Flesh is Weak

The Great Work begins

My date after the mission with Kuroka had been incredibly fun. A night of fish then karaoke where I learned that Kuroka couldn't sing, and reinforced that neither could I. Our tone deaf singing made people cringe but that was part of the fun. When we left the karaoke bar I started a half chase between us home. Everything tonight had made this day up there in the top three in this reality. Especially when the machine spirit who controlled Messenger-2 told me the results of my servitor. Fifty fallen dead from the explosives inside the servitor was more than I had hoped we would get. Kuroka had enjoyed this as much as I had and as we entered the house her tails were out with her head on my shoulder.

"Tonight was fun Greg. It was the best night of my life nya."

I kissed her hair.

"I love you Roka."

That got happy purrs and we went up to enjoy the night together. Only stopping midway up the stairs for Maeva to tell me that she had got confirmations from Seekvaria and Lady Paimon to meet me in the underworld tomorrow. I smiled wider thanking my head maid. Kuroka was amused then dragged me inside our room. Murayama and Ravel were talking about something on the bed while Rias and Shirone were on the floor next to the bed on the Xbox playing Halo. Shirone in pjs and sitting next to Rias trying to get a better idea of how to play the game. Kuroka snuck up on her sister to begin a struggle snuggle while I sat next to Murayama and Ravel. The two smiled seeing me and pulled me into bed before Ravel asked.

"The mission?"

I smiled.

"We did extremely well and did significant damage to them. I believe we can spring the trap soon."

That got wide but worried smiles from everyone including Ravel.

"I hope so. Will we be ready is the question."

I worry about that too.

"Our troops are getting better, and I will be making for the veterans' new weapons that can even the odds more. I want to pick your brain on how we can convince the Uvalls to switch sides without the daughter."

Ravel considered that before throwing several ideas out and we either dismissed them or found holes. Murayama threw in ideas every so often while watching Kuroka and they were decent yet also filled with holes. There had to be something besides just humbling that would get the Uvalls on our side. I privately even considered assassination to remove Lord Uvall so his son could take his place. I was still considering that as everyone began to get ready for bed and Rias excitedly told me her story about what had happened in the underworld.

I smile and listen to Rias tell the story of the builder she had helped. The story continues till Rias yawned before setting her head on my shoulder as we all slowly drifted to sleep.

My dream that night was a firestorm of crystal raining down. One large pure white-green crystal slammed into me as I was jolted awake.

That jolt was an elbow to the gut by someone. That someone was a snoring Shirone on my left. After waking up fully I got up slowly trying to not wake anyone else. That failed when I realized that Ravel and Rias had also gotten elbowed by Shirone to the floor. The three of us slipped off for various things and regrouped at the island in the kitchen. Reports were read on my cogitator by the three of us.

I was hopeful for today as we prepared for our underworld journey. Bionics were again made until I hurt and past the limit. After I was done, I was held by the Ravel and Rias on the family room couch. Maeva had come into the room with letters including a letter with the seal of House Paimon. I opened it before letting out a sigh of relief. The Paimon had agreed to the meeting and would be in Ryza later today. Ravel got a wide smile and this set off our next debate on how we get the Uvalls to switch. It was looking more and more likely I would need to make serious concessions with the daughter extremely likely if the concessions fail. We were still talking about this as I pinged Trina and Adria that we would be entering the village soon.

At the entrance to our temporary clinic were Trina and Adria who were still trying to wrap their minds around the fact we had arrived that fast. The first sights of Ryza were promising with the many rundown buildings in the village were mostly gone and replaced with the beginnings of a modern city. The new housing district where this temp clinic was is close to a large square with four five story gothic apartment blocks up. I noted that a fifth was being built as workers were flying up building materials to others. Ravel was impressed by what she saw. After a quick tour by Adria was finished Ravel began helping us prepare for the next group of veterans. I made more bionics hearing the size of the next wave from Trina and listen to Adria tell me that they had plenty of space for new people as we had only filled up a building and a half with the old villagers and prior wave of veterans. There were so many extra hands that Orthan had started making the first smelter and the beginnings of my first manufactorium.

Orders for the builders on new buildings, me making more packs for the miners and more were done as I prepare with the Skitarii to greet the next wave of veterans. We formed two lines with Rias taking the Gremory veterans led in by a Gremory guard, and I took the Astaroth ones that were led here by a member of Geros's peerage this time a maid with grey hair.

The veterans upon entering the house had wide eyes of amazement from the city and upon getting their new limbs many had tears. Several looked ready to beg us a way to repay this. They were gently herded towards an exit after they were reassured they owed nothing. The lines for the two of us moved fast as Rias had quickly mastered applying the limb. My line was shorter than Rias's and when she needed more bionics, I made them for her while all the Gremory veterans watched in amazement. As I was making bionics I saw a large group of Gremory veterans whispering fiercely by the door with many Astaroth veterans. I couldn't hear what they were saying, and one pointed at something that got pure amazement from the others. They were about to begin a second round of whispering, but they hushed and dispersed when one of my Skitarii looked at them. The fittings continued for several hours with neither Rias nor I taking a break. The lines moved forward till mine was gone letting me make several things for when our guest would arrive.

