32

I smile at the blushing Mio. "Good morning. I hope you're alright after last night?" I say.

"G-good morning," she says, stealing glances but not looking directly at me. "Y-you look... different, this morning."

I frown. "Oh?"

"She's right," Raynare says. "Master's body has changed from the last time we were together."

Now, everyone is curious and coming over to look at me. "He's more handsome than he was even yesterday," Maria says.

"I think his scars have faded," Mittelt says. "And, did his shoulders get broader?"

"I haven't seen him as much as the rest of you, but I can tell you his skin is extremely smooth," Kalawarna chimes in.

At that moment, it clicks. "Body refinement," I say.

A series of "huh?"s answer me, so I explain. "Last night, when I was helping Kala, I used an ability to absorb her excess sexual energy that was damaging her mind and body. The problem was that I had nowhere to put it, so I just filled myself up with that energy, and eventually, I was going to have the same problem Kala did. I created a new ability to use that energy to refine my body and expel the impurities," I say. "Mio, you remember that nasty stuff coming out of my pores last night?"

She nods with innocent eyes, and I continue. "That was from me purging the bad stuff from my body, and this is the result."

"You made an ability that uses sexual energy to make you prettier?" Kalawarna says.

"Well, that and tone and strengthen my body, bones, and muscles. It's not like it's a beauty treatment." It's totally like it's a beauty treatment.

""You have to share it with us!"" they say in synchronization as if it were well-rehearsed.

I haven't looked at myself in the mirror, but by the girls' reactions, the effect might be more dramatic than I thought it would be. Ignoring them, I get up and walk over to the bathroom to look in the mirror.

I wasn't bad-looking before, well above the school average, if a little rough-looking with the scars, but I thought they gave me character. Now, I wouldn't lose out to Kiba or any of the other school prince types.

I'm not a full-on pretty boy, but I definitely exude a masculine beauty beyond my former self. If I grow some stubble, I'd be a shoo-in for the sexy, rugged bad boy cliche. I walk back out to the women waiting patiently for me.

"I really don't think any of you need this. You're all already beautiful beyond mortal ken. Any more, and you'd tempt the heavens," I say.

"Master, with all due respect, that's bullshit," Raynare says.

"You know the phrase, 'with all due respect,' doesn't actually imply any respect, right?" I say.

"I stand by what I said."

"And I stand by what I said. None of you, except Maria, have a way to channel sexual energy anyway, so I'd have to give you the ability to do that too. Between the two, it would cost about forty-two hundred points. That's more than what I got from Kala and Raynare between last night and this morning. And you want me to do this five or six times? And if I did, I can guarantee that Rias and company would demand it as well. And then the Sitri peerage also. We're talking more than a dozen people. An absurd amount of LP, it would take a ridiculous amount of time and effort to raise that at the rate I've been going."

Everyone was quiet for a while. "W-what if we helped you raise the points?" Mio asks. Last night was special. It was our first time together and that she came to me was supremely satisfying, which is the heart of the matter and the gathering of LP.

"If," I say, holding up one finger. "I was to engage in every form of debauchery and defilement that appeals to me with the six of you constantly for the next week, I might, MIGHT, have enough points to do it. But I promise you that you will be walking funny for a month after that."

Okay, that's a total exaggeration. I could definitely do it faster, but knowing we were doing it just for LP would probably reduce the satisfaction and impact the gains. The comment does its job, though, and they're all quiet.

"W-well, what about making it so that when we do... do that stuff, we gain the same benefit?" Mio says, and all the girls focus back on me. It's not a bad idea. I was planning on upgrading the Astarte's Favor in the future anyway, and I could always incorporate Handsome Devil into it to share the effects. It'd still cost a lot, though, and I'd have to put a control in to delay the effect until after the sexy-tie had passed—no point in having a stinking, sticky black gunk ooze out of us mid-coitus.

[The user may use the Synthesis ability to merge more than two abilities, reducing the cost.]

Now Sage is answering before I ask questions. 'Alright, suggestions?'

[By merging the Master-Servant Bond, Master-Slave Pact, Astarte's Favor, Min's Touch, which has evolved to the next rank, Reciprocal Ardor which has also evolved to the next rank, Incubus Instincts, and Handsome Devil into a single ability, the user can reduce the overall cost to six-hundred LP.]

