The Wandering Devil
Chapter: 28
Pa/ t reon details below the chapter if you're interested in seeing some content in advance. I'll keep posting regardless. If you have any suggestions you would like to see added, I will try to incorporate what I can :)
For anyone wondering, the weapon that Zephyrion has received is incredibly stronger than Bell's dagger. The currency is different from the original Danmachi timeline. So it can't be compared.
For a bit of context on this.
3000 Vali = 60 USD.
9000 = 180 USD
10500 = 210 USD
(The Merchant?)
I yawned, turning slightly to the naked Goddess wrapt in my arms. I pulled her a bit closer to me and enjoyed the feeling of her body pressed against mine for a few minutes.
The warmth she was radiating was… addictive.
She grumbled lightly, and I pulled her into a deep kiss that she reciprocated a few moments later.
The bed we slept on was extremely comfortable and with my Goddess laying in it, the appeal of simply going back to sleep and into Hestia's arms was increasing by the moment.
That's why I pulled myself up.
Hestia stared at me hazily as I stood up.
I glanced down back at her and admired her curvy body before pausing as I felt one of my contracts activate.
In fact, it had been activated multiple times but I had been asleep so I didn't answer it.
My contracts had become more popular, most contracts I had weren't exactly noteworthy compared to my first one. I'd probably not do anyone like that, I had been a bit too eager for my first contract.
Not that those men hadn't deserved it, but I wasn't really in the business of playing hero for random people.
I guess I had some time to spare.
I chucked on top and tried to fix my wild hair with only some success. I rolled my shoulders as I stepped into the summoning circle, my vision briefly shifting as the contract pulled me across space.
A familiar sensation, one I had grown accustomed to over the past months since I had been here.
The moment my feet landed on solid ground, I found myself in a clearing?
A caravan stood in the center, a few wooden wagons circled hastily for some kind of last-minute defense.
A handful of panicked-looking guards, barely armored, gripped their weapons while a frantic merchant in fine but travel-worn clothes gawked at me like I had just fallen from the sky.
Which, in a sense, I had.
Interesting. This was a lot more lively than my normal contracts.
Everyone always looked equally as shocked that the contract actually worked, but word about it had naturally spread. Among the lower levels of Orario anyway.
I barely had time to take in the scene before my ears caught the telltale rustling of something moving in the nearby grass.
Small, fast movements. Multiple sources.
Needle Rabbits.
Not exactly a threat, but the sheer number of them would overwhelm even an adventurer. To which I could see none around.
We weren't close to Orario.
That much I could sense.
"So, I take it you're the one who summoned me?" I questioned calmly.
The merchant blinked, still processing my sudden arrival, before snapping out of it and scrambling back a bit. "Y-Yes! You actually came?! The contract worked?!"
"Yeah, yeah, congrats," I said lazily, giving my arms a quick stretch. "What do you need?"
"Ah! Yes, I need protection!" He hurriedly replied.
"What's your name?" I asked, taking out a contract.
Names were important. More than just a title, it was an identity.
"Balsen Argis." He replied quickly, sending a worried glance to the guards who had engaged the monsters.
His face twisted in panic. "They're almost here!"
-{Balsen Argis}-
Balsen had to admit, he hadn't expected the contract his brother had given him to work. It had been a last ditch attempt.
This entire trip had been different. Monsters had long since wandered the lands. Through dungeon breaks or secret tunnels that had made their way to the surface that linked to the dungeon.
Monsters roaming the lands had been around since the Labyrinth City or as we knew it, the Dungeon had come to form. That's why as a merchant, he took certain paths that were known to be safe.
Hiring adventurer's costs… a lot. Considering you were taking their time away from the dungeon and they were worth a dozen men even at level one. It was understandable.
Rather than take a considerable dip in his profits, going on the longer, safer route with normal mercenaries was always easier. That had been the case.
He was heading back from Alvéria.
This trip had been different. Monsters had been attacking them all the way back and each attack simply seemed to draw in multiple more monsters.
The main monsters had been Horned Rabbits.
A mercenary could deal with one, even two and perhaps even three. But when dozens upon dozens attacked it was easy to get overwhelmed. Multiple guards had already died.
