13 Chapter 13: Mid-Class and Politics

Almost one year after being reborn as a devil, Harry finally reached the demonic power level of a mid-class devil. His improvement speed is really fast for a child reincarnated as a Devil. Children usually developed slower than adult or teenage reincarnated Devils since their body was still in development, but learning to control their demonic Power was much easier since they were naturally growing with it.

Although he was now a Mid-class Devil in strength and ability, he didn't qualify for a Promotion Exam yet, since he didn't have any Military Accomplishments, neither participated in Rating Games, or finished Contracts yet. Although he will start with some simple contracts soon to get some practice in.

Reaching that level of demonic Power reserves unlocked new possibilities for his Sacred Gear, he finally was able to perform terraforming on a larger scale, creating whole islands in one go. In the end, he was able to create a whole Planet around the size of Earth's moon in a few days.

This planet flew in a large infinite dark and empty space, being lighted by artificial lights emulating sunlight for now. The Planet was mostly Water on its surface carrying multiple islands, including his Garden, and Noir's home island. There were also multiple empty Islands that Harry created in his free time, so he had some ready if he ever needed a new one.

He also created some plants to populate them, no longer getting plants from the outside, since the amount he needed to do something effective was tremendous at this point. Plants created by him also raise the overall energy level of the Universe as they spread naturally, it just costs him an initial investment, that he was already able to pay with peak low-class reserves if he did it gradually.

Interestingly the leap from low-class to mid-class changed his demonic Power in quality. He had no real way to quantify it. But after entering the realm of a mid-class devil energy-wise, he could do around 1o times more than a day before, when he still was a peak low-class.

But the most important change is, that he finally was able to create small Animals. Tora the ginger cat he created which was living on his garden Islands, was a small miracle. Since it didn't seem to be only a matter of quantity in demonic power but also quality.

Well at least it got a bit of workout now, and didn't need to rely on food from Harry anymore, since he created as a first test mice for Tora to hunt. They weren't just simple mice, Harry created them with specific behavior patterns useful for him. First, they wouldn't feed on his crops, only wild plants outside of his fields. Next, he ordered them to taunt Tora once they reached a certain age. And lastly only to breed until they reached a certain population, so they wouldn't overcrowd his island.

And the mice followed the behavior from now on instinctively. This level of control over lifeforms that he created gave him many possibilities to create completely unique Ecosystems and made him realize where the name 'Sacred Gear that lets one impersonate God' came from. He also tested to change already existing animals afterward but was unable to do so. Not because it was impossible, he just didn't have enough energy yet.

He also felt that it was possible to change the things he brought in from the outside, but it felt, even more, energy intensive. Even changing a simple stone from the outside world felt expensive, and he didn't mean changing its form or look. No, he tried to change its properties so that it would explode if it impacted something. He could change the shape of the Stone and bring it outside, it would be really overpowered if he could modify anything with special Properties and bring it out. But unfortunately, he couldn't try it yet.

But even with these small things he could accelerate his development again, for example, he created small worms that would feed on any weeds and pests he brought with the seeds from the outside, and turn them into a powerful fertilizer accelerating the growth of his plants. Yes, he could grow them by using his authority as the god of this small universe, but he wouldn't gain anything since he didn't get any new energy from the forcefully grown plants, since it was used in the process. So he spread the worms on every island. Allowing them to tilt and fertilize any piece of ground on this small planet.

He also created some Squirrels and small apes, that are designed to assist him in taking care of his garden, they water plants, harvest ripe crops, replant them, and expand the garden with more. As payment, they are allowed to use a part of their harvest as food.

Unfortunately simple animals like that are his current limit, he didn't have enough Power or understanding to create more useful Animals for combat. Although he wished to create some small animals with elemental Powers, so he could channel them into his spells. But he simply didn't understand enough to create them, and the amount of energy to substitute this understanding was massive. But how does a magical or supernatural animal use the elements? He had no Idea.

