The Prince of Sloth [DxD]

Chapter 32: Chapter – 30 Extra Demon Gathering: The Reward of the Duel I



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In the Gathering Hall, Moros was engaged in conversation with a few nobles when Malrik approached him and requested a moment of his time. "My Lord…"

"Lords, ladies, excuse me for a moment," Moros said to the nobles before turning to Malrik. "Are they here?"

Malrik nodded. "Indeed, my Lord. The heir apparent of House Belphegor has regained consciousness, and the Belphegor Household is on their way back."

"I see…" Moros nodded thoughtfully before instructing, "Have the announcer announce their arrival."

"As you wish, my Lord." Malrik bowed respectfully and departed.

With Malrik gone, Moros returned to the nobles and informed them, "It seems the star of tonight's gathering has regained consciousness and will be making his return shortly."

"Oh?" The nobles raised their eyebrows in interest, looking forward to the young heir's arrival.

Just then, the announcer's voice rang out, capturing the attention of all the devils present at the gathering.

<<"Wicked Ladies and Fearsome Men, may I have your attention?">>

He paused for effect before continuing, his voice laced with excitement.

<<"The moment we've all been waiting for has arrived!">>

A wave of anticipation rippled through the hall as all eyes turned toward the massive double doors, waiting for them to open.

<<"May I present the champion of tonight's duel—the one who bravely overcame Bova Tannin while commanding a colossal, hundred-armed wooden golem! Despite suffering grievous injuries, he crushed his opponent beneath the might of his golem's hundred arms, securing a decisive victory! Everyone, please give a thunderous round of applause for the incredible—Seirios Vandegor Belphegor!">>

The moment his name was announced, Seir entered the hall, accompanied by Roygun, Malakarion, and Sephie.

As the head of the Belphegor Household, Roygun naturally led the way, exuding the grace and poise befitting someone of her strength and stature. Beside her walked Seir, the undeniable star of the evening, drawing every gaze in the hall. A wave of murmurs spread through the crowd as whispers filled the air, accompanied by polite applause welcoming his arrival.

Despite the attention, Seir couldn't help but feel uneasy.

'Although I want to make a name for myself and become famous, I still can't stomach this much attention… Sigh… This is going to be troublesome…' he thought, forcing a polite smile as he raised his hand in a subtle wave. He had never been the social type, preferring to stay in his room, either focused on his work or idly passing the time alone doing something unproductive rather than attending social gatherings. Even after being reborn, though he had become slightly more social—interacting with his family, vassals, and servants—this was entirely different from the overwhelming attention he was receiving at this moment.

'Somehow, I'll have to get used to all this attention… though, I doubt I ever truly will. Oh well… let's do our best.'

With that thought, he took a deep breath, composed himself, and continued walking beside Roygun.

Trailing behind them, Malakarion and Sephie moved with elegance and pride, their expressions making it clear just how pleased they were with their son's achievement.

Before long, the four Belphegors arrived at the center of the hall, where they were greeted by none other than Moros Abaddon.

"Lord Abaddon, I was looking for you earlier, but I couldn't find you," Roygun said as she greeted Moros Abaddon.

"Well, I was engaged in a discussion with Lord Malakarion and Lady Sephie," Moros replied before glancing at the two. "I assume they've already informed you about our conversation and the wager that I ended up losing?"

Both Malakarion and Sephie gave a brief nod.

Roygun nodded as well. "Indeed, Father and Mother have filled me in." Then, with a slight smile, she added, "And all I can say is that I'm truly pleased with how things have turned out. Rest assured, we will treat the child well."

"I'm relieved to hear that," Moros replied with a grateful smile.

Seir, however, found himself completely lost in the conversation, unable to grasp the meaning behind their words.

'What exactly are they talking about?' he wondered. 'What kind of wager? And what does Roygun mean by treating the child well?'

Before he could make sense of it, Moros Abaddon's words snapped him out of his thoughts.

"Well, well… and who do we have here?" Moros mused, his lips curving into a smirk. "Seirios Vandegor Belphegor, the star of tonight's gathering, hm? It is a pleasure to meet you and an even greater pleasure to have witnessed your duel against the young dragon. Truly, you are as talented as the rumors suggest… I daresay, even more remarkable than the Cherry Blossom Empress was at your age."

