Dungeons and Devils (Chapter 16) (Patreon)

"And this is where you will be staying." I hum as I gesture to a large room.

The blonde girl beside me pouts slightly. "Why can't I stay with Gaspi?"

Random bullshit go!

"Because Gasper is a servant of the Gremory house, it's seen as a little improper to have your servants stay at others manors if you don't have an exceedingly close relationship with them, others might see that as me pestering the Gremory house, or holding them back by relying on them. Don't worry, though, you'll be able to see Gasper quite frequently, plus I'll even get you a phone so you can talk to him whenever you want!"

"Whenever I want?!" She gasps with wide eyes.

"That's right." I nod with a smile.

"Boss."

"Hn?" I hum as I look to the tanned sixty five million year old girl approaching calmly. "Yeah, Tyra?"

"Two phenex showed up while you were gone. One extremely arrogant weakling and the other far stronger, but more reserved." She informs as she crosses her arms and slowly looks to the girl beside me.

"Hn? Two dudes?" I ask.

"They were Male, yes." The transformed tyrannosaurus nods.

"Ah well, at least I missed them."

"They said they'd be back."

"Oh. Okay." I shrug as I look back to Valerie.

"Who's this?" The reptile asks.

"My new queen piece." I answer.

"Ah." The bishop mutters. "Anyways. I'm off."

I look over to the bishop with a raised eyebrow. "And where are you going exactly?"

"I'm gonna go train." The girl states, turning around and walking to a nearby magic circle.

She teleports back to the mansion.

"…"

I look back to Valerie. "Alright, so I'll get you some clothes, some entertainment, some food, and you'll be golden."

The girl smiles. "Okaaay!"

**Linebreak**

I let out a long yawn as I sink into my desk chair, my head thumping against the head rest.

Finally.

The vampire girl is situated, my goals achieved, and now I can take a break... and man, I really need one. That week of running around was really tiring.

'You don't get out much, do you?'

'it's more of a matter that many of my plays allow me years of leeway. Last week has been all 'find out where Avalon is, sneak into neutral space, steal Avalon, return to the underworld. Go to Japan. Find stray devil. Fail at finding stray devil. Find you. Rip you out of your previous host. Revive host. Kill stray devil. Kill stray devil. Kill stray devil. Steal Absorption line. Wait for a couple of hours. Sneak a mutant into Romania. Kidnap a heavy guarded vampire with a Longinus. Hide the evidence. Ride back to the underworld. Speak to Rias. Allow Valerie to speak with Gasper. Return home-'

'ALRIGHT I get it.'

I slump down in the seat and let out a quiet yawn, rubbing my eyes.

With a wave of my hand, a screen appears in front of me.

A decent pastime, checking the auction.

I've got some electrum to spend.

I calmly scan the rooms with a bored frown on my face.

Erza Scarlet's Panties:
Original Universe of Exchanged Item: Fairy Tail
Current Bid: 21 Electrum
Panties worn by Erza Scarlet... that's it. There's nothing special about them.

People are buying panties for the cost of a ring of protection.

You've got to be fucking kidding me.

*Ping*

'Hn?'

I look over to my phone. "Oh? What does she want?"

"I gave my brother the sword." - Le Fay 6:01

"Oh?" I mutter to myself as I type out a response.

"Oh? And what did he think?" - Gaius 6:01

'These newfangled devices are... strange... partner... the ability to speak with anyone anywhere without magic? Ridiculous.'

'It's as that one British guy said, 'Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic'.'

"He was honestly surprised by the sword, it's extremely sharp and durable, plus the flames can turn stone to molten rock in mere seconds! It's incredible! Thanks! We might just take up your offer to make it stronger in the future!" - Le Fay 6:02

"Then I'll warn you in advance that I'd need to take the blade away for like... several days to weeks complete the enchantments. So, I'd pick a time where you won't need it for a while." - Gaius 6:02

"Okay! Thanks in advance!" - Le Fay 6:02

I lay the phone down and begin scanning through the auction again.

'What is the point of all this rubbish?'

'Sometimes special things pass through this... I actually got Virgo from the auction.'

'The scarily strong maid?! You were able to buy her?!'

'moreso buy an item to summon her, but yeah.'

A screen appears in front of me from a holographic projector in the ceiling, revealing the Maid we were just talking about.

A while back I upgraded my mansion with a special 'phone' which allows people- I allow- in the main hall to call around the mansion.

"Master, the Phenex heir and third son have shown up, should I allow them inside?"

"Please show them to my office."

I sit up in my desk and let out a low hum.

'Oh, this should be good. I sure hope they fuck their family over even further.'

'Pardon?'

'Oh, don't worry, just some internal conflict between our families. Their dad tried to assassinate me, got me sent five hundred years into the future, I found out he married my fiancée without doing the proper procedures, he fucks me over again by pawning off his daughter as like eight percent of their family's total wealth when her genes are worthless to me.'

'Why don't you just kill him?'

