(A/N: If we reach 500 Power Stones, there will be an extra chapter! In addition, if we reach 10 five-star ratings, I'll release another extra chapter.)
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After fully composing himself, Alear returned to the Leaky Cauldron.
Valerie was still in the private salon, visibly restless. The moment he reappeared, her eyes lit up with relief mixed with a concern she could not hide.
"Alear-sama…! Are you… all right? You disappeared so suddenly and… your face was so pale…"
Alear offered a calm, almost casual smile as he sat down at the table again.
"I'm fine. Just… some internal issues that came up all of a sudden. I've already resolved them. There's no need to worry…."
It was a lie, of course. But a gentle enough lie not to alarm her. Valerie watched him for a few seconds, as if she wanted to question him further, yet in the end she simply nodded, accepting the explanation for the time being. The atmosphere between them gradually softened again. They remained there talking in a low, relaxed tone until the end of the working day. When the shop finally closed its doors, Alear and Valerie returned together to the Häangenti Mansion under the already darkened sky of the Capital Lilith.
The following week passed in a surprisingly peaceful manner.
The cure for the Sleeping Disease worked exactly as promised. Within a matter of days, every devil who had purchased the potion and consumed it recovered completely. Reports of total recovery spread through the Underworld like wildfire. House Häangenti returned to the spotlight in spectacular fashion, once again being recognized as the foremost producer of potions….
It did not take long for Alear to begin releasing other potions he had already prepared in advance. Among them was the [Fertility Potion], whose effectiveness had already been proven by Serafall herself. She helped publicize it, becoming, in practice, the best advertisement the product could possibly have. Needless to say, its success surpassed even that of the Sleeping Disease Cure Potion. After all, low fertility was a problem that had plagued nearly the entire devil race for countless generations. Combined with the other potions released throughout the week, the Fertility Potion completely revolutionized the alchemical market of the Underworld.
In just one week, the Leaky Cauldron went from being seen as a promising shop to establishing itself as the largest and most prestigious potion house in the entire Underworld.
The news, naturally, did not remain confined to devil territory. Rumors spread rapidly through the other factions of the supernatural world, reaching angels, fallen angels, gods of various pantheons, and even some organizations of magicians and humans. Most received the information with great interest; after all, a shop capable of producing potions considered miraculous was something impossible to ignore….
And while the entire Underworld watched the meteoric rise of that shop, Alear remained silent inside his mansion, still processing the profound changes that had occurred in his own existence. During that week he continued training with the girls in the dimension of his [Innovate Clear], now with Seekvaira also included in the group. Even Nobunaga began accompanying them in the training sessions, along with Ravel, who had finally returned. Between one training session and another, Alear frequently ended up sleeping with some of them—except for Valerie, Ingvild, and Echidna, who were recent arrivals, as well as Nobunaga and Seekvaira. In Seekvaira's case, she had not yet had that opportunity with him, although she made it quite clear that she could have it whenever she wanted…
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In an elegant café located on one of the most charming streets of England's capital, the atmosphere was light and sophisticated. The aroma of freshly brewed coffee mingled with the soft scent of sweets and artisan breads. Natural light streamed in through the large windows, illuminating light-wood tables and customers conversing in low tones.
Alear sat casually at a table near the window, holding a cup of black coffee. Compared to only a week earlier, his appearance had changed noticeably. He seemed a little taller, his body more defined and sculpted beneath the simple clothes he wore. His face had become even more attractive, with sharper and more harmonious features. His magenta-pink hair had gained a subtle, almost ethereal sheen, while his eyes of the same color now carried a mysterious depth, as if they hid something beyond ordinary reach.
He brought the cup to his lips and took a slow sip, savoring the bitter taste. Then his eyes shifted to a table a few meters away.
At the table in question, a girl was eating carelessly, with light and natural movements. Her beauty was extreme, rare, and exotic—the kind that drew attention without any effort. Her delicate face possessed refined features, an elegant nose, well-shaped lips, and thick eyebrows that accentuated the natural intensity of her gaze. Her eyes were a crystalline blue that held a certain gleam in their depths. Her reddish-brown hair fell to her waist in abundant waves and natural curls. The thick locks possessed a unique texture, resembling finely interwoven strands of rope, giving them volume and a wild yet extraordinarily elegant appearance. Under the light, the strands revealed coppery reflections that further accentuated her striking looks. Her clear, flawless skin contrasted harmoniously with the warm tones of her hair.
