Beelzebub-sama closed the book he was reading and greeted us. “Long time no see, members of the Gremory household…no, right now, I should say the members of [DxD].”
Azazel-sensei took a step forwards first, and shook hands with Beelzebub-sama who had stood up. “It’s been a long time since we last saw each other in the Underworld, Ajuka.”
Beelzebub-sama smiled as he shook hands. “Being able to meet you like this without any other VIPs present is a first, Former Governor Azazel-dono.”
“Rather than me, did you prepare this beforehand as well?”
Sensei said that as he looked around at the beach. Beelzebub-sama smiled wryly and replied
“You could say that our meeting is rather dangerous for our factions, even if there are the members of [DxD] to intervene.”
After the two people of high stature met face to face, Rias brought up a question. “Ajuka-sama, what about Raiser and Ravel?”
Beelzebub-sama looked towards the bed. “Raiser Phoenix was just taken away by the Phoenix family who came a little earlier. But they thought that it would be more appropriate to entrust the ojou-santo you. Ravel-san is over there.”
Looking over to the bed — Ravel was sleeping there peacefully. —Uh! I, and everyone else who couldn’t wait ran to her side. “Ravel! Ravel!”
“Ravel!”
Koneko-chan and I both called Ravel’s name from the bedside. In order to reassure us, Beelzebub-sama said
“She’s just asleep right now.”
In response to our calls, Ravel spoke. “…Nnn…Ise…sama? And Koneko-san…?”
Having just opened her eyes, Ravel noticed Koneko-chan and me! “Uwuaaaaahhh!”
Seeing that Ravel was safe, Koneko-chan embraced Ravel as she cried. At this time, I was a little embarrassed to hug her… But I couldn’t stop my tears from welling up, seeing that Ravel was safe and sound! Looking around, everyone was at ease with their hands over their chest. …I see, not only Ravel, Raiser was also safe and returned home with the Phoenix family. Sensei added on a bit of information. “In fact, my special agents — Slash Dog’s team, went to the Phoenix household as Raiser’s bodyguards. Nothing happened to them.”
So Ikuse-san’s mission was to be Raiser’s bodyguard. …However, to send the Grigori’s top special team as bodyguards, it seems like Raiser’s safety was rather important… It seemed to be related to the place that Ravel slept in. It was certain that the pair became involved in some sort of incident. After we confirmed that the Phoenix siblings were safe, Beelzebub-sama said to us
“Well, the reason for inviting you guys and the Former Governor over isn’t as simple as just telling you that this girl is safe and sound.”
Saying this, Beelzebub-sama took out from his pocket — a chess piece. …Speaking of Beelzebub-sama, I remembered that he was the creator of the [Evil Pieces]. This was something which was already known…but I hadn’t seen the shape of that piece before. It was unlike the [Pawn] or [Knight], and neither was it like the [Bishop], [Rook], or [Queen]. “Is there a connection to this chess piece? It doesn’t feel like just any other Evil Piece.”
That’s right, the aura which emanated from that piece — it was certainly an Evil Piece. The reincarnated Devils and I who were present could feel it. Out from Beelzebub-sama‘s mouth came a shocking truth. “—This is the [King] piece.”
[“—What! ?”]
…How could it be? It was actually that!? Everyone who heard that was left stunned. That was to be expected! It was because what we had learnt until now about the Evil Pieces was that the [King] piece did not exist. From what we were taught, after becoming a high-class Devil, all we had to do was touch the [Monument] inside the Maou’s or various Lords’ castles and we would become a [King]. After that, we would be able to have our own peerage and a set of Evil Pieces. That was why they told us that the [King] piece did not exist… Although I mentioned before that everyone was startled by it, one person was an exception, and the person who remained absolutely calm was — Azazel-sensei. “…Although I’ve heard of the rumours, this is really my first time seeing it.”
“…You already knew about it, sensei?”
After hearing my question, sensei put his hand on his chin. “I said they were rumours. Originally, after signing the agreement with the Devils, I continued to search for the truth.”
No, no, I was just too surprised! Even as a high-class Devil and [King], Rias seemed to have a look of incredible disbelief as she looked at the piece which Beelzebub-sama was holding in his hand. “…[King]…piece? How is it possible? The technology to produce the [King] piece hasn’t been developed right? Isn’t it said that simply completing the registration process to become [King] with the [Monument] is enough? That’s how the system is, right?”
Hearing what Rias said, Beelzebub-sama nodded. “Well, the [King] piece originally didn’t exist. What you said just now was originally the Evil Pieces system, and the registration process for becoming [King]…no, I can only say that’s all there is to the registration system. But in order not to let the [King] piece be exposed in the current story which exists, when a servant Devil is promoted, the piece within their body fusing or overlapping with the [King] piece is judged to be a very dangerous thing.”
Beelzebub-sama played with the piece in his hand as he continued
“The characteristic of this piece — is simply power enhancement. But, the strengthening isn’t as weak as just two or three times. As long as one possesses this, it could be ten times, or even a strengthening of over a hundred times is possible. That literally means, power can be enhanced far more than normal. That’s why the [King] piece was prohibited. The fear was that the people who had obtained this sort of power could have malicious intentions towards the government, and could harm the government. Excessive power will blind people’s eyes.”
…Pure strengthening. Strengthening of ten or even a hundred-fold was basically the same effect as Ophis’s snakes wasn’t it? Did the Old Maou Faction know about this? …I don’t know, and even if they knew, I wonder if they used it. Why was the [King] piece made by the Maou then—. I don’t think they hated the current Maous just because they used the [King] piece. I still remembered the Old Maou Faction who harboured such strong evil feelings. …Those guys obtained snakes after getting the support of Ophis, and then indulged themselves in power. If they were able to use the [King] piece, many high-class Devils and reincarnated Devils who could easily rise up would appear. …Diadora would definitely have lost himself with the power of the [King] piece if he had one. Prohibiting it was an understandable matter. Beelzebub-sama created a small magic circle next to his hand. After applying a small amount of energy to it, the details of dozens of people appeared on the beach. …I felt like they were all people that I had seen in video recordings and Rating Game magazines.