"So, where were we?" Sirzechs asks as soon as we take our seats.
"Rizevim," I state back in reply, stretching in my seat.
With Serafall splayed across my lap, of course, her arms crossed as she glared up at Sirzechs something fierce.
He didn't even meet her gaze; instead, he simply nodded along.
"Right. If you can, as I've said, you wouldn't hear any complaint from us officially." Sirzechs sighs, "Unfortunately, there would still be those who'd have a problem with it. Beyond those that prefer or still revere the old government and their descendants, I mean."
"Hmph. They'd say we were weak or ineffective or blah blah blah for not dealing with our problems ourselves…" Serafall fumed on my lap.
"Do they really matter though?" I had to ask, because really, who cares what those people had to say?
These guys aren't democratically elected; they're four dictators or kings. Two of them are some of the strongest beings in the world. What are some words going to do?
"If it meant getting Rizevim out of our minds?" Sirzechs shook his head with a smile, "I could deal with a few more complaints on my desk. That would be far better than the piles upon piles of work I'd have to deal with if he decided to leave wherever he was hiding and become active." Sirzechs paused, in thought, "Whatever that activity may look like. That's the migraine-inducing part."
Ain't that the truth?
"Well then," I hum, content, "I suppose after our talk here, and the Rating Game, I'll head out and start looking for him, alright? I can't imagine it'd take more than a day. At most."
The Underworld may have more land mass than the earth, but several dozen of me, flying, at full throttle?
Yeah, a day at most. If that.
Assuming I don't just bait his bored ass out by using my power like a beacon. After all, he'd have to be at least a little curious as to why a Shinto divine being is roaming around the Underworld.
Well, who wouldn't be right?
"I wish you luck." Sirzechs gave me a polite nod.
"Hmph." Serafall, though, pouted some more.
Though I couldn't imagine why.
Slap~!
"H~HNNN~!?" She shivered this time as I swatted her ass. Not so hard, and thus not so loud, I wouldn't want to attract anyone else's attention now.
Sirzechs didn't even bat an eye, hilariously enough, even as Serafall gave Sirzechs the puppy-doll eyes filled with crocodile tears.
This guy really is a master of his craft, huh?
"Right, now that's squared away for the moment," my face drops, mostly in frustration for the topic ahead, "this is technically why I came originally," both Satan perk up at that, "to be honest, everything dealing with Rizevim was sort of a last minute addition to another problem I was having, but this one is the big one."
I take a breath.
"Heaven and the Church. The hell is going on with them?" I just came out and asked.
At that, Sirzechs frowns as well, finally looking at Serafall.
Who also sighs, slumping further in my lap.
"Nori-chan." She begins, tone unusually downcast, "This is going to suck, but…we know even less about them than Rizevim."
How in the fuck?
Sirzechs nods, picking up where Serafall left off, "Nearly a year ago now, we were actually in talks to form a lasting peace between us, with the Grigori…" he trails off with a wince.
"But then those doves cut us off!" Serafall hissed and grumbled, "Just, out of the blue! Bam! No more communication! They basically started pretending like we didn't exist anymore!"
Wait. Nearly a year ago?
Isn't that when I…?
"Besides certain incidents." Sirzechs cut in ominously.
Serafall huffs at that, "That Astaroth brat had that coming, and you know that, Sirzechs-chan!"
Oh, shit. So Diodoro the Nun Explorer got snatched after all, eh?
Good riddance.
He gave an apologetic smile to her at that, "Maybe so. But the general increase in hostilities across the world is another matter, isn't it?"
"Wait, hold on." I interject, "Are you saying the Underworld and Heaven are fighting again?"
Serafall answers that, snorting, "If we'd seen a single angel in nearly a year, maybe, but even then, I'd say no. They don't seem to be actively looking for a fight, but if they run into any of our people…"
"It's on sight." Sirzechs sighs, "I'm not sure what happened. Azazel, Michael, we were all talking. Then Michael vanished, and before we could figure out anything, the Grigori…well, I'm sure you're aware of what happened to them, Noriaki."