In a last ditch attempt, he had used the flyer his brother had told him about when he was last in Orario. Honestly, it was one of those moments where you tried out everything you possibly could in a last ditch attempt at survival.
The fact it had worked was… surprising but seeing what he could immediately tell was a powerful adventurer made him relax. The way he sent a bored glance towards the monsters was more reassuring than he could possibly imagine.
"What is that you desire?" He finally questioned.
He was about to ask him to kill all of the monsters before he paused, another idea coming to his mind. One that would benefit him more.
"Safe passage to Orario." Balsen quickly said.
The crimson-haired man seemed to do something with the parchment, and he held it out.
A quick glance showed it was a contract that his request had been written out and in return for his service a favour would be paid, one that wouldn't put his lifestyle in jeopardy.
He quickly signed, if it hadn't been for that last part he may have hesitated but he was glad that the Adventurer didn't try to extort him.
Balsen took a step back, sending him an urgent look as the contract glowed.
-{Zephyrion Gremory}-
This would be useful.
I hadn't really encountered any merchants in this capacity before, but I had been meaning to expand my influence in Orario. I had multiple sources that I could draw income from.
The terrified merchant had a large carriage, multiple carriages in fact. So he should be relatively well connected.
What a stroke of luck. I was glad I answered this call. That favour would be put to good use.
I took a step towards the dozens of Horned Rabbits and they seemed to finally notice me.
Their small eyes stared at me and in an act that surprised me all of their heads lowered as they backed away.
I paused the magical attack I was about to obliterate them with. I watched them back away into the treeline in bewilderment, this hadn't happened before.
What has changed?
My mind instantly went to the now broken seal.
I knew that seal had been holding back more than I thought. I had felt a massive change when it had been broken, a change that I had just associated with my bloodline power.
My demonic power had reached the high-class. I was sure of that. It had changed from a mass of energy into a pulsing ball of demonic power within me.
Was my presence intimidating the monsters? Or was it something else?
Everything since my birth had been linked to the seal, my lack of strength. The late start in magical tutoring. I felt myself grow annoyed.
I let out a breath, clearing my mind and focusing back on the present.
The merchant was staring at me like I was some sort of Angel as he stayed close to me while the mercenaries all looked suitably intimidated.
I gave an easy smile. "Let's get back on the move shall we?"
The merchant nodded. "Yes!"
"How far away are we from Orario?" I questioned, I needed to be back in an hour tops.
"A few days." He responded.
"Yeah, that's not going to work." I hummed.
He sent me a confused glance.
I told him to wait as I went about drawing a truly large demonic circle.
This was my last day here before I should be summoned back to the wizarding world, I needed to prepare. I had offered Hestia to come with me despite the potential danger but she said that she felt more comfortable staying back for now.
So I didn't push.
I carved the final strokes of the demonic circle into the dirt, watching as the symbols pulsed with demonic power. A faint glow was cast.
The merchant and his men looked on with a mix of awe and apprehension, still intimidated from how the monsters had fled at my mere presence. Which was a fair reaction.
"Hold on to something," I said lazily, flexing my fingers before channeling my demonic magic.
Teleportation could be disorientating.
The air around us warped as light consumed our vision, space bended as the magic took hold. A heartbeat later, the entire caravan was gone from the clearing.
When we reappeared, the men stumbled, eyes wide as they took in their surroundings.
The familiar large walls of Orario stood in the distance, but we were still a fair distance away.
It was close enough to reach the city within half an hour, far enough to keep my teleportation a bit of a secret from the general populace. Sure, they would talk but rumours are rumours and they are good for my reputation.
Teleporting was extremely rare from what I knew.
"How... what?" Balsen stammered from the ground, his mind racing to comprehend what had just happened.
"Figured it'd be easier than walking for days," I shrugged, moving the topic along. "Now, about that favor..."
That gained his full attention as he looked noticeably tense, I was the advantage due to the power I had displayed. It was safe to say he probably wouldn't decline anything I had to say.
I reached into my bottomless mokeskin pouch and pulled out three artifacts from the wizarding world.
