Flesh is Weak

A warm welcome home and many dreams begin again.

I still couldn't believe what had happened to me. I had been saved at the very edge of the cold void. I now had fresh food and clean drinking water, and the clothes on my body were not old, worn, and rotting. I was starting to look like what I should have looked like at my age. This bed was mostly new and very soft, unlike my old one. This was like a miracle dream that I had long begged to the sky and to a god for. As I sat on my new bed I was still in wonder of how soft it was compared to the hardened bed I was used to. It bounced as I turned to lay on it before I settled into reading from a tablet that had been given to me by one of the people here at this new place. I was looking at something on it before a loud noise came from somewhere.

That cursed noise was the tweeting of the evil birds/drones, and I slowly started waking up. The first thing I noticed was a white tail wagging into my eyesight every so often. That was unusual, and blinking away the groggy feeling of sleep, I saw the reason for the tail.

Shirone and Kuroka, in cat form, were huddled on my chest. They were snoring snot bubbles in unison and purring in their sleep. A noise went up from the right as someone sleepy said something.

"Beloved, Luana wants to see our wedding pictures."

That came from Xenovia, who was sleeping next to Ravel. She tightened her grip on my arm, thinking about that dream moment. The queens were snoozing away with everyone in good dreams. I had missed this feeling before I made a rough guess that it was about nine based on the sun outside. I was about to return to my dreams when there was a knock on the door. Then a voice came through.

"Young master, you have a guest."

That sparked groans from all the sleepers, and I slowly wiggled free of them. Shirone and Kuroka kept snoring, and once I was free, I gently placed the cats on my pillow before slowly escaping the bed. I got to the door and whispered to Maéva.

"I'll be down soon."

Ten minutes later, I entered the kitchen and saw Paula getting a basket of pastries from Neri. When my alpha turned to see me, she smiled.

"Again, welcome back, Sir."

My face had a small smile of my own.

"It's good to be back, Paula. What did you want to talk about?"

The black-haired woman kept her smile.

"Just to see what you would have us do now that he is defeated. Last week we were mostly relaxing or helping your betrothed with tasks she gave us."

I consider that before making the decision.

"Until further notice, the Vanguard is welcome to stay on leave. Hopefully, we won't be heading straight into anything for a bit. However, I'll be on the Noosphere later today with my queen to debrief Conner and our two Rangers about our rough knowledge of the factions within the Brigade. You're welcome to join the brief."

Paula bowed.

"I'll inform them of this. Renaud is preparing a training course for our recruits using the Tactica. We have received a huge wave of messages from our fellows in Grigori who are considering joining us. Especially with how much disregard for our lives was shown in his battle plans that showed up on Grigori's network last week."

That was expected, and I tilted my head.

"We will need more beds for them if they arrive then. There is a recently abandoned military base that was one of the first bases we cleared from Kokabiel. Send a few people to the location, and we will use it as our first training camp. Hopefully, it's still empty. When will most of our likely recruits arrive?"

Paula nods before saying.

"Most likely later this week or the weekend. They have to find ways to leave Grigori properly. Where is this base?"

I quickly showed Paula the base picture on my phone before the woman promised to secure the base today. I told her to bug Issari over the Noosphere later to set wards up and prepare a place on base for an armory so we could start moving some of our excess stock of wargear to the camp. After ten minutes of discussion, Paula left to do her orders.

I was sitting down for pancakes from Maéva when footsteps clunking were heard thirty seconds later. A very drowsy Issari and Irina came, with Asia following them. Asia was the most awake of the three, and she sat to my right with a grace that her other two companions didn't have right now. Her wide smile told me that she had fun last night, along with several very poorly hidden hickeys and a very lusty gleam in her green eyes. The blonde looked my way after a few seconds of that.

"Sir Astaroth."

The formality amused my face.

"You're welcome to call me Gregor."

Asia was smiling a bit wider there.

"Gregor, please call me Asia then. Isa told me you wanted to speak to me."

My smirk grew wider, thinking about the goal.

"Yes, I do. I have a project that might interest you. It is a radical idea that I would like your help on."

Asia was wary upon hearing that.

"Is it more of your body enhancing?"

Team knucklehead's two founding members sat on Asia's right, eating their pancakes like sloths. That put an amused smile on my face.

"It is body-enhancing work but not for me. How well do you know devil biology?"

Asia kept frowning as Neri put a stack of pancakes out for the doctor. The blonde thanked my maid before she answered me.

"Not well, but I am a fast study. What is this about?"

I finally move forward with Nomie's lifetime goal.

"I would like your help in making a gene therapy for devil fertility."

