52 Troubled friend

"Sona Kaichou, a message from Masaru has arrived"

A first-year senior highschool beautiful girl with white hair and blue-green eyes entered Sona's office.

"Ah Momo, what is the message?"

Momo Hanakai was this girl's name and she is Sona's Bishop recently established.

"Apparently Masaru has investigated the Fallen Angels, they made plans to move on a nun girl but the details of this girl is not included since they did not mention a name so they could not investigate further into it. However, they mentioned that the Fallen Angels are planning to start investigation humans who made contracts with us and Rias's group. They plan to kill them all one year from now"

"Did Masaru say anything else?"

Momo shook her head before replying, "He said this is not his territory and unless it's a problem he determines you and Rias can't handle he will only then move, he did mention he would move if you accept a date proposal from him although that part was definitely only a joke"

Sona felt her mouth twitch at that joke, her heartfelt a slight bit of pain while thinking she should be a little more ruthless in their next game of chess.

Soon the door knock and another girl entered the room, she was second Bishop Sona reincarnated together with Momo since she recently convinced them to join her. She was a slim girl with long brown hair that ends in two short braids and matching eyes. Reya Kusaka.

"Sona-Kaichou, I have just delivered Masaru's message to Rias-sama"

Sona pondered for a moment "How did Rias respond to it?"

Reya had a wry smile while shaking her head, "She said she will only monitor them, as long as they do nothing, she will let them go since the fallen angels are not targeting her or her team"

Sona heaved a sigh, rubbing her forehead 'I am not certain how I should feel about this...'

Sona began to formulate a plan on how to hide her and her peerage's relationship with each customer, Tsubaki assisted her in this matter as they took their relationship with their customers seriously because Sona's dream is something that could be considered difficult to achieve in the current Devil World.

>\/<

Rias who just received Masaru's message felt like everything she was planning was crumbling slowly, she knew that Masaru noticed her actions of monitoring him and with this timely report of his finding came with a hidden message to her "Unless you come to ask me in person, don't think about it" which was why she placed the Fallen Angel report aside.

Although it was cowardly of her to think of using anything she can to get rid of her engagement with Riser, even God himself does not know why this girl is still not training herself nor training her peerage members in earnest.

"Rias-sama, your tea" Sara came pushing a cart with the tea she brewed on it, normally she hates to make tea for anyone but Rias who she loves very much. It was only when Rias asked her to make tea for Barold and Yuuto that she reluctantly began to make for them.

"Ah thank you" Rias took her cup while sitting on her chair.

Yuuto who was silent all this time thought of saying a piece of advice. "Buchou, I think we need to arrange training in earnest. Perhaps we can ask Sirzech-sama if we could train under one of his peerages or perhaps someone strong"

"No, I can't bother Onii-sama with something like this!"

Yuuto who heard Rias's strong assertion thought 'But your counting on that Onii-sama to somehow save you...'

He wanted to refute but kept his silence, even Barold was quietly reading a book Masaru suggested him since his one month experience in dealing with Rias he knew when to suggest something and when to simply just chill and remain his silence. Rias felt only she was the only one who was taking this problem seriously.

"Then what about asking your parents? Buchou the way we are wasting our time relaxing here only doing Devil Work is not going to let us become stronger" Yuuto began to try to convince Rias but Sara glared at him fiercely.

"Don't take that tone on Rias-sama, you are a knight and she is your king." Rias wanted to stop Sara but it was already said turning the room atmosphere gloomy.

Yuuto stood up bowing "Please excuse me"

He turned and left, Barold who had enough looked at Sara "Sara, you're a queen. Know your place, the one Yuuto spoke to was Rias Buchou, not you. Remember your actions and words reflect back on Rias which will make her peerage members think she is a tyrant"

Sara who heard this flinched but kept her silence.

"Enough..." Rias felt like crying, her engagement is haunting her. Each of her peerages has a trauma which she still had not been able to fix yet.

Only Barold has been supporting her and she knew he was right to say that about Sara, but. Barold who knew Rias was having it difficult kept his silence once again and read his book, Sara stood behind Rias with a complicated expression as she was thinking about the actions she took.

Yuuto was outside swinging his sword under the moonlight thinking 'Is it really like Masaru senpai said? If I don't push myself and train hard while keeping the mind not to break myself I will never be able to achieve my dream?'

>\/<

Masaru naturally got the report on how both sides reacted but he did not expect that Sara girl to be such a problem.

'Did I create a problem by changing the direction of the world's future? It feels like this girl has bigger problems than Akeno had when she was Rias's queen, but then again Rias need to take control soon' he thought.

