Living as I Please (LAP)

"___" Text speech

'___' Internal thoughts

[___] status

(___) skills

(Great Sage:___)

{Author:___} author notes

Some things are subject to change depending on how I develop this story

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------

As the night progressed, the ceremony reached its apex, and Meelis knew it was time for his address. The hall grew quiet as Grayfia stepped forward to introduce him, her voice ringing out clearly, commanding attention from every corner of the room.

"Esteemed members of the underworld nobility," she began, her tone formal yet warm, "I present to you Meelis, soon to establish his own peerage and begin his journey within our ranks."

Although he already has a peerage, normally establishing his peerage meant having a full peerage, hence why Grayfia used those words.

She inclined her head toward Meelis, and as she stepped back, all eyes fell on him. Standing beneath the grand chandeliers that bathed the hall in a glow of soft red and silver light, Meelis felt the weight of countless generations bearing down on him. This was his moment to define himself, not just as a member of the Zagan house but as an emerging devil lord in his own right.

He took a steady breath, exuding an air of calm confidence as he addressed the crowd. "Thank you all for honoring us with your presence tonight. It is no small thing to be gathered here with the most influential families of the underworld, and your presence reminds me of the strength, ambition, and pride that we devils hold dear."

A few murmurs of approval rippled through the crowd as he spoke, their interest piqued. He continued, his voice clear and measured, reflecting a poise that belied his age. "I am here not just to claim a place within our ranks but to contribute to the legacy of our world. We are all born with a role, a purpose, yet it is up to us to shape that destiny and make it worthy of remembrance."

He glanced around, meeting the eyes of several devils who had offered gifts, understanding that this speech was as much a display of his potential as any display of magic or power. "Tonight, I stand before you not only as a member of the Zagan house but as someone with a vision for the future. A vision that honors our traditions while embracing the possibilities of what we can achieve."

A few of the high-class devils exchanged glances, some raising eyebrows, intrigued by his self-assurance. They had expected the typical words of gratitude and humility; instead, Meelis had introduced an element of ambition that bordered on audacity, which inevitably will draw skepticism and hatred.

"Many of you have gifted me with tokens of wisdom, strength, and status," he continued, nodding to the Astaroth, Sitri, and Zepar families. "Each of your offerings will remind me of the heights that we as devils have reached, and the heights that I must yet aspire to."

He let a short pause settle, his gaze sweeping the crowd. "In the days ahead, I look forward to proving that these gifts were not given in vain. That your time and presence here tonight were well spent, as I intend to make my mark not just in name, but in actions that matter to us all."

There was a hint of challenge in his words, subtle yet undeniable. He wanted them to remember him not just for who he was tonight, but for who he would become.

With a final bow, Meelis concluded, "To all of you, thank you for being here to witness the beginning of what I hope will be a legacy that strengthens and uplifts the underworld for generations to come. Your support and your scrutiny will drive me forward."

The hall erupted into applause, some of it polite, others more enthusiastic, a few even grudging but respectful, but most were either sarcastic or ridicule. He had done what he came to do, planting the seeds of his ambition among those who would watch him most closely. This wasn't the end of his journey, it was the beginning, and he had given them all a reason to pay attention, as for whatever ridicule they were giving him, he did not care, at the it'll be him who's laughing.

As he stepped back, Rias and Grayfia exchanged a look of pride, and even Kuroka and Jeanne gave a small approving grin. For the first time that evening, Meelis felt the weight of his future settle upon him with a strange, exhilarating satisfaction. The underworld had taken notice, and that was exactly as he intended.

As the applause subsided, Meelis stepped back, grateful to have completed his speech. He was about to rejoin his peerage when a sudden shift in the atmosphere caught his attention. The crowd parted slightly, and Meelis saw a tall, imposing figure advancing toward him: Lord Bael himself, the head of the prestigious Bael family and one of the most powerful devils in the underworld. His gaze was intense, a reminder of the Bael legacy, a family that prided itself on its power and purity as the first of the 72 Pillars.

Lord Bael's presence alone commanded silence, and even the most arrogant nobles were wary in his vicinity. He stopped in front of Meelis, his dark, penetrating eyes assessing him with an unreadable expression. Meelis met his gaze, refusing to falter under the weight of the older devil's scrutiny.

After a long pause, Lord Bael spoke, his voice deep and resonant. "So, this is the young devil who has everyone talking. I expected as much from a member of the Zagan family. Your speech was… ambitious."

Meelis inclined his head respectfully. "Thank you, Lord Bael. I'm honored that you've taken an interest."

Lord Bael looked down at Meelis with a faint smile, an expression that carried no warmth. "Interest, yes, but I am interested much more on your lineage," he remarked, his voice as smooth as it was firm. "It is unusual for a Zagan to make his mark without first seeking the wisdom of those who established the ranks you wish to enter."

Meelis sensed the underlying message, a veiled criticism about his independence. He met Lord Bael's gaze calmly. "Tradition holds weight, but I believe each devil must carve their own path."

Bael's smile thinned ever so slightly, a glint of irritation flashing in his eyes. "A noble sentiment, but the Underworld is not kind to those without alliances. There's power, yes, but it is... fragile on its own. Perhaps the Zagan could benefit from the Baels' experience. We have a long history of guiding promising young devils." His gaze was unblinking, a tacit reminder of the consequences that awaited those who chose to operate outside Bael's reach.

Meelis held his ground, the pressure of Bael's presence unmistakable, but he refused to be swayed. "I respect the Baels' contributions to our society. Yet my ambitions require me to prove myself in my own way. I aim to build something new, something that represents my peerage and ideals."

Lord Bael chuckled softly, but his tone hardened. "Youth can be stubborn, but in time, many come to see the value in aligning with tradition. I shall watch your rise with interest, young Zagan. I do hope you won't forget this night when the realities of the underworld press down."

The statement lingered with a pointed finality. Meelis nodded respectfully but internally steeled himself, he knew how petty Devils could be.

'Ungrateful kid, oh but he's going to regret it, the info we leaked should've reached those crows and pigeons by now, and considering he just did his ceremony now, any doubts about the authenticity the news should be thrown out, so once those pests start trying to assassinate him, he'll be forced to rely on us, those puny Satans cannot protect him, not with that mentality.' Lord Bael schemed in his head for Meelis' fate. 

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

LP: 500

Devil Nobility Class: Low, Mid, High, Ultimate, Special (these are the actual cannon rankings of DxD)

Devil Strength Rank: Low(F), Mid(E), High(D), Ultimate(C), Satan(B-), Maxed Longinus(B), Dragon Kings(B+), Heavenly Dragons/Super Devils(A), Indra/Shiva(A+), Ophis/Red(S+ to EX)

btw I excluded most of the content for the ceremony including performances by his peerage cause i thought itd be boring 

On on another note, Im not gonna be writing any chapters this next week, I have alot of assignments to do which are basically just projects idk why all of my classes decided to collectively post them on the same week so yeah college sucks, anyways no chapter on Wednesday but if i finish early I might post one on the weekend see ya'll then