"Well well, Ajuka-kun. My child was in your care again. You saved me."
"Not at all. After all, President Feles himself contacted me while I was working in the human world. In truth, this wasn't an unrelated matter for us either."
"I'm the director of the magicians' organization, the Gray Magicians. I can at least grasp where you operate in the human world."
The Gray Magicians' Director—Mephisto Feles—smiled at the young man projected in the eerily glowing magic circle. While Mephisto kept distance from the underworld government, he maintained personal relationships. Particularly with the young man before him—he had more opportunities to exchange opinions than with other Demon Lords, and above all, he was the Demon Lord most involved with the human world. Regarding magical technology, he often spoke as the magicians' director to Ajuka, who excelled at analytical abilities.
Normally they'd exchange opinions about magical matters and political situations, but this time there was prioritized content. Those red and blue eyes narrowed pleasantly, and while the smiling blue-eyed young man's expression hadn't changed, his gaze averted slightly. He'd somewhat guessed why Mephisto directed such a smile at him.
"Kana-kun wants to properly return the handkerchief he borrowed from you, Ajuka-kun, once this matter ends. If you have time, please accept it. He apparently wants to thank you again too."
"I don't particularly mind, but... if that's the case, I'll make time. Since we're at it, I wonder if he could participate as a user in that game..."
"Hahaha, Kana-kun does seem to like games. If the child is agreeable, please keep inviting him."
"...Are you certain?"
"Don't worry about things on this end. Besides, the you there isn't the underworld's Demon Lord but one demon enjoying games in the human world. Recently, the human world is a lamentable society where places children can freely play have decreased. I'd like to at least properly secure playgrounds for children."
At Mephisto citing human world social conditions in Japan, Ajuka was exasperated at his consistent guardian behavior. Unless he had considerable reason, he wouldn't openly move himself. Saying he was an old man, he'd let the young choose paths. Yet he'd provide behind-the-scenes support like now. While wondering if having a Demon Lord in the playground was acceptable, the safety was undoubtedly top-notch.
Mephisto wanted to continue the relationship between Kanata and Ajuka for gaining further backing and because of the Sacred Gear. The crimson spear Kanata possessed still showed no bottom. They couldn't carelessly stimulate it, and even Azazel who knew Sacred Gears well was currently observing. If Ajuka who could analyze all phenomena with equations and formulas was present, the possibility of handling emergencies would be higher.
Moreover, his Sacred Gear "selected targets and exerted erasure effects on what he defined." Not just matter but concepts composing this world could be erased, and the erasable effects changed according to his comprehension. In other words, if Ajuka who could analyze occurring phenomena and present them provided support, that scope would greatly expand.
For training to broaden Sacred Gear abilities or master them, Azazel was the suitable person. However, for deepening understanding of the special effect "concepts," there was nowhere beyond Ajuka. Few could touch the unknown territory of concepts. In Kanata's case, he unconsciously defined things as "that's how it is" and erased them, with his Sacred Gear Ruin Lance Scarlet working incredibly hard to support that.
When an idiot was the user, the spear's burden was tremendous. Yet the spear working hard for such a host was also problematic. The host placed complete trust in the Sacred Gear, and the Sacred Gear responded to meet that. A somehow distorted yet inexplicably well-meshed host and Sacred Gear.
"I understand President Feles being cautious about his Sacred Gear. Regardless of the person's own awareness."
"While I know Kana-kun's awareness is lacking, suppressing the child too much might cause fear and resistance toward the Sacred Gear's abilities."
"Their current state is like a miracle. If one side collapses, both could break down. As long as we can't see that Sacred Gear's bottom, we must avoid ability rampage."
"Above all, that child isn't one who'd misuse the Sacred Gear's abilities. Then our role as adults is to support his growth and help him develop abilities straightforwardly. That's for the child's sake and ours as well."
For now, his Sacred Gear had no problems due to being unknown. However, they had to assume it would eventually be exposed publicly. While there were those targeting Lavinia with her Longinus, Kanata's case would be incomparable. The Eternal Ice Princess was naturally a Longinus, so its destructive power couldn't be ignored... but what it could do was imaginable. However, nothing was more troublesome than a Sacred Gear where various areas could be reached if one thought to misuse it. There was possibility of being targeted even with the Gray Magicians' backing.
As Azazel thought, besides having the person possess self-defense means, they realistically wanted more backing that made reaching out hesitant. In that sense, this incident wasn't bad for Mephisto.
