The news about Sona's escape and subsequently going missing was a great surprise. But thankfully, Serafall being a siscon finally has a benefit.
Serafall had predicted Sona might be kidnapped or went missing in the future and placed a tracking magic on her. The recovery is rather easy since Serafall can detect Sona's location with pinpoint accuracy.
Which now leads to a scene where Sona is being tied to a bed like a mental patient in the Club building, restrained to the bed while she frantically resists and tries to break free.
To fix Sona, Leo took out a Beckoning Bell. A bell that consumes Insight when rung. Leo attached the bell to her hand and let her rung the bell a few times just to be sure and Sona miraculously recovered.
Sona might have recollected the memories of the forbidden knowledge. But she wouldn't be able to comprehend it anymore and no longer be affected by madness to be acting out of control. What next would be therapy to help her mind recover.
Once Leo did his part, he left immediately but stopped by the three big shots at the exit.
"Leonis Ashford."
Leo heard Sirzech called his name. He halted and turned to the three that followed him from the room.
"No need to be tense." Michael said with a calm tone after seeing Leo's tensed body. "This is merely a formality."
"Yes." Sirzech nods. "Although the Khaos Brigade is recognized as a terrorist organization. We determined that you pose no harm to us and we allow you to stay in Kuoh and hunt Stray Devils as you wish to protect the people."
"I would even open a proper channel for you to submit and exchange the bounties for the Stray Devils." Sirzech said before he turned to Azazel.
"As for me. I had asked Mittelt if she wished to return to Grigori. But she insisted on staying with you. For that, I renounce her status as a Stray and criminal."
"I will leave her in your capable hands." Azazel said with a smirk that hide other intentions that Leo is unaware of.
"I would simply wish that our friendship can remain and you will continue to carry out your noble duty to defend the weak and innocent." Michael speaks without hidden intentions and very directly.
Leo nods and thanked them before he left. He felt a little odd from their actions. But he also doesn't really understand what they are trying to do.
———
Fast forward, two weeks passed. Leo has been actively patrolling Kuoh Town looking for Stray Devils but by the third day, Stray Devils become very scarce. He is considering expanding his activities to other cities and towns. But he put that on hold first.
Other than hunting Strays, Leo has been focusing a lot in raising the affections with Mittelt and Ophis. Due to the bounties on the Stray Devils, Leo does not lack money and he splurges most of it to go out and spend time with the girls in the morning.
The good news is he managed to complete the quest and raised Ophis' affection above 400. It's around 500+ by now.
Although Ophis can be bribed with food to raise affection. The higher it gets, the harder it is to satisfy her palate that can earn him affection.
Anyway, two weeks passed in relative peace in Kuoh Town and occasionally Leo's group does encounter the Devils. Their encounter usually ends with awkward silence after a customary greeting and nothing else before they went their ways.
But this time is different apparently.
Leo was on a grocery trip to the nearby supermarket with Mittelt and Ophis when Kuroka's younger sister, Koneko and the rumored Prince of Kuoh Academy suddenly appeared and stood in their path.
"Is there anything I can help?" Leo asked after he sensed no hostile intention from them. Koneko aside, Kiba looks friendly and not really the mood one would display if they have hostile intentions.
"Yes. Our King, Rias Gremory, invited you to the club room. She has a pressing matter to talk with you." Kiba conveys the message well with a polite smile.
"Hah? If she has something to talk about, shouldn't she be the one coming for us instead of the opposite?" Mittelt felt dissatisfied that Leo was treated like a servant, running to Rias when it's Rias that needed something.
What Mittelt said is true but also not. Leo is merely a guest and Rias is the 'governor' of the town. So, in reality. Rias do have the right to summon Leo. But Mittelt being Mittelt with her misunderstanding of Leo, she thinks it's disrespectful of his status to be treated like this.
Leo placed the groceries into his inventory to free his hands before he pacify Mittelt with a head pat.
"It's alright. When should I come?" Leo shifts his eyes from the pouting Mittelt to Kiba.
"At the earliest convenience would be the best. The matter is quite important for Buchou and she really needed your help."
"Alright, I'll be there after I send them home." Leo turns to and looks at both Mittelt and Ophis.
"My thanks, Mr Ashford. Please excuse us and I wish you a pleasant evening." Kiba bowed before he left with Koneko.
Leo noticed Koneko seemed to look at him fixedly throughout the conversation. She only stopped when Kiba called her to leave.
"Leo. Are you really going to let those Devil do whatever they want?" Mittelt asked after Kiba and Koneko left.
"Well, as long as they don't break my rules. I'll entertain their whim. Besides, I was waiting for this."
"You were waiting for this?" Mittelt didn't understand and was confused but Leo didn't explain further.
———
Half an hour later, Leo entered Kuoh Academy and went to the club building. He is familiar with the path because he has been there before to fix Sona.
When he arrived in front of the old building, Leo walked through the door and felt himself walking through a barrier. This means the other party should already be alerted with his presence. He takes his time and walks to the correct door before knocking it lightly.
"Come in."
Leo opened the door once Rias gave her permission and inside he saw only Rias and Akeno present. The rest probably had been sent home.
He takes a seat on the sofa adjacent to Rias. Akeno stood up and went to make some tea while Leo and Rias stared at each other for a moment.
"Ahem. I hope I didn't disturb you much by calling you here."
"No. Not really."
They made small talk but Rias seemed to skirt around the topic and delayed time while Leo only gave a short reply which ended up with an awkward pause.
Leo is naturally not the type of person that speaks unless necessary and Rias only learns it now because they didn't have much opportunity to get to know each other before.