Asia raised an eyebrow while Neri and Maéva froze. Issari looked my way with droopy eyes.

"Huh."

Asia thought through my statement, and then she grew excited.

"A gene therapy? That's a very advance and radical idea. We would need test subjects and a highly specialized laboratory for that sort of thing. This could take years."

I shook my head.

"Two months at most. My mom was working on her greatest invention, which was this therapy, before she died. It was almost done. She had a place in Vancouver with her data banks, notes and equipment with the almost finished template for the therapy. She would have returned to the place later this year to grab everything."

That was what Nomie had been working on and would have been her grand and lasting legacy to devils. She hoped this would help reduce the hard reliance on the evil piece system for the race, and she could control who got it. She also believed it would have gotten Alex full acceptance from devil society. I will finish it and make my mom proud. Asia was surprised before she asked.

"How hard is it for devils to have children?"

Neri answered that question with a downcast face.

"It took a century for me to have my wonderful baby boy."

Asia saw the hurt on Neri's face remembering the past. Irina had finally woken up, fully feeling bad for Neri. I kindly informed Neri and Maéva of the news.

"This therapy should bring it up from ten percent to a eighty percent chance for a little one."

The hope that blooms on Neri's face made Asia commit.

"I will help with this project. This would be a great thing for people and be a wonderful way for me to live my teachings."

I smiled and nodded my head in thanks.

"I will have a lab for this project prepared in my forge city in my new manor. My mom worked on this secretly, and I will head over the pond to get it this week. Maybe dragon girl can finally score with her nymph while we are there."

That finally woke up Issari, who looked ready to pant in glee. Asia was amused at Issari's reaction and a bit curious.

"I am sure there is a story there. Let me know when this lab is made, and the template is recovered. I'll begin working on it. If I could have help on this with a devil doctor and extra people, we can hopefully speed things up, and I can ask questions about the biology to fill in gaps that I might start seeing."

I know just the person for this.

"I will be making a trip to my forge city today and will talk to the healer I know who lives there. She can probably bring you up to speed on devil biology quickly, and I know another doctor who would perhaps be interested in helping."

I needed to see the city's progress and prepare more bionics for the next fitting session. I pulled my cogitator out of a pocket spell, and after it was on, I saw something Adria had sent to me with the words Alpha Prioris. Wrath grew in me as I read the message fully after opening it up. I closed my eyes, trying not to break the table after reading. I excused myself from the table after telling Neri to inform the queens where I was if they woke up. Issari quickly followed after me, not liking the look on my face.

When the two of us stepped out of my bionic clinic to see the view of Ryza, I was very impressed with the sight I was seeing. Twenty large apartment buildings were up and running in the housing district, with more set up to be built later. Between them were multiple smaller buildings for eventual shops for food and other services. There were paved streets between the apartments being started, and several lampposts were now up on the corners of the square, the district's center that would be a future park. Issari and I walked down a partially complete street toward the next district, where we would have city administration buildings. One building was very close to being done, and I will enjoy making my mood kindred happy when she sees it. We exited that district and briefly got a look at the manufacturing and smelting parts of the city in the back part, close to the mountains and mines. People on the street were either veterans or residents of the village-turned-city looking about in wonder. Many bowed their heads respectfully, and I saw that a few were ready to say something to me. However, my face, stride, and Issari's armored boots made them rethink that.

As I continued towards my destination, I passed multiple devils in builders' uniforms gathered in a place where another park would eventually go. In the center of it, my Skitarii and the new builder veterans watched the original builders. The original builders and the ones Seekvaria had provided in golden uniforms were very nervous facing their watchers. Issari and I made our way to the city's temporary jail in a yet-to-be-destroyed rundown house close to my new manor house.

I slammed open the old door, and standing in this hovel were five Skitarii with guns ready. Trina was just as angry as Adria, who was nearby, with a furious scowl at the target of their anger. There, strapped to a chair, was Orthan. The builder's guild master shook, seeing my rage, and I noticed that the second in the builder's guild was also here. He was calmly standing by two of my Skitarii, who had weapons drawn on him. I saw that he had a metal leg that was one of my bionics. Things fall into place as I made my way to Orthan, and my eyes show he was in serious trouble.

"How bad?"

Trina looked at Orthan, who shook more than ever before.

"The rat was caught by my watcher trying to sell your master plans and a stolen hands pack to a pawn. We easily chased the pawn away and slammed our traitor to the ground. The plans and pack were recovered, yet we couldn't find the pawn afterward, and he refuses to name the pawn's master."