"Thank you for your kind words, Lord Abaddon. It is an honor to be praised by one such as yourself," Seir responded with a polite smile, bowing courteously. "But in comparison to my dear elder sister, I am still far from her level." He paused briefly before adding, "I do hope to catch up to her one day—and perhaps even surpass her—but for now, I have a long way to go."

"Look at you… Aren't you quite the humble one?" Moros remarked, raising an eyebrow in surprise. This was something unusual. Devils were, by nature, arrogant and prideful beings. To meet a child—one who had just demonstrated immense strength and talent—downplaying his own abilities was a rare sight indeed.

"Power and pride often walk hand in hand, but I believe true strength lies in understanding how much further one has to go. My journey is still long, Lord Abaddon. A single victory does not make a legend," Seir replied with a composed smile.

"Oh? Wise words indeed… Are you sure you're just a child?" Moros murmured, clearly intrigued. He hadn't expected such maturity from someone so young.

He had heard rumors about the boy's unexpected wisdom, but having never met him before, he hadn't known what to make of them. Now that he had finally interacted with him, he had to admit—the rumors were true. The boy was remarkably mature for his age. A small smile formed on Moros' lips at the realization.

After a brief pause, he leaned forward slightly and asked, "And what kind of legend do you wish to create, child? Pray, tell."

Seir chuckled lightly. "It would be crude to spoil all the details, my Lord. Wouldn't it be far more exciting to witness my story unfold? Besides, the future is uncertain—I cannot say what lies ahead. But I do know this… I have no intention of remaining just 'another' Devil. Perhaps, I wish to become something more."

"Ambitious, aren't you?" Moros mused, amusement flickering in his gaze. "A rare trait among the Belphegors… quite rare indeed."

After all, the Belphegor Household was widely known for its laziness. Seeing such drive and ambition from one of their own was truly an anomaly.

"Hey, Moros… what's that supposed to mean? I was plenty ambitious in my youth, too!" Malakarion protested, sounding mildly offended.

"Haha, were you, though? If I recall correctly, most of your so-called ambitions revolved around courting Lady Sephie," Moros chuckled, teasingly exposing a rather embarrassing part of Malakarion's past.

Seir blinked in surprise upon hearing his father's embarrassing history. 'Huh? Really?'

But Malakarion didn't seem the least bit flustered. Instead, he straightened his posture and declared proudly, "Pursuing the most beautiful Devil in existence is no small ambition. You, who never had such aspirations, could never understand the struggles I went through to have her by my side."

Sephie felt a hint of embarrassment upon hearing Malakarion boldly declare her the most beautiful Devil. A soft blush dusted her cheeks as she murmured, "Oh, Mal…"

"Hm? Perhaps you have a point," Moros conceded with a smirk as he noted Sephie's embarrassment.

Malakarion nodded and continued, "The competition was fierce. Many sought her hand in marriage…" He was about to elaborate, perhaps even diving into all the details. "But you know, I won because—"

Roygun quickly interrupted him. "Father, I'm afraid we'll have to save the story of how you courted our dear mother for another time…"

She knew all too well that if Malakarion was allowed to reminisce, he would spend hours recounting every moment, and they simply didn't have that kind of time. Not to mention, she had already heard the same tale hundreds of times and had no desire to hear it again. As a teenager, she had found it exciting—she could still remember squealing in both embarrassment and delight back then. But now? Well, not so much.

Glancing in the direction of Mephisto Pheles, she added, "Look, Lord Mephisto Pheles is waiting for us… and I'm sure Seir is eager to receive the reward he was promised. Let's save the tale of how you courted our dear mother for another time, shall we, Father?"

"Oh well, I suppose we really don't have much time at the moment," Malakarion sighed, nodding in reluctant agreement. He was a little disappointed that he didn't get to retell his favorite tale, but it wasn't a big deal. Turning to Roygun, he said, "Yes, yes… go on to Lord Mephisto."

Sephie then, having recovered, added, "In the meantime, we shall meet the child we were promised," before turning to Moros. "If that's alright with you, Lord Abaddon?"