Few minutes later, Akeno returned with a metal tray with a teapot and cups. She poured for everyone before sitting next to Rias.
"Hope you enjoy the tea." Rias mentioned when Leo took a sip of it.
"It's great. Thank you. But I think we should talk about the real matter?"
"Yes." Rias replied once her Queen was next to her, giving her confidence. "I would like to invite you to my peerage."
Leo didn't reply immediately and he continued sipping the tea for a moment before putting the cup down on the table.
"You want me to join your Peerage?" Leo asked with an expression that told others he had just heard something quite absurd.
Rias didn't appear surprised by the rejection. But she looks desperate enough that she is willing to try despite the odds, especially when Leo openly denounced the Devil's Peerage System before. Yet she is willing to gamble on the slightest probability. She looks like someone grasping at her last straw, desperate for a way out.
Leo already knows what Rias really wanted and what is the problem.
She needs a way to break off her engagement with Riser Phenex and her only way is through a Rating Game but she didn't think her Peerage have much chance of victory because she still lacks members while Riser Phenex have full Peerage members.
Rias still not out of idea yet. If she cannot get Leo in her Peerage then…
"How about a contract? You fight for me in exchange for compensation. Of course, I give you liberty to accept or reject the request to fight. But please, just once I need your help." Rias shows her desperation as she asks Leo for help.
Compared to joining Peerage, this is indeed more favorable for him. Rias is part of the protagonist group. They will be facing plenty of enemies in the future and it is aligned with Leo's goal to fight more powerful enemies to collect better Blood Echoes to strengthen himself.
"I agree. But I also have my own request to add."
"Let's hear it!" Rias looks ecstatic when Leo accepts and eagerly listens to the request he has.
———
Afternoon of the next day, Leo once again returns to the ORC room with Rias and her Peerage all gathered here.
Leo wears plain clothes, a white shirt under a black vest without a coat and a black trouser. His sense of fashion became influenced by the city of Yharnam.
He takes a seat on the sofa and Koneko suddenly joins him, sitting on the edge while munching on sweets. He didn't know how he should treat her since she is the younger sister of her friend. But it is a secret he cannot allow others to know because Kuroka is a criminal in the Underworld.
They waited for a few moments before a magic circle appeared with Grayfia teleporting in before another one appeared with a tornado of flame. A blond man wearing a maroon red suit emerges from the magic circle. His eyes immediately scanned the room and stopped when he gazed at Grayfia and Rias.
"It's been a while since I came to Earth." The man said and turned to Rias. "How have you been, my fiance?"
Rias seems to hold disgust for this man, Riser Phenex. But she hid her expression well to not express it out.
"Who is this?" Issei asked out of curiosity.
"This gentleman is Riser Phenex of the Phenex Clan, a pure blooded Devil and a High Class Devil noble. He is also the fiance of Rias Gremory." Grayfia introduced while Rias went to take a seat on the sofa followed by Riser who claimed the seat next to her.
"Indeed I am. This Riser came to inform us that our marriage had been put forward and we will get married very soon." Riser smirked and played with Rias' hair as if she was his own toy.
Leo can see how Rias would feel disgusted by Riser. Arrogant, prideful and sees others as his own property. He might even one day throw Rias away once he gets bored of her. That's the assumption Leo has on Riser's personality.
Leo tunes out from the conversation at that point onwards. He casually drinks tea served by Akeno. It's bloody delicious and because he is being influenced by Yharnam, he developed a taste for tea despite his previous favorite being coffee.
"Hmn… it's a wonderful tea. I wonder if you can teach me how to brew this delicious tea later, Miss Akeno."
"Ah… Sure." Akeno felt awkward when Leo seems to be in his own world while the conversation is getting heated when Rias denied the marriage and Grayfia proposed a Rating Game as according to the plot.
"Who is this human?" Riser finally noticed Leo's presence in the room and looked at him disdainfully.
"He is a helper I acquired. Since you said it's unfair for me to be an inexperienced Devil to fight against you. Then you didn't mind if I acquired his help right?" Rias smiled
"Hmn, a mere human. Whatever, I allow it along with two weeks to prepare yourself. After all, I didn't want an excuse saying I was being unfair." Riser glanced at Leo and can't feel any mana or power emanating from him. He saw Leo have the body of a warrior and thought he was probably just a normal swordsman or something similar.
After that, Riser left which Rias and the others immediately sighed like they just survived a disaster.
Just as Leo was about to stand up and leave. He was stopped by Rias.
"Wait. Can I ask for your help to train us?" Rias requested since Leo is a very experienced fighter in her eyes and even earned an approval from Grayfia next to Rias.
Leo looked at Rias and the Grayfia. "You want me to train your Peerage?"
"Yes. I will prepare compensation for your work." Rias added, worried Leo is not willing because he thinks he will not be compensated.
"No, it's not a matter of compensation. But I think my style and your peerage is vastly different. Perhaps with Kiba I can offer some help but others, I think it's better to ask someone else." Leo reasoned.
After all, his way of fighting is not compatible with anyone. Kiba might be a stretch which he can guide a little in terms of footwork or pacing etc. But the others, he has nothing to offer.
"It didn't matter. Any help no matter how small is better than none." Rias insisted.
"Alright then. But I will also bring the other two with me."
Rias seems a little uncomfortable when Leo said he would bring Ophis. But she reluctantly agreed.
Meanwhile Grayfia had been secretly evaluating Leo on the side. From her expression and the little nod she made, it seems Leo had passed whatever expectations she had for him.
—————
(I won't write much about the training trip. Might even skip it all together because there's nothing significant to Leo's story.)
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