That person finally arrived around one pm. It was Seekvaria dressed in a modernish green, yellow dress that worked well with her hair. Seekvaria studied me closely behind her glasses and besides her was her queen Alivian. He was being a proper dragon butler standing two steps behind Seekvaria. I smile smirked at Seekvaria, and she turned her pink eyes on me. She took on a look of curiosity seeing the bionics pile.

I bowed my head in acknowledgment that the Agares were superior in rank to the Astaroths. Seekvaria took that respect before she began making her way towards me with her heels clinking after each step. She stopped in front of me, and her eyes watched Rias apply a bionic leg before she returned her gaze to me.

"The Lord of Iron indeed."

That was said haughtily.

"I wish to live up to my title entirely Heiress Agares."

Seekvaria didn't show emotion for a second before she let loose a small smile.

"I see why Rias likes you as does Heiress Sitri. I understand thanks to them why you have been so busy. Thank you for dealing with my terrible pawn."

I returned the nod.

"I was happy to do the deed his actions were disgusting and almost cost me my best friend. It's a pleasure to meet you at last."

Seekvaria let lose a smile.

"As I am you. Sona told me that you are interested in helping her with her dream. That you knocked out my name for her future school and will do more besides that."

Seekvaria was looking at me like I was pure evil for destroying her hopes of Gundam Academy. I kept my smile smirk.

"My suggestion is better for the academy. However, I have heard from Rias and Heiress Sitri along with a little bird that you are trying for Gundam."

Seekvaria let go of her stuck-up self then and she grinned wide.

"I am indeed doing that. One day I will have real Gundam, and be in the top ten of the ratings games!"

Her enthusiasm was strong, and I caught Alivian getting the same eager look for mechs as his king before he schooled himself. I break that bubble for Seekvaria.

"The same bird told me that it would be several decades before you get that."

That immediately put a rain cloud over Skeevaria's head that disappeared fast as she got slightly angry with me.

"It will be less than a decade, so your bird is wrong! I will not be mocked by someone that I had such high hopes of perhaps … what is this?"

I had handed over a blueprint to Seekvaria mid-way through the rant. She takes it still confused before she opened it up and froze seeing the plan. Alivian comes over and does the same. I smile smirk on full power.

"With that plan and my project here it should be a year or two for your goal. Meet the Questoris Pattern Knight. One of several different patterns of designs I have for mech walkers. As I plan to eventually be building vehicles here, I don't think it would take long to get an assembly line set up for said Knights."

Seekvaria looked at the plan and was completely silent. Before the loudest squeal I have ever heard comes with Seekvaria getting ready to dance.

"You are the best! Finally, I can have them! At last, my dad and I can have our long-wanted dream of battles between us in mechs! Whatever you want is yours! I'll even marry you if I can have this knight!"

Seekvaria was so busy dancing that the few veterans left in line near Rias sweat dropped. Ravel who had been doing work on a cogitator on the stairs looked up and she smirked seeing that dance. I tell Seekvaria what I want.

"Get your father ready to vote NKF from now on after something happens and I will have the first two of the four knights I have in the queue reserved for you and your dad. You flatter me with the proposal of marriage, but I don't think we should do that. I'd rather be your best friend."

Seekvaria kept dancing with Alivian joined his king in the dance getting more sweat dropping from the veterans. Seekvaria beams wide.

"I will get him to do that! I'll even throw support to this place if it gets me my Gundam faster! Anything for my new best friend!"

I smile and take the support.

"Get me more builders and I will have my forges built faster. I only have one guild here and will offer you and your father a twenty five percent stake in my knight building forge once it's made."

Seekvaria was in such a good mood she immediately agreed.

"Done just tell me what you need, and I'll get you it!"

Ravel helpfully began listing what we need so far for Ryza while Alivian takes notes on a notepad that magically appears. Rias came over after giving out the last bionic and she grabbed my arm before she began her own knucklehead attack on her friend.

"He's mine Seek and you can't have him! My perfect husband! I win!"

Seekvaria got out of the high and retorted back at Rias with a glare.

"I don't need him for a husband he's my new best friend and that's better!"

This shows me their relationship as being slight knuckleheads like Issari and Irina. They continue arguing while Ravel tells Alivian who he is to coordinate. The knuckleheads kept at each other and that was amusing but the easiest part of the future bloc was made. The second part would be here in less than thirty minutes. I heard as we left the house Rias continuing her bragging to Seekvaria about me. We also heard a deep sigh from Alivian trying to get the knuckleheads to stop fighting each other as tic marks grew. Ravel told me the part that was the most important for her plan. I was amused by that and it could work. We stopped in the square when we heard a cough behind us.

