Chapter 21
"...I'm sorry, Mephisto. It happened on my watch."
"I know the depth of your knowledge when it comes to Sacred Gears, Azazel. The fact that even you were slow to react means that Kanata must have done something truly extraordinary. In that case, I'm glad you were here. If it had been just me, it might have been too late."
"...Thanks. How is he?"
"He'll be fine. The symptoms are from extreme fatigue and the effects of reactive oxygen. Had it been a moment later, there might have been lasting damage to his body. With a good long sleep and a delicious meal, he'll make a full recovery."
"Youth is a wonderful thing, isn't it?" Mephisto said with a gentle smile, but Azazel couldn't shake the bitter look on his face. He had been careless, and he hadn't anticipated it. But those were just excuses. Even if it was temporary, and even if it was for his own interests and for a friend, he was the one who had become that boy's instructor. A vortex of self-reproach swirled within him.
Kanata was currently deep asleep in the room prepared for him. He likely wouldn't wake for the rest of the day. Lavinia, declaring, "I will nurse him back to health!", was in his room, clumsily but earnestly preparing hot water and towels. I had told her not to overdo it, so she would hopefully be careful. Through the window, the evening sky could be seen gradually being cloaked in darkness.
"You haven't changed a bit in that regard," Mephisto mused. "That's precisely why we've remained friends for so long. Speaking of which, don't you need to get back to Grigori?"
"I've already contacted Shemhaza. I had to promise I'd get right to work when I get back."
"Hahahaha, it sounds like he has his hands full as always."
"Sorry for being such a pathetic Governor-General," Azazel muttered, sinking his large frame into the luxurious sofa in the director's office. The oldest of demons gave a small smile and shrugged at his old friend's demeanor. The usual jaunty attitude was gone, a clear sign that this incident had hit him hard. Mephisto retrieved a bottle of liquor and some glasses from a shelf and placed them on the table.
"Mephisto."
"It's been a while since you and I had a chance to talk like this, Azazel. If we're going to have an adult conversation, this is the way to do it. Besides, he is one of my own. I have no expertise when it comes to Sacred Gears. I had to rely on your knowledge with Lavinia's case as well. That means I must acquire the knowledge needed to protect them. You're going to tell me, aren't you? What Kanata did back there, and what his Sacred Gear truly is."
Mephisto had also watched the events unfold through a magical projection. He had seen Kanata thrust his spear into the light-infused dummy and struggle to erase the power. He had watched as fatigue began to show on the boy's face, as his body began to tremble, and as he pushed himself to the very brink, just as Azazel had instructed.
The bodies of living creatures are well-designed. If the body detects a danger signal, it will forcibly shut down consciousness or paralyze itself. Mephisto had assumed that once Kanata hit his limit, it would simply be over. He was just a kid who had done some light training, not a seasoned warrior. Even Azazel had had the leeway to think,So he's got some grit,and observe.
That changed when Kanata showed no signs of collapsing. Not only that, but he began pouring the Sacred Gear's power into the dummy with a clear purpose, a departure from the reckless stabbing from before. The speed at which the light-based power was being annihilated increased, vanishing with an efficiency that was like watching a tangled thread unravel. Furthermore, his eyes, though vacant, seemed to be tracking something.
At first, Azazel couldn't comprehend what was happening. The boy should have been far past his limit. The thought thatmaybe he still has more—was cut short when his intuition picked up on an unseen scream coming from the small body. He had forcibly separated Kanata from his Sacred Gear to stop him. The moment the spear left his hand, the full toll of his exertion hit his body, and the pain was too much to bear. He lost consciousness.
"Why did that happen? I thought Kanata's annihilation speed suddenly increased partway through."
"Yeah, I can't be sure about that part without asking Kanata for the details. But I have an idea as to why he was able to push past his body's limits and keep standing, right on the verge of breaking himself."
"...The Sacred Gear's effect?"
"Yes. Seeing him pass out the instant he let go of the spear confirms it. The idiot was probably so focused he did it unconsciously. He likely erased his own sense of pain and the limiters in his brain. If that Sacred Gear can truly affect concepts, then it's possible."
Sacred Gears respond to their host's will. This time, it had backfired spectacularly. Kanata had wished strongly to 'erase the light,' but his stamina was insufficient. The solution? Get rid of those limits. The human brain regulates the body, allowing it to use only about twenty percent of its true potential. Kanata had unconsciously erased this limiter, forcibly compensating for what he lacked. The cost, of course, was immense. Those regulators exist for a reason: to prevent self-destruction.
Hearing Azazel's analysis, Mephisto's usual smile vanished. He tilted his glass back, draining the liquor. Listening to the clink of the ice, he thought,This is insane.He wondered if this was truly the extent of what a Sacred Gear was capable of. It had the drawback of high-stamina consumption, but that was something that would likely improve to a degree as Kanata grew stronger.
At the same time, he wondered why there was absolutely no information on a Sacred Gear this powerful. Mephisto didn't know everything about Sacred Gears, but he had at least heard of all the Longinus and other famous ones.
He was one of the oldest demons, who had lived for millennia. He also considered himself the demon who had observed the human world more than any other. As such, he had seen many of the Sacred Gears wielded by humans—those who drowned in their power, those who feared it, and those who fought with it. And yet, the power held by the boy his own ward had brought to him was enough to fill his heart with astonishment.
The ability of the Sacred Gear wielded by a boy he met by chance. It immediately brought to mind the young Demon Lord who ruled the Underworld, one of the "Super Devils," Sirzechs Lucifer, due to the crimson color and the theme of annihilation. However, Kanata's power was similar to the Bael clan's 'Power of Destruction,' yet it was a different and far more troublesome beast. Its sheer versatility had allowed him to instantly judge it as dangerous.
That was why he had invited the boy with the crimson Sacred Gear here. He had chosen to protect him, not eliminate him. A child who was highly cautious yet lacked a sense of crisis, who was slightly off-kilter. He was fully aware of the danger of letting him live, yet he hadn't wanted to crush such young potential. He did not regret that choice. Not when he saw Lavinia's happy face, or the determination of a boy who pleaded to become stronger. He believed they would continue to walk their own paths, straight and true.
And for that very reason, he now grimaced at the true nature of the power held by Kanata Kuramoto.
"...After you told me about Kanata's Sacred Gear, I went through some old cases and materials," Azazel said. "And what do you know, I found information on that spear in the most ridiculous place."
"So you're saying it has existed in the past. Then why is its renown so low?"
"Simple. Because it never had an effect that was considered dangerous."
"What?"
The words from Azazel elicited a genuine sound of disbelief from Mephisto.Not considered dangerous? Impossible,he thought, but his friend simply nodded in agreement. "I know, right?"
Azazel then took a small notebook from his pocket and placed it on the table. The title scrawled on it was "Collection of Joke Sacred Gears"—a completely ridiculous name. Mephisto, though skeptical, flipped through the pages and found entry after entry of strange, chuunibyou-esque Sacred Gears that looked like they belonged in a manga or anime. However, the contents were written with serious detail, suggesting that despite the silly title, it was a proper research report.
Then, Mephisto's hand stopped on a certain page. On it was the very same troublesome Sacred Gear that was the source of their current worries. But the description was bizarre. Azazel's memo read,'Who does he think he is, some Demon Lord? (lol)', followed by the rather insulting note,'Sirzechs Cosplay Joke Sacred Gear.'If this past research report was to be believed, this Sacred Gear had never possessed any power that would be considered dangerous. The realization dawned on him.
"Honestly, when you first contacted me, my first thought was,'No way,'" Azazel admitted. "The power of that Sacred Gear, 'Ruin-Lonskarllet, the Crimson Spear of Annihilation,' was a simple ability that only worked on 'matter.' It was never some outrageous power that could affect 'concepts,' like Kanata's can."
The records of past users showed only effects that worked on physical matter. Since the Sacred Gear's power was influenced by the user's own strength, even with the power of annihilation, a human couldn't accomplish much with it. In terms of pure offense, Kanata's Sacred Gear wasn't particularly strong. There were countless ways to counter it.
