off the Phenex. And from what I understand, her dumbass of a father is already pushing harder and harder, right?"
Misla sighed even as she nodded, "he is. Zeo is troubled, he… he loves Rias, but he doesn't want a repeat of Sirzechs, and at the same time, he dislikes that Rias has been ignoring her potential."
"So, a dumbass," I nodded.
She glared at me, but nodded, "Yes. Either way, there have been talks about your and her relationship, and while no one can prove anything, the whole underworld knows that you two are friends, and dear… You have a bit of a reputation with the Satans little sisters."
"Heh," I couldn't help but smirk proudly, "slander, I say."
"Sure," Celestine rolled her eyes in return, "if that lets you sleep at night, dear."
"Whatever. They are in for a surprise when the time comes," I said knowingly, "but even with her power, I think Rias is still not as… confident as she should be. Maybe I can get another deal out of her; it would be amusing, if nothing else. She gets oh so… desperate when it comes to her marriage."
"Dear, your bad boy act is coming out," Tandy said drily, "put a chain on it."
"I will ignore that," Misla chuckled, "even if everyone knows that your relationship with Sona is spurring her on. By Lucifer, she was so used to being the one making Sona jealous that when someone came and put more attention on her friend, she was the one pushing for more."
"A perfect plan, no?" I grinned, "You could call it two birds with one stone."
"Only you, Dante," Nyra shook her head, but no one called her out for the sheer jealousy in her eyes.
Heh. Her time would come.
"Now, if we're done talking about my relationships?" I looked around, earning a smirk from Tandy, "Do you need me for anything, or can you handle things? I planned to go back to Tandy's hometown after visiting the girls in Kuoh."
"It should be fine for you to disappear for a while," Nyra bit her lip, her eyes vacant, "yes, there's nothing we need you for. I believe that Lord Ajuka mentioned he would be doing one experiment from your latest bullshit, and he will probably be gone for a while. If he comes out of his lab before then, I'm sure he has enough things to study from the territory."
"Oh? Did he say anything else?" I laughed brightly, knowing how much my latest gift must have confused him.
"Only that you're a smug brat and that you should keep your head down around Lord Asmodeus. I think all the Satans are busy with something and can't hold him down from hunting you down," Misla grinned, "only you, dear. Having one Satan loving you, two hating you, and one fearing you."
I burst out laughing at that, knowing exactly why Sirzechs feared me. He was just keeping up his act.
"Good then," I nodded, finishing my plate, "Now, I believe I have a date with Tandy. We're visiting a friend in the human world. After that, we'll probably visit the girls before going to Tandy's hometown."
"And Dante fixed the phones," Tandy added, "now, you'll be able to get in touch with us even where we're going."
"That I did," I nodded, feeling proud of myself. It had been more complicated than I originally thought, but I managed, "See you all later, and keep up the good work, girls!"
The Dark Force enveloped my light and us, and before we disappeared, I heard a shout from the three devils saying that they were older than me.
"Who's this friend? You've been quite tight-lipped about it, love," Tandy asked curiously, looking at the rundown bar in front of us.
Now in…
Oh, by the presence. Red was a petty motherfucker.
We were in Norway, of all places. Even from here, I could feel the weight of the main connection between the human world and Valhalla.
Pushing the door open, I saw the dumbass drinking with some other mortals.
"Really, Red? Did the idiot keep pushing you after the last time?" I grinned at the lug of a man with hair redder than blood itself.
Tandy looked at him for a moment before shrugging and following me in.
"Oh, I haven't seen him," Red cackled, snapping his fingers as the mortals in the room left the place to fill other tables, "but that doesn't mean I can't drink in here, eh?"
"Has anyone told you you're like a kid?" I sighed, sitting next to him, "If only the world knew what kind of asshole the dragon of dreams truly is."
"They'll never believe it," Red snorted, looking at Tandy curiously. "And this is?"
I pushed Tandy gently to take a seat next to me, putting a hand on her shoulder and feeling quite giddy at the chance of showing off to my friend.
"This…? This is my light," I smiled, looking at Tandy, "And this, babe? This is Red, the dragon of dreams, and you can consider him my friend."
"Friend?" Tandy looked between us, "I never heard you call anyone that."
And now I was regretting bringing her here, because her amused eyes matched Red's as the two lovable idiots cackled in unison.
Oh, by Seere… I fucked up.
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