The morning sun filtered through the tall, arched windows of the Lucifuge manor's grand entrance hall, casting golden light across polished floors and intricately carved columns. As the gathered peerage turned their attention to the newest arrival, murmurs rippled through the assembled ranks.
A woman stepped forward with unshakable poise beside Lucien. She moved like a ghost trained for war, elegant, lethal, and perfectly composed.
"I am Narberal Gamma," she said, voice smooth and clipped. Her obsidian-black hair was neatly tied back, and golden eyes scanned the room without fear or favor. "I have served high-ranking lords and queens. Now, my loyalty belongs to House Lucifuge and Lord Lucien."
Kuroka raised an eyebrow, nudging Ghislaine with a grin. "A beautiful maid? Is he building a harem of aproned assassins?"
Ghislaine snorted. "She walks like she's hiding a spell matrix in her spine and a blade in her boot."
"She probably is," Yamato added, arms crossed, her oni eyes narrowing with curiosity.
Narberal's gaze flicked briefly to Yamato's stance, calm but alert, knuckles ready, posture balanced. Warrior instincts. Her eyes moved next to Kuroka, who tilted her head and offered a faint twitch of her tail, teasing and sharp.
"I am trained in protective formation magic, offensive combat sorcery, culinary alchemy, and high-level infiltration. My sole purpose is service to my lord."
Velzaria Tiamat, standing silent near the back, regarded her with golden, slitted eyes. She said nothing, but her presence flared briefly less territorial and more assessing. Not of competition, but of capability. A dragon's measure of a possible lieutenant.
Lucien inclined his head. "Narberal has been fully vetted through my system. She is loyal. Treat her as one of our own."
Rias folded her arms, her tone light but probing. "So she can fight, heal, clean, defend, and probably assassinate?"
"I do what is required," Narberal replied without missing a beat.
Rangiku sipped her tea from the lounge, lips curling into a grin. "Efficient and pretty. She's going to put half the nobles in cardiac arrest."
From the moment she stepped inside, Narberal integrated with quiet efficiency. She memorized schedules, reinforced enchantments, polished protocols, and even led formations during mock drills. She didn't disturb the household rhythm; she sharpened it, like a sword sliding into an already-perfect sheath.
Lucien observed her that night from the balcony as she coordinated Yamato's sparring rotations and adjusted Ghislaine's footwork with a silent spell circle.
She's almost like… Grayfia.
The thought emerged unbidden. The grace, the precision, the quiet ferocity. It echoed in his mind.
Is this what Father saw in her?
A whisper of Sirzechs' old lessons stirred in memory:
"Lucien, a servant is a sword. Beautiful, sharp, and loyal if used right, or they can bleed you dry."
⸻
Territory, Training, and Power
The next several days unfolded in a flurry of preparation and pressure.
Lucien sparred with Yamato and Ghislaine beneath reinforced gravity seals, while Kuroka helped Koneko refine her chakra nodes and body control. Familiar spirits adapted quickly to their hosts, forming natural support synergies during mock battles.
Narberal tested her speed against Ghislaine and even clashed briefly with Velzaria in an evening duel. It was a blur of lightning against flame, one quiet and surgical, the other elemental and primal. Neither woman spoke afterward, but both gave the faintest nod of mutual recognition.
Later, standing atop the balcony of his estate, Lucien took in the upgraded landscape. Magic-saturated fields glowed with budding herbs and reinforced training grounds pulsed with latent mana. A teleportation gate customized with House Lucifuge sigils was nearly complete.
Later that night, Lucien stood before his study desk, parchment unrolled as he sketched out plans for the Lucifuge Revival Banquet, a declaration of identity, alliances, and future power.
Lilith's voice chimed in his mind.
⸻
[NEW SYSTEM MISSION – ACTIVE]
Lucifuge Revival Banquet
• Objectives:
• Announce Engagements
• Secure 3+ Noble Pacts
• Declare House Alignment
• Rewards:
• +1 Reputation Buff
• Special Summon Token ×1
• Territory Expansion Permit
⸻
Lucien's eyes gleamed. "Perfect."
"Lilith, the ring opens a private dimension, right? What's inside?"
[The Eternal Vault contains the Trial Dungeon, adaptive and layered.]
• First Tier: Goblins, Slimes, Undead
• Bosses scale based on Peerage Origins (e.g., Ghislaine: Beastkin Arena | Yamato: Celestial Guardian Trial)
Rewards: XP Bars, Rare Drops, Passive Unlocks
"Solo or Squad?"
[Both are viable. Squad runs increase drop rates. XP split by contribution.]
Lucien laughed. "Oh, Issei's going to hate me when I drag him through that."
His gaze returned to the scroll in his hand. "I need a name for us… 'Lucifuge's Blades'? No. 'Shadowflame Vanguard' yes. That fits."
A system ping echoed next.
[NOTICE: Albedo will be arriving earlier than expected.]
Lucien let out a long sigh, though a smirk touched his lips. "And here I thought today was quiet."
He scribbled more notes.
Serafall's bound to crash the banquet to mess with Sona. And the Phenex delegation's sending someone flashy, no doubt. Lady Seraphina's daughter, maybe?