Maurice crunched on a snack. "Basically, we told the council that Alice was being 'married off' to another world. They signed off on the transition pretty quickly after that. I guess that's what happens when the people actually love their royals."
"Exactly!" Nina laughed. "My sister was always popular. I guess everyone just has a thing for tsunderes."
"Wait, Alice isn't a tsundere anymore," Maurice corrected with a straight face. "She's a tsun-dere-dere now."
"Whoa, really? She's that mushy? Did all those years of holding it back finally explode?"
"Oh, you have no idea," Leisha added with a giggle. "The other day, she was scrubbing Issei's back in the bath like a devoted newlyweds. It was quite heartwarming, really."
"Sister Leisha, is that true?!" Nina's eyes sparkled.
"Yes. And I hear she's moved on to 'Good Morning' kisses. She's completely smitten."
"That's news to me," Maurice muttered. "The fearsome princess is officially dead and buried."
"So she's not just tsun-dere-dere... she's tsun-dere-dere-dere-dere?" Nina mused.
"I'd say she's at least six 'deres' deep at this point," I joked.
"At that point, isn't the 'tsun' just a decorative garnish?"
The three of them—Nina, Leisha, and Maurice—were having a grand old time dissecting Alice's personality. The word "dere" was being tossed around like confetti.
Alice was practically vibrating with embarrassment. "WOULD YOU ALL SHUT UP! I'm not being that mushy!"
"So you admit you are being mushy?" Nina countered.
"THAT'S NOT WHAT I—!"
I couldn't help but laugh. It's certainly a lively family. And honestly... Alice's affectionate side is incredible. She's cute as hell, and whenever we cook together, my heart is practically doing somersaults.
Suddenly, Nina clapped her hands together. "Oh! So, have you and Onii-san made any babies yet?"
"SPITTAKE! Nina! What kind of question is that?!" Alice screamed.
"Well, Onii-san said—"
"ISSEI?! YOU TOLD HER?!"
"NOT ME! I didn't say anything! I swear!" I waved my hands frantically.
Nina let out a triumphant, cat-like grin. "A-ha! So you have done it! Ufufu~"
"Nina... you trapped me!" Alice realized, her face buried in her hands.
I looked over at my parents, hoping they'd provide some adult supervision, but they were both nodding solemnly.
"Grandchildren... they're so close...!" Mom whispered.
"DAD! MOM! Help me out here! Say something!"
"What is there to say, Issei?!" Dad shouted. "We want to see our grandkids! You're a High-Class Devil, right? Surely you can produce enough for a full soccer league? I'll even coach them!"
"NOT THE SOCCER LEAGUE AGAIN!"
Just as things were descending into total chaos, Valkyria stepped between Alice and Nina.
"Ladies, please. This is not the place for such intimate discussions. Regardless of your former titles, you were leaders of a nation. Exercise some decorum."
Finally! A voice of reason! Valkyria is a saint!
...But then she turned her sharp, silver eyes on me.
"Issei-sama. Regarding the 'indecent acts' you have performed with Lady Alice... you will provide me with a full, detailed report later."
"YOU WANT A REPORT?!"
"I am joking."
"Stop it! Your jokes sound like threats! I almost had a heart attack!"
Valkyria gave a faint, elegant smile, but her eyes weren't laughing. I have a feeling she has a very specific idea of what kind of "play" I've been subjecting Alice to.
Rias turned to Valkyria. "If the Head Maid is here... what happened to the rest of the staff? There were quite a few people in that castle."
"There was no trouble," Valkyria replied smoothly. "I ensured every single one of them had secured new, high-quality employment before I departed. They are all exceptionally talented; there was no shortage of suitors for their services."
After tea was served and the initial shock wore off, the conversation turned serious.
"So," Azazel-sensei said, leaning back. "Since you brought back the Second Princess too, I take it the business with Maurice and Leisha is settled?"
The two of them nodded.
"Yeah," Maurice said. "Handover is complete. I'm officially an old man on pension now."
"Me too," Leisha added. "Though my mother, the Headmistress, insisted I visit every now and then."
"Understandable," Sensei mused. "A daughter crossing dimensions for a man is a big deal. Of course they're worried."
I nodded. I planned on making trips back to Ast Arde fairly often.
Sensei tapped his chin. "If only we could stabilize the connection... The time dilation is the biggest hurdle. If we could build a stable 'tunnel' between the two worlds, that would solve everything."
A tunnel between worlds... Now that both sides know the other exists, a day might come when they actually want to trade and interact. It's a long way off, but it's a goal worth aiming for.
"So," Sensei continued, looking at me. "All four of them are joining your peerage?"
"Yes. They've all agreed to it."
"...Wait. Four?" Sensei's gaze shifted to Nina and Valkyria.
The two of them nodded with twin smiles.
"I want to be with Onii-san," Nina said. "And I don't want to be separated from my sister again."
"My duty is to serve Lady Alice and Lady Nina," Valkyria added. "Becoming Issei-sama's servant is... well, a side-effect."
"A side-effect?!" I cried. "I'm glad you're joining, but 'side-effect' hurts!"