While Kanata thought he'd troubled Mephisto, the person himself had been considering using this matter to create further backing for him. Of course, there was also simply the kindly-old-man feeling of wanting to grant a hardworking child's wish. Because he knew that would benefit them long-term.
"Me as Demon Lord, and furthermore the Emperor's backing too? Quite overprotective."
"Even if this matter fails, at minimum you'd show interest in Kana-kun's Sacred Gear, Ajuka-kun. And if it succeeds, the Emperor couldn't ignore Kana-kun who's Cleria's friend. Diehauser-kun would owe Kana-kun an enormous debt."
"He's probably not thinking about that at all, though."
"Rather, that's fine for that child. Difficult things like this should be considered by those behind the scenes."
Mephisto voiced his thoughts as guardian and organization leader while floating a gentle smile. About now, Kanata should be discussing with the Emperor. He lacked power, didn't consider gains and losses, had weak standing, but precisely because of that, had aspects of trying to convey his feelings super-straightforwardly. Azazel and Tannin often evaluated Kanata as "stupid," but those weren't words of contempt at all. Though they often said it exasperatedly.
Mephisto thought of him as "an ordinary human found anywhere." Incidentally, when telling Azazel that, he'd said "If that existed everywhere, my abs would ascend to heaven." Mephisto didn't deny Kanata's thinking was off. However, the clear emotions, honestly expressing fear toward scary things, while timid yet strongly curious, thinking selfishly yet easily swayed by sentiment—he found that humanly endearing.
"I'd heard from you, but... where is that an ordinary child?"
"I think so though. Knowing you, you teased him when meeting in the human world, right? And Kana-kun didn't notice at all."
"...My apology for that included thanking him for moving for a comrade, which resulted in that."
"...Even I was surprised by that."
Even now, Mephisto got distant-eyed about Kanata pulling off the pseudo-Kankara Formula. In his own way as guardian, he was moving to protect the child under protection. Yet the child self-destructed and independently raised flags. Moreover, since the person did it unconsciously even when trying to warn him, it was hopeless.
Azazel had breathing difficulties from his mishaps, and Tannin was reaching the state of resignation. Despite obtaining pseudo-abilities of Transcendents—two of the Four Great Demon Lords, the most impossible ones—what he felt wasn't threat or impatience but the headache of "what should I do with this child?"
Despite the Sacred Gear alone being troublesome, the user's thinking was somehow further off. That prominently appeared in this Kuoh Town problem. The feeling itself of wanting to save friends wasn't wrong and was a common motive publicly. However, for that, he'd grandly involved the Emperor, involved other organization leaders, instigated a dragon, and immediately answered a Demon Lord's question even without realizing he was being tested.
While everything probably connected as one within him, that thought process sometimes couldn't be predicted even by demons living ten thousand years. While an easy-to-read boy whose thoughts showed on his face, he occasionally pulled off unexpected things.
"A friend said before, but there are two possibilities for Kana-kun's Sacred Gear mutation. Perhaps that child's recognition deviation is involved somewhat."
"Ordinary humans can't be that brazen toward Demon Lords. Having the nerve to request discussion from an unfamiliar king of another species with power to easily take his life at first meeting. Whether having courage or truly just stupid..."
When first hearing this from Mephisto, Ajuka Beelzebub, one of the Four Great Demon Lords, had frowned at the danger of saving Cleria Belial. Of course, he didn't want to let Cleria die—being scattered due to game darkness, a situation occurring from his own poor foresight. However, she was someone who could potentially stimulate the Emperor. He'd even felt anger at the upper echelon's thinking of trying to stimulate Diehauser Belial, someone who mustn't know Rating Game truth.
Mephisto contacted Ajuka among the Four Great Demon Lords because as Evil Piece creator and one handling the back side that Sirzechs Lucifer who handled the front Demon Lord couldn't, he was suited. If the front Demon Lord moved openly, they'd clash with the Old Satan Faction. However, he'd judged Ajuka had high possibility of handling this matter secretly.
However in that case, Cleria couldn't live openly. Ajuka could only move in shadows. Cleria Belial would be considered dead publicly, convincing church-affiliated people and living quietly in shadows unnoticed by the cunning old foxes. Behind-the-scenes support for the Emperor would be necessary too.
What stopped Ajuka thinking that far was Mephisto telling of one boy's existence. A human child moving to save demon and clergy romance, recognizing them as friends. He couldn't readily believe an organization leader was moving at a child's request.
Above all, he couldn't condone the boy's actions potentially stimulating Diehauser Belial. He didn't want to involve a mere human in demon problems that could become internal conflict. As one Demon Lord protecting the underworld, as the person responsible for Evil Pieces, he couldn't destroy Ajuka's efforts continuing to watch for chances to break through.