The only three I had on me.
"How much would these go for?"
Balsen's eyes sharpened with interest, all confusion momentarily forgotten. "Depends on what they do. I'm assuming these are magical artefacts?"
"Yes, how did you know?" I asked curiously.
"A merchant needs to have a keen eye, I've traded in magical artefacts before. They fetch a high price in most cases, depending on their ability." Balsen replied, a certain confidence in his tone that keyed me in on the type of merchant he was.
"This one." I held up a silver ring with etchings, "resists minor mind-affecting magic. Makes it harder to manipulate the wearer."
He looked at it appraisingly. "Powerful, an effect like this is rare, but ultimately not many monsters can use mind-based attacks. Still. This would fetch a good price for the more powerful and well-prepared Familias."
I listened to him, and nodded.
I brought out the next item. Next, I revealed a small brass orb. "This absorbs a single spell and releases it on command. Good in a pinch."
His eyes gleamed. He hummed thoughtfully. "A rare trait for an accessory and incredibly powerful for non-magic users. It could store a life-saving spell assuming it can store high-tier spells?"
I nodded in confirmation. By wizarding world standards anyway.
"This will go for a lot." He muttered.
By now his eyes were basically shining with greed and he looked at me eagerly.
I reached into my pouch once more, retrieving the final item. A small, obsidian pendant engraved with runes.
Balsen's breath hitched as his eyes locked onto it. "What... does this one do?"
I smirked. "I believe this one stores a certain amount of kinetic energy. Any physical impact absorbed by the pendant can be released in a single, devastating burst. It can be added on to armour."
The merchant swallowed, fingers twitching with the urge to reach for it. "That... that is beyond rare. Defensive enchantments are one thing. This will sell for an absurd amount. It could be considered a life-saving move, how much energy could it store?"
"I'm not sure. It should be useful arounds the level of one or two though. Beyond that I'm not sure if it would be of any use." I replied truthfully, I had done research on it.
I tossed the pendant lightly in my hand before closing my fingers around it. "Now, about that favor. I need you to sell these for me. Discreetly. I don't want some random street vendor handling them."
Balsen blinked, then nodded quickly. "Of course. I have connections in the higher markets, private buyers who specialize in rare magical artifacts. If you give me some time, I can ensure they are sold at the best possible price."
I studied him for a moment before extending my hand with the artifacts. "Good. You handle the sales. In return, keep five percent of the total earnings for your troubles. Consider that my way of making this fair."
His lips parted in pure shock before he schooled his features and accepted the items with a respectful nod. "You have my word, Zephyrion. I'll get the best price possible."
Being a Devil was incredibly fun. Just like that, for something so simple. Without cost. I had made a valuable connection.
Getting connections in this world and the other was good.
I did intend to go back to my original world, but that didn't mean I would neglect my new home here and if I was going to go back to such a powerful world I would make sure I had multiple secure power bases.
The wizarding world was useful, despite its relatively low power. The spells were unique and helped my imagination magic grow. This world had become a second home. I honestly wasn't sure when I would get back to my original world.
The cooldown period of my eyes seemed long and I was no closer to mastering it then I had been before my jump to the wizarding world. One thing was for sure, amassing wealth in all these worlds was something I wanted to do.
It was natural for a young devil to be ambitious and my ambition had been halted for far too long due to the seal placed on me.
As he carefully stored the artifacts, I allowed myself a small smile.
A merchant like Balsen was an asset. Not only was he useful, but ensuring he profited from this exchange meant he'd be more eager to work with me in the future.
"I'll check in soon for any updates," I said casually, stretching my arms. "In the meantime, don't do anything foolish."
Balsen gave a quick, eager nod. "Understood. You won't regret this."
I strolled back to our newly-purchased house.
Opening the bedroom door, I paused as I spotted no Hestia. Blinking, I turned around and went back downstairs.
Bell was relaxing on the couch.
I raised an eyebrow at Bell, who looked completely at ease, lounging on the couch with his arms behind his head.
His white hair was slightly ruffled, and his red eyes glanced up at me with curiosity as I stepped inside.
