The Prince of Sloth [DxD]

In a private room of the Abaddon Castle

"I'm not so sure about that, Moros… under these circumstances, it wouldn't work out," Malakarion said, shaking his head.

Moros Abaddon let out a helpless sigh. "Is that so…?" he murmured before adding, "Here I was, hoping that a marriage between the Abaddon and Belphegor households would strengthen our ties…" His tone carried a hint of disappointment as he continued, "But it seems I was being overly optimistic."

Sephie gently shook her head. "Under different circumstances, we would have considered this engagement. However, given this child's situation, we cannot agree to this marriage." She paused briefly before adding, "I mean no disrespect, Lord Abaddon, but the difference in status is simply too great for her to become my son's first wife. It wouldn't be a suitable match."

Malakarion nodded in agreement with his wife. "If you were in our position, you wouldn't accept this marriage proposal either."

Moros Abaddon smiled bitterly and nodded. "Yes… that is true…" he admitted with a sigh. "I was just hoping that things might work out somehow…" Still clinging to a sliver of hope, he added, "The child is clearly very talented… Even the Abaddon trait has been awakened at such a young age."

Malakarion sighed, his expression helpless. "Even if that's the case, Moros… it simply isn't possible," he replied. "With her status, she wouldn't be able to stand beside my son."

Marriage between nobles was a complicated affair. Beyond character, knowledge, education, and talent, status played a crucial role—some devils would even argue it was the most important factor. The House of Belphegor itself is of a higher status than the House of Abaddon and, on top of that, the child's status. Given the significant disparity in status between the two parties, Malakarion and Sephie were naturally unwilling to accept the engagement proposal from the House of Abaddon.

"I see…" Moros Abaddon muttered, disappointment evident in his tone.

Noticing his expression, Sephie hesitated before asking, "Lord Abaddon… why do you insist on this marriage? After all… she is…"

Moros pursed his lips before answering, "Because that child has no future within the Abaddon Household…"

"I see… is it because the House of Abaddon is a Patriarchy?" mumbled Sephie understanding Moros' reasons.

"That…" nodded Moros whispering to himself, "And well… a few more reasons…" He paused briefly before continuing in a low whisper, "That's why I want her out of this house before it's too late…"

He refrained from elaborating further, unwilling to disclose the political struggles within the Abaddon family. He had simply hoped the Belphegors would accept his offer, allowing him some peace of mind.

"It's that bad, huh?" Malakarion murmured, stroking his chin thoughtfully.

Even if Moros chose not to explain, Malakarion wasn't a fool. As the former head of the House of Belphegor, he understood the struggles that came with being the Head of a Household and all the political struggle that constantly goes on even within the Household.

Without needing further clarification, he had already grasped the implications, 'With Bedeze Abaddon around, Moros might not really have much say on the matters anymore…'

It was quite likely that the one actually controlling the House of Abaddon was Moros' wife, Kyra Abaddon and Moros was just a puppet at this point.

Of course, even if Malakarion understood the situation Moros was facing, that didn't mean he intended to interfere. The internal affairs of the Abaddon Household had nothing to do with him, the former head of the Belphegor family. Besides, he had no interest in involving himself in troublesome matters that didn't concern him or his household.

Sephie, on the other hand, had something else in mind and suddenly proposed, "Well then… I have another suggestion for you, Lord Abaddon."

Both Moros and Malakarion turned to her with curiosity. "A suggestion, you say?"

Sephie nodded with a smile. "Indeed. Would you like to hear it?"

Moros, having few options available, nodded. "Please, go ahead."

"While a marriage with that child is not possible due to the difference in status, that doesn't mean we can't take her in," Sephie explained. "While keeping everything you have informed us of her status and situation in mind, we are willing to take her in, though it would be as a servant."

Malakarion considered this for a moment before nodding. "Hmm… If she is brought in as a servant, then there wouldn't be an issue of the difference in status. Besides, Seir doesn't have any capable attendants around him. I suppose this arrangement could work."

