A Longinus, or a "God-Slayer," is a unique class of Sacred Gear said to possess enough power to destroy even a God. At present, thirteen such artifacts have been confirmed, and since ancient times, they have almost always been kept under the strict surveillance of one of the Three Great Powers. It is said that the mere presence of a single Longinus can warp the very fabric of reality, and their abilities are as varied as they are profound.
Among them is a particular Longinus with the trait of "attracting other compatible Sacred Gears." In this era, the boy who possesses it is merely an ordinary child, oblivious to both the power he carries and the karma he accrues. Yet, those who have interacted with him—or those whose own Gears were unconsciously drawn to his—have been indirectly affected by that resonance.
Perhaps that Sacred Gear, the God-Slaying Dog, desired it. Perhaps it sought someone who would accept it—the one who bears the title of a "Maimed God"—and accept its heretical master, who had reached the forbidden realm from birth. That wish, that distortion, accidentally birthed an anomaly. Something occurred that neither the Dog, the World, nor the affected parties could have ever predicted.
***
"Big Sister, when are Mom and Dad coming home today?"
"Hmm... Dad has overtime, but Mom said this morning she'd be a bit late too."
"Ehh? Dinner is going to be late again..."
"Stop complaining. They're working hard for us."
A black-haired boy pouted as his older sister led him by the hand. His parents both worked, and they were often late getting home. For a rowdy second-grader, late dinner was a serious problem. The household policy prohibited too many snacks, so he couldn't just fill up on candy. While there were usually pre-made meals for late nights, eating as a family was a luxury reserved for the weekends. The two siblings walked the path home from school, the boy feeling a slight twinge of loneliness.
It was a normal school route. A scene of everyday life taken for granted. A world they believed would continue unchanged forever. Yet, a single chance encounter was about to warp the logic of this reality.
"Look, look! This way!"
"Wait up, Sae!"
The boy reacted to the voices of a boy and girl running from the opposite direction. For reasons he couldn't explain, something deep inside him felt 'drawn' to them. He looked up to see a young girl with a mischievous grin being chased by a black-haired boy. Based on their height, they were likely younger than him, though not by much. The boy found himself following them with his eyes.
Naturally, they passed him by without a second thought. They were strangers, after all. And yet, the boy felt a heavy, rhythmic thumping in his chest. He watched their retreating backs as his sister pulled him along.
"…Eh?"
For a split second, the shadow of the boy in the distance seemed to distort. From within that darkness, crimson eyes—belonging to something shaped like a dog—seemed to lock onto his. The moment passed in a heartbeat, vanishing like a hallucination. The boy stood stunned, unable to believe what he'd seen, and could only keep walking as his sister tugged on his hand. By the time he looked back, they were long gone. But his mind was in chaos, his heart racing with an uncontrollable tremor.
A black dog. Crimson eyes. An abyss-like darkness and an unfathomable, eerie depth. He hadn't been able to look away. Something inside him had turned crimson and shivered. He had been 'called' by that thing and suddenly pulled toward it. At his young age, the boy's psyche was at risk of being swallowed by the sheer torrent of aura.
Sensing its host's crisis, the power dormant within him stirred. The newly awakened force moved to save its master. The accidental distortion caused by the Dog's supernatural aura met the boy's own Gear, which suppressed its power to protect him. In that clash, a barrier within the boy was wiped away. His young soul was stimulated, and in an effort to stabilize his mind, he recovered the memories of his Previous Life.
"…Wait, what?"
"Kanata? Is something wrong?"
"Oh, no. It's nothing, Sis."
"Really? You're a weird one, Kanata."
The sudden influx of information was too much for the child's memory to hold, and his recollection of the previous few minutes vanished. He struggled to adapt to the realization of his reincarnation, leaving him no room to ponder the catalyst. The black-haired boy and the black dog faded away like a fleeting dream. It was a subconscious survival mechanism—a way for a child who had seen the supernatural to protect his own sanity.