There with a big smile was Nikola and a middle-aged woman dressed in a surprising thing. A human military uniform that went well with her grey glasses and brown hair. The unknown woman was in a relaxed military stance and was tearing up seeing Ravel and me. I looked at the woman and then Nikola who beamed and proudly bragged to his fellow pouting at an apartment building.

"See Grace I told you Alex was going places with his ideas! Juka showed me that computer he got and you and I both can't make heads of it."

Grace hit Nikola on the shoulder before she charged over to me and pulled me into a hug. I was still from the contact while this Grace smiled into my hair.

"Nikola that isn't as important as having them both back."

Grace finally let go of me and I felt her evil pieces. She was a four-piece pawn without gear. I looked at her in confusion as Nikola told me her full name.

"This is Grace Hooper kinda a big deal ya know."

My eyes widened. Oh, by Perturabo's man child tantrums this is a legendary person! The woman that was behind many of the first computing languages. I want to fanboy publicly because this woman was the first cog of so many things and Koriel had stopped doing her own work to listen to me fanboy over Grace internally. Grace was pleased I knew her achievements with Nikola beaming.

"I volunteered to help with an idea that Juka told me that you have. Grace just wanted to get out of the labs because she's bored."

Grace was smiling wide at me.

"I am excited to talk with you about your programming Alex and to get to know your queen. The bug she fixed escaped even my knowledge to fix. Your code has so many things I'd like to learn and eventually apply to the computer network that we use for the evil piece machine."

Oh I want to oil my robes. Kuroka, Shirone, and I could study under her. That must be clear on my face for Nikola and Grace to see. Nikola had an extra excited look on his face.

"What is this idea that Juka said you want to share with me?"

I was still starstruck by Grace and absent minded grabbed my plans from a pocket. Nikola looked at me curious before he took the offered plan. Nikola opened the plan before starting to read it. He grew very excited drawing in Grace.

"Alex. This is a.."

That broke me from fanboying as I smile smirked on full power.

"A clean energy car yes. Plasma powered or hydrogen powered depending on the model. I plan to build them here in my forge eventually. It's time for revenge Uncle Nikola! Fuck Edison and Ford as these will be Teslas!"

That got a stream of evil giggles from Nikola and me before the giggles became supervillain laughter. As the two of us have our supervillain moment an amused Grace along with a hot and bothered Ravel watched on. Ravel kindly began the tour after we finished laughing and her face plus a whisper to me as we pass the apartments promised a fun time for the two of us later.

The tour for Grace and Nikola was quick and both were impressed by the scope and scale of my looming forge city plans. Nikola also joined the growing Noosphere after getting a cogitator of his own and he sighs saying he can do more storm watching. Grace was not impressed by that but was settled by her own cogitator. She told me she wanted to pick my brain on the computing language I used for it because it was way beyond her. I learned from the two that my dad was contributing to Ryza by getting us building materials and food that would be arriving consistently for the inhabitants. The two scientists were eager to see what would eventually come out of Ryza when we got to the manufacturing point.

The two scientists eagerly departed with their cogitators through a portal. That done we began to get ready for our next meeting.

Ravel and I walked to the edge of Ryza past the watchman who was watching as a group of three were being guided into Ryza. Ravel was bouncing in excitement as we waited for the Paimon to arrive. That portal came nearly on the exact minute of the scheduled time and out stepped a tall woman with long blonde, white hair dressed in noble purple robes with the sigil of House Paimon. Next to her was a young woman our age and hiding behind her mother having the same blonde white hair cut short. She was looking at the ground until she caught sight of Ravel and that made her brighten up. I bow to Lady Paimon and the older woman bowed back while watching me carefully.

"Heir Astaroth."

Her voice was like wind on leaves.

"Lady Paimon thank you for agreeing to meet me."

Lady Paimon looked me up and down before she seemed to make up her mind on something.

"Let's cut the niceties Heir Astaroth I want to know why you sent that letter to me and what you want."

She's gruff too and my opinion of her is higher now.

"I will get straight to the point then Lady Paimon. I would like for you to move from the neutral camp to the NKF. I am willing to negotiate with you for that."

Lady Paimon kept a mostly blank face with a hint of a frown showing.

"What can you offer me that the Satans and the Baels can't? What would make me agree to join the NKF? I have heard all the offers from both sides, and I won't waste my time if your offer is one of the same things I have heard time and again from them."

I tilt my head towards Azura making her jump slightly.

"I am willing to accept your daughter into my peerage as the starting point. The second point is that I believe I can help her get something that you desire."

