When lunch was over and more of their daily paperwork had been handled, Sona and her peerage left the office to attend their afternoon classes. Since I had no other pressing duties to perform, I could now do my snooping... ahem... I mean research. I needed the info for two particularly ignorant boys and the student records would give me that.
The filing cabinets weren't locked, since the peerage had to reference the files within a bunch of times as they did the paperwork for the different club activities and tracking the members and their progress. I hadn't thought that was handled by the student council and should have been done inside each club. I wasn't going to look a gift horse in the mouth, though.
I went to the 'S' section and found Genshiro Saji's information first and copied his address down, then went to the 'H' section and found Issei Hyoudou's address. My plan to trade them for certain things also needed for me to form contracts with them.
That made me wonder how devils performed their contracts and sealed them. Was it written on paper or was it verbally agreed to? How did you ensure payment? Was there a Devil Repo organization or something? That last thought made me chuckle and I returned the files where they were supposed to go.
On a lark, I went through them all and looked for any interesting names and nothing stood out, even though I recognized a few of the names as background characters. I didn't want to involve myself with them if I didn't have to. Then again, dealing with them could make the school a better place.
In any case, I had to ask Sona about the contracts thing and how she handled that. I needed to pull my own weight without her asking me to or her implying I was lacking in motivation. Being a lazy devil like Rias would definitely annoy her. Out of all the devils that could have had me in their peerages, being in Sona's was going to be a busy life for me.
That was another reason for me to be angry at Rias and how she handled me. I was going to screw that wench so hard, and not in the good way, because she screwed me out of an easy devil life where I could have done whatever I wanted. Maybe I should ask Sona what will happened to Rias when she learns she didn't complete the deal we made.
On the positive side, I didn't have to deal with Riser talking in the third person or with Rias and her ranting about how she can't find that one thing to save her from the situation that she could easily get herself out of. Yes, I was thinking about her Power of Destruction and how she could deal with Riser's regeneration. I wasn't going to help her with that, though. She burned that bridge when she discarded me.
I cleaned up the office and straightened everything to keep things organized, without throwing anything out or hiding anything. I was helping them and didn't want to annoy them, so everything was left out in plain view and easily found. I went to the break room and washed the dishes and cleaned up the area, which was easily done.
I had spent years cooking and cleaning for myself and adding a few extra people to my chores made little difference. A few more dishes and a bit more food was almost nothing and there were no leftovers, so no repeated meals or reheating food. That made me wonder if I had to cook supper as well and I would have to discreetly ask Sona if she wanted me to do that.
With nothing else to do, I checked the progress of my devil conversion and mentally nodded at it being half-done. That was great progress, considering it was supposed to take a few days to a week. Having my magic concentrated on speeding things up was the best decision I could have made. That also meant I would have full access to my devil magic by tomorrow morning and not just the traces I had now.
The best part about that is it plays right into me hiding my abilities from everyone and not giving away exactly how much I'm able to do. I would tell Sona about it if she asked, though. She was my King and I wasn't going to keep too many secrets from her.
I was also getting little bits of energy every time one of the girls thanked me for doing something for them, so it kind of counted as little contracts. I was Sona's self-proclaimed butler and she had said I was doing things on my own, so I was benefiting from my actions instead of her.
That was going to help me significantly in the future as I refined my skills and learned how I could keep helping the girls outside of my nominal duties. What did they want or need? Could I give it to them or arrange it? How did contracts work precisely, or were they as nebulous as my questions? It was definitely something I needed to ask Sona about when there weren't so many witnesses around.
*
Sona sat in class and was in a good mood, which was a really odd feeling for her. She was always tense and worried about all of the paperwork she had piled onto herself every day; and yet, today was kind of relaxing. She didn't have to wonder why as her thoughts went to her newest Pawn and she fought down her blush.
Ever since she had woken up this morning, the circumstances of her life seemed to have changed significantly. He wasn't handsome or anywhere near her age, he wasn't in shape, and he represented a larger burden than she could have imagined a new Pawn could ever be.
But, and that was a huge but, he had called her beautiful before he even knew her name or who her family was. That had been... enlightening, to say the least. No one had ever called her beautiful before and actually meant it, or so she believed. Plus, he had kissed her like he was in love with her and it had made her heart flutter.
Sona pushed those thoughts aside and remembered her requirement to have someone seriously court her. If they weren't smart enough to beat her in chess, then they weren't worth her time. She wanted a fellow intellectual to spend eternity with and she didn't want to let her own intelligence to wane if she succumbed to debauchery with some neanderthal that thought he was heaven's gift to women.
She had to fight to not chuckle out loud in the middle of class at that thought. The image of Riser Phenex popped into her head and she regretted that she couldn't have her family step in to help her friend Rias with that whole mess that had been years in the making.
