Chapter 386: The State of Hell, and a Certain High Prosecutor's Knowledge
If one were to capture the essence of Pandemonica's current state of mind, it would be akin to being told that the Almighty himself had been cast from Heaven. It was a revelation so fundamentally absurd, so reality-shattering, that no sane being would ever believe it if spoken aloud.
Lucifer. The first of the fallen, an Archangel who once stood near the throne of God, and now, the reigning Queen of Hell. And while her authority had waned over the millennia, her power and status were absolute. This very queen, the living embodiment of the Sin of Pride, had found a partner? A human one, at that?
Seeing the utter shock frozen on Pandemonica's face, Lucifer felt a flicker of awkwardness. She didn't need to be an oracle to know exactly what thoughts were racing through her subordinate's mind.
Pandemonica swallowed, the sound unnaturally loud in the quiet room. "Boss… that isn't a very funny joke."
"Do I look like I'm joking with you?" Lucifer retorted, her tone sharp. "And does this seem like the kind of thing one would joke about?"
Since the truth was already out, Lucifer saw no reason to conceal it any further.
Pandemonica's voice dropped, becoming low and serious. "If my information is correct, Mr. Ren is… human, is he not?"
Lucifer nodded, a hint of defiance in the gesture. "He is. But what of it? I have a thousand ways to ensure he remains by my side for all eternity!"
(For his part, Ren would later argue that being freed from the shackles of time was its own form of invincibility.)
A heavy sigh escaped Pandemonica. "Boss, you truly are…"
"I know what you want to say," Lucifer cut her off, her voice softening unexpectedly. "But I am perfectly aware of what I am doing. This isn't some game, Pandemonica. This is true love. You simply don't know what that feels like."
Pandemonica gave a slow, deliberate nod. "I confess, I do not. But, Boss… you have managed to genuinely shock me. That is a rare feat indeed."
"I can't tell you're shocked at all!" Lucifer huffed. "Your expression hasn't changed one bit!"
"Basic training," Pandemonica replied, her tone utterly flat.
Lucifer's mouth twitched in annoyance. Pandemonica, ever the professional, simply nodded again. "So, if you would be so kind, could you now explain what that business with the 'door' was all about?"
For the next several minutes, Lucifer held nothing back, recounting the strange circumstances that had led her here. As she spoke, Pandemonica's stoic expression finally began to crack, subtle shifts betraying the turmoil within. When Lucifer finished, a long silence stretched between them before Pandemonica spoke, her voice hollow with disbelief.
"So… Boss, you want to have children?"
"Is that the main point here?!" Lucifer shrieked, her composure shattering. "And what's with that phrasing?! Shouldn't you be more surprised about the existence of another world?!"
"Oh," Pandemonica said, her gaze distant. "It's just… you mentioned you felt a great deal watching other families eat together. So… is this restaurant truly that remarkable?"
A faint blush crept onto Lucifer's cheeks as she nodded. Damn it all, Pandemonica's mind was far too sharp. How could she possibly have inferred so much from a single, offhand comment?
Pandemonica took off her glasses and pinched the bridge of her nose, a rare sign of fatigue. "That is a truly bizarre phenomenon. I cannot begin to imagine what such a scene would look like."
"So, now you understand," Lucifer said, a hint of a triumphant smirk returning to her lips.
"Mm… but…"
"What is it now?"
Pandemonica held out a thin file she had been carrying. "Boss… please take a look at this report."
Lucifer's face twitched. After so long away from her duties, she reluctantly took the document, only to find her mind completely unable to focus on the dense text. The words swam before her eyes, meaningless symbols.
"Cerberus!" she called out. The three-headed demon hound appeared in an instant. "Give me a spell to clear my head!"
One of the triplets nodded, and a wave of cool energy washed over Lucifer. Only then did the fog in her mind dissipate. She sat on the edge of the bed, her bare feet crossed, and began to read. When she was focused on her work, Lucifer radiated an intense charisma, proving that a woman dedicated to her task possessed a unique and captivating beauty.
Meanwhile, Pandemonica sat on the sofa, her gaze sweeping across Lucifer's room. By the standards of Hell's sprawling estates, it was minuscule, yet she could feel a strange sense of comfort and peace permeating the space. Waking up here every morning… it must be a wonderful feeling. Just what kind of charm did this human, Ren, possess?
As she pondered this, she heard Lucifer let out a helpless sigh. "Pandemonica…"
"Hm? Is something wrong, Boss?"
Lucifer covered her face with one hand. "Still not a perfect score. How do you even manage that?"
A muscle in Pandemonica's cheek jumped. "This… well… Boss…"
Lucifer waved a dismissive hand. "It's nothing major. After all these years, I still hold your professional abilities in high regard."
"Thank you, Boss."
Tossing the report onto the nightstand, Lucifer stretched lazily. "Alright, that's enough of that. How are things in Hell? Any major incidents?"
Pandemonica took a moment to collect her thoughts. "Modeus is still engrossed in that book, 'Spider Season.' Malina seems to be in a foul mood lately, something about her games. Zdrada is… well, she's still Zdrada. Lady Judgement… she went to have a chat with Lady Judgement. She's otherwise unchanged. Oh, and Azazel, that little angel's research thesis is still apparently unqualified."
Lucifer sighed. "The same as always, I see. But Pandemonica… what were you doing just before you came here?"
"Ah? I was speaking with Modeus and Lady Judgement."
"And what did you say?" Lucifer asked, a new edge to her voice.
"Lady Judgement asked me to inform her once I located you. Modeus simply saw me preparing to leave and asked if I was going on a date, telling me to give her the details when I returned."
Lucifer froze, her eyes widening. "You didn't tell them I'm in the human world, did you?!"
Pandemonica first nodded, then shook her head.
"What kind of gesture is that?!" Lucifer demanded, her voice rising with panic. "Did you tell them or not?!"
Pandemonica calmly pushed her glasses up the bridge of her nose. "I informed Lady Judgement that you were in the human world. I did not, however, tell Modeus. I only told her that I was visiting the human world."
A wave of relief washed over Lucifer, and she sagged against the headboard. "Good, good… Judgement probably won't say anything. A blessing in disguise. Pandemonica! Well done!"
"Thank you, Boss," she replied, her expression unchanging. "But… you said your husband is a very good cook?"
Lucifer's pride swelled instantly. "Of course! Consider it an honor! My man will be cooking for you!"
"Eh? I look forward to it."
While Nakiri Mana and the others were occupied with their own affairs, Kasugano Sora was sprawled over the desk in her room. Beside her lay a stack of untouched homework, the pages filled with equations and prompts that felt utterly alien. It had been so long since she had last set foot in a school…
This was simply too difficult for her.
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