Lady Paimon frowned deeply. Azura looked around her mother at me in wide-eyed disbelief. Lady Paimon continued thinking and she glanced at her daughter. There was pure motherly affection there and she considered further.

"That is a new offer. As for your claim I highly doubt that you could do that. Having her, in your peerage is a better more believable offer. However, that would only win you one vote from me."

I looked at Azura's green eyes that caught Ravel's own before a nod came that seemed to steady her. I again looked at Lady Paimon.

"If I can get her your family gift?"

Lady Paimon considered before she shrugged.

"Not possible and I won't listen to that nonsense,. We will be going if you continue that. Come along Zura."

I had expected that and played my trap card.

"I will make a bet with you Lady Paimon."

Lady Paimon froze, and I smile internally. Ravel had told me that the older woman loved bets and that was how she fed her unknown sin. Azura was confused by her mom halting, and Lady Paimon responded to that.

"What are the terms?"

I smiled slightly.

"If I can awaken your daughter's family gift, I want you to permanently vote NKF. I will take your daughter into my peerage regardless of if I win or lose. If I lose, I will build anything that you want in my forges for free for three millennia."

That made Lady Paimon consider the wager and I prepared to take out my bullshit scanner. Azura was looking at me with a very small hope I could do this. I let the wager stand. Lady Paimon finally came to a decision.

"I will accept it. If I win, I want free hand packs made for my family."

I can do that.

"Agreed I will swear it upon the Morning Star. I ask the same."

That got a grin from Lady Paimon. I had learned from Ravel and Shirone that oaths made in his name were sacred for devils. It was a little disgusting to use his name but unlike with my deity there was no presence of godly power for him.

"I swear it on the Morning Star."

I pull my scanner as Azura reluctantly came towards me and she was ready for disappointment. I put the scanner next to her chest and then clicked it. There was a second before energy hit Azura and then I stepped back. Lady Paimon looks at Azura with hope now.

"Show them Zura."

There was the good mom hoping this had worked. Ravel and I moved out of the way letting Azura concentrate for a moment before she took a step forward. Speeding off towards Ryza at knight speeds getting wide eyed shock from her and her mother. Azura was in pure shock and had barely stopped herself from hitting the side of a building. She looked backwards at us, and Lady Paimon was standing stiff. I don't rub it in, and I make the offer.

"I will make mechadendrites which is what the hands are called at half price for House Paimon. A token of my commitment towards your family for having faith in this."

Azura was looking at her feet in shock while Lady Paimon was looking at her daughter with teary eyes. Before she activated her own power of speed and then brought her daughter into a mama bear hug weeping with joy. After five minutes of this she let go of her and looked my way again.

"I will take the deal Heir Astaroth. I didn't believe it, yet my Zura did it. I will honor my bet and commit to this permanently."

I want to fist pump here. Yes I had stacked the deck in my favor, but you got to do that with devils. Her single vote could have helped enough but this is better. Azura looked at me for the first time properly with a big smile as I promised to Lady Paimon.

"I will enjoy getting to know your daughter Lady Paimon. I have heard nothing but good things about her."

Lady Paimon smoothed her daughter while Azura looked at me with pure thanks.

"I will accept you as my King. Thank you."

With that said Azura was collected by her mom, and she promised to brought back after they finished packing for her. As Azura was suffering her mom's gushing over her I leaned on Ravel, and she looked at me with a big smile of her own. Lady Paimon finished her gushing over her daughter and looked again my way.

"I will bring Azura back after we finish packing. I will start voting for the NKF at the next parliament."

I shook my head surprising Lady Paimon.

"Don't vote until a specific one is called. You will know it when it's called."

Lady Paimon frowned before she shrugged.

"I'll hold off my vote then. Now Azura let's go show them that they were and are wrong about you!"

Azura got a very eager look and she quickly followed after her mom eager to show off. Lady Paimon opened a portal and then she promised to bring Azura back after settling things and after they finished packing for her. After Azura and Lady Paimon left I leaned on Ravel, and she looked at me with a big smile of her own.

"Thank you for helping her Greg."

I took her hand in mine.

"You are a wonderful person Vel. I am falling deeper in love with my Grand Planner who was kind to someone like her who needed a friend."

That got a wide smile from her and a kiss on the lips. Ravel broke the kiss before she mumbled.

"You're too noble and sweet. I have an idea for us this weekend."

I saw a blood droplet from Ravel and I could feel one of my own.

"I look forward to it with you."

That put a smile on my face before she and I toured Ryza waiting for their return.

Ravel and I had enjoyed that hour long walk before we returned to the front of our city. It was not a moment too soon because we found the two stepping back through with luggage. Azura now has an ultra grin. Ravel began talking to Azura letting Lady Paimon and I finalized our deal with Lady Paimon saying she would wait till then. Then Lady Paimon departed and we returned to the house.

