As he pretended to listen to the lesson, Noah also used the magician Arcana to add the Stop rune to his Barricade, the common barrier magic devils typically used, and analyzed the formus of some of the offensive spells. He also merged Stride, Maximize and Armored into a single spell, that he called Augment. The new spell was actually less energy intensive than using all three separately, as he didn't need to create a few common components of the spells three times.

  Most offensive magics were based on elements and came into three degrees of scale and difficulty, from Basic to Advanced. The fire element, for example, had Figa, some rge fireball, Fizard, a stream of fmes, and Fidezon, a rge-scale beam of something that looked more like psma than fmes.

  Fmes were a little too indiscriminate to Noah's state, and he focused most of his attention to the thunder Element. He was trying to optimize the mid-scale spell, Thunderio, reducing its casting time as much as he could.

  When the day ended, Noah found an isoted spot and teleported home.

  Not finding anyone in the living room, he strained his ears and heard some noise coming from the first floor.

  He climbed the stairs and entered the gaming room. Hisui and Cire were pying what looked like a Tekken game on the console, while Alice and Rui were watching and commenting excitedly.

  "I'm back." smiled Noah, startling them.

  "Ah! Welcome back, master." said Hisui, as the others echoed her.

  "I hope you didn't find the day too long."

  "No, it's fine. We found things to keep ourselves busy." said Alice. "Someone from the government delivered our school uniforms, and some basic supplies."

  "Good. I'm about to take you girls shopping, so how about you girls change into your casual clothes?"

  Noah didn't miss the smiles at the mention of the magic word. It seemed some things were universal.

  "Yes!"

  The girls quickly disappeared into their own rooms, and Noah used the opportunity to change, too, repcing his school uniform with bck jeans and a bck T-shirt.

  Minutes ter, they were gathered in the living room, and Noah asked them what kind of coats they wanted, as they were mid-October, and the weather was starting to grow colder. Hisui and Cire chose blue and white duffel coats, Alice a bck leather vest, and Rui a red parka. The two youkai girls had used some kind of innate magic to hide their animal ears and tails.

  "We'll buy enough things to be polite to the store clerks, but if you want any clothes or outfits, just show them to me, and I'll create them for you when we're back home."

  "I'm not sure how to feel about it, master." smiled Cire. "On one hand, it's pretty much any girl's dream to be able to have any clothes we might want. But at the same time, not having to choose, and not having to pay for them, diminish the experience."

  Noah grinned.

  "I see. So I'm making only four articles of clothing per girl for this trip. That way, you'll have to choose. We can do more shopping trips ter. Also, sine you girls aren't in uniform right now, you can call me Noah."

  "Yes. Thank you, Noah. Can I ask you a favor?" wondered Rui.

  "Of course."

  "I'd like for you to invite Maria, Lai and Iris to this trip. They're going to need clothes, too."

  "Good idea… actually, while I'm at it, would you mind if I invite a few more people? You will meet them regurly in the future, just like Kyouka."

  "Sure."

  Noah took his smartphone and called Rias.

  "Hi, Noah."

  "Hi, Rias. How are you doing?"

  "Fine, thanks for asking. We're on our way home, and then we'll do some training."

  "I'm about to go shopping with a few people I'd like you to meet. Would you like to join us? You can choose a few things, and it will be on me, within limits."

  As part of inserting him to this world, Lilith had provided him with a bank account, and enough money on it that he wouldn't have to worry about money for a few years.

  "How can I refuse that? I'd also like to hear directly from you, about what happened on Hagun Isnd."

  "That's great. Please call me when you're ready, and I'll teleport you."

  "Yes. Thank you for inviting us."

  "You're welcome. See you soon."

  Ending the phone call, Noah looked at the girls.

  "One st thing before we teleport to Maria, Lay and Iris. You must not talk about me eventually being able to resurrect dead people. Among the people that I just invited, are two who lost their mothers in tragic circumstances. I intend to bring them back, but I also want it to be a surprise."

  "Yes, I won't mention it." said Rui. Alice, Cire and Hisui nodded.

  "Then let's go." Noah extended his arms toward them, and they pced their hands on him.

  One second ter, they all appeared into the living room of a rge appartment and looked around.

  Marias, Iris and Lay were all sitting in a soft, watching the television, and dressed in their school uniforms. The TV was dispying a girls with long bck hairs in a twin tail style dressed in a pink magical girl outfit, busy punching vilins in costumes.

  "Hey… Everyone!" excimed Lay, being the first to get over their shock at seeing them abruptly appear.

  "Sorry for the sudden intrusion." grinned Noah. "We'd have called, but you girls don't have phones just yet. We're about to remedy that."