I could see that Orthan had a black eye to support that claim of being thrown to the ground. I turned my eyes on Orthan, sweating bullets and looking at the floor instead of my face. I was ready to kill him. A simple nod was given to Issari.

"Truth spell, please."

Orthan shook even more before Issari hit him with a white spell. I turned my eyes to the builder.

"Talk and clear yourself. You have nothing to fear from me if this tale is false. I am fair, so don't waste your only chance of freedom."

Despite this, Orthan remained as silent as the grave. His silence confirmed the story, and I turned to one of my guards.

"For treason against House Astaroth and for breaking his contract of service to my grandfather Lord Astaroth and me, Heir Astaroth, I declare his sentence to be interrogated and then executed by beheading."

Orthan had his eyes widen in fear.

"You can't kill me! I'm the most experienced builder in your territory milord! Without me, this project will fail!"

I turned my eyes towards the second in command of the guild.

"How experienced are you?"

The builder smiled evilly.

"I'm the one who understands what we build, milord, and runs the crew. He just yells at us to work like his father before him. We can survive without him. I was the one who saw him arranging the meeting and reported it. He attempted to off me by having some stone fall on me."

I glare at the man.

"Say that again under truth spells. If it's true, then consider yourself the new boss. Your name?"

Orthan shouted curses at me and his former second while being dragged away by two of my guards. Issari threw a second truth spell at the new builder, who smiled wide, seeing Orthan go before answering.

"I saw him arrange the meeting and try to off me when he saw that. I'm Jarroth Milord. I promise that you will have no problems or treason from me. Especially after your betrothed gave me this leg when she didn't have to."

My face was back to being blank.

"You will be watched just as hard as he was and make biweekly reports to my captain. If you fail either, then expect the same treatment."

Jarroth bowed and swore to me that he wouldn't. I quickly gave an order to a guard. I wanted to speak with the city healer in an hour and a half. The guard bowed and then departed. I told Jarroth I wanted to see the new manor house before he returned to work. Jarroth made a small communication spell to tell his new people to get started again before the man nodded. After he was done, he led Issari and me out of the rundown house, followed by Trina. Adria went off to worry about the next shipment of food for the city while the rest of the guards went back to street patrols or the interrogation of Orthan. My new head builder informed me of the progress made in the city.

"We started the last parts of your manor yesterday, milord. It and the city have been exactly made according to your plans at my insistence to the others despite him urging us to cut corners to save on materials."

I frowned as the four of us descended a path that would eventually become a street. The frown left when I finally saw my manor here.

It was a massive six-story, gothic/modern building, looking like the rest of the city. Around the bottom of the building was a large, reinforced steel wall with one entrance point at a reinforced steel gate. To the left and right of the gate built into the wall are two booths, one occupied by another of my guards. She saluted, seeing us opening the gate to allow us onto the grounds. I was very impressed by how fast the manor went up, and I will give credit to Jarroth and his people.

Jarroth led me over the barren grounds and into the house. Over the next forty-five minutes, he showed off the entire house to Trina, a still-helmed Issari, and me. Each floor was indeed built to my specifications. I would need someone to do electrical wiring and install lighting fixtures for this project, and I will ask my dad if he could throw me someone. I paused the tour for a minute to text him that question.

I didn't receive an answer from him, meaning he was busy, so I returned to the tour. As the tour continued and everything fell into place, I was delighted with everything Jarroth showed me about the manor. The tour's final leg was to see the multiple underground floors the size of a running track included in the plans. This includes the bottom floor rooms where our first reader prototype would go. The almost pitch-black room was lit by Issari using several flame balls, showing that the floor room had been broken up into the necessary stages for the reader parts, and I informed Jarroth while looking at the room.

"You and your builders who made this floor must undergo a memory rework. There will be no objection to that."

Jarroth shrugged, looking at me dead in the eyes.

"That is standard practice for all builders' guilds on projects like this milord, so I won't object."

I nod then glanced around for a little bit.

"You and your people have outdone yourselves. Trina, please escort Jarroth back to his workers and get me that name."

My captain salutes and leads the man out. Issari waited until the builder was gone before taking off her helm.

"Holy fuck, this place is big."

I gazed around the open-concept room.

"The original plan for it was just three floors, but the fact we needed these underground floors and several other things happening ensured this was the final design. I am now thinking of turning this place into a vacation home for the family after we settle on Mars. I have good news for you, too, Gecko. The second floor is your floor."

That got wide eyes and then a goofy smile and a fist pump.

"Sweet!"

I roll my eyes.

"There is plenty of room for you and Keno to have your fun without disturbing everyone else in the house. Should we need to move them here for protection, there are also bedrooms for your parents."

