The Wandering Devil (TWD)

The Wandering Devil

Chapter: 15

Note: to that one guy going crazy about the mc not being strong enough, as it's been stated multiple times. It's all about his demonic power control. Devils do NOT need magical circles, they are simply a temporary crutch. 

Since Zeohyrion wasn't able to complete his magic tutoring he didn't get past that. But he does know how to progress his demonic power control which he's been doing with great success. 

You'll see more examples of his true power. 

To everyone else I hope you enjoy. 

Pa/ t reon details below the chapter if you're interested in seeing some content in advance. I'll keep posting regardless. If you have any suggestions you would like to see added, I will try to incorporate what I can :)

(The Soma Familia)

The gates of the Soma Familia manor loomed ahead, all dark and foreboding like they were trying to give me a bad feeling or something. Too bad for them, I was a devil. So I kinda liked it.

My demonic energy boost had me feeling confident. Lili was waiting for me back at the church. I didn't want her to come just in case they decided to try to get rid of me. I really wouldn't put it past them.

I didn't know if Soma knew about his Familia or not but I would keep my guard up. I just needed to get in, get her released from their Familia and avoid stabbing anyone in the process.

I strolled through the main entrance like I owned the place. The guards didn't stop me, which was nice.

Either they didn't recognize me, or they just didn't want to deal with someone clearly oozing charm and swagger. Who could blame them, really? I suddenly found a blade pointed towards me.

Ah, Nevermind. It seems I've encountered the Soma Familia captain.

He was a tall guy with a face that made him look like he'd sucked on a lemon for breakfast. He was blocking my path, arms crossed with a scowl firmly set on his face. His aura screamed, "I'm important, and you're in my way." Fun.

"Soma Familia grounds are off-limits unless you are here for business in which you need to sign in," he growled, stepping forward, clearly trying to assert some dominance.

Time for diplomacy.

Calm, relaxed Zephyrion.

"I'm afraid I haven't booked a… appointment but I'm here to speak to your God. I have business with him." I replied calmly, a friendly smile set on my face.

He laughed.

"I'm afraid my Lord Soma does not take visitors from outside. Even as a member, you would find it hard to speak to him. How about you scurry along now." He responded with a smirk.

I ignored the annoyance. I knew he was going to be a pain anyway.

"I'm afraid this is a bit of an important case. I'm willing to pay though. It's about Lili. I want her to be released from this Familia and allowed to join mine." I continued on.

Hopefully, a bribe would settle him down. Again, I didn't exactly want to burn the entire place down, that would be a stupid move and these idiots certainly weren't worth that. I also doubted Ganesha would allow me to continue walking the streets in that case.

He raised an eyebrow and I could see his annoying smirk get a bit larger.

"Oh? You're willing to pay? Fine. How much?" The man whose name I hadn't gotten questioned.

I wasn't naive and this guy wasn't hard to read at all. It was a good thing I had demonic contracts that I had gotten ready for my trip. They came in handy with a lot of situations.

It would also be good to have a place to experiment with it in a world I didn't necessarily have any attachments to. That was if I could actually travel worlds and I wasn't just crazily chasing after a one-time event.

I checked my pouch on hand and winced as if what I was going to offer was a lot. Didn't want him getting suspicious and thinking I was some high ranking Adventurer.

While some may think that brute forcing it that way was a better idea, I didn't. I would also get a minute demonic power increase. It was a win-win. Well, me being the one winning.

"How does 10,000 vali sound?" I offered with false hesitation.

He grinned.

"Sure, that'll do. Hand it over and I'll take you towards my Lord." He offered.

I smiled and nodded, proceeding to pull out one of my demonic contracts and handing it towards him with a pen.

"Would you mind signing this?" I asked, handing it to him with the kind of friendly expression that makes people think they're getting a great deal.

He squinted down at the contract, clearly suspicious, turning it over in his hands. "What is this?" he asked, brow furrowed.

"It's a contract," I replied, I kept my tone light and casual.

I gave him a friendly smile.

"It's a contract."

He looked at it closer. "I don't see any guild emblem."

I spread my hands in an exaggerated shrug.

"Of course not. It's just a little something for my Familia records, so my Goddess knows where the funds are going," I said, keeping a salesman's smile firmly planted on my face.

My voice was casual and reassuring. Totally not lying. Not at all.

