Chapter 30: Fight against a Right Hand Man from Military
Masaru who heard Nero's call felt his blood was boiling he pushed himself up from the ground feeling refreshed, thanks to his father's advice in the past for him to get used to sensing the energy force generated when fist collides including the kinetic energy behind each attack Masaru finally grasped the principles behind it.
As he began to move forward a transparent energy aura enveloped his body meshing together with his Touki, this was the technique he just comprehended.
It was a kinetic nullification aura which nullifies Kinetic energy behind physical attacks, however, the downside was if the force is stronger than Masaru's worthless power then Masaru will not be able to block everything but instead lower the damage.
Even Nero who was accustomed to sensing demonic energy could feel a change around Masaru's body,
'Did you comprehend a new technique? or did he hide it? If it is the former this boy truly is a monstrous talent'
Masaru applied pressure on his next step while using the spellbook to enhance his body to protect it from internal shock. Underneath his feet, he manipulated the metal contained within the earth to attach itself to the sole of his shoes while enchanting the metal-plated sole with lighting paralyzing magical effect along with a strong repulsive magnetic force for an instant that launched Masaru straight towards Nero.
Boom!
Nero who was sent flying left a fissure within the field along the trail he flew, this fissure started from the point Masaru punched him up to where he stopped. This was the first time Masaru was able to launch a proper attack on Nero since the start of their battle.
His defence was simply too absurd like a dragon in that dragonification form of his, even magic had little effect unless Masaru uses a stronger spell but that would bring the surrounding into the crossfire which is something he could not do. The conditions of this duel truly limited most of his truly powerful moves, but this was also a good chance for him to train these weaknesses of his.
Nero cough violent while wiping the trace of blood from his mouth,
'That attack alone is about a true peak High Rank close to low Ultimate Rank attack... What a fearsome boy'
He slowly rose up while staggering a bit at first, but before he could continue the battle was stopped by Falbium who appeared between them.
"Well the battle is concluded, if you two go any further I will have to answer to those devils and the field is already ruined"
Falbium turned to the soldiers who felt awe at Masaru's power display which was something Falbium wanted,
"Do you all understand? Even if Masaru had unsurpassed Magical abilities and his clan's bloodline power, He never once neglected his physical abilities! So remember from tomorrow on the physical training will be increased by five fold!!!"
The soldiers cheered as they did not entirely register the fact their training has become harder because of Masaru but felt excited that if they train their bodies to the limit they could reach this level in a few decades. Nero cancelled his dragon form while Masaru just arrived,
"You really are the demonic wonder child as they say"
Masaru's smile cramped up before he helplessly sighed, he would not have minded having a decent title but this name was simply too...
"Please stop with the title..."
Nero simply laughed at him while slapping Masaru's shoulder.
"Since you all arranged this welcome party you will fix this field! And the use of Magic energy is restricted! Use your hands to clean it all up soon because we have a mission coming up!"
It was like a thunder strike when the soldiers looked at the field that was beyond damaged because of the fight between Masaru and Nero, all of them could not help but curse
'This bastard!!! To think we would let him off for the day but we take it back!!! We will have our revenge!!!'
Falbium walked next to Masaru,
"Sorry about what happened about the soldiers back there, I made sure none of this will leave the base"
Masaru simply laughed it off because honestly, he did not take these men seriously at all,
"Well it's fine, besides they are good soldiers being honest and upfront"
'I would have done something else instead if they were trying to move behind my back though or really get physical with the girls' He thought
"Mother--- Commander Diana"
Since Masaru was a visitor he could not easily speak casually to Diana, thus he changed the way he addressed her at the last moment. But this made Diana pout since she wanted him to keep calling her mother regardless of where they are so she hugged him in front of everyone as punishment.
"I missed you so much! Oh, it seems your muscles are developing quite splendidly. No wonder Akeno likes being hugged by you"
Masaru blushed because she was talking about such things in front of other people, Falbium and Nero could not help but laugh. Falbium was currently wearing similar black combat outfit as the soldiers do but he had several medals attached with gold embroidered sleeves, his bald head was polished well enough to reflect the sunlight.
"To think you are the reason Diana mellowed down quite a bit"
Masaru looked at Falbium who had a nostalgic gaze as he continues,
"Back when Diana first started she was totally This is Sparta! on the soldiers and ended up being called the Demon Drill Sergeant, it did not even change when she promoted to a General but each and every one of us knew it was her way of caring for us... But then she changed. which was scary at first since we thought something even more ridiculous --- oef!"