The perverse grin on Issari's face told me she was looking forward to that fun. She frowned when I mentioned her parents before the pervert shone through again. She began perverse giggling, and I shook my head. Before I started making the parts of the final version of the reader chair, which was the centerpiece of the entire project. As I made the beginning pieces for the reader, Issari asked me about it.

"This thing will really be able to pull things from other realities?"

I smirked as I assembled the next part of the chair, a pair of metal arms that would bring up a holographic display for the power settings and eventually for universe choice when we refined this further.

"Yes, if we get it working right. With the warp extending across the multiverse, we should be able to pull an unlimited number of designs and blueprints for technological devices or objects from various realities. Once we get to a certain point, I'm going to find a Warhammer reality that is still in the Dark Age of Technology so we can get a copy of a fully functional and intact STC. The computer database will hold everything from that era, and then we can finally see what they had. We will also pull from other realities as well as the process gets refined further."

Issari was sort of eager for that.

"What is the likely first pull?"

I continued building the chair by adding a backrest where several more parts would be added later before answering the question.

"It will be random for the first few attempts because we had to modify the reader to current conditions. Then, after each pull, with new improvements to the device as we test it, we will grow closer to choosing the pull. I have a list of several different universes from which I want to pull things."

The first major thing I wanted to pull was alternative FTL. I don't trust warp travel, which was problematic even in the best times. I would rather have humanity use something different and agree with the Emperor on becoming too reliant on the warp. Chaos might not be here, but that didn't mean much with how janky warp travel is, and we don't know if the Eldar are here with the Webway. The possible dark forest that was our galaxy made a shiver run through me as the Cacodominus's smile returned to me in a flash. I narrowed the options for FTL to three universes, each with advantages and disadvantages. The second major thing I wanted to pull was a cheaper-to-make war robot or droid that we could mass produce. I had my eyes on a specific robot that would work well with a prototype weapon I planned for them. Robots only solve a tiny part of the problem if we face a possible galaxy of Orks and/or many other very likely hostile Xenos races.

We will need to find ways to increase humanity's body count. We could clone people using Vita wombs or other methods from across the multiverse. Yet clones bring up tough ethical questions for me. Issari was dreaming of the possibilities of this machine. When the final part of the chair was placed in a built-in footrest, I stepped back from it, panting badly.

Issari saw my hurting, unsteady self and helped me before I fell over. Yet, I still had a few more things to make. I had Issari help me to one of the room's walls that were curved in an almost impossible-to-spot way. I tap it three times, and it opens to reveal a hidden room. Inside, I made another gene vault and coded it for both of us before Issari placed Ascalon and Freed's armor inside it. The vault's door closed, then hissed as the two of us exited the room. I tapped the wall three times, and the wall returned to its former position.

Then, I pulled out E-1 and activated one of its programmed action. E-1 began to move around the room, doing a basic clean-up job with one of his limbs with a broom attached to it. The servitor glared at me all the while. Issari watched E-1 do this job and let out her sadistic self, smirking at him. I joined that smirk as I had more limbs I could make that could make E-1 into my bitch for eternity.

We turned away from E-1 and began heading up the stairs. I made several gene locks for the basement doors, a teleporter pair for this possible new base, and an instruction manual for Issari, then finally, a teleporter connected to the topside that would be one of two networks of them in the house. After that was plugged in and a gene lock was made for our new topside camp armory, Issari led me to the door.

As we exited the manor and started moving toward the teleporter, Issari and I joked with each other about what we wanted to have for lunch. I wanted to make something for the queens while Issari planned on getting pizza for Akeno and the others in her group today as a welcome-back party. When we got near the teleporter house, a Skitarii stopped us. The man saluted me with a slightly bowed head.

"Milord, we have a small problem that just happened that requires your attention quickly."

I sighed but nodded my acceptance to fix whatever this was. The problem became obvious when the man led me to the city entrance. Standing outside the city on the road entering, I saw five devils being watched by another of my guards. Four were a family, given they all had the same light brown hair, while the last devil was a woman in a bright blue noble dress with pink hair. The family devils were nervously shifting side to side, and in the arms of the only adult woman was a little girl who looked to be six. The girl got super excited seeing me and started bouncing like Alaric, pointing at me with her free hand while the other held a roughly made toy bunny. While the parents were worried, the last of the group wasn't as nervous. I noticed that he had a metal arm, and I vaguely recognized him as a Gremory veteran Rias had helped.

The veteran was the leader of this group and was not cowering from my guards or me. Instead, he was as steadfast as steel before he saw me, and his face took on a look of hope, as did the two parents. I noticed that the parents were carrying very rough travel packs and seemed exhausted, as the guard who brought me here told me as we stopped in front of them.

