Rufi had always idolized Tenra. For her, becoming his contractor was a dream come true.
"Hmph, talk about lucky," Ravel teased, sipping her tea with a knowing smirk. "You have no idea how many people would kill for a chance to be Onii-sama's contractor."
Rufi nodded, cheeks burning. "It's a huge honor for me, honestly."
Tenra waved off the praise. "Let's not make it sound so dramatic. I'm just as happy to sign with you, Rufi."
He couldn't help but chuckle inwardly. In the original story, Rufi had formed her magician contract with Issei Hyoudou. Now, Tenra had ended up with the Sacred Gear, the girlfriends, the childhood friend, and even the contract magician—all the things that should've belonged to Issei. Well, except for Dress Break. That particular power, Tenra had zero interest in stealing.
With that, the matter was settled—Tenra and Rufi would form a magician contract. The details could wait; no need to rush.
"Tenra's contract is set, but the rest of us still need to think carefully," Rias said. "I've already scheduled a meeting with the head of the Magician's Association. We should be hearing from them any minute now, so everyone, be on your best behavior."
"Yes, ma'am!" came the chorus.
Trust Rias to have everything perfectly arranged.
Yubelluna, Akeno, and the others squeezed together on the sofas. In the center of the hall, a massive magic circle shimmered into existence. Light flickered, and a three-dimensional projection appeared—a middle-aged man seated in an ornate chair.
His hair was a striking blend of red and blue, and his eyes were mismatched: the left, a piercing blue; the right, a vivid red. The effect was uncanny, almost unsettling, but his demeanor radiated warmth and sophistication.
"Long time no see, Rias."
"Long time no see, Mephisto Pheles-sama."
"You've grown as beautiful as your mother. Your grandmother and great-grandmother—every one of them was a remarkable woman."
"Thank you for your kind words."
The two exchanged pleasantries with an easy familiarity. Then Rias turned to the group, making introductions.
"Everyone, this is Mephisto Pheles-sama. He's an Extra Devil from the Pheles family and currently serves as a director of the Magician's Association."
"An Extra Devil from the Pheles family? Why would—"
Some of the girls stared in surprise.
"Why am I the director of the human Magician's Association?" Mephisto smiled. "Long ago, I formed a contract with the first Georg Faust. After he passed away, I stayed in the human world and took over his Association. Decades have flown by—though that's all ancient history now."
"In any case, it's a pleasure to meet all you lovely young ladies—and the Phoenix family's miracle boy."
Mephisto's tone was relaxed and friendly, but Tenra and the others were still taken aback. To think he was the legendary Georg Faust's contractor… This Devil had to be ancient, at least from the era of the original Four Great Satans. Tenra and the girls quickly offered respectful greetings in return.
"Alright, let's skip the small talk and get down to business," Mephisto said. "Rias, Phoenix boy, your peerages have been making waves lately. You're quite popular with our Association—my subordinates have been pestering me nonstop to set up this negotiation. The young magicians are all eager to sign contracts with you."
"We still have a long way to go," Rias replied humbly.
Negotiations began in earnest, with Rias handling most of the back-and-forth. Tenra, finding himself with nothing to do, soon grew bored. He excused himself, scooped up Ophis, and headed for the pool.
The Kamiyo villa's pool was an architectural marvel, designed by famous Underworld builders at the Phoenix family's request. There were several pools, each with its own style, but this one was pure nature—lush greenery everywhere, fruit-bearing plants lining the edges and even sprouting from the pool's bottom.
Tenra and Ophis changed into swimsuits. Ophis looked adorable in hers, and Tenra couldn't help but smile. "Race you?"
"Okay!" Ophis nodded, her eyes sparkling.
They dove in together, water splashing everywhere as they raced back and forth. Tenra was fast, but Ophis kept up with surprising skill. They played until they were both exhausted.
Eventually, Tenra floated lazily on his back, while Ophis perched on his stomach, munching on a ripe fruit she'd plucked from a nearby branch.
"Keeper, eat," she said, handing him another.
Tenra laughed. His little pet was thoughtful as ever. He couldn't remember when she'd started calling him Keeper, but it fit—he really was her caretaker.
He bit into the fruit, savoring the sweet juice.
When they'd had their fill, Tenra and Ophis returned to the hall. The negotiations were done, and Rias was sorting through some papers on the sofa.
"All settled?" Tenra asked.
"More or less. Mephisto-sama will send us profiles of recommended candidates soon."
Rias paused, then looked up. "Tenra, you might want to consider contracting with one more magician."
Tenra frowned. "Didn't I already decide on Rufi? What's this about?"
"Normally, Devils only sign with one magician," Rias explained, "but it's not forbidden to have more. Mephisto-sama has a special recommendation for you. I think you should take a look."
She handed Tenra a folder. The seriousness in her voice—and the fact that Mephisto himself had flagged this candidate—piqued Tenra's curiosity.
He flipped open the file. As his eyes scanned the information, they narrowed in surprise…
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