Chapter 4

Alice texted me the final details and I’ve already forwarded them on to Shirayuki-san. The strange thing is that whenever I’d check my phone this past week it’d alway say “Typing” under Shirayuki-san’s name but she’d never actually sends anything.

I’m sure it’s just a glitch or something. It’s almost time to pick her up and head to Seir’s Estate. It’s out in the country, so it’s a good thing that it’s a sunny and clear day. It’ll take a good 45 minutes to get to the warp point on my bike and I only just managed to change the oil and give it a good clean.

I zipped up the leather jacket that I got as a present from my mum, when I got my licence. Started the engine and headed for the girls dorm.

I pulled up outside the dorm and sent a message to Shirayuki-san that I was outside,15 minutes later she came out. She was wearing a sky blue one piece summer dress with a pale yellow sun hat attached with a string behind her.

Thankfully her dress wasn’t too long and there were no extra frills or bits hanging off. The last thing I’d want is for Shirayuki-san to fall off my bike, or for any of her clothing to get stuck in the parts and cause an accident.

She caught my eye and walked toward me, sadly her overbearing friend from before wasn’t too far behind…

“Um...how do I look?”

“You look great, that colour would really suit your true form...I-I mean, I’m sure your dress won’t get in the way during the drive."

She smiled bashfully and looked at me with upturned eyes.

“Hey wait a minute! Just what in the hell do you think you’re doing Fujioka?”

“What are you talking about Misaki?”

“It’s MIYABI! MI-YA-BI and who said you could call me by my given name? I thought you said that you would come and pick Shiro up in a car? I knew it, there was no way that a bimbo like you could afford a car, let’s go Shiro, there’s no way that hunk of junk is safe.”

“H-hey! I’ll have you know that this is the best bike that Kawazaki make and is plenty safe, as long as Shirayuki-san holds on tight, there will be no problem.”

“Oho, now I see how it is. I knew it! You ARE a pervert!”

“It’s nice that you two get along.”

“We do not! (both)”

“Still, I’ve never ridden on a bike before, looks like fun.”

“Ohhh it’s amazing Shirayuki-san, It’s a beautiful day too and we will need to ride past the ocean and toward the mountain to get to where we’re going, so the view and breeze will be dazzling!”

“Mhm, mhm, OK, here I go...hey, it’s a lot more comfortable than I thought it’d be.”

“Told ya! Feel free to lean on me, if it gets too windy and never let go OK.”

“O-oookay!”

“Wait a second there Jack Dawson, where the hell are you taking Shiro anyways? Going by what you said, you’re gonna take her to the middle of nowhere. I knew it, you’re…”

“Hold on Shirayuki-san!”

I didn’t wait for Misaki to finish and throttled away at almost full speed. Shirayuki-san shrieked girlishly and placed her head on my back for a few seconds but then quickly pulled it away.

We drove at a steady pace on the main roads towards the bridge leading passed the ocean and toward the mountain pass, where the warp point was.

“How are you doing back there Shirayuki-san?”

“I’m fine, whooohooo! This is so much better than driving!”

“I know right? Look to the left, it’s the sea, It’s sparkling today too, it kinda reminds me of your…”

“What was that Fujioka-san? I can’t hear you, the wind is pickling up.”

“Nothing, nothing!”

“Hey look Fujioka-san, we’re almost to the pass”

I pulled up next to the path leading to the warp point and we got off.

“Wow, that was so much fun Fujioka-san, did you see the ocean? It was sparkling.”

“Y-yeahh, ah well, we’re finally here.”

“Are we going hiking Fujioka-san?”

“No, I was gonna tell you before we left but Misaki was there.”

“Miyabi Fujioka-san, Miyabi.”

“Right, right, well, we’ve both been summoned by Prince Seir. The Devil that governs this area of the human and devil realm. He has asked us to attend his Estate today."

“Ehh? Really Fujioka-san? I didn’t know that you were acquainted with the Prince too.”

“What you know Seir too?”

“Of course, since Lord Seir, is the Devil that governs Japan, he’s been visiting my families Inn since he was a child. The Yuki Onna Clan have a very good relationship with him. In fact he sends well aged sake to my Grandmother every year.”

“Is that so…”

“Mhm, I’ve actually never met him myself but him and my Grandmother are very good friends. If he’s summoned us, then it must be pretty important. Say Fujioka-san?”

“Yes?”

“A-are...you his servant?”

“What?”

“S-sorry, I-I didn’t mean to make assumptions...It’s just that Devil’s don’t normally associate with Damiens.”

“I’m his Vassal.”

“O-ohhhh, wow! for a Damien to reach the rank of a Vassal in the household of one of the 72 Goetia, is very impressive! You must be very reliable Fujioka-san.”

Seeing her smiling earnestly allowed me to overlook the comment she just made and we both made our way to Seir’s Estate.

As we entered the gate and walked towards the front entrance I felt a familiar presence. He was firing bloodlust at me. This guy hasn’t changed at all, ever the comedian.

“W-whoooooooooooa! This so much bigger than the Inn. I can’t believe that something as big as this was located somewhere in Japan.”

“Ya-hooo! If it isn’t Kuro-kun and little Shiro-chan too. I haven’t seen you since you were a baby, although I wasn’t much older at the time either haha!”

Seir was leisurely walking towards us, with Alice dressed in the usual maid outfit not too far behind.

“Welcome, welcome! Makes yourselves at home, Alice could you please prepare tea for our two guests.”

