"I don't regret following you for the rest of my life Master!"
"Sure… just don't talk when your mouth is full." Ray sighed and shot a pitiful look at the ragged maids.
An hour prior.
Ray woke up refreshed in the morning after a good night's sleep after a tiring day yesterday.
When he goes to get breakfast, he is greeted with Artoria inhaling food while Mittelt is busy running back and forth from the kitchen, carrying a giant plate of food. Meanwhile Artoria manages to inhale everything like nothing.
As for the kitchen, Grayfia with Raynare and Kalawarna is working tirelessly to cook more food, scavenging absolutely everything in the kitchen while Sakuya flashed in and out depositing ingredients while using her time manipulation power to scour the entirety of Kuoh town, cleaning up shops to buy ingredients.
Basically, Artoria had been eating endlessly that the whole town was facing a food shortage crisis.
"What the hell happened while I was sleeping…" Ray look in disbelief at this chaotic scene before ordering everyone to stop and rest while he take care of Artoria's appetite.
"Are you really still that hungry?" Ray felt his non-existent sweat dropping when he suddenly heard a loud animalistic roar which turned out to be Artoria's stomach growling.
"Yes, Master…" Artoria blushed a little for the inconvenience she had caused. "I swear that I am normally not this ravenous… It just since yesterday, I felt like no matter how much I eat. I can't ever feel satiated." She confessed, holding her stomach as it growled again, demanding food.
It isn't hard for him to figure out why. When he sealed his pact with Artoria, he enhanced her strength instead of giving her ability and what he enhanced also included her draconic nature since it is a big portion of her power source.
Artoria's incredible appetite is caused by her draconic nature which made her consume food as much as a dragon did to be converted into mana as fuel. Naturally, when he enhanced her draconic nature, he also inevitably enhanced her metabolism to ungodly level. Normal food that isn't energy dense will never satisfy her just like using a spray bottle to try to stop a burning house.
The only solution is to give her food that is dense in energy that can be used as fuel for her Dragon's Heart. But the problem is she already burns as much as 100 people worth of daily calorie intake just to maintain her daily needs outside of battle. If she does fight, the calorie demand will skyrocket. That's why she keeps feeling hungry. The food she eats right now is no different than water. It fills her up but gives no fuel for her body.
Ray waved his hand and conjured up a meat platter and a few side dishes to accompany it for Artoria.
"Eat these. These should keep you full for a day." Ray offered the food which Artoria gladly accepted and gorged down on them like a man starved for an entire year.
Then he sensed what the girls were doing. Asia is at school since it's already 9 AM in the morning. As for Sirin and Sakura, they were with their new sister, Abby, on a walk around the town with Ravel accompanying them to both accompany and supervise them. Not that he would ever need to worry about Abby's safety if she is released to the world. It's the other way around considering her power.
Since that is the case, Ray decided to relax and enjoy his morning with a cup of coffee he conjured while reading today's newspaper about what happened in other universes. Probably he would find something interesting to do.
———
It has been two weeks since the incident involving the unknown Primordial with Rias' arranged marriage.
Issei is grateful that Rias had stopped being depressed and returned to normal. Although it is a little weird that no matter how he and the others inquired about the incident, she seems to always be muted and then forget about it a moment later.
Sona is worried and brings Rias to her family's hospital for a check up but the results come out saying it's her mind's countermeasures due to a traumatic event that she would like to forget.
If they tried to press on with their questions, Rias would have a panic attack, rambling about this weird thing that messed with her head and then she would faint. When she wakes up, she will return to normal again. Since then, no one is inconsiderate enough to bring up her trauma again and tacitly avoid bringing up such topic.
But that's not the point. Today, he heard from Akeno that some agent of the Church arrived in Kuoh and demanded a meeting with Rias and Sona, who is the governor of the town. Issei remembered that today Kiba looked a little weird too.
"Haah… what is happening with everyone?" Issei, who is ignorant about what happened underneath everything, was sighing tiredly as he dragged his feets to the clubroom after the class ended.
When he arrived, he noticed himself were the last to arrive as everyone including Sona and her Queen Tsubaki already arrived with two robed figures sitting by the couch facing the two heiresses who were minding their own business silently while waiting for him to arrive.
"It's great you finally arrived, Issei." Rias said with a little anger that Issei is taking his sweet time to get here.
"Ah! Sorry Buchou, it wasn't intentional." Issei replied before hurried to join his fellow peerage members.
"Haah… anyway, since everyone had already arrived. Let's start. What is the intention of the Church agents seeking an audience with us?" Rias asked, sounding curious and also a little skeptical considering they are technically still at war and only halted with a temporary treaty in place.
