Ch 63: The Ceremony of Unveiling

After returning home, Maria, Layla and Iris had discussed their day's events for a while, chatting as they watched the television for news of more former sponsors being arrested. Their concerns about their friends' treatment over at Noah's mansion had been mostly appeased, and Noah had invited them to come back soon. They also had smartphones now, and would be able to communicate with each other.

It was getting late, and they wished each other a good night before retiring to their bedrooms.

Layla undressed, throwing her clothes in a pile. She would deal with those later. She took a quick shower, thanking whoever had decided to give them an apartment with multiple bathrooms, dried her body, and went to her closet for one of the three pajamas Noah had made for her, and a pair of panties.

And when she rifled among the white ones to take one that she thought would fit her the best, her fingers made contact with something cool and slippery. Frowning, she pushed some of the panties away to reveal what she had touched, and dubiously lifted it to take a closer look.

It was a pair of white panties made of latex. Until now, she had never even imagined panties could be made of that material. The only things made of latex she had seen before she was brought to the island were gloves for house cleaning or surgery.

Had Noah made a mistake? Maybe whatever his power was, glitched for a moment, and none of them noticed at the time? Or maybe it was some kind of hidden congratulatory gift for her new life out of the island?

The material was strange, but they did feel nice to the touch. On impulse, she decided to put them on.

As the latex was elastic, it fit perfectly on her body like a second skin, and she liked how it felt on her skin.

Layla gingerly ran two of her fingers along the slick exterior, and it somehow felt better than touching herself with her naked fingers. She liked this more and more.

After a minute of gently fingering herself, Layla got an idea and checked the small wicker basket holding her bras. And there it was, a white bra also made of latex.

It wasn't a mistake after all, but a gift. Noah had obviously been too embarrassed to tell her about it at the time, so he had been sneaky. She would have to tell him thanks in private later.

Although it was definitely a strange gift. Even if he had made no secret about wanting her, what kind of guy gifted underwear to a girl who wasn't his girlfriend? The Noah kind of guy, apparently.

Now turned on after fingering herself, Layla didn't hesitate long before putting on the latex bra. She might need to take another shower later, but it was fine with her, she decided as she gently kneaded her breasts through the material.

…

The next day's school activities passed in a flash for Noah, who paid more attention to upgrading the demonic spells he knew with the assistance of his Arcana than to the lessons. After school, he spent a few hours in the company of Rias and the rest of her peerage, chatting about many things, then, fifteen minutes before midnight, returned to the school grounds. Lizel, Miyabi and Reina were waiting for him, in the company of two young women he had never met before but knew from the novel.

"Nooahh! You okaaaay? This is your big debut!" grinned Miyabi.

"Cool as a cucumber, thanks. How about you girls? Nervous?"

"I-I'm nervous…b-but I'll d-do my best, desu desu!" said Reina, cheering herself cutely.

"Have you memorized your speech, Noah?" asked Lizel

"Yes. It's a short one."

"Noah, this is Stella Hoshigaoka. You may have heard of her." said Lizel with a small smile.

Stella was a tall girl with long, straight platinum-blonde hair and green eyes, and a curvy body. She wore a cat ears shaped headband. She was stunningly beautiful, as to be expected of someone originally meant to later join the protagonist's harem, but the most striking part of her body were her star-shaped pupils.

"Indeed. It is nice to meet you, Hoshigaoka-san. I've listened to a few of your songs, and I like them."

"Ehhh, I was curious about the human Lizel chose to entrust her hopes into. Are you perhaps the one who dealt with Hagun Island?"

"That's me. Although the Returnees did most of the fighting, after I got rid of the curse restraining them." replied Noah modestly.

"You can call me Stella. I am just a little bit interested in you. Tell me, what did you offer Lizel to join your side? Last I heard, she was waiting for the Lovers' candidate to appear."

Noah looked at Stella, giving her a choice about him telling them or not, and she shrugged.