Moros shook his head. "Oh, it's perfectly fine," he assured them. "I had the child brought to the gathering, so there's no issue."

Roygun nodded at her parents. "Alright," she said before excusing herself. "We'll be back shortly."

Seir bowed slightly to Moros. "Excuse me, Lord Abaddon," he said before following Roygun while wondering to himself, 'I wonder who is the child that mother is talking about… and what did she mean by we were promised?'

As they walked toward Mephisto Pheles, Seir suddenly felt a gaze on him—a sharp, lingering stare that made him feel somewhat confused. Glancing to the side, he quickly found the source: none other than the Lady of House Abaddon herself, her gaze tinged with unmistakable annoyance and anger.

The moment their eyes met, she swiftly turned her attention elsewhere, leaving Seir to wonder, 'What's her problem? Did I offend her somehow?'

Not that he particularly cared. With a mental shrug, he dismissed the thought entirely. 'Whatever… maybe she's just suffering from constipation. Or maybe it's that time of the month for her.'

Then again, given the low fertility rate of devils, she-devils didn't experience monthly ovulation cycles like human women, so that couldn't be the case. 'Eh, whatever the reason, it's not my concern—at least not right now…'

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"Here you go… as promised, as the victor of the duel, the Demonic Spear Chastiefol is now yours, Seirios Vandegor Belphegor," said Mephisto Pheles, handing over the spear. With a kind smile, he added, "I trust you will put this crafted by the Fairies using their cherished Spirit Tree to good use. And should you have any questions regarding its abilities, do not hesitate to contact me at Grauzauberer—I will gladly provide guidance."

"Thank you, Lord Mephisto. I will keep your words in mind," Seir replied with a smile as he accepted the Demonic Spear, which was nearly three times his height.

Immediately, the gathering hall erupted into applause and cheers, celebrating Seir's victory.

'I now own a legendary weapon… This is quite a surprise…' For someone who was once an ordinary human with a somewhat unstable mind—who had only ever seen such legendary weapons through a flat screen in fantasy and read about them in books—to now possess one himself, the feeling was nothing short of surreal.

"Congratulations, little brother… I suppose you now have a legendary weapon of your own," Roygun said, clapping in delight.

"Thank you, sister," Seir replied with a smile. He then lifted the spear into the air using Telekinesis Magic and nodded to himself. "Yes… this will serve as a fine weapon, I suppose…"

Though he said this, Seir had no intention of learning spear techniques to wield Chastiefol traditionally. Instead, he planned to control it entirely through Telekinesis Magic. Of course, that didn't mean he would neglect close combat or physical training—he had no desire to become a glass cannon. However, spear techniques? He wasn't particularly interested in them. Probably.

'Then again, I do have an eternity ahead of me… I could always learn spear arts at some point when I have nothing else to do,' he mused. 'Oh well, whatever…'

For now, Telekinesis Magic would be his primary means of controlling Chastiefol.

'But honestly speaking, I'm not even sure if I'll use Chastiefol all that much...'

Yes, acquiring a legendary weapon felt surreal, but whether he would actually use it often was still uncertain. After all, obtaining the Demonic Spear Chastiefol from Mephisto Pheles hadn't been part of his original plans. It's just that one thing had simply led to another, and now the spear was in his possession.

In truth, Seir already had his sights set on different weapons—ones that, though currently owned by others, he fully intended to claim for himself.

Acquiring Chastiefol wouldn't change that.

'But there's still a lot I need to do before I can get my hands on one of those God-Slaying Weapons… At the very least, I need to figure out how to extract them from their current owners…'

Until then, Chastiefol would serve as a useful tool.

'Perhaps I'll pass it on to someone else once I acquire one of those God-Slaying weapons…'

With that in mind, Seir snapped out of his thoughts and sealed Chastiefol within his personal dimension, planning to explore its abilities later. He then turned to Tannin, who was standing beside Mephisto Pheles. "Lord Tannin, how is Bova?"

Although Malakarion had assured him that the young dragon would be fine, Seir wanted to confirm it himself, even if only as a courtesy. The last thing he wanted was to make an enemy out of the former Dragon King because of some stupid feud with his son.