We were preparing to reenter the house when Seekvaria came charging out. She promised again that she would get her dad to vote NKF soon. She begged to keep the blueprint of the knight with big puppy eyes behind her glasses which I agreed to. She then practically skipped from the house with said blueprint to a portal while Alivian said he would people in contact with Adria. Before following after his mistress with the same skip. Rias was beaming beautifully as she dragged Ravel upstairs letting me and Azura do the ceremony.

She and I moved towards a small room together where I bring out my board and I try to build something with her.

"What piece do you think would work best with you?"

Azura looked down at the board.

"Pawn as that's all I'm good for being disposable."

She was slightly bitter about that idea and I corrected her.

"Yet it's the most powerful piece because of how flexible it is. Pawns are overlooked because of numbers yet they are not disposable. A single pawn can turn a game around. Other devils may dismiss pawns in the ratings games, but I don't if they have been well trained and know how to be creative. Your speed along with things I can make for you could make you into the best pawn in the underworld."

That sparked Azura's sin of pride. She like Hetvia didn't get to feed it often and it showed. I will get her more of that. I began the oath for her and Azura listens carefully. Before she agrees to it. The regular pawn slips in. Azura looked at me with both curiosity and thanks. I began something here.

"What are your favorite things to do?"

Azura looked like that had never been asked before by anyone.

"I like mathematics and other things like that."

She looked ready to be made fun of. I smile smirk at my new pawn.

"That's cool. I know a few things that you might like that involve various kinds of math."

That got a curious look as we got ready to go up stairs when a sound came.

That was the clicking of heels. We turned to the house door to see as in came a maid with the symbol of House Bael on her blouse along with a brown haired woman who was missing a leg on crutches. The maid was blank faced but showed her opinion of me immediately by taking a step back away from me like I had a disease when the two stopped in front of me. I turned towards her and asked.

"How may I help you Madam Maid?"

The maid was blank faced still and answered.

"Lord Bael has heard that you are making replacements limbs for soldiers from the Civil War. He would like a limb for one of his levies."

The commoner woman next to the maid was almost completely beaten down. She didn't look up from the floor despite being mentioned. I can see the beginnings of the test from the Great King. He will lose this one too.

"I would happily apply it to one who has served. What battle were you hurt in?"

The commoner spoke with a small voice while still looking at the floor.

"The battle of Vaitine milord."

I don't wince like I want to given it was the worst battle of the Civil War according to my history lessons from Grayfia. Azura did flinch hearing that name. I kindly looked at the commoner. Her light brown hair was curly like the Baels and she was shaking in nervousness.

"I see please come forward."

That made the commoner still before she moved forward on her crutches. I summoned my pocket with excess limbs and I pull one out for her. She looked up briefly from the floor. She is close enough to see the symbol on the leg and whispered something I heard.

"Omnissiah."

Oh shit. That means that it spread. How far and wide I don't know. I don't smile smirk here but I will later as I can deliver another blow to the Baels in a new direction. I gesture her forward and once close enough I whisper to this shaking woman.

"I will never forget people like you. Have faith in this blessed machine. Be reborn in iron as I was."

The woman didn't reply back as we were being watched by the maid. She whimpered as it attached before she took a step with the leg. Her eyes showed me she had been a timid believer before now she was an utter one. My patron promised his new worshiper that she will never lose the leg and that she was not forgotten by either of us. That reassurance makes the woman let lose a tear before she went blank faced again. She stepped back from me and fell into step with the maid who bowed less than respectable for her rank then forced the veteran to leave with a shove making her stumble out the door.

I don't like the Baels and Azura doesn't either.

"They are cruel people."

That built more between us, and I replied there.

"They are I will never like them."

Azura was unlike so many nobles I had met. She kept watching the door and showed she hates the Baels utterly.

"They make the lives of people like me miserable. They say we are burdens on society because we weren't lucky enough to have the gifts of our ancestors. How did you do it anyway?"

The voice held such curiosity on that I smile smirk finally knowing I have made multiple blows against them today.

"Faith in Iron and Steel."

That confused Azura but she accepted I don't like the Baels either. That led the two of us to keep talking and we moved upstairs with his luggage after Rias called out to me with Ravel from the second floor. The two smiled at me and Ravel told Azura to get ready for more surprises as we hit the teleporter.

At the house in the basement we were met by Hetvia who has an extremely large smile. My blue haired pawn saw Rias and told my redhead a great thing. Hetvia had been putting the finishing touches on the nearly ready next two robots with hers next on the list. Rias bounced excitedly and told me that her spirit was eager to see the world again. The look I sent Rias was understood and she reassured me that her robot wasn't that. He was the spirit that was also in her mechadendrites. The other robot was Hetvia next familiar, and she was excitedly saying that she will have the next four built in two days rather than five as she was getting used to making robots and had developed a way to make them faster at the same quality.

