Chapter 12: To The Capital: Lucifaad
Sitting in my personal workshop/laboratory that I set up three years ago I sat at one of my work benches, putting the finishing touches on my greatest invention to date.
A tablet.
But a tablet made with only technology, no magic at all.
Thanks to Devil technology something like this is possible.
Closing up the last panel I pushed the power button on the side of the tablet and crossed my fingers. I had been working on the damn thing for three years now. I've ready numerous books on engineering in our library, and studied our societies technological achievements rigorously all for this moment.
It better pay off.
The tablet booted up and the display window stared showing me data and the like.
Seeing this I smiled.
I then booted down the tablet and placed it into my dimensional storage space.
Once I did I leaned back in my chair and let my mind wander.
With this all my preparations are complete.
There is only two weeks left before I attend my first young devils gathering after all.
Before I left home I needed to finish that tablet. That's because I want to show it off at the gathering to those that catch my eye. Not only will it give us something to talk about, but it will also help me make them allies for my future endeavors.
Because I plan to make a lot more things in the future. I am going to go crazy with magitech and the like.
I've already drawn up several plans for my own flying magical battleship.
Just thinking about it brought a smile to my face.
In other new things in the Belial territory are still improving. The Dryads are doing their job exceptionally well. The hard soil around the territory is becoming fertile enough to support plant life.
Which is why the Dryads have already planted several crops. They've even agreed to oversee our lands agricultural development as its heads, and all they've asked for in return is a 10% share of the profits we make off the crops and a safe place to live.
I was happy to oblige.
The Treants have adjusted as well.
They have planted themselves around our territory, creating a massive spy network that reports directly to Diablo.
Thanks to them we've caught and disposed of several infiltrators in the past few weeks.
Finally we have Kaido.
After we returned from the familiar forest he told us a little bit about himself.
When he was old enough he bid his mother goodbye and started traveling across the world, looking for strong opponents to battle and generally going wherever the wind takes him.
Anyway he heard about a strong opponent in the familiar forest and went to check it out. That's when he met and clashed with Tiamat.
Well I say clashed, but really she just gave him a spanking and told him to come back when he was stronger.
Hearing that Kaido decided to train in the familiar forest, and the rest is history.
Moving on, he's actually adjusted himself quite well to living in our territory and the underworld in general. He especially gets along with the soldiers and the warriors from the Gigantos clan.
He spars against them regularly. An activity all of them enjoy.
But what surprised me the most is how much the kids around here love him.
Kaido actually gives them rides on his back in dragon form.
Despite his usually gruff exterior he's just a big softie inside.
I am grateful he doesn't act like his namesake. Then I would have no end of problems to deal with.
*Knock Knock*
Hearing a knock on the door I re-focused my mind. I then got up and answered it.
The moment I did something hit my legs.
Looking down I was it was none other than a chibi Diehauser.
Who was brought here by my mother.
"Hello mom, little brother." I told them. "To what do I owe this visit?" I asked them.
They rarely ever come near by lab.
"Big brother, up." Diehauser asked me, reaching his tiny arms up.
I obliged him and picked him up, putting him on my back.
It's one of my duties as a big brother after all.
My mother smiled at us getting along. She then told me the reason she was here.
"Your uncle is back." She said.
She's talking about my father's younger brother Callum Belial.
He's rarely ever around, but not because he doesn't love his family. No, it's because of his job. He is a commander in the Devil National Army, which is DNA for short.
And yes, I can see the acronym's meaning quite clearly.
Anyway, my uncle Callum's job is a commander in the internal security forces branch of the army. Meaning he spends his time traveling all over the devil territory in the underworld being a bodyguard to clan heads and other important officials, military and civilian alike.
Which keeps him busy.
That's why I've only seen him a total of five times since I've been born.
But even so when he is around he is a great uncle.
He's also supposed to be the father of Cleria, but with his job I don't see how that's going to be possible. He's running around too much get bang a devil woman long enough to get her pregnant.
Then again maybe Cleria is a one-shot miracle baby?
I don't really know.
I guess we'll she when she is born.
Moving on, as soon as mom told me that uncle Callum was back I sealed up my workshop and then walked with the two of them directly to one of the sitting rooms.
Diehauser piggy-backing me the entire time.
The moment we arrived mom opened up the doors.
As soon as she did I saw my father sitting with a man with the same hair color as him. But his was long going past his shoulders, and he is dressed in a military uniform.
I smiled at the man. "Uncle Callum, it's been quite a while."
"Yes it has Asterius." Callum said. He then looked at me. "You've gotten taller and a lot stronger since the last time I saw you." He said.
The last time he was here was three years ago during Diehauser's birth.
"But of course." I mused. "I am the next head of the family after all."
"Yes, that you are." Callum mused.
"Down." Diehasuer said in my ear. So I put him down.
The moment I did he walked up to Callum and hugged his leg. "Uncle." He said.
Although Callum hasn't been around my parents show Diehauser pictures of him and talk about him all the time.
Callum picked up Diehasuer. "Hello little Diehauser." He said.
"Hello." My brother answered.
As the two of them got acquainted my mother and I took a seat on the couch.
"So dear brother-in law what brings you here?" My mom asked Callum.
"I just came to see my family Calfa." Callum spoke.
"Try again." My mom said.