Ah, joy.
Should I tell them? About my run-in with Dulio, and the whole thing with the True Longinus?
I doubt they'd tell Heaven about it. Especially now, if what they're saying is true.
But really, what purpose would it serve besides flexing?
Well, none of that is particularly important, but there is something that could be.
I sigh internally, for what I'm about to do, or rather say.
With a click of my tongue, I finally answer, "Yeah, I do. And I think, I know why Heaven cut you guys off."
Sirzechs tilted his head at that, and Serafall huffed.
"Oh ya, Nori-chan? What is it? Another idea to the pile wouldn't hurt at this point…" She trailed off, somewhat listless.
Here's hoping my brain holds up. Maximum effort!
"Oh, you know, just extremely old man Yahw-"
Pain.
Searing, mind-numbing pain shot straight through my brain and down my spine like a red-hot, poisoned knife.
I damn near fell forward, barely holding onto my seat as is. I could feel something hot and thick trickle down my face, my vision began blotting out, and I tasted copper in my mouth.
I couldn't even finish His name this time.
And now? I couldn't see. I couldn't feel. I was aware of where I was, but the pain seemed to put a cover over the world around me.
In my core, my power rose to meet the foreign sensation, and smother over them.
I'm not sure how long I sat there, waiting for feeling to come back to me entirely, but when it did, the world around me seemed to snap back into place.
Immediately, I turned to Sirzechs and saw him sitting there, looking absolutely shocked, his eyes wide to an almost comical level.
I reached up, trailing a finger along my cheek, and pulling it away to reveal exactly what I had thought.
Blood. From my nose and eyes. Great.
"That…is not supposed to happen." Sirzechs began, tentatively, the shock having yet to leave, "Especially to beings not considered a Creature of Darkness, and just saying his name, doesn't do that." Abruptly, his eyes shift to Serafall, filled with concern. "Sera…?"
I follow his gaze to see Serafall eerily still, her hands cupped around her mouth and nose, her eyes pinned downward, looking at them.
Slowly, she pulls them back to reveal blood, caking her palms, and slightly trickling down from her nose.
Well. Fuck.
It took Sirzechs a moment, but eventually, he managed something.
"... Definitely not supposed to happen."
Hah. That's far more eloquently put than what I had in mind.
I clicked my tongue, as sparks of light crackle between my fingers, "Damn, sorry about that, did not think it'd affect you well."
Seriously, the last time it had any effect on anyone else, it was a trash-tier stray. And I said the full name! Several times!
At least Sirzechs seemed completely unaffected, but for Serafall to feel it?
Well, for some reason, that means it's getting stronger.
I place my fingers onto her temples on either side of her head and start rolling them in careful circular motions.
She flinches a bit, at first, "Ooooohhhh~..." Only to practically moan and settle in my lap, practically melting as my scarcely used healing power does its job.
Some of the concern leaves Sirzechs' eyes as he sees this, and looks back at me, "Are you alright, Noriaki?"
I wave him off, "Yeah, I'll be fine. Just didn't expect that kind of effect."
He raised an eyebrow, "You started saying something, but you couldn't finish before a burst of holy power came out of nowhere." He puts a finger to his chin, "It was almost like the effect a prayer has, but magnified several dozen-fold, and concentrated to this local area. What were you trying to say?"
"His Name," I responded casually.
He blinks, "His…name?" Sirzechs parrots, slowly, before asking, "Whose?"
I give him a blank stare, "The big guy upstairs. You know, Bibleman?
Serafall, in her healing-induced bliss, managed a snort, "Hah~!"
Sirzechs briefly smiled at that, "Right, the God in the Bible, you mean?" It didn't last long, switching to a more puzzled expression, "I…wasn't aware he had a name."
"Same!" Serafall chimed in with a raised finger.
No shot?
Well, I guess, thinking about it, that would be the kind of stuff He'd hide, wouldn't it? Like how the knowledge of how to start Ragnarok was hidden, too.
