Ambushed far away, we transferred injured Toji-san to church medical facility in Kuoh.
Immediate check.
Shoulder wound healed by Asia… but Yamata no Orochi poison entered.
D×D gathered.
Irina slumped in hall chair.
…Failed protecting father—heart wounded, self-blame.
"…Couldn't protect Papa… Became angel, he was happy… couldn't… couldn't…"
"…Irina-san."
Asia beside her.
But Zenovia distant.
"I'd scold her now. Too harsh. Asia better."
Unique bond between them.
Staying counterproductive—her kindness.
Two shadows approached us outside room.
Rias, Azazel-sensei.
"Sorry, absent crucial time."
"Heard. Qlippoth, Shido detox—discuss church."
Sensei vanished down hall.
Told Rias events; Griselda, doctor emerged.
Griselda:
"…Bureau Chief has evil dragon poison."
Ddraig audible:
Orochi poison tricky. Days, soul corrupted, death. Partner max healing body—but not detox.
Nodded.
"Body heal slows poison. Soul curse-like changes everything."
Yes. Body holds, soul doesn't. Full detox limited casters/facilities.
Griselda:
"Yes. Taking to heaven. Their method cures even Orochi. —But he wants talk first."
▽
"Papa!"
Irina rushed bed.
"Sorry… couldn't protect…"
"Haha, no apologize? Don't act dying. Heaven treatment, Issei-kun's help—see?"
Flexed arm.
Max healing slowed poison.
Looks fine, good color.
But… pained expression obvious.
Forced smile holding Irina's hand.
Toji scanned us, heavy:
"…Before heaven, about him."
Looked down.
"Yaegaki Masomi. Renowned church warrior, my former subordinate."
"…'Former'? Affiliation change?"
Shook head.
"He's dead. …Church purged him."
—!
All shocked.
Yaegaki dead…?
Why—
Qlippoth could. Life manipulation…
Rias:
"Sephiroth Graal… Revived Yaegaki, Orochi."
"His sword—Ame no Murakumo repairing… Stolen, dragon housed."
Zenovia added.
Ame no Murakumo.
Mythic holy sword from Orochi tail.
Housed dragon…
Toji continued:
"Church officials attacked—you know?"
"Yes, Michael-sama said."
"…His doing. Motive. Victims my old colleagues."
Speechless.
Colleagues targeted…
Motive for revenge…
What past…
Rias sighed:
"Actually, Baal affiliates attacked."
"What…? True?"
"Yes. No Baal direct victims, but Great King faction politicians. Deaths."
Recall Yaegaki's parting:
—Baal blood demons inheriting town.
Not town demons—Baal blood.
Specifically…
Muttered:
"Baal attacks Yaegaki…?"
"Likely. Reason."
Toji ceiling gaze.
Rias:
"What happened here? Predecessor devil, Baal relative—my maternal kin managed, church conflict, removed…"
Toji nodded understanding.
"…That version there. Officially here too… Father or brother not told?"
"Yes. …Father unaware, no secrets. Brother position… unsure. Great King Baal explaining later."
"…They'll talk. Details from them. But little: Yaegaki… fell love upper devil woman territory."
Covered mouth, tears.
"Belial branch. Clelia Belial. …We tore apart…! Deserve death…! Sorry… Yaegaki… truly…!"
▽
Saw Toji off, visited Gremory castle.
All Occult members: Rias peerage, mine, Irina, Reyna.
Baal messenger here.
En route reception, asked Rias:
"…Knew Clelia Belial?"
"…No. Heard Baal branch predecessor. Documents, met, Kuoh stories. …All fabricated."
Rias info fake.
Met predecessor planted.
Rias knocked.
"Father, arrived."
Enter.
Zeoticus voice.
Rias bowed, entered.
We followed.
Decorated sofa, table, fireplace.
Zeoticus, elderly man.
Noble attire, purple eyes, black hair.
Gentle but gapless.
Dignified aura.
"Welcome. Sit."
Zeoticus stood, welcomed.
Rias, I sat opposite man.
Man slight smile.
"Hello, Princess Rias, Red Dragon Emperor."
Zeoticus:
"Rias, Issei-kun, greet. Baal house—first head."
—!?
Shocked.
Baal first…!
Bible Baal himself!
Source of 'Baal' devils!
Huge!
Secrets in town…
Elderly first Baal:
"Nice meet. Zekram Baal. Bible, books sufficient."
"…Hello… heard in texts."
Rias unexpected, shrunk.
Expected current subordinates.
First Baal direct.
Surprise.
Zekram scanned:
"Gremory peerage. Achievements known. Kind to Sairaorg… thanks. Question: predecessor, Rias?"
"…Yes. 'Qlippoth' ally vows revenge heaven, Baal."
Zekram narrowed eyes.
"Hm, where start…"
Beard rub, memory.