"Noah has much greater odds of winning. And as far as politics goes, he will make an acceptable winner, for both me and you. That's all there is to it."

"Ahem." the girl standing behind Stella discreetly cleared her throat, and Stella turned to her.

"Noah, this is my childhood friend, Neith Carnac, who possess the Chariot Arcana."

"P-Pleased to meet you!" stammered Neith, half hiding behind Stella.

Neith had long blonde hairs, held away from her face by a red headband, and style into a single large braid in her back. She had a very tanned skin and large blue eyes, and her bust size was the biggest Noah had ever seen, even making Rias and Akeno look modest in comparison. Noah knew she was very shy in usual times, but her personality made a 180 when she used her power, and she could turn ruthless and decisive.

Noah smiled gently and nodded.

"It is nice to meet you, too. Can I call you Neith?"

Neith nodded shyly.

"Noah, Stella and Neith have been friends with me for a long time. I'd appreciate if you didn't attack them. And if you do, please go easy on them."

"Sure." shrugged Noah. "I never intended to kill the majority of my opponents in the first place."

"I told you, Lizel, not to underestimate me. If I fight with Noah, I'll be the one winning!" exasperatedly stated Stella, as she glared at him and Lizel in turns.

"Are you so sure about it? How about we make a bet, then?" Smiled Lizel slyly.

"…What kind of bet?" asked Stella, suddenly wary. She knew Lizel well, and when she was willing to make a bet, she was confident in her chances of winning. Maybe Lizel was creating the whole confrontation to create the conditions for the bet.

"How about this? I know you want me to become your card. If you fight Noah in a one-on-one duel, and defeat him, I'll become your card, but I'll ask you to include Miyabi and Reina with me. If you are the one being defeated, however, You and Neith will both become Noah's Cards."

"Me?" exclaimed Neith with astonishment.

Noah glanced at Lizel from the corner of his eyes. He knew she was very smart, but she was also proving herself a first-class wingman with this little scheme. Once she became part of the harem, Asuna would have some serious competition for the top spot.

"That's pretty unfair to me, Lizel. You know one of my main offensive attacks is a curse that only takes effect the next day, and it's lethal, not something I can use for a duel like this."

Lizel lowered her head in thought.

"You're correct. How about this, then? Noah will fight against you and Neith together. It's only fair she participates as well, if that bet influences her future."

Stella looked at Noah and Lizel in turns. She was still confident she could defeat Noah, who had just gotten his Arcana, but Lizel knew about her powers, and if she estimated Noah could defeat her… She, on the other hand, knew little about Noah's powers. It would be prudent to decline the bet.

And yet, if Noah really was strong enough to defeat both Neith and her at the same time…

"Noah, are you truly fine with it? Neith and I are strong, you know?"

"I'm fine with it. But Lizel, have you discussed this with Reina and Miyabi?"

"We have." said Miyabi, admitting the whole thing was a scheme.

When Stella thought about it carefully, this bet was a win-win situation for both her and Neith. If they won, Stella would add her second-best friend to her faction, and Miyabi and Reina were both strong enough and cute enough that she wouldn't mind adding them, too. And if they lost, being under Noah's protection would be safer, and should he win, she and Neith would gain some advantage out of it. It was an iron-clad custom for the winner to use their influence to give preferential treatment to their Cards.

Besides, Lizel was her friend, and Stella was certain that she wouldn't suggest a bet that would really make her suffer.

"Neith, do you trust me?" asked Stella, looking at her seriously.

"Yes." nodded Neith without hesitation.

"I'll accept, on the condition that Noah proves his strength by dealing with a few other candidates first, and that in the event of us losing, Noah would not be allowed to do naughty things to us without our consent, Cards or not."

"I also accept those conditions." nodded Noah.

Lizel smiled brightly at him, hoping that her instincts were right. She was going to bet everything on him.

"We should go, or we'll be late to the ceremony." said Miyabi.