  All the girls gave quick hugs to each other.

  "Noah, thank you for visiting us." said Maria. "We were not exactly worried about our friends, but it is still good to see them."

  "I understand. We came to invite you girls to join us to a shopping trip, my treat. We'll buy smartphones for each of you, among other things, and I'd also like you to meet the four members of the peerage Suzu and I belong to, as you all will likely meet them often in the future."

  "Thanks, Noah. That's great! But isn't that a bit much, paying for our smartphones and stuff?"

  "Lilith gave me a rge budget when she brought me here, and I do not need to pay for my household's food and clothes, since I can use my abilities to create them. It won't be any trouble at all. Although I might refuse to pay if you girls go crazy on the shopping and become too unreasonable."

  "Don't worry, we'll behave." ughed Iris.

  Noah nodded with a grin, then looked at Maria and Lay as well.

  "I noticed you wear your school uniforms. You all look great in it, but are those the only things you have?"

  "Yes. The government is supposed to give us money to buy some, but that hasn't happened yet."

  "Then should I help you? I created the clothes Alice, Cire, Rui and Hisui are wearing, and I wouldn't mind making more for you."

  "I'd gdly take you up on that offer… but you aren't going to ask us to sign a contract, are you?" teased Maria.

  Noah snorted.

  "Nope. I haven't given up on you girls being my subordinates one day, so you might consider this small gesture as an attempt to increase my favorability in your eyes, but there's no strings attached for something that small."

  "I like that you're being honest." nodded Iris.

  "Honesty is the best policy for long term retionships." smiled Noah. Not that he intended to be completely honest with them.

  "How about you show me your rooms? If I'm going to create sets of underwear for your girls, I doubt you'd want to do it in front of everyone."

  "Yes. It's this way." said Lay as she gestured to him.

  Noah followed her to her room, who was devoid of any personal furniture, as was to be expected.

  "I'm fairly good at judging sizes, Lay, so I think everything I'll make you should fit well, but feel free to tell me ter if there's any issue."

  "Thanks. I appreciate it a lot. Can you make any kind of clothes?"

  "Just about, as long as I can imagine its shape and have experience with the material. How about I make you a bunch of retively generic clothes, like blue jeans and skirts, and you add your own preferences?"

  "Yes, please."

  Noah got to work, creating a dozen different outfits and as many sets of underwear, mostly white or pastel in color.

  "What would you like as a coat, Lay?"

  "Could you make me a parka like the one Rui had, but in bck, please?"

  "Your wish is my command." grinned Noah, as he made the requested item. An idea had just occurred to him, but he would act on it ter.

  "Heavens, you're so convenient, in addition to be a nice guy. Your girlfriends are lucky to have you."

  "Well, they do have to share me. It's only fair that they get a few perks to make up for it. And if you feel envious, you do not have to, you know? All you need do is give yourself to me." grinned Noah.

  "Which is a lot to ask for, even if you make it sound like it's an easy decision. I need time to be sure."

  "You have a point. But I'm patient, and I'll give you, Maria and Iris all the time you want. I've learned my lesson about being too impatient."

  "Oh? Something happened before? You sound like you had some bad experience."

  "Yeah, and it was all my fault. I won't give you too many details cause it's private, and it's reted to one of my lovers who stayed behind in the other Earth, not Suzu, Kaede or Asuna, but… she felt too ashamed to acknowledge some of her desires, and was holding herself back. I thought I could pressure her to come to terms with her desires, which was very stupid, and it almost destroyed my retionship with her. It took me a lot of apologizing and months of treating her like a princess to crawl back into her good graces. But we're good now."

  "It sounds like you learned a good lesson out of this, at least."

  Noah smiled, and his phone rang.

  "Hello?"

  "Noah, it's Rias. We're ready."

  "I'm coming."

  ending the communication, he looked at Lay.

  "I'll return to the living room, and you can try some of your new wardrobe. If you wish for more clothes, I can always make more ter. I'll only be a phone call away, unless I'm busy with something."

  "Yes, thank you again, Noah." grinned Lay.

  "You're welcome."

  Closing the door behind him, Noah returned to join the others.

  "Lay is changing into some of her new clothes. Rias called me, they are ready on their side, so I'll bring them here. Then, I'll repeat the cloth making process with Maria and Iris, if you girls are willing."

  "Yes, thank you, Noah." nodded Iris.

  "Rias?" asked Cire.

  "Rias Gremory. Suzu and I are members of her peerage, although she also agreed to become my Queen once I will gain my own Evil Pieces. She is a kind person, easy to get along with, and the other members of her peerage are, too."