Before Falbium could continue Diana smacked him behind the head with a paper fan,
"Lord Falbium although Masaru is not part of the military you still need to uphold your attitude while on Military grounds. And also, you are not allowed to share confidential information with civilians!"
'You even made that confidential!?' Falbium was flabbergasted at Diana's approach, he could only smile wryly.
"Kuku"
Falbium began to chuckle at how Diana was acting in front of Masaru as they went into the headquarters, there was no waiting room but a reception close to the entrance with a hallway at each side.
The right side was the general Military side while the left was marked with a "Staff Only Toilet" sign it was actually the pathway to the Intelligence department. They naturally went through the door on the right that had several office doors which dealt with requests made by Noble families when they require military dispatch and such.
At the back of the hallway was the stairs on the right and the elevator on the left, the building had Seven floors and they went to the sixth floor where Diana's office was located at and also the place where Akeno, Ingvild and Ichika were working at the moment.
"The reason I called you here is that we might need to help with a defence Campaign as Ajuka's representative, or to be blunt we are in need of your divine grimoire powers that could solve our problem"
Falbium began to describe the situation at the Northern borders of the Devil World where one of the Extra family territories was located at and also one of the main defence points of the Devil world against the Fallen Angels who live further in the North from the Devil country.
"From the emergency call, it was reported that the army that is attacked is a mixed Race army that had human magicians, fallen angels and even Devils in their group. When I remember the report you once sent to us about those creatures I can't help but feel that those things might pop up, so you who had experience in dealing with these creatures is essential to our defence operation"
Masaru nodded, after thinking for a moment he decided to add something to this request for his own sake.
"I will assist at one condition"
Falbium knew since he asked for help he could give leeway for a condition
"If those things do appear I need to capture the creature or it's puppet alive so Ajuka can research it. So when I face them, I would like the army to stay back till I completed the task"
Falbium nodded thinking this was only natural, he would have done this without Masaru even asking since it will be best to leave such things to that Monster of a Genius Researcher.
>\/<
"Ma-kun!"
Akeno leapt onto Masaru who caught her in a hug,
"I missed you!"
Falbium and Nero already left for the Seventh floor to plan the expedition.
"I missed you as well, Akeno"
Masaru tighten his hug a little causing Akeno to feel happier,
"Welcome to the Military base young master Masaru"
Ingvild came closer but did not dare ask for a hug as she felt embarrassed but Masaru did not betray her and pulled her in a hug causing this pure girl to blush.
"Well since you girls have completed your work you can relax, we will soon be leaving the base for the expedition to the North"
Diana spoke while taking over the last bit of paperwork, Ichika who already sense Masaru just came out after she made tea for everyone at the right time as usual.
"So the reason Masaru is here is?"
Diana looked at Ingvild with a helpless smile
"It's insurance if those creatures Masaru once faced appears on the battlefield, although we have a strong power as a collective army united we do not have experience facing such creatures except for Masaru who does. We need his power to guide the rest during such an incident should it happens, but also because we could secure a life sample to investigate these things we can only wait till one of them appear and capture them which is where Masaru comes in.
With his experience, we will capture one if it appears if it does not appear then we can at least rule out that the mixed-race enemy is not linked to the creatures and only by coincidence appeared together in the Vatican"
"I see"
Ingvild nodded thinking it was reasonable, Masaru was after all their only hope unless someone like Diana manages to gain some battle experience against such creatures.
"Ma-kun, we have something we would like you to do for us"
Akeno spoke with Masaru, he was relaxing with a nice warm cup of tea he turned to Masaru
"What's wrong?"
Ingvild took a deep breath
"We want you to make Ichika a part of your peerage member"
Masaru placed down the cup on the table looking at the girls seriously, it may be overboard but since he made a choice to slow down his peerage quantity growth in order to train their quality first. He would take such decisions much more seriously compared to his carefree self from before.
"Why?"
Akeno answered this time
"Right now it's more difficult for Ichika to move around in the Military base because she is not a servant of any King, there are high-class nobles who are part of the Military trying to make her join them. I fear that a foolish devil would force her to join his peerage, even if we take revenge afterwards the fact she became a peerage member of someone else will not change. So I feel to prevent this from happening it would be best she joins your peerage since we are family after all"
Masaru who heard this naturally understood the gravity of the situation but did not immediately move, he looked at Ichika who had a troubled facial expression.
