Chapter 27: Challenging the Present for the Future

A/N:

" " : Dialogue,

' ' : Thought,

"Italicized text" : Telepathy,

[ ] : Spells, Techniques and Sacred Gear Casts,

"Bold text" : Ddraig & Albion.

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Narrator POV

All the young devils and their peerages were guided to the room where the event that was the Gathering of Young Devils would take place. As for the other devils that weren't among the young devils in question or their peerages, they were calmly guided out of the building.

In the room where the main event was taking place, there were two raised platforms with multiple seats, with the Satans on the highest platform, and the heads of the remaining devil pillars on the platform beneath that, all looking downward at the young devils.

While most devils didn't care much for the arrangement, it irked Issei, as he could feel that beyond them looking downward, some of the elder devils actually looked down on them. In an attempt to distract himself from this feeling, he looked around, simply checking out the ladies amongst the peerages of the young devils.

As for Haruki, he smirked as he saw that the head of the Astaroth pillar wasn't amongst the family heads here. With the revelation of Diodora's affiliation with the Khaos Brigade, the now ex-head of the Astaroth pillar, who was also Diodora's father, had to step down, and so couldn't be involved in this function.

Rias, Sona, Sairaorg, Seekvaira and Zephyrdol all stepped forward, with their peerages standing in line behind them. One of the elder devils walked forward and looked at the devils with a smile.

"Good, you have come." He said, then clasped his hands together. "This meeting is an important one, one that we use to ascertain those among you young devils that will carry the burden of the next generation." He said solemnly.

"They seem to have gotten into it right away, though..." Another of the elder devils said sarcastically, referring to the prominent swelling on Zephyrdol's cheek. But the others simply ignored it.

"You five are all devils of the next generation that have pedigree and true ability that no objection can be raised against. That's why, I want you to compete together before your debuts and increase your power this way." Sirzechs said, and Haruki lightly scoffed, but didn't say anything out in direct opposition to Sirzechs' words.

None of the young devils missed what these words meant; Sirzechs was encouraging them to have rating games amongst themselves, even before their official noble debuts. But with recent events, a question lingered in their minds, one that Sairaorg voiced out.

"Will we also be eventually sent out in the battle against the Khaos Brigade?" He asked. "I don't know. But, I don't want to send out young devils if possible." Sirzechs said, and Haruki just shook his head, much to the disgruntlement of the elder devils.

"Why? Even if we're young, we carry part of the responsibility of devils. If we just receive kindness from our predecessors even at this age and nothing further is done—" Sairaorg started to speak, but was interrupted by Sirzechs.

"I acknowledge your bravery, Sairaorg. However, you're reckless, especially in battle. And above all, I'd prefer to avoid sending you all, who are still in the midst of growing, to the battlefield. If any of you were to fall in battle, it would be too great a loss. I need you all to understand that you are all more of a treasure than you think. That's why I want you to experience important things step by step and grow." Sirzechs said, dissuading Sairaorg from attempting his gung-ho approach to facing the Khaos Brigade.

But the next words heard weren't expected. "And how long do you think that'll be a viable option for them?" Haruki asked, looking straight at Sirzechs. "You do know that regardless of your hopes for them, there will eventually come a time where some, if not all of them will have to face the Khaos Brigade, or at least someone in cooperation with the Khaos Brigade." He said, causing the atmosphere to become slightly tense.

"I will still make sure that the possibility of such an event occuring would be miniscule." Sirzechs said with clear confidence, and Haruki lightly shrugged in response, knowing that reality was going to vastly subvert Sirzechs' expectations.

For the next few minutes, the Satans and the elder devils discussed other matters concerning devil society, but nothing of consequence. Knowing that he would send up in a confrontation with the elder devils, Haruki quickly kissed Akeno, Rias, Sona and Koneko, which was noticed by a few of the elder devils. Then, moving faster than anyone in the room could track, he used Shūndō to move to the platform where the Satans were staying.

