— — — — — —
That couldn't be right. Lilith herself had acknowledged it. How could this be wrong?
Sirzechs stood there, completely stunned, half convinced he must be dreaming.
Then the next second he yelped.
Rias, who was still questioning reality, had grabbed the flesh on his arm and twisted hard.
"You yelped… so I'm not dreaming?" Rias said, looking dazed.
"Rias! What are you doing?!"
Sirzechs rubbed his reddened arm and shot his troublesome little sister a glare. If you're doubting reality, pinch yourself. Why pinch me?
Rias took a guilty step back, then tried to brazen it out.
"I was reminding you. You looked like your worldview just collapsed."
"Oh, should I thank you then?" Sirzechs's mouth twitched.
This brat.
How long had she been studying in the human world? How did she get this cheeky?
"No need to thank me. We're siblings, after all."
Rias gave an awkward laugh.
Sirzechs's mouth twitched again. Then he turned to Ryo, who looked thoroughly amused, and to Michael and Azazel, who were suppressing laughter.
"Honestly, I'm confused. Did I say something wrong?"
"You got two things wrong."
Ryo crossed his legs the other way and rested his chin on one hand, perfectly calm.
"First, the two beside me knew the original Lucifer for many years. When it comes to the Morning Star, they understand him far better than you do."
"That's why they dismissed your guess."
"As for the second point…"
Ryo straightened up, fingers interlaced beneath his chin as he leaned over the round table.
"You don't actually think that the 'true Lucifer' Lilith mentioned, refers only to the Morning Star, do you?"
"...Huh???"
Sirzechs froze.
Ryo looked at him with something close to pity, like he was staring at an idiot.
"Lilith's meaning is simple."
"In devil legends, Lilith and Lucifer are husband and wife. So when she said that to you, she meant I might qualify as her husband. Actually, she must have been silent for a long time before saying that. After all, in this world, I'm really the only one qualified for that role."
Sirzechs was dumbfounded.
That interpretation existed?
"But that's not right. The Devil Progenitor Lilith and the Morning Star really were married."
Ryo smiled faintly. "Good question."
"Let me ask you something. How many Liliths do you think there are?"
Sirzechs's expression changed.
Even Azazel and Michael looked unsettled.
"I see…" Azazel stroked his chin. "I was wondering why that Lilith was so powerful. So she's a different person?"
"The Lord created two Liliths?" Michael frowned, doubting his own memory. He clearly remembered that God had only created one.
Just then, someone tugged at his sleeve.
Michael turned his head. Gabriel, wearing a strange expression, quietly whispered a single name.
"Eve."
Michael immediately understood.
When God created humanity, He first made Adam and Lilith. After Lilith left, He used Adam's rib to create Eve.
If that was the case, then there were actually two ancient female progenitors in mythology: Lilith and Eve.
That could explain the existence of two "Liliths."
"Eve?" Azazel muttered, still feeling something was off, though he couldn't pinpoint what.
Then he glanced at Ryo and saw the look of someone watching fools. It clicked.
Damn. Instead of guessing, why not just ask him?
"Governor, why are there two Liliths?"
Ryo rolled his eyes. "You're basically asking me why there are two worlds."
Two worlds?
Everyone froze.
Then their expressions changed.
Two worlds? Two Liliths?
In an instant, they understood.
Lilith was Lilith… but not the Lilith of this world.
Everything suddenly made sense.
"This really is…" Sirzechs gave a wry smile.
With a truth like that, could you blame him for misunderstanding? Who would've guessed their Lilith came from another world?
"So the old man was telling the truth… other worlds really do exist…"
Azazel suddenly remembered something God had once mentioned in passing. Things like time running out, preparations not being enough, humanity still being too weak.
At the time, he had wondered why God expended so much power, building up the three factions, creating Sacred Gears, and preparing as if for war.
Turns out it had all been in preparation for threats from other worlds.
At that moment, Gabriel, seated beside Ryo, suddenly asked in a serious tone. "Forgive me for asking, but what is your purpose in coming to this world, Mr. Ryo Yagami?"
Everyone snapped back to attention.
Right. If Ryo was from another world, then why was he here?
Sirzechs thought of the Progenitor Lilith. She couldn't even be bothered to leave her castle, and looked at them with open disdain, yet the Devil Council practically begged to serve her.
If she spoke, even the Four Great Satans together wouldn't dare disobey.
What was her goal?
Azazel, meanwhile, was thinking even further ahead.
He didn't know about Lilith's contempt for devils. He only knew she was their current spiritual leader.
On the fallen angel side, Ryo had already solved their declining birthrate with shocking brilliance and become Governor.
In this way, two of the three factions were effectively in his hands.
And now, the last piece, the angels, sat right in front of him.
In a sense, this was exactly what Indra had tried and failed to accomplish.
Azazel's expression became more serious than ever.
He stared at Ryo and spoke solemnly. "Miss Gabriel's question is also mine."
"Mr. Yagami… what exactly is your objective?"
He deliberately avoided using the title "Governor," clearly drawing a line.
He needed to know. He wasn't about to lead the fallen angels into extinction.
Of course, if Ryo was here to make them prosper, Azazel wouldn't mind serving him loyally for life.
But if this was some destructive scheme, he'd risk everything to stop him.
Finally, Sirzechs sighed and added, "That's what I want to know as well."
The leaders of angels, devils, and fallen angels all looked at Ryo at once.
The atmosphere turned heavy, sharp with the scent of iron and blood.
Akeno unconsciously clenched her hands. She had never expected the three-faction summit to become this tense.
She glanced at Ryo, curious how he would respond when all three leaders were wary of him and questioning his motives.
Faced with the pressure, Ryo remained completely relaxed. He crossed his legs, tilted his chin slightly upward, and said:
"My purpose?"
"Simple."
He swept his gaze across everyone and grinned. "I'm here to recruit you."
He hooked a finger in his ear, flicked the imaginary dust away, and added casually.
"Go ahead. Name your price."
.
.
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