Devil's Rise 19 The Prince

After about a month James finally broke through to the completion level of Esquire. Tempering the fiery serpent soul had elevated his understanding of the Soul Dao. With his newfound understanding, he could cleanly breakthrough after a month of absorbing fel shards. Noble devils were devilry practitioners. They spent most of the time improving their devilry.

Only when given a task would James have to step out of his home. Mikael gave him a liberal amount of freedom after his first task. He hoped James would use the free time breakthrough to Devil Knight soon. Every additional Devil Knight would make managing the Hazel Canopy camp much easier. Devil Esquires could not complete many meaningful tasks in a Devil Knight camp, obviously.

Mikael had been in charge of a regiment in his previous life. He had much experience managing people, he quickly had the neglected camp back to working order. Clearing out the overrun completion Knight demon beasts was a daunting task. It was the most important thing to get the camp back to working order, though.

After a month of hard work, Mikael finally wrangled all the ones that didn't belong in the Hazel Canopy Knight camp. He had help from the Rusty Hawk and Wild Covert Baron camps with the wrangling tasks. Since this Knight camp was back to working order, they would soon see an uptick in visitors.

A large caravan soon came to the Hazel Canopy camp. It seemed intricate and expensive. It was definitely a noble devil's entourage. As the caravan stopped out came a well dressed tall handsome devil. He had several servants attending him, and a beautiful woman by his side.

"Bring James Hudson to me." ordered the tall handsome devil to his servant.

James did not know of the trouble makers coming his way. He was too busy working on improving his devilry. He was still working hard after breaking through the completion level of Esquire. To break through to the next level he would have to fill his veins to the brim with Devil qi.

After filling his veins to the brim, he would have to establish a Devil Heart to become a Devil Knight. His understanding of the Soul Dao and his amount of Devil qi was growing every day. He believed it wasn't long before he would break through to the Devil Knight realm. If Devil Esquires where foot soldiers then Devil Knights were commanders.

It was a much stronger realm. Devils could command a generous amount of Devil qi after establishing their Devil Hearts. A large caravan appearing outside his door interrupted James' peaceful life of devilry. An arrogant lackey beat on James' door loudly.

"James Hudson, come out now! My master doesn't have time to wait around all day dealing with the likes of you!"

It stunned James. He had been busy training and had offended no one lately. When had it ever come a time for others to start problems with him? He was the one that created trouble with others! James got up slowly and stopped the lackey from making a racket.

"I am an Esquire Ranger of Hazel Canopy Knight camp. We rangers live to serve the visitors, how may I assist you?"

James was quick to use his title as deterrence. Assaulting a Ranger in the Wesser Forest would touch on his Devil Ancestors bottom line. It was a thing of dignity. Who dares hurt someone who serves Count Kogthoz's forest campgrounds?

"What Ranger? You don't even have any responsibilities! Sitting around all day being frivolous because your first cousin is in charge of this camp. You definitely buttered him up so you could have a two-year vacation! Shirking your responsibilities like a lazy commoner." said the beautiful woman by the tall devil.

James didn't recognize any of these people. ~I know I go around offending people but I know my memories not that bad. Who the hell are these people? Better put on my young master facade.~

"If you have nothing that needs my help can you leave. I won't be showing you out. Why you are making a scene at this young masters hut? This young master keeps a detailed record of people he has offended. None of you have had the pleasure of making that list."

"You! I'm your finance and you don't even recognize me. Good, then you can cancel the engagement," screamed the beautiful woman.

"Beauty, if I had a fiance as beautiful as you I'd be quick to remember her. I'm pretty sure I'm engaged to some spoiled brat named Holly from the Mirage clan. You wouldn't be that spoiled brat would you?"

"You are the trash of the Hudson clan only having a meager Soul Dao. Not good enough to marry this beautiful woman. Cancel the engagement now so we can be on our way."

James was trying to process this. Apparently his fiance had some looks. He didn't really care about the engagement, but as a young master he couldn't have someone going around sullying his dignity. People would look down on him if he went around acquiescing everyone's requests. James scratched his chin.

"If you're my fiance, why would I cancel it? It seems this toad young master gets to swallow a swan if I go through with it. I'd rather like to swallow a swan."

The tall, handsome devil got upset when James spoke of swallowing a swan. He had grown fond of this Holly Mirage. Having her engaged to someone else made him look bad.