Irina stepped:
"Please. Tell. Papa… involved. Targeted terrorist. …Want know father's past. Town events!"
Bowed desperate.
Zekram noticed:
"…Angel. Father… then church agent… Shido?"
"Yes. Shido Irina. Toji's daughter."
Zekram deep breath.
"…Fate. His daughter asks me. …Rias, land our ties?"
"Yes, now Gremory, ancient Baal-Gremory joint."
First heard.
Kuoh pre-Rias… Baal-Gremory?
Zekram:
"Most you use ours. Gremory arranged. Kuoh Academy too. Temporarily lent noble offspring experience. …She one."
Low dignified voice.
Kuoh once upper devil Belial branch woman territory.
Clelia Belial.
Rias predecessor.
Diehauser Belial cousin.
All contrary initial info.
"Clelia smooth. No issues, typical. But coincidences—human man affair. Devils human temporary common. Short-lived, playthings eternal devils."
Play… material.
Frowned; Zekram eyes sharpened.
"Thus no blame. …But church human—different."
Gaze Irina.
"Now angels here ok, then devil-church meet, love unthinkable. Puppet ok, true love taboo."
"…Belial woman, church warrior…"
Nod.
"Forbidden us, church. Persuaded separate. …Deep already. Clelia mistook play, plunged error. Allowing exception bad. We, church forced apart. Ironic unity then—save face. Heh, deep karma."
Rias:
"Result… dead. Purged?"
Zekram calm:
"Persuaded end. Impatient church… or us first. Corrected mutual flaws."
Purged pair; town devils gone temporarily.
Clelia retainers purged or rewarded, remote Underworld.
Church 'transfers'.
Kuoh church involved overseas, including Toji.
Irina to Britain background.
Some promoted, some purged comrades—justice/faith torment.
Some broke.
Asked Zekram:
"Who knows?"
"Few involved. Secret devil, church. Michael unaware."
Even Michael…
Zeoticus quiet:
"Never knew daughter territory issue… Our fault leaving Baal till Rias, but word needed."
"Apologize fabricating, introducing Rias. Quick successor avoids suspicion."
"…Rias Lucifer brother sister. Baal blood. Thus Rias?"
Zekram smile:
"Exposure ok, promising Rias builds merits, clears past. …But overachieved. Town tri-faction peace site."
Hit choosing Rias.
Active, top rookie.
Now key site—minor.
'Too late' fair.
Rias shook head.
"Politics then, no say. But why—"
"Why hide truth? Deceive Gremory—?"
"…"
Rias dissatisfied silent.
Zekram continued:
"Told Sirzechs. Not passed—his 'love'. Spare sister worry. Struggle Baal will, sister love—apologize."
Conversation paused.
Sirzechs silence kindness.
But… sickening.
Devil-church love—purged mutual.
What wrong mutual love?
Enemies, still loved.
Why not understand—want say.
—Emotionally.
Pre-peace.
Tri-factions tense.
War trigger unknown.
Early devil, Rias warned church.
Now allied peace.
Then different.
Allowing exception dangerous—understandable.
Understand but…
Glanced back.
Alice.
She'd protest—but eyes narrowed, thinking.
…Same as me.
Emotional or—
Zekram sensed, direct eyes:
"Red Dragon Emperor. Understand your point. Post-peace youth—our acts cruel. Other ways?"
"Yes… Then thinking understandable. But purge not only—feels. What… unknown. Just…"
"Just?"
"…Purge wrong. Result now. Hate used terrorists, blades turned. Underworld, church victims. Your misjudgment created—right?"
Childish, no alternatives.
Laughable.
But no purge—no this.
Alive, post-peace allowed love.
Result論—all know.
Still—
"Can't approve your face-saving purge."
Direct eyes.
Zekram smile:
"Heh, young. Not unforgive—can't approve… Red Dragon Emperor."
"Yes."
"Future Maou? You'd interesting."
"Me…?"
"Yes. Aimable. Even Sairaorg."
"Sairaorg 'even'… Dream Maou, next Baal head?"
Nod.
"Yes, excellent, beloved."
"Then—"
"But Great King Baal ruin power heirs always. Sairaorg head, merits, then Maou or equivalent. Brother next."
Clear.
…Not belittling Sairaorg.
Recognizes strength, charm.
But ruin power absolute.
Chatting—old devils life-indifferent, nihilistic.
Zekram no—ambition in words.
Zekram small laugh:
"Rizevim boy, Lucifugus remnant 'devil' talk. —Be evil."
Scanned, sharp eyes:
"Future youth center—you heed. True devils ancient upper blood. Others 'common', 'reincarnate'—not true. Evil personal values—I think unnecessary. Devil role: noble society eternal."
Pureblood only—Great King top style.
But evil unnecessary—agree.
Zekram breath, stood.
"Meant town only… influenced youth. Sorry."
Bitter smile, continued:
-----------------------------
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