A New Satan

Human World, Japan, Kuoh.

"What the fuck!?" James exclaimed loud enough that it echoed through the rest of the mansion after hearing the announcement on TV. "Did Old Man Zekram just say that I would become a Satan?"

"That's what it sounded like to me." Leona responded absent mindedly.

{"Lord Zekram, why would such a youngster be given a place among the best our devil race has to offer?"} An obvious pure blood supremacist reporter asked with obvious distaste in his tone.

{"His merits speak for themselves."} Zekram said without changing his expression. {"He has defeated and captured many enemies and fugitives of the Underworld."}

"I'm honestly surprised that old man is speaking so highly of James." Venelana said while still running her fingers through James' hair.

"Whether he's supporting me or not, who the hell thought it was a good idea to make me a politician?" James asked in exasperation. "I thought it was obvious I hated politics."

{"James Alaverus, as powerful and accomplished as he may be, does he have the experience to lead a government?"} Another reporter asked.

{Honestly, I would imagine that he does not."} Zekram replied with a shake of his head.

{Then why?"} The first reporter asked angrily. {Giving a half-breed such power is a disgrace to our devil society."}

At that moment, the other reporters standing around the pure blood supremacist began to distance themselves from him. They still remember the last time James was humiliated publicly.

And as everyone expected, James pulled out his smartphone and made a memo. That way, he would remember to make that guy's life a living hell in the future.

{"The young man will be placed in a position that suits him.""} Zekram said, completely ignoring the fool who insists on insulting the strongest devil in the Underworld. {Although his vote on each subject will count as much as any other Satan's, he will be the external enforcer for the Underworld. Meaning, whenever a fugitive escapes or an enemy attacks the Underworld, it will fall to James and those under him to bring in or eliminate the threat."}

At that moment, the elevator door opened. Scathach, Irene, Evangeline, Rias, and Sona walked out of the open elevator doors with some level of concern on their faces.

"James what was that..." Rias began to ask. However, when she saw her mother giving James a lap pillow, her thoughts froze.

Although not as bad as Rias, the other four were also surprised to see the position James and Venelana were in. It was even more surprising how happy Venelana looked while running her fingers through his hair. However, James did not seem to realize what position he was in, if one were to notice his expression.

"Why did my disciple shout so loudly?" Scathach, the first to recover from the surprising sight, asked.

Instead of answering with words, Leona, who was still in shock, simply pointed at the television where Zekram was answering questions about the announcement. When the ladies turned their heads towards the television, on top of seeing Zekram answering questions, a caption across the bottom of the screen read: "James Alaverus to become the fifth Great Satan!"

"Seriously?" Rias asked, temporarily forgetting the position her mother was in with her fiancé.

"How... No, why did this happen?" Sona asked while adjusting her glasses.

"I don't know, but this is a good thing, right?" Evangeline asked curiously. "Why do the two of you seem so out of it?"

"Well, could you imagine James stuck behind a desk doing paperwork?" Sona asked in return.

"Not really." Evangeline replied with a shake of her head.

"Well, you don't have to worry about that." Yasaka said with a smile. "Lord Bael made it clear that he would be a fighter through and through."

"What do you mean?" Irene asked.

Yasaka and Rhea then took turns explaining what Zekram said about James' position. With their explanation and Zekram answering questions on the television, all the newcomers quickly understood the scope of James' responsibilities.

"So, he'll basically be doing what he's been doing?" Rias asked. "However, instead of just stumbling into fights, he'll be sent into them, right?"

"Something like that." James said quietly.

{"Now, during this press conference, Lord Sirzechs Lucifer would like to say a few words."} Zekram said after answering all the reporters' questions.

With that, Zekram stepped away from the podium. Sirzechs then stepped up to the podium with an expression on his face that made him look constipated. Then, he adjusted the microphone and looked over the gathered crowd. A moment later, he tapped the microphone a few times to make sure it was still running.

"Can we just turn this off?" Leona asked, getting irritated at the sight of Sirzechs.

"No, let it run." James said, still laying on Venelana's lap. "I wanna see that constipated look a bit longer."

"Say... James... Can I ask you a question?" Rias asked in an agitated tone.

"*Sigh* I know what you wanna ask, Ri Ri." James replied. "And to be honest, I have no idea. I went jewelry shopping with Tia and Zest. Then, when I got home, I passed out. And when I was conscious again, I was already laying here.""

After James' reply, Rias stared at him skeptically for a few more seconds. Then, realizing that James was telling the truth, she turned her skeptical gaze toward her mother.

"And why are you...?" Rias began to ask, however, the sound of her brother's voice coming from the television cut off her question.

{"Citizens of the Underworld, I, Sirzechs Lucifer, am here today to congratulate the Underworld's newest Satan, James Alaverus."} Sirzechs said with a solemn expression on his face. Although the crowd and most of the viewers seemed to be skeptical about that claim, they still cheered at his words. {"Other than that, besides congratulating him, I also have to offer him an apology. James, please allow me to apologize for the way I embarrassed you during the ceremony when you were awarded your second peerage."}

If hearing Sirzechs apologize publicly was enough to make everyone in the living room widen their eyes, then his subsequent action of bowing his head made their jaws drop and slam into the floor. James, on the other hand, narrowed his eyes when Sirzechs began to congratulate him. Then, when the apology came, he started studying his expression. But when Sirzechs bowed, he sat up from Venelana's lap with surprise clear in his expression.