"You should accept that you are not worthy of her and cancel the engagement. You getting any compensation would only make us look like we are paying you off. Quickly sign the papers so we can be on our way." said the tall handsome devil.

"And who might you be, I wasn't privy to my fiance having a brother. Are you her bodyguard? You're too pretty for a bodyguard. You'll be the first to go when we get married."

"Men quickly grab him and beat him until he can't walk anymore. Then he will think twice about not signing the paperwork."

Just as the lackeys prepared to attack James, they turned into dogs.

"Meow, dogs are dogs. Who gave you dogs the right to attack this cat's chef?" said the cat on James' shoulder.

"Jig'dramuth kill that cat and beat James till an inch of his life. You dare hurt this prince's lackeys." said the handsome devil arrogantly.

"Meow. What prince all I see is a dog that won't stop barking."

The handsome devil quickly found himself turned into a dog.

"Meow. All you are dogs your entire family are dogs."

It turned all the prince's lackeys into various kinds of dogs. The cat spared the beautiful woman.

"Meow. Your looks are passable. If this cat's chef wants to take you as a wife he can."

The cat quickly took a nap, paying no more mind to the barking dogs running around.

"Well beauty, I think the cat said it best. Honestly, I didn't care about the marriage. Coming arrogantly to this young master?"

"The price they paid was not high enough, in my eyes. The last lackey to bluster arrogantly before this young master met death. It's hard for a dashingly handsome devil like myself to keep a low profile!"

"You!!! Quickly turn Kalgin and his entourage back! He is an heir to a Devil Dukedom, of much higher standing than you! You can not afford to offend him."

James pointed at her and yelled.

"Stupid woman, you think this young master can turn people into dogs. If I could turn people into dogs, you'd be the first. Next time don't go starting trouble with people you can't afford to offend."

James turned around and went back into his hut. He had nothing to do with how the situation played out from there. They wanted to beat him up, who was he to help his enemy.

James definitely wasn't that kind or stupid. The woman was annoying. He didn't have time to give her attention.

~This young master must break into the Knight realm. Only then can I reclaim my standing and no longer being bullied by Mikael! Then I won't have to worry about random pretty boys bringing lackeys to pressure me. I'm the one who pressures others with lackeys! I must regain my freedom!~

James didn't question the cat's actions. The cat forced him to cook a meal for it every few days and it would come and go as it pleased. He had no control over what it did. He didn't want to be a dog himself. ~This young master's rank is chef, not dog!~

The cat woke up and patted him on the head.

"Meow. It's good you know your place chef."

Outside, Holly was at a loss. She did not know what to do in this situation. She was a sheltered youthful woman not knowing much of the world. The prince and his entire entourage were now dogs. Walking around barking, licking, and peeing like animals.

"Bark bark bark." The prince dog barked at his entourage and they followed him back to his carriage and left. Somehow the dogs could understand other dogs. The driver had seen the entire thing and quickly headed away. He moved away swiftly, leaving Holly behind.

A few hours later, Holly knocked on James' door once again. This time with a little more respect.

"James come talk to me. I need your help!"

Holly had left to adventure with the prince with only the clothes on her back. She had no money even to buy her own lodging. She was the classic do nothing descendant that only knew how to butter up to others.

"Why do you need my help, where's the dog formerly known as prince?"

"He left me! I have no fel shards, James. What would your mother think, leaving me out here stranded! I haven't eaten all day!"

"Meow, me either. Make us some food chef" said the cat as he heard something about food. Some fresh meat quickly appeared before them.

James did not understand how he always had fresh meat on him. The cat forced James to make some barbecue. He served up a delightful meal for his stupid finance and the cat. He was a chef.

"Meow, it's good you know your job chef."

"This is delicious, James. You are a talented chef." Holly seemed to warm up to James. The only thing she knew about him was what others had told her. He was a trash who delved in Soul Dao. Other than that line, she knew nothing about him as a person.

"Meow, why would this cat have a bad chef? Are you a dog questioning this cat's eye for talent?" the six-legged cat said with his mouth full.

"No, he's the best chef ever!" Holly was afraid of the cat, she didn't want to be a dog.

"Meow, remember that. Being engaged to this cat's chef is the best thing that ever happened to you."

James couldn't be bothered with either of them. Now he had to deal with two unwanted visitors in his two-room hut. After serving everyone an excellent meal. He bounced back to gathering Devil qi.

He needed to break into Devil Knight, only then could he not be under Mikael's thumb!

Chapter end