Omniscient POV
A swirl of magic surged through the clearing as the teleportation circle pulsed beneath their feet. In a flash of crimson light, Rias, Sona, and their Peerages stepped into the infamous Familiar Forest—alongside Malrik, Asia, Aika, and Mittelt.
The instant they arrived, a subtle chill danced through the air.
The sky above them was dim with the perpetual twilight of the Underworld. Gnarled trees stretched like claws, casting long shadows across the moss-covered ground.
Malrik glanced around, arms crossed, absorbing the eerie atmosphere. "So this is the Underworld…"
Rias nodded, her arms resting casually behind her back. "Welcome to our world."
Issei looked like he was about to throw up from excitement. "We're really in the Underworld! This is insane!"
Aika scanned the trees. "This looks…"
Malrik finished her thought, deadpan. "Like something out of a horror movie."
Mittelt scoffed. "Feels more like a low-budget thriller."
As the group started walking toward the forest's entrance, Malrik's eyes narrowed. He could sense something… off.
A shift in the air.
A pulse of presence.
He extended a hand and activated a small detection rune—a ripple of gravity magic extending outward like sonar.
There.
Up in the trees, a silhouette.
A man stood casually on a thick branch, hands on his hips, looking like a complete mismatch for the ominous setting. He wore a plain white t-shirt, blue shorts, and carried an obnoxiously large yellow backpack that looked like it came from a hiking anime.
He waved one hand dramatically and called out, "Who wants me?!"
Everyone stopped.
Issei instinctively raised his fists. "Who goes there?!"
The man grinned like an idiot. "The Master of Familiars, a.k.a. The Towji! That's me, folks!"
Malrik blinked and slowly pointed upward without breaking eye contact with Rias. "...So that's the guy?"
Rias sighed. "Yes. That's the Familiar Master."
The Towji jumped down from the tree with an overly flashy somersault and landed perfectly in front of them. "Man, it's been ages since I had a group this big! So—how many of you are here for a familiar?"
Sona stepped forward, composed as always. "Only two. Issei Hyoudou and Genshirou Saji."
The Towji nodded thoughtfully. "That's manageable. Normally, I don't handle group visits, but two's not bad." He eyed the rest of the group warily. "Though… the rest of you aren't just sightseeing, right?"
Rias gave him a diplomatic smile. "No need to worry. We've made... alternative arrangements."
She shot a glance at Malrik.
The Towji followed her gaze and raised an eyebrow at Malrik. "Hmm? You?"
Malrik stretched his arms lazily and grinned. "If you can't find anything fitting for them… I'll handle the rest."
Aika leaned in beside him and whispered, "You're really going to summon a dragon, aren't you?"
Malrik winked. "Shhh… spoilers."
Saji scoffed from the side. "What, like you can just pull a powerful familiar out of your back pocket?"
Malrik ignored him. Rias and Sona didn't.
Sona sighed. "Don't question it."
Rias simply said, "You'll see."
As the group began to move deeper into the forest, the air seemed to thicken with mystery and magic.
———
Malrik's POV
We hadn't been walking for more than ten minutes when the Towji—floating beside us like a giddy tour guide—finally turned back with a dramatic spin.
"So! Let's get down to business." He clapped his hands. "What kind of familiar are you looking for?"
Without hesitation, Issei shot his hand up like an overexcited kindergartener.
"Is there one with big boobs and who likes nerdy white guys?!"
Everyone stopped walking.
A long pause.
Towji blinked slowly, then sighed the kind of sigh only a man who had seen far too much nonsense could muster.
"This," he muttered, "is why amateurs always give me a migraine."
Issei pouted. "What?! That's a valid preference!"
Towji didn't even look at him. "If you want something more than a plush toy with cleavage, I suggest you start using your other head, my boy. Familiars bond with those they match best—not those who ogle them like trading cards. Find the right personality, not just the right… tit."
Kiba looked like he wanted to applaud. Akeno was smirking. Rias facepalmed. Saji just nodded like a sage.
"Well said," he murmured.
Asia raised her hand shyly. "I'd like something cute. And… fun to be around."
Towji's tone immediately brightened. "Fun? Done and done!"
He did a little twirl and gave her a thumbs-up. "You'll be surprised what answers your heart attracts, young lady!"
Asia's eyes sparkled. "Oh! Thank you so much!"
Issei spun toward her. "Hey! That's not fair! I asked first!"
"You asked for boobs. She asked for a companion," Towji replied flatly.
I chuckled under my breath.
And then the Familiar Master paused mid-air and turned toward me, squinting. "...Wait a second. Aren't you a human?"
His eyes narrowed. "I don't recall humans being able to form contracts with familiars."
Asia gasped softly beside me. "Wait… really? So I… can't get a familiar?"
Her voice dropped slightly, disappointed.
Rias spoke up then, thoughtful. "Actually, he's right. I don't recall any standard human magic that allows contracts with familiars. At least… not without heavy augmentation."
I glanced over at Asia, who was now visibly disheartened. Her shoulders dipped slightly, hands fiddling with the edge of her sleeve.
I stepped forward and placed a hand on her head, ruffling her hair gently.
"No need to worry."
She looked up at me, surprised.
I gave her a lopsided grin. "I have a way."
The group blinked at me in unison.
"You have a way to override the laws of familiar bonding?" Sona asked, raising an eyebrow.
"Let's just say…" I raised two fingers and made a small swirl in the air, a ripple of space distorting slightly before vanishing. "...I'm good at reading the fine print."
Asia blinked up at me. "You're amazing, Malrik-san…"
"Don't hype me up too much. I'll start getting ideas."
Aika, walking beside Mittelt, smirked. "Too late. He already has an ego the size of this forest."
"Jealousy doesn't suit you, Aika-chan," I said with a wink.
She huffed. Mittelt rolled her eyes.
Towji watched the exchange, then shrugged. "Well, rules or not… if you can forge a bond, and the familiar accepts… I won't stop it. Just don't go summoning anything that'll burn down The forest."
I gave him a grin. "No promises."
He floated off again, leading us deeper into the forest.
And somewhere out there—watching, waiting—was a certain lightning dragon.
One perfect for Asia.