For the record, Valkyria is no slouch in combat. She's a master of multiple weapons and an expert mage. She usually uses a naginata, but she's packed with hidden gadgets and blades. In terms of raw power, she's easily at the top of the Middle-Class Devil tier.
Nina has zero combat ability, but I wanted her here with us. She'll likely be a huge help with administration and paperwork—areas I desperately need help with.
Sensei looked at Nina. "I'll be blunt: Nina is useless in a fight. You know that, right?"
"I do. But I'm making her my servant anyway."
"...Well, it's your peerage. As long as there's mutual consent, I've got no grounds to complain."
Rias looked more than satisfied. "Honestly, adding Maurice and Leisha alone is more than enough to unbalance the scales."
Kiba nodded. "Issei-kun, the strongest Red Dragon Emperor; Alice-san, the Princess of White Lightning; Miwa-san, the daughter of a demon king; Ravel-san, the immortal Phoenix. And now Maurice-san and Leisha-san. This team is becoming terrifying. ...By the way, have you decided on the pieces?"
"Yeah."
I pulled out the heavy, ornate case containing my Evil Pieces. Currently, I had eight Pawns, two Knights, and two Rooks left.
"I'm giving Maurice the Rook. Leisha, Valkyria, and Nina will be my Pawns."
The room went quiet. A few people tilted their heads in confusion.
"I get Nina and Valkyria," Kiba said. "But Maurice-san as a Rook? Not a Knight?"
"Exactly," I said. "Knights are all about mobility and speed. You use that to its fullest, Kiba. But Maurice?"
Maurice shook his head. "I'm not the type to zip around the field like Yuto here. Do I look like a man who wants to spend his retirement sprinting?"
"You're the fastest 'old man' in history!" I retorted. "But regardless... his style fits the Rook perfectly."
I'd considered Knight, but the raw defensive power and crushing weight of the Rook suited the Sword Saint's heavy-hitting style much better.
As for Leisha...
"I chose Pawn for Leisha because of her new combat style."
If she were still just a long-range sniper, I would have gone with Rook to boost her output. But with her new "Bit" style—managing twenty-eight autonomous units in a chaotic melee—she needs flexibility.
"Mobility, mana capacity, and offense. To boost all three simultaneously..."
"Promotion," Rias realized. "That's why you chose Pawn."
"Exactly. If she promotes to Queen during a match, she becomes a god-tier all-rounder. And she can still snipe from that position."
"But in a standard game, she can only promote if she reaches the enemy territory," Kiba pointed out.
Rossweisse-san let out a weary sigh. "I suspect... that for these two, the piece's traits are merely a suggestion anyway. They are already so strong on their own."
"Pretty much," I admitted.
The Gremory peerage members looked a bit shell-shocked. I get it. We're building a monster team.
"Now for the values," I said.
"I bet it won't be just one piece," Azazel-sensei muttered.
I placed a Rook piece in front of Maurice. It sat there, completely inert. No reaction.
I knew it.
I placed a second Rook piece down. This time, both pieces erupted in a red glow and sank into Maurice's chest.
Two Rooks. Value: 10.
"A value of ten..." Koneko whispered. That's the same value as Sairaorg's pieces. In a regulated game like the Baal matches, it would be almost impossible to field him under certain rules.
Maurice looked confused. "So, am I a devil now? Any side effects?"
"Nope, you're good. I'm looking forward to working with you, old man!"
"Hahaha! Same here, kid. I'll make sure to keep your training nice and brutal!"
Next was Leisha. I started placing Pawns in front of her.
One... nothing.
Two... nothing.
Three... still nothing.
Four... nope.
Five... come on...
Finally, at the sixth Pawn, the pieces glowed red. All six merged into Leisha's body.
Leisha placed a hand over her heart. "So, I am officially yours now, Issei."
"Yeah. I'm still a green 'King,' but I'll do my best to lead you."
"I think you're doing a wonderful job already," she said, offering her hand. We shared a firm handshake.
Finally, Nina and Valkyria. I placed a single Pawn in front of each of them. Unlike the other two, the pieces reacted instantly, sinking into their chests.
The moment the light faded, Nina tackled me.
"Yay! Now I'm just like Onii-san!"
The pressure! Her chest was pressed right against my face! It was suffocating... but glorious. I could live in this softness.
Valkyria let out a small sigh of relief. "To think I would end up as Issei-sama's subordinate... Life is truly unpredictable."
"I didn't expect it either," I said, extending my hand. "But I'm going to work hard. I'll be a King you can be proud of."
Valkyria took my hand and gave me a genuine, radiant smile. "I look forward to it. I shall lend you all the strength I possess."
And so, the Peerage of the Red Dragon Emperor was reborn with its new members.
The Peerage of Issei Hyoudou
King: Issei Hyoudou
Queen: Alice Odelia
Bishop: Miwa Hyoudou (Mutation Piece)
Bishop: Ravel Phenex
Rook: Maurice Noah (2 Pieces)
Pawn: Leisha Creas (6 Pieces)
Pawn: Nina Odelia
Pawn: Valkyria Nome
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