The uniform she wore was simple yet flattered her figure elegantly: a long-sleeved gray blouse fitted gently to her body, naturally outlining her voluminous breasts, while a striped tie in shades of red and gold hung loosely over her chest, giving her a relaxed air. The dark-red pleated skirt marked her slender waist before flaring slightly over her wide, well-defined hips, leaving her long, shapely legs exposed. High socks of the same tone as the skirt completed the outfit…
She greatly resembled 'Hermione Granger' from Harry Potter, though she possessed a few marked differences, such as more pronounced curves, as well as hair and eyes of distinct colors. Because of that, he ended up genuinely surprised upon seeing her in person for the first time.
But… who exactly was he talking about?
That girl was the next target he intended to turn into one of the pieces of his peerage. Using his perception, which now approached something almost omniscient and omnipresent within certain limits, finding her in the human world had been an extremely simple task.
The girl in question was none other than Meredith Ordinton, the wielder of [Alphecca Tyrant], a Sacred Gear that had evolved into a Longinus in her hands.
He intended to recruit her.
Fortunately, he still had an opportunity. Although her connection to the English royal family was not direct, Meredith possessed the blood of authorized members of the royal lineage. She had been born from the union of her father, a recognized member of the royal family, and her mother, a magician who served as his bodyguard. Due to her enormous talent for magic, she ended up being given up for adoption to a couple of magicians, who raised her during her childhood. Years later she drew close to the royal family again, where she met and formed a friendship with Le Fay Pendragon, a magician of the same age. However, upon discovering the truth about her origin and realizing that she had never been officially recognized by the royal family, she felt deeply betrayed and abandoned….
It was at that moment that, in the original story, she would end up making contact with the Hell Alliance, the organization responsible for helping her control the power of her Longinus. With that assistance, Meredith would use [Alphecca Tyrant] to control Sacred Gear users specialized in illusions and mental manipulation, beginning a slow expansion of her influence until she assumed control of a large part of England's corporate sector. Later, the MI6 Specialized Supernatural Force would attempt to stop her, but with the support of Hades' Reapers she would manage to resist and further consolidate her dominion over Sacred Gear users….
But that was the original story.
After conducting his own investigations, he concluded that he had arrived at the perfect moment. He should not be deceived by Meredith's apparently calm face. Behind that carefree expression was a young woman still dealing with the frustration and anger caused by the recent discovery of her true origin.
She had not yet made contact with the Hell Alliance, and much less had she been possessed by Aka Manah, who, in the original story, would be precisely the reason that led her down that path…..
That meant he possessed an excellent opportunity to recruit her...
Alear remained seated for a few more moments, observing Meredith while she continued her meal. After confirming that she had not yet noticed anything strange, he discreetly shifted his gaze to a man sitting a few tables ahead. The man was a completely ordinary civilian. Alear concentrated a small amount of magical power and, without making any perceptible movement, cast a hypnosis spell on him. The influence was simple—merely stimulating his irritation and directing his attention toward Meredith, leading him to look for an excuse to start an argument with her…..
After doing that, he calmly stood up and walked toward the restroom, trying not to show any connection to what was about to happen.
A few seconds later, the man stood up and went over to Meredith's table.
"Hey."
Meredith lifted her eyes from her plate and looked at him with an unfriendly expression.
"What do you want?"
"You're occupying an entire table by yourself. I want to sit here."
Meredith quickly looked around the establishment. There were several empty tables, some of them even closer to the counter.
"There are plenty of empty tables. Why do you want this one specifically?"
"Because I want this one, so get lost!"
The man pulled out a chair, making it clear that he did not intend to simply leave. Meredith let out a small sigh and set her cutlery on the table. Her mood was already not particularly good, and that man was starting to irritate her.
"Look, I'm not interested in arguing. Just choose another table and let me finish my meal."
"Why should I do what you're telling me?"
Meredith narrowed her eyes. She was about to reply when she heard footsteps approaching behind the man.
Alear had just returned from the restroom. He walked calmly up to the table and, upon reaching the man, placed one hand on his shoulder.
"Hey, aren't you ashamed of bothering a young lady? She asked you to leave her alone."
The man turned his head and glared at Alear with irritation.
"Who are you?"
"That doesn't matter. She made it clear she doesn't want to talk to you, so it would be better if you simply left…."
The man opened his mouth to answer, but when he met Alear's eyes he felt a strange sense of discomfort. Even without understanding exactly why, his irritation quickly diminished, and he ended up averting his gaze.
"…Tsk. Forget it."
He moved away from the table and left the café without pressing the argument further.