If anyone could pick up a copy of the Prose Edda on eBay, Loki wouldn't have needed to attack Kuoh; he'd have just picked up some mistletoe and headed straight home.
Granted, I'm not sure why He'd hide His own name like that. Beyond being a prayer bomb so far, it's not really done anything else.
All I could offer to Sirzechs then was a shrug, "Yeah, well, He does. Point is, though, and what I'm trying to say, is that he might be back."
Sirzechs sat there, staring me straight in the eye.
For a moment, silence reigned. He didn't seem shocked that I knew, and I could tell he wasn't questioning how I knew.
Then, with a sigh, he leaned back into his seat at last.
"Michael said He shouldn't be able to." He stated, plainly, his gaze turning and looking out at the window, far into the distance, "However it happened, something was stopping it. Michael was sure something broke. That if He was going to return, it'd have been several dozens of centuries ago…" his voice trailed off.
"But it makes sense, doesn't it?" Serafall pointed out, tone far more morose, "Azazel joked about it all the time, but if He did come back, Michael would follow his orders without question."
"Even if it meant tearing down what we were trying to build." Sirzechs voice twisted with a flurry of emotions, foremost being sadness.
Despite all of that, Sirzechs took a breath and nodded.
"Whatever that was exactly was extraordinarily unusual." Sirzechs continues, far more composed, glancing back at me, "I wish it wasn't true, but that, plus having met and spoken with Michael myself…I know he wouldn't do what he did for no reason."
Serafall groaned, slowly growing limp in my lap, "Hmm, Sirzechs-chan, if he's back, doesn't that mean…?"
"We're going to have to prepare for the worst, yes." He confirmed with a stiff nod, causing Serafall to grow quieter.
It didn't need to be said what exactly they needed to prepare for. All in all, it's pretty obvious.
A Second Great War.
"Hopefully, it doesn't come to that." Serafall finally says after a moment, "But, if it does…" She finally turned to me, but for once, she sat down; it wasn't with a pouty look.
Serious Serafall is still cute, but nowhere near as cute as bratty magical girl Serafall that requires punishment.
"Nori-chan," she begins, "I understand this meeting, despite its contents, is far less serious…but for the future, I'd like to ask we set up something a bit more official." She holds her hand out to my face, and with a wave of it, her demonic power briefly surges.
Water manifests, swirling around my face. It was only for a moment, the small localized whirlpool vanishing a moment later, and admittedly, it caught me off guard.
But not for long, as Serafall smiles, and does the same to her face, washing away the blood on her face.
Oh yeah, I did bleed out like her, didn't I? The gravity of the conversation made that fact slip my mind for a minute.
I gave the magical girl larper a huff, "I suppose I could see about making it happen." I paused, making a show of thinking about it, before adding, "On one condition~!"
"Hmm? What could that be, Nori-cha-"
Squeeze~!
"nnnnNNYEEH~!?"
"Sorry, I couldn't resist." I stated with utmost seriousness, my hand still on her ass where I squeezed it, "It had been too long."
Serafall crossed her arms and glared at me, "Nori-chan~! Now is not the time!"
Almost as though on cue, Sirzechs began breaking out into a small fit of laughter, "Ah, well, Sera." He puts his hand up to his mouth, "I suppose the future of this alliance rests on you?"
"Weeehhh!?" That nearly made Serafall fall off my lap, her eyes widening at what her crimson peer just implied, before jerking her gaze straight toward him, "Sirzechs-chan! Stop trying to sell me offfffff~!"
It didn't take me long to start chuckling along with him, much to the further pouting of the pink magical girl in my lap.
~ A New Sun ~
All in all, despite the vast majority of our talk, it went pretty well!
As did the Rating Game, but I'll get back to that later.
The only real shame is that, also due to the content of our talk, I couldn't grope Serafall nearly as much as I wanted.
But, as a particular robot once said, 'I'll be back.'
