(Found the perfect character to represent Itsuki. Inui from Dress up Darling.)
Once Romonus' got his ambition into control he of course first visited his Mother who was not in her office today. Instead, she was spending her free time in a large room she converted to be her relaxation room.
She had a TV, an enchanted bed to remove stress, and several fancy liqueurs to pass the time. His Mother despite her Noble heritage did not like to wallow in luxury, but he sometimes felt she was too selfless.
He shook his head as they arrived at her relaxation room. When he knocked on the door he did not have to wait long until his Mother in a cozy pajama set opened the door.
She perked up when she saw him as these days it seemed he was the only one who paid attention to her. A part of her felt guilty that she even thought of using her son to remove her loneliness so she had given her husband a long chance.
Even after the Impotence Curse he still did not pay attention to her. Now all he was doing was working and leaving her alone just like always. If Zeoticus did not step up, she might do something she could not take back.
Venelana pulled back as now they were the same height. She was about to speak more to him, but when she saw Akeno and Itsuki with him she was confused.
"And who are these girls? You are not one to kidnap people."
Romonus crossed his arms.
"I didn't kidnap anyone. Anyways, this is Akeno Himejima a Half Fallen Angel who I turned into my Bishop. And this is Itsuki Hyoudou who I turned into my pawn. The Red Dragon Empress."
Venelana's mind went blank for several seconds as she looked at the small Itsuki. The girl waved her hand a little as Venelana's face went blank.
"Is she ok?"
Romonus nodded.
"Give her a minute."
Venelana did need that minute as when she shook off the shock she needed to know.
"Where did you find these girls? They are not just found anywhere."
"Itsuki was from Kuoh and had been living there this whole time. As for Akeno, we were informed of her existence by a man in a contract with my Father. I had to save her as she was being hunted by some Himejima exorcists."
Venelana shook her head in shock.
"How did no one notice a Longinous user in Kuoh this whole time?"
Romonus just pointed at Itsuki who was staring up at Venelana with a smile.
"She is super weak right now? Took me 4 Pawn pieces to turn her, but she has never had any supernatural encounters before. Except for meeting Odin. He takes time to go to Kuoh to preach about breasts and give out nudie mags to people in the park."
Venelana did not believe him at all.
"Are you seriously telling me Odin, King of the North? The Chief God of the Norse Pantheon goes to Japan just to preach about breasts and hand out pornos? You can see why I don't believe you."
Itsuki frowned as it was all true.
"IT'S TRUE! He is a little old man with a fancy monocle thing with a big white beard. He always has this cane and he will give the kids at the park those books."
Venelana covered her face with her hand as while Odin was known as a big pervert he could not be THAT much of a pervert. Surely even he knew better than to give those to children.
"Ok, let's say I believe you, but why does he go to Kuoh?"
Itsuki crossed her arms and shrugged.
"I don't know. He goes there every two weeks. The kids in the neighborhood find him funny so we all go see him. We promised not to tell though."
Akeno looked up at Romonus.
"What she talking about?"
Romonus did not know if she was that sheltered or not, but he explained it.
"An old god who shows kids things he should not be. Odin, the God King of the Norse gods. Itsuki, please tell me when he shows up?"
The brown-haired girl thought about it before she remembered.
"Every second Wednesday of the month. He goes there for a few hours."
Romonus felt this was a great way to meet the King of the Norse gods. Once he got Valerie, he would need her to bring back either Cú Chulainn or Scathach. Preferably Scathach and if all mythologies were real Celtic was as well.
If he could find the skull of the Curruid which Gael Bolg was made from he could create his legendary weapon.
"Alright then, I will be going with you to see what Odin has been up to. You're quite lucky that Odin is now an old man as in his youth he was much more violent."
Itsuki started to sweat a little as she thanked her stars grampa Od was nice now. Regardless, Romonus turned to his Mother.
"Mom, I hate to spring this on you, but can you send a servant to speak to Itsuki's parents in Kuoh? They let me take her with me for a 2-week introduction to the Supernatural world once they heard about the fate of Sacred Gear users.
I also would like you to get some servants to set up some rooms for Akeno and Itsuki."
Venelana smiled as she did not mind.
"It's fine, I was bored anyway. Let me list this first, send a servant to Itsuki's parents, home, and set rooms up and food for Akeno I presume?"
He nodded.
"Yes. Thank you, Mother, in the meantime I need to speak to Father."
That killed Venelana's smile as her marriage was crumbling year by year. She should have said something centuries ago, but it was too late now.
"Alright then, if you got time Marcina wants to talk to you about the baby. Your Father has kept it under wraps, but it is impossible now and some people are asking questions."
Romonus nodded.
"Got it. Be back soon."
He started to walk toward his Father's office as he needed better materials. Meanwhile, Venelana smiled as she hugged both girls tight as she loved cute girls.
"You two are so adorable. Come on, let's get you set up. You two can consider me a second' Mother. If you want think of me as a friendly big sister."
Akeno and Itsuki looked at each other feeling that Romonus' Mother was a nice person. Meanwhile, Romonus lightly stepped on the ground, and with a quick use of Godspeed, he appeared in front of his Father's office.
Before he entered he smiled as he loved the movement technique Godspeed as it was so versatile. He knocked on the door before speaking.
"Father, it's me Romonus."
"Oh, come in."