Later, the boy with the Dog would have his powers sealed by his grandmother. By the time he reached seven, the Governor General of the Fallen Angels would marvel at the perfection of that seal. A human boy bearing a power that could end humanity. A grandmother's wish for him to live a happy life. And a story that began before his own tale even started.
Heretics are drawn to one another. The day the Crimson Spear and the Black Dog would meet again was not far off.
***
I gripped the crimson spear and activated my ability. I funneled strength into my lead foot, using the power of Erasure to momentarily accelerate and dodge the incoming blade. I circled to my opponent's flank and swung my Partner in a horizontal arc, but the strike was easily parried. I didn't give up, thrusting and sweeping with the spear in a desperate attempt to keep up. However, my opponent caught my advancing foot with the tip of his weapon, and I went down hard. I hit the floor with a weird groan, my nose throbbing as tears pricked my eyes.
Still, I couldn't stop. I used my Partner's power to erase the sensation of pain and countered by throwing a segmented spear I'd broken off via Analyze. He dodged that too, of course. I knew he would, so I used the opening to scramble back and put some distance between us. Even though I knew that for a man like him, this distance was practically non-existent.
"…Good. Your movements are becoming more efficient. You're starting to get a feel for the distance between you and your opponent."
"You still made me face-plant, though," I grumbled.
"When you focus too much on the attack, you forget your footing," Masaomi Yaegaki said, lowering his stance. "The hips and legs are the foundation of spear-work. If you break your center of gravity, you're easy to neutralize. Remember that in close-quarters combat."
Seeing him deactivate his combat stance, I finally let out a breath of relief. I was panting, wiping the sweat from my cheeks with my sleeve. Masaomi tossed me a bottle of water with a cool, dry face, not a single drop of sweat on him. I knew the gap in our strength was massive, but as a guy, it was still a bit frustrating. I wanted to at least be able to move a little better than this.
I was currently in a training room within the Grau Zauberer headquarters. Mephisto had arranged this specific room for me so I could train in Melee combat and Sacred Gear usage without being disturbed by other magicians.
It's been about four months since I started using this place. Since I'm a complete beginner at martial arts, most of my memories here involve being in a world of pain. I guess that's what happens when you've never had real combat training before. The time has really flown by.
Professor Azazel focuses mostly on Sacred Gear training, and since he's with a different organization, he can't visit often. Plus, this is a magicians' association; there aren't many people here who can teach physical combat or martial arts. And because of the nature of my Gear, I can't exactly train with just anyone. I had prioritized mid-to-long-range training since it was safer, but my lack of CQC skills was becoming a problem.
That problem was solved a few months ago. I found an ally who knew about my Sacred Gear, was a warrior belonging to the Association, and was a nice enough guy to agree to train a novice. I finished my water and looked at my friend.
"…I know it's late to say this, but you're really good with a spear, Masaomi."
"The Church trains us in a variety of weapons," he replied. He spun his spear—an identical training model to mine—effortlessly with one hand. "I prefer the katana, but I can handle a polearm well enough."
I watched him spin the spear with envy. Man, that looks cool. It radiates this "strongest warrior" vibe. I've been practicing spinning a baton in my room, but I'm nowhere near that level.
Masaomi really is a genius when it comes to combat. Knowing how much of a mess he is in his daily life, I'm convinced he put all his stat points into "Battle." Still, I was incredibly grateful for him. He was a human who had spent his life fighting monsters. If I wanted to learn how a human is supposed to fight the supernatural, there was no better teacher.
Both Professor Azazel and Mephisto told me that Masaomi was the best choice for martial arts and body movement. Fighting styles for humans are fundamentally different than those for Devils or Fallen Angels. They also mentioned that learning pure martial arts from him would prevent me from developing "bad habits" like relying on magic or light-energy mid-swing. I use my Sacred Gear for our sparring sessions, but usually, he's just teaching me the basics of thrusting, spacing, and footwork.
