3. Anticipation for the Birthday Party.

│1st Person POV of Meliodas│

[Underworld Realm, Valefor Territory, Valerfor Lord's Mansion…]

It's been a day since I have regained my previous life's memories.

Yesterday, just before lunch, Father had to answer an urgent summon from the Military. He still has not yet returned.

Most of his Peerage also followed him. Only a Rook and the Knight stayed behind for the protection of Mother and I.

Well, that is more for me as Mother has her own peerage members to protect her.

Even though she has no love for battle, Mother knew that sometimes she would be forced to participate and for that, she has a Full Peerage.

All of them are at the Peak of High-Class in terms of strength and they are incredibly loyal to Mother as she only recruited them after getting to know them for months or years.

If the need arises, they would sacrifice their life to protect Mother without any hesitation.

I have come to this conclusion after reviewing all the interactions between Mother and her Peerage members that I have witnessed.

It was an easy task with the help of Perfect Memory and Beyond Genius level Intellect provided by the Essence of the Archmage.

Leaving that topic aside, let's focus on the present.

At this moment, I was in the Library of the Mansion.

Mother had forbidden me to do any kind of training until my birthday passed and I didn't have much problem with that.

So, I decided to raid the Library to increase my knowledge of the world. After all, information is power and I love getting powerful in any way or form.

Just the feeling of my Demonic Power growing because of the Supernatural Reactor of the Archmage Essence was exhilarating.

Hence, I set a small goal.

Before my birthday, I was going to try to complete reading at least 100,000 books on various topics.

If I couldn't even complete such a task, then shame on my Beyond Genius Level Intellect and Perfect memory.

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A few hours have passed since I started my mission—4 Hours, 31 Minutes, and 47 Seconds and counting to be exact.

Suddenly, the sound of footsteps reached my ears.

'Someone is here.'

Thinking of this, I quickly dispelled the numerous [Shadow Clones] spread around me while also using [Telekinesis] to neatly stack the books they were using.

In the few seconds it took the person to reach me, I had already assimilated the memories of the clones, easily at that.

Yes, I learned how to use Chakra and the [Shadow Clone Jutsu] in a few minutes after doing some experiments.

Then, I searched for a book on [Telekinesis] and learned it too. Handy power, I tell you.

With the ultimate cheat code for grinding and an incredibly versatile and useful power in my hands, I think that I will be able to surpass the goal I set.

Heh, Blank and Archmage for the win.

The next moment, a blonde-haired maid arrived in front of me, bowed, and spoke up, "Good afternoon, Little Master. It is time for Lunch. Lady Mari and Lord Valefor are waiting for you."

I looked at the maid and reciprocated, "Good afternoon, Fleur. Thanks for the reminder. Let's go then. I certainly feel hungry."

"I am just just doing my duty, Little Master."

"Yeah, yeah."

I stood up and walked out of the Library with the maid following behind me.

What about the books I took out from the shelves?

Well, the entire Library has a handy enchantment that automatically sorts books back into their places after they've been untouched for ten minutes, as long as they're also not within two meters of anyone within that duration.

Anyway, the maid following me, Fluer Harper, was a Human reincarnated as a Devil by Mother through a single Pawn Piece.

I don't exactly know how long she has been a Devil, however, I know that she has become a Mid-Class Devil in rank by completing contracts in the Human World.

In terms of strength, she is a fairly strong Mid-High Class Devil and could even contend against anyone below Peak-High Class with a promotion.

She is also one of the weakest among Mother's Peerage.

Navigating through the mansion, we reach the Dining Room a few minutes later.

The two maids standing on either side of the door bowed in greeting before opening it. They are Low-Class Devils by birth who decided to serve the Valefor Clan for certain benefits.

Their strengths are also not that good, though not for the lack of trying as I have seen them being trained by Mother's Rook, Ophelia, from time to time.

As I entered the Dining Room, my attention was immediately captured by the tall, muscular, handsome man seated at the head of the Dining Table.

He had short blonde hair and green eyes. His hair was slicked back with a small tuft on the center of his forehead.

He was my Father, Markus Valefor, the Head of the Valefor Clan.

'Hmm… Now that I think about it, he looks like Laxus Dreyar from Fairy Tail with different eye color. Although he doesn't have any lighting shaped scar on his face.'