A Squirrel harvests nuts from nature, and an ape has hands similar to a human, giving them such behavior wasn't that Hard. The same for the worms, they increased the nutrients in the ground naturally, and also improve the drainage, he just improved these natural features a bit and added a new behavior in their eating habits.

Lord Gremory also decided he wouldn't allow the servants to capture anything powerful like that for him, since it would be a good adventure for Harry to do it himself and gain some real-life experience once he was a bit older. Instead, he told the boy to study more and expand the arsenal he had available, so his gains would be bigger later on.

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One day after one of his solo lessons, Harry was on the way back to his room when he saw Rias coming from her Parents' Private Area of the Mansion. Her Crimson hair waved behind her as she walked with a downcast look in the direction of her own room. She was deep in her thoughts and had a sad look in her eyes, as she didn't even register that Harry was there.

"Hey, Rias! What going on?" asked Harry softly, as the girl was close to him.

"Oh, Harry I didn't see you there. What are you doing here?" she replied a bit startled as she didn't spot the boy there. She quickly put a small smile on her face, trying to act as she usually did.

"Well, this is my room." Said Harry dryly as he pointed at the wooden door he was standing in front of. He knew that something was wrong with her, during this last year he got quite close with the other members of the peerage. At least close enough to know if something bothers them. Although there was a bit of distance with Akeno, they still got on petty well, it was as if something was holding her back, he developed a relationship with Koneko and Rias similar to siblings. If something was wrong he wanted to help her, "I can see something is bothering you. Please let me help you. Don't hide your Problems, aren't we a Peerage? Shouldn't we trust each other?"

For a moment the beautiful crimson-haired girl stared at him before tears began to appear in the corners of her eyes. Harry quickly pulled her into a hug before opening his Door and guiding her inside, although he had still trouble with physical contact with most people, this wasn't the case with Rias, "Shhh, everything will be fine."

"No, it won't. My Parents just told me that there is an arranged Marriage Contract for me." She cried into his shoulder as they sat down on a sofa in his Room, "And I will have to handle it myself."

"A Marriage Contract?" Harry knew that it wasn't unusual amongst Noble Devil Houses to form Marriage Contracts, he didn't know that House Gremory would also do it, with their different views from other Devil Houses, 'Is it a political thing? Could it be they have no choice?'

"Do you know your Fiance? Maybe it isn't that bad? He could be a nice guy," tried Harry to calm the Girl down.

"It's Riser Phenex. The third son of the Phenex House." Cried Rias as she hugged him even harder.

"Oh." He muttered as he had heard of Riser Phenex learning about Devil Society was part of his Political lessons, also learning about different rumors. He had to visit some of the different Cities regularly to learn about the different ongoings in the Society.

Riser Phenex was a notorious womanizer and his Peerage was a Harem that already was half full, instead of Quality Pieces he collects a large number of beautiful girls. This wouldn't be so special amongst Devils If he didn't start so young. He is already 18 years old, 8 years older than Rias, and these kinds of Rumors started when he was 1o. Apparently, he was also very Arrogant and speaks of himself in the third Person like royalty.

Pretty much like one of these asshole young Masters, from one of the Novels he read on the Devil net in his free time. 'Besides his family status, not a good match for the Heiress of the Gremory house. Why would Lord and Lady Gremory choose such a person for Rias? No, wait…' "Rias did you say they said you will have to handle it yourself?"

"Yes, they told me the contract is set already for a few years. I will have to handle the details myself. According to the current conditions, I have time until I finish University in the Human World." She said downcast.

"It's a test." Realized Harry.

"What…? What do you mean?" she asked confused.

"Your Parents are testing you, they want to prepare you for your future position as Clan Head." Explained Harry, seeing through the ploy, realizing that if Rias isn't even able to handle a Contract with a third son, she wouldn't be a good fit for such a position, "Do you have a copy of the Contract?"

"No, I was too distracted, to ask for one." She muttered a bit embarrassed.

"Then get one!"

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