The one who said this and invited them inside was a female student with long black hair and intelligent glasses that left a strong impression.
She was Tsubaki Shinra.
Descended from the Shinra family, one of the Five Principal Clans that had protected Japan since ancient times, she served as Sona Sitri's Queen.
Ushered inside by Tsubaki, Renya followed her lead and advanced toward a female student standing in front of a sofa, waiting for them.
"Welcome to the student council room of Kuoh Academy. I am Sona Sitri, next head of the House of Sitri. I welcome your visit to our school."
"Next head of the House of Pheles, Leonhard Pheles. Thank you for accommodating my sudden transfer on such short notice."
After exchanging these words and shaking hands, Renya and Sona sat facing each other across the table on the sofas.
Tsubaki then placed a saucer with a cup of freshly brewed black tea on the table in front of each of them.
And just as Orihime and Elfaria were stationed behind Renya, Tsubaki took her place behind Sona, signaling the start of the discussion.
"And your other servants?" Renya asked.
"I thought greeting you with a large entourage would be discourteous. For today, I've limited it to just her, my Queen. I'll send you documents on the rest of my servants later; please look them over at your convenience."
At Renya's question, Sona glanced at Tsubaki before turning her eyes back to him with that reply.
'Hmm, she's got manners, sure, but she must trust her Queen an awful lot,' Renya mused.
In a formal setting, it was the role of the Queen or the Knight to support and guard the King. That was likely the reason for this arrangement, but it also suggested confidence and trust—enough that the two of them believed they could handle anything that might arise.
Unlike Rias's baseless overconfidence, this felt more like pride born from experience and trust forged through a long partnership.
In terms of actual power, they were nowhere near his group's level, but Renya didn't dislike that attitude.
"Yeah, in that case, I'll have a look later. At those proud servants of yours, I mean."
"...Yes."
Sona's eyes widened slightly at his words, but then a small smile graced her lips as she nodded. For any 'King,' having someone take an interest in their servants was still a pleasing thing.
"So, what is your reason for coming to this town?" Sona asked after a brief, amicable exchange, settling herself more formally and letting her eyes sharpen with an intelligent gleam.
Unlike Rias, her probing gaze, though still immature, held a shrewd light; there was no carelessness here.
"I told the Gremory heiress the same thing: my mother's homeland is Japan. I simply came to study Japanese culture."
"Let me rephrase the question. Why this town specifically? If what you just said is true, then simply studying Japanese culture wouldn't require you to choose this town. Surely, it would be more convenient for you—and far less bothersome—to settle in a territory that no one has claimed yet, rather than a town where people like Rias and I are present, wouldn't you say?"
Sona countered Renya's words without any sign of acceptance.
Indeed, something Rias had failed to notice: if all he wanted was to study Japanese culture, picking some untouched city elsewhere would have been far easier than settling right where nuisances like a Maou's sisters were lurking.
"No, it's simply a matter of avoiding unnecessary headaches. Whether it's having to negotiate with the Japanese mythological factions or then governing a town afterward, it'd be too heavy a burden for a Special-class Devil. As you already know, my father, Mephisto Pheles, had a falling out with the previous Maou and has kept his distance from the government. We don't enjoy the same benefits from territory or political power as the high-class devils of the Seventy-Two Pillars."
"But still..."
"Ah, of course, Mephisto Pheles himself wields enormous influence, but put bluntly, that's about it. Within the 'Grau Zauberer' or with long-standing acquaintances and locations, I'd reap some benefit, but when it comes to Japan, it's a completely different world."
Realizing that the earlier excuse alone hadn't been enough to fool her, Renya added this supplementary explanation. By mixing in facts, he wasn't telling any lies.
In truth, due to the fallout from the incident with the Utsusemi Agency and the fallen angels four years ago, the Five Principal Clans had him on their watchlist, and as the child of a Special-class Devil, his standing was a little too weak to borrow territory on his own.
Still, if it were Mephisto, he could likely pull some strings, and he'd probably even grant Renya territory if he asked. But putting that aside, the honest truth was that governing the human world was far too much trouble, and Renya simply had no desire to do it.
"So, I figured I'd take advantage of the prestige of the Seventy-Two Pillars that produced such a magnificent Demon King. Here, I can settle down without having to bother with governance, official duties, or any of that. Oh, and if I happen to find a new servant or two along the way, that'd be a nice bonus."
"I see. That logic holds up. Besides, I've heard that four years ago, you clashed with the Five Principal Clans and the fallen angels. Even if you tried to claim an untouched town, getting permission would've been difficult."
Sona eventually accepted Renya's explanation, acknowledging that his reasoning was sound.
She remained wholly unaware that it was merely a plausibly spun narrative, nothing more than a carefully crafted misdirection...
Precisely because she was so intelligent, she failed to question a theory that presented no obvious holes.
And yet—yes, the battle four years ago had involved multiple Longinus, Sacred Gears of such immense power they could literally slay gods, dragging in magicians, fallen angels, the Five Principal Clans, and beings of myriad factions and races into the conflict.
At the heart of that maelstrom, Kurosaki Renya—then a mere thirteen years old—had charged through with Lavinia in tow, and even now the various factions kept him under strict surveillance.
There was no way in hell he'd be granted territory in Japan, the very site of those incidents.
Not that Renya minded; dealing with such headaches in the Underworld's territories alone was already more than enough for him.
"That's the gist of it. On that note, if it's the Gremory or Sitri households, even the Five Principal Clans wouldn't dare stick their noses in rashly. Judging by the fact that you've both taken servants from families connected to those clans, I'd say I'm not far off the mark, am I?"
Akeno's Himejima family, Tsubaki's Shinra lineage—each belonged to one of the Five Principal Clans. The reason they'd faced no censure for making such women their servants was partly a convenient way for those clans to get rid of troublesome members, but it was more so because Rias and Sona were of the bloodlines of Gremory and Sitri, in other words, because they were family to the Maou.
"I see. That does indeed make sense. Well, regardless, since the government of the Underworld has already granted you permission, it's hardly my place to raise objections..." Sona exhaled a soft sigh.
Indeed, Renya was here with the express authorization of the Underworld's government. Neither Sona nor even Rias could overturn that decision.
Of course, if they threw a tantrum at their Maou brother or sister, things might be different—but while Rias might be capable of such shamelessness, Sona would never stoop so low. At the very least, Kurosaki hadn't yet caused any problems...
----------
Comment, Review, Power Stones if you love the story.
Read Advanced 10 Chapters At Patreon Now: patreon.com/c/Mike_Kun