“...very well my lord.”

“Eh? Oh there’s no need to go to so much trouble your highness.”

“Nonsense Shiro-chan, I promised Obaasan that I would take good care of you. Kuro, could you show Shiro-chan to the main reception room, I’ll be along shortly.”

I gave Seir a grating look and led Shirayuki-san to the reception room. Along the way Shirayuki-san would stare wide eyed in every direction.

Alice appeared shortly after and served us tea. Well, to be more precise she served me black coffee. It seems that she still remembers my preference, she doesn’t miss a beat as usual. Shirayuki-san made small talk with Alice about the layout of the Estate and after about 20 minutes Seir showed up.

“Well I bet your both are wondering why I asked you to come here so suddenly.”

“What gives Seir? You don’t normally summon me unless it’s important, which is surprising for someone like you.”

“Hahaha, that’s our Kuro, always kiddin around! The reason I summoned you here today was to introduce you to the final member of my entourage, for the upcoming King of Hell Summit.”

I was a little taken aback but before I could say anything. Seir leapt to his feet in an over the top fashion and pointed behind me. No, it would be more precise to say that he pointed to my left. Shirayuki-san was sipping her tea and looking extremely surprised at this turn of events.

“Eh...Ehhhhhhhh!?”

“That’s right, Shirohime Shirayuki, First Princess to the Yuki Onna Clan that rules over more than half of the total population of Yokai in Japan. You will be the final member of my House that will attend the upcoming summit to decide the next King of Hell.”

“Just what the hell gives Seir? This wasn’t part of the plan. I didn’t think that you would pull a stunt like this, when you asked me to bring Shirayuki-san here.”

“With all due respect your highness, I am not in a position where I can just do as I please. I don’t think my Grandmother or Mother will allow me to…”

“Taken care of my cute Shiro-chan!”

“Eh? T-there’s no way that my Grandmother would allow it, especially not my Mother…”

“I’ve already spoken to Obaasan about it, she said that I could do as I pleased. I guess it helps when you’re the ruler of the region huh? Although, I did have to tell her that I’d fallen head over heels for you and promise that I would marry you in the future so...”

“LIKE HELL I’D LET YOU!”

The whole room went silent, even Seir had a surprised look on his face but it quickly turned into a mischievous grin. Alice poured me some more coffee and Shirayuki-san was looking down while smiling and blushing.

“I-I mean, it’s too dangerous. Plus, don’t we have Alice? Wouldn’t that make up the minimum requirement for the summit?”

“If only that were possible Kuro, but Alas, such a thing is not within the realm of possibility.”

“Why not?”

“...I am just a familiar.”

“That’s right, my little Alice is my cute familiar, officially both her and I count as 1.”

“I-is that so. Well I still think it’s too dangerous, If what you told me about the summit is true, then there’s a chance for your whole household to be massacred if we lose even a single contest. I can’t expose Shirayuki-san to something so dangerous.”

“D-don’t I get a say in this?”

“S-shirayuki-san?”

“Ummm, I don’t really understand what’s going on, but if there’s a way that I can be of help, then I’d like to try. Besides, ever since I met you Fujioka-san, I’ve started to see the world differently. Something like leaving Japan or being involved in something that doesn't involve the Clan or the Inn was only a dream for me. If I get the chance to see and experience more of the world with my Grandmother’s blessing, then I want to take it.

“Shirayuki-san…”

“I-I’m also pretty strong too! My Grandmother said that my affinity with my spiritual power is the highest that our Clan has seen in generations. So if it’s OK, I’d like to do it.”

“...Fine, It just means that I’ll have to protect you."

The last part I only whispered. Seir began explaining the situation to Shirayuki-san, he left out the part about how I joined his patronage and just told her that he intended to compete in the upcoming King of Hell summit.

He informed her that as his vassals, we would help him fight against the other Great Families of the Goetia, to determine candidates for the next King of Hell. He explained the ins and outs of the competition.

To summarise, the summit involves all the families, however not all the families compete for the seat of King. In recent years, it’s become more of a networking event for the big players in the Hell financial and political world to come together and do business. However, those that do compete, stake the accumulated sovereignty of their noble house, as well as the safety of their household and their territory.

Although it can be argued that the reward outweighs the risk. Modernised members of the Goetia would rather not stake the well being of their house in such an uncertain contest. Instead they use the summit to employ their financial might and political prowess to forge political marriages, big business deals and the like to attain power.

The Bael House has dominated the summit for centuries and it would not be out of the ordinary for the Bael house to dominate the summit this time too. This however was not of my concern, I only had one person on my mind and I would make sure that I would make her pay for the pain she has caused me as well as the suffering she inflicted on those I held dear.

“There hasn’t been a death in a long time Shiro-chan but I’d be lying if I said that it wasn’t dangerous. Naturally I won’t force you to fight, in fact, there is a strong possibility that the only ones fighting will be Kuro and myself.”

“Ehhh? But your highness, with all due respect, will a Damien like Kuro really be able to keep up with the pureblood Devils at the summit?”

“...Sitting right here yknow Shirayuki-san.”

“N-no, I-I didn’t mean it like that.”

“Hahaha, I think you're underestimating my Kuro-kun there Princess.”

“Who’s your Kuro-kun!?”

“Hahaha, well teasing aside, there’s something else that I wanted you to do today Kuro.”

“Oh yeah, what’s that?”

“I think it’s about time that you got yourself a familiar of your own.”

“Huh?”