It was baffling. Then why couldheuse it that way? Had all previous users simply never thought to try it on 'concepts'? That seemed impossible. He'd heard that Kanata had discovered the conceptual annihilation a mere day after it first manifested. There was no way that generations of users had overlooked a method even a novice boy could find. More importantly, a Sacred Gear should communicate its functions to its host. Indeed, Kanata himself had been exploring various uses with his partner's guidance.
"I can't be sure of the reason. The Sacred Gear's effect might have suddenly changed with his generation. There is one other possibility, but it's probably not it. With God and the original Demon Lords gone, this world—including its Sacred Gears—has become unstable and warped in unseen ways."
"So you're saying Kanata is the first person to ever manifest this effect."
"That's right. I myself have no earthly idea how far that Sacred Gear can go. For now, it's just another troublesome ability among many. But if mishandled… it has the potential to reach for a realm beyond that."
"Hah… It makes me truly believe that God left behind some awfully troublesome things when he died," Mephisto sighed.
"Just goes to show you should never start a war," Azazel added.
They drank together, each voicing their complaints. The world keeps turning even without God. While that was true in the present, distortions still appeared. The scars of that war continue to rain down upon the entire world, even now.
"Azazel, I want you to keep this a secret from Kanata. For him, that realm is nothing more than a possibility. I don't want to needlessly worry him."
"...If that's what you want, I'm fine with it. But as his teacher, I'm going to tell him exactly what happened this time and train him properly. If he tries to use it like that again, he'll die."
"Yes, I'll leave that to you. But are you sure about this? It feels strange for me to ask, since I'm the one who requested your help, but are you sure you want to get this involved?"
"Don't be a stranger. Besides, there have been some suspicious groups making moves in the shadows recently. It's actually helpful for me if he has the means to defend himself and you're looking after him."
The 'Gray Magicians,' while led by a demon, was fundamentally a human organization. They likely wouldn't get involved in the Underworld's troubles. Furthermore, if a crisis were to threaten the entire world, they were an organization that would surely cooperate fully with his side. For Azazel, there was no one he'd rather entrust this to.
"By the way, Azazel," Mephisto said, "you mentioned another possibility for why Kanata's Sacred Gear changed. You dismissed it, but what was it?"
"Hm? Oh, that. If there was another possibility, it would simply be that the host, Kanata himself, is the cause."
"The boy?"
"The effect of the Sacred Gear as I know it is 'to select a target and apply the effect of annihilation to what one has defined.' That much applies to Kanata. That's why past users could only annihilate 'defined matter.' …But what if, for him, the very definition of this world itself falls under the category of 'what can be defined'? If that were the case, he might be able to erase the 'concepts' that constitute this world. …It's an outlandish, bug-like possibility."
"Well, a weird kid like that probably isn't capable of something so grand," Azazel finished with a dry laugh. He placed his empty glass on the table and rose from the sofa. Mephisto used his magic to clear the glasses and stood up as well.
"Leaving already?"
"Yeah, we've talked. I also need to go back and get the support gear for him. I don't like it, but I'll go get my lecture, finish my work, and then I'll be back."
"Understood. Thank you, Azazel."
"Don't mention it. See ya, Mephisto."
With a casual wave over his shoulder, the fallen angel spread his twelve jet-black wings and vanished into the night. Mephisto watched him go, then sat down heavily in his director's chair and closed his eyes in silence for a few moments.
"...Huh? Is it morning?"
A hazy consciousness, an aching body, and a throbbing headache. Wincing at the combined assault, I sensed that I had woken up to a new day. I had no memory of getting into bed. In fact, my memories of yesterday were fuzzy. Was this my third day here? My thoughts were so jumbled I started to wonder if it was still the second.
"It is morning..."
"—!"
FWOOSH!The voice reached my ears, and I forced my aching body to sit bolt upright. I remembered this situation. This was, without a doubt, the third day of my homestay. Because I had experienced this on the second day. A bittersweet event that made me want to cry tears of blood.
Don't tell me she wandered in here half-asleep again?! I frantically looked around, but my gaze quickly came to a halt. I found her immediately. Not in my bed like last time, but sitting in a chair beside it, her upper body slumped over onto the mattress. She was also in her usual magician's robes, not the kanji t-shirt. Her trademark pointed hat had fallen to the floor.
The next thing I noticed was the basin and towel placed beside her. And Lavinia's sleeping face, looking somewhat exhausted. It was only then that I finally remembered what had happened yesterday. I met Professor Azazel, he was training me, I did something reckless, and he had to stop me… My memory ends there. He had said it was fine if I collapsed, and I guess I did exactly that.
"I see. You were taking care of me all night."
I thought she was awake from her words earlier, but it seemed she was just talking in her sleep. She was sleeping soundly, and it would be wrong to wake her. I checked the clock and saw I had time. I carefully gathered her golden hair, which was spread across the bed, and draped my blanket over her. She stirred slightly but seemed to be in a deep sleep. I smiled faintly, picked up her pointed hat from the floor, and placed it beside her. I wasn't feeling my best yet, so I simply lay back down in bed. It was summer, so I'd be fine without a blanket.
As I closed my eyes, I sensed a fleeting flash of crimson light. Ah, it seemed I had made my partner worry, too. I planned to thank Lavinia properly when she woke up, but for now, I sent a silent word of gratitude. My body craved recovery, and sleep quickly beckoned me.
Still, what was that sensation I felt back then? I don't really get it, but maybe Professor Azazel can explain it. The next time I see him, I'll have to properly apologize for being so reckless and ask him about everything. And I need to apologize to Lord Mephisto, too.
With those thoughts, I quietly drifted off to sleep.
Chapter 22
"Look, Kanata! I did it! I achieved my goal of a ten-move, ten-chain combo!"
"Wh-whoa. That's so masterful, all I can say is 'wow'."
"Aaargh! You little—! I was just about to get a combo, and you dropped junk on me! ...Fine. I'll teach you what happens when you anger the boss of the fallen angels, a being mentioned in the Bible itself!"
"Professor Azazel, you're being very childish over a video game."
Chaos. Utter chaos. I sighed, watching the magical girl and the Governor-General of the Fallen Angels get worked up over their handhelds. For the record, the one playing onmydevice was Professor Azazel. He had shamelessly joined in while Lavinia and I were playing, declaring he was bored, and just started using mine. He was an amazing adult, in his own way. I could never imitate that.
Still, Lavinia was a brilliant magical girl, just as you'd expect. She was naturally smart, of course, but once you taught her the rules, she absorbed everything like a sponge. Now she was rattling off high-speed-rotation combos, completely ignoring the opponent to focus on her own personal goals.
She was supposed to be fighting a boss, but she just casually pulled off a ten-chain combo. Apparently, her next goal was to lock down the enemy by dropping a three-stage, five-chain combo on them. What even was that level of play? I didn't know falling-block puzzle games had lockdown strategies like that.
"Um, Professor? Is it okay to be this loud? Won't we bother the other passengers?"
"There aren't any. We've booked the whole train. I'm the top fallen angel, and you two are with me this time. It's on autopilot, so the only ones who know you're heading to the Underworld are Mephisto, our client, and us."
"It has been a while since I last went to the Underworld," Lavinia added. "The last time was a year ago, when I accompanied Director Mephisto on business."
I gave a noncommittal reply to the two of them as they explained without looking up from their games, and turned my gaze to the window. Outside, a landscape painted in cool colors—blue, purple, and cyan—swirled by. Other hues mixed in, creating a warped, twisting space. Staring at it for too long made my eyes hurt. I looked away from the window, taking in the luxurious interior that was hard to believe belonged to a train, and sat down on the sofa opposite them.
Since they were both engrossed and we only had two handhelds, I decided to think over the job Lord Mephisto had given me yesterday. Why were we, a couple of humans, going to the Underworld? Apparently, it was because of a request from his Queen—Tannin.
"A fire dragon's egg, huh? I wonder what it's like."
That's right, our destination was a fire dragon's nest in the Underworld. Normally, humans like us would be burned to a crisp upon arrival, but this was a nest under Tannin's protection, so with his introduction, it wouldn't be a problem. Lavinia mentioned she'd seen a dragon's nest before, though it was a different one. "The baby dragons are very cute," she had told me happily.
The core of the request was that one of the eggs a fire dragon had laid was unable to properly dissipate its own internal heat. If left alone, even a fire dragon's egg would burn itself out from the inside. The worried dragons had asked Tannin for help, and he had relayed the request to Lord Mephisto, who in turn assigned the job to Lavinia.
