……This time? I started to feel suspicious about Mephisto Pheles-san’s words.
“When you say this time, does that mean there’s more?”
When I ask, Rias answers me.
“Yes, of course. It doesn’t mean that we will choose from these ones, and even if we do make a pact, that magician will not live long like a Devil, and there’s no way that they will be able to live for eternity. If there isn’t any suitable partner this time, we can just ask for newer documents. Also even if we make a pact, we will become free again if the person we make a pact with passes away due to their age or by an accident. Then we will have to make a new pact.”
Ah, I understand now. So that’s what it is. So we don’t have to force ourselves to choose this time. Even if we do choose our partner, we can find a new partner if they die.
Kiba gives additional information.
“And even if you do make a pact, there are times when it’s for a certain time only. For example, a year long pact due to the partner’s circumstances, or the pact can also be cancelled if they can’t pay us the price.”
A temporary pact, and cancellation due to receiving unfair payment. ……It’s really like a business. So this is also one of the jobs of a Devil.
……The pact between a Devil and a magician that I imagined before was more dark and fantasy-like. Something where they perform a creepy ritual in a dark laboratory and they summon a Devil through the magic-circle to make an evil pact. It looks like the reality is more of a business-like thing.
Since we can’t carry all these piles of documents, we decided to send them to my house through the magic-circle.
While we are doing that, Mephisto Pheles-sama talks to Ravel who is helping everyone.
[Is the lady over there a Devil from the House of Phoenix?]
“Y-Yes. My name is Ravel Phoenix.”
Ravel introduces herself politely. Yup, she’s acting like a girl who was raised in a good house.
Mephisto Pheles says it while rubbing his chin.
[Yup……the thing I’m about to tell you is a top secret which is only known in our organisation. It seems like a group of “Stray Magicians” have joined forces with remnant magicians from the “Khaos Brigade”, and they have continued to make contacts with those related to the House of Phoenix.]
—! ……That sure is creepy information. Rias questions him.
“……What do you mean by that?”
[You do know that the Phoenix’s tear has been passing around to the terrorists in secret, right?]
Ravel nods.
“Yes. I heard that one group of distributors were making trades in secret. But that has been dealt with, and I have heard that it’s now back to normal—”
[No, in the black market, tears which aren’t produced by the “House of Phoenix” are being sold now.]
[—!?]
Everyone gets shocked at that information! Seriously!? So tears which aren’t made by the House of Phoenix are going around now!?
Rias twitches her eyebrows.
“If it isn’t a genuine one, then I think it’s something without any effect, a fake……——! Don’t tell me……”
Mephisto Pheles-san shakes his head to Rias who seems to have realised something.
[That’s right, Rias-chan. Tears that have an effect close to the genuine one are being distributed in secret. Here, this is it.]
A small bottle appears in Mephisto Pheles-san’s hand. ……So this is the fake tear?
[I don’t know how they are doing it, but the Phoenix Tears which aren’t made by the House of Phoenix are being distributed, and the stray magicians are trying to get contacts with those related to the Phoenix as if they are related. Well, they must be related. That’s why I wanted that lady over there to be careful because she might be targeted.]
“…………”
Ravel puts on a bit of a gloomy face at Mephisto Pheles-san’s words.
“I will also ask the Grigori to find out what’s happening. Oh, and don’t worry. A strong prince is behind Ravel. There won’t be a problem. Also there are powerful barriers put on this area, the place related to the alliance of the Three Great Powers. They won’t be able to pass through that easily. If Ravel stays here, and has her prince by her side, she will definitely be safe.”