Human World, Japan, Kuoh.
After breakfast, like always, everyone gathered in the living room of the Alaverus Estate. Once everyone was settled, Scathach made her way toward Kunou. When Kunou noticed Scathach's approach, a bright smile made it onto her face.
"Scathach-Basama." Kunou said with a smile.
"Smiling in return, Scathach held her right hand forward. Then, a spear, bigger than what Kunou should use, appeared in Scathach's hand.
"I crafted this for you as a Christmas gift." Scathach said. "I know that it is too big for you to use, right now. But when you have grown, it should be the right size."
"This is for me?" Kunou said with an even brighter smile. "Thank you."
"Not only that." Scathach said with a small smile of her own. "After talking to your mother, it has been decided that you will stay here for the rest of your winter break to learn the spear under me."
Hearing that, Kunou's eyes opened wide. Then, she looked at her mother for confirmation.
"It's true." Yasaka said calmly.
Following Yasaka's confirmation, Kunou jumped up and wrapped her arms around Scathach, hugging her tightly. Then, after releasing Scathach, she ran over to her mother and hugged her just as tightly.
"Thank you, Kaa-San." Kunou said as she buried her face in Yasaka's chest.
"You're welcome." Yasaka said with a smile while she patted Kunou's head. "And as long as you keep up your grades at school, I'll let you come over here on weekends to keep learning from Scathach."
"Really/" Kunou squealed in glee, pulling her head back to look into her mother's eyes.
"Have I ever lied to you?" Yasaka asked while poking Kunou on the nose.
After once again receiving confirmation from Yasaka, Kunou hugged her tightly one more time. Then, she rushed back to Scathach and grabbed her hand.
"Come on, let's go." Kunou said, trying to pull Scathach toward the elevator. "Let's start the lessons."
Smiling gently, Scathach let herself be pulled toward the elevator by the excited little nine-tailed fox. At the same time, everyone else in the living room looked upon the two with gentle smiles.
"Damn, that was cute." James said happily.
"Yes, and it proves my point." Serafall said proudly. "Cute is justice."
"No one was arguing that point." James said with a wry smile.
"So, you should let me read the next chapters of Puella Magi Madoka Magica." Serafall said while grabbing James' arm with a desperate expression on her face.
"Nope."
"Stingy."
Once again, the majority of the group in the living room smiled. This time at the interaction between James and Serafall.
After that, the group broke into smaller groups. Some played video games, some played board games, some played cards, some simply chatted, and some joined Scathach and Kunou in the training room. With time passing like that, eventually the first guests of the day arrived.
*Ding Dong!*
After the doorbell sounded, Grayfia, being in maid mode, took it upon herself to answer the front door. When she returned, Issei, Asia, Irina, and Touji were following her. Naturally, the new comers joined the groups who were doing the things that interested them the most. Then, about twenty minutes later, the doorbell rang again and once again, Grayfia went to answer it.
"Maybe we should get a maid..." James muttered to himself as he watched Grayfia leave the living room.
"Oh, my." Venelana said from her place among the other mothers. "Are you thinking of having Grayfia as your maid?"
"Although that sounds nice, isn't she already employed as the Gremory's head maid?" James asked with a tilt of his head.
"True that may be." venelana said with a smile. "I'm sure we could work out some kind of agreement?"
Although he was not sure what that smile meant exactly, James was sure there was more to it than just happiness or goodwill.
"Did I hear that someone was in the market for a maid?" A female voice said from the entrance of the living room.
When everyone looked toward the source of that voice, what they saw was a silver-haired, purple-eyed beauty with horns, pointy ears, and facial features that were nearly identical to Naruse Maria's wearing a white, lacey dress and a choker.
"If that's the case" The silver-haired woman said while gesturing behind her grandiosely. "May I present to you..."
She then pointed behind herself to a tall, tan-skinned woman with gold-green eyes, white hair, a rabbit tail on her lower back, and horns shaped like rabbit ears who wore a black and white, low-cut, French maid dress that stopped just above her knees and fishnet stockings.