Her Sacred Gear possessed the power of ice. They had judged that with her proficiency, she could quell the heat inside the egg and allow it to hatch safely. It seemed that while she didn't get involved in Underworld politics, she did occasionally take on small jobs like this. Which meant, for this particular job, I was pretty much just tagging along.
"It'll be a good learning experience, so you should go with her," Lord Mephisto had encouraged me with a smile. Then Professor Azazel, who had been there as if it were the most natural thing in the world, chimed in with, "A fire dragon, huh? Come to think of it, I needed a fire dragon's scale for that research project..." and just like that, he became our chaperone, and our trip to the Underworld was set.Professor, are you sure you don't have work to do?
And so, here we were, heading to the Underworld on a train that ran on a route only he knew, an automated train called the "Azazel-Made: Emergency Escape Train" (I think it had a more cringey, dramatic-sounding name, but I can't recall). He probably used this to sneak away from his work in the Underworld. For an "emergency" train, he seemed far too practiced at arranging it.
"Oh, right, I borrowed a bestiary of the Underworld. Might as well kill some time with that."
I started rummaging in my backpack and heard a faintclickfrom something on my wrist. I glanced down and saw a metal bracelet inscribed with strange characters. It still felt a little weird, but after more than two weeks of wearing it, I was getting used to it. Apparently, it used some kind of mysterious technology that made it invisible to normal people.
...Wow, has it really been two weeks already? My Sacred Gear training had been conducted alongside my studies of languages and the Association. The Professor had designed a custom training menu for me as promised, but since we were starting from scratch, he had me try all sorts of things. Thanks to that, though, I think the number of things I can do has actually increased. It was seriously tough, though.
For now, all I can say is this: training with Professor Azazel was... intense.
"Listen up, Kanata. I'm going to teach you how to defend yourself and how to fight. But let me get one thing straight from the start. To be perfectly blunt… you have zero talent for fighting!"
"You're crushing my spirit right out of the gate?! I mean, I knew that, but still!"
It had been several days since I started training under Professor Azazel. He pointed at me so directly I could almost hear a sound effect, and all I could do was shout back. I know, I know I don't have any talent, I'm more aware of that than anyone! But you could at least let me have a sliver of hope!
After I collapsed and recovered, I had properly apologized to him. Lord Mephisto had told me what I had done. I never would have imagined I had erased my own pain sensors and the limiters in my brain. So that's why my body had been in so much agony.
I was told that if Professor Azazel hadn't stopped me, there would have been lasting negative effects. Of course, I might have been able to erase those effects with my Sacred Gear, but he still gave me a stern lecture about never doing it again. If the damage had affected my brain and impaired my thinking, I wouldn't have been able to erase anything. I had to agree, he was right.
Professor Azazel asked me for a detailed account of what I had experienced at that time, and I told him honestly. He got that serious look on his face again, but we decided to table that issue for later. Immediately after, though, he ruffled my hair and told me not to worry. Needless to say, I was forbidden from removing those limiters again, as it was far too dangerous for me at my current level.
"Ugh… But, Professor, if that's the case, how am I supposed to defend myself?"
"That's the point. You have no talent for fighting, but you do have one advantage over other Sacred Gear users. We have to build on that."
"Huh? An advantage?"
Did I really have something like that? The only other Sacred Gear user I'd ever met was Lavinia. Compared to her, all I could see were my shortcomings. He sighed at my confusion.
"I don't know how to put this, but… you unconsciously do things that are incredibly difficult for a normal Sacred Gear user. There are countless users out there who can't do this, and as a result, can't bring out their Sacred Gear's true power."
"Is that so?"
"Kanata, a question. When does a Sacred Gear release its true power?"
"Um, when the user has a strong will, right? But I don't think my will is all that strong."
"That's part of it, but that's more like a burst of adrenaline in a crisis. The most important thing in using a Sacred Gear is the bond of trust with it."
"...A bond of trust?"
I pondered his words. I understood that it was important, but how did that lead to drawing out a Sacred Gear's true power? A bond of trust was never a bad thing. I was happy to hear that my bond with my partner was strong, but still.
"Trust, or rather… faith. A heart that believes in the Sacred Gear's power. You have absolute faith in that Sacred Gear of yours, don't you?"
"Huh? Well, I guess so. I'm pretty helpless on my own, so I have no choice but to rely on it. And my partner really is amazing."
"That amazingness is also thanks to your trust. I heard about your fight with the stray magician. You stabbed yourself in the stomach with the spear to trick your opponent, then used its power to heal and turn the tables. That means you entrusted your very life to your Sacred Gear."
"Oh…"
"Any hesitation in the host's heart toward their Sacred Gear will dull its true power. Sure, there are geniuses who can master their Sacred Gears through talent and willpower alone. But those types tend to be consumed by their power. They don't believe in their Sacred Gear; they believe in their own strength. You have no idea how many users out there see their Sacred Gears as nothing more than powerful tools."
Other negative emotions, like fear, doubt, and anxiety toward the Sacred Gear, were also contributing factors. He told me many hosts couldn't even accept their Sacred Gears, wondering why they had to possess such a thing. Most of the users Grigori took under their protection were those who couldn't accept their Sacred Gears. Those who became drunk on their power were sometimes eliminated as threats. I frowned at that but continued to listen quietly.
He explained that while they protect them as much as possible, guiding users to accept their Sacred Gears was the most difficult part of their job. Therefore, my case—accepting my Sacred Gear from the very beginning and placing my complete trust in it—was extremely rare among users.
I could vaguely understand the feeling of not being able to accept it. At first, I was shocked to have a Sacred Gear and even treated it like a curse. But before I knew it, having my partner around had become normal. It felt natural to rely on it, and I even thought that I was alive because of its power. I had assumed my way of thinking was the norm, but apparently not. It makes sense when you think about it, but I hadn't realized until he pointed it out.
Come to think of it, in the original story, Ddraig, the Red Dragon Emperor, had said that among all his past hosts, Issei Hyoudou was the only one who didn't treat him like a tool. Issei was known as the weakest Red Dragon Emperor. But by conversing with Ddraig and building a relationship of trust and understanding, he awakened one new possibility after another, eventually becoming known as the greatest Red Dragon Emperor. Thinking about it that way, believing in your Sacred Gear might be incredibly important.
"Well, for guys like that, we have some… educational methods, like the 'Iron Ball Crane' that Armaros recently came up with, or 'reconstructive surgery' to teach them how to use their Sacred Gears with their bodies, making them think,'I'll die without my Sacred Gear!'so they can learn to control it. Hahaha!"
"Professor, do you know the meaning of the word 'education'?"
I was so glad I had a good relationship with my Sacred Gear. Seriously glad.
"I was complimenting you, but that doesn't mean you can just let your Sacred Gear carry you all the time," he added.
"...Yes, sir."
"So, while you'll be training to build up your stamina, we're going to put more emphasis on expanding the versatility of your Sacred Gear. I doubt you could handle close-quarters combat right now anyway. It would take years for you to learn."
"I understand focusing on my Sacred Gear. But does that mean I don't have any means of attack right now?"
My weapon was a spear. It was useless unless I could stab my opponent with it, and I couldn't activate its annihilation effect otherwise. For someone like me who couldn't fight up close, it seemed difficult to handle. So, were we going to train me to run away faster?
"Kanata, you need to be more flexible in your thinking. In your case, being bound by preconceived notions makes you weaker. You have a means of attack. A spear isn't just a weapon you hold in your hand and hit enemies with."
"Other uses for a spear…?"
I was skeptical of his words, but I tried to recall every other use I could think of. I had explored possibilities based on games, manga, and my knowledge from my past life. One that came to mind was...
"Like… throwing it?"
"Exactly. We fallen angels and angels often shape our light-based power into spears and throw them as our primary attack. It's a common mid-range offensive tactic because it's powerful and has low energy consumption. In your case, conserving stamina is the top priority, so it's perfect, right?"
"Well, I get that, but..."
Spear throwing was the main attack method for fallen angels, so it had come to my mind immediately. Given my personality and athletic ability, I would naturally think of acquiring a long-range attack before a close-range one. The problem was, it was quite difficult.