Ravel and I would draw up further details on that point of the plan later tonight. Ravel was already entering that state that she has when she is planning. Azura was confused but followed after me as I gently led Ravel up the stairs toward the dinning room with Rias discussing with Hetvia more about the robot. The conversation ended when we entered the dining room and Maéva began set out food for everyone. People started crowding in as the delicious smell flouted through the house.

Azura had started blinking at the orange sky upon seeing it. She hadn't believed us when we said that this was the topside. She still believed that despite everything until Ravel broke from her planning state briefly to drag Azura outside to see it. Azura kept being stumped when they returned.

As people sat down grabbing food the noise for the room increased. Most people had been enjoying a relaxing day. I noticed that Kiya arrived last with Murayama and the two were talking about sword play. Kiya took a seat near me and Rias. Kiya looked at me and he asked me while he reached for food.

"Gregor-san is what Murayama-chan told me true? That the sword styles we mainly use come from something called space marines. That they were from another reality."

Azura got bug eyes hearing that while my smile smirk was on full display for Kiya and my new pawn.

"They are indeed from them. What symbol did you see when you did your session?"

Kiya frowned.

"Something with a face mask of iron."

That answer was amusing.

"You would find no better siege masters in their galaxy than the Iron Warriors. They came from a place that was like Ancient Greece and their sword style is one of my primary styles."

Kiya listened as I began describing Olympia. That world's description slowly drew in more people at the table. At the end of it Kiya was thinking over what he had learned and seemed to embrace the idea of iron within and without. I turned to Azura who was in pure disbelief.

"I think I have the perfect job for you Azura. You said that you are not used to fighting."

Azura still stunned by the revelation before she focused.

"I'm not. I'm weak and will not be able to help much even if I learn how to do that."

She looked at the ground agin and I get ready to reassure her. That was when Kiya who was close to Rias said something to his fellow pawn.

"I said the same thing recently and was shown a way to grow stronger faster. I'll help you out! We can be friends and grow stronger together!"

I however still give Azura another option despite the fact she looked interested.

"If you're not interested in fighting, I need a quartermaster for an organization I run topside. It would be less stressful for you. When you do join in on stray hunts, you can run background work for them."

Azura blinked and looked at Kiya again. Ravel bumped her and that got a blush.

"I'll take that. I.. don't know if I can be like the Lord of Iron."

Kiya wasn't deterred by that and he showed me something that Rias apparently was encouraging in him.

"I'm not like him yet either but we can get there together! He wasn't like the other devil heirs who were already up in their towers early he climbed it from the bottom like we will! I'll practice with you on anything and everything you need!"

That sheer enthusiasm there shows me the knucklehead is rubbing off on Kiya. Azura took heart from this and it looked like she had made a new friend.

"I need help practicing my speed."

That got Kiya grinning at Azura and the two fell into a conversation about training. I noticed that Akeno seemed down today as Issari was busy trying to make her senpai feel better with Irina and surprisingly Kiba. The four seemed to be in their own world at their end of the table. Issari had scored another one today it seemed as Kiba and Issari were holding hands every so often with the blonde wearing an even goofier grin than normal. When dinner broke up Akeno was still down, and she went to the basement with her dragon and others. I have an idea what this is. I tell the others I will be making things at base tonight. That gets multiple people following after me including Kiya who was asking further questions about Olympia with a desire to know that place completly. Those questions had continued even when we reached the teleporter.

As we made our way into the school we passed by a group of fifteen humans near the cafeteria. I noticed that all but one was new to the Legio because of the suspicious looks they gave us with two ready to attack us. Before the leader of them in the Bavarian from yesterday stopped them.

"They are good devils many of them follow what you all have been asking about. They are the peerage of the Omnissiah or others that know light as we do. Here everyone leaves the past behind to build a brighter future. We are all human beings despite everything, and they here who follow the faith abhor the Morning Star as we do."

That settles the other recruits with the two who looked ready to attack us looked down in shame. They looked at the Bavarian who was wearing his sword on his hip along with the rest of the group who were constantly looking at it. Their eyes turned to me before they made a decision and continued to ask the German more questions about the organization. The man bowed his head in my direction before answering them. Leading the humans towards a group of classrooms we had converted to barracks.

Azura looked at the exorcists' backs with shock before she looked at me and I smile smirk.

"Welcome to the Legio Solar Azura. He's right we do leave the past behind us. If you don't want anything to do with the organization you are welcome to say so."

That got Azura's attention from the retreating exorcists. She looked again at me before she replied to me.

"I will help with this. You are my king who is helping a weakling like me and got me revenge on my grandparents who called me useless for so long."

With that said Azura and Kiya started asked more questions about the Legio. I answered them as we continued through the school. Kiya then asked more questions about space marines which I said that was their common name before saying their fancy one. I told Kiya about them as we continued through the school. People began to break off to their haunts after they get requested things. Kiya, Azura, the queens and myself were near the gym by the time the questions ended about Astartes. Kiya was silent for a bit before he promised to practice more with his gear and sword.