"Indeed, I cannot figure out the reason why two Church Executioners would need to talk with us." Sona nodded and eyed the two whose faces were still hidden by their cloak.
Then one of them suddenly took off their cloak to reveal their faces.
"I am Xenovia Quarta, representing the Church. I am here just to inform you Devils that we will be investigating a case regarding the stolen Excalibur Fragments that we had learned were here in Kuoh town. Stolen by some exiled Exorcist."
"Excalibur Fragments you say?" Rias and Sona were rightfully shocked as among the Holy Swords, the Excalibur Fragments are one of the strongest.
For a few Excalibur Fragments to suddenly appear in Kuoh town is not a mere coincidence. After all, Holy Weapon is most effective against Devils and the two have two Devil Heiresses and also the two sisters of Satans. It isn't hard to figure out the intention of the other party.
"Rias. This matter is beyond our capabilities. We must report this to the Satans." Sona hurried to say before Rias could stubbornly say nod and decided to handle this herself knowing how she acts sometimes.
"Yes, I agree." Rias thankfully agreed with Sona as her eyes glanced over at Kiba who wasn't looking happy at all.
"Please wait for a moment." Kiba said with a clenched fist and gritted teeth. "Rias Buchou. Please allow me to participate. I would like to search for the Excalibur Fragment too." He said with a burning flame of revenge in his determined glare.
"No! I will not permit this, Kiba. I understand that y–"
"You understand nothing! I lived. I breathed. I survived it all for the sake of my revenge. I will not allow anyone to deprive me of this opportunity to destroy the Excalibur Fragments!" Kiba snarled, which shocked Rias and everyone except Akeno for some reason.
They didn't think the well mannered Handsome Prince of Kuoh could show this much hate and desire for the Excalibur Fragments.
"Hoh? A little Devil like you claimed you wish to destroy the Excalibur Fragment? Then why don't I humor your claim, Devil. I am the wielder of Excalibur Destruction. Face me and prove your claim to destroy the Excalibur Fragment." Xenovia stood up and unraveled the wrapped object behind her back which turned out to be the Excalibur Fragment.
"Hmn. That's a good idea, I like it."
"Who?" Everyone turns around to search for the unknown voice. But the Devils can already sense a feeling of Deja vu from hearing the voice.
"It's me, the extraordinary and talking black cat at your service." The voice introduced himself which suddenly appeared out of thin air, sitting by the corner, sipping a glass of blood red wine while being eagerly massaged by a cute blond haired noble lady.
"What and who are you!" Xenovia narrowed her eyes dangerously at Ray and pointed at her Excalibur Destruction without an ounce of fear while the Devils were already shitting their pants.
"Just a bored spectator, please do not mind us. Instead, I have a proposition. Since both of you are going to fight, why don't I prepare a stage for you?" The cat said before the clubroom suddenly replaced with a gigantic and lavish coliseum like it came out of an ancient fairy tale.
"What have you done!" Xenovia cried out in surprise and so did the others.
A moment ago they were still in the ORC clubroom and the next moment they were inside this gigantic coliseum. The wall of the coliseum alone is made of gold, decorated lavishly with head sized gemstone and ivory. Needless to mention the magical atmosphere which struck awe and appreciation in everyone's eyes. This place felt like the arena used by the gods rather than the mortals.
Sat on the vip seat, Ray sat aloof and silently, waiting for the duel to commence with an entourage of people with him by his side.
The Devils are shocked, but not that disturbed by the miraculous deed Ray did. They shrug it off as god being god. But the two Exorcists, they were a little afraid. Fearing this is a trap. But seeing how the Devils are similarly puzzled by this situation, they figure those Devils can't be involved.
In the end, Kiba who remained unchanged by the development, stood up to the arena and pointed his blade at Xenovia before issuing his challenge for duel for the ownership of the Excalibur Destruction.
Artoria, the knight in full armor and battle dress next to Ray, was very focused on Xenovia who declared herself the wielder of Excalibur Destruction. Her interests were driven by Ray who told her to witness the so-called Excalibur's Fragments. The legacy and legend that was desecrated by the greed of the Church. He wanted her to make this world learn the true Excalibur. The true legend and the true power of the Excalibur.
Although, it is a little unnerving to learn the entire reason why her Master decided to save her from her pitiful end as the tool of Alaya and granting her wish is because he is utterly bored and needed her as the main actor for the stage he prepared.
"Good. Since both challengers are prepared. Let's begin the duel!" Ray declared before a loud sound of a drum echoes through the coliseum to declare the start of the duel.
—————
If you enjoy my fic and wanted me to continue writing more or want to appreciate my work and effort, feel free to tip me here.
https://ko-fi.com/lazy_kat_aoi