"Aah, Ajuka! You're so late, I was worried!"
"Worried? I'm right on time."
"No, no! Today is our super important meeting with Gramps Bael! You have to show up with time and spirit to spare! That's the rule!"
"...If you ask me, you're the one with too much spirit. I'm getting cold just looking at that outfit."
"Huh? But it's cute, right? It's a special day, so I went all out with my Santa Claus version!"
Her black hair was tied in twintails, and her outfit—a flimsy cloth of red, decorated with green ribbons—fluttered as she moved. She held a sparkling wand, and a tiny Santa hat sat perched on her head. It was an outfit somewhere between a girl and a woman, mixing her usual magical-girl cuteness with a dash of "ERO."
She was right, it suited her. But the Underworld, while not as extreme as the human world, has seasons. Even if she could offset the cold with demonic power, just looking at her was enough to make one shiver.
"I think your midriff-baring fashion is pretty much the same thing, Ajuka," Falbium Asmodeus noted, his eyes heavy with sleep.
"Falbium, this is my formal attire as a Maou. Don't lump me in with Serafall."
"Oh! I'm showing my midriff, too! Wait—Hah! D-does this mean we're twinning, Ajuka?!"
"No. Absolutely not. Never."
Ajuka Beelzebub calmly retorted Falbium's listless jab, but he had to put real force into shooting down Serafall Leviathan's. 'Maybe I should design a new outfit...' he thought, sighing at his colleagues' unchanging antics.
This was the state of the Four Great Maou, the rulers of the Underworld. You couldn't let the public see this. They were perfectly capable of acting the part in public, but in private, all bets were off. In a way, they were just good at flipping the switch. If they were serious all the time, the stress of the job would have given them ulcers.
Still, while Great King Bael would probably just grimace and ignore Serafall's outfit, Duke Agares, who was lending them the meeting place, would suffer a critical blow to his stomach. Ajuka felt a twinge of guilt for the Duke, who was about to be dragged into this as a buffer. After some pouting, Ajuka succeeded in making Serafall change into her proper diplomatic attire. He was already exhausted.
***
They teleported to the top floor of a watchtower in Auros, in Duke Agares's territory. The glass-walled room overlooked the vast townscape and, in the distance, the flying city of Agreas, where the Emperor was waiting. A cheerful laugh echoed through the room.
"Hahaha, it's wonderful that you all get along so well."
"...This looks like 'getting along' to you, Sirzechs?"
The red-haired man merely shrugged, amused by Ajuka's dubious tone. This was Sirzechs Lucifer, the other "transcendent" Maou, alongside Ajuka. He was the older brother of the heroine, Rias Gremory, and the man Kanata secretly called the "Sis-con Maou." His hair earned him the title "Crimson Satan."
Staring at that red hair, Ajuka thought, 'It really is the same color,' recalling the boy he'd met weeks ago. A Sacred Gear user who, like his best friend, was "too nice, too soft." They weren't much alike, but the red, the power of elimination, and the way he clung to his ideals even as reality tried to crush him... it all reminded Ajuka of his friend.
The fact that Ajuka, a devil and a Maou, had taken a human child's plea so seriously was largely due to Sirzechs. The moment he saw his rival—his greatest confidant—in that struggling boy, he could no longer dismiss him. He'd been vague with Mephisto Pheles, but this was one of his true reasons.
Sirzechs noticed Ajuka staring and looked back, puzzled. Ajuka just shrugged and shook his head.
"Come now, Serafall was just worried in her own way. You've been busy lately, haven't you, Ajuka?"
"Exactly! So I was going to heal you with my Magical Girl power!"
"...I see."
"Mhm!"
Ajuka looked away, too tired to argue. He could tell they were genuinely trying to cheer him up. Falbium just patted his shoulder, having (as Ajuka guessed) lazily allowed the chaos to happen. Ajuka was grateful for the small comfort.
"It's fine to get hooked on human-world games, but don't overdo it," Sirzechs advised.
"I know. This one just had an interesting system, so I got a little absorbed."
It was a cover story. He'd been incredibly busy since contacting the Emperor, but he couldn't let his fellow Maou know. His reputation for diving headfirst into his hobbies made the lie plausible.
He should have told them. He trusted them. But for this plan to work, he needed them to react naturally. He needed them to be themselves.
Their opponent was Zekram Bael, first head of the Bael family. If things went wrong, Ajuka had to take the fall alone. If Sirzechs and the others knew, their good-natured personalities would make them jump in to shield him. Ajuka knew them too well, and so he chose to keep them in the dark.
Besides... he trusted them. Even without knowing, he knew they would find the right path. He knew, better than anyone, how desperately they were fighting for the future of the Underworld.
"Well, we're all here. Shall we go? The Duke's attendant is waiting."
"Ugh... I just want to relax. Why do I work so much..."
"Falby, we have to work hard now so we can have a fun New Year with my Sona!"
"She's right, Falbium! I, too, must give my all, for the sake of a wonderful New Year with my beloved Grayfia and Rias!"