Specifically for that magical girl ass.
Thinking about it more, it was honestly kind of surreal.
How fast we went from the very high likelihood of Him returning, back to normal conversation.
It helps, I guess, that none of it was well and truly confirmed? It just seems very likely.
It might also be that, if it is true, the fact that He hasn't really done anything yet sort of dampens the impact, you know?
I'm guessing he's building up to something, but what could that be?
No idea. To a certain extent, that's worrying, but at the same time, obsessing over the possibilities when you don't even have a foundation to start with is beyond pointless.
It's giving yourself anxiety for anxiety's sake.
When, instead, you could be trolling a certain pink magical girl's sister.
So, as I walk toward a seemingly abandoned palace structure in what amounts to the down under of the Underworld, I'm still texting away, cackling almost, with a big, stupid smile on my face.
Seriously, Sona, I know you care for your sister and all, but spamming me with messages threatening me if I dare lay a hand on her is simply adorable.
A part of me legit wants to get with Serafall, purely to piss off Sona, but such thoughts are fleeting, because I'm not that much of an ass.
Serafall is such a gem; the poor girl deserves someone who'll actually love her, not use her for something like that. And even though I wouldn't call Sona a gem, I'd still say the same about her, too.
I let out a sigh as I send a singular emoji to a whole line of fumed questioning from Sona.
It's the evil smile with devil horn emoji.
Heh. My smile grows wider as the three little dots indicating her typing back flicker up and down on the screen, over and over…
"I don't believe you're here just to toil idly on your phone, now are you?"
Ah, that's my cue.
With a forlorn sigh, I put my phone away and faced forward.
There, right before the doors of the old palace structure, is the man who spoke with that sophisticated, almost posh accent.
He looks like a young man, but with all the devils, you can never use that as an indicator. He wore a suit of pure silver and white, perfectly tailored and smooth, befitting a butler. His long silver hair was braided, falling down the center of his back, and his red eyes sat calmly on me, yet I could see the coil behind his gaze.
Euclid Lucifuge.
Took them long enough.
He was ready to spring into action at any moment.
"Well, it took you so long to reveal yourselves," I shrugged, "I figured I may as well take my time approaching as well."
The butler frowned, "You'd do well not to bring that attitude within these doors. My Lord only dropped the shields to his residence out of curiosity, nothing more." He looks me up and down, and I could feel the scoff he wanted to let be held back, "Should he decide it so, you can be removed from here easily."
Heh, hook, line, and sinker.
That's right, these guys were actually completely invisible to me. Even with my sensing abilities, I couldn't find shit. I don't know what kind of magic this guy and his organization are cooking with, but it's some good stuff.
So instead, I had my clones pulse holy spirit power out like a beacon, and just flew around, aimlessly.
Well, not entirely aimlessly. I knew where not to go, of course.
But here? The clone I had around here was flying around in this area the length of a whole Rating Game match, that's how long it took them to reveal themselves.
I give the jumped-up butler a smirk, "Would it shock you to know I'm actually not here to meet Rizevim, Euclid? No, I'm here to see you."
The butler twitched. He tried to hide it, I can tell he really did, but I laid a bit too much on him all at once for that.
His expression grew just a touch darker, "Oh, really now." His eyes narrowed slightly, "And what could you possibly want with me?"
"Everything you know about the Khaos Brigade, of course." I see no point in sugar coating it.
After all, I'm getting what I came here for, whether he wants to give it to me or not.
Euclid, meanwhile, grunts, running a hand through his perfectly combed silver hair with a look of distaste, "I am not liable to give that information to you, some random god from the East." He states.
I nod, in understanding, "Fair enough. You haven't asked the one who holds your leash yet. Why don't you go ahead and ask him, then?"
To my surprise, that one doesn't cause him to react in the slightest; I guess he's probably heard that one before.
Instead, he gives a curt nod and replies, "Don't expect a different answer." Before turning around and walking straight back inside.
I couldn't help but chuckle as I followed right after him.