"I'll count on you to identify him, Lizel. I vaguely know Yuuto's appearance, but not clearly enough to single him out in a crowd." said Noah, as he, Lizel, Reina, and Miyabi reached the Ginsei Academy's gates.

  They had come very early, to be certain they would intercept Yuuto Morioka, the Lover's candidate.

  "Yes. My informant already reported that he left his home and is on his way. He should be there in a few minutes… We've been awfully quiet, Miyabi. That's not like you."

  Noah had noticed Miyabi seemed to have something on her mind but had yet to ask.

  "Is it because you can't use your usual gal style today?"

  Miyabi, still pretending to be a docile, innocent noble girl in front of her mother, had not found this morning an opportunity to switch to her pink gal style.

  Looked in turns at Lizel and Noah and finally sighed.

  "…It's my mom. She was acting a bit weird during dinner. I think she has her eyes set on Noah, and not as a potential son-in-w."

  "I noticed, too." shrugged Noah. "But she'll end up disappointed. She's beautiful, and the fact she's your mother wouldn't stop me, but she'll have to work on herself if she wants me to consider her more than a long-term guest."

  "You're a pervert as expected, but I'm happy you won't aim at her, at least. It would make me feel weird. But working on herself? Is it about the moving in incident?" asked Miyabi.

  "Yeah. Hisui and Rui have made an effort to get along, and I do not hold a grudge against your mother for this, but the incident has revealed a big red fg. That she thinks she can order around people she sees as being in an inferior position, and do not even bother being polite about it. I do not want someone like this in my inner circle. So, if she wants to stay in my home after the Devil War is over, she'll have to learn some humility and compassion."

  "That is how it is in most noble households, in the underworld. Miyako is actually a little better than most." pointed out Lizel.

  "And that is one thing I will work to change, eventually. If nobles have forgotten the concept of 'noblesse oblige', I will give them a reminder."

  "If Noah-senpai can reform the noble families, that would be great, desu." smiled Reina.

  "The average devil noble is intensely selfish, so I only have to convince them that pying nice is in their own self-interest. But that will first require me to be acknowledged as the strongest, bar none. Which is why I still spend most of my time training, despite the number of people now living with me. And on that subject, I have some good news. I should have raked up enough achievements by tonight to exchange for that immortality perk."

  "Ah? Already?" excimed Miyabi.

  "What can I say? For all my faults, I still am a hard-working fellow, and I allow myself a rge time window to deal with unpredictable things when I give time estimates to others. Anyway, there will only be one step left after this to solve Reina-chan's issue."

  Reina blushed intensely, as she knew what this st step would be about.

  "P-Please be gentle with me, Noah-senpai, desu."

  "I will." replied Noah as he smiled gently.

  "Yuuto is coming." said Lizel, as she spied a single slender student of average height, with brown eyes and short brown hairs.

  Noah waited until he came near them before speaking.

  "Greetings. Are you Yuuto Morioka?"

  "Ah? huh, yes?" the surprise, as well as Lizel's Miyabi and Reina's beauty, had their effect on Yuuto's brain, and it took him a few seconds to recover.

  "I am Noah Enfield, and those young dies at my side are Lizel Himekami, Reina Koiwai, and Miyabi Yuugaoze. It's nice to meet you. We were waiting for you."

  "Ah, it's nice to meet you too. May I inquire about why you wish to speak to me?"

  "Of course. Please follow us to a more private pce, we need to have a talk. You also don't need to worry, we'll guarantee your safety."

  "…Okay?"

  Noah started walking toward the Academy's special areas reserved for the 22 candidates. On the way, he asked Yuuto.

  "It must have been quite a shock for you, to suddenly be involved in the world of devils."

  "Yes. To learn that my parents were working for devils all along… What about you, Noah-kun? Are you a human, or a devil?"

  "I'm a reincarnated Devil. I was human until very recently. My case is a bit different from yours, since I learned about devils before I had the opportunity to get into contact with them, and my involvement was deliberate. Which devils are your parents working for?"

  "I do not know." confessed Yuuto, slightly embarrassed.

  "They work for the Telco family." said Lizel. "A minor baron-ranked house, whose nds are part of the Gremory Territory. They answer to Duchess Gremory… You do not need to be surprised, Yuuto-kun. We knew in advance that you were going to be chosen by the Lovers's Arcana, so we investigated you a bit. "

  "Is that what you want to talk about? That I have this Arcana?" warily asked Yuuto.

  "Of course." nodded Noah. "There's no way we would wait at the gates for a random transfer student otherwise, but you do not need to worry. We're only going to talk. Inside this building."

  Noah pointed at the Lovers Pace. He had access to the Magician Pace now, but the building hadn't been properly cleaned up and its interior refurbished yet.

  Lizel unlocked the door, and they entered the living room.

  "I'll make tea." suggested Lizel.

  "Thank you, Lizel. Please sit down, Yuuto-kun."

  Lizel used magic to heat up the water in mere seconds, and it took her less than a minute before everyone had a cup of hot tea in front of them.

  "Thanks for the great service, Lizel." smiled Noah.

  "Y-Yes, thank you, Lizel… senpai?"

  "You're welcome." smiled Lizel.

  Noah gave Yuuto time to taste her tea before he decided to get the ball rolling.

  "There isn't much time before csses begin, so I'll be blunt, Yuuto-kun. I am asking you to voluntarily withdraw from the Devil War competition, for you own good. In return, we will ensure that you and your family have a bright future. Things like promotions and sary raises for your parents, free vacations, funding for your wedding after you find someone, that kind of stuff…"

  "…Why? What do you stand to gain out of it? Is it to get rid of a rival?"

