After about a month I finally broke through to peak-Esquire. Tempering the fiery serpent soul had elevated my understanding of the Soul Dao. With my newfound understanding, I could cleanly breakthrough after a month of absorbing fel shards.

Noble devils were devilry practitioners. We spent most of the time improving our devilry. Only when given a task would I have to step out of my home. Mikael gave me a liberal amount of freedom after my first task because he hoped I would breakthrough to Devil Knight soon.

Every additional Knight would make managing the Hazel Canopy camp much easier. Esquires could not complete many meaningful tasks in a Knight camp.

~~~

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 peak-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. This was definitely a noble devil's entourage. As the caravan stopped out came a well dressed tall handsome devil. He had several servants by his side, and a beautiful woman was close to him.

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

James had no idea any of this was happening. He was too busy working on improving his devilry. He was still working hard after breaking through to peak-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!" said the lackey.

~~~

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

"I am a Knight ranger of Hazel Canopy Knight camp. We rangers live to serve the visitors, how may I assist you?" I said.

I was quick to use my title as deterrence. Assaulting someone who serves at the capacity of a ranger in the Wesser Forest would touch on my Devil Ancestor's 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," said a beautiful woman standing by a tall devil.

"You buttered him up so you could have a two-year vacation! Shirking your responsibilities like a lazy commoner."

I 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 noble facade.

"If you have nothing that needs my help can you leave. I won't be showing you out," I said.

"Why you are making a scene at this young nobles hut? This young noble 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," said 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," I said.

"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," said the tall handsome devil.

I was trying to process this. Apparently my fiance had some looks! I didn't care about the engagement, but as a young noble I couldn't have someone going around sullying my dignity.

People would look down on me if I went around acquiescing everyone's requests. I scratched my chin.

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

The tall, handsome devil creased his brows when I spoke of swallowing a swan. He must have grown fawn of this Holly Mirage. Having her engaged with someone else made him upset.

Why was this my problem? Even if I don't want them, when would my things become yours to take? The likes of you will not bully this young noble.

"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," I said.

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

Just as the lackeys were going to attack me they turned into dogs.

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

The handsome devil quickly found himself turned into a dog as well.

"Meow. All you are dogs your entire family are dogs," said the cat.

It turned all the prince's lackeys into various kinds of dogs. The cat spared the beautiful woman, though I have no idea why.

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

The cat then 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 but since you came arrogantly to this young noble, you should be prepared to pay the price."

"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," said the beauty.

"Stupid woman, you think this young noble can turn people into dogs. If I could turn people into dogs you'd be one too," I said.

"Next time don't go starting trouble with people you can't afford to offend."

I turned around and left. Going back into my hut, I had nothing to do with how the situation played out from there.

They wanted to beat me up, who was I to help my enemy. I wasn't that kind or stupid. And the woman was annoying, I didn't have time to give her attention. Practicing devilry was my goal.

This young noble must break into the Knight realm. Only then can I reclaim my standing and no longer being bullied by Mikael! Only then can I be no longer bothered by random pretty boys. I was supposed to be bothering others. I must regain my freedom!

I didn't question the cats' actions. It forced me to cook a meal for it every few days and it would come and go as it pleased. I had no control over what it did. I didn't want to be a dog myself. This young noble is a chef, not a dog!

The cat woke up and patted me on the head.

"Meow. It's good you know your place, chef," the cat said.

~~~

Outside James' hut, Holly was at a loss. She did not know what to do in this situation. She was a sheltered young woman not knowing much of the world. The prince and his entire entourage were now dogs. Running around barking, chasing their tails, licking their balls, sniffing each other's butts, 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, even leaving Holly behind.

A few hours later, Holly knocked on James' door.

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

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, weren't you with the dog formerly known as prince?" I said.

"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!" said Holly.

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

I did not understand how he always had fresh meat on him. They forced me to make some barbecue. My stupid finance and the overbearing cat were waiting for me to deliver the meal. I was a chef.

"Meow, it's good you know your job chef," said the fat cat as he looked at his meal.

"This is delicious, James. You are a talented chef," said Holly after she took her first bite.

She seemed to warm up to me. The only thing she knew about me was what others had told her. I was trash who delved in Soul Dao. Other than that line, she knew nothing about me 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!" said Holly. She 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," said the cat as he munched on his meal.

I couldn't be bothered with either of them. Now I had to deal with two unwanted visitors in my two-room hut.

After serving everyone an excellent meal. I went back to gathering Devil qi. I needed to break into Devil Knight. Only then could I not be under Mikael's thumb!