He reached down and opened the door to enter. When he walked in his Father had black bags under his eyes and his hair was disheveled. His beard was turning patchy and he seemed very irritated as he worked through the paperwork.
"Dad, something wrong?"
Zeoticus mentally screamed at the world wanting to air out all his grievances, but he did not.
"No, nothing at all. I just have been overwhelmed with work."
"I see, take it easy Father."
'I wish I could.'
Zeoticus shook his head as he turned to face his secondborn. A source of great pride because he was quickly rising in power and in a short time he would reach the level of the original Satans. If not more because of his insane training drive he was ever-improving.
"Tell me, son, what do you need?"
Romonus walked over to his Father's desk and he pulled out of his Spatial Ring a paper.
"I need these materials. You have been denying my requests for years and I think I have proven myself to deserve them. Here."
Romonus handed his Father a paper where he listed a series of materials he wanted and in high concentrations. When Zeoticus picked up the paper he was instantly shocked at the concentration of metals and other materials.
"Son this is too much. A ton of Mithril already is a massive expense not to mention the 350 pounds of Adamantium you want from the Dwarves. A ton of Darksteel, and worse of all you even want 500 grams of Orcichalcum.
Even in all my territory, we have 1 mine where even small quantities of Orichalcum can be found and you want 250 grams of the stuff. That is not even talking about the other materials you want. Dragons blood, dragon scales, and Minokawa feathers all this even for the Clan will be a great expense. What do you want all this for?"
Romonus explained his idea.
"Simply put, I am planning to create a personal set of armor which I will be binding to my soul. Thanks to MacGregor's tutoring and my training I have unlocked my soulscape and with it new abilities. Once I create and bind this set of armor I will be able to grow it with me.
It will always be at my side and will be a pillar I can rely on and evolve with me. I understand that this is a great expense, but the Gremory Clan is not in dire straights and we have had thousands of years of successful business. Even this much will not dent the coffers of the clan. When have I ever failed or wasted anything?"
Zeoticus looked at the list as Romonus was right. The Gremory Clan was not one of the highest-ranking clans of the 32 Pillars without reason. They had business in the human and Underworld which brought in billions of human dollars and even more gold in the Underworld.
When Zeoticus looked at his son's determined face he sighed.
"Alright, I will get your materials. The Minokawa Feathers are going to take a while as I will have to speak to the Philippine Supernatural community. Minokawa are creatures on the level of Dragons and not to be trifled with.
The other materials are much more doable as in the Gremory tressure we have dragon blood and scales from Metal dragons hunted long ago. I won't even have to buy the Orichalcum as we have been collecting all we can for centuries.
We even own a mine of Mithril in our territory, just give me some time."
Romonus smiled and nodded.
"Thank you, Father, you won't regret this."
Zeoticus smiled.
"Don't worry about it, son."
Seeing the Fatherly smile suddenly made Romonus feel guilty on a profound level. He had made a big deal about respecting his brother's wife Grayfia, but he was planning to not do the same to his Father.
'Damn it, what kind of hypocrite am I. I can't not try at least.'
"Dad, I want to ask you something."
Zeoticus was confused.
"What is it?"
"You and Mom are fighting, right? She told me you have been neglecting her for years and you look stressed. What happened?"
Zeoticus cleared his voice not willing to say the true reason he was stressed, but he did acknowledge the issue.
"Ah, yes. Marcina has been in my harem for centuries and I didn't think your Mother would mind so much. I was wrong and she is unrelenting in her fury."
Romonus decided to try to mend things between his parents before he did anything he would regret.
"Have you tried apologizing or finding the route of the issue?"
Zeoticus' face turned bitter as he damn well knew what the issue was. He neglected his wife for too many years and his getting his mistress pregnant was the last straw. This curse she put on him was unrelenting and she was much stronger than him so he couldn't remove it himself.
"I haven't, but why should I? You understand me don't you son? We are Devils. We collect harems to reproduce so why is she so mad?"
Romonus sighed.
"I know what you mean about the harem, but you choose to collect a giant harem. Even you can't manage that many women without neglecting them. When was the last time you even spoke to some of them? Or slept with them?
Even Mother is mad at you because you don't pay attention to her. No woman, Devil or not will endure that kind of neglect forever. I know about your troubles because she told me when she did it. If you want to remove the curse you better get back on her good side."
Zeoticus covered his face in shame as his cursed fate was the result of his actions.
"Can't you talk to her?"
Romonus pointed at his Father.
"No, I am talking to you. You are the man, so man up and apologize. Or are you too prideful to do that Father? Because I am torn between you two. I love both of you as my parents, but I am not blind to see who is at fault. You are, and mind me being disrespectful, but you need to change if you want Mother to love you again."
Zeoticus began to chuckle as he knew everything his son said was all truths. Was he ready to give up his pride and admit that he was wrong?
"I will need to think about it?"
'What is there to think about Father?'
"Do as you will, you're the Lord of House Gremory after all."
Romonus turned around and left his Father's office. Once Zeoticus was alone he opened his drawer and pulled out an old picture. It was black and white and showed when he got married to Venelana in a grand ceremony.
When he looked at his wife's beaming smile in this picture from centuries ago he realized something. He had never seen his wife this happy since. His getting Marcina pregnant was just the straw that broke the camel's back.
'I fucked up badly. What can I do to fix things?'