"But, Professor, if I throw my spear, I'll probably die, won't I? Without touching my Sacred Gear, I'm just a normal human."
"See, that's what I mean by being inflexible. We're going to train and develop a way to get around that."
"Huh? We are?!"
"Now, summon your Sacred Gear. We'll do this step by step."
"Uh, okay. …Partner."
I summoned the Sacred Gear into my hand, gripping it with both hands. Professor Azazel pulled out a thick notebook from his pocket and started flipping through the pages, muttering to himself. When I asked what was written in it, he said it was a collection of possible applications for my Sacred Gear that he had stayed up all night writing.Seriously? How much did he write? He's more excited about this than I am.
"Honestly, there are a lot of things I want to try, but if we're going to get you into decent shape by the end of summer break, this is the place to start…"
"Will just being able to throw the spear be enough?"
"Hehehe. Once you have a long-range attack, you'll be able to do all sorts of interesting things. And when you combine it with that annihilation ability of yours, even more so. …Oh, right. I forgot to give you this."
"Huh? A shiny gold bracelet?"
It looked expensive, but I could see it was a simple design, just inscribed with strange characters. He tossed it to me, and I fumbled to catch it. It was surprisingly light. What was it? A souvenir?
"I told you before, it's a support tool made just for you. As long as you're wearing it, it will measure your stamina consumption."
"My stamina? —Whoa! When I focused on the bracelet, a gauge like something out of a video game appeared!"
"I heard you like video games. This should be the easiest way for you to understand, right? Just think of that gauge as your stamina, your 'HP.' As long as that gauge has something left, you can use your Sacred Gear's power."
"Whoooa!"
This was insane. Way too cool. The technological skill of the fallen angels—or rather, of Professor Azazel—was off the charts. He could make something like this? I knew he was the type of person to build things that shattered the very fabric of a fantasy world, like a giant robot or a UFO, but this was amazing in a genuinely useful way.
I had tried to increase my stamina and reduce my consumption, but it was incredibly difficult to measure something so abstract. Now, the consumption rate and stamina growth that had been so vague before were clearly visible. This was fantastic, and it would definitely help me improve my control and regulation of my Sacred Gear.
"I made it custom-fitted for you using the data from when we measured your limits at the beginning. It also has a function to stop you from going berserk."
"Going berserk?"
"Even if I tell you not to remove your limiters like last time, you seem like the type to do it again unconsciously. When that gauge hits the red zone, it'll alert you. And if the gauge hits zero, I've designed it to forcibly shut down your Sacred Gear's power."
"So as long as I'm wearing this bracelet, I won't make the same mistake as last time."
"That's the idea. —And, Kanata."
I was staring at the bracelet on my wrist with sparkling eyes when the Professor's serious tone caught my ear. I looked up. His gaze was fixed straight on the bracelet and the crimson Sacred Gear. I straightened my posture in response to the atmosphere and waited for his next words.
"You can take that bracelet off if you want to. If you ever face a situation where you have a reason you absolutely cannot back down from, where you have to go beyond your limits, you can remove it. But promise me this: you will absolutely not die."
"...Professor."
"Basically, don't be reckless. You're weak, after all. And Mephisto is a worrywart. Most of all, I still want to research that Sacred Gear of yours. So I'm counting on you, got it?"
With that, Professor Azazel gave me a thumbs-up and a grin. I clutched the bracelet he had given me and gave him a silent nod. He was right. I didn't want to die. And Icouldn'tdie. In this brutal world where death was always just around the corner, there were people like him who would look me straight in the eye and tell me not to.
"Alright, let's get started! I've got a mountain of experiments I want to run."
"Yes, sir! I'll do my best! But please, keep the training at a level where I don't have to stop being human!"
"Don't be a wimp while trying to show your grit. …Ah, once we clear this step, maybe we can try that next. If you can erase gravity and wind pressure, it should be possible."
"Y-You're really into this, huh?"
"Of course I am! Speaking of which, with your ability, you might even be able to do something like that mysterious crane-dropping incident that caused so much trouble for the devils and the Church. I heard the rumors and went to the human world to check it out..."
"Huh? You went to see it? Wait, does that mean the old man sleeping on the park bench back then was—"
"...Kanata, how about you and I have a little chat about that old man?"
...I'm such an idiot.
"That was months ago, you could just let it go already… Besides, it was like ninety percent the Professor's fault for getting curious about a rumor, going to check it out for fun, and then trying to sneak back after a little nap in the park because he didn't want to get lectured for ditching his work…"
"Kanata, we are about to arrive in the Underworld," Lavinia's voice cut through my grumbling.
"Huh? Oh, sorry. Thanks. I'll get ready to get off."
It seemed that while I was lost in thought, a lot of time had passed. I thanked Lavinia for the heads-up, got my handheld back from the Professor, and organized my backpack. I also cleared away the food and drinks that had been on the table, making sure everything was neat and ready for our departure. Manners are important.
Well, this was my first time ever setting foot in the Underworld. Honestly, I never thought I, a human, would end up coming to this world, but it was a rare opportunity. It would be a waste not to make the most of it. Thanks to Professor Azazel, I had managed to expand the applications of my Sacred Gear. I was here as Lavinia's assistant, but I was determined to help out as much as I possibly could.
"Alright, energetic children! Your chaperone has some important announcements. If you break the rules, especially you, Kanata, you could actually die, so listen up!"
"Yes, Professor! I'll listen very carefully, but I'm already starting to feel a little blue, enough to make me want to cry!"
"Yes, Professor," Lavinia chimed in.
I was a little worried if this laid-back attitude would be okay, but just like that, the first half of my summer vacation passed, and I was set to spend the second half in the Underworld.
Chapter 23
The Underworld. It's another world, separate from the Human World, where non-humans reside. Here, devils and fallen angels rule over their own territories, and it's also home to countless monsters, phantasmal species, and even dragons. From a human perspective, it's a place you might call "Hell," and I've heard its landmass is about the same size as Earth's. There are no oceans in this world, and with so much nature left untouched, there are vast tracts of unexplored land. In a way, even though it's connected to Earth, I feel like I've been transported to a different world. It has a real sword-and-sorcery vibe.
It should be almost noon, but the sky is a dim, dusky purple. The wind, the smells, even the air itself feels heavy and damp. It seems like a comfortable place for devils who dislike the sun, but I'm not a fan of this atmosphere. I guess that's natural for a human; it's a stark reminder that the Human World is where I truly belong. Lavinia told me she wasn't used to it at first either, but that you adapt after a few days. The human ability to adapt is pretty incredible sometimes.
"Well, that doesn't change the fact that there's plenty here that can harm humans. Things that are harmless to the residents of the Underworld can be deadly poison to you humans. Lavinia can fend them off with magic and the aura of her Longinus, but you can't do that."
"Right. That's why I have to constantly use my Sacred Gear's ability to block out anything from the outside world that might harm me."
"Exactly. It'll use up one of the slots for your ability, but it's the safest way. The air, the soil, the scent of the plants—what might harm you varies from person to person, so you never know. And don't you dare forget to keep that insect-repellent gear I gave you on you at all times."
Listening to Mr. Azazel's warnings, I double-checked to make sure I was fully prepared. I'd hate to catch some infectious disease, and if I can prevent it, I should do everything in my power to do so. Even if I can nullify abnormal status effects, I'm not foolish enough to march around carelessly because of it. Still, this place is truly what humans would call the "other side." It must be a harsh environment for humans to live in. We're from different worlds, after all.
"I manage by constantly maintaining a barrier of cold air with my Sacred Gear's power, but it's a bit of a pain to lose one of my erasure slots," Lavinia said.
"Tell me about it. But I managed to create one more slot during these past two weeks, so I still have my usual three in stock. I guess I'll just have to use them wisely."
"I can create drinking water with magic, but the tricky part is that things in the Underworld don't work the same way as they do in the Human World."
"I see, so I have to be careful about the water, too. I even brought things like a cross, salt, and garlic with me for this trip to the Underworld. I got them from a former church-affiliated magician, so I hope they have some effect."
"That's a vampire-hunting kit, you idiot. Well, some of it might work on devils and monsters, I suppose..." Mr. Azazel said with an exasperated tone.