"I knew Ajuka-kun wouldn't approve Kana-kun's method. That's why I contacted you first. If Ajuka-kun went underground after events occurred, even I would have trouble. So I thought from the start to have you approve Kana-kun's method or leave it to your method."
"When answered that the reason for going that far was a child's Christmas present, I sighed."
"Hahahaha, since it's a Christmas present, making it a bit extravagant is fine."
"...So when hearing from President Feles that boy would come to my operated building, I waited to assess him... haah."
Learning Kanata would head to the Demon Lord's hideout, Mephisto had proposed a game to Ajuka. Ajuka's thinking that they couldn't involve a mere human in demon problems was reasonable. Then, he'd said he wanted Ajuka himself to judge whether involving Kanata in this matter was acceptable.
At that time, if Kanata exceeded Ajuka's designated standard, he'd approve. If not exceeding, he'd make him give up on this matter. At minimum, Cleria's life would be saved entrusted to the Demon Lord. Even if Kanata's heart broke in this matter, recovery was fully possible. Harsh, but without Ajuka's recognition, success would be impossible.
That's why Mephisto involved Ajuka as a game. As a game, he couldn't withdraw. Moreover, since he most hated corruption in games, he'd judge victory and defeat fairly. While Ajuka understood Mephisto thought that far, interest in whether he was a human possessing something making him propose games to himself made him nod. As a technician wanting to investigate anything interesting, with stronger interest and concern than anyone, meeting and talking seemed fine.
Initially toward the invited child, like Mephisto he'd thought him an ordinary child. While acknowledging courage to face a Demon Lord one-on-one, seeing his eyes showed he knew nothing of conflict. Reading thoughts from a boy whose emotions easily showed in expressions was like facing an infant for Ajuka who'd dealt with cunning old foxes.
Since his Sacred Gear also drew interest as Ajuka Beelzebub, even setting aside this matter, creating some involvement to know its progress afterward would be fine. For the Demon Lord, the discussion game was approached with that level of feeling.
"Did you know I'd cooperate with him, President Feles?"
"Not at all. My own objective as mentioned earlier was already achieved when Ajuka-kun showed interest in Kana-kun's Sacred Gear. After that, I thought it depended on Kana-kun's efforts."
"Honestly, I thought some answers were your coaching. Especially when first confirming King Piece existence with him."
Initially, Ajuka as creator intended denying King Piece existence to deny Kanata's objective itself. Having dealt with those suggesting King Pieces before, he could refute endlessly.
However, that became impossible due to stimulating technician pride. This discussion was a match game within him. Therefore, he couldn't deceive his own heart. Rumors others spread were fine. However, as a technician, he couldn't permit accepting the half-hearted label that he'd given up because King Pieces couldn't be made with his ability.
"You skillfully stimulated Ajuka-kun's bad point."
"...I won't deny it. As he said, I could have abandoned production midway. However, it was none other than me who actually made the King Pieces."
"Following one's desires is demon-like though."
However, prioritizing desires as technician rather than Demon Lord had created today. At production stage, he should have vaguely understood the danger. Or immediately after creating them, he should have crushed the pieces. Then the created pieces wouldn't have been exploited by the upper echelon.
As Ajuka himself had said, a situation occurring from his poor foresight. Delayed in noticing upper echelon movements, permitting piece outflow. Undoubtedly his failure and truth he mustn't falsify within himself. The smile hidden before Kanata was self-mockery toward himself.
"...Therefore, I taught him the answer. Including its dangers."
"For citizens, Rating Games are already part of life. Revealing pieces means betrayal not just by upper echelon but players they'd believed in. Citizen anger at shattered dreams will spread to various places."
"Yes, sacrifices will multiply."
That's why he'd thought the boy's personality couldn't possibly answer the next question Ajuka posed. That he lacked resolve including possibilities of many becoming sacrificed by his actions. In fact, his expression when discussing this had been understandably flustered.
So if Kanata showed resolve to still "receive materials" to Ajuka's question, he'd decided to approve his method. The materials' actual use was honestly quite limited. That question also meant making him realize how dangerous a bridge he was crossing, with letters to the Emperor already written and insurance prepared just in case. Reading the letters, they'd realize the remaining choices were ultimately just the two Ajuka prepared.
