Chapter 8: Recruitment

Mordred was reading some books from the human world, he loved to learn. Especially knowledge from humans. They were quite interesting to him.

If they fought against low class to middle class factions. They would actually be able to win. Leave the Longinus wielders to the high class and the mooks will deal with the rest.

There are hundreds and thousands of sacred gear wielders that aren't Longinus class. Which eclipses the amount of high class beings in a faction.

And humans are extremely good at killing other things. Guns, missiles, and other weapons are effective against the bottom barrel enemies which are many.

"Heh, if only the god of the bible could unite humans. They would be a terrible faction to fight." Mordred shook his head at Yahweh's foolishness.

Hiding the supernatural to humans just turns them into prey that are waiting for the ones with potential to get picked off.

"Are you truly a free man if you live your best life in ignorance while caged? Or when you die trying?" Mordred didn't know the answer, but he would pick the latter.

Being human means purpose. And to live a life fighting to be truly free without higher powers ruining it with their whims is something he values as a noble cause.

"Humans huh? Maybe I should follow my father's footsteps and create another faction? How many more innocents would be living a terrible life due to the supernatural? Hmm, I'll call it dragon nest." Mordred squinted his eyes.

"My greatest hoard that the supernatural could only eye with jealousy. Humans who live and die in just a generation. But they have the most potential when led to the right direction." He smirked.

It would need tons of time, but it's a noble goal that Mordred would be proud of as a dragon. Even Ddraig and Albion are only known in the supernatural.

He will be etched in history everywhere. The king of all dragons that led humanity to fight against the supernatural. Breaking them free of their chains as weak beings, a liberator of mankind.

His soul as a Pendragon and dragon burned with infinite resolve.

"Whoa, you're talking about some deep stuff boss." Masaomi looked at him weirdly.

"Oh shush, you should read more like Mordred." Cleria chided him.

A green magic circle appeared and Ajuka brought the nekoushou sisters back to them.

"Satan Beelzebub, did everything go well?" Mordred smiled at the cheerful expressions of Kuroka and Shirone.

"Yes, everything went swimmingly. The Naberius house has been kidnapping devils to experiment on them. And it is a disgrace to devilkind. So Sirzechs destroying them wasn't a problem." Ajuka quoted the air.

Tiamat chuckled and she took the credit for it. Hiding Mordred's capabilities. She was sure that Ajuka and Sirzechs would die if they got hit by Caliburn like that if they just stood there and accepted it.

"I will start working on the evil pieces you requested Tiamat. Goodbye, the devils thank you once again." Ajuka bowed slightly, though he was irritated.

They were busy after all, and Tiamat kept on finding crimes around the world.

"Hmph, what's next? My cousin, the heir of the Astaroth clan is doing something shady?" Ajuka snorted, grumbling while doing some work.

"Come here Shirone, mom gave me some sweets. You like them right? I guessed based on your scent." Mordred patted the seat beside him and Shirone rushed towards him.

"Shirone nya... Are you abandoning your nee-sama for Mordred? I know we were poor earlier." Kuroka sniffed and had a fake tear fall from her eyes.

Shirone didn't notice though, eager to eat the sweets that Mordred presented to her.

"Ugh, Mordred nya. Are you stealing Shirone from me?" She changed targets and he patted the seat opposite Shirone's.

"Come Kuroka, read with me. It is good to be well informed. So you won't get tricked by filthy devils anymore." Mordred cracked his book open.

Kuroka winced and she slumped down. She then slowly went to his side and plopped on the seat.

"Nya, you smell strong Mordred." Kuroka got a whiff of his scent. The scent of a dragon; fire, steel, and ash. But in a good way.

She rubbed her face on his shoulder and she hugged him. "Nee-sama, you're hogging Mordred." Shirone pouted at her and she positioned herself on Mordred's lap. Claiming it as her territory.

"So? What's your plan next Mordred?" Tiamat was curious. Their little group was beginning to grow. The cave was getting cramped.

Tiamat missed the times when it was only her and Mordred there. But seeing him beginning to learn how to talk to people made her happy.

"Perhaps wait for Satan Beelzebub's new evil pieces? But while I wait for them, I should visit Ise and Irina in Kuoh." He rubbed his chin and nodded after making a decision.

"Nya? Who is this Ise and Irina?" Kuroka raised a brow. She was getting a bit too attached due to labeling him as an anchor.