"Seriously?" I say out loud.

"W-why, isn't it a good idea?" Mio asks. Everyone apparently is waiting for my answer.

"Oh! Yeah, sorry," I say. "I was... calculating the possibilities. It's..." I just nod my head a bit. 'Sage, is this going to impact any of the various abilities functions negatively?'

[Calculations indicate that this merger of abilities will, in fact, enhance each aspect to a greater level. The sum will be greater than the parts.]

"A great idea. I will do just that."

[Synthesizing.]

[Gained: Harem King's Blessing(S)]

'That sounds promising. What's it do?'

[The ability allows the user to create bonds with sexual partners and assign them to various ranks depending on the level of trust and love between the user and partner. Queen, Wives, Consorts, Concubines, Attendants, Slaves are the associated rankings. Any wife may be assigned as the Queen at the user's discretion. The user currently has four Slaves and two Attendants, although promotion to Concubine is available for the two Attendants.]

'What is the difference between levels? And how sexual do I have to get with someone to enact the bond?'

[The higher the rank, the greater the efficiency of the other effects of the ability. At the bottom two levels, trust has not been fully established between parties, and precautions similar to the former Master-Servant Testament and Master-Slave Pact are instituted. Those harem members that violate the trust of the user will suffer the consequences. An Attendant or Slave bond may be initiated with as little sexual contact as a kiss on the lips, and the user may determine whether the subject becomes an Attendant or a Slave. Other than this and assigning a Wife as Queen, all other advancement is automatic with final promotion approval at the user's discretion.]

'What about the benefits?'

[Body and energy refinement and improvement for all parties engaged in sexual fulfillment, communication and location link between members, defensive parameters as per the Master-Servant Bond, procreation controls, enhanced pleasure, healing, energy recovery, reciprocal pleasure, as well as improved appearance and increased youth and longevity. The user also gains passive and active abilities similar to the former abilities Min's Touch and Incubus Insights. These abilities have been heightened and may be projected as an aura around the user.]

'Wait... I can use a powered-up version of Min's Touch and Incubus Insights within an area?'

[Correct.]

'How big of an area?'

[Currently within ten meters, though this area may increase as the user's power increases.]

'Ddaaammnnnnn! That's broken as fuck.' I think. I like it. I need to take this ability for a test drive.

"Well?" Mittelt says, pulling me out of my stupor.

"Huh?" I say, looking at one confused Asia and five curious girls. "Oh, yeah. We're good to go. Better, actually, than I expected."

The girls look excited, Raynare looks ecstatic, Asia looks like Asia usually looks, out of her depth. "Well, what are we waiting for!" Raynare says and starts stripping out of her clothes.

"What are you doing!?" Asia says, turning red.

"Stop that, you idiot!" Mio shouts and leaps to her feet between Raynare and me.

Maria seems torn between joining the Raynare proposed orgy and dialing it back to give me some space. She's been a bit more reserved in her excesses than I remember her being in the anime. Kalawarna and Mittelt are more reserved but still have a hungry look in their eyes.

"Easy, Raynare," I say firmly, and she halts. Her eyes go wide, and she takes a step back.

"I'm sorry, master," she says in a quiet voice with her hands folded in front of her like a repentant servant. "Yuuma got overexcited and lost my composure. Please, forgive Yuuma." The other girls look shocked, especially the other two fallen angels. Raynare just went from eleven down to two in half a second.

I cup her cheek, and she leans in. "Of course. I promise we will test the extent of the ability soon. For now, today is Asia's first day of school, and it wouldn't be right to make her late."

"Thank you, master."

.

.

.

The rest of the morning was quiet. A little too quiet. The other girls seem to have been freaked out by Raynare's turnaround at the end there. To be honest, it was a little disconcerting for me, too. The only other thing Yuuma asked was if I wanted her to enter the school, as well, so that one of the fallen angels would always be by my side.

I decline for now. It was nice enough for Rias and Sona to get Asia in school; I doubt they want a fallen angel wandering around their territory any more than they already will be. Speaking of Asia, though, we leave the house a little early to meet Sona in the Student Council Chamber and get her uniforms.