"How do you feel about it? I believe you should be the one to ask instead"
Ichika flinched looking at Masaru's eyes she mistook the look of his eyes and thought he was angry,
"I--- uh... I don't want to be separated from Milady! But I don't want to cause more trouble for everyone because of me."
Ichika began spouting random excuses which were quite, Akeno glared at Masaru for making Ichika feel pressured. Masaru did not back down after looking back at Akeno causing her to flinch, she never saw him look so serious before.
"First"
Masaru gave Akeno a chop on her head causing the girl to hold her head with her tongue out cutely
"Ouch! It hurts Ma-kun"
"It's not like I'm rejecting you Ichika, but joining someone's peerage should be a serious decision. Although I can't say such things considering my past examples, but each of them did not have much of a choice. Unlike you who does"
"This---"
"Ichika has been worried about troubling you about this..."
Masaru nodded at Akeno's words as he could understand, thinking it was kind of troubling after all
'Although I hate forcing this girl to speak her own feelings, I just don't want her to regret it'
Masaru thought as Akeno then looked sternly at Ichika causing the already troubled girl to flinch and forgot everything she just said.
'This is something I can only wait for them to finish their talk between themselves without me'
Masaru sighed, the only ones that can get this perfect maid to speak her heart will be these two girls.
"Ichika, don't think about Ingvild right now. What Masaru wants to hear are your feelings? What motivates you to want to join us?"
Ichika who heard Akeno's stern voice gripped her skirt tightly, tears were forming in her eyes while she was feeling frustrated why she must be scolded by a girl who has such luck to be in this family.
"What right do you have to talk to me like that? You have everything I can't even hope to have! Ever since my mother trained me and it was Ingvild-sama's sake and I am proud and happy about it I really am! But I can't help but envy you girls having such a close relationship!
Being protected by a kind and handsome man like Masaru is naturally any girl who knows him would hope for! I hate feeling like an outsider who is only there as a servant! I hate it I can't speak with Ingvild-sama as a friend despite her trying to have such a conversation with me, I still have to be mindful of my own status! I know I'm selfish and self-centred for saying something like this but this is my true feelings"
Masaru who heard this felt quite surprised, it appears the things his family and peerage said of his deposition being similar to that of a girl magnet was truly... out of his expectations
'I have nothing to say but some of the reasons is quite troublesome since she could have talked about this a long time ago but... No wonder Akeno said it will be best for her huh?'
Once Ichika realized she yelled her inner heart she could not help but touch her mouth while tears were dropping, she wanted to run away but Ingvild already held her from behind. The familiar kind voice spoke to her
"I never realized you have suffered so much for my sake, Ichika you are my friend and always will be. I'm sorry for letting you suffer"
Ichika shook her head while crying
"No, it's not milady's fault, it's only childish tantrum please don't take it to heart"
"Are you sure? I was about to take out of pawn piece you know"
Ichika who heard Masaru's voice turned to look at him with vigour only to see him holding a mutated Pawn piece in his hands while looking at her with a teasing smile.
"Ichika, you could have told me you wanted to join anytime. Honestly, I wanted to invite you but I did not want to feel like I was forcing you so I delayed it quite a bit. I'm sorry for letting you suffer"
Ichika shook her head while walking towards Masaru who stood up trembling, Masaru gently placed his hand on her head while guiding the mutated pawn piece into her body.
'The reason I need you is because of your power over Space which will become an asset for our team, otherwise, I would have simply dealt with the situation differently' He thought,
It was not because he was cruel but because he was being practical about his peerage members.
"You don't have to mind about things like status anymore. Simply be yourself since you have been a part of our family the moment you came together with Ingvild"
Ichika who heard this leaned on Masaru crying, she normally read fantasy romance books about maids marrying the prince of noble which was one of her fantasies she locked in her heart, she never truly hated her jobs as a servant but she could not help but feel envy towards the girls surrounding Masaru as she looked at them from a distance.
Yet finally, the little wish she held onto with no hope of it coming true actually came true.
"I honestly wish you can flirt so naturally to the rest of us as you do now"
Akeno looked with slight envy at this sight but it was only because she too wanted Masaru to flirt with her.
"Hehe, I will work on that"
Masaru knew his inability to flirt whenever he wishes to, already started to study secretly on how to but today he only said what he felt in his heart.