  "I've heard good things about the Gremory." said Cire with a nod. "They are famous for taking good care of their subordinates."

  "As far as Rias is concerned, at least, that's the case. She treats her peerage members as family. I'm off to fetch them."

  Noah disappeared. A minute ter, Lay came back from her room, wearing white over knee socks, bck leather boots, a bck cotton skirt reaching to her knees, a pink turtleneck sweater, and the opened bck parka.

  "Oh, you look nice, Lay!" grinned Iris as she made a thumbs up.

  "Thanks. Noah made me a lot of clothes!"

  "So convenient." sighed Maria.

  "He's going to make a lot for you, too."

  "Yeah." Maria turned to Alice, Cire, Hisui and Rui, her expression being more serious.

  "I meant to ask, since we now can speak without him hearing. How does he treat you in his home?"

  "He didn't do anything bad to us and has not abused his power, if that's what you're worried about." said Cire. "He's making us wear maid uniforms, but they are cute, and not obscene at all, so we're fine with it. The only thing that makes us a bit uneasy if that the uniform include small leather chokers, because he says that it will help us get into the mindset of being maids serving their master, but we're slowly getting used to it. He shares the chores with us, and the food he makes is delicious. We spent most of today pying video games or swimming in the pool while he was at school."

  "The pool? He has a pool? A big one?" asked Lay.

  "Yeah, a big one." confirmed Alice. "His house isn't just a house, it's a huge mansion! Fifty people could live in there without trouble."

  "Whoa." started Maria, stopping when Noah appeared with several people, four beautiful girls and one handsome boy.

  Noah introduced everyone to each other, then went with Maria into her room.

  "It's nice to meet you all." said Rias with a smile. "Noah told us that some of you have agreed to live with him?"

  "Yes." Said Alice "We agreed to work as his maids for three years, both to repay our debt of gratitude for his help, and for a personal favor. He is treating us well so far."

  "I'm relieved to hear it. Noah is a good person, at least I think so, but…" she stopped as she noticed Koneko acting less shy than usual.

  Koneko and Hisui were staring at each other intently. Suddenly, Hisui let go of her disguise, showing her cat ears and tail. Koneko nodded, and also dropped her disguise. They smiled warmly at each other.

  "Ara-ara, looks like Koneko-chan is going to have a new friend." teased Akeno.

  "I'd be gd to." nodded Hisui with a grin.

  "…Me too." replied Koneko, slightly blushing as she noticed everyone looking at her fondly.

  "Would you mind telling us what happened in Hagun Isnd? We watched the reports and heard a little from Noah, but I'd like to learn about it from your perspective."

  "Well…" started Rui. "… When we were kidnapped and brought on this isnd, Taro Aoyama pced a curse on us, stopping us from rebelling. Those who had low combat potential were forced to do farm work to provide food for everyone, while those who could fight had to go fight in the arena at least once a week…"

  Rui, with the occasional input of the other Returnees, talked about their life on the isnd. They were in the middle of reting the fight against the Gehenna guards when Noah returned, and Iris followed him. A minute ter, Maria came back, wearing bck leather boots, bck faux-leather leggings, a bck leather belt, a white shirt and a white puffy jacket. She looked quite satisfied with her new clothes.

  Minutes ter, Noah returned to the living room. Rias was busy reting to the Returnees the circumstances of her meeting with Suzu and Noah.

  Iris returned when she was done changing. She had chosen to wear tight blue jeans with white sneakers, a gray hoodie, and a dark blue parka.

  Noah waited for Rias to finish her story and cleared his throat.

  "If everyone is ready, we can be on our way to the mall. It's only a five-minute walk from there."

  "Yes! Let's raid the stores!" grinned Rui.

  "Let's go, and then I'll invite you all to dinner in my home. That way, everyone will know where it is."

  "Sounds good, thank you, Noah." said Maria.

  The left the apartment, on the third floor of a white residential building, and headed to the mall.

  Noah wasn't surprised when the whole group attracted a lot, a whole lot, of attention. Two handsome young men, with Yuuto, and eleven gorgeous girls tended to do that. There was a minor car accident he was sure happened because the driver got distracted.

  On the way, Rias got closer to him.

  "Noah, I got news about Kuroka. The paper you found was accepted as valid, and the five Great Satans agreed to rescind Kuroka's status as a stray devil."

  "That's great. I'll find her and convince her to live in my home, then. Koneko will be free to visit whenever she wants to."

  "Thank you. Finding her won't be easy, though… Why are you smiling?"

  "Did you forget how my teleportation works? Or maybe I didn't tell you?"