After all, the wrath of a Dragon King was enough to make even a God-class being regret their life choices—Seir had no intention of being on the receiving end of such fury for some stupid reason.

'I'm not that egotistical or arrogant… at least, not yet…'

Tannin, however, didn't seem particularly concerned and simply stated, "Well, he did take quite a beating… but he'll be fine."

The reason he was no longer at the gathering was that he had been sent back to Tannin's Domain to rest and recover, as he was no longer in a suitable condition to attend after having suffered so many injuries.

Seir let out a small sigh of relief before offering a sincere apology. "I'm really sorry… I went overboard on him."

Tannin merely shrugged. "That's nothing to apologize for, boy. A battle is a battle—you fight to win. Besides, Bova was the one who issued the challenge, so he should be prepared to face defeat. In fact, I'm quite satisfied with how things turned out. Hopefully, this loss will help him shed his immaturity along with his scales, grow stronger, and leave behind his delinquent ways to become a wise Dragon."

Besides, through this fight, Bova had managed to awaken his Dragon Aura, which was quite a significant gain. Therefore, Tannin certainly had no reason to complain or feel dissatisfied.

"I see… let's hope that's the case," Seir replied with a nod.

Roygun nodded in agreement. "I'm sure that child will grow up to follow in the footsteps of his father and older siblings."

Tannin smiled. "Yeah, he will…" Then, glancing back at Seir, he flashed a fierce grin. "And you, boy… grow stronger as well. Someday, I'd like you to challenge me, as well."

There's no doubt about it—the Blaze Meteor Dragon is also a battle maniac. In fact, his insatiable thirst for combat is one of the two reasons he chose to become a reincarnated Devil.

Seir nodded. "Yes, I look forward to fighting a former Dragon King someday…" He then added with a smirk, "Perhaps when I make my debut in the Official Rating Games, I might have the chance to face you in a Rating Game, Lord Tannin."

Tannin raised an eyebrow. "Oh?" He then glanced at Roygun and asked, "So, you intend to follow in the footsteps of this little girl?"

"Lord Tannin, who do you think you're calling a little girl?" Roygun snapped, clearly irked.

Tannin merely shrugged. "It doesn't matter how old you are… in my eyes, you're still a little girl."

Roygun opened her mouth to argue but quickly realized she couldn't refute him. As someone who had lived since before the fall of Lucifer from Heaven, Tannin had every right to call Roygun a little girl since she was only a few centuries old.

Unable to refute him, she simply fixed him with a dark smile, prompting the Dragon to avert his gaze and swiftly change the subject. "Anyway, boy," he said, turning back to Seir, "since you plan to follow in Roygun's footsteps, you'll need a peerage for sure…" He paused for a moment before adding, "Stop by the Dragon Range sometime. I'll introduce you to a few dragons who might be a good fit for your peerage. In fact, you can even have one of my sons in your peerage. I know you're not keen on having Bova as your subordinate; but I have two other sons, as well—and unlike him, they're well-behaved. If you can find common ground with either of them, you're welcome to take one as your subordinate in your peerage; I am quite certain that, as my children, they will not disappoint you."

Mephisto and Roygun blinked in surprise at the unexpected offer.

It wasn't like Tannin to extend such an invitation, but Seir had left a strong impression on him. His talent and potential were undeniable, so Tannin didn't mind making an exception for such a talented devil who had a bright future ahead of him.

However, Seir bowed his head slightly in apology. "I appreciate the offer, Lord Tannin, but I already have my sights set on a particular dragon, so I must humbly decline." He paused before adding, "That said, I'd still love to visit the Dragon Range to learn more about dragons."

"Oh?" Tannin's curiosity was piqued, and both Mephisto and Roygun perked up, intrigued by the mention of this mysterious dragon. Tannin raised an eyebrow. "And who is this dragon you have your sights on?"

Seir smirked. "I think everyone knows her… though she isn't exactly known for her calm temperament. And if I am not wrong, she has made the Familiar Forest her personal domain for the past few centuries."

Tannin's expression shifted to disbelief. "You can't be serious… You mean her?" Even he, a former Dragon King, was wary of getting on her bad side. The idea of recruiting her was beyond audacious, in his opinion. It was akin to seeking death—or, more precisely, as the Chinese say, courting one's own death.

