Chapter 1

We were all gathered in the reception room and were ready to depart for the summit. I had put on the black overcoat that old man Bahamut had given me. It was made from a combination of his scales and the skin that he shed from his wings. According to him, it had insane resistance against demonic energy and other forms of magic damage. However, it was weak against any form of ice damage. I had no idea how he managed to make it especially with his talons but he said that Shiko somehow helped, if that even makes sense. I wasn’t about to look a gift horse in the mouth though and gladly accepted it.

“Hey Kuro.”

“What is it Seir?”

“Before we go, there’s something that we need to do.”

“What?”

“We need to hide the fact that you’re a Damien. Your demonic energy level has already reached a point that would put any pureblood devil to shame and you don’t give the same feeling as a normal Damien either. But we need to hide the only thing that points to the fact that you’re a Damien, your eyes.”

“Is there really a need Seir? I mean doesn’t the fact that I’m a Damien and can still go toe to toe with a pureblood devil, actually help us prove what you wanna prove? As much as it annoys me, just say I’m your servant.”

“Hahah, the population of Hell isn’t ready for someone like you to make an appearance yet Kuro. You would only scare them, they may even think that you are on the brink of going berserk at any moment. You will need to impress them with your performance and your level of control of your demonic energy. Only when you’ve won them over, will you be able to reveal what you really are. Besides, they are going to have enough trouble stomaching the fact that you’re a commoner and still have this much power haha.”

“Hmm I suppose you have a point, but that will mean that I can’t give my last name either. I don’t think Fujioka is a family name for any devil family in hell.”

“Hahah, you catch on quick as always. Unfortunately that is the case. We will just say that I found you in my territory and that you don’t know who your parents are.”

“OK...but how will we hide my eyes?”

“Oho, that’s easy, Alice.”

“...Right away my lord.”

Alice left the room momentarily and returned with a vial, was it some kind of potion or something? She handed it to me and I had a closer look, wait these are…

“Contact lenses?”

“Yep, something as simple as contact lenses, go ahead and put them in Kuro.”

“Ugh, why do I feel like this is going to be embarrassing…”

“Now say it!”

“Say what?”

“Say, I Lelouch Vi Britannia command you!”

“What the hell Seir! This isn’t something from one of you anime is it?”

“Hahahahaha, relax, relax, it’s just purple, you just look a lot like the character is all.”

“Hmph, why purple though?”

“It’s a pretty common colour for a devil of your supposed status.”

“Ah right, but won’t these fall out during the fights?”

“Ahhh no need to worry, I made some alterations. I linked them to demonic energy, only when your demonic energy is fully depleted, will they fall out.”

“You heard him old man and Shiko, no more sucking me dry.”

“Wahahahahahaha, don’t worry foolish boy, we’ll make sure to leave at least a drop, that’ll be enough right foolish Prince?”

“Should be.”

“Damn it Seir, don’t tell them that!”

“Ahahahaha”

With that it looked like we were all ready to depart.

The summit was going to take place in a neutral zone that Devils of all statuses had access to. Despite being a summit for the elite to decide the next King. The common folk had access to the event and it was even broadcast throughout Hell via a network owned by someone called Rupert Murduck, whoever that was. Naturally the common folk could not go beyond a certain point and had no actual involvement beyond being spectators. But it was a way for them to at least feel involved.

“Your highness, before we go, I was wondering whether you could go over the rules and the process one more time?”

“Ahhh Shiro-chan you’ve been quiet for so long and that’s one serious look you have there hahaha, OK, I’ll explain how things normally work one more time.”

“Thank you.”

“OK, so, as you know, all the pillars of the 72 families can compete but only the ones willing to risk their nobility and territory enter. We won’t know the exact number of contestants until we actually know the exact number of households entering.”

“So the aim of the summit is to gain as much territory as you can?”

“Ahaha, that’s right. It only makes sense right? The one with the most territory will be King of them all. It depends on the numbers, but at the end, the top 4 households will duke it out and the top 2 will be the candidates. We normally have two in case something happens to the one winner. Although, one alway tends to be from the Bael house. It wouldn’t seem fair to the masses, if the Bael house was the only one winning every time, so they made it appears as if someone else has a chance. What normally happens, is that the remaining members of the Goetia form two factions around the two winners and then the scary battle begins haha.”

“So if we win a match, do we automatically get control over the losers territory?”

“Hmm well, it’s up to the winner. If we want than of course, but more often than not, contestants allow the losing family to keep their territory in exchange for assisting their faction down the line. It’s not about how many you have, it’s about their size and influence.”

“I see, so this is very much a battle of diplomatic ability as it is pure power.”

“Indeed it is Shiro-chan, which was one of the main reasons I wanted you on my team. With the experience you have of being a Princess of a family that governs different factions of Yokai, you know what is required in diplomatic negotiations. Kuro will just need to make sure that we have the relevant territories to make up the difference in terms of overall size.”

“H-hey, I can negotiate too yknow!”

“Ahah, there there Kuro-kun, of course you can, you’re a big boy after all.”

“Hrrrghhhh.”

“Haha, well getting back to the question, the only way to avoid the diplomatic battles of the end game of the summit, is to take as many territories as you can to make the overall size required to be the top two and then challenge and defeat the current Satan.”

“Seir...”

“This hasn’t happened for a while though, since the Bael house has pretty much dominated the summit for centuries and nobody has had the nerve to challenge Lucifuge and his forefathers.”

“I say we do both.”

“Eh? Kuro?”

“We will win both the diplomatic battle as well as the fight against the current Satan. We will win over the masses as well as the Great Families and then we will expose the Bael house for what it is.”

“Hahahahaha, you read my mind Kuro, it won’t be easy, but I think I'm a pretty likeable character.”

“...We’re doomed.”

“Aww, come on, we have Shiro-chan as well, no one is going to be able to resist her charm.”

“Hey, I’m not gonna let you pimp Shiro out like that!”

“Oh? Then how about I send you over to the households of all the old ladies and get you to seduce them to our cause huh? I’m sure your boyish charm will win them over a treat!”

“W-what!”

“I’ll do it, I’ve already resolved myself to do anything to win, plus if anyone tries something then I will just have to permanently freeze them where they’d hate it most.”

“Shiro…”

“Hahaha, that’s the way, alright Alice, prepare the warp point to the villa. Household of Prince Seir, move out!”

“...yes my lord.”

“We can do this your highness.”

“Let’s go show them who we are Seir!”