I was blatantly lying, but signing a contract didn't require me to be truthful. It's why devils use to trick people into them of course. Oh, wait. I was technically breaking the laws set by my elder sibling.

"…"

Oh well.

He hesitated for a moment, then shrugged like he'd decided it didn't matter. No guild emblem meant it couldn't be official, right? Well, technically he was correct but he was also dealing with a Devil.

Poor little guy probably thought it was just a meaningless piece of paper.

Without a second thought, he grabbed the pen and signed his name in sloppy, careless letters, like he was rushing to finish. I watched on with hawk-like eyes.

I immediately retrieved the Demonic Contract after he signed it. I felt it connected in the back of my mind.

Without a care, I pulled out a pouch filled with about 11,000 Vali and tossed it over to him. The leather bag jingled as it sailed through the air, landing in his outstretched hand. He glanced inside it, counting it quickly.

It was my personal money and not the little bank I had set up for Hestia. Which was flowing with quite a bit of Vali. We easily made a lot more in the dungeon.

"So, would you mind showing me to Soma?" I asked.

He tossed the bag of Vali's in his hand casually, titling his head with a taunting smirk. His eyes gleamed with a weird mix of arrogance and amusement.

"Nah, I don't think I will-" he was cut off.

He fell to the ground and let out a scream of pain. His body was spasming in pain.

So that does work. One of the nastiest contracts I had drafted. I wasn't totally sure if my little backlash addition would work. To think a contract he signed so carelessly had this effect.

It was a bit fascinating, but ultimately not good timing as the guards quickly rushed me. I hadn't moved a hand against him. So I technically had no fault.

The pain stopped and he panted.

"What the hell did you do?" He growled.

"Nothing much, but if you don't deliver on your promise that nasty little shock is going to be repeatedly coming back until you do. But, hey. If that's how you want to live." I replied casually, shrugging helplessly.

"Sir, shall we apprehend him?" One of the lower-ranked adventurers acting as guards asked.

I would rather not. I was technically trespassing and elevating this into a fight wasn't my intention.

Despite this, my smile didn't falter. Something he picked up on.

"No. Leave us and return to your posts." He ordered and they hesitantly obeyed. He turned towards me with a furious scowl. "I don't know what sort of magic you've inflicted on me, but remove it at once."

He stood up and dusted himself off.

"Take me to Soma and I'll happily do that. Is it really worth kicking up all this fuss over one girl?" I asked, giving him a disappointed look.

For me it was.

Lili was a good Porter who could actually keep us with our craziness. That was invaluable. She would also become loyal to the Familia too.

He sneered and went to raise a fist only to drop down onto the floor in pain. His body spasmed and his teeth gritted.

"Yikes, that looks painful. Would hate to be you." I idly commented. Something in me was enjoying this which was a tiny bit worrying.

My devil instincts had become a bit stronger after getting the seal weakened. I hadn't really specified the pain but considering he was a seasoned adventurer despite his thuggish demeanour. It must hurt like a bitch.

He got up again. Breathing heavily. He scoffed. "Fine, follow me." he spat, motioning for me to follow him deeper into the manor.

Even with his defiant demeanour, I could see that he was shaken. Which was understandable. He had no idea what I did to him, but it wouldn't take a genius to guess it had something to do with the contract.

Despite his idiotic behaviour he seemed somewhat competent.

I kept my hands tucked in my pockets, looking around as we walked. The place was a bit more upscale than I'd expected. Clean, cold stone walls lined with the occasional torch flickering weakly.

There wasn't much decoration, just a few alcoves with wine barrels and the odd door leading to who-knows-where. The smell of fermenting alcohol was easily noticeable in the air, subtle but constant, like the manor itself was a giant wine cellar.

That didn't come as much of a surprise considering what I knew about Soma himself…

We passed a few Familia members who nodded towards the Familia captain. They all looked pretty thuggish which was to be expected since they were all addicted to Soma's wine. Which essentially made them wine addicts.

He kept sending glances back my way warily, his hand on his sword. I wasn't worried. He was level two. Technically the same level as me but the gap between us was too wide. He was probably in the low-class according to my memories of the devils rankings.

We came upon a door and The captain knocked twice, then opened the door without waiting for a response.

Inside was a man that I assumed was Soma, he was seated behind a heavy oak desk, a glass of wine in his hand, looking about as lively as a statue.