"*Sigh* I guess it's time for me to bury the hatchet." James said with a slight smile on his face. "This is only his first strike, after all. Irene, could you send a message to Sirzechs that I would like to talk to him? Whenever he's ready and our schedules are both free, I'll meet him in my art studio."

"Why does it sound like I'm your secretary?" Irene asked while rolling her eyes.

"In a peerage, that's what a [Queen] is for a [King]." Grayfia said quietly while her eyes were focused on Sirzechs' image on the television.

'*Sigh* If only you hadn't waited so long to come to your senses.' Grayfia thought to herself. 'Then, you, Millicas, and I would still be a happy family.'

{"Lord Lucifer."} A reporter said with his hand raised. Once he received a nod from Sirzechs, he asked the question on his mind. {Speaking of what you did to Lord Alaverus, did you know the mic was on when you made that statement?"}

{*Sigh* Yes, I did."} Sirzechs replied after a moment of hesitation.

{"Why did you do it?"} Another reporter asked after getting permission to asked her question.

{"My pride got the better of me."} Sirzechs answered while shaking his head lightly. {"As all devils know, one of the seven deadly sins tends to guide our actions and thought processes. Most of us can keep that particular sin from affecting us too much. I, on the other hand had been loved and respected, not to mention been told I was the strongest, for so long that I took those things for granted. I would always be loved by the people, and I would always be the strongest devil in the Underworld. In my mind, those weren't just what people thought, they were facts. Laws of the world."}

Everyone at the venue fell silent once they heard what Sirzechs had to say. Most of the people watching the live broadcast fell silent as well.

{"Then, what brought on this change of heart?"} Yet another reporter asked. {"Was it losing the duel?"}

{"No, not at all."} Sirzechs replied, shaking his head once again. {"It was when I realized that I was losing everything because of my pride. I was even told on three separate occasions that I was not worthy of my title. And after a lot of soul searching, I realized they were all right. I was nothing but a man child with an inflated ego."}

"It looks like the old Sirzechs is back." Rhea said with a smile at Venelana.

"It looks that way." Venelana replied with a smile.

"Even if he has learned his lesson, I'm still gonna slap him for humiliating my baby in public!" Leona growled.

"I'm sure he's expecting at least a few slaps" Venelana said, not losing her smile. Then, she looked at Grayfia.

"There's no need to worry, Lady Venelana." Grayfia said in her usual tone. "After our conversation in the infirmary, he, himself, destroyed what we had."

Hearing that, James, Rias, Sona, Irene, and Yasaka opened their eyes wide with surprise. Scathach, although she was also surprised, did not change her expression. Zest did not know Grayfia well enough to care, so her expression did not change either. Meanwhile, Leona and Rhea already knew about the divorce.

"I guess we should have expected that when he blew up about the misdeeds of the former Council members getting out to the public." Sona said.

"But what about Millicas?" Rias asked sadly.

"I've talked to him about it." Grayfia said, not going into any further details.

While the occupants in the living room were talking, Sirzechs answered questions from the on-site reporters. When the final question was asked, Sirzechs stepped away from the Podium and Serafall took his place.

{"Hello everyone! Levia-Tan is here!"} Serafall shouted into the microphone with her hands waving at the crowd excitedly.

While Serafall interacted with the crowd, Issa could be seen standing behind Serafall's initial spot. It was clear to see that he was doing all he could to not face palm on a live broadcast. On top of that, if you looked closely, you could see that his eyes were a bit bloodshot and there were some grey hairs sticking out among his head of pitch black hair.

"It's only been a day since Issa became her [Queen], why does he look like that?" James asked, trying to hold back a chuckle.

"I can only imagine what that poor, poor man has gone through with my sister." Sona said while shaking her head.

"Well, I'm sure it couldn't be that bad." Rhea said in a quite unsure tone.

"Leona, what are you doing?" Yasaka asked after seeing Leona tapping buttons on the remote.

"I'm saving this press conference." Leona said. "Hearing that arrogant ass apologize on loop will be a great sleep aid. Plus, letting Moka and her sisters see their father's current appearance should be good for a few laughs."

"You may be the most devil-like of all the devils I've ever met." Yasaka said before turning her attention back to the television.

While the group in the living room chatted, Serafall went on to talk about everything she could think of that did not involve what she was supposed to announce. So, when Serafall said something about turning her [Queen] into a magical girl like herself, Issa could no longer take it. He appeared next to her in a burst of speed and pulled on her twin tails, which she struggled to escape.

{"Lady Leviathan..."} Issa began to say.

{"Call me Levia-Tan!"} Serafall shouted in protest.

{"... You've forgotten about the announcement you were going to make about the New Satan."} Issa finished without minding Serafall's complaint.

Immediately, Serafall stopped struggling.

{"Oh, you're right, Issa-Chan."} Serafall said with a grateful smile on her face. {"You really would be a perfect magical girl. Look at how you just saved the day."}

Instead of responding, Issa walked back to where he was standing originally with heavy steps.

{"Anyway, I, Levia-Tan, am here to announce that from this day forward, James Alaverus will no longer exist."} Serafall said in a grandiose fashion. {"From now on, he will be known as Lord James Sataniel of the Five Great Satans."}