"Ma-kun I finished my job!" Akeno came behind Masaru who was thinking about Rias's problem hugging his head while pushing his head into her bountiful chest.

"Good work out there Akeno, how was your first client?"

Akeno smiled, "A unique kind of person, she has similar tastes to mine although well let's keep it unique"

Masaru nodded relaxing his head as she held it firmly, Akeno could feel Masaru was a bit more tired today, "Something happened?"

Masaru nodded and started to tell about his findings with Everest including Rias's peerage reaction to this report. Akeno who heard this could only sigh, "Well you see..."

She began to report what Sona told her about Sara's past which caused Masaru to feel a cold sweat down his back, he never expected for such a turn of events and it was even related to himself.

"We don't have such girls in our team right?"

Akeno knew what he was referring to so she shook her head, "All the girls have chosen master"

Masaru felt relieved, "It's not like I have a problem with such sexual preferences but I like to prepare my heart ahead of time, I would get a great shock if I see such a thing"

Masaru could only chuckle nervously thinking 'Seems I caused some big problems this time... Instead of a Super SM queen Rias is stuck with a Yuri Yandere...'

"You enjoying your pillows?" Masaru nodded his head not caring that Akeno intended to tease him.

"It helps me relax, although I know it's not my problem and should not get involved due to my status. But I feel the urge to go and help her and scold her. When I was her age, my parents, grandparents and even great grandfather spoiled me but they trained me hard to get where I am now, I am lucky, really I am for having lovable girls like you all that I wish to protect and live within this world..."

Masaru closed his eyes feeling calm while continuing

"But when I look at Rias I can't help but feel frustration, she has everything status, finance, connections yet she is not making use of it. She never train hard, she let the problems of her peerage go with the flow thinking time will heal everything. Not to mention she complains about her engagement but never done anything to prevent it, it's like she is counting on her brother to save her at the last minute... Sorry, guess I am allowing such stupid things to get on my nerves"

Akeno was silently listening while gently caressing her beloved master's hair, she knew he wanted to help but by doing so he will cause political trouble for his family and the Gremory while it will also hinder Rias's growth. He is, after all, a person who can't leave something alone that irritates him.

"Masaru, I understand your frustration seeing someone who had everything while you had no much yet the one who had everything became useless in the eyes of someone who had nothing. You should not compare her to you, Rias is Rias and you are you. One day when you have a daughter with me then you will realize the feelings of Lord Gremory and Sirzech"

Masaru did not blush this time as he was seriously listening to Akeno's advice, seeing Masaru listening to her seriously Akeno smiled warmly as she continued, "But it feels quite nice to hear you speak out your feelings you know, every one of us feels your kindness and love you feel for us. You should confide with us more like this since we are after all your family"

Masaru felt relieved after talking with Akeno, everything she mentioned he knew it all along but hearing it from someone else does calm one's mind.

'Guess I have allowed my frustration about her surrounding gnaw at me huh? Although I am not suppose to' Masaru thought,

He did not blame it on his soul that is almost done healing, he began to review his feelings. The rest of the girls were all crowding the door listening to the conversation before crashing into the room, Masaru did not feel embarrassed or move. For the first time, he felt resting on a woman's chest is truly the best.

Ichika came forward with a few pages in her hands, "Master, you want to read the review feedback my familiar gathered from the clients?"

Masaru shook his head thinking he was a bit too tired for more administration work, he looks toward Yui "Yui, can you visit Sona tomorrow. Gather the all the addresses of every one of their clients, then I want you girls to use your familiar to gather information around the town while keeping an eye on the addresses and mark which ones were detected by them."

"You getting involved?" Masaru shook his head at her question

"Sona is already busy dealing with the problem from her side, Rias appears to take her engagement as the first priority so she will likely not take this problem seriously. For the sake of our family's safety and peaceful life, I want to maintain having control over our surrounding and for that I need intelligence. Should the situation get out of control for Sona and Rias, I will be able to respond much faster this way"

'I have been feeling a prick sensation in my gut that something is about to happen in the future...'

Shirone who arrived took her seat on Masaru's lap, while the rest of the girls took their seats and Akeno came to sit on Masaru's right and Ingvild on his left. Soon a projection of Diehauser appeared in the office.

"It's been a while Masaru"

"Yes it has a father"

Diehauser appear to look much calmer and even more vigorous than his previous self, "I see the girls appear to look even better compared the time they first arrived at our home. Is Masaru treating you girls kindly?"

The girls began giving their answer to him one at a time and all of them were favourable, Diehauser who heard them all nodded happily but suddenly,

"Oi! When are my grandchildren coming!" Hearing Dominic's voice from the background

"They are too young!"