I know, I know. I only bought it for peace of mind. But hey, if it keeps the monsters away, it's a win-win, right? It might not protect me directly, but still. I tucked the items safely into my pocket so I wouldn't lose them.
Getting back to the topic of the Underworld, Mr. Azazel mentioned that any human Sacred Gear users in the Fallen Angels' territory are forbidden from entering or leaving any facility not specifically built for humans. That's why, despite the risks, they generally build their facilities for Sacred Gear research in the Human World. Bringing humans to the Underworld must come with a lot of risks. It's probably only possible with abilities like mine and Lavinia's, along with help from the residents of the Underworld.
Could that also be why, in the original story, they couldn't bring Akeno Himejima's mother to the Fallen Angels' territory in the Underworld? Even though she was being targeted by humans, she and Akeno hid in the Human World instead of being by Baraqiel's side. I'm sure part of the reason was that you can't just bring a human into the Fallen Angels' organization, even if she was the wife of a Cadre. Still, no fallen angel would dare lay a hand on a Cadre's wife. If they had to live in hiding anyway, it seems like it would have been safer to move to the Underworld where her husband was.
Speaking of which, it's a bit late to be thinking about this, but I wonder where we are in the original story's timeline. It's impossible to tell from long-lived people like Lord Mephisto or Mr. Azazel. The whole thing would be solved in an instant if I just asked him Akeno's age, but then I'd be in a tough spot if he asked me how I knew about her. I know Rias has been born, so they can't be that far apart in age, but that's all the vague information I have. My only sources of information are a devil who is away from the Underworld and a fallen angel who is currently hostile towards the devils, making it difficult to find out the exact year.
...Yeah, I should probably visit Kuoh Town at least once. There's only one way for me to find out the original story's timeline with the most safety. And that's by checking the age of the protagonist, who is likely still an ordinary person—Issei Hyoudou. The original story begins in the spring when he becomes a second-year high school student. And from there, it's a non-stop, whirlwind of events. His schedule and the power inflation are on par with a certain lightning-wielding middle school girl. The idea that he's able to fight on par with a 'Transcendent Being' in about a year is just insane.
Anyway, once this summer vacation is over, I have no choice but to go to Kuoh Town and search high and low for a house with the name "Hyoudou." In the anime, his house was within walking distance of Kuoh Academy, so that should narrow down the search area considerably. If I go to a library, I should be able to find a map and a list of local family names. I doubt I'll draw any attention just by visiting the homes of ordinary people. I could also break into the city hall to check the family registry, but since devils manage that territory, I need to avoid any suspicious behavior.
Hmm, but still. If I do meet the protagonist, what should I do? Personally, I'd like to talk to him. He's an affable guy, and aside from his perverted tendencies, he has a normal sensibility. But I'm scared of how my existence might affect things. I love watching him forge his own path, just the way he is. I'm not saying the original story is everything, but there's a part of me that doesn't want to destroy it. ...I'll put a pin in that for now. Right now, I need to prioritize this job in the Underworld. First things first.
"This is one of the dragon nests managed by Tannin. He's an oddball who invites dragons who can no longer live in the Human World or have lost their place in the Underworld to his territory and protects them."
"An oddball?"
"From a biological standpoint, ensuring the continuation of a species is a perfectly normal act, but this is being done by a dragon—the very personification of power, and one who was once called a Dragon King, no less. To put it simply, dragons are an extremely self-paced bunch. They hate forming groups and have their own unique values. The stronger the dragon, the more pronounced this tendency becomes. That's why they act selfishly, without any regard for their surroundings or the current state of affairs."
"And that is why Mr. Tannin is such an incredible dragon," Lavinia added. "For a dragon, who despises being tied down, to become a devil's servant, and to fulfill his responsibility as one with power for the sake of other dragons... It's said that thanks to him, a great number of dragons were saved, and it also helped to restore the image of dragons."
After crossing through a dimensional space and getting off the train, we were walking straight toward our destination. This was Tannin's territory, which meant it was devil territory. If word got out that the Governor-General of the Fallen Angels had snuck in, it would cause a major incident. Apparently, Mr. Azazel has visited Tannin's territory a few times before, but just in case, he's refraining from using his wings or light-based powers. That's why we're walking, even though it's taking longer. A war would be a disaster.
Come to think of it, I think the original story also mentioned that dragons are disliked. In mythology, they're usually depicted as villains and evil beings. They are feared and detested by various races. It seems that's no different in the Underworld, where they're even disliked by the devils and fallen angels, who are considered evil themselves. Just how hated are they? They're surrounded by enemies.
The reasons for this include those who run wild according to their own rules without a care for themselves or others, and the existence of Evil Dragons. The prime examples often cited are the great battles between the Red Dragon Emperor and the White Dragon Emperor. They were the type to start a brawl in the middle of a war, causing a huge nuisance to everyone around them. Yeah, no wonder they're hated. So, it was Tannin who helped soften that negative image of dragons. I doubt that was his intention, though.
I wonder if the reason the devils in the original story were so accepting of the protagonist, the Red Dragon Emperor, was partly thanks to Tannin's efforts to improve their image. No matter how strong he was, there must have been some resistance to accepting the power of a detested race, even if it was sealed in a Sacred Gear. The protagonist did face some prejudice, but it wasn't that pronounced. Perhaps it was because Tannin had softened the negative image of dragons that he was able to become a hero as the "Oppai Dragon."
If that's the case... Issei Hyoudou, don't you think you owe Tannin a serious, head-to-the-ground apology for the events of the original story? At the very least, that "pitiful dragon number three" incident was seriously messed up. Ddraig and Albion were the original source of the trouble, so they're a different story, but Tannin is someone you absolutely must not cause trouble for.
"Will we be able to meet this Mr. Tannin?"
"He did say something about showing his face, apparently. But he's a busy guy, so who knows when that'll be."
"He is a very busy person, so it can't be helped."
I see, but that means there's a chance we might meet him. First Lord Mephisto, then Mr. Azazel, and now the former Dragon King, Tannin. Man, my list of encounters from the original story is as ridiculous as ever. These aren't just bigwigs; they're people you can't just meet whenever you want. What is going on with my destiny?
"Whoa, you two, stop."
"Huh?"
My feet, which had been moving as I listened to various stories about my first visit to the Underworld, came to a halt at Mr. Azazel's sudden command. When I shot him a quizzical look, he silently gestured with his chin towards the path ahead. I strained my eyes to see, but the lush nature created too many obstacles, and I couldn't see anything. The trees and grass are in the way.
"They're here. Five of them. They seem to be monsters," Lavinia said.
"Lavinia, you can see them?"
"Kanata, remember your training. I taught you how to sense presences, didn't I?"
He reprimanded me in a hushed voice. Sorry, you're right. I held my Sacred Gear in my right hand and focused my mind on it. Sharpening my senses, I observed the surroundings through my partner and could make out something beyond the trees. It was still a vague sensation, but I could definitely tell there were five of them. Based on their size and the auras I felt, they were probably four-legged monsters. It might be a pack.
"Should we take a different route?"
"That'll take too much time, so no. We'll be running into plenty of monsters of this level from here on out. We can't afford to take a detour every single time."
"...P-plenty, you say?"
"This is the other side, you know. It's only natural for it to be teeming with grotesque creatures. Besides, this area has been left untouched so that dragons can live comfortably. In other words, there's an abundance of prey for them."
Wait a minute. You didn't tell me that. Don't say you just told me now. I guess it should have been obvious, but does this mean there are a ton of obstacles before we even reach the dragon's nest? I wasn't expecting to get there right away, but still. This world is a true fantasy.
"Shall I use my magic?"
"No, Kanata. You take care of it."
"What?"
"Don't complain. Why do you think I've been training you? What you're overwhelmingly lacking is actual combat experience. It doesn't matter how much power you gain if you can't use it when it counts."
He's... absolutely right. I've pointed my spear at training dummies and even Mr. Azazel during practice, but my only real combat experience is still that one stray magician. That time when I was crying and desperately trying to deal with the spears of light being hurled at me doesn't count as a battle. It was a slaughter, and I was on the receiving end. If I got injured, I was told to heal myself with my Sacred Gear's power, and if my healing wasn't enough, I'd be healed with a magic potion, and the training would immediately resume. It was Mr. Azazel's world.