"As a servant, huh?" Moros murmured thoughtfully.

Sephie elaborated further, making her suggestion clear. "You see, Lord Abaddon, my son seems inclined to follow in his elder sister's footsteps—at least to some extent—and will likely establish his own peerage of reincarnated devils. Although he hasn't begun searching for suitable individuals to reincarnate as his servants yet, he will probably do so in the near future. If this child's talent is as exceptional as you claim, she could become a valuable addition to his peerage."

She then added as a side note, "This arrangement would also fulfill your goal of removing her from the Abaddon Household while securing her future elsewhere. Given that, I see no reason why this proposal wouldn't be acceptable to you. Of course, I can assure you that my son will treat her well."

Moros did not respond immediately, instead falling into deep thought as he considered Sephie's proposal, 'I was hoping for a marriage… but it appears that really wouldn't be possible… hmm… so the option of being the next head's attendant… well…' However, his contemplation was abruptly interrupted by a knock at the door.

Without waiting for permission, his personal butler entered the room. "I apologize for the intrusion, my Lord…"

Moros immediately turned to him, noting the butler's urgency. "Malrik… what's the matter?"

The fact that Malrik had entered unannounced—interrupting an important meeting with the Belphegors—told Moros that whatever the butler had to say was of utmost importance.

Malakarion and Sephie exchanged curious glances as Malrik stepped closer and leaned in to whisper something to Moros. "Something has happened in the gathering hall… son of Lord Tannin and the child of the Belphegors…" he began, proceeding to explain the situation in hushed tones.

As Moros listened, his eyes widened in surprise. "Huh? Something like that happened at the gathering?"

Malakarion turned to the Head of the Abaddon Household and asked, "Moros, is everything alright?"

Moros blinked, as if momentarily lost in thought, before nodding. "Hmm? Oh… actually, this matter concerns the two of you as well."

Sephie and Malakarion exchanged glances. "Concerns us?" Sephie questioned.

Moros sighed before explaining, "Apparently… your son has gotten into a conflict with Tannin's son."

"Huh? Our son?" Sephie and Malakarion looked at each other in shock.

"Are you certain?" asked Malakarion in disbelief. For a moment, he even doubted his own ears. 'My son… in a conflict?' The notion seemed almost absurd to him. In his opinion, Seir was far too composed, distant, and mature to engage in a dispute—especially with a young dragon.

Sephie, however, was more concerned about her son's well-being. She quickly turned to the butler. "How is my Seir? He isn't injured, is he?"

Malrik responded politely, "The conflict hasn't escalated, and Lord Seirios has not sustained any injuries… however—"

"However, what?" Sephie interjected anxiously.

Malrik hesitated briefly before continuing, "Lord Bova Tannin has challenged Lord Seirios Belphegor to a duel to redeem his honor… and it seems Lord Seirios Belphegor has accepted the challenge upon Lord Mephisto Pheles' request."

"What? Seir is dueling with Tannin's son?!" Malakarion and Sephie exclaimed in unison.

Moros also reacted, though for a different reason. "Wait… did you say Lord Mephisto Pheles appeared at the gathering?"

Malrik nodded before elaborating, explaining how Bova Tannin suddenly attacked Seir, how Roygun and Tannin interfered and stopped the fight, how Bova initially challenged Seir, but Seir refused to accept the challenge because he found the notion of dueling the young dragon with nothing at stake utterly pointless, how Mephisto Pheles' unexpected arrival ultimately led to Seir accepting the duel, and how Kyra Abaddon and her younger brother Bedeze Abaddon found this turn of events quite exciting so immediately approved of it.

Moros frowned. 'I hadn't expected Mephisto Pheles to attend this gathering…' He knew that, as the host, he needed to personally greet Mephisto Pheles.

Malakarion and Sephie couldn't help but feel a growing concern for Seir.