"Phew... I still have zero confidence in close combat. I can barely track your movements with my eyes."
"That takes time," Masaomi encouraged. "But for someone who can't see the move, your evasion is remarkable."
"Oh, that's just my Partner. He tells me when an attack is coming. It's like a sixth sense."
"Your Sacred Gear is as mysterious as ever..." Masaomi mused, looking at the crimson spear.
Sacred Gears react to their host's danger; that's what Professor Azazel taught me, so I figured this was normal. Lavinia once told me, "It's because you and your Partner are exceptionally close," but I don't really get the sensory side of it. My teacher said my "trust level" with my Gear is unusually high. I wonder if that's the reason.
I rubbed my nose and used my Partner's power to erase the bruising. I try not to rely on him too much so I can sharpen my own senses, but it's hard. Since I have a pseudo-healing ability, our training is pretty intense. Bruises, dislocations, and even the occasional fracture are standard, though my Partner always warns me before a truly lethal strike lands.
"Sensing danger is a powerful counter to ambushes," Masaomi said. "I'm always on high alert for surprise attacks, so I'm actually a bit jealous."
"I'm lucky to have him. But I'm jealous of your natural talent for fighting, Masaomi."
"Hahaha! I guess the grass is always greener."
Masaomi chuckled. He was holding back a lot during our sessions. Based on the reports of his work for the Association over the last four months, his actual skill is terrifying. Apparently, he's been capturing Stray Magicians with nothing but a standard katana. Since he's a human with no apparent supernatural powers, they always underestimate him—and then he cuts them down before they can finish a chant. It reminded me that a warrior who survived the Church's front lines is in a league of his own.
Normally, humans don't try to fight the supernatural. The power gap is too wide, and the weird abilities are too dangerous. But Masaomi made a career out of it. He's been learning how to fight magicians at the Association and working hard to contribute to the organization. He's an earnest, devoted guy, and he's been building a solid reputation.
It looks like he's settling in well. I was worried a Church warrior would have a hard time in a magicians' organization, but his adaptability is incredible. He deals with the eccentric researchers and gets the job done no matter how much they annoy him. Then again, he fell in love with a Devil and fit right in with the Belial peerage—a group of female Devils. His flexibility is probably his greatest asset.
***
We sat and chatted, Masaomi giving me pointers on our session. Even though he's about a decade older than me, talking to him is easy. We're both "protected" by the Association, and he treats me like an equal. Plus, though my memories are fuzzy, his age is close to what mine was in my previous life. We like the same things; we played video games the other day, and it was a blast.
"That reminds me... in that game you showed me, there was a really interesting sword skill," Masaomi said. "Since I'm part of the Grau Zauberer now, I was wondering if I could combine my swordplay with magic. A 'Magical Swordsman,' I think it's called. It sounds pretty cool."
"A Magical Swordsman? That sounds awesome!"
"Right? Surprisingly, there aren't many people who combine the two. There are demon-sword users, but I can't rely on getting a weapon like that. I need more options. So I was thinking of learning some spells that complement a blade."
"Whoa."
I don't remember seeing many "Magical Swordsmen" in the original DxD series. There were swordsmen who used the unique properties of their blades—like Dragon Slayers or Light-Eaters—but "Swordsman" and "Magician" felt like two separate job classes.
Magicians are usually obsessed with their research and specific styles. Swordsmen are stubborn about their technique. Plus, in this world, magic is just one of many technologies, not a mandatory power. And most of the elite swordsmen come from the Church; a believer using magic would be viewed with suspicion by the higher-ups. It might just be that mastering both is too difficult for most people.
But while Masaomi's mana capacity is average, his combat sense is off the charts. He's good at precision work and naturally dexterous. He might actually pull it off. I've been introducing people to manga and games as a hobby, but they're being more influenced than I expected. Is this okay?