My mind drifted back to those training days, but I shook my head to bring myself back to the present. What I should be thinking about now is the battle before me. I was surprised to be called out, but it's obvious what I'm lacking. Combat against actual living creatures. My life is guaranteed since they're both here, but that won't always be the case. From now on, when I start acting alone, I'll have to protect my own life. I should gain experience while I can.
"Mr. Azazel, um, do I have to kill them?"
"That's up to you. But you'd better get used to it while you're in the Underworld."
"...I understand."
I gripped my Sacred Gear tightly and nodded deeply. I know it myself, that this is something I have to do. I've never been able to point a weapon at a person, let alone an animal. I just couldn't bring myself to hurt or kill a living being for my own sake. I know that's my weakness.
"Your way of thinking is indeed naive, Kana. But I like that you don't want to hurt anyone," Lavinia said.
"Lavinia..."
"However, the time will come when it's necessary. Fighting happens in order to protect something. It could be for yourself, for someone precious to you, for something you can't give up, or for the future. The time will come... when you must hurt someone for the sake of that something."
To me, who must have looked nothing but pathetic to them, she gave a gentle smile and spoke with sincerity. Her words resonated within me, and I took a slow, deep breath, engraving them into my heart. I'm not just a civilian who got caught up in this anymore. I'm a member of the 'Gray Magicians,' Lavinia's colleague, and a person who has decided to do my best to live here.
"Thank you, Lavinia. I might cause you a lot of trouble from now on, but I'll do my best."
"Yes, of course."
"Mr. Azazel, I look forward to your continued guidance."
"Don't be so formal, it makes it awkward for me. Just act normal. Sheesh..."
As Mr. Azazel spoke, ruffling his black hair with his hand, Lavinia and I shared a small laugh. This is probably another reason he brought me to the Underworld. This is a world where the strong devour the weak. This natural world is the very embodiment of that. I turned my gaze forward and focused once more on tracing the enemy's presence. I pinpointed the monsters' locations and held my Sacred Gear at the ready.
"Delete."
Ever since I started my training, I've started to say the "word" when I use my ability. Of course, I can do it without speaking, but Mr. Azazel taught me that my Sacred Gear's power "acts on what I define." By consciously verbalizing it, I can enhance the ability's effect.
That's why I decided to say "Delete" when I use my erasure ability. There are many other English words that mean 'to erase,' but for some reason, this one just felt right for the "concept" of it. Mr. Azazel told me to choose whatever felt right, so I went with it. With that in mind, I erased my own presence and began to move behind the monsters.
This was the fighting style Mr. Azazel taught me over the past two weeks. Or rather, it was a setup. My fighting style is plain and, frankly, cowardly. I have to avoid head-on confrontations at all costs. My Sacred Gear's ability has the drawback of consuming a lot of stamina. In other words, I have to end battles quickly while conserving as much energy as possible. The longer it drags on, the more of a disadvantage I'll be at. So if I'm going to do it, I have to do it in one shot.
After sneaking to my position, I peeked out from the bushes. There, with their backs to me, were several large lizards, growling. I've seen them in the monster encyclopedia. If I remember correctly, their back scales can deflect iron, and they are carnivorous monsters that hunt by sinking their sharp fangs into their prey.
Once they bite down, it's difficult to shake them off, and they hunt successfully by attacking in groups. They aren't very fast, but if you're in a straight line, they'll lunge to close the distance, so attacking from the side is effective. Their backs are tough, but their sides and bellies are soft. For now, I should thin their numbers. It'll be bad if they all come at me at once.
"Analyze."
I focused on my partner and broke down my erasure ability. My Sacred Gear currently has four erasure slots. Two of them are being used to survive in the Underworld and to conceal my presence. But I still have two more slots. I erased a part of my Sacred Gear's composition and detached the two remaining slots from it. In my palms, two crimson spears appeared. I shrank them down to the size of darts and held the original Sacred Gear in my left hand.
With my right hand, I readied the first dart-like spear and took aim. Outside of my training time with Mr. Azazel, I spent all my time in my room practicing throwing darts. Throwing the large spear as it is would have more attack power, but my ability is more about hitting the target than raw power. That's why this smaller, harder-to-notice size was deemed optimal. And just throwing darts conserves a lot of stamina.
Right now, I can only throw about two spears in a row. I'm practicing with three, but my accuracy drops sharply. Suppressing my racing heart, I aimed for the large lizard's side, swung the crimson Sacred Gear back, and threw it with all my might.
"Delete air resistance."
I activated the ability the moment I threw, and then immediately threw the second one at another lizard a short distance away. Each of these separated spears can be imbued with one erasure ability.
By the way, I tried to erase my own air resistance for high-speed movement... but unfortunately, my body couldn't keep up. It seems I still have a lot of training to do. But with the spears, it's not a problem. I imbued each of them with my Sacred Gear's effect, and in the blink of an eye, the two spears struck true, piercing two of the lizards.
"GRAAAAAAAAGH—!?"
With a sudden pain in their abdomens, the two lizards roared in anger. The other lizards nearby turned their attention to them, wondering what was going on. The wounds themselves were nothing serious. Just small cuts, really. But that was enough. My spear's ability activates as long as it pierces even a little. By throwing them at high speed, even with a child's strength, I can make it work against an opponent with tough skin.
"Delete consciousness."
Next, I instantly changed the effect of the two spears from air resistance to shaking their very consciousness. The lizards, which had been roaring in pain, suddenly fell silent. Their eyes rolled back into their heads, and they collapsed, unconscious.
After confirming the remaining lizards were still unable to react to the sudden turn of events, I focused my mind on the two spears I had thrown. Sacred Gears are items that respond to their wielder's will. As a result of my strong will, the small crimson spears, their purpose served, disappeared, and I felt their power return to the original Sacred Gear in my left hand. Confirming this...
"Analyze."
I broke it down again and summoned two spears to my hand. It takes a few seconds to retrieve the thrown spears, break them down again, and recharge them. In a head-on-brawl, those few seconds would decide the outcome. That's why I erase my presence like this and create a one-sided battlefield. Incidentally, this throwing method was, of course, Mr. Azazel's idea. Breaking down the spear's ability, imbuing it with the erasure effect for a long-range attack—it's apparently one of the applications I can manage at my current level.
"You could call it the Ruin Javelin, I suppose."
And then he went and named it himself. I don't mind, though, since he's the one who came up with the technique.
I then threw two more spears at the still-confused monsters, robbing them of their consciousness. This erasure effect can be activated as long as they are within my line of sight. However, the trajectory of the spear seemed to have revealed my position to the last one, and it charged at me with a threatening roar. With the Sacred Gear in my left hand, I converted 'presence' to 'gravity' and immediately leaped away. I glanced at the lizard crashing into my hiding spot, then quickly retrieved the thrown spears and broke them down again.
A shiver ran down my spine for a moment as the lizard turned its bloodshot eyes on me, but the fear of Mr. Azazel hurling spears of light at me was many times worse. I feel like I've developed a strange kind of courage. It's helpful, but I'm not sure if I should be grateful.
I moved slowly, keeping my eyes on my opponent, but it seemed to be wary of showing its side. Would it be okay to just throw a spear at it from the front? If it gets deflected by its skin or dodged, I'll be the one left with a fatal opening.
"Trying to knock it out has its risks. But—"
I combined the two broken-down spears back into one and held one spear in each hand. Adjusting the size of the spear in my right hand to make it easier to throw, I stared down the lizard as it poised to charge. Certainty should take precedence over uncertainty. We still have a long way to go to our destination, and more importantly, I can't keep them waiting. I have a way to deal with this thing quickly.
"Delete air resistance."
The moment I threw the spear straight at my opponent, the lizard charged. It seems it intended to meet my attack head-on, thrusting its toughest part forward. I gave the Ruin Javelin, now containing two erasure slots, its final command from my remaining erasure slot.
"Ruin."
My command was a simple erasure effect that acts on physical matter. The crimson spear, flying at high speed, glowed brightly and pierced straight through the charging large lizard. Its prized scales were penetrated by the erasure effect, and blood and flesh scattered everywhere. The lizard's face was almost completely unrecognizable. Its body trembled for a moment before it fell to the ground and stopped moving. ...I knew it was dead.