Without wasting any more time, all three stood up, swiftly making their way back to the gathering hall.

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At the Gathering Hall

Whisper~ Whisper~

The gathering hall buzzed with murmurs as attendees speculated about the upcoming duel, each discussing their thoughts on who would emerge victorious.

"I think Tannin's third son has higher chances..."

"Fufu~ It will definitely be my nephew..."

Some placed their bets on Bova, believing his dragon heritage and age advantage would secure his victory. Others, however, were confident that Seirios, despite being younger, would prove to be the stronger of the two and defeat Bova in the duel.

As various discussions continued among the gathered groups, Tannin approached Mephisto Pheles with a puzzled expression.

"Mephisto… are you going to tell me what's really going on?"

Mephisto tilted his head slightly. "What do you mean?"

"Don't play coy with me," Tannin said, narrowing his eyes. "First of all, Let alone me, no one expected you to attend this gathering because you don't attend any gathering, isn't that why I am here? And second, your sudden interest in watching the duel between Bova and that Belphegor boy… well, I find it rather unusual. On top of that, you're offering Chastiefol as a reward." He crossed his arms. "No matter how I look at it, this all seems a bit odd. You've always kept your distance from the Underworld, yet now, you're suddenly showing interest. So tell me… why?"

Hearing Tannin's doubts, Mephisto thoughtfully stroked his chin.

"Hmm… Now that I think about it, my actions must seem rather strange from your perspective." He sighed and shook his head. "But if I'm being honest, I don't have a concrete answer to your questions. My attendance at this gathering? Pure coincidence. Arriving at the hall just as those two were arguing over the duel? Also a coincidence. But my decision to watch the duel…" He paused, then smirked. "Now, that is certainly not a coincidence. Rather, it's curiosity."

Tannin rolled his eyes at Mephisto's cryptic manner of speaking. "Just get to the point already."

Mephisto shrugged. "There isn't much of a point, really. It's just a mix of curiosity and interest."

"In what, exactly?" Tannin asked skeptically.

"In that boy's talent," Mephisto answered, his gaze shifting toward Seirios in the distance. He elaborated, "During my time as the Chairman of Grauzauberer, I've met more magicians than I can count. But, if I'm being honest, I've never encountered a child—less than five years old—capable of constructing a magic circle of that caliber. The spell he was about to cast, though left incomplete, was impressive. That level of skill at such a young age… It speaks of remarkable talent." His lips curled into a small smile. "I suppose you could call this an old magician's intrigue."

"Through this duel, I want to determine whether what I witnessed was merely a fluke or if the child is truly as talented as I believe," Mephisto added.

"I see…" Tannin murmured, beginning to understand. If he were in Mephisto's place and had stumbled upon a young dragon with extraordinary potential, he might have reacted the same way.

He would have wanted to assess the young dragon's true potential and nurture its talent.

In fact, Tanning also understands that he wasn't the only one who thought this way—most people would feel the same. A great swordsman would naturally want to teach and nurture a talented sword user, just as a martial artist would seek to train a promising disciple if they find one.

Seeing Tanning understand, Mephisto smiled, and apologized, "Though I must also apologize since I ended up using little Bova just to humor my intrigue…"

Tannin shrugged. "It doesn't matter… that boy is getting out of hand, and hopefully, this will serve as a lesson for him." As long as Bova's life wasn't in danger, the former Dragon King had no reason to interfere. Besides, it was Bova who had asked for the duel, Bova who had started the fight, and Bova who had foolishly issued the challenge to Seir.

On the other hand, Tannin was curious about something else. "So, do you intend to take him as an apprentice if he shows the talent you expect?"

"Well, that is certainly th—" Mephisto began, but he was abruptly interrupted.

"I apologize for interrupting your discussion and for being blunt, but I'm afraid that won't be possible… You will not be able to take Seirios Belphegor as your apprentice, Lord Mephisto."