"They wish to live here, milord. Are we ok with letting them in?"

The smile that graced my face was genuine as I understood what this moment meant.

"They are more than welcome here. As are any other people who arrive like them. With new people, do a search for dangerous items and weapons before letting them in. Please escort them to one of the empty apartments, then take them to Adria to see how they can help."

The parents and the veteran got wider smiles on their faces at the news. My guard had expected that answer but was following the chain of command. The other Skitarii stayed in place while the first guard led most of the family away. The veteran stayed and started talking to the lookout, Skitarii. I turned to see the little girl looking over her mother's shoulders and waving at me enthusiastically while holding her rabbit.

That was incredibly cute, and I waved back at her, making the girl even more excited. The girl pointed at me repeatedly as her family left.

Issari was just as amused by the girl and teased me.

"At this rate, you're going to be the one with the TV show for kids."

I raised an eyebrow at her and teased back.

"My possible show, if it happens, wouldn't involve me shouting about Oppai every three seconds or doing a shity dance regularly."

That shut up the gecko, and I snicker in victory as Issari whined.

"The theme song score is good and catchy even Ddraig agrees with me!"

I kept a half smile on my face before I turned to the last devil. She flinched under my gaze before she gulped. I raised an eyebrow at her, and she finally looked up at me with blue eyes. My eyes narrowed in on her.

"How can I help you, madam?"

The devil gulped again.

"Heir Astaroth. I have come to beg a favor from you."

I studied her carefully.

"Beg?"

The devil shook before her blue eyes grew wide in desperation and hope.

"I have heard that you know of a way to activate familial powers in those of us who haven't manifested it. I beg that you would do it for me if it's indeed possible."

My face was blank, and I looked at her again. I caught a glance of a pillar symbol on her dress. She was from the Shax, who are NKF members, and our other close neighbors. I brought out my scanner as the woman watched the device with wide eyes. I gestured her forward, and she almost ran to me. Once in position, I hit the button. It beeped before I withdrew the scanner.

"Try now."

The woman scrunched her eyes and moved a hand. A spell formed, and soon, an ultra-realistic illusion of a baby elephant appeared next to her. It tooted, and the woman rapidly opened her eyes to see it as tears appeared.

"The rumors were right. I….. This is a dream come true. Whatever you want from me is yours, Heir Astaroth."

She looks ready to grovel but stops the movement when I shake my head while putting away the scanner.

"I want nothing. Seeing your face happy is reward enough."

The woman looked flabbergasted there as she searched for something to repay me with. She couldn't find one. The noble stood silently, looking at me before she bowed low.

"Thank you, Heir Astaroth."

With that, the woman slowly trudged away towards a portal she had made while we walked towards the teleporter.

In front of the building was another of my Skitarii and the healer, who was nervous about why I had summoned her. As soon as I was near her, she bowed her head submissively out of habit. The skitarii who had gotten her was her close friend, and he encouraged her.

"You never have to do that again for him, Helina. He isn't the other nobles who make us do that."

Helina raised her head slightly higher but kept the submissive posture. I kindly told the healer when her blue eyes looked up at my face.

"You are not in trouble with me. I am hoping that you can help with a project that I am starting."

That made Helina look up at my face in shock.

"Why would you, great lord, need me? I am not wise or powerful like you."

My face turned into a half smile.

"You are important and know things I don't. I would like your help in a project that will make devils remember you and the other person in it for ten thousand years. You will not be forced to do this if you are uninterested."

Helina was still unsure about this. However, she seemed to find her courage somewhere and bowed her head again.

"I am at your service forever, milord. I wish to help the one who fights for us who were forgotten and who made our world whole again. What would I be doing?"

The guard, who was Helina's friend, fell in line behind her while I gestured to Helina to follow Issari and me to the teleporter, which got a weird look from Helina. Just before we touched the pad, I answered the question.

"You would be helping make something that would make it much easier for devils to have children."

That made Helina and the Skitarii blink rapidly before unconsciously stepping onto the pad alongside us.

Helina was in pure disbelief that she was outside of the underworld till she saw the blue sky. She was still looking out the window at the sky while her skitarii friend had his orders on how to help Helena get here and back to the underworld until the lab was ready. Issari was out of her armor and purring being in Asia's dragon tamer field. Asia whispered something to Issari, showing me that Asia was just as big a pervert as the chestnut. Asia recovered from that fast and got her new science partner's attention. Helina turned to Asia, still in shock, and then the questions began on devil biology. Helena answered them to the best of her ability while being confused by several things Asia asked about till they were clarified. Their loud discussion allowed me to escape home and face the queens.