"Hey, Bell. Where's Hestia?" I asked as I moved into the living room.
Bell blinked before sitting up properly, resting his elbows on his knees. "Oh, she said that she would be going to the Hephaestus shop in the Tower of Babel."
Good, she told him where she was going.
I frowned slightly. "Alone?"
Bell hesitated, rubbing the back of his head. "Not exactly. She took your Familiar with her. She said she wanted to check on something important."
That eased the tension in my shoulders, though a small part of me still felt a bit uncomfortable. I wasn't about to take any chances. If she had my Familiar with her, she'd be fine but I still wanted to check on her.
Stepping back outside, I made my way toward the Tower of Babel.
The massive structure was easily noticeable and I didn't need to ask for introductions as it stood over the entire city, its height so absurd that it cast a large shadow on part of the city.
Its pristine, polished white walls gleamed under the midday sun.
I did wonder how they kept it so clean, did they have some sort of wall-scaling cleaners?
As I approached, the streets grew busier. Babel was at the heart of the city, and adventurers of all levels passed through its enormous gates, seeking equipment, supplies, or access to the dungeon below.
Merchants called out from stalls, hawking everything from potions to low-tier magic items. The scent of grilled meat and fresh bread drifted through the air, mixing with the faint tang of metal and oil from the many forges that lined the area.
It wasn't long before I was at my desired location. Stepping inside the Hephaestus shop, I noticed the temperature in the air become a bit warmer
The shop was large, lined with rows of weapons and armor. Swords, spears, and axes rested on polished racks. The shop wasn't too crowded, but a few adventurers milled about, inspecting gear and discussing potential purchases.
I walked past a display of daggers, my gaze sweeping across the room, searching for Hestia.
My attention was drawn to a commotion playing out in one of the corners.
A red-haired young man stood with his arms crossed, his expression dark with frustration.
Two adventurers stood near him, sneering as they inspected weapons on a nearby rack. One of them picked up a sword, turning it over in his hands before scoffing.
"You need more material for what? This? Tch. No wonder it's collecting dust. Why would we waste giving you more when you can't even make magical weapons?" One of them asked.
The other smirked, shaking his head. "Who'd want a sword from a failure? Tsubaki's little toy."
Welf's fists clenched at his sides, his jaw tightening as he struggled to hold back his anger. His eyes burned with restrained fury, but he said nothing, standing stiffly as the words dug into him like daggers.
I watched the exchange in silence.
"Go ask someone else, Welf." One of them laughed.
Welf?
That rang multiple bells.
Welf Crozzo.
We had already purchased some of his gear and it was of extremely high-quality.
My gaze shifted. I stared at him with interest.
Another canon member? At this rate he wouldn't become a Familia member of Hestia. I had already collected Lili.
Do I go after another one? I had mostly kept recruitment low to people I already knew because it was easier to trust them. I'd probably broaden that view soon though.
I needed a smith anyway I suppose.
"Welf Crozzo?" I mused aloud.
His head snapped to me.
Welf's head snapped toward me, his red eyes narrowing. His fists clenched as though he were seconds away from lashing out.
"And who the hell are you?" His voice was just a bit shaky.
I ignored the hostility, stepping forward slightly. "Just someone who's familiar with your work," I said smoothly. "I saw your name on some of the armour I bought."
He was in the Hephaestus Familia right?
Time to play the Devil's advocate.
One of the adventurers snorted. "Familiar with his work? What, you like collecting garbage?"
I regarded him briefly. "Did you make that sword on your waist?"
He grinned. "Damn right."
He pulled out the sword and handed it towards me.
"This is real work." He chuckled.
Welf scowled.
I examined it, and gave it a swing. The blade came loose and flew into the wall.
I flinched as if shocked. "Oh, is it meant to do that?"
His cheeks flushed. And he snatched the weapon from me. Looking at it with an admittedly expert gaze. "T-that shouldn't have happened."
"Oh? Ah, forgive me. I thought with all that talk that it'd be quite strong." I replied with a wince.
Before he could reply in defence, I pulled Welf by the arm. "Nice meeting you, but I'm busy. I need some equipment and I'm sure you'll be busy fixing your sword."