Even if the Emperor obtained materials, it couldn't become power to move the Old Satan Faction. Unless either Cleria or the Emperor suffered, settling without bloodshed currently was difficult. Therefore, finding a plan not causing civil war the Demon Lord feared was the final condition to Kanata. Without surpassing that, the only choice remaining for the Emperor would be the letter plan he'd handed over.
"Well actually, I was stupid for thinking that far—he answered immediately enough to make me think... Never imagining he hadn't even noticed being negotiated with..."
"...In a sense, that's like Kana-kun though. However, does that mean the game with me continues within you, Ajuka-kun?"
"Yes, that's right. With just us now, we still lack cards to cut into Rating Game darkness. We'll definitely save them eventually, but... we'll impose hardship on the Belial House for a while."
"So either Cleria Belial or Diehauser Belial. Cutting one away is the only settlement method 'now.'"
Just saving Cleria Belial's life could be achieved once gaining Ajuka's cooperation. Since the Old Satan Faction didn't know Ajuka noticed this matter. Her household would merely be confined to remote regions if not resisting. With Cleria considered dead, Masaomi Yaegaki would return to the church or be exiled. Eventually when crushing the Old Satan Faction's schemes, they could return Cleria to the surface side.
Moreover, if what was being discussed in current government was passed between three factions, the obstacles before Masaomi Yaegaki and Cleria Belial from species and organizations would disappear. Time-consuming and burdening them, but likely a conclusion to arrive. Kanata's minimum goal would also be achieved.
However, if Diehauser Belial learning of this wished for Cleria's happiness first. If understanding he had something he could sacrifice to avoid Cleria's death and make the Old Satan Faction recognize it as compromise. Choosing to abandon everything built as Emperor could save them.
"Kana-kun won't accept that though."
"Cleria Belial and others being saved without sacrifices, the Emperor also saved—his wish isn't wrong. But unfortunately, it's currently a fleeting dream as fact."
While not ignoring reality, still a dreamlike wish. Living was a series of compromises. Kanata had already sufficiently exerted himself for Cleria and others. No one blamed him for working hard for friends. Since he'd broadened this much possibility into a future originally having only purge as choice.
"I won't deny that either. But even so... those aren't eyes of complete resignation."
"My, will President Feles say that?"
The choices remaining for the Belial House currently seemed only two. However, perhaps he, even in this situation, wouldn't give up, would erase the unreasonable, and struggle to find a new third choice. Because he'd created possibilities—spontaneous ideas always blowing away non-humans' predictions, creating unexpected things making them inadvertently exasperated.
"Many humans know the world's underside. But even knowing it, continuing to maintain humanly thinking unchanged is difficult. Knowing non-humans, knowing powers and existences mightier than humans makes that more so. Being unconsciously drawn and becoming conscious is human nature."
"But that child doesn't change. Hey, Ajuka-kun. If Kana-kun finds a path to change dreams into reality—"
"...If he can find a new third choice. I'll simply exert all power to save them 'all' here and now under the name of Demon Lord Beelzebub."
He knew it was dangerous. Letting a human child get more deeply involved in demon problems was shameful. Still, perhaps he could show demons' new path. The chance he'd kept watching for, searching for hundreds of years. Moreover, part of himself looked forward to what he'd think up.
What would the cornered boy pull off this time? While might causing some headache, somewhere he felt amusement at that, slightly shrugging shoulders. Despite being led around, strangely little resistance feeling against it.
They'd met—what answer did they obtain? The opportunity to know visited immediately.
"...My, seems like communication from Kana-kun."
"At this time, right when meeting with Diehauser Belial... Should I cut communication?"
"Seems only audio is connected, not video, so it's fine. He'll tell you later anyway, and that would be redundant. Let's listen together."
Noticing the card marked with Mephisto Feles' crest that was the same as handed to Kanata glowed brightly. In the human world video could be delivered, but with this simple type, audio was the limit in the underworld. Mephisto sent his magical power through the crest, connecting even across realm boundaries. Like tuning radio channels, gradually clear audio flowed from the magic circle.
"Good evening, Lord Mephisto. Since I've finished discussing with Diehauser-san to some extent, I came to report."
"Good work, Kana-kun. So, how is the Emperor?"
"Yes, Diehauser-san successfully received Cleria-san's letter!"
"I see, that's good."
At the voice happily reporting recognition as friends, Mephisto nodded while floating a gentle smile. However, immediately returning that expression, he directed his gaze toward the magic circle as if waiting for the next report.
"So, after receiving Ajuka-kun's letter, what did the Emperor do?"
"Um, after reading Lord Ajuka's letter... to save Cleria-san, Diehauser-san chose the option of yielding the Emperor's seat to those guys."