"OUCH! I'm sorry honey!"

The girls began giggling since this was the way the Belial Family is in private after all.

"So you called me for a reason?" Masaru nodded as he had already decided that it was best to speak with his father, he intends to do what he can as the current him.

"I can't talk with Sirzech directly because that Siscon is probably planning something to help his sister escape the marriage with Phenex"

Diehauser who heard this could only helplessly sigh, he knew this as well since most of the peerage in Sirzech were the ones who did most of the work. "Well, considering that it will be related to Rias. So what is it?"

Masaru leaned forward with a stern face, "I want to ask for all the reports and any documents aunt Cleria has about the time she managed Kuoh Town"

"Did something happen?"

Masaru could only smile helplessly at his father's serious question, "Although this is not my responsibility, currently Kuoh town has several other factions loitering around here and I need information."

Diehauser looked seriously like the fact that other factions intruding on Devil territory are a cause that requires them to be alert, frowning he asked: "Isn't Rias the one managing it?"

Masaru scratched his cheek, "I have already told her about this, but right now, I doubt she will seriously investigate it since you should know she is troubled about Riser. Instead, I will investigate the things on our own for now, for our sake and safety."

"But there is also the point that a Devil Family member is involved with the Fallen Angels that intruded the town, although we don't have a name I know that he must be a high ranking noble"

"To think it became this much troublesome, it will indeed be better if you handled it. Do you have candidates for suspicions?"

Masaru answered his father's question seriously: "Diodora Astaroth, there are two reasons why I suspect him. They mentioned Astaroth in their discussion and their product or target is a nun girl. And Diodora is famous for his nun collections.

"I only want to confirm if these fallen angels were here during Aunt Cleria's time and any possible enemies we have not yet discovered, I won't be actively getting involved with Kuoh Town but will be collecting information for the sake of my school life and survival. So please pass the information to Ajuka-sensei for me"

"You shared your speculation and the involvement of Astaroth to those two girls?"

Masaru shook his head with a chuckle at his father's question, "No, although the two of them has great families and Devil Kings. With no proof, if they push for investigation and find nothing it will only be troublesome later. I believe the best course of action would be to use a covert operation to stealthily investigate"

"Anyway, I heard that Rias is considering on how to drag you into the engagement affair?"

Masaru shrugged not feeling bothered about it, "There is no concrete proof if that is the reason she is monitoring me, but even if that was the case I will not easily get involved. Father knows how careful I am in regards to such matters, besides the girls here are already covering my blindspots for me"

"As expected of my daughters-in-law!"

"What about me!?"

"Well good job I guess, our family became a Duke but our power and authority are still unstable at this moment it should be stable in a years time. At that time you will no longer need to fear the way you act, as long as it's within reason"

Masaru sighed feeling helpless at how his father was playing favourites with his girls and brushing off his achievements like it was nothing new.

He nodded since he understood his father that politics and responsibility as the Heir of a family, he needs to look out for many things.

"Understood father"

Diehauser looked around but did not spot her, "Please send my regards to Diana, I will make sure to visit this weekend since there is no Rating Game planned so far"

After saying their goodbyes the projection was cut off, everyone began cleaning up the office before heading home.

>\/<

"We're home!" Masaru called out while taking off his shoes slipping on slippers, Diana who came to greet Masaru and the girls was surprised at Masaru who appeared to feel as if he was no longer burdened by something.

"Welcome home, I have ordered delivery that is currently on the way so take your time"

Masaru chuckled at his mother who was taking a day off, he knew that she deserved it after all the things she has done for them. he went up the stairs.

"You girls, what happened?" Diana brought the girls with her to the lounge to chat about Masaru's growth, even Diana could realize it.

The girls began explaining the things to her, she could understand Masaru's frustrations but she too agrees with Akeno.

"I expected no less from the one aiming for first"

Akeno felt proud but the other girls except for Stephani, Angelica, Shirone and Ichika who felt satisfied with their positions did not join the fierce competition for number 1. Since the main reason, Akeno could stick close to Masaru was the fact she was his assistant and Ingvild who was kind and gentle had a sly side to her using her queen piece as an excuse to confront Akeno who uses her Assistant as an excuse.

"Well I made sure to order lots of deserts so be sure to indulge yourselves"

Shirone who heard desert from Diana became excited at the thought for sweets and snacks

"Also this weekend when Diehauser comes to visit, you girls and Masaru will be alone. So make sure not to do anything naughty... if push comes to shove please at least use protection" Diana said while winking her eye at the blushing girls