"Good for you Ichika"
Ingvild came from the side and hugged Ichika
"Mila---"
Before Ichika could call Ingvild 'Milady' Ingvild covered her lips with her index finger shaking her head
"Call me Ingvild from now on, you are not a servant but our family, fellow sister and friend"
Masaru was already being third wheeled as the girls began to chat excitedly with one another,
"Congrats Masaru but can you help me here"
Diana naturally felt happy since she knew Ichika's feelings and wanted to push her as well, she never expected Akeno to beat her to it.
'My boy is growing up! But mommy will be training her daughters properly to become proper wives of the Belial Family'
She thought as she looked at Masaru who looked over the reports sorting them according to dates and then alphabetic.
>\/<
In the far north of the Devil country where the border defensive line is located at, was a barren land completely bare with no trees nor plants for several hundreds of miles and only two mountains on either side.
If it was land battle it would be the perfect defensive position but since it included air battles from flying enemies it was still able to hold the fort thanks to the anti-air ballista weapons to take care of the mobs, and on top of the walls were several weapons attached to deal with enemies coming from the land.
"Welcome to the Seventh layer defence called Fort Violence! This is the seventh line of defence and several thousand kilometres further inside the Devil territory is the Sixth Defensive line called Wrath. Our Devil territory is protected by seven defensive locations forming a large magical formation using the seven layers of Hell as the base for it, the deeper the enemy penetrates into the devil country the stronger the defence becomes"
Falbium began to explain the set up of the military defensive plans, he was one to believe it will be best to create several checkpoints instead of one so when the enemy breach they can regroup at the next defensive wall.
"No enemies has been sighted since last night Lord Falbium!"
One of the scouts came to report to Falbium who was inspecting the fort, he nodded
"Gather a group of able men and form two teams, scout the mountains while having three mean of each side follow the base of the mountains overlooking the terrain"
"Yes sir"
The scout disappeared, Masaru was once again reminded the world he lived in was dangerous and unreasonable,
'I will have to work hard to survive in this world'
After the round of Inspection was completed Masaru excused himself to go back towards the top of the defensive walls, he stood on the edge of the wall overlooking the barren world trying to focus his mind.
'This will be my first time fighting a real war against other races instead of a skirmish like back in the Vatican... It will not be compared to fighting beasts'
Masaru looked towards the two mountains taking in the surroundings to create a terrain map within his mind, since it will be chaotic to learn the terrain during battles he decided to take a look now while he could.
"Oh, so you were here?"
Nero whom Masaru fought against was looking for him,
"Ah Commander Nero, thanks for the hard work"
Nero who heard this was surprised but suddenly laughed
"What hard work, you sure know how to be sarcastic as well"
He clapped Masaru's shoulders while overseeing the terrain ahead,
"Feeling nervous?"
Masaru nodded
"I have fought and killed people in small size battles but this time it will be my first time participating on this kind of large scale battles like this unlike my last Monster stampede defence experience"
Nero nodded, he truly admired Masaru who could admit his feelings honestly and confront them head-on instead of running away from it which most rookies during their first campaign do.
"It's not that much different from what you experienced other than the scale is larger and allies dying at your side at any given moment, but we fight so that we don't have to lose our allies and protect our homeland
Masaru, as a friend and as a General. I want to advise you during this combat, save who you can but don't be distracted by death you can't prevent. One mistake can cost you your life, so if you ever fight in this terrain you will have to brace yourself and harden your heart. In battles sometimes it's better to sacrifice the few for the greater, and everyone who is in the military already prepared themselves for it.
There is no such things as heroes in war, only soldiers"
Masaru nodded, it was easy to understand and easy to say yes but he himself knew since he did not experience this yet understood from Nero's words that doing it that way would be hard since any person would be emotionally affected at the death of their allies, Nero could see his words have been heard and Masaru displayed a serious expression as if he was thinking about what he said.
"Well I still have some tasks to complete, so I will be leaving you here"
Nero bid farewell and went off to handle the logistic management to ensure the procurement of rations and tools meeting the required standards and numbers.
"First time in war huh? I can imagine it according to what he explained... But for the sake of surviving in this world, I will experience it and temper my mind"
Masaru looked at the skies 'For the sake of Survival' although that survival was not only directed to himself those close to him.
CREATORS' THOUGHTS 
CompleteNoob
CompleteNoob 01/08/2020 - changes made
Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone