"—As you wish, my Vessel (Yorigi)."
I heard a Voice. It was brief, but it carried an unmistakable, clear will. It was the first time I had ever heard it, yet it felt nostalgic, as if I had been listening to it since the dawn of time. The tone was somewhat mechanical—neither distinctly male nor female—a mysterious, shimmering sound. Yet, strangely, it didn't feel cold.
Suddenly, I was enveloped in a faint, radiant crimson light. Everything in my vision was dyed in that deep red hue. I reached out to touch the light, but my hand met nothing but air. In fact, I couldn't even tell if my hand was moving. Was I even seeing this with my own eyes?
The frantic thumping of my heart, which had been so loud moments ago, was gone. I had been sitting in a chair, but now I was standing. Or was I? A flood of questions washed over me, and I felt myself drifting, floating like a sleepwalker in a world I didn't recognize.
Is this a dream? It felt too surreal to be anything else. As I stood there dazed, I thought I heard the voice again. I couldn't make out the words this time, but I felt a powerful emotion trying to convey itself to me.
"...As you wish."
That Voice... it was telling me that I should proceed exactly as I desired. It was a warm, supportive thought, like a gentle hand pressing against my back. Happiness welled up inside me. I hadn't been wrong about my partner. I had finally, truly, heard its voice.
If that was my wish, then we would stay together forever. To answer my flickering anxiety, it had reached across the barrier that separated us. A sense of absolute security filled me, reaching into the deepest corners of my heart.
Wait, another voice? No, a sound? Is this... a song?
I felt like I was being called. The song grew louder, as if waiting for my answer. I felt myself being drawn toward it, wondering if I should step into the source of the sound. But just as I was about to move, something blocked me. It was a sharp, warning presence, yet I felt no hostility from it.
It felt like it was scolding me. Like it was telling a lost child to "snap out of it." While the song continued to seep into me, this presence acted as a shield, muffling the melody. I was lost. Should I stay? Should I go? I didn't even know how to get back.
Still, if someone was calling me, wasn't it only polite to answer? As that thought crossed my mind, something touched my forehead. Along with a gentle wave of intent, a whisper from my own memory echoed in my mind.
"Kid, have you ever 'dived' into a Sacred Gear?"
"Eh? Diving? No, I don't think so... Wait, isn't that only possible for gears with sealed souls?"
"Ah, you're well-informed. Then, a word of advice."
Wait, I remember this... it was from the first time I met Lord Ajuka. It felt so long ago. I was so desperate to prove myself back then that I must have caused him quite a bit of trouble. And then, the Demon King had said:
"If a Sacred Gear ever calls out to you... think very carefully before you answer that voice."
"—Ah!"
My eyes snapped open.
+++
I jolted upright from my slumped position in the chair, my breath hitching in my throat as I finally remembered to breathe. I inhaled and exhaled sharply, my heart racing like a drum. My shoulders heaved as if I had just finished a marathon.
It felt like I had just woken from a long, feverish daydream. My thoughts were a mess, and my vision remained blurry no matter how many times I blinked. The things I had just seen and heard were already beginning to fade, hidden behind a thick fog of reality. All that remained in my mind were the words of the Voice, Ajuka's warning, and a strange, haunting melody that had etched itself into my soul.
If I hadn't remembered the Demon King's advice, I might have answered that voice without a second thought. I had felt so safe, so at peace, that I would have simply curled up beside it. I didn't feel like I was in danger even now, but my brain was struggling to keep up with how fast things were moving.
I think I made it back because I realized I couldn't just let things happen to me. I wanted to face this properly, not just drift into it. I hadn't fully processed it yet, but my gut told me that refusing to answer the Voice just now was the right choice.
"...Are you back with us?"
"...Teacher?"
"Take a slow breath. Can you drink some water?"
As soon as I recognized the voice, the world finally came back into focus. I realized I was drenched in a cold sweat, and a heavy hand was resting on my shoulder. Seeing me nod, Azazel let go and poured a cup of water. As the cold liquid hit my tongue, the fog in my head began to clear.
By the time I finished the cup, my vision was sharp, and the leaden weight in my limbs had vanished. It was a bizarre sensation. Moments ago, I felt like my body wasn't even mine; now, my breathing was calm, and I could recall my memories with clarity—though the details of the "dream" were starting to look like a moth-eaten tapestry.
It seemed that very little time had passed in the real world. I was in the middle of a gear check, I had asked if I could trust my partner, and then... that voice. The "dream" must have happened in the span of a single heartbeat.
"Thanks for the water. Teacher... what happened? That place I saw..."
"...My theory is that the moment you synchronized with the gear, the will residing within it interfered directly with your soul. I can't be certain, but I believe you 'dived' into the inner world of the Sacred Gear. The reason your body wouldn't move was a side effect of the connection between your mind and soul becoming temporarily thin."
Azazel let out a visible sigh of relief. So that airy, dreamlike state was my soul? That explained why the nausea felt so similar to the soul scan from earlier.
The Voice I heard hadn't come through my ears; it had soaked into me like water into paper. I hadn't expected to make my first "dive" into a Gear by accident. Usually, only Gears with sealed souls are capable of that, but I must have accidentally tripped a wire into my partner's space. I pressed a hand to my chest, feeling the spear's aura, and looked Azazel in the eye.
"So, what did you see?" he asked.
"...My partner called me."
"You heard a voice?"
"Yes. It was definitely my partner. I could never mistake it."
I tried calling out to the spear again, but the Voice didn't return. Instead, I felt a faint, apologetic intent—as if it were worried about me, telling me there was no need to rush. I suspect it was my partner that helped me remember Ajuka's warning.
I'm fairly sure my partner has been trying to talk to me for a long time. This time, the stars just happened to align, and the connection went through. Though, I have a feeling that while it meant to send me a message, me accidentally falling intothe Gear was a bit of a surprise for it, too.
To be honest, I had been scared. Being changed without knowing why had made me doubt my partner for a split second. I knew there must be a reason, and I knew it was probably for my sake—my partner has given me every reason to trust it—but the logic didn't stop the fear. That's what led to my desperate plea. Now that I'd heard its voice, though, I felt like a weight had been lifted. I'm a simple guy. (Wait, does this make me an 'easy target' heroine type? Let's not think about that.)
"I asked a question in my heart, and it answered," I explained. "It called me its 'Vessel' (Yorigi) and told me to do as I wished."
"...Yorigi? Wait, then the thing inside that gear is— No, that can't be right. It's not the same. I couldn't possibly mistake him for anything else."
"Teacher...?"
Azazel was muttering to himself, his expression one of pure agitation. It was an atmosphere that made it hard to interrupt. Besides, what does 'Yorigi' even mean? It literally means "a tree that a spirit leans on." Does that mean I'm just a host? Was I just a "Tree" to you this whole time, partner? I'm having a bit of an internal crisis here.
I mean, I'm the owner! Couldn't you go with something more classic like "Master" or "My Lord"? Even "Partner" like Ddraig would be fine. If we're going for the 'childhood friend' vibe, "Kana" would have worked! If you're going for the "Mom" vibe Azazel mentioned, are you going to call me "Son" next? I'm open to negotiation, but "Tree" is a bit much.
Hey, partner, are you listening? At least use your thoughts to give me a better nickname! Why are you sending me "read the room" vibes right now? This is important!
"...Hey, Kanata. You okay?"
"Eh? Oh, sorry. I was just telling my partner that I don't like being called a 'Tree,' but it's totally ghosting me."
"Kid, for the love of God, read the room."
"Aww."
Azazel laughed—a tired but relieved sound—and patted my head as he removed the sensors. He told me to take it easy for the rest of the day. Barakiel would be arriving soon, so I could just rest in my room. Apparently, he wanted to dive into the data from my little "accident" and no longer had time to babysit me.
I'm still not entirely sure what happened, but since I'm not a genius, I'll leave the hard thinking to the pros. My partner told me to do as I wish, and right now, I wish to keep moving forward. I need to get stronger if I'm going to be a proper partner for Lavinia. If my synchronization is increasing, I'll accept it. I've decided to trust this path to the end.
"Kanata. You know this, but don't go listening to every voice you hear in there. It let you go this time, which means it doesn't intend to swallow you whole just yet, but stay on your guard."
"...I understand. But I feel like it's waiting for me to decide for myself."
My partner said 'As you wish.' That probably means if I want to stay exactly as I am, I can. I can live my life as a normal member of the Grey Wizards, a partner to Lavinia, and a human being.
But I have a feeling that if I ever truly answer that voice... the world I see will change forever. That power is too big for one person. It could change the very flow of the world. My partner brought me back because it knew I wasn't ready for that.
But if the day ever comes where I have a wish that I absolutely must fulfill... I'll just have to sing that song I heard in the abyss. That melody is the key to a "power that breaks the balance of the world." I just know it.
+++
"Tell me, Diehauser. Do devils have specific rules for naming? Is there such a thing as a 'lucky' name for our kind?"
"I've never really thought about names in terms of 'luck,' but some noble families inherit names from their predecessors. It varies by house."
For over an hour, two men had been engaged in this idle conversation. One was a handsome reincarnated devil with silver hair and dark green eyes—the master strategist and top-tier wizard, Rudiger Rosenkreutz. He was the kind of devil who would teach a child like Souma "evil" tricks just for the fun of it.
He was speaking via magic circle to a man every devil in the Underworld knew: the Emperor, Diehauser Belial. Currently, Diehauser was looking quite exhausted, his grey eyes weary as he hummed in response to Rudiger's chatter. Ever since the strike six months ago, the two had become quite close, but this was the first time they had spent hours talking about nothing.