She developed separation anxiety because Kuroka thought the whole world was out to get them. If Mordred isn't around, they would be hunted down by those who want to use the last nekoshous.

"Do you want to come?" Mordred took out some game boys, giving it to Kuroka and Koneko.

"Your friends nya?" Shirone tilted her head. "I believe so." Mordred nodded and Tiamat decided.

"Okay, it's good to make more friends. I'll help Ajuka with creating the evil pieces. Pour magic here if you need help alright? Masaomi, Cleria, go with them." Tiamat ordered and her expression went ice cold for a quick second.

"Yes ma'am!" They sweated bullets. Tiamat has been training them to the ground for years in order to be Mordred's body guards when she isn't around.

And Cleria was fast approaching the ultimate class. While Masaomi is at that power level when wielding Kusanagi. If Mordred decides to loan it.

"An outing nya? I never did go out much with Shirone." Kuroka had a wry smile and she agreed with it wholeheartedly.

"Okay, let's go." Mordred teleported themselves to the human world, back in Kuoh.

"Now, how about I expedite the evil pieces we would receive?" Tiamat grinned and teleported into Ajuka's lab.

"Yo, Ajuka. How is it going?" Tiamat lounged around and sat on the couch.

"Hah, you do know that I only started making the pieces for you right?" Ajuka raised a brow.

"Yeah, but I'll help you or something. Your kankara formula can copy or dematerialize any magic after analyzing it. But you can't exactly move mana like a dragon right?" Tiamat snorted.

"Tch, you high class dragons and your mana hearts. That thing is simply cheating." Ajuka grumbled in envy.

"So? Anything I can work on?" Tiamat wanted Mordred to receive his as fast as possible.

Ddraig's host is his friend, that's a stroke of luck that should be exploited. And she was proud that the kid was enamored with Mordred's cuteness.

"Now that you say it, I actually need DNA samples from you. The evil pieces as you know, reincarnate other races to devils. Turns them into about 97% devil. I haven't perfected it yet actually." Ajuka had a thoughtful expression.

An obsession in his eyes, it was centuries ago that he made them. Yet there are things that he still does not understand about it. The thing was a stroke of genius really.

"Done." She took some scales, blood, and other parts to expedite the procedure.

"You know, these materials are priceless for researchers. They are from the Chaos Karma dragon herself." Ajuka chuckled.

"Consider it as payment, I want the evil pieces done yesterday." Tiamat squinted her eyes.

"Alright, alright. I'll make quick work of it. Dragons are so bossy." He ruffled his hair in exasperation.

__Kuoh__

"Shit, Cleria... I just remembered." Masaomi gave his girlfriend a look.

"What? This better not be important or Tiamat would skin us alive." Cleria glared at him.

"Irina... Irina Shidou, the boss' friend? She's Touji's daughter. Remember? Touji Shidou? Tried to kill me?" Masaomi chuckled nervously.

"Ahh..." Cleria adopted a grave expression. Imagine how the man would react to their appearance there.

"Let's just wait and see." Cleria looked like she had swallowed a bitter bug.

"Yeah... I bet I could kick his ass now too. Just need to have the boss' Kusanagi." Masaomi was sure of it.

The only ultimate class exorcist in the church is Vasco Strada. A muscular old man who wields the holy sword Durandal with one hand. And the thing was a great sword.

"Hi Ise, Rin. These are new friends I made, I just gave them game boys. Let's teach them the ropes." Mordred greeted his friends that were on the playground.

"Hello nya, I'm Kuroka. This is my sister Shirone." Kuroka introduced themselves. She tried to get a feel of them, but they were clear. Just normal humans.

Shirone hid behind Kuroka and Mordred though, still a bit shy against other people.

"Rin? Is that supposed to be me?" The boyish Irina giggled sheepishly while scratching her head.

"Umu, Ise has a nickname. So I gave you one too." Mordred nodded at her.

"Then, how about we call you Mord?" Ise recommended and he frowned.

"Ise, Mord sounds like he's an old man you know? When he's this cute?" Irina rejected immediately.

"That's right! That sounds terrible." Shirone nodded and Kuroka also agreed.

"S-sorry, let's just get on with our game yeah?" Ise laughed nervously and they taught the nekoshous how to play pokewars.

And as typical child fashion, they forgot the time. With the sun going down. "Irina, it's time to go home." One Touji Shidou arrived to pick up his daughter.