The blood-soaked ground, the exposed white bone, the scattered flesh, an eyeball rolling as if to look at me. The sight and the smell that assaulted my nostrils made me want to vomit, and I instinctively covered my mouth with my hand. But I managed to hold it back. Tears welled up in my eyes, but I managed to hold those back too.
There was a sense of accomplishment in having achieved my goal. But right now, it was overshadowed by a feeling of discomfort and disgust. Will I ever get used to this? No, I have to. There's no need to kill for the sake of it. But hesitation in a life-or-death situation would be fatal for me. I can't afford to stand still.
"You handled that calmly. Well, for you, that was a good effort."
A hand gently patted my head, then roughly ruffled my hair. Reassured by the warmth of his hand, I nodded back in silence. It's okay. I was the one who decided to do my best. And most importantly, I have people around me who support me like this. So I'll just keep trying to do more, one step at a time.
Summer vacation was entering its latter half, finally reaching the halfway point. And so, the curtain rose on my days in the Underworld.
Chapter 24
"Alright, it's cooked. Some of this thing's innards are a real delicacy, you know? Great with booze."
"Azazel, I know it's a bit late to ask, but is it really okay for us to eat things from the Underworld?"
"Just stab it with your spear."
"Right."
My Sacred Gear really is handy. After getting confirmation from my partner, I plunged the spear into the cooked meat, deleting anything dangerous. As an extra precaution, Azazel checked it with a machine he'd made, and once we got the all-clear, Lavinia and I put our hands together in thanks. She seemed to be copying my gesture. I took a hesitant bite. The meat was quite tough, making it hard to chew through. It felt a little strange, but I had to admit, it was delicious.
"It is delicious, the lizard you defeated, Kana."
"Yeah. The meat from the lizard whose face Kanata blew off with his spear."
"Please stop, you're making me lose my appetite."
That's the trouble with Azazel—he loves to tease people like this. I remembered how he used to constantly poke fun at Rias Gremory, saying things like, "You need more training!" The other lizards we had knocked out were left as they were. Lavinia flash-froze the one we'd defeated and then created an ice princess about Azazel's height to act as a luggage carrier. I was surprised such an application was possible, but she said she got the idea after seeing how I could shrink my Sacred Gear and thinking it seemed useful. As expected of her.
The stunned lizards looked like they were about to wake up, so we changed locations. Lavinia created a barrier with her magic, and the three of us began preparing lunch. At first, I felt sick at the thought of eating that lizard, but I changed my mind. Rather than just killing it and leaving it, it was better to treat it properly as sustenance.
From there, the cooking process became a chaotic mix of magic, Sacred Gears, and light power, but we managed to make something edible, so I'll call it a success. Thanks to the seasonings Lavinia had brought and the purifying salt from my own supplies, we were able to enjoy a tasty meal. Slicing up some garlic even gave it a nice garlicky flavor. She really comes prepared for anything.
"Still, even if I'm the one who taught you, your fighting style is really like an assassin's."
"Sir, were there any areas I should improve on from that last battle?"
"Let's see… First, you need to stop letting your opponents pinpoint your location. They narrowed it down from where you threw your spear, which is how that last one found you. Instead of hiding in the same spot, you need to be more creative, confuse the enemy, and keep them from getting a lock on your position. Also, you focus too much on the opponent right in front of you. You were letting your guard down to your surroundings."
"You were fine this time because we were here, but there is always a risk of someone else jumping in," Lavinia added. "Especially in a wild place like this, there are many opportunists looking to gain an advantage from others' conflicts, as a Japanese proverb says."
"In fact, a large bird was circling nearby while you were fighting," Azazel said. "It flew off because we were here, but if you'd been alone, you might have been ambushed."
Whoa, something like that was close by? The sky was a complete blind spot for me. I'd thought I was being reasonably cautious about my flanks, but I'd completely neglected to watch what was above. Real combat is tough. There's just too much to think about.
"However, the speed at which you switch between your abilities is getting to a level where it's usable in a real fight. Your charge and switch speeds, as well as your throwing technique, will need to improve or they won't work on faster opponents, but that's just a matter of training."
"Yes, I understand."
"Which means, from here on out, I'm leaving the journey to you two. Get out there and rack up some combat experience."
"What?!"
I'd assumed he'd be fighting with us, but he has no intention of participating at all?! And we're going to be running into swarms of creatures like that from now on. Even if he can't use his beam attacks, this man could probably handle most of the monsters around here with his bare fists. He's basically the final boss, after all.
"If I do it, this whole area will be cleared out in a few lines of text. That'd be boring, wouldn't it?"
That line sounds awfully familiar…
"I understand. Let's do our best, Kana!" Lavinia said, undeterred.
"R-Right. Well, it's not like he told me to do it alone."
"That's the spirit. If you're going to fight, you two need to learn how to coordinate. It seems Mephisto plans to operate with you two as a set."
"Cooperation, you mean?"
From what Azazel explained, the plan was to pair me, with my unique abilities, and Lavinia, a Longinus wielder, together so we could protect and support each other. While Lavinia is the superior fighter, I have the upper hand in information gathering and support. Because her Sacred Gear is an Independent Avatar type, her main body is inevitably left vulnerable. While she has a solid foundation as a mage, if I can cover her weak spots, it could expand her tactical options.
"In your case, you have good synergy for teamwork. You should be able to play to each other's strengths and effectively cover each other's weaknesses."
"Our strengths and weaknesses?"
"Yeah. For example, in a Rating Game, Lavinia would be a technique-focused Wizard, and you'd be a technique-focused Support."
"Does that mean we lack power?"
"Lavinia can put out some power, but extreme firepower is difficult for her. That's where your abilities come in to supplement that. Kanata, you're simply lacking in raw power, so you have few decisive moves against higher-level opponents. However, youcandrag those opponents down to your level. That's where Lavinia strikes. …I think you'll find you have a lot of strategic options."
I see. So if we lack firepower, we win by outmaneuvering the enemy with technique, creating openings, lowering their abilities, and setting traps. I'm a technical fighter, but my abilities are better suited for a support role, working for the benefit of my allies. Since my power is directly linked to my stamina, it's probably better to let my allies handle the heavy fighting while I focus as much as possible on using my abilities.
It's like a reverse version of the support tactics Issei Hyoudou used in the early days, where he would fight while strengthening his allies with 'Transfer.' My style is to use 'Delete' to weaken enemies and create openings, which my allies then exploit. It's simple, but it would be an incredibly annoying strategy to face.
"The main thing you two need to watch out for, however, are opponents who excel in overwhelming power or speed. Any half-baked tricks will be useless against an enemy who can turn the tables in an instant. Since you're both human, even a glancing blow from a fast opponent could be fatal. Your basic strategy should be to focus on evasion and never do anything reckless. Skilfully dodge your enemies, and sometimes, retreat. Make sure you have an escape plan."
Azazel must genuinely enjoy thinking about tactics like these. He gets really into matchups, skill combos, and role theories in the fighting and training games I've lent him. When I play games with those two, I'm basically just fresh meat for them to beat. It's strange; I have way more years of gaming experience. It's much kinder to my mental health to just go monster hunting with them.
After finishing our lizard-meat lunch, we set off again toward the fire dragons' nest. Lavinia and I took the lead, she with her stick and I with my Sacred Gear, both constantly extending our senses to probe our surroundings. We decided that I would handle the regular monsters in our path to clear the way, and she would take care of any I couldn't defeat. This way, we could conserve our energy. While I can recover from wounds, lost magical power can't be restored.
My ability can deal with things I have "received," but the deletion effect doesn't work on things I have "lost." If I perceive something as "received," I can delete it, turning a 1 back into a 0. But no matter how many times I try to delete a 0, the result is still 0. I can erase accumulated damage and fatigue, but I can't interfere with lost blood or magical energy.
This is quite a hassle. My ability isn't a true healing technique, only a pseudo-recovery one. For example, in the original story, there's a scene where Azazel loses an arm fighting Katerea Leviathan of the Old Satan Faction. The critical detail is thecircumstanceunder which he lost that arm.
