(MoD) Chapter 31: The Day Before the Reunion

Chapter 31: The Day Before the Reunion

After helping Murayama get mildly adjusted to the reality that she was, in fact, a Magician, he had no choice but to proceed to a much, much harder topic to explain. One that would shock her even more than their absentee parents' being Magicians alongside the rest of their bloodline.

“So let me get this straight.” Murayama stood in their living room, pinching her nose-bridge as she pointed at Sona. “You’re a Devil? As in the same thing we read about in fantasy stories?” 

“Well. Pretty much, except we don’t have red skin, pointy horns, and a pitchfork tail.” 

“And there’s an Underworld? A completely different realm right below us?” 

“Yes, but like with our appearances, it isn’t the same thing you read about. Actually, it’s the exact same as Earth climate-wise.” 

She then pointed at Takauji, who was observing the room with a blank expression, as if he expected Murayama to comprehend everything immediately.

Probably because he expected his younger sister to inherit at least a tenth of his “genius”, now that she had awakened. Regardless of how ridiculous an expectation it was. 

Such was the way of the Ashikaga; unreasonable, eccentric, and the antithesis of the word “self-aware.”

“And you two have some kind of contract with each other? Whatever that’s supposed to mean?” 

Sona nodded, “Devils and Magicians have made contracts with each other for quite some time. In short, I give him resources, and in exchange, he’s supposed to give me all the formulas and equations he comes up with. However, I’ve yet to see a return on my investment.” 

She glared at said Contracted Magician.

“Hmph.” Takauji threw his notebook at her face, totally not on purpose, which she managed to catch before it smacked her. “Most of my spells use Dark Mana anyway, you and your peerage wouldn’t be able to make use of them.” 

“Cough, cough.” Azazel interrupted, “Dark spells are incredibly difficult to obtain, and are normally safeguarded by high-ranking clans and powerful organizations. Even if they aren’t usable, just having information on them offers a lot of valuable insight. As fate would have it, I might happen to know someone who’d be interested in buying them.” He continuously glanced at Sona while he spoke.

She had a hunch that the interested buyer was in rather close proximity. 

“You better not try to lowball me, Governor.” She handed him the notebook, allowing him an opportunity to flick through its contents. 

He scoffed, visibly offended. “Who do you take me for? I’m the last person to cheap out on valuable research, Grigori has a reputation to maintain.” 

At first, Azazel simply flicked through Takauji’s notebook with a decent amount of intrigue, which said a lot considering someone like him was showing actual curiosity in the research of a second Circle Magician.

But once he reached the latter pages of the book, he stopped. His eyes widened as he held the book closer to his face, scanning the material rapidly. 

“Takauji.” 

“Yeah?” 

“You’re a 2nd Circle Magician, right?” 

“I am.” 

Azazel flipped the notebook around, allowing everyone to see a diagram with an alarming amount of annotations written around it. 

“How did you come up with this?” 

“Because I’m me, I can do anything. I just have to endure the burden of reminding all you nincompoops of that very basic fact day after day.” 

Sona narrowed her eyes. “Is that the project you’ve been working on?” 

He sighed, reluctantly answering her. “Yeah, it’s still incomplete though.” 

“Incomplete?” Azazel repeated in disbelief. “This barrier is already good enough to keep any 3rd Circle Magician out, even an extremely talented one. What more could you possibly want from it?” 

‘Hmph, I don’t care if it can keep Magicians out. I need it to keep Devils out, namely the Devil I’m contracted to.’ 

“That’s my business, not yours.” Takauji’s response naturally only elicited more suspicion from Sona, but it was clear that trying to push him further wouldn’t amount to anything.

“Whatever the case, I’d very much like to make a copy of this for myself.” He pulled out a black checkbook with gold writing, scribbling down a number while handing it to Sona. “I’ll give you this much.”

Sona’s face immediately lit up once she saw the check, the businesswoman in her flaring to life. 

“It’s a pleasure doing business with you, Governor.” She firmly shook his hand. If she wanted to, she could buy herself a personal mansion in the Sitri Territory that was on par with the main one she and her family lived in. 

It was safe to say, Azazel was loaded. It would be pretty embarrassing if you had lived for millennia and were still broke after all.

“Takauji. What’s going on?” Murayama inquired, completely lost in the conversation.

“She’s mooching off my intelligence, that’s what’s happening.” He rolled his eyes, wishing that the conversation would return to Murayama asking the thousands of questions she probably had already.

Click! 

But before she could do so, the front door opened, followed by the sound of light footsteps and the shuffling of plastic bags. 

“Himejima-senpai!” Murayama yelled, completely taken aback by the sudden arrival of Kuoh’s Yamato Nadeshiko.

“Who?” The raven-haired beauty asked, looking at Takauji for answers. 

“That’s not Himejima-san, that’s Raynare, my steward.” Takauji clarified. Before returning home, he ordered Raynare to go out and pick up some groceries for him, not keen on doing it himself since he knew today would be quite packed.

What point was there in having a servant if you wouldn’t have them serve you? Also, sitting in shopping lines was one of the most painful experiences known to man, especially when there was an elderly person at the front of the line paying penny by penny.

“What kind of idiot do you take me for? Just because she’s not wearing her ribbon doesn’t mean I won’t recognize her!” Murayama huffed, putting her hands on her hip.

“No, that’s not Akeno.” Sona affirmed, “Your brother isn’t lying, this time.” 

“Eh? Then she has to be a twin or something at least!” Murayama watched as Raynare nervously walked over to the kitchen, allocating the groceries while hoping to be excluded from the conversation.

“She’s not a relative either,” at least not in the sense Murayama was implying. “She’s a Fallen Angel, just like the Governor over here—and because your brother insists on being a closeted pervert, he’s using her as a servant from now on.” 