"...I see. And Kana-kun?"
"Yes. Naturally I declared that's wrong!"
As always, his immediate answers in such areas were impressive. Completely unbothered. Even Ajuka shrugged and laughed at this.
"However, without finding other imaginable choices, there's no other method."
"So, Lord Mephisto. I had an idea there."
"...Eh, you had an idea?"
He'd unintentionally responded genuinely. While discussing with the Demon Lord thinking "maybe," he hadn't considered ideas coming in such short time. Ajuka listening nearby also widened eyes, and Mephisto had an ominous premonition at his word "idea."
They felt pure surprise in their chests—had he truly found a third choice? Reporting to Mephisto like this meant Tannin and the Emperor who'd likely heard the proposal first also thought his plan wasn't impossible. Yet his background seemed too quiet.
"...Kana-kun, are Tannin-kun and the Emperor nearby?"
"Huh? Of course they are. After finishing explaining what I thought up, for some reason they started a grand drinking session over there. Now Tannin-san is grumbling 'Why are young people these days...!' while clinging to the Emperor. Should I switch?"
"No, it's fine. Let them keep drinking."
"Huh? Understood."
At Kanata's honest response, a bead of sweat ran down Mephisto's cheek. From Tannin's reaction, Kanata's idea possibly had effective potential for breaking the situation, but was content making drinking unavoidable. Ajuka also noticed, wanting to somewhat retract his declaration of full cooperation.
"Kana-kun, so... what exactly did you think up?"
"Ah, yes. Honestly, it's not a great idea. I'm just doing something obvious."
"Something obvious?"
"Rating Game's current environment is frankly terrible, right? While I don't deny courtesy games, match-fixing is rampant as normal. The upper echelon does ranking manipulation and corruption. Management side is truly pitch black. Even calling it the worst workplace for players who are entertainers wouldn't be wrong. Even for one tournament, huge money moves."
Workplace. True, Rating Games were demon status, and any upper-class devil possessing Evil Pieces could declare participation. However, official tournaments existed with prize money at ridiculous amounts. Top players could live for years on Rating Game prize money alone. Pro players were proper professions, Rating Games a workplace.
From the Demon Lord position forced to keep distance from games themselves, he couldn't carelessly step into games. However, actually participating players were different. While upper echelon held management rights and however much power they had, games couldn't be established without participating players.
What the upper echelon should have been most wary of, should have countered, wasn't mighty Demon Lords. But the players themselves who they'd thought mere pieces. Individual power couldn't possibly bare fangs at upper echelon. However, they'd forgotten those who climbed with their own abilities, challenged games with dreams and hopes. And the background of many spectators fascinated by that, supporting those backs with cheering.
Their authority pressure was strong politically. However, in games they were just management. The original management job was entertaining players and spectators, mutually improving game quality, sharing respective profits, making fair judgments. Games and politics might intertwine. However, they'd confused games and politics too much. Focusing only on games with massive influence resulted in deceiving spectators, neglecting players.
"Lord Mephisto, I love games."
"Yeah, I know that but..."
"Management and players are originally connected. Players alone can't enjoy games. Diehauser-san said he could improve games with player everyone, but originally management should improve together too."
Kanata Kuramoto loved games. This life still being elementary school, he enjoyed home console games, but previous life adult memories recalled playing various games. He'd become a fan of series and game companies themselves. He'd even thanked management working to entertain players, devising new gimmicks and fan-pleasing innovations.
That's why Rating Game management methods were unbearable. After all, they completely dumped system management intimately relating to players onto Ajuka. As game management, wasn't that attitude questionable!? Even as a game-loving human, he had thoughts.
"Sorry, I digressed a bit. So, what can worker players do against such terrible workplace games? That's prosecution."
"Prosecution, yeah... True, such protections exist in the underworld too, but even doing that would just get crushed by those guys—"
"If just normally suing, yes. Then let's raise it more flashily. If enemies are mighty, to create allies not losing to them—"
Without stopping momentum at all, Kanata boldly declared. Thus the mishap idea took form.
"Workers' legitimate cry demanding workplace improvement—a strike!"
"A strike!?"
Q: "Is it true Rating Game management was corrupt?" A: "Disillusioned... quitting games until management apologizes."
Mephisto and eavesdropping Ajuka inadvertently spoke in unison. Though Kanata's puzzled "Huh?" also sounded, they had no time to consider that now.
Thus, the respective nights in underworld and human world deepened further still.
***
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[10 Advanced Chs] [7 Chapters/week]