Vow for the Future: Stephani

Today the girls were training the latest game Thousand pin bowling which uses the same set up as Tenpin Bowling and having the similar settings to the puppets but this time it targets several targets and some of the groupings have white pins between the black pins that should not be attacked.

This is the next stage of controlling one's magic after it has fired. Since he knew the girls control over their mana and output control is good enough, he decided to have them learn how to control their magic to attack wide range while avoiding the targets.

This is naturally a very very long term training for them which Masaru organized for them to train in for at least an hour a day because they could not neglect their individual combat training and physical body training as well.

Today however Masaru was training Sakura, he noticed that her skills in Magic is quite amazing but the thing was she could only combine it with her swordsmanship. He created a sword toy which had a bar-o-meter on the blade which displays the amount of enchantment she pushes in with her newly obtained Demonic energy.

Since sometimes having a massive flame sword was not strong as an efficient controlled thin layer fire sword so he was watching over her training her mana control in the manner using the sword which she is proficient in. And Masaru was taken by surprise as to how Sakura would Rage at the comments the sword would pop out after each scoring attempt was given.

"Please don't tell me after this training I will be doing something like those girls" Sakura mentioned while looking at the girls having hell with the pins they should not destroy get destroyed.

"Ah no, you see those girls despite using weapons they can use magic but you're an exception since you can only successfully cast magic with your sword I had to change the manner of your training accordingly" Sakura blew out a sigh of relief but the next words made her almost collapse

"But you will later train with a wooden sword once you got used to this kind of training, using this metal sword is easy to enchant but a wooden sword would shatter. The expectations I hold for you as a fellow swordsman is for you to reach the point that even a stick will be a real sword in your hand, as for the path afterwards, we can talk about it when we reach there. Even I am still training with a stick"

BOOOOOM!!!!

Masaru and Sakura could feel an incredible wind blast past them followed by vibrations, they could faintly hear "If you want to die then bloody die then!!!!"

Masaru knew it was Stephani who began her rage flip at the pins that keep breaking even when she used a weak spell, "Just why have you designed such annoying pieces of training?"

Masaru laughed at Stephani's training progress, despite cursing she still refused to give up since the machine mocked her. "It's because it annoys them that it makes them not wanting to lose, unlike mundane training where everything is simply to simple it will make one wants to stop training as it is boring unless you have a strong will and desire to train"

"Even I can feel their frustration, I can't even count how many times I want to break this sword" Sakura complained but still she focused and began controlling her output according to the marker.

'It's a long arduous training but it will later turn into a game for these girls' Masaru thought as he watches over Sakura for a while more before leaving to check up on the girls since that last explosion was quite massive, he was not sure who caused it but it surely must be a spectacle to watch.

When he reached the field what he saw was a complete mess, the grounds were destroyed along with the pins that were regenerating by pulling their broken back together before turning liquid and harden again as if nothing happened to it.

Stephani was sitting on the ground breathing heavily even her eyes had tears at the corner daring to spill out as she felt frustrated, she had been trying this over and over but somehow today she just can't seem to train properly

"Having a hard time?" Hearing a familiar voice Stephani wiped her tears before looking at Masaru, her glare said more than enough for Masaru to know she wants to beat him up for creating this demonic game.

"You are not controlling your magic properly" Masaru took a seat next to Stephani, he did not scold her nor was there a change in his expression. This allowed Stephani to feel a bit relieved as she did not want to see Masaru being disappointed in her.

"If you want to experience the feeling then first try lightning magic like the spell Chain Lightning and guide it to strike the targets. Or a massive fireball but dual cast it with a barrier to cover your targets. There are many ways to deal with this, it not only trains your controlling after the spell was attacked but also dual casting along with many other ideas. So don't stick with only one method" Masaru begin to share his thoughts while Stephani rests her head on his shoulder feeling a bit tired,

"Although this training is annoying I find it a lot easier to do compared to the magic training I did in the past..." Masaru smiled before he concluded "That is what I would hope for when I created these things"

"Masaru, will you do the kissing prayer with me too? I don't want to separate from you or Big sister" Stephani mentioned, Masaru did not answer her immediately but asked something instead.

"You love Akeno quite a bit, do you swing on that side of the fence" Stephani who heard this blushed furiously shaking her head.