Roygun suddenly recalled Seir's earlier words—'Tia-mommy'—and let out a sigh. "Of course… It's the Chaos Karma Dragon, isn't it?"

Mephisto, on the other hand, chuckled with amusement. "Fufu~ How intriguing…" He then turned to Seir and said, "Child, you do realize that countless devils have tried to make her submit, only to fail spectacularly?"

Seir nodded. "I'm well aware, Lord Mephisto… but I still plan to try my luck." A confident smirk spread across his face. "Besides, I have a method to make her submit."

Tannin and Mephisto all exchanged curious glances before turning back to Seir. "Oh? And what method might that be?"

Roygun, with a frown on her face, said, "I also failed to make her submit… So, what method are you talking about, Seir?"

But Seir simply smirked mysteriously. "That's a secret." He shook his head and added, "If I were to reveal it, someone else might beat me to it and claim her for themselves, besides, the props aren't ready yet. I have to make a few necessary preparations before I make my move on her and make her submit."

"Haha~ I see…" Mephisto chuckled. "If you truly manage to recruit the Strongest Dragon King into your peerage with this 'secret plan' of yours, then that would be quite the spectacle. I am certain that not only the entire Underworld but the entire Supernatural World will be left stunned. Haha~ I look forward to seeing if you can actually pull it off."

After all, the Chaos Karma Dragon was no ordinary dragon—she was a Dragon King and not just any Dragon King, but the strongest among them. There was no doubt about it; she even surpassed Tannin in power.

Dragons are inherently prideful beings, unwilling to bow to others. They would rather perish in battle than submit. The fact that Tannin chose to serve Mephisto was already a significant exception. However, Tannin's submission was not due to Mephisto Pheles' strength, charisma, or any form of coercion. Instead, it was an act of self-sacrifice, a decision made solely to protect his race—the Dragons.

But the Chaos Karma Dragon was different from the Blaze Meteor Dragon. Not only was she the strongest Dragon King, but she was also the most prideful.

In fact, Mephisto doubted that Seir could actually pull it off. Countless Devils had attempted to recruit her into their peerage or form a familiar contract with her, but as Mephisto had mentioned earlier, none had succeeded. It wasn't just Roygun—figures like Diehauser Belial, Bedeze Abaddon, Zolgear Zagan, Ruval Phenex, Rudiger Rosenkreutz, Tannin himself, and many other prominent Devils had all tried to tame the strongest Dragon King for their peerage. As expected, every single one of them had failed.

If such powerful figures couldn't accomplish it in many centuries, Mephisto found it hard to believe that Seirios Belphegor, a mere child, could succeed where they had not. Still, he had no intention of crushing the boy's confidence or fantasy, so he chose to hold his tongue rather than voice his doubts.

Unaware of Mephisto's thoughts, Seir replied with a confident smirk, "I'll be sure to pay you a visit in Germany once I pull it off."

"Yes, yes, please do. I'll be waiting," Mephisto nodded before adding, "In the meantime, I'll prepare a list of some of the finest magicians in Grauzauberer who might pique your interest for a pact."

After all, forming a pact with a magician was an essential part of being a High-Class Devil. As a High-Class Devil himself, Seir would have to do the same at some point, making Mephisto's suggestion all the more relevant.

"Oh? In that case, I have even more to look forward to when I visit the Grauzauberer Headquarters," Seir said with a pleased nod.

"Yes, I'm sure you do…" Mephisto nodded with a smile. He then glanced around the hall, noticing that several Devils seemed eager to speak with Seir for one reason or another. Deciding not to keep the child occupied any longer, he said, "Well then, I have some matters to discuss with a few other Lords, and I am certain that you, too, wish to celebrate your victory, so I suppose I shall see you around, child."

"Ah, yes… It was a pleasure speaking with you, Lord Mephisto," Seir replied with a polite nod, then expressed his gratitude once more. "And I shall treasure Chastiefol."

"I'm glad to hear that," Mephisto said with a smile before departing with Tannin.

At that moment, Roygun, who had remained silent until now, finally spoke. "Well, get ready, little brother… You're about to be swarmed by a lot of Devils eager to discuss something or other with you."

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Author's Note:

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