I got a sputtered reply.
I dragged Welf a few steps away, ignoring his surprised resistance until we were far enough from the other adventurers.
When I let go, he scowled, rubbing his arm.
"What the hell was that?" he demanded.
"Just saving you from wasting your breath," I said, glancing over my shoulder.
The adventurers had started arguing over their broken sword, and I smirked. "Seemed like they weren't worth your time."
Welf crossed his arms. "I didn't need you to intervene."
He didn't seem unhappy about it though.
I shrugged. "Maybe not. But I do need a blacksmith."
That made him pause. His red eyes narrowed slightly. "Yeah? And who are you?"
"Zephyrion. Captain of the Hestia Familia." I announced proudly
He blinked, before scoffing. "Never heard of you."
"Not surprising," I admitted easily. "We're small but strong. But that's not really important, is it?"
He frowned. "What do you want from me?"
I grinned. "I told you already, I need a blacksmith. Someone who can actually make quality weapons, not ones that fall apart after a single swing."
"Yeah, I doubt that. While they may be annoying. Both of them are good smiths. You did something." He concluded.
"I swung the sword, yes." I replied with a nod.
"That's not what I mean-"
"Anyways, as I've said, I bought armour from you before. My lieutenant wears it. I like your style." I responded, cutting him off.
"If this is some ploy to insult me-"
"I'm serious." I interrupted smoothly, watching his reaction. "You made the armor I bought. And it was damn good work."
That caught him off guard. His posture eased, just a fraction. "…You actually think so?"
"I know so," I said. "Which is why I have to ask. What are you wasting your time here?"
His brow furrowed. "What?"
I gestured toward the adventurers. "They don't respect you. They mock your name. They act like you're some charity case. Is that what you want?"
His fingers curled into fists. "…No."
"Then why stay?" I pressed. "You're a smith. You have talent. And yet, you're struggling to get materials because no one here values your work." I leaned in slightly, lowering my voice. "But I do."
Welf swallowed hard, he could see where this was going.
"I need a smith, a good one," I continued, "and you need materials along with a place that won't stop your growth."
His eyes flickered with something unreadable. "You… you want me to join your Familia?"
"Why not?" I said smoothly. "The Hephaestus Familia clearly isn't giving you what you need. You could be doing so much more."
He hesitated. "It's not that simple, I've just met you! This isn't normal."
I rolled my eyes, pulling out one of the ingots I stole from Gringotts. Casually, I tossed it over to him.
He inspected the metal curiously before his eyes widened. "I've never seen this type of metal before but I can tell… it's strong."
"Yeah, it's a special Ore that not even Hephaestus herself has access to." I proudly announced.
"Join me," I said, voice smooth and sure. "I'll make sure you get the respect—and the materials—you deserve."
Welf was silent for a long moment, his fists slowly unclenching.
"This is such a crazy idea." He sighed. "To just switch Familia's due to the words of someone I just met."
His eyes trailed down to the metal with barely restrained excitement.
"I wouldn't say it's that crazy, you aren't getting any by the bare minimum from here. Take a jump, fortune favours the bold."
Another pause. Then, with a slow, almost reluctant smirk, he held out his hand.
"Alright, Zephyrion. You've got yourself a smith."
"Oh? Such a jump in faith. For a rare metal I supposedly don't have." A feminine voice said from behind me.
Welf went slightly pale.
I turned around and met eyes with a busy red-head with an eyepatch on one of her eyes.
She tilted her head in response.
Hestia was next to her. "Zephyrion?"
"Hey, Hestia." I greeted, ignoring the admittedly hot red-head.
She was carrying what I could identify as a knife wrapped in cloth.
"What's that?" I questioned curiously, a weapon for Bell?
She beamed.
"A work of art." The bombshell next to her stated.
She was ignored, her eye twitched minutely.
Hestia unwrapped it.
It was a knife? A golden knife with words inscribed onto its surface.
The knife levitated into my hand, I gripped it and felt a prick of blood get taken. The knife glowed a moment later. I felt a connection form.