He froze immediately when he saw the people there. A nekomata, two devils, Masaomi who was holding Kusanagi after Mordred loaned it to him, and the Shinto god who were playing with her daughter and her friend Ise.

"A-are they your friends Irina?" His smile twitched and Irina nodded excitedly.

"Yeah dad! Hey, you guys want to eat dinner at my place! Mom can cook some killer food you know?" Irina invited them.

"Sure, Irina. If your dad agrees." Mordred eyed him and Touji had to agree.

"Sure honey... Now go along now and lead them." Touji shooed them away.

When they were away from earshot. Masaomi and Cleria instantly created a barrier. The previous exorcist's blade already on his throat.

While Cleria used worthlessness on his magic so he won't be able to enhance himself with it.

"So we meet face to face exorcist. I did not know that my friend is your daughter. Just don't get in my way and she'll have a father to come home to." Mordred spoke with finality.

"Boss, this is messed up. Aren't you supposed to be asking him if it's okay to be with his daughter? Not threaten to gut him if he tries to break you up?" Masaomi chuckled.

"I'm good, I won't meddle." Touji gulped nervously. He cursed inside his mind. The rotten luck that his daughter would befriend a god of all people.

"Good, leaving Rin without a father would weigh on my mind. So be a good exorcist and don't even try." Mordred patted his back.

"H-how did you even meet with them?" Touji started walking with them.

"In this playground of course. I wanted to make some friends and they were available." Mordred shrugged.

The walk back to the Shidou household was quiet. Touji just watching Mordred, Kuroka, and Shirone interact with them.

"See? It should be like that old man Touji." Masaomi sighed and Cleria nodded.

"Hah, I was acting on orders." Touji massaged his temples. He did not want to kill his subordinate.

"Yeah, after the great king faction of devils made a deal with you guys. Seems convenient that you ally yourselves when it benefits you both huh?" Cleria was one vengeful woman.

Touji went quiet after that and they had dinner at his house.

After that, Mordred walked Ise back to her house. "Hey Ise, what would be your reaction if I told you that you can be a dragon?" He chuckled.

She already was, Ddraig just hasn't awakened yet. When he does, his dragon traits would bleed into her very being.

"A dragon!? They're super cool, of course I want to be one." Ise nodded in excitement.

"I'll hold you to that. Let's promise each other, on our pride as a dragon." Mordred held out his pinky.

"Un! Let's!" Ise smiled with childish wonder. Masaomi and Cleria chuckled, because he definitely would turn her into one.

They dropped her into the Hyoudou household and returned to their home.

"Welcome back." Tiamat was cooking and she greeted them.

"I'm back mom, I had Ise's promise that she would join me. I just need to trickle in the supernatural to her." Mordred was pleased that Ddraig's wielder would be his kin.

"How about the evil pieces?" Mordred was curious. "Ajuka said it will take a week to make the necessary changes. Well, you have plenty of time to recruit Ise." Tiamat chuckled.

"You don't hate it? She's Ddraig's wielder." He tilted his head.

"Well, if you picked her. Who am I to stop you? Though I'll definitely send her later to a treasure hunt." Tiamat huffed.

She would never forget that Ddraig lost her treasures.

"Okay, while you prep dinner. I'll check Lucifaad, I want to completely know the extent of Caliburn's striking distance." Mordred gestured for his goons to follow.

"Yes boss." Masaomi shook his head with a smile. Cleria nodded and they teleported to Lucifaad.

"Hmm. I guess that Caliburn's direct damage can affect a kilometer in a straight line. And the horizontal collateral is about a quarter of that." Mordred inspected the rubble of Naberius house.

"That was honestly scary. We were so far away, but the holy sanctuary still burned me before we set up a barrier." Cleria shivered at the sight.

She thought she would go blind from the holy light that fucked over the estate. It almost burned her retinas at the split second she saw it.

"It uses up a lot of mana though. And it's pretty slow, ultimate class beings won't just stand there and take it." Mordred frowned at the drawback of it.

"Yeah, you should use Caliburn as your main weapon and use that as a finisher instead." Masaomi advised.

"That is correct, filthy devils would turn to dust with one hit anyway." He shrugged and Cleria chuckled nervously. She was one of those filthy devils after all.

"Hmm?" Mordred smelled something. A wounded person, fresh blood dripping. They were moving while blood is dropping on the ground.

"Let's check that out." He gestured for them to follow and he flapped his black wings.

__

Thanks for reading everyone, ciao.