For the elder devils, Falbium and Ajuka, who had never seen him using it in person, this was interesting and alarming. Alarming for the elder devils, at least. As they feared that Haruki could use such a level of speed to kill any of them, showing their distrust in Haruki, a powerful human not under their control.

But as if ignoring Haruki's actions, Sirzechs turned to the young devils and their peerages with a small smile. "I apologize for keeping you with this long talk. We see our hopes and dreams for devildom in you young ones, and I want you to understand that. You may not know it, but you're the treasures of the underworld." He said, and everyone silently pondered on his words.

"Well, since we've gotten past the solemn part of this meeting, why don't we finish up on a lighter note? Let us hear your respective goals for the future." Sirzechs said, and with little delay, Sairaorg walked forward.

"My dream is to become a Satan." He said confidently, eliciting small exclamations of wonder from the elder devils. "It's quite unexpected that a devil from the Great King family would leave it." One of them said, and he responded immediately. "When the people of the underworld feel that there's no choice but for me to become a Satan, I will become one."

Sairaorg's declaration was met with approving nods from some of the elder devils, and a grin from Haruki. But without giving anyone time to settle from his words, Rias walked forward and spoke.

"My goal for the near future is to live as the next head of the Gremory family, and to win in each Rating Game." She said calmly. Of course, Sirzechs and Haruki both smiled at her declaration, with Haruki understanding that she was considering the possible chaos that could take place in the future.

Her declaration was also met with approving nods from the elder devils, but not to the level that Sairaorg's declaration had brought. Seekvaira and Zephyrdol also stated their goals, which were met with mixed reactions from the elder devils.

And after them, it was finally Sona's turn to speak. "I plan to build a school for all devils to learn about Rating Games in the underworld." She said, and her declaration was met with an uproarious mocking laughter from the elder devils, which was quickly silenced as they felt the proverbial Reaper's scythe brush against their necks.

Rias, Sona, their peerages and the Satans all looked at Haruki, who had an impassive expression on his face, seemingly apathetic about the situation. But the intense killing intent coming off him showed that he was anything but. So much so that even though they weren't targeted by it, they still felt it pressing on them.

Sirzechs flared his own aura, protecting everyone from Haruki's aura, and giving the elder devils some relief. "Do you mind telling us why you just tried to kill our advisors, Haruki-kun?" Sirzechs asked Haruki, his voice holding a clear edge.

"They made a stupid decision, so I wanted to show them the consequences." Haruki replied calmly. Of course, the notion that Haruki had tried killing the elder devils, who also served as advisors to the Satans, was crazy. And the fact that he admitted to it was world shattering.

"Please, elaborate." Ajuka said, hoping to keep the situation from blowing out of proportion. "Because of their ego and fear of reincarnated devils, they have made the decision to make sure that they remain uneducated on their rights as devils in the underworld." Haruki said, pointing at the elder devils.

"If I remember correctly, after a devil, regardless of their roots, reaches the High Rank, they are by devil law, to be granted a rank in nobility. And after they reach the Ultimate Rank, they get a territory separate from the one granted to them by their Master. Correct?" Haruki said, mainly speaking to Ajuka.

"Yes, what you've said is correct." Ajuka replied. "So, their decision to keep reincarnated devils from having knowledge of their rights will only cause problems. When reincarnated devils hear of the privileges they are owed, especially those that have been in service to their masters for a long time, the best consequence would be a civil war." Haruki said calmly, almost as if it didn't concern him.

"Hmph. You think that those lowly ones are worthy of nobility. Not only is the future head of the Sitri family a dreamer, it seems even her fiance is delusional." One of the elder devils said, holding a look of disdain towards Haruki.

"You see that? They're already foolish enough to not understand when to hold their tongues. So what makes you think that they're actually willing to put aside their own egos for the betterment of devildom?" Haruki said calmly, causing the Satans to look at the elder devils with disappointed gazes, with Serafall looking more hostile to them.

It was at this point that the elders understood that Haruki wasn't going to play by their rules, as he had no real reason to so. They had spent centuries undermining the efforts of reincarnated devils, with their intentions being to keep only pure blooded, high ranking devils on top. Yet, it seemed that Haruki was planning on destroying their work as quickly as possible.