"Yes. Noah, give Neith and I a minute to take our places before you enter." asked Stella.

"Yes. See you later."

Stella and Neith walked toward the academy's main gymnasium, where the Ceremony of Unveiling would happen.

Noah waited until midnight, then entered the gymnasium, with Lizel, Miyabi and Reina following a few steps behind. The building was plunged in darkness, save for a slightly illuminated path leading to a glyph on the ground, bearing the symbol of the Magician Arcana. Nine other glyphs were shining, with nine robed figures standing on them. They were supposed to be 22 glyphs forming a large circle, but a good half of the candidates hadn't bothered to come.

Thanks to his night vision ability, Noah saw his surroundings a lot better than he was supposed to. As he leisurely walked toward his glyph, he glanced to the Headmaster, sitting in one of the benches beyond the poorly illuminated area. Noah raised an eyebrow when he saw Grayfia beside the Headmaster. Were the two lovers or something?

Noah reached his spot and turned to face the nine candidates. He now had to make his speech, short as it was.

"I am Noah Enfield, a Rook of Rias Gremory. The one who has been chosen by the Magician Arcana. I shall have no regret even if this body perish, no sorrow even if this heart break. My desire is to enter the Devil King War and obtain the throne. If you fear me not, then recognize my participation."

The candidates were silent for a while, when one of the candidates, one that Noah recognized, started laughing.

"Did I hear correctly? A reincarnated human, belonging to that immature and weak girl? Has the Devil King War fallen to such a pitiful state, to now have candidates like this?"

Yokata Hayachine, as was her name, had long purple hairs and blue eyes, as wore a black bodysuit mixing latex and leather under a white fur coat. She owned the Hanged Man Arcana, and had a very obsessive desire toward Lizel, wanting to torture her. Noah wasn't sure if that girl didn't know how to express her love properly, or if she was just a complete psycho, but he definitely was going to give her the BAD GIRL treatment, then would make her Lizel's pet. Yokata surely would be very happy with that.

"I consent." said Stella. "If he's weak, that only means one less rival to worry about."

"I consent." said Neith.

Stella's argument seemed convincing, as two other candidates declared their agreement. The Sannou twins, Rikimaru and Seigi, holding the Arcanas of Strength and Justice. Both girls had long copper-colored hairs and green eyes. While Rikimaru was somewhat of a childish and impulsive musclehead, Seigi was cold and serious. Noah knew from the novel that they would act hostile against each other, but that it was just a façade. They both intended to support each other behind the scenes until all other candidates were eliminated, as they cared a lot of each other.

With four agreements secured, Noah only needed one more. Then one who had stayed silent until now spoke.

"I will consent, if you can survive three minutes against my Ace."

Noah looked at Aspite, a youth of average height and body build with short grey hairs and blue eyes and rolled his own eyes.

"So predictable. It's like you're a trope character in a novel. The arrogant noble guy who underestimates the protagonist and ends up getting his butt handed over to him. Fine, bring it."

Aspite snorted in derision.

"Such a glib tongue. Haida, show him the cost offending his betters."

"With pleasure, boss!" came a voice from the ceiling.

"Noah erected a Barricade as some kind of barely visible wave impacted him, followed by a young man launching himself from the steel beams that held the gymnasium's light projectors. The energy shield, reinforced by the Stop rune, barely rippled as it absorbed the attack.

Noah had forgotten the name of Aspite's Ace, but he hadn't forgotten his power, some variant of spatial manipulation, allowing him to create barriers inside an object to sever it in two parts. A power that was dangerous even for him. He also remembered that guy to be a shameless pervert, and if anyone had forgotten, the words that came from his mouth were a good reminder.

"Hey, boss, as a reward, can I have Miyabi?"

"Do as you wish." replied Aspite, uninterested in anyone but Lizel.