I knock on the large double doors to the chamber and open them when I hear the invitation to enter. Sona is sitting in her presidential chair at the head of the table with Tsubaki standing beside her. All normal... So, why does it feel like they're about to spring a trap on me?

"Good morning Miss President; Miss Vice President. Thank you for expediting the process of getting Asia registered. It made the situation much easier."

"Of course," Sona says, her hands steepled in front of her like some evil CEO. She's just missing the maniacal laugh. She is definitely up to something. "It's our job to make a student's time here efficient and productive. Letting a young mind stagnate due to red tape and paperwork is the height of folly."

She smiles with her lips while gloating with her eyes. She must really think she's got one over on me. I wonder why? Is she that mad that I sorta tricked her the first time we met? "Miss Argento. It is a pleasure to meet you. On the table, you'll find several uniforms in your size. We've had you placed in Mister Toujou's class, so once you've changed, he can show you the way."

"Oh! Thank you very much. You are very kind," Asia says, sweet as honey.

"Not at all. As I said, it is our function to facilitate a productive environment for our peers," Sona says. She was hinting at something there. I just don't know what. "If you'll follow Miss Shinra here, she'll show you to a changing room while I have a short conversation with Mister Toujou."

Asia looks over at me with her wide soft doe-like green eyes. I nod. "Go ahead. I'll take care of your spare uniforms and wait for you here."

Asia smiles and picks up one of the bundles and jogs over to Tsubaki at one of the side doors. I look at Sona. "Okay," I say, once the door is closed and I've tossed Asia's uniforms in the Pocket Dimension. "I admit you've got me curious. So, what's the big reveal. I know you've done something that you think will really get to me, so spill it."

"It's not too serious—nothing for you to be worried about. I've been recruiting members for the Student Council," she says, aka for her peerage. If it's that Saji guy, I don't really care much other than to mark at least one member of Sona's peerage with the bond so that sex and romance are the last things on the guy's mind.

"Alright, I'd love to meet them. Are they going to be involved in the... 'extra lessons' that we've discussed?" I ask.

"Yes. In fact, that was one of the most effective selling points to them joining. They were quite interested when I mentioned the tutor," Sona says and pushes a button.

Okay, I've got an idea of who it could be. It may be one of the mages Lilith or Arin, but I doubt it. I'm leaning towards Saeko. She's an ideal candidate. Insanely talented, driven, tremendous potential, and she already doesn't view herself as entirely human anyway. Finding out about devils and becoming one probably wouldn't be that hard of a sell for them, especially since I primed the pumps on it by stoking her competitive instincts. Sona would only have to tell her that I'm also supernatural, and she'd be itching for a more even rematch.

A door opposite the one Asia and Tsubaki went through opens, revealing two people walking in. Well, my powers of deduction aren't entirely fucked, at least. The first through the door is Saeko, and I can see a spark in her eye as she looks at me. Sona's got herself a battle junkie and a good one at that. If we kit-her-out right, she'll be an absolute monster. Even with his Sacred Gear, I'm pretty sure she'll kick Kiba around like a ball.

It's the second person through the door that surprises me and will probably give Sona the most headaches. Saji out, Rei in. I'm not complaining. Rei was one of the people I wanted to include in this or Rias' peerage from the beginning. Honestly, the Gremory peerage wasn't an option in my book. Rei needs structure and reeducation, and Rias is much more feelings-oriented. As long as Rei can be molded by Sona and the rest of her peerage to start thinking things through instead of just reacting based on her assumptions about the world, she'll be fine.

When Rei sees me, she blushes and looks down and away. I shake my head and look at Sona. "How much did you tell them about the supernatural?"

Sona raised an eyebrow. "You're not upset?"

I return the gesture. "Was that your goal? To upset me?" I ask. She shrugs. "Why would I be upset?"

"Well, one was your ex-girlfriend; at the very least, you should have some feelings about her becoming a devil. And the other is a talented swordswoman you were scouting for Rias's peerage, is she not?"

"Hmm... this reeks of jealousy. Were you upset that I've spent more time with Rias and her peerage recently than with you and yours?" I ask. Sona turns her head away.