"Sleepy..."
"... ..."
Probably.
***
"Good day, gentlemen. It has been some time."
"Good day, Lord Zekram Bael. On behalf of the Maou, I thank you for traveling all the way to Auros."
"Hmph. I hear tales of your exploits. You do well for the sake of all devils. If it is necessary for the future of the Underworld, I shall come."
A second teleport brought them to a room in an elegant Western-style mansion. An elderly man with black hair and deep violet eyes sat in an ornate chair, greeting them with a calm gaze. His posture was flawless. In contrast to his smile, the Maou's expressions were all business.
"Lord Agares, thank you for providing this place."
"It is nothing. ...Alivian, for the Maou as well."
"Yes, my lord."
A man with pale, greenish-blond hair, wearing the Agares family crest, bowed. Duke Agares gestured to a black-haired butler, who moved to serve the Maou. Ajuka's eyes narrowed with interest.
"...He is a dragon. I sense an Eastern European aura."
"Indeed, Lord Beelzebub. He is of the Zmei. In the future, he will become my daughter's Queen and the right hand of House Agares."
"A Zmei... how rare."
"Oh, Seekvaira's Queen? My, my, she's going to be a tough rival for my Sona."
It was expected that the Agares heiress would soon join the Rating Game, right around the same time as Serafall's sister, Sona Sitri. That generation was packed with young talent from famous houses.
"Indeed. I hope they become good rivals."
"Princess Rias of the Gremory family, as well as the heirs of Astaroth and Glasya-Labolas, are all of the same generation... It is gratifying to see so many outstanding pure-blooded devils."
At Zekram's words, the Maou and Duke Agares tensed. They had just realized that speaking of the "next generation" was a dangerous topic for the current Bael family. Serafall and the Duke panicked, but Zekram's expression remained serene. His words had been genuine, yet they seemed laced with some other, unreadable emotion.
"...Lord Zekram. About young Sairaorg—"
"Sirzechs."
Ajuka cut his friend off with a slight shake of his head. That was Sirzechs Gremory speaking, not Sirzechs Lucifer. 'Don't go there.' Sirzechs bit his lip, his expression shifting back to that of a statesman. Zekram gave no reaction.
Sairaorg Bael. Sirzechs's young cousin. Born as the Bael heir, he had failed to inherit the family's "Power of Destruction." He was labeled a defect, his mother a disgrace. Sirzechs's mother, Venelana Gremory (herself a Bael), had tried to intervene, but was rebuffed. Sirzechs, too, had searched for a way to help, but was stuck. The fact that he—the child of a daughter who married out—had inherited the power only made things worse.
Zekram, the first patriarch, remained silent on the matter. He treated Sairaorg as if he didn't exist.
Sirzechs, a Maou, was powerless to save one child from torment. His fist trembled. He had taken this title, this responsibility. He had chosen to protect the order of the Underworld.
Therefore... he needed his Maou face, not his personal one. He bowed to Zekram, a silent apology. Serafall watched him, her gaze drifting in thought.
"Mmm, this is wonderful tea. The Agares territory produces such high quality."
"Lord Asmodeus...?"
Into the heavy silence, Falbium's lazy voice drifted. He sipped his tea, eyes closed. "May I have another? You all should drink. We have a lot of work ahead, you'll burn out if you don't relax."
"Ah... yes."
"He's right. I shall."
Ajuka took the cue, and the tension in the room finally eased. Duke Agares, a middle-manager in this whole affair, clutched his stomach in relief. His sharp butler silently offered him a stomach-soothing tea.
"...Sirzechs," Serafall whispered, audible only to him.
"Serafall?"
"Don't carry it alone. If it's too much, you have me, and you have the Sitri family. We are the Four Maou, after all."
She gave him a wink, then turned. "I'll have some, too!" Sirzechs smiled faintly, his clenched fist slowly uncurling. Ajuka just shrugged. 'We have it rough, don't we?'
Zekram Bael remained unreadable, discussing the tea with Duke Agares. Ajuka looked at the clock. Still time before the Emperor made his move. He set his cup down.
"Now, Lord Zekram. We have gathered you here today to discuss the matter we've raised before. For the future of our people... we ask you to consider an alliance with the Fallen Angels and the Angels."
"...First, you destroy the very symbol of the Maou, and now you seek to change eons of animosity."
"If it is necessary for our future... then as the one who inherited the name Lucifer, I will move forward."
"Youthful... But perhaps that is why you can move forward."
Zekram's dark violet eyes narrowed, a chuckle in his throat. Sirzechs was the public face of the devils; Zekram was the face behind the curtain. The new era and the old. They had to find a compromise.
***
Amidst the tension, only Ajuka glanced out the window toward Agreas. He was the one who had lit this fire. He felt a small pang of guilt, knowing he was about to plunge his friends into absolute chaos.
I'll make it up to them later, he vowed silently.
***
"I see... so this is how the barrier around Kuoh Town works."
"Yes. I gave you the data before, Kanata, but seeing it yourself is important. The surveillance barrier is most likely centered on the Church-controlled land. By allying with the Church, they chose a spot the Belial peerage would not approach."