Both Mephisto and Tannin raised their eyebrows and turned toward the speaker. "Kaelus Mammon?"

"A pleasure, Lord Mephisto, Lord Tannin…" Kaelus Mammon greeted with a courteous bow. Beside him, Rudiger also bowed respectfully.

"Lord Mephisto, it has been a while… and Lord Tannin," Rudiger added.

Mephisto and Tannin acknowledged their greetings before Tannin raised a questioning brow. "What do you mean, Kaelus Mammon?"

"Hahaha… well, this is quite the peculiar situation, isn't it?" Kaelus mused, taking a leisurely sip of wine from his glass before continuing. "The Chairman of Grauzauberer has taken an interest in the young Belphegor boy and is considering taking him as an apprentice, while the founder of Rosenkreutzer has already been his master—teaching him magic for the past eight months. My, my… what an interesting turn of events."

"Huh? His master?" Mephisto turned to Rudiger, his curiosity piqued. "Is that true?"

Rudiger offered a small smile and nodded. "Indeed, Lord Mephisto… I was fortunate enough to have the opportunity, and I am glad I accepted. That boy—his talent is truly exceptional."

"Oh well…" Mephisto murmured, a hint of disappointment in his voice. If the boy had already been taken under someone's wing, there was nothing more he could do. With a shrug, he sighed, "I suppose fate has guided him elsewhere…"

In his opinion, having an apprentice would have been both fun and interesting. However, upon learning that Seirios already had a master—none other than Rudiger—Mephisto quickly dropped the idea, brushing it off without much concern. Even if he firmly believed in the boy's talent, he wasn't petty enough to compete with Rudiger over such a matter.

"Hm? Welp, he gave up quite easily…" Kaelus Mammon raised an eyebrow, surprised by Mephisto's response. He had expected more resistance and was somewhat disappointed at how easily Mephisto let the matter go. But then, a thought crossed his mind, and he couldn't help but question, "Then, will you still reward the winner with the Demon Spear, Chastiefol?"

Mephisto responded calmly, "Chastiefol was promised as a reward to the winner of the duel. This matter has no bearing on that. If the Belphegor boy wins, he will receive it. If he loses, then the spear will go to the young dragon."

"I see…" Kaelus and Rudiger exchanged thoughtful glances, pondering Mephisto's words.

Hearing Mephisto's words, Tannin sighed, "Bova isn't the type to use weapons, so if he were to win the spear, he would just toss it into his treasure stash where it will continue to rust…"

Mephisto shrugged, "It's not like the spear is in any different state at the moment…"

"Haha… well, that might also be true…" nodded Tannin.

Mephisto, on the other hand, offered a slight smile and asked Rudiger, "Lord Rosenkreutz, what do you think? Who has the higher chance of winning between the two?"

Rudiger responded vaguely, "I cannot say for certain, as I am not well-acquainted with the strength of Lord Tannin's youngest son." Although he is well aware of Seirios' talent and mastery over elemental magic and telekinesis magic he has little information regarding Bova Tannin. All he knows is that Bova is the most talented among Tannin's children, which suggests he is quite formidable. However, whether his abilities are sufficient to defeat Seirios remains uncertain. Given this lack of knowledge, Rudiger chose not to provide a definitive answer.

"Is that so?" Mephisto murmured with a nod. "Well, no matter. We'll find out soon enough. Either way… they should be finishing up the artificial dimension setup soon."

Just as he finished speaking, Kyra Abaddon approached the group and informed them, "Everyone, the preparations are complete. We are about to begin the duel between the young Devil and the young dragon immediately."

"Yes, please do so…" everyone nodded in agreement.

"Well then…" Kyra murmured before waving her hand and instructing the servants, "Open the artificial dimension for viewing."

Immediately, a large holographic screen materialized at the center of the gathering hall, drawing everyone's attention. As the crowd focused on the display, an announcer's voice echoed through the hall, <>

While the announcer was speaking, Kaelus suddenly turned to Kyra with a question. "Lady Abaddon, I don't see the Grand Duke around. Will he not be joining us to watch this duel?"