'Murder is frowned upon. Sadly. But I've definitely come close on several occasions. If I could conceive a way to get away with it scot free, I'd do it.'

I boredly tap my fingers on the table as I silently wait.

Eventually the door clicks open, revealing two men.

The first is a young adult with short messy blond hair and blue eyes, he wears an unbuttoned burgundy blazer, he has a wrinkled white shirt underneath, the top button and the bottom most one unbuttoned, his pants are the same color as his blazer, all in all, granting him a fairly unprofessional appearance... but from me that'd be a little hypocritical, since I personally use simple white dress shirts most of the time when I'm out.

But sometimes I'll change it up with a black blazer.

The other man looks far more professional, he has the same blonde hair and blue eyes as his brother, but his is combed and managed, his own blazer is buttoned up, and he isn't shooting me looks of distain and poorly concealed anger the moment he walks into the room much like his sibling is.

I scan the both of them briefly then give them a slow nod. "The Phenex family heir and third son... may I do something for you today?"

"You may." The younger man snarls. "Cancel your engagement with my sister."

"…"

"No?" I blink with a confused expression, one that asks the silent question of 'how much of an idiot do you think I am'.

The other brother silences Riser's refute with a scathing glare, his words get caught in his throat as he freezes in place like a deer in headlights.

Ruval slowly turns to face me, but I beat him to the punch.

"Am I safe to assume that this entire meeting is to negotiate me ending my marriage contract with Ravel Phenex?"

"…"

The older man sighs. "Yes, yes, it is."

"I see." I mutter with a blank stare. "That's a shame because I don't think anything you say or do will change my mind on that fact."

"Ravel doesn't like you!" The younger man snarls. "You have no right-"

I hold up a finger and cast silence, an eerie silence falls over the room for a moment as I give him a half lidded stare.

Sound returns. "Please, don't tell me you just pulled the 'she doesn't like you so you should forget the marriage' card... because ohohoho. You didn't seem to care when you were in the exact situation I am in now, but with Rias Gremory."

I sigh and shake my head. "To think... An heiress being forced to marry a third son nobody. Sickening."

"You-"

"Riser." Ruval suddenly states. "I allowed you to come because you promised to restrain yourself... I now see that was a poor choice. Be quiet or leave."

His mouth clicks shut

Ruval looks over to me. "Look, Lord Decarabia... I know you are mad with my family, and you have every right to be. But I will not stand idly by as you take that anger on my sibling."

"I think you misunderstand something here." I state with a blank stare. My eyes narrow as a pressure descends on the room, Riser looks like he is having a hard time breathing, and even Ruval looks a little unsettled. "It is frankly offensive that you would think that I would fall that low."

"My problem with your family could be simply described in a couple of words. I loathe your father... I hate him with a passion... I am disappointed in your mother, as for the rest of you? I couldn't care less. I'm neutral on each of you."

My eyes slowly stray to Riser. "Except you. I don't like you too much."

The pressure in the room is erased, causing Riser to let out a shuddering breath as a smile appears on my lips.

"But even with my dislike, I do not hold any of you responsible for the actions of your father. That is foolish. Even if I was that shallow, there would be no point in doing it to Ravel... considering how swiftly your father threw her away to save a measly eight percent of your family's wealth, he clearly doesn't care that much about her, does he? To use her as a mere pawn for eight percent. All in his war to piss me off."

Ruval flinches at my blatant dismantling of his father's actions. Perhaps he didn't see it that way at first, but now, every time he sees his father, all he'll think about is 'dad didn't care about Ravel'.

"I-" he falls silent and glares down at my desk.

"I still believe that this shouldn't continue." The man sighs. "Ravel shouldn't have to suffer because of the actions of her father... and right now, she is suffering because frankly she is terrified of you."

My eyes widen briefly as I am slightly taken aback. "Wait, really?!"

"You left a large impression on her." The man states. "It's honestly sad."

I let out a low click and scratch the back of my head. "Listen. I apologize for frightening Ravel, but I plan to try and make this work. Back then, five hundred years ago... I actually loved your mother, and she loved me. We were happy. Is it wrong to want something like that again?"

The man cringes slightly. "No- I-"

I let out a long sigh. "I'd like you to leave, please."

The phenex heir falls silent for a moment. "I- yes... I think it is best that we leave."

I watch the two of them stand, Riser casting me a cautious look over his shoulder as he walks out behind Ruval, it's better than the openly hostile look he had earlier.

"I will show you out." I hear Virgo state as I see her bow her head.

The door closes behind them, and only then do I allow myself to smirk.

The inexperienced teen look holds its advantages.

'Well, now, Temp-Partner, you certainly toyed with them.'

'but of course. Ravel is my spoils of war. Also I wouldn't get the eight percent she is supposedly worth if I just gave up and cancelled the engagement. Also any sort of family drama I can Cause for the Phenex family is completely and totally welcome.'

'Spoils of war? Seems you are more draconic than I thought.'

'that's all she is to me at the moment, sure, but I may eventually grow to care about her. I'm always open to that option.'