He had long hair and his eyes half-lidded as he stared into the middle distance, like he was contemplating the mysteries of the universe or just really into the flavour of his drink.

"Lord Soma," The captain greeted.

I felt the demonic contract completion, a tiny amount of demonic energy added to my own. It was much lower than usual but I guess the contract had been pretty simple.

Soma didn't answer and the Soma Familia Captain whose name I hadn't bothered getting turned towards me. Motioning to say what I needed to say with a scowl.

"Soma. I've come to bargain." I started. "Liliruca Arde no longer wishes to be a part of your Familia and instead wants to join the Hestia Familia. I am sure we can come to some sort of agreement."

He slowly glanced at me, showing no care for what I had to say.

"You wish to take away a member of my Familia?" He questioned boredly. His eyes went back to the wine he was brewing.

"Yes." I replied.

"Talk about it with Zanis. He has been given responsibility over the matter. Now, if you would please leave." He answered uncaringly.

My fist clenched.

The newly named Zanis made a thoughtful gesture.

"Hmm, no. I don't think it's in the best interest of the Soma Familia to release one of its… finest support members." He said, a growing smile on his face.

"Well. You heard him. Time to go." The Captain said smugly, putting his hand on my shoulder.

My face twitched and I elbowed him in the stomach. Hard enough he was forced to the ground with a wheeze. My chest started to rise with a familiar burning sensation.

I was going to need to find a way to control my wrath. While I didn't mind resorting to violence if it was needed most of the time and I did truly enjoy fighting, sometimes things couldn't just be solved with violence.

Like now, unless I went the God killer route. Which felt oddly tempting. I took a deep breath.

Soma still didn't care. Seeing him act so careless was annoying. Lili had been bullied into the Familia from my memory and treated like shit during her time in the Familia.

A blade of wind condensed and destroyed the wine brewery. The wine splashing on the floor and leaving a mess. Zanis stood up and attempted to punch me only to find himself rooted to the ground. His feet embedded in the floor.

He scowled and ripped his feet from the ground, charging me immediately as he released himself. Only to find a slab of earth to rise up and hit him hard in the stomach with a flick of my wrist.

"I'm afraid I can't accept that. One way or the other. How about you take some fucking responsibility instead of spending your time brewing your shitty wine." I annoyedly said.

"My 'shitty wine'?" He asked himself before looking at me "Do you plan to force me?" He asked boredly. A hint of annoyance on his face.

"Not if I don't have to. Don't make an illogical choice for a girl you barely care about." I warned him.

The itch in my chest intensified.

"How far are you willing to go I wonder." He mused.

"I won't foolishly attack you now, that would draw in adventurers to arrest me and when they fail they would simply bring in stronger ones to apprehend me. But I will challenge you to a war game and I will take EVERYTHING from you." My face twisted as my emotions got the better of me. "Force me to go to that length. Force me through that hassle and I'll have to make it worth my time."

I took a calming breath again.

Yep. I was definitely a Wrath Devil. Just like my elder sister. This had shown itself in many insistes such as the time I fought the Black Goliath. I really needed to try to control it.

I had definitely got better at it but the newly strengthened wrath instincts were making it hard.

"Such conviction. Fine. A war game would be inconvenient. Especially for my brewing. Successfully drink my perfected-wine without succumbing to it and I'll grant you your request." He offered lazily.

I paused. I had known he would potentially ask me this. Did I want to risk it? I had no doubt it would taste amazing. It was quite literally divine-made wine. Made by a God Of Wine.

Ah, who was I kidding. If Lili could do it I can. I wasn't a heavy wine connoisseur in either of my past lives so I didn't know what to expect. I was confident in my ability to not get addicted to it.

I gave him a confident smirk.

"Deal." I replied.

Soma stood up, walking over to a cabinet. All the while Zanis was still recovering on the floor behind me. He opened it up and brought out an expensive wine bottle, with golden embroidery.

The liquid inside was blue, which became more prominent as he poured it into a small glass. Filling it half away before corking the bottle. He sat down the bottle and looked at me. That bored look in his eyes lessened, replaced with intrigue.

I inspected it closely, I really wish I had been given some sort of appraisal magic when I was isekaied or doubled isekaied. It could technically be possible with my imagination magic but it wasn't exactly as easy as just imagining it.