The walk from the teleporter to the kitchen was a quiet one. I was surprised as I entered the kitchen to see Ajuka sitting at the kitchen table. He was reading something silently on his cogitator. When Ajuka heard my footsteps, he looked up from the device.

"Good morning, Alex."

I smile, smirk, and return the greeting as I sit down on the other side of the table.

"Morning Dad. You seemed very focused."

Ajuka tilted his head slightly.

"I was just busy finishing a project that Sirzches has asked me to do. I came here to tell you some good news. Serafall is about two-thirds of the way done with her midpoint episode for her TV show season, and she says thanks. That head has gained us massive inroads at Lady Yasaka's court, and she is now very interested in talks with us again. Serafall will probably pop in tomorrow afternoon to thank you personally."

That put a half smile on my face. I might be able to prevent the Hero Faction from launching their potential attack on Yasaka.

"I'm eager to meet her. When will you and Lord Lucifer try for a vote?"

Ajuka grew blank-faced.

"We will attempt the vote on Tuesday. Sirzches and I have been mobilizing the NKF totally for this."

Hopefully, our plan worked, but I prepared a plan if it didn't before my dad interrupted me.

"I saw your message asking about electricians, and I will get Nikola to help there."

I smirked, thinking of my electro-maniac uncle before saying to my dad.

"It's not just my manor; I want to get wiring and light fixtures. I want it for every building in the city. My building plans had that part built into them."

Ajuka gave a slight nod of his head.

"I will have Nikola start in an hour for the house and then do the city. The first part will be easier than the second part, which will take longer."

I shrug.

"I'm in no rush for that. Thanks, Dad."

Ajuka smiled before something crossed his mind as he put a hand on his cogitator.

"Your mother says you are going to our old home this week, though she won't say why."

I looked at the cogitator and nodded.

"I am tomorrow, Dad. It's for something Mom left there."

Ajuka gripped the cogitator for a second before he pulled a set of keys out of his pocket. He floated them to me, and I took them before my dad gave me a wistful smile.

"We didn't sell the house there. Nomie and I planned to give these to you after we reached the underworld and everything was revealed. That way, you had a private place of your own, far away from their prying eyes."

I looked at the keys in shock but could see where Ajuka and Nomie were coming from there before putting them in my pants pocket.

"Thanks, Dad."

Ajuka smiled slightly before he sighed.

"I'll pick you up around noon Tuesday for the vote. Make sure you wear your best suit. I'd like to stay longer and talk Alex, but I have an important meeting with more of the NKF pillar heads."

Ajuka got up from his chair, took his cogitator, and made his way out of the kitchen. Just as he was about to hit the stairs, I told him the pad was now in my new manor for better security. My dad nodded his head before heading towards the basement, leaving me alone in the kitchen to do my plan for the queens.

When I entered our room, I was amused to see that most of the queens were still snoring away. The only ones awake were Xenovia and Raynare. The psykers were whispering to each other at the foot of the bed. They both looked my way and saw the food I brought for everyone. Their eyes took on stars, and the smell of the muffins made the rest of the queens slowly start waking up. Once awake, they quickly descended on the baskets of muffins.

The ultra-happy faces of everyone made this baking experience worth it, especially when I got a thank-you kiss from the seven. They clustered around me on the bed while eating from the muffin baskets in my lap. It was only when the muffins were mostly gone that I gave them an apology.

I'm sorry that I wasn't here to be your body pillow. I was called down to the underworld to fix a problem that arose."

Despite my apology, I was whacked by tails from Kuroka and, to my surprise, Shirone. That amused the others as Kuroka smirked.

"Trying to buy our forgiveness with muffins isn't enough, Greg, right ladies, nya."

That got the rest of the queens teasing me about my supposed bribe. The teasing continued and only ended when Ravel kissed my scar with a wide smile.

"What if we want our wonderful future husband to spoil us with a shopping trip?"

I roll my eyes at the new eagerness from the rest of the queens.

"Then I would spoil you all. Will that win me forgiveness for my grave mistake?"

My confirmation made the queens squeal in excitement. They then began scrambling to get dressed and ready for this shopping trip. The last person to leave the room was Shirone, who was nervous before she grew brave.

"I want a date with my prince today, nya."

Her yellow eyes were fixed on mine as I half smiled.

"I would love to do that with you, Shiro."

That put a new and even brighter smile on Shirone's face before she ran faster than I thought possible to get ready for shopping.

Twenty minutes later, the seven were assembled in the main hall. When everyone was ready, I opened the door for them, and the eight of us went out to shop.

