They are especially a bit strict on things which aren’t elegant. They must have thought that the popularity of Ise is too vulgar. Even Ise himself has perverted techniques. Well, that’s the difference of our culture and the values we have.”
Mephisto Pheles-san and Sensei say such things…… No, please allow me to say this. I think the Underworld is the weird one since something like [Oppai Dragon] is popular! Mephisto Pheles-san continues after making a cough. [Anyway, I have sent all of the documents I received this time. It will be great if you contact us if you see anyone who lives up to your standards.] ……This time? I started to feel suspicious about Mephisto Pheles-san’s words. “When you say this time, does that mean there’s more?”
When I ask, Rias answers me. “Yes, of course. It doesn’t mean that we will choose from these ones, and even if we do make a pact, that magician will not live long like a Devil, and there’s no way that they will be able to live for eternity. If there isn’t any suitable partner this time, we can just ask for newer documents. Also even if we make a pact, we will become free again if the person we make a pact with passes away due to their age or by an accident. Then we will have to make a new pact.”
Ah, I understand now. So that’s what it is. So we don’t have to force ourselves to choose this time. Even if we do choose our partner, we can find a new partner if they die. Kiba gives additional information. “And even if you do make a pact, there are times when it’s for a certain time only. For example, a year long pact due to the partner’s circumstances, or the pact can also be cancelled if they can’t pay us the price.”
A temporary pact, and cancellation due to receiving unfair payment. ……It’s really like a business. So this is also one of the jobs of a Devil. ……The pact between a Devil and a magician that I imagined before was more dark and fantasy-like. Something where they perform a creepy ritual in a dark laboratory and they summon a Devil through the magic-circle to make an evil pact. It looks like the reality is more of a business-like thing. Since we can’t carry all these piles of documents, we decided to send them to my house through the magic-circle. While we are doing that, Mephisto Pheles-sama talks to Ravel who is helping everyone. [Is the lady over there a Devil from the House of Phoenix?] “Y-Yes. My name is Ravel Phoenix.”
Ravel introduces herself politely. Yup, she’s acting like a girl who was raised in a good house. Mephisto Pheles says it while rubbing his chin. [Yup……the thing I’m about to tell you is a top secret which is only known in our organisation. It seems like a group of “Stray Magicians” have joined forces with remnant magicians from the “Khaos Brigade”, and they have continued to make contacts with those related to the House of Phoenix.] —! ……That sure is creepy information. Rias questions him. “……What do you mean by that?”
[You do know that the Phoenix’s tear has been passing around to the terrorists in secret, right?] Ravel nods. “Yes. I heard that one group of distributors were making trades in secret. But that has been dealt with, and I have heard that it’s now back to normal—”
[No, in the black market, tears which aren’t produced by the “House of Phoenix” are being sold now.] [—!?] Everyone gets shocked at that information! Seriously!? So tears which aren’t made by the House of Phoenix are going around now!? Rias twitches her eyebrows. “If it isn’t a genuine one, then I think it’s something without any effect, a fake……——! Don’t tell me……”
Mephisto Pheles-san shakes his head to Rias who seems to have realised something. [That’s right, Rias-chan. Tears that have an effect close to the genuine one are being distributed in secret. Here, this is it.] A small bottle appears in Mephisto Pheles-san’s hand. ……So this is the fake tear? [I don’t know how they are doing it, but the Phoenix Tears which aren’t made by the House of Phoenix are being distributed, and the stray magicians are trying to get contacts with those related to the Phoenix as if they are related. Well, they must be related. That’s why I wanted that lady over there to be careful because she might be targeted.] “…………”
Ravel puts on a bit of a gloomy face at Mephisto Pheles-san’s words. “I will also ask the Grigori to find out what’s happening. Oh, and don’t worry. A strong prince is behind Ravel. There won’t be a problem. Also there are powerful barriers put on this area, the place related to the alliance of the Three Great Powers. They won’t be able to pass through that easily. If Ravel stays here, and has her prince by her side, she will definitely be safe.”
Sensei pats my head. Am I the strong prince that he’s referring to? W-Well, I will certainly protect Ravel at all cost if anything happens. That’s obvious. Sensei then gives information which makes me feel uneasy. “Not just that. It seems like there is someone who is trying to unify the remnants of the Old-Maou faction, the remnants of the Hero-faction, and the magicians that are hiding themselves. I hear that he’s the official person standing at the top. I will be getting more detailed information from now, but……I feel really uneasy about this. It’s certain that their forces are dying out. But what are they planning to do while their forces are weakening?”
Please stop saying that…… Your bad feelings basically turn out to be true……
Rather, who is the person trying to unify those guys who have already collapsed? I also wonder about Ophis’ stolen power…… Ah, am I going to get involved with this again……? I sure hate this. Mephisto Pheles-san then says,
[I’m sorry that we went off topic. Anyway, I will leave my magicians to all of you. I’m hoping that all of you will be able to make a good pact with someone~.] Like this, the talk with the chairman of the magician’s association, Mephisto Pheles-san, ended. I’m concerned about the case involving the house of Phoenix, but I will have to look through the documents given to me. It seems like it will be a long night today……
“Ugh, I feel dizzy……”
On the night after a few days had passed, I, who had finished my job for the day, am looking through the mountains of documents on the upper floor of the Hyoudou residence. “Ise-sama, I have finished decoding this magical symbol. Please read it.”
The one who sits besides me is my talented manager, Ravel-chan. It’s late at night. Ravel and I lined up the documents on the floor, and we are going through each document one by one. In the other room, everyone is looking in their own way at the magician-style resume. Asia, Koneko-chan, Xenovia, and Gasper, are looking through the documents while listening to Rias and Akeno-san’s opinions. I also go down stairs to get Rias and Akeno-san’s opinions, but I’m mostly looking through the documents while discussing it with Ravel.