It's why I couldn't just suddenly start imagining time stopping, besides the insane demonic energy cost which was amplified the more complex the demonic spell. It was also why I stuck with elemental spells for the most part, except a few tricky spells like the sound barrier and teleportation.

That was mostly from my devil tutelage and books I had read on them though, which gave me the understanding to make them function. Appraisal magic would need a whole system to be imagined into existence.

Something to look into when I wasn't just leaving the novice stage of demonic energy control.

I picked up the glass. I didn't need to put my nose close to the glass to smell it, my enhanced sense smelling the pleasant aroma. Soma was watching me carefully, a lot more focus in his eyes than he had to begin with.

Raising the glass I drank.

As expected it was delicious. Its texture was smooth and it tasted like sweet berries. I could definitely see why in this mediaeval world that this would be addictive.

The devil side of me hadn't been allowed to have alcohol due to having a certain two overprotective elder sisters. Those two had been the cause for much of my underdevelopment compared to my peers.

While my human side had to admit that this would cost a true fortune even in his world. I finished it and fought to keep my face straight. My tastebuds were exploding with flavour, but it wasn't enough to overwhelm me.

I definitely had a desire for more, but I could control it.

My eyes met Soma's intrigued ones.

"I've had better." I forced myself to say. The spite I felt from this whole situation helped with my defiance. Wrath was a pretty broad spectrum.

He observed me closely for a few seconds before smiling.

"I see, how amusing. I must admit I had expected you to beg or at least bargain for some more wine. That's how it mostly goes." Soma admitted.

I shrugged. "It was pretty decent I guess."

Hopefully this would mean Lili could leave. I didn't want to leave empty handed.

He stared at me again for a few seconds before nodding.

"It would seem that way wouldn't it? Fine. Bring the girl to me and I will release her to Hestia." Soma finally agreed.

I grinned.

"What?! Lord Soma please take time to consider." Zain suddenly spoke up.

I nearly tore his head off.

This guy had been pissing me off from the first time I had met him. It was bad enough he had forced Lili into his Familia and bullied her for years. Normally I wouldn't care but Lili was a friend and under my wing.

"He won my little bet, backing out now would be an insult to my status as a God." Soma replied dismissively. "Now, go and return with the girl."

I quickly found myself outside alone with a pissed-off Zain.

He glared at me.

"This won't be the end of this-"

I grabbed his ear, twisting it painfully.

It seems his recovery from my little attack had given him some confidence. You would think he would know how to put his head down in front of a superior enemy.

It was needless to say I was done with his shit.

I could put up with a lot for people who had good reasons or who I liked. This guy had neither privilege.

"This isn't going to be the end of what? Did I hit you too hard? To give such confidence." I scowled.

He reached for his sword only to receive a hard punch to his stomach. The force sent him back and nearly ripped his ear off as he was forced to stay in place.

As blood trickled down the side of his face his eyes widened.

"I didn't mean anything by it, I was just humiliated." He quickly replied.

I released him.

"That better be the case. I swear if I even see you come near my Familia I will kill you and everyone associated with you. I may have been willing to play lawfully to get Lili into my Familia but that's because any crime would be tracked back to me." I said.

"You are a single man compared to a Familia. Much more manageable." I finished.

I walked away.

Taking a deep breath I forced myself to relax.

Hopefully that would convince him to not go ahead with any stupid plans. Because I wasn't joking.

If he came after the people who belonged to me I would kill him.

-Scene Break-

I watched Hestia apply her Falna onto Lili's back with a self-satisfied grin. We had our Porter. We didn't need anyone else. I didn't really want our Familia to become big.

Bell had already been pushing it and Lili was a necessity to maximise our gains within the dungeon. She was also a girl so I didn't feel as predatory.

Lili got up, seemingly shocked she was finally out of the Soma Familia. Which didn't last long as she turned to me and quickly jumped into my arms. I laughed and patted her head.

Pallum Acquired.

I trusted Lili enough to take care of Bell. She was pretty smart, something I had learnt both from my time spent with her and what I knew of the original timeline.

"Thank you." She muttered.

"No problem, I couldn't have our Pallum being bullied by a bunch of thugs." I laughed.

Hestia put a hand on her hip.

"How did you do it anyway?" She questioned with a raised eyebrow.

"With skill and diplomacy." I replied confidently.

She sent me a flat stare.

"Really." She said doubtfully.

I crossed my arms back at her.