I sigh and shake my head. "I know you are used to anticipating your opponents' moves and reactions, but you forget that you are not my opponent... You are my fiance, and you would be better off talking to me first before making rash decisions about silly assumptions," I say and pause for a moment to observe Rei's balled-up hand slightly shaking. "Though I should thank you, I suppose."

Sona looks back at me. "Why?"

"You made an error in deciphering my motives. I was scouting Miss Busujima, but for your peerage, not Rias'. You are light on offensive power and rely heavily on your own magic to supplement this. Saeko, and to an extent Rei as well, would go a long way towards improving your damage-dealing capabilities. My difficulty was in broaching the subject and convincing them to give up being human to join you. I have an idea that Miss Busujima wasn't that hard of a sell, but Rei, I'm honestly surprised about."

Rei's blush intensifies. Sona is quiet for a moment before she collects herself. "You are not wrong about Miss Busujima. She was eager to compete against strong opponents and better herself. Your involvement was a further enticement," Sona says. Rei's face twitches. She'd be a horrendous poker player. "As for Miss Miyamoto... she wishes for our conversation to remain private, I'm afraid."

Rei's cheeks burn like the sun. I think I have an idea of what she wished for. "Miss Sitri, it is fortunate that this situation resolved as it did. It is, however, concerning that you wished to cause me strife with your actions. I'm not sure if this was just jealousy or some misguided attempt to establish dominance in our relationship, but I warn you that I do not respond well to these types of games. If you wish to play at dominance with me, I will gladly show you the error of your ways and take you over my knee in front of your entire peerage."

"You wouldn't dare!" she says with a hint of anger, and, if my Incubus Insights aren't wrong, arousal. Is dear, sweet, proper Sona a closet exhibitionist?

"Bare assed. And to keep ridiculous phrases like that from coming out of your mouth, I'll add a ball-gag as well," I say with an evil look. The three girls are now caught between being shocked and embarrassed. "If you don't believe me, ask my newly tamed fallen angels if I'm willing to go that far or not."

I can hear the gulp from across the room. I look back at the other two. "Are they aware of what our arrangement is?"

Sona quickly schools herself. "They are."

"Including the more intimate part of the exchange?"

The two girls turn fire-engine red, I guess so. "That too."

"Good. I should tell you that the more intimate ability has evolved, and those that partake in the process will notice a rapid rise in power. Apparently, there are more benefits than before as well, though I think we'll save that particular discussion of that for another time."

"Truly? The ability is even more potent?" she says, sounding surprised.

I nod. "Miss Sitri... Sona-chan. I prefer to keep my relationship with you an amicable one and eventually, I hope, even a loving one. Friendly competition is good for building camaraderie, but competition taken too far forces out my... more bestial nature. Please remember that I possess the spirit of Ddraig, the Red Dragon Empress of Domination, who is the Dragon Sin of Pride... I also possess the blood of Fafnir, known as Gigantis the Gold Dragon Sin of Lust, any ideas why?" I ask. She blushes furiously. Apparently, she does have some ideas.

I extend my Harem King Aura and draw it along her cheek slowly. Sona shivers visibly, and her sexual energy spikes. That's an interesting reaction. Surprising? No, but while it is possible that she would have a low sexual drive or maybe even be asexual, it is unlikely given the nature of this particular world.

'I feel insulted suddenly.' Ddraig says in my mind. 'You make us sound no better than mindless monsters. We are far more civilized than devils at any rate.'

'Your story about Fafnir and Albion didn't really relay that level of civility honestly, but assuming you're right and not just biased, you know that, and I know that, but she doesn't. Regardless, I wouldn't let that happen even if the 'nature' crap I just spewed was true. For gods' sake, I have a nigh-omnipotent ability; if I can't at least control myself from defiling a relatively innocent teenage girl, the world is screwed worse than she would be.'

Ddraig snorts.

Sona is quiet for a moment. "I understand. I apologize for my overreaction. I thought... well, it doesn't matter. I would like to remedy the rift I have created and start spending more time working on our amicable relationship if possible."

"Of course, perhaps we could have dinner one night this week? There is a lot that we have to discuss, and I would like to get to know you better."

"I would like that," Sona says. Rei once again looks like she's grinding her teeth to dust.