"Thanks, boss! Miyabi, I'll make you my sex slave! You bitch, tempting me with that shitty erotic body. Just as you wish, I'll break you in thoroughly!"

"Ewww. So gross." said Miyabi, taking a step back by reflex before her anger surged.

That guy was dead, decided Noah. Still, he didn't want to reveal his Shunpo in front of the other candidates, so he decided to deal with him using magic. He posessed the Magician Arcana after all, and playing into his opponents' prejudices and expectations would be beneficial at this point.

Noah's left hand parted slightly from his body, aimed to the ground at his side. Then he opened his mouth and spoke calmly.

"Thunderio."

A large blue array formed almost instantly in front of his opened palm, and great amounts of lightning poured out of it and into the Hole Noah had opened at the same time.

This Hole was a portal type, and its other end opened one meter above Aspite's Ace, striking him before he could react or even notice the danger.

Haida screamed as his body convulsed and started burning from the inside out. Noah stopped his power and closed the portal before the guy died, but he was clearly out of commission.

Not wanting for this guy to come back later to haunt them, but also not wanting to kill someone in cold blood in front of Grayfia, Noah opted for a compromise. He walked closer to Haida, whose body was slightly smoking, and kicked him toward Aspite, letting him land at his feet.

"Convinced?" calmly asked Noah.

Aspite looked at him with anger before he got his expression under control.

"I consent." he said with some reluctance.

And then, he used his foot to press on his Ace's chest. Aspite wasn't the kind to tolerate failure among his subordinates. Haida screamed as Aspite foot broke the bones of his sternum and started crushing his internal organs. He died shortly after.

With barely another glance at Noah and Aspite, the other candidates started walking away, unmoved by the killing.

Aspite left, too. Noah glanced at the corner where the Headmaster and Grayfia had been, but they were already gone.

"I didn't know you were related to the Abaddon family." said Stella as she and Neigh walked closer.

"I'm not. Thank you, Stella. You helped me convince the Sannou twins to accept."

"It's nothing. But be careful with those sisters. They will both kill you on sight."

"I'm aware of that. Thank you for your advice." replied Noah.

"Well, then. I have an audition early tomorrow morning, so I'll go catch some beauty sleep. See you later."

Stella turned away without waiting for a response.

"Goodbye, Noah." shyly said Neith.

"Goodbye, Neith, Stella." smiled Noah.

"Remember our deal, Noah." said Lizel.

"I remember. And I'll get started tonight. Before that, I appreciate your help a lot, but why did you do it?"

Lizel cutely rubbed her lower lip with a finger as she looked at him up and down.

"Let's say I'm testing you. If you can defeat two candidates at the same time, I'll feel reassured that we made the correct decision to place our hopes in you. If you can't, well, Miyabi, Reina-chan and will consider other options, while there's still time. I also wanted to avoid the possibility of you and my friends fighting each other in a potential deathmatch. There are less chances of them dying if they fight you in a duel."

"I see. Well, I better get started right away, to have the benefit of surprise. I'm off killing the Devil Candidate. See you later."

Noah disappeared.

"And he's goooone. Seriously, can't he at least escort us back home? Walking at night is dangerous for a gal like me!" complained Miyabi.

Lizel's mouth twitched, as she knew most delinquents and criminals targeting Miyabi would be lucky to escape with only a few broken bones.

"Him coming and going like that is going to take some getting used to." sighed Lizel. "But at least, he's being proactive."

"Noah-senpai is strong, desu. He defeated Aspite's Ace so easily, desu."

"Yes. And he said back then when I sparred with him that he's primarily a swordsman, yet he only used Magic to deal with that pervert. I think he wanted to hide his fighting style from the other candidates. That's smart." agreed Miyabi.

"I want to spar with Noah-senpai, desu." nodded Reina, one hand absentmindedly touching the sheath of the katana strapped on her back.

"Let's return home, Miyabi, Reina-chan. We still have things to prepare."

"Yes."

"Yes, desu."