The trip ended up costing more than I had guessed it would. The queens got new clothes, formal dresses, and swimsuits. They also selected more clothes for me, including a very well-made suit that made them have plenty of eye candy and Xenovia barely stopped her eyes flashing blue.

The eight of us went to multiple more stores throughout the shopping district that the house was close to, and this took up most of the morning. Kuroka and Shirone disappeared for a bit for something before returning to our group a half hour later with multiple shopping bags. As we continued walking back to the house, I told the others with a grin.

"Our new manor is almost finished. It just needs electrical wiring, and then it will be ready for move-in. The fifth and sixth floors are ours."

The news made the queens gasp before they asked to see the place. I told them our teleporter was now inside the manor, and they could see it anytime. That news made people ultra excited to see the place. The queens continued asking me about the house until we got back to the manor.

Shirone told me she wanted her date with me to be over lunch soon. Her smile was extra wide as she rushed off with Kuroka upstairs to prepare for the date. Rias whispered something into my ear, an idea for it. I kissed her cheek in thanks before Murayama whispered something to Rias, who blushed but grew eager for something. The two fell into step with each other, moving up the stairs. Raynare and Xenovia also moved upstairs to do something together, leaving Ravel and me alone. My blonde smiled before telling me that she would do a few things at base, including making sure we get our next base. She glided out of the room, allowing me to prepare for the date.

Maéva offered to help me with lunch, which I kindly said no to. My head maid shrugged before letting me cook. When it was finished, I waited patiently at the door with a basket of food kept warm by a heating spell and a blanket under my arm. I caught sight of Mittelt coming into the front hall with a troubled face. She was my height now, dressed in her blank white gothic dress. I turned my head to her.

"What the matter Mittelt?"

Mittelt was still troubled by whatever happened.

"I received a spell call from Penemue and Gramps ten minutes ago. They are trying to find out where I am."

The worry was apparent in my mood as I kept my half smile.

"You are safer now than you were before, surely it wouldn't be bad to talk to them now."

Mittelt nodded.

"I'm just worried about what they will think of my decision to become this."

I saw how badly this was screwing with Mittelt.

"I'd pick up next time they call. Just be vague enough about things until you feel comfortable sharing."

Mittelt nodded after a few seconds.

"I will consider it."

That was a fight I wouldn't win easily before my face went from stiff to slightly eager.

"I have good news for you. My manor house in the underworld is practically done, along with your new lab. The first part of the reader is made and is close to your lab. You can start moving your things there after I give you the grand tour on Wednesday night."

That made Mittelt eager for the new lab. She was about to get more details about the project when we heard a cough. The two of us looked to the top of the staircase to see Kuroka grinning with her right hand on her hip before she announced something.

"Presenting the beautiful princess Shirone Toujou nya."

That was said before, out from the right side, hidden behind a wall, came Shirone in a splendid white summer dress that makes her look like a princess. It was elegant and looked expensive, ending at Shirone's knees with her short hair immaculately done up in a bun. Mittelt blinked twice before she dipped as Shirone came down the stairs towards me with a sultry smile. I met her at the bottom before extending my hand to Shirone, who extended her hand. I kissed her hand, getting a big blush from Shirone, and my face twitched into a smirk.

"I am yours, my beautiful cat princess."

Shirone was ready to purr or begin a full make-out session but settled for intertwining her arm with mine. We walked to the door to enjoy our date, and I heard a camera snap off just before the door closed.

Our date was at the park near the water fountain underneath a cherry blossom tree. Shirone was enjoying the looks she got from me and, to a lesser extent, the other young men who walked by us and gaped at her on the blanket. She was even happier when I brought out a large shepherd's pie and salmon for us. The smell of fish almost breaks her prim and proper mask to drool over. She broke from the surprise to jump into my lap to start a make-out session with me that was beyond bold. When she pulled back, her face and mine were bright red. My princess kept breathing heavily before her stomach growled. She blushed before I gave her another kiss. Then I laid out the plates of food before I settled in with Shirone still on my lap to eat. Shirone, halfway through the meal, relaxed against my chest as we leaned against the tree, watching the people in the park with our hands intertwined. As we watched the parkgoers, I saw a dude with his dog talking to a taller blonde woman who was petting a dog. Shirone caught sight of it, too, and unconsciously hissed at it. I was amused by the gesture and kissed her hair in understanding. Shirone relaxed again after that before she whispered to me.

"Please never leave me, nya. My strong, wonderful mate who protects nya. I love you, my Iron Prince, nya."

I tightened my arms around her and whispered back.

"You have shown me utterly that you are not what I thought you were. I will never stop protecting you, my beautiful Cat Princess. I love you."