On the seat at Father's right was a beautiful woman with light brown hair that extended past her lower back.

Her eyes were a shade of blue that reminded me of the clear afternoon sky of my previous Life's Earth.

She was my Mother, Mariana Valefor nee Zagan, the Lady of the Valefor Clan and the Head of the Zagan Clan.

I inherited my Father's hair and Mother's sky-blue eyes and was rather tall for a seven-year-old child at 4 feet 7 inches.

'Wait! Father looks similar to Laxus with just different eye color and no scar. While I have blond hair and blue eyes. It means that once I grow up, it is guaranteed that I will have Laxus' looks with the minor shapeshifting ability of the Devil. Hell Yeah!'

My newfound discovery aside, I didn't stop walking until I was just behind the seat on Father's left side.

I nodded in greeting to both of them as I took my seat, saying, "Good afternoon, Father. Good afternoon, Mother."

"Good afternoon, Meliodas."

Both of them returned the greeting one after another before Father continued, "How are you feeling now? And I hope you are listening to your Mother's instructions?"

"I am feeling perfectly fine, Father. Also, yes. I am following Mother's instructions. I haven't done any kind of training today. I have been in the Library since breakfast.

"Although I did learn the [Telekinesis] spell to easily take the books out of the shelves." I answered with a big smile and wide eyes to decrease the possibility of invoking Mother's ire with my cuteness.

As expected, Mother just let out an exasperated sigh before letting out a small smile as she watched the conversation between Father and me.

Father also smiled while speaking in a faux surprised tone, "Oh! You were able to learn the spell in such a short time?"

Just like this, time passed as the three of us made some small talk while eating our Lunch.

At that moment, I was really happy with my decision to not have my previous life's memories right from the start.

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│1st Person POV of Meliodas│

[Underworld Realm, Valefor Territory, Valerfor Lord's Mansion…]

[19th March, 1993, Monday…]

Today is my birthday.

The entire mansion is bustling with activity as the servants and my parents' Peerage members are busy preparing for the evening's party.

Everyone was working under the direction of Mother while Father and I just watched from the sidelines.

"Excited for the party, son?" Father suddenly asked.

I answered with an eager smile while rapidly nodding my head, "Yes. This birthday party is so much bigger than last time. And I can't wait to meet with others my age."

Today, I will be officially introduced to the Underworld.

Before, all my previous birthdays were celebrated in private. Other than the servants and my parents' Peerage members, only some close friends were invited.

However, every Pillar Clans as well as famous Devils from all across the Underworld are invited to today's party.

So when I said that I was excited about the evening's party, I meant it.

Because of how rich we are as well as Father's position in the army, I am sure that all the Lords, Ladies, and Heirs of the Pillar Clans and Extra Demon Clans would be present.

Even the four New Satans will make an appearance.

That means I will be able to meet legendary figures like Diehauser Belial, Mephisto Pheles, Sirzechs Lucifer, Serafall Leviathan, Ajuka Beelzebub, etc.

While completing my goal of reading 100,000 books before my birthday, I have read numerous History books too.

These books are filled with many great exploits of the aforementioned legendary figures of the Devil Race.

Not to mention, most of them were also introduced in the Canon material.

So, I can't wait to meet them in person and get a feel of their strength level. Especially Sirzechs Lucifer and Ajuka Beelzebub's strength.

Another person I am eager to meet today is someone who didn't exist in the Canon World.

Morgiana Gremory, the daughter of Sirzechs Lucifer and his Queen/Wife/Maid, Grayfia Lucifuge.

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A/N: In the last chapter A/N, I had intended to share my source of inspiration for the Zagan Clan Trait. But, I forgot as I was sleepy when I published the last chapter.

Anyway, there's an Author with the username Crossedge on Fanfiction(dot)Net.

He has posted a number of DxD fics, each one better than the other.

The MC from the fic, Mathias, of [The Bune Dragon Farmer], is descended from the Bune Clan and the Zagan Clan.

His Zagan Clan trait is Life Magic. He is able to create Life, manipulate life energy, etc.

My Zagan Clan Trait is only capable of manipulating Life Force to do various things like influnce growth speed of lesser life-forms, enhance the user or others by using the life-force drained from surroundings, etc. That's all.

Anyway,

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