"Momma?" Maria asked absent-mindedly. Then, she stood up explosively and dashed toward the woman with a nearly identical face to her own. "Momma!"
At a speed no one had seen her reach before, Maria bolted toward her mother, Sheila, jumped, and wrapped her arms and legs around her. Then, once she was latched on properly, Maria began rubbing her cheek on Sheila's.
"It's good to see you too, Maria." Sheila said with a smile.
"Hey, Sheila, long time, no see." James said, waving briefly at the new arrivals as he was in the middle of an intense match of Street Fighter with Genkai. "You brought Zest with you, too."
Although James was nonchalant about seeing her, Flora, Shuna, Mio, and, eventually, Maria all went on guard after noticing Zest, who had beaten all of them to within an inch of their lives when they last met.
"Now, now, now. There's no need to worry." Sheila said with a smile. "Since Zolgear no longer has a head that he can use to give Zest orders, you have nothing to fear."
"But what if she relapses?" Mio asked with er arms crossed under her breasts.
"Well, most of the people in this mansion are stronger than she is." Sheila pointed out. "So, I'm sure she won't last very long if she gets out of line."
Just as Sheila said, Zest was only at the initial-level of the ultimate-rank. Exactly the same level of power she was at when she first attacked the girls. And by this point, both Flora and Shuna were also in the ultimate-rank, so things should not go as they did last time.
"On top of that, with my master-servant contract and education, I'm pretty sure I've removed all of Zolgear's influence from little Zest." Sheila said as she patted Zest's cheek.
"Your education?" Maria asked.
"That's right." Sheila replied with a proud smile on her face. "With my education, I am confident that Little Zest here is now the best maid throughout the realms."
Though most people in the room dismissed Sheila's claim, one silver-haired, red-eyed woman wearing a blue and white French maid dress narrowed her eyes as a competitive glint flashed in her eyes.
"Oh dear." Venelana said while covering her mouth elegantly with one hand.
"What's wrong, Lana?" Rhea asked after setting down her teacup.
"That woman just claimed that her protégé was a better maid than Grayfia." Venelana said.
"Oh, this might be fun." Leona said with a mischievous smile on her face.
"Especially since the only one Grayfia has ever recognized as a better maid than herself was her mother, the late Lady Lucifuge." Venelana continued. "So, this could get interesting."
"It looks like we're gonna have two maids, for a little while at least." Leona said. "But how will that son of yours react to this?"
"I really don't think it will matter." Venelana replied. "The divorce is almost finalized. So, Grayfia is free to do as she pleases."
While Leona, Venelana, and Rhea chatted, James finished his match with Genkai. To his surprise, it ended in a draw.
"You're getting better, Master Genkai." James said with a smile. "I'm looking forward to our next match."
"As am I, Kid." Genkai said with a small smile on her face. "Next time I'll be the winner, though."
"We'll see." James said with a confident smile on his face. Then, he turned his attention toward Sheila. "So, you really brought her back, huh?"
"I told you I would." Sheila replied. "And I do what I say."
"Indeed." James replied with a nod.
"So, what do you think?" Sheila asked. "Since it seems like you're in need of a maid, might I offer you Zest?"
"That depends, what does Zest think of that?" James asked with a slight frown on his face. "She hasn't made her opinion known yet."
"Well, tell him what you think." Sheila said to Zest with a smile.
"I would be honored to become your maid, Young Master Alaverus." Zest said while bowing her head. "Also, if you would allow it, I would like to be a part of your second peerage."
In response to Zest's request, James could not help but raise his eyebrow. Seeing the confusion in James' expression, Sheila clarified.
"Because of the way Zolgear created her, Zest cannot grow in strength past what you see now." Sheila said.
"Then, that means she has no potential for growth." Evangeline said, cutting into the conversation. "What benefit would that bring to James?"
"Actually, I've hypothesized that joining a peerage may change that." Sheila said. "Unfortunately, neither I nor Zolgear were strong enough to add Zest to our peerages, so I have no proof."