The Gremory heiress being sold off to the Phenex family wouldn't normally be that big of a deal, if it had been to a fellow heir like the first son. Even the second son, or backup heir, wouldn't have been that big of an insult. However, she was engaged to the third son, the spare of the spare, and he was going to become Lord Gremory.
Riser's status would rise up from a nobody Marquis to the height of a Duke of the Underworld. It insulted everyone that was born into that status, especially Rias, and no one was saying anything against it, not even her brother, the Satan Lucifer. It was a horrible precedent to set and Sona despaired about what the political underworld was going to devolve into with Riser Phenex becoming one of its influential members.
The bell rang and Sona gathered her things and left the classroom and met her Queen at the door, then moved down the hallway to the stairs and waited for the rest of her peerage. She had a few more things to handle while the school's clubs were being held, so she couldn't leave until the school was officially closed for the day.
She led her peerage back to the student council office and her heart sped up a little. Why did she feel a small pang of anticipation? It couldn't be because she was going to see... and there he was, waiting by the door to greet her with a bright smile.
“Welcome back, President Shitori and her Student Council.” Alex Murphy said and gave her a little bow. “I wasn't sure how long the council stays after school, so I only prepared some drinks and cookies for snacks.”
“That's fine, Murphy-san. Thank you.” Sona said and nodded to him as she passed him.
“If we do end up staying too late, please forgive me for not preparing a proper meal for you beforehand.” Alex said and bowed again.
Sona and her entire peerage stopped walking and turned back to look at him. “Excuse me?”
“I didn't see any cooks or maids back at the house, so I assumed I would be responsible for arranging your evening meals.” Alex said and stood up straight. “Was I wrong in that assumption?”
Sona waved her peerage to take their seats at their desks and she had to think carefully about how to answer that. If she said yes, then she and Tsubaki would have to handle everything themselves, like usual. If she said no, then she would have to put up with someone else making food for her and the quality and choices would be out of her hands... or would it? Maybe she could have the best of both worlds?
“Do you have a meal plan prepared or are you waiting for my input to set it up?” Sona asked as an opening gambit. She noticed the relieved look on his face and knew she had guessed right. He wanted her to set the dishes and would make them for her, rather than trying to guess what she liked.
“Your input would be greatly appreciated, Shitori-san. I can easily cook for multiple people, including myself. However, only making the food I like for you and your vice president would insult you both.” Alex told her.
Sona had to agree that they had very different tastes. “As I work through your requisition forms for the student council's break room, I'll tell you about our preferred meals and where to order the best ingredients.”
Alex's bright smile was back on his face and Sona's heart sped up once more. “Thank you for you patience and assistance, Shitori-san.”
“You're welcome, Murphy-san.” Sona said and went around her desk to sit down. His forms were the first ones, so she started with them and saw Alex already had a paper and pen at the ready to take detailed notes. She gave him a smile and worked through both the forms and her preferred meal plan for the week and what she liked to splurge on during the weekends.
The phone numbers for suppliers and what accounts to charge things to were also shared and Sona would have to make arrangements to allow Alex to add things in her name. She whispered a warning to him about abusing the privilege and he softly laughed and whispered back that he would rather become a stray devil than to abuse her in any way.
Sona couldn't fight the blush off this time at his sincerity. Proclaiming that he would rather become an abomination that had to be hunted down and killed, instead of betraying her trust, made her feel all warm and tingly inside.
The phone rang and Alex picked it up. “This is the Student Council's Office. How may we help you?” He asked in the same upbeat voice he had answered it that morning. “Hmm, really? Very well. Someone will be right over to take care of it. Thank you for calling.”
“What was that about?” Tsubaki asked before Sona could.
“The Kendo Club. The perverted trio is at it again.” Alex said and Sona sighed. “What is it?”
“My fellow King has chosen one of them as a point of interest. I agreed that if she wants to recruit him, he has to remain a student at this school.” Sona admitted.
“Which means if you let one of them off for their deplorable behaviour, then you have to let all three of them off for the same thing.” Alex reasoned right away.
Sona barely managed to hide her surprise at her Pawn understanding the situation immediately.
“Then I'll go over there myself to handle it.” Alex said and all of the girls relaxed. None of them wanted to give the perverts even more girls to be perverts over. He walked towards the office door and stopped, then walked back to Sona. “Before I forget, is there some special parchment or magically charged paper that's used for devil contracts or are things always handled verbally?”
“It's usually enough to verbally agree.” Sona said. “Why do you want to know?”
“I've been wondering how it was handled.” Alex said. “What about the summoning papers?”
“Ah, those are magically charged and have a family crest embedded into the paper. A strong wish made while holding it will initiate the summoning, then you form a teleportation spell and go to the location.” Sona said and pulled open the bottom drawer of her desk. “I have them regularly printed for myself and Rias.”
Alex smiled, this one almost forced, and he picked up a handful of the folded pamphlets. “Thank you for explaining, Shitori-san. I'll be back as soon as I can.”
“Good luck, Murphy-san!” One of the girls said as he left the office at a fast walk.