Lavinia is a natural genius who links together brutal combos without thinking. Professor Azazel is a total meta-gaming obsessive who researches "Role Theory." Ajuka is a literal game master who always makes the optimal move. And Mephisto is a tactical illusionist who slowly invades the board until he flips the whole thing at the last second. And then there's me, playing games in the middle of all these monsters.
They're all such sore losers that they never hold back. If peace ever happens, I want to see a game match between a Satan and a Governor General. Still, Masaomi is my favorite person to play with because it's actually a fair fight. He proves that I'm not weak—it's just that everyone else is insane. (Though playing with them is incredibly reliable during co-op sessions.)
"By the way, you started middle school, right?" Masaomi asked. "How is it?"
"Hmm... it's okay. There are way more students than in primary school, so it's a mix of all kinds of people. I'm still hanging out with my old friends while I figure out my place in the new social hierarchy. I want to make a good impression on the teachers, so I'm focusing on classwork and committees for now."
"…You're surprisingly practical about your future, Kanata."
"It's important! My supernatural life is so chaotic that I just want my 'normal' life to be peaceful. I have to miss school for Association work sometimes, so I need to keep my grades up so my family doesn't worry."
Actually, it's because of my previous life. This is technically my second time in middle school. I was actually a little moved when I first put on the uniform. I know how to navigate the social scene. I'm already busy enough memorizing "Under-world" lore; in my normal life, I just want to hang out with friends and be a regular kid. Surface life is surface; shadow life is shadow.
"I see... I guess I need to start thinking seriously about my own future too."
"Your future? Aren't you going to keep working here?"
"Well, yeah. But my position is pretty unstable. In the shadows, I have the Satans, the Belial family, and Director Mephisto backing me. But officially, I'm just a former Exorcist with no home. Cleria is a noble Devil, even if she's from a branch family. If I'm going to stand beside her as her partner, I want to build a status that the Belial house can respect. I want to be able to repay my debts to them."
"I get it..."
We sat on a nearby bench, wiping our sweat. Masaomi hadn't had the luxury of thinking about the long term before, but now he did. He's been talking with Cleria via magic communication a lot lately.
Masaomi was exiled from the Church and he's an orphan, so he has no family name or unique powers to fall back on. To him, only having "sword skills" probably felt like a shaky foundation. I'm pretty average too outside of my Gear, so I understood his anxiety. As I nodded, Masaomi looked at me with a hesitant expression.
"So... actually... Director Mephisto gave me an option for my future."
"An option?"
"Yeah. Just before we went to save Cleria. He told me that if I wanted a proper official status, an increase in power, and a way to live forever alongside Cleria... he would let me join his Peerage."
"...WHAT!?"
My eyes nearly popped out of my head. To become a member of an ancient Devil's peerage... that would put him in a similar position to Tannin. Masaomi looked conflicted; he was clearly overwhelmed by the weight of the offer. I'd be hesitant too—to have a Great Devil offer you that is a lot to process.
"Director Mephisto said the Evil Pieces aren't that important to him, so if I wanted to reincarnate as a Devil, he'd use one on me. Honestly, it feels like more than I deserve. I'm not sure if someone like me is fit for his peerage..."
"I mean, yeah. But if you became his servant, all those problems you mentioned would vanish. Being the subordinate of an ancient Devil is a status that commands absolute respect."
"I know. But the idea of going from human to Devil... it doesn't feel real. Yet, I know it's what I need. I don't know if a human Masaomi can keep protecting what matters in the long run."
"…Have you talked to Cleria about it?"
"Not yet. I know she'd be happy, but she'd also tell me to choose for myself. So, sorry... you're actually the first person I've talked to about this."
I'm the first? Given his situation, I guess I am the only one he can talk to openly. He seemed to realize how indecisive he was being. There were a lot of pros... and probably a few cons too.