If he defined the wound as something he "received from an enemy attack that severed it," I might be able to pseudo-regenerate the arm, though it would be extremely difficult for me right now. But if he had "severed the arm himself," my power probably wouldn't work. It would be defined as something he discarded, not something he received. It's a subtle difference, but it means that recovering from a self-inflicted sacrifice would be difficult.
If it's a wound, it doesn't matter if it's from self-destruction, as I can define it as something I sustained. But I can't act on what waslostthrough self-destruction. In the original story, I believe Azazel cut off his own arm to prevent Katerea from taking him down with her. It might have been unavoidable in that situation, but if I ever get the chance, I should probably warn him.
"Kana, if you would."
"Analyze."
Thanks to the simple presence-concealing effect from Lavinia's magic, I had a stock of three throwable spears ready. Our opponent was a four-legged, bull-like monster with large horns. There were exactly three of them. I threw two spears in rapid succession, followed immediately by the third.
"Delete Air Resistance."
The high-speed spears struck two of the bull-monsters squarely, but the third noticed and knocked the last spear aside with its horn. Now aware of our presence, it lowered its horns and prepared to charge.
"Leave it to me."
Lavinia pointed her stick at the monster and froze the ground at its feet, stopping it in its tracks. In that moment, I erased the consciousness of the two monsters my spears had hit, recalled the deconstructed spears, moved to the side to avoid the remaining bull's horns, and formed a new throwing spear. With Lavinia's support, the spear easily pierced the bull, and I was able to erase its consciousness right away.
I focused on the bracelet Azazel had given me and checked the gauge. I was keeping the deletion effect to a minimum, so I still had plenty of energy left, but a bigger target would consume more. I needed to proceed without letting my guard down.
"Thanks for the support, Lavinia."
"Of course. It is my turn next."
Lavinia's attention was already on the next opponent. From behind the bulls we had just defeated, a sort of giant amoeba-like creature emerged from the forest. What is that thing? It was genuinely disgusting. As I reeled back, the amoeba-like monster extended a tentacle-like appendage and stabbed it into one of the fallen bulls. The tentacle pulsed as it began to suck the nutrients out of the carcass. I instinctively covered my mouth and grimaced as the bull was reduced to skin and bones.
This is fantasy for you. I knew about slime-like gel enemies from games, but seeing one in real life was just nauseating… Anyway, does this thing even have a consciousness? More importantly, can a spear even pierce it? My Sacred Gear's effect won't activate unless the spear itself makes contact. Am I at a complete disadvantage against an opponent immune to physical attacks?
"There's a way for you to beat it, Kanata, but it's high-risk," Azazel's voice cut in. "Your Sacred Gear has a bad matchup against opponents that physical attacks don't work on."
"What should I do then?"
"In that situation, just leave it to your allies. If you don't have allies, avoid the fight. If you want a countermeasure, the quickest way is to learn an ability besides your Sacred Gear. Everything comes down to matchups."
I see. So there's no need for me to force myself to defeat it. Even a powerhouse like Issei Hyoudou struggled against technical-type opponents who could counter him. There will be unavoidable fights, but otherwise, I should run. Nodding at Azazel's words, I watched as Lavinia stepped forward next to me, thrusting her stick out.
In response, the monster sprouted several tentacles from its body and shot them toward Lavinia. She dodged them gracefully and created a magic circle at the tip of her staff, forming a ball of fire. She incinerated all the extended tentacles, and I could see the creature flinch.
"Ruin."
Even if I couldn't attack it directly, I could still provide support. I used my javelin to delete the ground beneath the amoeba-like monster, causing it to fall into the resulting crater. The tentacles it tried to extend again flew off in the wrong direction. With its movements hindered, the monster was burned to a crisp by the fire magic she unleashed. That's a true mage for you.
I looked over at Lavinia, who was smiling happily and holding up two fingers in a peace sign. In moments like this, she's just like a kid. I let out a small chuckle and returned the peace sign.
"Alright, we're here. This is the valley where the fire dragons live."
"Wow, it's huge!"
"Finally… we made it."
There was Azazel, grinning and pointing toward our destination; Lavinia, exclaiming cheerfully; and me, completely exhausted. The fighting was tough, but more than anything, the journey was just long. Looking up, I saw the same purple sky as before, but it seemed darker than during the day. I could even faintly see a moon. I suppose I should just be glad we reached our destination before nightfall.
Apparently, the sky and the flow of time in the Underworld are designed to replicate the human world. The Underworld originally has no morning or night, nor does it have a moon. This is all a pseudo-sky created by the devils' magic. The flow of time is also maintained by the Satans using a special spell. The reason for all this is for the sake of reincarnated devils and those who live in the human world. Whatever the reason, as someone from the human world, I found it easy to understand and was grateful for it.
Still, thanks to Azazel's training regimen, I've built up a decent amount of stamina, but tough is still tough. Lavinia had gotten through it all using only her magical power, without even touching her Sacred Gear. In my case, using my abilities consumes my physical stamina, so my fatigue level was much higher. I really do need another way to fight besides my Sacred Gear. If I were alone, I could probably get by with pseudo-stealth, but if I'm going to be working with Lavinia from now on, I have to seriously consider it.
"Hey, Azazel! We made it before nightfall, but where are we supposed to go next?"
"Hmph."
He coolly pointed his thumb deeper into the valley. Excuse me, but all I can see are mountains and cliffs. You don't mean we have to climb up or down this valley now, do you? I was prepared to camp outdoors, but I was hoping for a slightly more decent place to sleep. My shoulders slumped, and I stared blankly into the distance.
"…Huh?"
Something's coming? A black dot appeared from the direction Azazel was pointing. I thought my eyes were playing tricks on me in the dim light, but the black dot grew steadily larger. Was that a living creature? My eyes widened at the shadow approaching us at incredible speed, and I hurriedly readied my Sacred Gear. Lavinia also raised her stick cautiously, but Azazel stopped us with one hand, a confident grin on his face as he crossed his arms.
"Yo, Tannin. You're here pretty early, aren't you?"
"Eh…?"
"I heard from Mephisto, but I never thought I'd see the Governor-General of the Fallen Angels come to devil territory, and as a chaperone for children, no less."
The dim sky was suddenly plunged into darkness. As if in response to Azazel's casual greeting, a deep, dignified voice echoed all around us. My body trembled instinctively, and a crushing pressure seized my heart. I cautiously looked up. A powerful gust of wind from beating wings washed over me, and I had to dig my heels in to keep from being lifted off my feet.
Immediately after, the ground rumbled, and a cloud of dust billowed up. The violent tremor finally made me lose my footing, and I fell onto my backside. Wincing in pain, I shielded my eyes from the dust and stared directly at the source of the commotion.
It wasn't just big; it was colossal. A massive body, surely over ten meters tall. Purple scales covered a powerful, well-defined musculature. The two horns on its head were probably bigger than I was. It was bipedal, with armor-like plates protecting its joints, and the two wings on its back were whipping up clouds of dust. Baring ferocious fangs, it crossed its thick arms and stood before us in all its glory.
This was the form of a species that was synonymous withHigh School DxD. A legendary monster from the Bible. A being of such immense power that even God and the Satans considered it a threat. A race that could make one's very soul tremble. People called them—Dragons.
"It has been a while, Tannin. We have come to accept your request."
"Ah, Lavinia. My apologies for making you come all the way to the Underworld… So, is that child with you the boy Mephisto mentioned?"
Huge eyes, shining like amethysts, turned to me. I shuddered for a moment, but I swallowed hard, suppressed my awe, and shot up from my seated position. Taking a deep breath, I met its gaze directly. Burning the image into my memory, I opened my mouth.
"Yes, it's a pleasure to meet you. My name is Kanata Kuramoto. I am here as Lavinia's partner for this job. I look forward to working with you."
"Hmph, I see. You may already know, but I shall introduce myself as well. I am the one called 'Blaze Meteor Dragon,' Mephisto's 'Queen.' A reincarnated devil, Tannin. You've come a long way to the Underworld. I welcome you."
The presence was simply audacious. It radiated an incredible pressure just by standing there. I made sure my voice didn't crack as I replied to Tannin. I had thought I might get to meet him, but I never expected it to be so soon. The sheer force of his presence was overwhelming.
And so it was that I met Tannin: a former Dragon King counted among the Six Great Dragon Kings, and a highest-class devil acclaimed as the "King of Dragons."