  "No. The biggest reason by far is that Lizel, Miyabi and Reina were originally part of the Lovers faction, and they agreed to join my side in return for me ensuring you leave that competition alive and in one piece, and that I favorize you in the future. The devil King war is a ruthless battle royale where Candidates will not hesitate to kill each other, and while the Lovers Arcana isn't necessarily weaker than the others, you are at a severe disadvantage with no initial training in magic, a body that isn't tempered by martial arts, and baseline human parameters. Worse, the Lovers Arcana is a bit special, in that you need at least one girl willing to do erotic things with you to gain access to its special abilities."

  Yuuto Morioka, being a typical herbivore harem protagonist from Japanese novels, immediately got flustered at the idea of doing erotic things.

  Yuuto didn't answer, so Noah decided to push a bit more.

  "Well, seeing is believing, so I'll give you a glimpse of what participating in the Devil War is like."

  Using soul Magic, Noah shared with Yuuto and the girls his memories of the Unveiling ceremony, where he defeated Aspite's Ace, and where Aspite murdered his own subordinate in anger."

  Yuuto looked a little green when the dispy finished.

  "Too much?" asked Noah gently.

  "How can… This guy do something so cruel!" excimed Yuuto in disbelief.

  Noah shrugged.

  "That is what the Devil War is like. And judging from your reaction, you aren't ready for this. So, Yuuto-kun, how will it be? Will you surrender peacefully, get out of this competition with your hands untainted by blood and your body unharmed, and enjoy with your family the benefits we will give you in the future?"

  "Or will you decline my offer? If you do, I will defeat you right here, right now, while making sure you get no sting injuries."

  "…"

  Yuuto-kun, please accept our compromise." spoke Lizel. "We know the abilities of the Lovers Arcana well, and we also know how strong Noah is. You do not stand a single chance against him. And there are other candidates who would kill you without hesitation or remorse. Other candidates who would see your parents as potential hostages to use against you."

  Yuuto flinched at the mention of his parents.

  "I do not have much of a choice…" he said with resignation, pulling on the chain around his neck to reveal the Lovers's Arcana.

  "Do I need to sign anything?"

  "You only need to say: 'I surrender to the Magician Candidate, and decline to participate in the Devil War'. " said Lizel.

  "I surrender to the Magician Candidate, and decline to participate in the Devil War." repeated Yuuto. He felt a little like he was being scammed, but also relieved at not having to put his live on the line or possibly taking the lives of others.

  As soon as the words left his mouth, the Lovers Arcana faded into nothingness, returning to wherever Arcanas were stored when not in use.

  Noah took out his own Arcana and drew a circle on it with his finger. The status of the candidates appeared.

  0 – Fool – Active - Submitted to Emperor

  I – Magician - Active

  II – Priestess – Active – Submitted to Emperor

  III – Empress – Active – Submitted to Emperor

  IV – Emperor – Active

  V – Hierophant – Active – Submitted to Emperor

  VI – Lovers – Retired – Submitted to Magician

  VII – Chariot – Active

  VIII – Hermit – Active

  XI – Strength – Submitted to Death

  X – Wheel of Fortune – Submitted to Death

  XI – Justice – Active – Submitted to Death

  XII – Hanged Man – Active – Submitted to Death

  XIII – Death – Active

  XIV – Temperance – Active – Submitted to Death

  XV – Devil – Retired – Killed by Magician

  XVI – Tower – Active – Submitted to Death

  XVII – Star – Active

  XVIII – Moon – Active – Submitted to Death

  XIX – Sun – Active – Submitted to Death

  XX – Judgment – Active

  XXI – World – Retired – Defeated by Magician

  "Your surrender has been recorded, so no candidates should come after you. Thank you for your cooperation, Yuuto-kun. I will hold my part of our agreement. Now, I think you should go speak to the Headmaster, to see if you should remain in this academy or return to your previous one."

  Noah and the girls stood, signifying the end of the discussion, and Yuuto hurriedly finished his tea, thanked Lizel, and followed them outside.

  After exchanging farewells, he left to search for the Headmaster's office.

  "Hey, Noah. Would you really have attacked him if he refused?" asked Miyabi.

  He smiled as he shook his head.

  "Nah, I was bluffing. I can't attack a devil candidate until he officially joins the competition after the Unveiling Ceremony… Can I?"

  "You must wait, in theory. In practice, that rule has been vioted several times in the past, and the culprits never faced punishment for it." shrugged Lizel.

  She seemed a little down, and Noah put a hand on her shoulder.

  "You did the right thing, Lizel. He will live happily, and won't lose his innocence. And Yuuto isn't the only one who can give you happiness."

  Lizel smiled to Noah, though he could see it was a bit forced.

  "You're right. Thank you, Noah, for holding on to our agreement."

  "It's the least I can do." smiled Noah.

  The bell rang, signaling the start of csses.

  "Well, we need to go. I'll see you girls this evening."

  "Take care, Noah." said Lizel.

  "I'll take notes for you, though I'm not sure they will have a use for you." smiled Miyabi.

  "Frankly? I don't think so. Aside maybe for history csses, I won't have a use for it. It's not like I'm going to become a saryman in the future. See you ter, girls."

  Each of the girls hurried toward their respective cssrooms, and Noah headed to the basement. He had to visit two squads and test their powers when coupled with Eternal Chains, then grind some hollows until he unlocked the shared immortality perk. And then with whatever time would be left, start training Kyouka.