As Sheila said, both she and Zolgear were only at the high-rank, so there was no way that either of them could have added Zest to their peerage.
"Although that is a pretty good hypothesis, without any proof, James could end up in a trap." Evangeline said with a severe expression on her face.
A frowning Evangeline and a smiling Sheila locked eyes. As the time went by, the tension in the air thickened. However, there was one person in the room who was not affected by the tension in the least.
"Eva, you're so cute!" Kahlua said excitedly as she wrapped Evangeline in a hug. "You're acting just like a protective wife."
"Kahlua, let go of me!" Evangeline said as she struggled to free herself. "How many times have I told you not to just hug me out of the blue. And what do you mean a protective wife?"
And just like that, the tense atmosphere was broken.
"Well, I guess she did have a point, though." Sheila said with a look of contemplation on her face.
"Well, if what Evangeline said is true, I don't mind having her traded to my peerage." Venelana said with a smile. "If she's as good as you say she is, I wouldn't mind having her as a personal maid."
Once again, feeling that her position was being challenged, Grayfia narrowed her eyes for a second time.
"Why are you riling her up like that?" Rhea asked quietly with a smile on her face.
"Because it's interesting." Venelana replied just as quietly.
"That's not a bad solution." James said while stroking his chin. "But Auntie Venelana, are you sure?"
"Why not?" Venelana replied with a shrug. "Other than Grayfia, my peerage is completely empty."
"I see." James said while turning his attention back to Sheila and Zest. "Well, I don't mind trying."
With that, James stood from the sofa and walked toward Zest. When he was little more than an arm's length from her, James held out his right arm, palm up. A moment later, two [Pawn Pieces] appeared.
"Well, it looks like you do have some potential left." James said with a smile. "I guess Zolgear just did not know how to bring it out. Or it was locked during your creation."
Then, without waiting, James pressed the two [pawn Pieces] into Zest's chest. Being a devil to begin with, after closing her eyes, Zest's process of joining James' peerage took almost no time at all.
Once the process ended, Zest opened her eyes. Then, clenched and unclenched her fists a few times. She could clearly feel that, although not by much, she had gotten stronger. Then, she dropped to one knee with her head bowed.
"Thank you, Master." Zest said in a solemn tone. "I will dedicate my everything to you. Mind, body, and soul."
Yet again, Grayfia narrowed her eyes.
'This girl really may be a threat to my position.' Grayfia thought to herself. 'She's completely serious about that vow.'
"Stand up." James said with a wry smile on his face. "I appreciate your dedication. I really do. But the whole kneeling thing is too much."
Zest stood up as she was ordered to. Then, Sheila hugged her with a smile on her face.
"Congratulations, Little Zest." Sheila said. "Does that mean you are accepting her as a maid, too?"
"Yeah, I guess so." James replied while scratching the back of his head.
"Then, I'll leave her in your care." Sheila said with a smile.
"In that case, I'll stay here for a few days, too." Venelana said, smiling at James as she spoke. "That way, Grayfia can check her work."
"It looks like Lana is making her move." Rhea whispered to Leona. "You should have never opened that door for her back then."
"I assume that means your divorce has been finalized, Lana?" Leona asked in a whisper with her eyes narrowed.
"You don't need to worry about that." Venelana said while waving her hand dismissively. "I would not try and live under an assassin, trained by Master Scathach, who hates NTR's roof otherwise?"
At that moment, the doorbell rang again. In response, both Grayfia and Zest began walking toward the front door. However, when they each realized they were not the only one moving, they looked at each other and locked eyes.
Feeling the competitive atmosphere that was beginning to build, James called Zest back.
"Zest, until you're familiar with the mansion, let Grayfia handle things." James said in a tired tone. "We'll get you up to speed tomorrow. Until then, just enjoy the day."
"Yes, Master." Zest said with a bow.
Taking one more look at Grayfia who was headed to the front door, Zest turned back and moved to stand behind James.
'*Sigh* Having both of them here is gonna be more trouble than I expected.' James thought to himself.