Chapter 6

-[Liam]-

He had a new motto; life is too complicated not to have fun.

That was what was on his mind as he looked at the devils who were alert and facing him with shocked looks.

Kiba in particular looked very tense. "You-!"

"You know you could invest in some light bulbs. It's rather dreary here, not unexpected given the whole occult theme." Liam cut him off, referring to the candles that lit up the room.

"What are you doing here?" Rias questioned cautiously.

"Well that's easy. You've been snooping around my house for a while. I thought I'd save us both the time." He said as he shut the door behind him. "You barged into my home, why not return the favor."

Other than Kiba who had a dark look on his face, the rest of them looked calm but cautious.

"I see. You declined our invitation earlier so you could make a point." She surmised.

"Partially, it's more for my personal amusement." He corrected as she turned to Kiba, giving him a look to stand down.

The blond knight reluctantly dropped his stance, settling for glaring at Liam. Rias then focused back on him.

"Since you already know what we are, that saves us having to explain much. Would you like some tea while we discuss?" She asked as Akeno got to work.

"Nothing too sweet. I don't want to get hungry before dinner." Liam said, flicking his wrist as a comfortable looking couch appeared behind him.

He saw the slight widening of Rias' eyes as well as the surprised look on the others.

"Impressive." She complimented as Liam relaxed into the couch.

"A compliment from one of the 'Kings of Kuoh'. I suppose I should feel honored." He said in his usual eloquent manner.

"So you even know about that." She said with a gentle smile. "Then you must know that it is my duty to keep track of the supernatural beings who live in my territory."

"Oh I know all about that. Which is why I'm curious as to how a fallen angel slipped past your notice." He spoke as Akeno returned with a cup of tea.

He took a sip, pleasantly surprised as he turned to the black haired girl who made it. "Can I hire you?"

Akeno laughed in a somewhat erotic manner, causing her rather large chest to shake in his face.

"I am aware of their presence but unfortunately I cannot act without risking a war between devils and the fallen angels." Rias said, sounding genuinely apologetic.

"So they're allowed to go human hunting for sport while you're stuck playing referee? A bit unfair, don't you think?" He asked, taking another sip of the tea, facing Akeno once more.

"Serious, can I hire you?" He asked again.

It was that good.

"I don't think Rias would appreciate it if I suddenly went with another man." She said in a teasing manner.

"Well she doesn't have to know. It'll be our little secret." He shot back with a charming smile as the two shared a laugh.

Rias coughed, drawing their attention but Liam flowed with it. "I didn't know devils could get sick."

At Rias' slightly embarrassed look at silently being called out, the dark haired duo shared another laugh.

"Essentially you're correct." Rias said, pointedly ignoring his comment.

"The most we can do is monitor them to mitigate the trouble they cause or stop them from causing too much trouble. After your incident with the fallen, we wanted to approach you but you disappeared." She added as Liam silently listened. "We were concerned that more of them had gotten to you. I apologize for the intrusion but you must understand."

Liam chuckled. "When a pretty redhead is apologizing, who am I to say no?" The girl in question smiled at the compliment.

"Thank you for your understanding. Now, that brings us to another matter. Not many mages would willingly move into devil territory, so why did you?" She asked.

"What can I say? I'm a curious fellow. I want what all mages want; to learn." He answered. It was his predecessor who came to Kuoh but he couldn't exactly say that.

"Knowing that I would like to present an offer. Woul-"

"Though I might be interested in becoming a devil, becoming a slave, I am not." He interrupted bluntly.

Frankly the only reason he'd want to be a devil is for the laughter. He'd be able to validly say he was the devil but the weaknesses and slavery that came with it were not ideal at all.

"I understand your hesitation. While there are devils who treat their peerage like that, I assure you that I do not treat my peerage as slaves." She said gently, causing him to roll his eyes.

"Just because you treat a slave nicely doesn't change the fact that it is your slave at your beck and call." He countered. "Who has time for slavery when there is knowledge to acquire?"

"I understand your concern but I believe it will be to your benefit as well. You said you wanted knowledge. The immortality you would gain upon becoming a devil would allow you to gain more knowledge." She said, trying to convince him.

"That's the easy way to become ageless. I'll find my own way." He shot down.

What were a few more goats in the grand scheme of things? They surely won't be missed.

"Though I understand your refusal, I'm afraid I can't take no for an answer. I will convince you." She said resolutely.

They knew that he, a human, was able to kill a fallen angel so in her eyes, he was a diamond among rocks.

"You're welcome to try but I doubt you'll be successful." He said before turning to Kiba who was still glaring at him. "I appreciate the intensity but I don't swing that way. I feel rather unsafe with you undressing me with your eyes."

His words provoked the boy even more but a stern look from Rias kept him quiet.

The red haired girl continued speaking before Kiba could ruin her attempt at recruiting. "In the meantime, would you like to join the club? You're welcome to join without being in my peerage." She offered, crossing her legs and deliberately flashing him a view of her red underwear.

He smirked at her ploy. If she couldn't convince him then her plan was to seduce him. The smug look she gave showed that she noticed his glance. 'Two can play that game.' He thought with a smirk.

"That offer I will take." He accepted. "Well as much as I'd like to continue this little chat, I have other matters to attend to."

Rias nodded understandingly. "Of course."

"Thank you for the tea." He said to who smiled.

She wasn't even subtle as she practically engulfed his arm in her cleavage. "Maybe you'll have time for more later."

'Well played.'

-[Rias]-

Watching Liam leave, Akeno spoke up. "He'll be a tough one to recruit."

"Probably but it's only a matter of time before we convince him." She still had till she finished college and that was a long time away.

Her cave before then. He was clearly attracted to her and Akeno from his roaming eyes and the black haired girl was a master of 'accidental exposure'.

He was playing with fire.

His casual use of magic that conjured a couch in the club room without the use of a circle suggested that he was very good with magic. She was even more determined to get him.

Now if only someone wasn't trying to sabotage her recruitment. She turned to Kiba with a stern look, the blond boy still glaring at the door.

-[Liam]-

After leaving the ORC building, he teleported into his library, going to a certain section to pick out a magic book.

She was going to attempt to seduce him but two could play that game.

•••

[Sex Magic Mastery: Novice]

You have started on the path of sex magic, able to induce and harness lust and sexual energy to empower yourself and perform/enhance sexual activities.

•••

If he was going to play this game, why not grow stronger while doing it? A perverted skill for a perverted universe.