This was an ultimate-tier weapon. Made by a god with a domain in blacksmithing. This was honestly above all the swords I had seen during my time with my Devil Family.
Its form shifted. A long, golden shaft was formed, lined with golden engravings.
The head wasn't a simple point but a three-pronged design, the central blade sharp and deadly, while the curved extensions looked razor sharp. Glowing blue words were written along its entire length.
I felt that it had another form, and the spear shifted again. The middle of the pointed blade had already looked like something akin to a sword. That was made more prominent as its hilt elongated
A sword formed, and Welf visibly gawked.
I hope this didn't hurt my negotiations.
"Pretty cool." I nodded.
Though… something was more worrying. Just how much did a weapon of this calibre cost?
Hestia jumped in happiness and wrapped around me in a clingy hug.
"Pretty cool?" Hephaestus muttered in disbelief.
Her eyes narrowed at me.
"Cool?!" She growled.
"Could be improved, but that's just a material thing. I like it." I smiled down at Hestia. She didn't seem to mind my shit-talking. "How much did it cost?"
Hestia froze. "A lot…?"
"How do you intend to pay this?" I questioned.
Don't let yourself go into debt. Let others go into your debt. It was a way of life.
"With my income." She shyly replied.
I sighed, smiling. I doubted I could have gotten the Goddess over there to make me a weapon herself. I was pretty sure she only took rare requests from her friend.
"You are certainly cocky aren't you?" Hephaestus asked, crossing her arms.
I did see her eyes travel to the ingot and widen as she got a closer look.
Hephaestus crossed her arms, her single visible eye locked onto the ingot in Welf's hand. A slow smirk curled at the corner of her lips.
"You know," she mused, "that ingot of yours is quite the rare find. If you let me take a look, I could use it in your favour. maybe even upgrade that fancy weapon I made for you."
I didn't take the bait.
"Who are you again?" I asked, tilting my head slightly.
Silence.
Welf went stiff, his face turning several shades paler as he slowly turned his head toward me, eyes wide with disbelief. Hestia buried her face in her hands.
Hephaestus' eye twitched. "You can't be serious."
I knew what I was doing, but I was still a bit resentful that she kicked Hestia out. Then again, she didn't have to put up with her either. I wasn't being logical about this. I calmed myself down and decided to dial my resentment down.
A Goddess smith was an invaluable connection.
Welf made a strangled noise in his throat, torn between horror and hysterics. "Zephyrion… She's Hephaestus. Goddess of the Forge. The best smith in the world."
Hestia sent me a small frown, she knew what I was doing and why I was doing it. I gave her a comforting squeeze.
I blinked. "Oh." Then, I turned back to Hephaestus and smirked. "It's nice to meet you."
Welf looked like he was about to collapse.
But then, realization dawned in his eyes as he processed my words. He turned to Hephaestus, hesitant yet eager. "Wait… if you really don't have access to this metal, then that means…" He trailed off, looking down at the ingot with barely restrained excitement.
I could see it. The decision was already made.
She sighed. "You're annoyed at me?"
"No." I shook my head.
She decided to move on after a moment of staring at me.
"Well, if you don't want a free upgrade, that's your loss. But," she added smoothly, "you could always use it to pay off a significant chunk of Hestia's debt. I imagine she'd be very grateful."
I turned to Hestia, raising an eyebrow. "Is that what you want?"
Hestia flinched. "No! Absolutely not! I gave you that weapon because I wanted to! Don't you dare use that metal on my behalf!"
"Alright then," I said easily, tucking the ingot back into my coat. "Apologies, Hephaestus, but this is Familia property. Only for Familia members."
She laughed, shaking her head. "You interest me."
Hestia stiffened up for some reason.
"Okay…"
She smiled, before turning and walking away. My eyes briefly dipped towards her wide hips before coming back to look at Hestia.
She gave me an amused look and led me away, back home. With a new smith in toe.
-Scene Break-
I sat down, reading a magical book next to our newly gained Familia member. Welf.
A pull on my demonic power made me pause.
It was time.
Clint had followed my orders to the very letter.