The reason was simple: the usually calm and elegant "Upsetting Sorcerer" was visibly shaken.
"Look, Rosenkreutz. Just pick a name that fits your heritage. By the way, do you know the gender yet?"
"A boy, apparently. I'm thinking of a German name that fits the family line... Alois? Oscar? Wilhelm? Norbert?"
"Can I go now, Rosenkreutz?"
"Stay with me, Diehauser. I know your schedule for today and tomorrow. I am stuck here waiting for my son to be born; the least you can do for my mental stability is stay on the line."
"Wait, if the labor takes all night, you expect me to stay awake with you?!"
In the waiting room of a hospital near Germany supported by the Rosicrucians, Rudiger sat on the edge of his seat. When his human wife had entered her final month, he had ruthlessly delegated all his work to his subordinates so he could be by her side. His wife had eventually told him to "just sit there and wait," which led to his current state of panic.
Reincarnated devils are more likely to have children than purebloods, but it still took a very long time. Given his wife's age, this would likely be their only child. Rudiger had no intention of taking another wife; he planned to pour all his love into this son. In this moment, the man feared as a "devil more terrifying than a devil" was just a nervous father.
"Fine, fine. A little longer then," Diehauser sighed. "You know the Belial house raised Clearia together. Do you have any experience with babies?"
"I've studied the texts, but actual experience? No. I'll need you to tell me everything later."
"Heh. I'll even show you the old photo albums." (Somewhere, Clearia Belial felt a sudden chill of impending embarrassment.)
"But naming really is the hardest part. Have you decided on a final candidate, Rosenkreutz?"
"I'll decide when I see him. 'The name reveals the essence,' as they say. I want the best possible name for him."
Diehauser, who wasn't married, didn't have much advice to give. He just tried to keep the conversation going so Rudiger wouldn't spiral. He knew Rudiger had chosen him as the "sacrifice" for this conversation because of his good-natured personality.
"Speaking of names, I heard that people in Asia use characters called 'Kanji.' I found it fascinating that Souma-kun's name has a specific meaning for every stroke."
"Ah, Souma Kuramoto. A rare name for those of us used to Western letters."
"Yes. I believe his name, 'Kanata,' uses the character for 'performing music' ."
"Kanade . It carries the meaning of 'harmony' and 'bringing people together.' It's a beautiful origin."
As a top-class wizard, Rudiger was fascinated by Japanese and Chinese rituals. He had studied Senjutsu, Onmyoji arts, and the secret techniques of Japanese exorcists. He knew "Kanji" well. To Rudiger and Diehauser, Souma was the human boy who had fought desperately for a pair of lovers. Rudiger had even been teaching him "bad tricks" over their regular calls.
Rudiger's interest in Souma wasn't just professional; he had a plan. He hoped that the boy who fought for a devil and a human would one day be a "big brother" to his own half-devil son. Since Rudiger had to spend much of his time in the Underworld, he wanted his son to have someone he could rely on in the human world. Souma had already promised to play with the baby once he was born.
"The origin of 'Sou'?"
"Yes," Rudiger explained. "The top part, Hou (丰), represents a branch of a tree that a spirit or god descends into. The bottom part, Ten (天), represents holding something up with both hands as an offering. It means waiting for a god to descend into a tree by offering music to the heavens."
"I see... what a profound meaning."
Just as they were speaking, the delivery room became frantic. Both men went silent, staring at the door. To them, the next few minutes felt like an eternity.
Then, a faint cry echoed from behind the door. A single tear escaped Rudiger's eye. Diehauser, moved by the birth of a new life, gave a brief "Congratulations" and quietly ended the call, leaving the new father to his moment.
But minutes passed, and no doctor came to call him. Rudiger's sharp hearing could hear the baby's cries and the mother's voice, yet the silence in the hallway was suffocating. He resisted the urge to burst in. Finally, the door opened. A veteran midwife, someone who knew the supernatural world well, stepped out.
Her face was pale. She walked toward Rudiger, her lips trembling as she prepared to speak.
"...A chronic condition?" Rudiger whispered.
"Yes. It is a disease that erodes the soul. I'm afraid... the child will not live a long life."
"That's impossible! I am a wizard! I have all the knowledge of the arcane! I have the wealth of the Rating Games and the power of an Ultimate Devil! There must be a way!"
"Lord Rosenkreutz... I have seen children with this condition before. I know how it ends. And I know... that no one has ever found a way to save them."
If it were a normal disease, Rudiger could have bought the best doctors in the world. But this... no one even had a clue where to start.
"Your son was born with a Sacred Gear. But his resistance to it is too low. The aura is already damaging his body... and his soul. All we can do now is hope that he finds some peace in the time he has left."
A death sentence. A child born with his time already running out. In a world where God is dead, there are no miracles for the unlucky—unless you are someone loved by fate itself.
The flow of the world, heading toward upheaval, ticked forward once more.
***
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