'I see... that's smart. If she grows to care about you just as much as you may grow to care about her, you won't have to worry about any betrayals.'

'yep.'

'Also, while you were having that mostly boring conversation, I was skimming through these auction tabs... yes, I can do that apparently as we share a body technically, and there's something fairly interesting in the medium cost room three.'

I immediately open the auction tab and open room three.

Condensed Servant Ritual:
Original Universe of Exchanged Item: FATE
Current Bid: 5421 Electrum
This condensed ritual was crafted by a player using the power from the holy grail, it holds everything you need to actually summon a heroic spirit even in a world without the power of the Grail... Powerful Catalyst of legend not included.
Note: The Catalyst you use for the summoning is not used up.
Note: This item becomes fairly useless in a world without 'Items of Human Legend', such as Excalibur, Muramasa, or even Thor's hammer. So, it isn't recommended to buy this is you are in such a world.

'hn? Wait a minu- buy buy buy buy'

**Linebreak**

"Good job on the find, Ddraig." I mutter as I look to a large glass orb in front of me.

"No problem, temporary partner. I just saw how powerful that pink haired girl of yours was, and I thought about how THIS IS MY CHANCE TO BE FREE!"

"It's not." I deadpan to the sword at my hip. "Did you not see the part where it said 'the item isn't used up'. At most, even if it does somehow work with your sacred gear, I'd either be summoning a second Ddraig or a red dragon emperor. Do you honestly want your thunder stolen by a big red imposter?"

The dragon is silenced for a moment.

"Fuck. You're right. If anyone's gonna be free, it's going to be ME damn it!"

"Don't worry about it, I'll try to find some way to free you in the future." I hum as I walk around the middle area in between Biotope Zero and Valerie's room.

"Really?"

I nod once as I look over to the girl in question, sat on a nearby table, she tilts her head at my notice of her, then goes back to texting away with her smartphone.

It's honestly a little sad, she has it sat on her knees and is typing on it like a toddler might, managing only like one or two letters every couple of seconds.

"Anyways, there's a reason why this is such a good find, Ddraig." I state as I gesture with the orb in my hand.

"Hn?"

"We have the ability to summon a servant based around human legend... and just what item do we have in my storage?"

"Oh. I see. A smart play. You'd be getting either Morgan Le Fay or King Arthur as a servant. And from what I remember, those two were incredibly powerful."

"Welp. Let's get this over with."

Just another thing to make my week even more busy.

By channeling a single non-demonic spell level into the orb, I activate it, causing it to shatter and for a massive red magic circle to appear in front of me on the ground. It is dim and faded,

I bring out Avalon, causing Valerie to flinch in the background and look over with wide eyes.

"Sorry, Valerie." I call out. "Don't tell anyone I have this. Please. I'm just using it to hopefully summon another peerage member."

I flip the sheathe over in my grasp.

"Seeing this up close... it is certainly powerful." Ddraig mutters as the green gem in the heart of my crystal blade lights up with each word.

I toss the sheathe into the middle of the circle then place my hand on it.

All of my charges for my first level spells are eaten, then my second, then the third and even fourth and recently gained fifth.

The dim circle glows brightly, overwhelming power radiating from the circle.

If you think about it, I just put over one hundred spell levels into this.

I look up slowly as a bright light appears above the circle, it rockets upwards where it makes contact with the metal ceiling, washing over the surface like water.

'I hope that doesn't hurt the ceiling... that'd be sort of expensive to repair, and I don't have many assets to repair it right now.'

I stand up and slowly back away from the magic circle and the pillar of light.

The further the wave of light gets away from the central pillar it simply dissolves, leaving behind tiny petal-like specks of light that slowly float down around the room.

The shimmering pillar of light seems to slowly dissipate, leaving behind a glowing vaguely humanoid form.

Red markings slowly appear on the back of my left hand, the first thing to appear is a red diamond shape without the very bottom, it isn't filled in, then it is flanked by two markings that look similar to wings, but neither are connected with the diamond, finally a V pointing downwards appears at the bottom of the mark, pointing towards my middle finger.

I look up just in time to see the glowing aura break away and flutter away like flower petals.

Standing in the middle of the dim circle is a girl, roughly sixteen years of age, she is a fair bit shorter than me, barely reaching five feet tall, a little under Serafall's height, actually.

She has long blonde hair, tied up in a ponytail with a black ribbon, bangs frame her face as a single strand of hair protrudes from the top of her head, she has green eyes, fair skin, and wears a white dress with black lines across it, there is a black bow on her collar, her dress leaves her shoulders exposed along with her arms, she wears long black leggings and black high heels. Her chest is probably around an A or B cup, she hasn't got much titty, but some.

She looks around briefly, clutching a sheathed blade to her chest, strangely enough, from what I can see from here, it's not even slightly magical, she eventually locks eyes with me and smiles. "You must be my master, right?"

Artoria Pendragon... but she looks different than the pictures I've seen.

'Who?'