"Yes. I merely boxed Soma in a battle of words until he challenged me to overcome his wine in exchange for Lili. Which as you can see was successful." I responded with false smugness.

I'll leave out the part where I knocked out the Soma Familia Captain and forced him into a contract that caused him excruciating bursts of pain if he didn't fulfil his end of the deal.

"Right…"

She definitely didn't believe me.

I spoke with Bell and Lili for a while, giving them instructions for my brief absence before Hestia pulled me for a private conversation.

"What's up?" I asked, wrapping my arms around her.

She took a deep breath and looked conflicted.

"Girls." Hestia replied.

I paused in confusion.

What…?

"I think this needs some elaboration."

"More specifically our relationship." She continued.

Ah. Ok. I think I was starting to understand.

"What about it?" I questioned.

She released herself from my embrace and paced around a bit nervously.

"Zephyrion, you are incredible and unique. I always find myself grateful for the fact that you found me." She sighed. "And it's for this reason I know you're going to draw in other women…"

I froze.

I hadn't really thought about it. I had been having lustful thoughts about other women but I was a Devil… it was also just the way I acted. It didn't help that I had sudden sexual desires which the previous Zephyrion didn't have.

I would be willing to suppress that for Hestia though. She was perhaps even compared to my old world, one of the most beautiful and kindest women I had met.

"Hestia-" I went to assure her only to get cut off as she kissed me deeply.

"Don't worry Zephyrion. I understand. It's why I'll let it happen."

I gawked.

She smirked sexily.

"As long as I'm your only wife. I will always be your first woman and the one that matters most above all others. Also if I don't like her she will have to go" Hestia rattled off, an obsessive gleam coming out in full force.

I regained my composure and smiled. I hadn't really come into the need to ask her of this and I would have made her my only woman had she asked but I appreciated it.

That wasn't to say I planned to go stick my dick into every hot woman. I was surprisingly picky when it came down to it.

I nodded.

"Ok, I agree to those terms." I leaned down. "My future wife."

She blushed furiously.

"Make sure to come back fast, I'll be waiting for you to pound me into a mess." Hestia whispered.

I very nearly delayed my trip right then and there.

-{Freya}-

Freya sipped on her expensive wine as she thought about the source of her new obsession.

Zephyrion Gremory.

The boy had shown that it wasn't his aura that was the only special thing about him. Those special eyes of his, coloured in a way that shouldn't be naturally possible.

Her thoughts went to the contracts he had handed out. She was glad she had snagged a few over the short period they were being handed out. It would have made her little test much harder if she only had one.

Getting Vander to use the contract hadn't been hard. He had possessed such a hate for the thug who had killed his brother along with his brother's wife.

It was a test.

Firstly she had wondered how he would get to the contractors house. Would he awkwardly run over and knock on the door to his house? Or was there more to the strange energy she could sense on the flyers.

He didn't disappoint.

In a flash of red light he had seemingly teleported there. She had been forced to stop herself from jumping him. He became more unique as she observed him more.

She just wanted to have him all to herself. Away from that hussy who had fallen in love with him.

Freya had one of her strongest Adventures follow him with a device she could use to watch him. She had been surprised and embarrassingly aroused when he had gone through with the deal. The prices had intrigued her too.

It had a lot of meaning and made his contracts a power in of itself. Being able to trade above worldly items was… a heavenly shaking revelation. Twenty five percent of Vanders total strength and stamina.

She had watched it happen.

Freya suddenly scowled as she remembered one of her supposedly strongest Familia member got caught. Though it had allowed her to watch him fight. It was still unacceptable.

Now he knew.

Her Zephyrion would be on alert.

A man entered the room. Interrupting her thoughts and causing her to raise an eyebrow.

"My lady, Zephyrion Gremory has been seen leaving Orario."

She twitched.

"Follow him." She quickly ordered.

-{Zephyrion}-

I walked into a clearing outside of the walls of Orario. A sword strapped to my side.

Now.

How to go about this? I was almost certain I had some kind of dojutsu type power. My eyes had glowed when I was transported and the actual colour of the weird portal had been the same multitude of colours as my eyes.

I wouldn't have planned so thoroughly had I not been confident.

I felt like an idiot as I clenched my eyes, straining them to try to use it. I looked like an idiot… only for something in me to pulse and the world around me to crack.

My last thoughts as I slipped into the strange place were along the lines of.

I expected that to be harder.

-END-

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