"Oh, so that's why Creuserey's group didn't know."
It was the day of the strike. I was "sick" from school. My family was worried I was getting ill too often, but Lavinia had used a light suggestion spell, and they'd left for the day. She had been investigating the town while I was at school, using Mill-tan as a guide.
Asking an expert was the right call. The barrier was simple: just communication jamming and location tracking for the Belial peerage. It didn't target us. They never imagined their enemy would rely on a human kid.
They couldn't make the barrier too complex, or Creuserey's group (the official managers) would have noticed. They must have thought it was a protective barrier from their allies. It was nasty.
"Chairman Mephisto told me Kuoh Town was originally joint Bael-Gremory territory. But now it's mostly Bael land for 'study abroad' students."
"The Gremory family, too? They probably weren't told about this..."
"No. If they noticed, they'd just be told it was a 'defensive' barrier for the town."
"Urgh... finding out your 'defensive' barrier was actually a 'surveillance' barrier... that's awful."
I knew the Bael family was aware Creuserey was digging into the Rating Game. They probably wanted her "purged" and had this barrier set up just in case.
"The barrier itself isn't complex; most of its resources are dedicated to covering the entire town. If you continue your studies, Kanata, you'll be able to cast one, too."
"Barrier magic... I'd like to, but there are so many formulas. It seems overwhelming."
"You must fight on."
That's easy for a genius like Lavinia or Vali to say. I'm the one Azazel certified as "talentless." Magic requires knowledge and understanding. I'm a reincarnator, and my brain is still just that of a sixth-grader. Lavinia is definitely smarter than me... I thought reincarnation was supposed to be a cheat?
"No talent, huh... I guess I need a more... unconventional method."
I mumbled to myself, thinking of Issei's Dress Break and Pailingual—powers born from sheer perversion. I don't have that. My teachers are the best in the world, and they all say I just have to "work hard."
"Hey, Partner... Can you do anything about my lack of talent? You're all I've... wait."
Wait a minute.
"...Lavinia. Can you cast a simple magic circle? One I don't know."
"Kanata?"
"It's... just a little experiment."
She obliged, a small circle glowing on her palm. I summoned my Sacred Gear. I was remembering Ajuka's lesson, and my experiment with Azazel's light. When I "eliminated" it, I felt like I understood it. And the Sacred Gear is supposed to assist the host's understanding.
I know I'm not enough on my own. But I have my Partner. Magic needs understanding. What if I can use my elimination power to gain that understanding? If I deconstruct the magic formula to destroy it, will I learn it?
"Eliminate Answer!"
My pseudo-Kankara Formula. It would take more energy than when I deleted the answer, but... as I use the power, my Partner and I learn to be more efficient. We learn to understand what we're deleting.
"Okay, so deleting this... links to this part. So if I run my power through here...?"
"Um, Kanata?"
"Partner, what about this side? Oh, cool. Hmm, this formula... I don't get it. What? You'll handle it? Okay, thanks! Now, this next part—"
"Kanata... Kanata..."
"Ah! I deleted the whole thing. Lavinia, can you cast it again?"
"...Sheesh. Yes, fine."
We did this a few times. After several "deletions," I was able to successfully channel my own magic through her formula. With my Partner's help, I was able to clumsily replicate the magic. It's inefficient, but with this... I can learn!
"Lavinia, I did it! This way is tough, but I think I can learn magic!"
"...Yes. That's good."
For some reason, she was giving me a very deadpan look.
"...Uh, Lavinia?"
"As a magician, I have... many things to say about your method. But... it's you, Kanata, so I'll just let it go."
"Wait, Lavinia! What does 'it's you, so I'll let it go' mean!?"
I thought she was the only one who treated me normally! She just giggled. I'll just pray she's joking.
***
We continued to plan. It was about time for the meeting to start, and for Dihauzer's broadcast. Mill-tan was at the church, "watching" Mr. Shidou. The Mil-key magicians were downstairs, watching TV—Mephisto had apparently sent them as a "teleport service" to get me to Creuserey the moment the strike was over.
"Ah... It's almost time for their broadcast, huh?"
"Yes. I hope nothing goes wrong."
"They'll be fine. Mr. Dihauzer's got this."
I trusted "Emperor Mode" Dihauzer. And Lord Ajuka. All we could do was wait.
Just then... my magic communicator buzzed.
"...It's started."
"Yes."
My tense voice made Lavinia's expression tighten. The meeting... and the strike... were beginning. The Old Devils would try to shut Dihauzer down themselves, to avoid bothering Zekram Bael. They still underestimated him. But this Dihauzer wouldn't listen. He would push until the Maou and Bael had to intervene.
By the time they did, the public would be on our side.
Azazel was holding back the Fallen Angels. Mephisto was watching the human world. Tannin and Ajuka were moving in the shadows. I gripped my Partner.
"...Everyone... good luck."
I fought back the anxiety, took a deep breath, and closed my eyes.
***
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