When they heard Sona's declaration, they subconsciously agreed to quash her efforts before they could start to take root, but didn't expect Haruki to come at them so strongly. So, they were now in a dilemma. Would they hold onto their pride and prove him right, or would they suffer in silence as their efforts were dismantled as a result of one human boy?

Of course, as elders and heads of different families, they wouldn't allow such behavior to pass. "You have no say here, boy. Do not think that being lucky enough to be chosen by the Satans' sisters gives you grounds to act as if you do." An elder devil said to Haruki.

"Oh, I have say here, because amongst other things, I'm one of the most powerful people in this room, or more accurately, in the entire underworld. And I'm using that power to support those I choose. Fools like you that are still living in the glory of your long gone past are the ones that should be silent." Haruki said, his draconic aura flaring, seemingly overwhelming Sirzechs.

The elder devils subconsciously shivered in fear from the pressure of Haruki's aura. They were shocked to feel the intensity of the draconic power coming off him, and were forced to change their views on him. From what little they knew about dragons, they understood that if they continued pushing him, he would kill them, regardless of the presence of the Satans.

"The fact that you choose to hold on to such foolish traditions shows that you all have not paid much needed attention to the human world, for centuries at that. For a race that built much of its reputation by making contracts with humans, that just makes you all seem extremely disappointing." Haruki said to them, disdain dripping from his tone.

Despite the fact that a chasm had been formed between Haruki and the elder devils, the Satans were relieved that it hadn't escalated to a battle. But they didn't know that Haruki hadn't finished putting forth his complaints.

"And as for the four of you, why the hell do you allow these idiots to continue doing this? Did you choose to give up your authority over all of devildom just so these fools can stroke their egos?" Haruki said, surprising everyone in the room, but none more so than the Satans themselves.

"You are the Satans, the highest authority in all of the underworld, sworn to do what you can for the betterment of devil kind. For people that have such responsibility on their shoulders, I'd expected better discernment." Despite his tone, the Satans did nothing to stop him from talking, but rather, much to everyone's shock, they silently accepted his critique of their actions.

"Leaving out the fact that Diodora was a traitor that had joined the Khaos Brigade, there are multiple devils that to this day have done things that anywhere else would have ended with them being executed, yet you let them remain as so-called heads of families." Haruki said, not minding the glares coming from the elder devils.

Due to the fact that the Satans hadn't done or said anything to disprove or silence him, all other devils in the room remained silent as well. "Those were necessary sacrifices that had to be made for the good of devil kind." Sirzechs said, defending his actions, or in this case inaction, which Haruki saw as incompetence.

"So the Nekoshou clan's genocide by Valefar Naberius and his clansmen was a necessary sacrifice?" Haruki asked with a growl. The question shed light on the reason for his anger, and Koneko clenched her fist and grit her teeth, seeing that he was not only fighting for Sona's dream to come to pass, but to also force renumeration for the cruelty that had been unleashed upon the Nekoshou clan. If all this went well, she could eventually meet her sister without fear of Kuroka being pursued by the devils.

The reminder of the event was a painful one for her, and one of shame for the Satans. "That was an unfortunate event, and even then, Kuroka went mad and killed multiple Naberius devils." Sirzechs said, and Haruki scoffed out loud.

"Sell that story to someone else. Did you forget that I'm also a master of senjutsu? I know that she was fully rational when she did that, and had proper reason to do that. You would too if Venelana was murdered and the bastard that did it started experimenting on you, saying that they'll move on to Rias after you." Haruki said, and Sirzechs suddenly let off an aura so heavy and bloodthirsty that some of Zephyrdol's peerage members passed out, while the other devils had to actively defend themselves, just to keep themselves from fainting.

"If just the possibility of it did this to you, how do you think Kuroka felt?" Haruki said more calmly than before. Sirzechs looked at Koneko, then at Haruki. "Can you prove what you've said?" Sirzechs asked, reducing his aura as he said so.