  "…You didn't tell me."

  "My bad. It's getting hard keeping things straight, with me meeting so many people in a short time window. I could teleport to Kuroka right this instant, if I wanted to, no matter where she is. I'm only refraining because I want to be a little stronger before I do."

  "Noah-senpai…" muttered Koneko, her eyes pleading.

  "I made you a promise, Koneko-chan. That you would soon be reunited with her. Give me a few weeks at most, and it will happen."

  "Hum." Koneko nodded cutely, blushing.

  …

  "Thank you for inviting us, Noah. That was a great evening." said Rias. The rest of her peerage, with the exception of Suzu, were waiting behind her, smiling.

  "Don't mention it. I can afford to spend more time with my King and my teammates for the moment, so I should make up for the time when I couldn't."

  The shopping trip had gone very well. The girls had shown Noah many of the clothes they wanted to wear, and Noah had bought some of them, and memorized the others for ter.

  Even a few delinquents that couldn't tear their eyes away from the girls hadn't dared approach. Trying to corner a beauty was one thing. But a dozen of them? They didn't have the guts to get close. Maybe Noah still openly carrying a sword was a contributing factor.

  Then they came back to Noah's mansion. Rias, Akeno, Koneko and Yuuto, used to the luxury of the Gremory household, only commented that it was a nice home, and were more interested in his cooking.

  And Noah didn't disappoint them.

  While they were all eating dinner, Noah revealed that he had an Arcana and told them about the ceremony the next day, and the details about the competition. He told them about having chosen three Cards from among the academy's students, and that he was considering adding his new maids to his roster if they were willing.

  Alice, Cire, Rui and Hisui had all agreed, thinking that the favor they were owned would require him being alive when the time came.

  "Your King, eh… It seems that I might end up also being your Queen sooner than I anticipated." smiled Rias.

  "Disappointed?" grinned Noah.

  "No. I'm only worried that you will participate in this Devil King War. Be careful, and do not hesitate to give up if you need. You can still become a high css devil the normal way."

  "Don't worry, Rias. I am significantly stronger than I was when I sparred with Grayfia. She's still stronger, but I am steadily closing the gap. It would be fair to say that my actual combat power has doubled since then."

  Between Shunpo, Augment, the boost effect provided by his Arcana, the Rook Evil Piece, the Rune Magic, and his shikai, Noah's power had more than just doubled. But he didn't need to expose his cards.

  "Hugh… I need to train harder, too." sighed Rias.

  "Yes, but don't overdo it, either. I do have a number of unfair advantages. It's not really right for anyone who isn't a God's Champion to compare themselves to one."

  "Yes. We'll still train hard. My peerage would turn into a joke if you and Suzu outshine the rest of us too much. See you ter, Noah. Good luck for tomorrow."

  "See you ter, Rias. Goodbye, Akeno, Yuuto, Koneko."

  "Bye, Noah." waved Akeno with a grin.

  The other said their farewells, too, and left. he turned to Suzu and kissed her.

  "You can move in whenever you wish, you know, my cute Suzu. I kept one of the rooms closest to mine for you."

  "Tempting, Master. Very much so. But not right now, unless you request it. You will need time to convince the new maids, so you wouldn't have too much time for me anyway. As long as I can come by often, it's fine by me."

  "There's a lot of truth in that. See you ter, my cute Suzu."

  "Good night, my Master." replied Suzu, kissing him.

  She deployed her small bat wings, and slowly flew away.

  Noah watched her go with a smile. Suzu could have simply teleported, but she had told him that she liked flying in the night sky, and often chose to patrol the town at night for that reason.

  With a grin, he turned back and closed the door behind him, thinking about the little surprise he had made for Lay, and wondering how it would turn out.

  Earlier this evening, he had pretended needing a bathroom break, and discreetly teleported to the apartment Maria, Lay and Iris shared. He had quickly entered Lay's room, opened her closet, and added to her budding underwear collection a pair of white tex panties, and a white tex bra. Both items were secretly enchanted to increase the wearer's sensitivity, simir to the blindfold that Noah could create within SAO.

  He hid the two garments among the other, normal pieces of underwear, made certain to erase any clue of his visit, and teleported back to his own restroom.

  There were three possible outcomes. Lay might talk to him about those, and he would cim it was an honest mistake, the result of him losing concentration for a moment. He had made certain to distract her attention while he created many of her clothes so she could not be positive his act was deliberate. She might not talk to him about it, and just throw them away. Or she might actually try them on, and grow a liking to the material. Or maybe she wouldn't. Noah hoped she would in the not-too-distant future quietly ask him for more tex clothes.