Alear then turned his attention to Meredith, who was still watching the situation with a slightly surprised expression.
"Are you all right?"
Meredith remained silent for a few seconds. She had been a little surprised not only by the unexpected intervention, but also by the fact that such a handsome young man had appeared to help her without apparently expecting anything in return….
"Yes. I'm fine…."
"That's good…" Alear smiled lightly and, as if considering the matter settled, turned to return to his table.
"Wait."
Meredith's voice made him stop. She herself did not know exactly why she had called out to him. She did not need help dealing with that man, and there was also no real reason to stop Alear from leaving. Still, from the moment he had approached, a difficult-to-explain sensation had begun to arise inside her. There was something about that person that stirred her curiosity and made her want to stay near him—an inexplicable attraction that did not seem related only to his appearance…..
"Would you… like to sit down?"
Alear looked at her for a few moments, feigning a certain surprise.
"Hm? Do you need something else?"
"N-no, actually… since you just saved me, I don't want to be in your debt. Let me at least buy you a coffee…."
Meredith pointed to the chair opposite her, and Alear accepted the invitation, pulling it out before sitting down.
"All right, I accept…."
"You don't need to thank me. I just found it strange that you left so quickly after helping me."
"I didn't do anything special. I only asked him to leave you alone."
"Even so, it was kind of you."
Meredith returned to observing him while holding her cup. Now that he was sitting in front of her, that strange sensation seemed even more evident. There was something about Alear that she could not identify—something that made his presence feel different from that of any other person she had ever met…..
"What's your name?"
"Alear G. Häangenti…"
"…!"
Meredith was shocked. Sitting before her was the 'Grand President of Hell' himself? The archduke responsible for the creation of countless miraculous potions, someone who possessed the second most powerful Longinus in the world and who was considered the devil with the greatest potential to reach the level of a Satan. She felt numb and, at the same time, a little cautious. After all, what was someone of that level doing in a simple café in England, of all places, and in the exact same spot as her? And could that truly be just a coincidence?
"Hm? You seem to know me. Could it be that you belong to the supernatural world?" Alear asked, feigning surprise.
"It's a pleasure to meet you, Lord Häangenti. I am Meredith Ordinton, a member of the Golden Dawn…" Meredith introduced herself after recovering her composure. Her heart was beating a little faster; after all, she had recently discovered that she possessed the blood of the British royal family and had developed a clear pride both in her heritage and in her abilities as a magician. And then this happened—it seemed as if fate had placed before her a prince worthy of her. Could this be the way fate had found to compensate her for all those years in which she had been rejected by the English royal family?… Ah, the fantasies of a young lady.
She even managed to forget part of her initial suspicion, although she still remained cautious.
"Golden Dawn, huh?" Alear appeared surprised. The Golden Dawn was an organization of magicians founded by William Robert Woodman, William Wynn Westcott, and MacGregor Mathers, dedicated to modern magic. Although relatively new, it was already one of the most famous magician organizations. He continued: "It's the first time I've met someone who belongs to a human magician organization. It's a pleasure to meet you, Meredith. If you'll allow me to ask, what are you doing here in an ordinary café in the middle of the capital? I also couldn't help noticing that you seem rather resentful about something. Does it have anything to do with that…"
"Hm? How do you know?"
"It's an ability I developed for reading people. Navigate political waters long enough and you'll end up developing something similar. Sorry if I was rude or if I meddled in something that doesn't concern me…"
"You don't need to apologize…" Meredith sighed inwardly, feeling a little unsettled by the young man's reading ability and, at the same time, exhausted.
Originally she had been a mischievous young woman who liked fulfilling her duty of sealing and storing valuable magical treasures within the Golden Dawn. That was how she ended up befriending Le Fay, since both were magicians of the same age. Meredith often asked her what the life of a noble girl was like, because she had been adopted without knowing the truth about her origin or even realizing that she had been adopted. However, after discovering everything, she began to harbor a deep resentment for having been ignored by the royal family and ended up developing hatred toward them. It had already been weeks since she learned the truth, yet she still could not deal with all those feelings; in the end, she simply remained bitter….
Perhaps that was why she decided to confide in the devil sitting before her eyes…..
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(A/N: Want to get ahead?
The story now has 125 chapters available on Patreon — that's right, there's still a lot of content waiting for you beyond the public release. There are currently 35 chapters ahead of the public version, meaning supporters are already deep into upcoming twists, revelations, and the absurd chaos of Fate Gacha summons.
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Light spoiler: his luck might be terrible… but the story only gets better from here.
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