"No way! I love Big sis as my Big sis! You know although I was consumed by hatred she gave me a different route, I never wanted to kill the Adramelech family but only those involved in the incident but I too knew I will never be able to do that back then... But Big sis Akeno gave me a kind of revenge that was sweet,

"I still enjoy it you know. Living happily like this while that family can't touch me at all. So at that moment when she suggested to me, she was something I always wanted, a reliable older sister I could complain to, ask to be spoiled by, it was selfish of me to push this role to big sis Akeno including the fact I tried to use her as a shield to protect myself but she accepted it."

Masaru naturally knew this story but hearing her feelings towards Akeno he could understand this girl's actions, "That's why I too want to do the Kiss Prayer so I can live with you and big sis in the next life and in the following forever"

'Ah, so this is why she is not making progress today huh?'

Just as Masaru was about to say something Ichika teleported with her space magic wearing her usual Maid outfit, "Masaru-sama, guest have arrived"

Masaru looked at her wondering who it was but Ichika continued "It's an elder from the Adramelech Family"

Masaru who heard this began wondering if his life was being guided by a mysterious force that is leading him to deal with all kinds of trouble without being able to relax for a moment.

Seeing Stephani was acting tough but the faint tremble here and there could still be seeing, he gently caress Stephani's head causing Stephani to flinch but he still continued till her trembling ended. "Call the girls, tell them it's break time"

Ichika bowed to Masaru's orders and disappeared to collect the girls. "Scared?"

Masaru did not look at Stephani at all, the latter was looking at the ground, "A Little"

Masaru nodded then looked at her "Do you trust me?"

Stephani nodded with a half determined look, after hearing the Adramelech family was here she could not help but recall how her mother was once betrayed. "You said you wanted to stay with me and Akeno till you cease to exist?"

She nodded again, yet she did not say a thing. "Then there is no need to worry"

Masaru stood up pulling Stephani along in the process, he gently held her hand while they started walking towards the Manor, Sakura joined them along the way.

When he reached the back door the rest of the girls appeared, he used cleaning and drying magic to make their appearances cleaner but did not change it since they are still in the middle of training and he was not yet the Head of the family so he could get away with a few minor things.

When they entered the guest room they saw Diehauser, Dominic and Damian was sitting on the right and on the left was a Elder man with short white hair, wearing a formal dressed and next to him was a younger boy about the same age as he is, blonde hair blue eyes, lean body close to being skinny.

Masaru took his seat that was between them and the girls lined up behind him, he did not utter a word since he entered and only when he took his seat he spoke "Apologies for my current appearance as we were in the process of training, I hope you can forgive my tardiness"

The elder bowed his head slightly forward as a form of greeting since Masaru was the heir of an Archduke Family and Adramelech was only a Marquis, "No it's us who should ask for forgiveness young master Belial"

The elder spoke politely making Masaru feel he could negotiate with this old man in regards to Stephani's situation he still wants to settle.

"I'm honoured to have you know of me" Masaru spoke politely while he was looking at the young boy who was calm but he felt a faint trace of killing intent for an instant, and it was towards Stephani.

Since he was not going to have it he asked "If you don't mind me asking but may I inquire your names?"

The elder started the introduction, "My name is Coy Adramelech, I am a elder of the Adramelech elder court. This is Young Master Aster Adramelech"

Masaru nodded but his face became stoic as he spoke bluntly "I'm pleased to meet you, as you know I'm Masaru Belial. So what purpose did the Adramelech family came to seek me personally?"

"We came to request the Belial Family hand over Stephani Adramelech" The young master was the one to speak.

"Request? Sounds more like the Marquis Family is demanding from a Duke family here" Masaru intentionally mentioned family Ranks to pressure the young master to shut up, the elder naturally understood this so he took over.

"We will naturally compensate anything you may desire as we really need Stephani to return to her family"

Masaru rubbed his chin, with a cold look he asked "But then again wasn't it the family who killed her father and mother?"

This question flinched the old man but he was still confident, "The perpetrator has been dealt with---"

Masaru raised his hand with a smirk on his face while his eyes glanced at the old man with disdain "But then from the start why should I comply?"

"You---" The Young master wanted to bark but in the face of Diehauser the Champion of Rating Games? He dared not to, he could only swallow his rage.

Masaru smiled as he began to speak nonchalantly "You know there is a spell that helps me boost my allies powers to unimaginable level but it has a side effect... First it can't be taught from the user and second once the spell is used the women and man is bound for infinity till their souls cease to exist"

The elder man and Young master did not understand what he was getting at but the girls did, they all moved silently pushing Stephani forward enough for Masaru to drag her onto his lap. Using his magic to send a telepathy message

[I will allow you to take your first step in revenge]

Masaru did not wait for them to catch up as he deeply kissed Stephani, the ribbon of the prayer bonded Stephani and Masaru's souls together with a link between their fingers. This process could be seen by everyone, shocking them all speechless.