“Thank you, Meguri-san.” Alex said and closed the door.
Silence fell in the office and no one spoke for several minutes.
“He's going to be all right, isn't he?” Momo Hanakai asked.
“He's a devil, of course he'll be all right.” Tomoe Meguri answered her.
Sona and Tsubaki exchanged looks, both of them slightly worried. Alex had only been a devil since the night before, so he had another three days to a week before he could be considered a fully reincarnated devil. If anything happened, he didn't have anything like their enhanced strength, durability, or any magic.
Sona nodded and Tsubaki slipped out of the office and discreetly followed their newest Pawn to see how he handled the perverted trio.
*
I walked at a good speed without looking like I was rushing. There were still students around and I didn't want to look unprofessional. I was wearing a butler uniform, after all. The Japanese people had paricular expectations when it came to certain professions and I wasn't going to disappoint them.
I arrived near the gym where the Kendo Club was located and saw the girls had surrounded the three perverts and I could see several bruises on the faces of the boys. That was both the good side and the bad side of the bamboo weapons they used to practice with. They stung but didn't leave lasting wounds. They were learning tools and not disciplinary tools.
“Excuse me, ladies.” I said with a firm voice and nearly all of them let out sounds of fright and whirled around to face me. I had stopped well out of their weapon range and was in no danger from them.
“Who're you?” One of them with pink hair asked and pointed her weapon at me.
“Someone called the Student Council to handle this problem and I answered the phone.” I answered and didn't show any fear.
“That was me.” The head of the Kendo Club said as she stepped forward. She had long dark hair and I didn't know her name.
“I'd like to say it's a pleasure to make your acquaintance, club president.” I said and looked at the three slightly beaten boys. “However, this is not the time for socializing.”
“No, it isn't.” She said, her own voice holding restrained anger. “I've reported them several times already and nothing has been done to stop them.”
I took a deep breath and let it out as I looked back at her face. “If you will allow me, I want to sincerely apologize for the student council's failure to uphold the standards of common decency. They have had a lot to handle and things like this are shuffled off to be handled later and something almost always comes up and it keeps deterring President Shitori from acting with haste.”
The Kendo Club president sighed as well. “The burden of leadership is fraught with more decisions than most people will ever understand.”
I nodded and bowed slightly. “Please leave these criminals in my care. I will ensure that they are taken care of.”
“That's what the last council member said.” A taller girl with brown hair and pigtails said. “Some white-haired girl named Momo or something.”
I couldn't speak for them, so I looked back at the club head. “I give you my solemn vow that I will ensure these three young men will not bother you or your club members again.”
Scoff sounds came from most of the girls and a few even rolled their eyes.
The Kendo Club president gave me narrowed eyes. “And what will your efforts cost me?”
I stepped forward and stopped a foot away from her. “A single lesson on the weekend to copy your fighting ability and we can seal the deal with a handshake.”
“That... that's all?” A few of the girls asked, surprised.
“I can be very persuasive when it matters.” I said and smiled as I held a hand out. “Or perhaps a chaste kiss on the cheek would be more fitting, considering the audience.”
All of the club girls gasped and they all looked at the three perverts.
“Agreed.” The head of the club said and stepped close as she took my hand, shook it, and leaned in to kiss my cheek.
I felt a small tingle that I had to assume was a sealed deal, then couldn't resist what I whispered with her so close. “I easily could have turned my head and caught your lips, club president.”
“I know.” She whispered back and let my hand go. “You are very lucky that you didn't.”
“No, you are.” I said with a smile, because I had said the same thing to the cafeteria lady.
She blushed and stepped back. “Let's go back inside, girls. We have drills to do.”
They quickly did as she asked and I walked over to the three boys sitting on the ground. “You three.” I said, my voice stern. “Get up.” I said and glared at them. “Now!”
All three of them scrambled to their feet and stood at attention.
“You're never going to make us stop.” The one with the shaved head said.
“Yeah! We're in a school surrounded by girls! Why would we ever stop?” The idiot with the dragon in his arm shouted.
“I know all the measurements of every girl in the school.” The one with glasses said. “I'll never forget those numbers and you can't stop me from looking.”
I gave each of them a good glare and the three of them glared right back. I pointed at the main school building. “Start walking and I'll tell you when to stop. You'll be serving detention with me for the next hour.”
The three of them looked defiant, so I had to put a stop to that.
“You should know that the hair on my balls is older than the three of you combined. I've seen, heard, and done it all. You literally can't surprise me with whatever nonsense you were about to spew out of your mouths.” I said and their eyes widened. “Get moving or I'll make you move.”
The three of them exchanged looks, sighed, and walked towards the school.
I followed them to make sure they didn't make a break for it. I was also going to have them alone for the next hour and had plenty of time to play around with those pamphlets to try and erase them and leave the magic circle embedded in them. I had an idea to use them for a written contract and only had to trick the idiots into signing them.