"Of course. I already told you I'm a man of my word, so why would I choose to falsely accuse anyone?" Haruki said calmly and confidently, causing a stir of unease among the elder devils.

"I see." Sirzechs said then looked at the elder devils with contemplation. He, just like his fellow Satans and the elders had lived for quite a long time. Many of the customs that they held to this day were archaic, and admittedly negative to the development of the underworld.

He knew that many of the elders and patriarchs of the pillars had performed unscrupulous actions in secret, but because he and the others wanted to let them keep their autonomy, they turned a blind eye. They also didn't want to risk a civil war where the heads rallied their families against them or the weaker devils.

But now, he was being told that the reverse could also happen, and he couldn't bear to see more devils die wasteful deaths. So many reincarnated devils possessed the potential to rise and become prominent and powerful members of the underworld, but he had allowed the elders to undermine them, sweeping then all under the rug.

"I understand. I will ensure that no one gets in the way of Sona's dream." Sirzechs said, and Haruki looked at him with narrowed eyes. "And make sure that Kuroka's case is properly taken care of, and that the ones responsible get their due punishment." He finished with a sigh, and Haruki nodded.

The elders were flabbergasted at the fact that Haruki had managed to chastise any of the Satans, let alone the one that is literally made of PoD. And they were shaken by the fact that none of them seemed to be against the possibility of investigating the heads of families and their actions.

*Clap!* Serafall clapped her hand loudly, turning everyone's attention to her. "Okay! Now that we've gotten all the unpleasant stuff out of the way, why don't we do something more fun." She said, a complicated expression on her face.

Upon hearing Serafall's words, a light bulb went off in Sirzechs' head. He knew that suddenly giving Sona something as important as an academy for lower class devils would definitely cause a rift between the devils that were stuck in their old customs.

And so he came up with an idea, one that while it wouldn't completely placate those devils, it would give this decision something of a safeguard. "Of course. Why don't we play the games, between these young people?" He said, then turned to the young devils.

"Rias, Sona, would you not like to fight each other?" He asked, and Rias and Sona looked at each other, blinking in surprise. "Originally, it was planned for Rias' game to take place in a few days. Azazel had gathered Rating Game fans from each of the powers, also under the pretext of watching the games of the young people before their debuts. That's why it's fine like this. Let's hold the game with Rias and Sona." He said, happy that he had been able to change the subject.

Haruki knew that Sirzechs had no ulterior motives in this action, but the elder devils didn't. They thought that he was try to send a message, especially to them. They felt that he wanted Haruki to choose between Rias and Sona, making it so the victor would be the one whose case would be attended to, with Rias' being exonerating Kuroka, and Sona's being the establishment of her academy.

But this was all paranoia and guilt speaking. As for the two ladies, they looked at each other with competitive smiles, neither backing down from the challenge. Serafall looked at this with happiness, expectant of the match between the two.

"The date of the competition is August 20th in human world time. You may each divide up your time as you like until then. The details will be sent again later." He said, setting off sparks between Rias and Sona, who looked toward Haruki with fiery eyes. But they weren't prepared for what he would have to say to them.

After the gathering

"I won't be available to help you train." His words hit Rias and Sona's peerages like a brick. "What? Why?!" Rias asked him, wondering just what could take his attention so heavily that he wouldn't take this chance to act like a drill sergeant with them.

"First, I've got to get to Tia. It's about me becoming a Dragon King." He said, caressing Rias' face. "I'm not sure when I'll be done, but I promise I'll be there for the Rating Game." He said, then kissed Rias, Sona and Akeno, then walked to Koneko.

"I promise you, I'll make sure that Kuroka will no longer be a fugitive of the underworld by the time we return to the human world." He said, then kissed her. She held onto him for a few moments, immersed in the kiss as a tear fell out of her eye.

After releasing Koneko from the kiss, he gave his goodbyes and headed to the Familiar Forest all by himself, with the aim of attaining a new level of power.

Chapter End.

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Word Count: 3,373

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