When the ceremony was complete Masaru separated from the still daze flushed face Stephani he looked at the Elder and Young man with a smile, "The side effect is even if you remove the evil piece she is now bonded with me in this life, the next life until we cease to exist... Do you understand what I am saying?"

The elder blushed feeling his face was warm like he received a face slap and a ruthless one at that, even in front of the Current Head of Belial, Diehauser Belial and even one of the elders of their court! He wanted to beat up this boy for his insolence but the Adramelech regardless of their wealth they could not move against Belial since they will suffer for it.

"The reason I did not give a face to you two is that young master over there released a faint killing intent towards this girl... I am already polite enough NOT to have his head removed" Masaru's voice was cold as he unleashed his killing intent on the two of them, he can endure people ridiculing him but insult his family and peerage? Death Note.

The elder who felt the killing intent broke out a cold sweat 'Just how much has this boy killed to accumulate this amount of killing intent! No that's not the point! We should not offend them... It was a mistake, I have to let the head know if we offend Belial we are doomed!'

The Elder's thoughts were in a mess and the young boy next to him was trembling although it could not be easily be seen, "Please forgive the young master! It was a mistake really a mistake"

The elder kowtowed in front of Masaru, Masaru said nothing and looked at Stephani who snapped out of her stupor already was looking at the scene from his lap.

"Stephani?" Stephani who heard Masaru knew what he was referring to, she felt happy. an Elder of the Adramelech was kowtowing for forgiveness, she wanted to continue this but felt it was enough and did not want to bring trouble to the Belial Family so she nodded.

"Very well, on behalf of Stephani I will overlook this but please correct something... Her name is Stephani Belial from now on, she discarded the family name of Adramelech a long time ago"

The Elder nodded repeatedly, he apologized once more before saying his farewell dragging the Young master with him away.

"What's this about?" Masaru looked at the three who said nothing the entire time, this is way too fishy but Damian's smile was simply too broad when the elder left, even Dominic smiled but Diehauser simply sighed then answered

"These two old farts accepted a massive bribe to keep their mouth shut while the Adramelech family make their request for Stephani, the two of them knew how you would respond and they also took consideration of Stephani's past so they took the chance to scam quite the amount of money out of Adramelech since the family can only negotiate with you... They probably thought you would cave in when none of us supports you so well... yeah"

'What the hell have I just learnt about my own family!?' Masaru thought then looked at Damian,

"Great Grandfather, how much?" Damian grinned "Two hundred years worth of tax money if we go according to our tax money."

Masaru nodded as he simply was too shocked at how much his family scammed another family, but a smirk appears on his face shortly afterwards and with a thumbs up "I approve, good work people!"

The men began laughing while the girls felt this family truly would do anything to take revenge for their families, which includes scamming.

"Although I would have kissed you back in the training field, however, I guess the goddess of fate wanted me to kiss you here, I hope you can forgive this useless master" Masaru spoke affectionately towards Stephani who blushed

"It-it's fine... I enjoyed it" She spoke softly feeling refreshed, the revenge was light but for the first step this was really satisfying.

"Since you gentlemen set the stage I can only leave dealing with that family to you" Masaru spoke feeling a bit sorry for his overbearing attitude might have caused a rift between the two families.

Dominic shook his head "No need, We have our contacts with Sitri, Bael, Gremory, Astaroth, Agares and quite a few more families... We never had to deal with Adramalech, to begin with so it's fine"

"Don't forget the noble gathering party, you can only take one girl with you I'm afraid. It will be the same for me and Father" Diehauser spoke.

Masaru thought for a moment but his thoughts were disturbed when Akeno came forward "Ma-kun, can you take Sona with you?"

Hearing this Masaru looked at her wondering why "You see we have already arranged something with my mother and Sona is your friend who also has to go... We can only entrust you to someone like her"

Masaru looked at his father who nodded, 'Just what are these girls of mine planning?' Masaru thought as he knew Akeno the best, the last thing she would do was to pass on an opportunity to someone else especially someone outside the peerage.

However, he still accepted Akeno's suggestion since it was better than arriving without anyone. But then again "I will first check with her, otherwise, I will simply go on my own," He said as he did not want to simply look for a girl just for a Noble party if his girls were busy.