"I can never get anything past you." Callum admitted.
"Neither of you brothers can." My mom said.
That's when my father put a wry smile on his face.
"That's true." Callum said. "But I really did come to see you guys. Also, I am in charge of the force escorting Asterius to Lucifaad for this years young devils gathering." He explained.
When the young devils gather, their parents do not attend.
This way the younger generation can mingle amongst each other as peers. But everyone knows that's a crock of shit. Although the parents of the young devils don't attend the gathering themselves they send spies and attendants to watch over them and report their activities. Not to mention all the backroom dealings that take place before, during, and after the gathering.
It's a regular nobles court, just like on Earth.
I can't wait to sink my teeth into it.
"I see." My father spoke. "Well if anyone is guarding my son I am glad that it is you."
"Thank you big brother." Callum said. "And rest assured I won't let anything happen to him. I swear on my life." He said. "On that note I should also mention that I will be escorting the next heir to the Phenex house to this gathering as well."
"Why is that?" I asked.
Normally each of the young devils that attend the gathering get their own personal escort from the national army.
"We're stretched a bit thin at the moment." Callum said. "It's nothing to worry about, but it seems the fallen have been making some strange movements, so we're strengthening our border defenses just to be on the safe side." He explained.
And my uncle will not get in trouble for telling us this. He might be talking to family, but he is also taking to a pillar clan head, his wife, and his heir. We know the importance of this information and how to keep our mouths shut.
As for Diehauser he isn't paying attention at all so there's no worries about him saying anything.
I am also not worried about those fallen.
Azazel would never try to start anything unless he had no other choice. Hell, he even pulled his people out of the Great War first.
He's the type of guy I can definitely get along with.
That's why I can't wait to meet him in person.
"In any case, because of this not all clan children will get their own escorts this year." Callum said.
"It's not a problem for me." I said.
The Belial clan and the Phenex clan are indifferent to each other. We are not enemies, but we are also not allies either.
However I aim to change that.
Now that my clan has resources within our territory that people want I have chips to play with at the bargaining table.
And I don't intend to lose.
---------------------------------------
Angelica and Diablo by my side the three of us stepped into the escort carriage provided by the army.
The moment we did one of the guards closed the door.
Today is the day of our departure for Lucifaad.
It will take a week to get their from our territory.
Diablo was chosen as Angelica and mines escort because he knows the game and has the strength to handle just about anyone. As for why Angelica is coming along, she is my personal attendant. Every young devil gets to have one.
The carriage started moving almost immediately after the door was closed.
Once it did I moved over to one of the windows and started looking out of it, Angelica sitting right next to me.
Meanwhile Diablo took out some papers from a magic circle and started reviewing them.
Eight hours passed until eventually we came to a stop again. Right at the entrance to the Phenex castle.
A few moments after we did the carriage door was opened and two people entered.
The first was a male mine and Angelica's age. He has short blonde hair and deep blue eyes.
He's the next head of the Phenex clan. Ruval Phenex.
Yes, that's right. Riser and Ravel's elder brother who is one of the top participants in the Rating Games and an ultimate-class devil by the time of canon.
Though I had no idea he would be the same age as me.
Small favors I guess.
If his personality is anything like it is during canon then he is a good guy with a good head on his shoulders. I hope we can get along.
Anyway, as for the other person who entered with Ruval, it was a woman.
And she is grade-A beauty. She has long white hair and yellow eyes, and her chest is amazing. However I get the feeling while she looks nice on the outside, she is black-hearted on the inside.
Actually I feel that she's the same as me. A sadist.
The two of them sat down.
Once they did the carriage door closed again and immediately we were off.
As soon as we were I gave my geeting.
"Hello to you both. My name is Asterius Belial. The girl next to me is my personal attendant Angelica Ainsworth. Meanwhile the gentleman is called Diablo Noir, my supervisor for this young devils gathering. A pleasure to meet you both." I said.
"Likewise." Ruval said. "I am Ruval Phenex. And this person sitting next to me is my guardian and personal attendant Caren Hortensia. I hope we can all get along."
"Well it depends on how I'm feeling." Caren mused lazily.
She then leaned back and closed her eyes, falling asleep a few moments later.
Ruval simply put a wry smile on his face at that.
'It looks like he has it hard.' I thought.
Moving on, the five of us spent the next week traveling with the guards.
In that time Ruval, Angelica, and I got closer. Ruval and I especially talked about many things. Namely magic and even a little bit about politics.
I also discovered I was right about Caren.
She is a grade A-sadist.
She would regularly flirt with the guards, both male and female. Then she would crush them without reservation a short while after she began. All with a rosy smile and a hint of pink on her cheeks.
Luckily all of them recovered rather quickly.
Bottom line is unless you have a thick skin dealing with Caren will only leave you in tears.
It actually amazes me that Ruval can stay so positive with someone like her watching over him. He must have incredible mental strength from it.
I salute him.
Anyway, before we knew it a week had passed and we had arrived in the territory of the Lucifer clan.
The OG who created the entire devil race.
As soon as we crossed into the territory the energy completely changed. I don't know how to explain, but it just did.
The carriage continued on its way.
While it did I looked out the window. In the distance I spotted a massive castle surrounded by an encirclement fortress wall.
It is Luciffaad.
We have arrived.
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