Mephisto, Rudiger, and Tannin also looked at Kyra, awaiting her response.

Maintaining a neutral expression, Kyra replied, "I was informed that he had something important to discuss with the former Lord and Lady of the House of Belphegor. It is uncertain how long their discussion will last." She then offered a polite smile and continued, "Everyone seems eager for the fight, so we shouldn't keep th—"

Before she could finish, a voice she knew all too well interrupted her, "Ah… there he is, Lord Mephisto."

Everyone turned toward the source of the voice, and there it was, Moros along with Malakarion approaching them.

"It appears that their discussion has ended…" spoke Kaelus lightly.

"Yes, it appears so…" nodded Kyra with a neutral expression.

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While the men were engaged in discussion and anticipation of the duel, Sephie–having separated from Malakarion and Moros halfway through–made her way to where Roygun, Vermeil, and Finea were gathered.

"Oh… mother, you're back," spoke Roygun calling her out.

"Huh? Sister… how did it go?" Vermeil said casually, waving a hand in greeting.

"Lady Sephie," Finea nodded respectfully.

Sephie returned the greeting with a brief nod before turning her attention to Vermeil, her tone cold and sharp. "If I recall correctly, I left Seir in your care. How did things end up like this? What exactly were you doing?"

Roygun and Finea wisely chose to remain silent, sensing the irritation in Sephie's voice.

Feeling a chill from her sister's words and realizing that Sephie was a little displeased, Vermeil broke into a nervous sweat. Thinking quickly, she pointed toward the holographic screen, attempting to distract Sephie, "Oh… look there, that's the arena."

Truth be told, Sephie was sorely tempted to twist Vermeil's ear, but given the public setting and the fact that her younger sister was the Head of the Eisheth-Zenunim Household—someone who needed to maintain her dignity—she restrained herself. Instead, she let out a weary sigh.

"Well, forget it… Since things have already come to this, let them be," she muttered before shifting her attention to the screen.

With Sephie dropping the matter, Vermeil breathed a sigh of relief and focused on the screen–<<"On the left side, we have the young, talented, and exceptionally cute heir of the House Belphegor looking calmly at his opponent! And on the right side, we have the hotblooded youngest son of the former Dragon King, Tannin, ready to pommel down his enemy.">>

The artificial dimension set for their duel was a rocky valley and the two could be seen standing opposite to each other in a valley.

<<"With Lord Mephisto Pheles' generosity, the winner of this exhibition match will become the owner of the Demonic Spear Chastiefol… a spirit spear crafted by the fairies using magic and alchemy, later tainted with demonic power, and once Lord Mephisto's primary weapon for centuries.">>

Instantly, an image of the tainted Chastiefol appeared on the screen, suspended in the air and slowly rotating on its vertical axis. Those unaware of the prize were awed upon laying eyes on the legendary weapon.

"To think Lord Mephisto is offering such a valuable weapon as a reward to the winner…" someone in the audience muttered in surprise.

The others were also murmuring among themselves but nobody really had any objection and simply focused on the screen.

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With everyone's attention fixed on the holographic screen, no one noticed the small girl with shoulder-length blonde hair and green eyes peeking out from behind the pillars on the balcony of the viewing gallery on the first floor.

As she looked at the young boy and young dragon, she murmured softly to herself, "That person looks even younger than me… is he really going to fight that dragon?"

<<"Well then, by Lady Kyra's generosity, we have prepared two vials of Phoenix Tears, and will be used after the duel ends, so the two participants need not be afraid from hurting each other… and with that in mind, let the duel between the heir of the House of Belphegor – Seirios Vandegor Belphegor and the youngest son of the former Dragon King Tannin – Bova Tannin… Begin!">>

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Author's Note:

That's it for this Chapter. Enjoy reading it.

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