Sona’s statement only added more fuel to Murayama’s suspicions about her brother being a playboy.

“What nonsense are you spouting?” He glared at her briefly, a smile creeping up his face shortly after. “Ah. Are you jealous she isn’t as lacking as you are in certain areas? Jealousy isn’t an attractive trait, Sitri-san, nor is it befitting of Kuoh’s upstanding Student Council.”

“Jealousy? What are you talking—” Sona glanced at Raynare, able to observe her assets while she was bent over in front of the fridge, putting in the groceries one by one. 

Her face immediately darkened, a hostile aura that even a freshly awakened Magician like Murayama could sense building around her. 

“I see. You appear to have grown tired of living. In that case, allow me to promptly execute you.” Demonic Power surged around her, beads of instinctual sweat accumulating on Murayama and Raynare’s skin.

“Resorting to violence now that I’ve called you out? You’re sorely lacking for a supposed intellectual.” Takauji stood firm, his smile widening as he steeled himself to confront Sona head on. 

“Auh!” 

But as it would seem, a third party wanted to get involved.

“A dinosaur!” Murayama leaped backwards, falling on her behind as she looked up at the horrifying form of Grigori’s homegrown prehistoric demonic beast—Ash, who had just hopped out of Takauji’s shadow. “There’s a dinosaur in our living room!” 

“Auh! Auh!” Ash didn’t return Murayama’s interest, her blood-orange reptilian eyes laser-focused onto Sona’s figure as she stood before Takauji in what one could only assume was a defensive gesture.

‘Fascinating!’ Azazel couldn’t help but wonder how Ash was interpreting things. She had yet to officially become Takauji’s familiar since he still needed to build up their relationship to a point where creating a pact between them would become available, but nonetheless, she had chosen to guard him.

However, that fascination quickly died down as caution took its place. Ash was an incredibly powerful specimen, one that could probably tear Sona to pieces if she really wanted to. This required him to step in between the velociraptor and Devil, steeling himself for a physical confrontation if it was needed.

“Grrooooooowwwwwl!” As one would expect, Ash didn’t take kindly to his intervention.

“Ash. She’s just playing—” 

“What are you doing?” Takauji interrupted the Governor before he could attempt to communicate with Ash, causing his potential companion to turn around and tilt her head like a confused German Shepherd. “I didn’t say you could fight in my house, you’ll end up destroying my living room.” 

“Auh!” 

“Yeah, I don’t like her either. But she’s useful so you can’t eat her, and that’s final.” He crossed his arms. 

Azazel and Sona were both taken aback. “Wait. Takauji, can you understand her? 

“No, it’s just an obvious assumption. Nobody blessed enough to possess my affinity would be stupid enough to actually like Sitri-san.” They’d think this was just an excuse if it were anyone else. However, since Takauji was the one saying it—there wasn’t any reason to doubt him. “Anyhow, we’ll take the train to Kyoto tomorrow as planned. I’d rather get back to my research as soon as possible. You two can stay if you want, but just ensure you don’t break anything.” 

“No worries,” Azazel nodded. I’ll start preparing my construction team. They should have everything renovated by the time you return from your family reunion.” 

“Renovation?” Murayama raised her eyebrow. “What are you talking about?” 

“It’s for her,” Takauji pointed at Ash. “She’s going to be living with us from now on, so the house needs to be altered to give her enough living space.” 

Little did he know, Azazel had a lot more planned for the Ashikaga residence than just an increase in size.

“And her?” Murayama pointed at Raynare, which also earned Sona's intrigued look.

“She’s my steward, naturally, she’ll be living here as well.” He looked at Azazel. “I trust you’ll make a room for her alongside the rest of the renovations?” 

“As you wish, Lord Shogun,” Azazel replied playfully. Although with Takauji being, well, himself, he probably interpreted it as genuine reverence.

“What about in the meantime?” Murayama continued.

He hummed, thinking momentarily. “I suppose I’ll lay out a futon next to my bed, I don’t want her to be anywhere I can’t see her.” Raynare felt a faint chill crawl up her spine.

““Absolutely not!”” Murayama and Sona yelled in perfect unison, fiercely rejecting Takauji’s notion.

“I don’t recall asking for permission?” He tilted his head, gesturing for Raynare to follow him. “It’s not my fault your minds are always in the gutter. Good grief, it’s about time you two grow up already.” 

‘’Are you really in a position to be telling other people to grow up?’’ Once more, Sona and Murayama were in perfect sync. Watching with immense disdain as Takauji shut the door behind him.

“Pervert!” Murayama stuck her tongue out at him, her voice reaching him through the bedroom door. She turned to Sona. “Aren’t you his boss? Do something about this!”

“I’m afraid your brother’s too much of a problem child to be managed conventionally. I usually have to be more creative with my employee management methods for him.”

She certainly wouldn’t debate her on the “problem child” claim.

… 

“Alright, take off your shirt,” Takauji ordered Raynare the second they were alone, taking her by surprise. “I need to take your measurements for a separate project of mine.” 

“Oh,” she almost looked disappointed, having expected something totally different. “Do you mind if I ask what this project is? Takauji-sama.” 

“Yeah, I mind. You don’t need to be privy to my projects until I decide you do.” He pulled out a measuring tape, gesturing for Raynare to spread her arms as he wrapped it around her waist. “Are you sucking in your stomach?” He narrowed his eyes on her. 

“Uhm. No?” 

“I’m not in the mood for games,” he pressed his lips together in dissatisfaction. 

“Alright, maybe a little.” She breathed a reluctant sigh.

━━━━

Decided to just write a chill, nonchalant chapter that doesn’t really care about much, and just kinda does his own thing in the background.

Type shit.