Rias saw the new eagerness to help from Kiya and dragged him who dragged Azura into the gym. Kuroka quickly transferred the captured fallen from her pocket spell to one of mine quickly before she along with Ravel started talking about youkai illusion magic compared to devil magic that goes over my head. I kissed the two of them before leaving. I was outside the principals office getting ready to enter the room to begin making more gun servitors and possibly one more Messenger. Only to be stopped before I entered the office by a cough. I looked over my shoulder to see Xenovia. She was seemingly very smug about something despite the ice queen persona as I turned her direction.

"Heir Astaroth."

I see that Xenovia was expecting something because her eyes flashed blue quickly.

"Lady Quarta."

Xenovia got ready for something and she looks at me directly.

"I wish to thank you and my sibling when she gets back. The meditation techniques and books have helped me immensely with my abilities."

I can see that given how much less manic Xenovia had become.

"You're welcome I am glad that we were able to help you."

Xenovia smiled wider seeing something before she looked at me with an unknown look.

"They have been clearer than ever before. I would like you to see them at some point. Cesario looks exactly like you."

There it was. I had long considered what to do about Xenovia and had heard from Rias, Murayama, and Shirone that they supported Xenovia in the queens. Ravel and Kuroka were still making up their minds on the holy sword user, but they were waiting till I had said something first on this. I am still wary of psykers but I remember Raynare's joy of having someone who understood her and the mutation. I make a bridge to Xenovia despite the caution.

"I am open to trying with you. Like with Raynare I understand you both and while psykers are still something I'm getting used to you are also human like what I must stand for. I will try with you after…."

Xenovia cut me off that time. Pulling me into a kiss that has fireworks and more as I see two shadows behind Xenovia looking at us. When it ends the shadows disappeared and the blue haired woman smiles at me. Before she cupped my face while I was still reacting to the kiss.

"You are truly the best version of yourself that I have seen. I will do anything to show you I want a man like you. That I will love a man like you forever with the others."

She kept looking at me before she slowly pulled back. She and I looked at each other for ten seconds before Xenovia said something.

"I'll keep my mother from trying to kill you when she learns about you and me. Once she sees you entirely, she will understand why I have made my choice. You are indeed what my sibling said you are. A Great King that one day the world shall see fully. You will be Beloved by All when they finally see what and who you are."

That was said before another kiss was laid on my cheek. Then Xenovia glides out of the hallway with the grace of a trained ballet dancer and swordswoman. The last look she sent me before she left was the face of a woman in utter love. Her eyes flashed blue again before she's turned and showed me something that got a drop of blood running down my face.

I shook my head and wiped away the blood. I don't know what to say and go into my pit to begin making my abominations. All the while wondering how I can ever be Beloved by All if I do things like this? That question haunted me throughout the surgeries.

The saws were loud and echoing as I made the servitors in my pit. I only took a break after the last servitor was made before going up into the office. My helm came off and I took a deep breath of fresh air. As I leaned against the worn principal's desk that question continued to haunt me. The ten minutes of silence with the moon lighting up the dark office only left when I prepared for my next trick. Kiryuu had said that since we can do illusions why not make bombs that could roll around and make them look like mice. Then drive them into the ranks of Kokabiel's forces at certain points during our theoretical battle. The idea and illusions had been factored into the rough plan. Machine spirits were already prepared for the mini bombs. Each of the fifty mouse bombers would drive the little guys into Kokabeil's ground army at the right moment. Making those bombs was done before going home for the night.

The veteran of Vaitine looked again at her new metal limb here in her rundown home with happy tears running down her face. She had met him that the small group of people here in the Bael's territory were calling many names. She knew of this group because she had found them on the property of a vacation house of the Great King near her village. She had been there to beg for alms from the cooks so as to not burden her village for a while. They had given her food but not enough to last till the end of next week. That realization had made the veteran slowly move around the house to head back to her village on her crutches through a rarely traveled wooded trail. Her hopes and dreams were all but gone after so long in the dark. She had been broken from her despair when she had heard a noise that had attracted her to a run-down barn that was on the edge of the property near the trail.

Outside that barn from the shadows of the woods, she had listened to the reincarnated inside talk. She had glanced inside to see underneath an iron cog and skull split in half ten reincarnated talk of freedom, dreams, and hopes they long had and wanted again. She who was a pureblood and thus their better should have turned them into her liege lord for dissent talk and to remind them of who was their superior.

She didn't because she heard in their voices people oppressed like how she and her village are. As she listened to them from the shadows, she thought their ideas were silly. There was no God that would accept them. There was no hope for people like them. All of that was impossible. Yet the ideas were so intriguing and planted a wishful small seed in her. This veteran finally turned away from the gathering and went home. All the while remembering the past.