Welf already knew about my trip, he was a bit confused but overall happy. I'd given him a large sum of money and a Familia that didn't treat him like trash. We had even set up a small forge for him. It had only been a day but he seemed happy with his choice.
Let's hope Bell could continue in my stead.
I sent Hestia a look and she frowned.
She pulled me into a needy kiss. "Come back safely, okay?"
"Of course." I replied confidently. "I won't be long."
I made sure to have my new weapon with me, something she noticed with a bright smile.
She nodded, "When things are more safe here, I hope you'll allow me to come with you."
"You need only ask." I whispered into her ear.
With that, I vanished.
-{Ajuka Beelzebub}-
He had found something.
The puzzle that was the missing Zephyrion Gremory had gained its first clue.
He walked into the room and met the eyes of his long-time companion. Her eyes were cold. Just like they had been back in the civil war days.
Ajuka understood. She had always been connected to her family. It was what dragged her out of the deep scarring of killing so many people. That had a toll, no matter how cruel or kind a person was.
He knew how connected she was to both her younger sister and especially her younger brother.
As Rias had grown she had become a bit more distant as tended to happen to most Devil girls.
Zephyrion had always been more inquisitive due to his weakness compared to other children due to the seal placed on him. The late start in magical tutoring hadn't helped either, but with two overprotective Satan's worried for his safety it had been rather hard.
"You've found something?" She questioned, tapping her throne, one of the four around the currently empty conference room slowly.
It was just them, as he had wanted to keep his revelation a secret for now.
"Yes." Ajuka replied coolly.
He had been working on this case with more focus than he normally gave to cases outside his projects. Zephyrion had annoyingly become someone he liked.
A very select few. That was due to the apathetic life path he had taken.
It was… annoying.
"Tell me." She replied with a hint of annoyance.
It was best not to keep a Devil who's primary sin was wrath waiting.
"Multiple searches have been conducted within Zephyrion Gremory's room, the suspected infiltration and kidnapping of Zephyrion has yielded no results. The wards remain intact, unbroken with no small pathways or temporary infiltrations." Ajuka listed. "The flash of light that Serafall saw remains a mystery. That had been the case as we searched through all types of artefacts and teleportation techniques that could have been used."
She listened intently.
"A new type of energy has been found, a rare, almost unheard of energy. Which would explain why the wards didn't stop it from happening. It simply wasn't built to protect against or from." Ajuka explained. "Dimensional energy, an energy mostly found within the dimensions gap. A rare few Pantheons even possess constructs to use this type of energy."
"So what?" She said, her lips morphing into a barely restrained scowl. "Another Pantheon had kidnapped Zephyrion?"
"That… could be the case as loathed as I am to admit it. We have a lot of enemies. Our predecessors have done a good job of making Devils hated around the world." Ajuka replied with a sigh. "Even now, the Evil Pieces are abused and used to unwillingly reincarnate members from other Factions. Despite our attempts. The Devil society has a long way to go."
"Do they plan to use him as blackmail then?" She asked, her eyes containing a worrying amount of rage.
"Well, maybe. It may not even be a Faction, it could be an individual. Worst case is they use him as a way to teach us a lesson." Ajuka stated, his eyes widened slightly as even he felt a bit of anger at that. He really didn't care for Devil society or anyone really.
He only cared about his parents, his fellow Satans who were more of his best friends than anything else and a select few Individuals who had caught his attention over the years.
Ajuka sighed as the room was destroyed in an instant, a barrier forming around the place that would at least contain the copious amounts of demonic energy that would frighten half the underworld into a panic.
She reigned in her anger the next moment and let out a sigh. "So how do we find him?"
"We can start by checking in other dimensions and sending out probes to other Factions. I can't pinpoint where he is based on what I have but I do have a sense for the dimensional energy used. I could find the exit." Ajuka calmly answered.
"Do it, use all the resources you need. Just get him back." She replied softly.
Ajuka nodded, leaving the room.
He was one step closer.
While he didn't think they were responsible, he would start with the Old Satan Faction.
They had been getting too bold as of late anyway.
-END-
if you wish to read up to sixteen chapters in advance among my stories and other things please visit pa/t reon * / Snipez818, I appreciate all the support!