That made Shirone relax against my chest as she and I watched the park. Shirone was being especially daring today as she whispered something for us to do tonight. That stream of promises only ended when I got a beep from my phone, reminding me of the meeting with Conner, Paula, and the rangers about the Brigade soon. Shirone had felt the beep but kept sitting on my lap. I whispered something that made her smile wider if she got up. My princess did so and helped me pack up the lunch before I again took Shirone's arm as we exited the park.

The bag of sweets my princess wanted was expensive, but her smile upon getting it and the fact that she leaned on me more was worth it. We continued our walk home, and on the way there, we passed a group of young women our age. The six of them froze in place, watching us intently before they started loudly squealing, saying that we looked like a prince and a princess. That noise and their gossiping made Shirone get happy, dreamy eyes and curl up closer to me as I squeezed her free hand.

At the house, Shirone dragged me up the stairs to our room, where I found Kuroka playing Halo with Rias and Murayama. The trio looked our way and grinned at the sight. I told Kuroka that we had a meeting with Conner, getting a sigh from my queen. She reluctantly left the two and joined Shirone and me on the bed. Shirone took my lap, forcing me to put the cogitator on her lap and loop my head on her right shoulder. That, it seems, had been the plan as my princess got a wide smile before wrapping her tail around my waist. We entered the chat room to wait for Paula, rangers, and Conner. When everyone entered the chat my almost permanent smile today disappeared from my face as I began the meeting by asking Kuroka to describe the rough outline of the Brigade to the listeners. Kuroka began the briefing with the faction she knew the least about, which was Nilrem. Then it was onto the Hero and, finally, the Old Satan factions.

We were joined by Xenovia and Raynare midway through the meeting. Ravel was the last of the queens to return, and she whispered to me that our people had secured the military base. Wards were up now, and wargear would slowly start being transferred there. When the meeting ended, Paula left the chat to begin her briefing with the Vanguard. Conner said that we need computers or any other internal communication network from the Brigade to start his hacking and delving work. He would interview Lavinia once she got here and start gathering information on the Brigade with the rangers. When the cogitator was closed, the queens swarmed me with seductive smiles. The seven of them closed around me, and that was when Ravel, who it seems was the spokesperson, said with a grin.

"We heard from Murayama that you will do the channel, Greg. Are you really?"

Everyone was waiting for the confirmation with bated breath before I smiled at them.

"I am going to do the channel. It will just be a long while before it starts with very infrequent uploads."

That got everyone excited, as Murayama bragged loudly about how she helped with that decision and how she wanted her reward. Their excitement put a bigger smile on my face, and I yelped as the seven suddenly grabbed me and dragged me toward the bathroom for my and Murayama's reward.

That night in their new home, a father tucked his daughter into her bed after a day of hard playing with other children here in the city. The girl was cuddling next to her stuffed rabbit, wearing a big smile as she faded into sleep. The father quietly left the room, closing the door. The devil thanked his deity and the Omnissiah for that smile. His brother-in-law hadn't lied to them. There was indeed a place that had disappeared for commoners here. A place that had defined his and his wife's lives before it vanished. He moved down the hall to the kitchen, where his brother-in-law and wife sat at a table from their old home. He pulled a chair and sat beside his wife before the three committed themselves to the Great Work. They would tell others about this place in the cult and beyond.

A noblewoman sat on a cushy chair in her room, still looking at her hands in wonder. Around her, illusions of many different animals danced, filling the room with noise. She closed her eyes and remembered enjoying the looks of shock on the main branch and most of the cadet branch members' faces seeing them. Their faces had made her century after fifty years of being called useless and a mistake. Now, having this long-wanted dream, this third cousin of the Shax wanted to repay him desperately for giving her vengeance at long last. She had struggled thinking about what he would want as a reward all day. Yet she couldn't think of one. She was not powerful despite the new illusions nor had vast amounts of money or influence in the pillar. She couldn't give him anything he didn't already have. She couldn't even offer herself to him, already being a harem member to another. As she thought about this, a ghostly voice hit her ear.

"Believe in and be like him. Spread your tale to others who are like you. Prove that this rumor is true and the dream you all have is not a false hope like so many before. Do this, and that's how you can repay him."

The woman considers that thought. She remembers the others in her small friend group who had scoffed at her all last week, saying this was only a rumor about the long-wanted dream they all shared. It would not be true, just like the many rumors like it before. The dream scene of their eyes lighting up and their faces turned to amazement as she showed them her illusions made a broad smile appear on her face. She grabbed a quill and dipped it in ink before writing multiple letters.