She had been one of many who served the Baels loyally during the Great War and the Civil War. When she lost the leg at Vaitine protecting Lord Zekram Bael himself from a killing blow, she thought that her centuries of service to them would see her get a Phenex tear for that loyalty. It never came to her despite the deed. Zekram Bael had taken one look at her missing leg after the battle before he had tossed her away like nothing to rot as she was nothing. She had over the centuries since that day lost all hope of ever getting a new leg again till she heard a word whispered by the reincarnated.

Omnissiah. That name sparked something this time in her soul upon hearing it and again as she had limped to her village down a forest trail. The reincarnated at this gathering had called him that above the other names and she hadn't understood why till she was reborn by his hand. Now she understood the title completely. Her newfound faith believing in this deity and him was because she saw in his red eyes as they looked at her a thing she at first couldn't believe. She saw that she was truly wanted and valued as a person by him and this deity was the same as she started believing at that moment. This was so unlike her liege lords and the Morning Star who have shown time and time again that they did not care for her. Her liege lords had forgotten her till she was useful once more. They only got her the leg because they wanted to chop it off again and study it leaving her useless again. She had known that since the beginning of her forced trek to a place being built that was unlike anything this veteran had ever seen before. Her faith in the Omnissiah and the god that she now followed was absolute and like well made steel even when the door to her pitiful one room home slammed open. Two large shadows loomed over her as hands grabbed this veteran as she was pulled outside.

This event was seen by her fellow villagers as the Bael knights wanted to make the deed public to instill fear and crush hope in the village. The veteran was strapped down in the village square on a wooden table still unafraid even when a long wicked looking saw was brought out. The giant knight who was the leader of the two moved the saw to do its grim job. The villagers watching this preparing to turn their eyes from the soon to be grisly sight. They closed their eyes as the saw was moved to above the strange metal leg.

The knight who was to do the job suddenly screamed loudly as his hand burned upon touching the limb in pure holy fire. He was pulled back by his brother and was saved by two hastily applied Phenex tears. That sight made the veteran angry. Those tears should have gone to her or so many others of the Bael levy who had been loyal. It made the veteran hate them even more than before. Loyalty meant nothing to them. Only cruelty matters, and she now understands how the reincarnated felt more than ever before in that moment having seen it often thrown on them by other purebloods including her. Regret and more made her strive to be like the Omnissiah from that moment on as he was not like that.

The knight's loud screaming inspired something new as the other villagers flinched from the noise and then looked at their fellow not burning despite the now revealed holy energy in the limb. They looked at the symbol clear for all to see with amazement. The faith generated there in that moment did something. A new miracle.

The two knights' eyes grew glazed as they lost their memory of the incident, and a new one was made for them. The new memory was that the limb was not special and completely useless for study, having disappeared suddenly. During that time, the burn on the knight's hand healed fully, and the veteran was freed from her restraints suddenly. The two knights left the square in a stumbling daze to make their report to the Great King. The villagers, after the knights left, crowded around their fellow and asked her how this was possible. How could she not be burning from holy energy that was anathema to them? The woman smiled at her fellow villagers and said her new creed.

"Flesh is weak yet despite that I am beginning to embrace the strength and certainty of steel. I am proud to be a cog in the blessed immortal machine that is our reality. We are not useless and disposable like the nobles want us to be. I will serve the Omnissiah and my Machine God, who has taught me these truths forever. The tales you have heard and will hear of him are all true the Omnissiah is the builder of dreams for people like us. You each are important cogs in this blessed machine, just like he and I."

That name rings out to the villagers and like with the first cog a pebble began a landslide. The villagers froze as one hearing that name and felt no pain. Their eyes looked to the sky and then back quickly to their fellow. The very idea that they could perhaps be accepted by something that should hate them by default creates wonder in this village. Spurring their long-hidden by oppression desires to see dreams remade. As the seconds passed that wonder grew and grew before a villager repeated that name.

"Machine God."

Again no pain came to the speaker. The pebble moved again faster as now the villagers crowded desperately around this veteran and asked her many questions. Each answered question and the saying of that name furthering the landslide.

The Great King heard the story that his knights told him while wearing his signature blank face in his hidden office. He dismissed them after it was done. As Zekram watched the two go before turning his head to the window behind him he felt many things about this failed attempt. Zekram respected the halfbreed for this move. He wasn't the same stupid like his father or the other Satans who had let information get out to their enemies many times before. He had prepared countermeasures to those who would steal his stuff that worked well. While that frustrated Zekram Bael it was also a double-edged sword with the respect. He would look for new ways to accomplish the goal of stealing things from the halfbreed to study. Zekram was now more certain that the halfbreed would become a new formidable underworld player. Zekram might have finally found it after so long.