Reincarnation, huh? Mephisto has the pieces, and he already has a Queen—Tannin. He could certainly build a full peerage if he wanted to. But he doesn't have a territory to govern, doesn't care about the Rating Games, and doesn't care about "Devil status," so he has no reason to fill the slots.
He only reincarnated Tannin because the dragon begged for a way to save his kind. Even with a monster like a Dragon King in his peerage, Mephisto doesn't interfere with him at all. Tannin doesn't treat Mephisto like a "Master" either; they seem more like equals. To Mephisto, the peerage system is just another tool, not a lifestyle.
"Well, I'll help however I can, but... the decision to reincarnate has to be yours, Masaomi. No matter how long it takes you to decide."
"You're right... Still, what's it even like? I can't imagine it."
"It's not as dramatic as you'd think," I said. "You live mostly the same as a human. But you'll start feeling sluggish in direct sunlight and get a power boost after sunset. You'll grow bat wings, get night vision, and be able to use demonic power. You can use magic to change your appearance or physical age, and you'll automatically understand and translate every language. The downside is that holy objects and prayers will be physically painful. Since you're a former Exorcist, you'll have to watch out for that—I've heard horror stories of former believers accidentally praying and getting a massive migraine."
"Kanata... have you been reincarnated before? And that last example sounds terrifyingly specific."
Masaomi's face was twitching. Wait, are Devil traits not common knowledge? I was just reciting what happened to Issei and Asia in the original story. But I guess if you aren't on the "Devil side" of things, you wouldn't know the specifics. My meta-knowledge and this world's common sense are still out of sync.
"I... er... I've been studying hard!" I blurted out.
Masaomi looked impressed and accepted the answer. Masaomi, please don't let bad people trick you. I was the one tricking him and I was still worried about him.
"I'm glad you know so much about Devils. Can I ask you more later?"
"Sure, but don't take everything I say as gospel. I might have some weird info mixed in. Actually, if you want to talk about reincarnation, Cleria's servants are the best source, but that might be awkward. Why don't you talk to another Reincarnated Devil?"
"You know other Reincarnated Devils besides the Belial peerage?"
I tilted my head. I thought I'd told him who my friends were.
"What are you talking about, Masaomi? I mean Tannin."
"…Wait. Kanata. That's a Dragon King. You can't just casually bring up his name."
"Eh? Well, what about Lord Beelzebub? He created the pieces, he knows everything about them."
"THAT'S A SATAN! You're talking about a literal god-king!"
Wait, why am I the one being treated like the weirdo? I'm scheduled for "training from hell" with that Dragon King next summer break, so I'll be seeing him soon. And I play online games with the Satan sometimes. He keeps asking to see my Sacred Gear again, so I figured I'd ask him about Masaomi the next time we're in a lobby together. They're both actually pretty nice once you get to know them.
"Kanata... just who exactly are you hanging out with?"
"Masaomi, if you become Mephisto's servant, this is going to be your 'normal' too."
"…Yikes."
He looked genuinely spooked. I realized if he joined Mephisto, he'd inevitably meet Professor Azazel. Given Masaomi's serious personality, I could see the Governor General running him ragged and causing him constant trouble. I hoped he'd be strong enough to survive it.
Wait... being Mephisto's servant sounds like a path to a lot of ulcers. I should probably recommend a good brand of stomach medicine to him. It always helps me when things get too intense. Though in my case, my Partner usually just "Erases" the pain before I even notice.
I appreciate the help, Partner, but you don't have to be jealous of medicine. I felt a slight sulking sensation from the spear. I added a quick "But I'm always grateful to you," and his mood immediately improved. Five years together and I can read him like a book. I couldn't help but smile.
And so, we spent our afternoon chatting away, just two friends enjoying the quiet before the next storm.
Volume 4: The Kuoh Town Incident — End.
Volume 5: The Grigori Arc — Beginning Soon.
***
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