One hour later...
An hour had passed since the start of the examination. During that time, the formal meeting room in the Häagenti mansion had been practically transformed into a small improvised laboratory. Geometric magical circles, composed of complex equations, hovered in the air like translucent green holograms. Some rotated slowly, others expanded and contracted as they analyzed the body of the young heir of the Häagenti family...
Alear remained seated in the leather armchair, body relaxed but alert, as he observed Ajuka performing his magic. In front of him, a geometric magical circle filled with intricate equations was scanning his body. So this was the famous [Kankara Formula]? He had imagined it would be far more complicated, but at first glance, it didn't seem to be the case.
From what he remembered of the original story, the [Kankara Formula] allowed Ajuka to manipulate phenomena occurring in the world by using calculations to directly interfere with natural processes. Through a specialized magical circle, he could affect the external world in various ways. In the original story, Ajuka had demonstrated this ability by turning the water jets of Tsufaame's [Leviathan Tereaku] into mist and evaporating them, converting her aquatic beasts back into water, and even redirecting her own attacks against her...
It was an impressive magic, and for that reason he had assumed it would be much harder to learn. However, it only took one look at the magical circle for him to fully understand it—one of the benefits of his Mystic Eyes combined with his genius in magical matters.
Of course, he wasn't going to show the Satan that he could use that magic just by seeing it once… right?
Still, he could use that fact to his advantage and become his disciple. Perhaps that way he could secure some solid political protection.
But that was just a passing thought during that hour; he didn't want to interrupt the examination to bring it up. Ajuka himself seemed completely absorbed. His clear blue eyes shone with an almost childlike intensity, his mind clearly working at an absurd speed as he rearranged formulas in the air with small gestures of his hand.
Finally, all the magical circles vanished at the same time.
The Super Devil brought his hand to his chin.
"…Fascinating." The word came out in a low tone, yet laden with genuine scientific admiration.
Serafall, who had been sitting cross-legged in one of the armchairs since the examination began, immediately leaned forward.
"So, Ajuka-kun? He's fine, right? Right?"
Ajuka didn't answer immediately. He continued observing Alear for a few more seconds, as though staring at a rare natural phenomenon.
"To be honest… I was expecting to find some incomprehensible miracle because you managed to wake up and heal yourself from a practically incurable disease that no one had ever overcome before…" He finally said: "But the explanation I found is… surprisingly logical."
He crossed his arms.
"The reason you didn't die is most likely tied to the awakening of the unique ability of the Häagenti House."
The silence in the room deepened.
"More specifically…" Ajuka continued, "…it appears your body used that ability on a scale never before recorded."
His eyes gleamed faintly.
"The trait of your bloodline is the capacity to 'manipulate organic and inorganic matter through transmutation.' But in your case, there is evidence that your own organism instinctively used that power… to restructure itself."
Serafall blinked.
"…Huh?"
Ajuka calmly pointed at Alear.
"Your body essentially transmuted itself." He made a small gesture in the air, recreating a translucent three-dimensional model of Alear's bodily systems.
"During the years you were in a coma, your organism apparently entered an extreme state of conservation. And then… gradually… it used the Häagenti family trait to reconstruct the damaged tissues and restore the body to an ideal state." He paused: "In simple terms… your own body performed a process of biological alchemy and in that way was able to find a cure for the 'sleeping sickness.' That is fascinating…"
Silence.
Serafall remained frozen for two seconds. Then her eyes narrowed dangerously.
"…Ajuka-kun."
"Hm?"
"Could you not talk so casually about the fact that my fiancé almost died?"
Ajuka blinked.
"I didn't say he almost died. I said the mechanism that prevented it is fasc—"
"It's the same thing!" Serafall rose from the armchair with a small puff, crossing her arms tightly while puffing out her cheeks: "Muuuu! You can't just drop something like 'oh yes, he survived because of this' as if you're commenting on the weather!"
She immediately turned to Alear.
"Ale-chan! Did you hear that?! He basically said you could have died!"
Alear remained seated, his magenta-pink eyes slightly lowered. Inside his mind, however, thoughts were moving rapidly.
Häagenti trait…
He remembered the memories of his predecessor very well.
The devils of the Häagenti House possessed the ability to manipulate matter—both organic and inorganic—through transmutation. It was an extremely versatile ability, but it required conscious mastery and a large amount of [Demonic Power] to be used with precision, and it also had the limitation that it could not be used on oneself.
Before falling into the Sleeping Sickness…
He hadn't even awakened that power.
So why… had Ajuka claimed that his body had used that ability automatically?
Perhaps…
His eyes narrowed slightly. That explained why his body was in such excellent condition after so many years. It had nothing to do with a rebirth as he had thought; it was probably just as Ajuka said—the [Transmutation] was the reason he had managed to endure for several years without being in a hospital. That was good; it provided a logical explanation for his recovery, so he just needed to keep it that way… After a few seconds, he simply raised his gaze again. His expression returned to its usual aristocratic composure.
"Your Excellency. I sincerely thank you for the examination."
Ajuka raised an eyebrow, observing his face for a few seconds. Then his eyes narrowed slightly.
"…You don't seem particularly surprised."
Serafall also blinked.
"That's true!" She pointed at him: "Normally people panic when they find out they survived because something super weird happened inside their own body!"
Ajuka nodded faintly.
"Yes. Most people would react with shock… or at least curiosity." He tilted his head: "But you seem… to have already considered this possibility."
Silence.
Alear calmly rested his hands on the armrests.
"Because I did consider it."
Ajuka became completely still.
Serafall blinked twice.
"…Eh?"
Alear continued:
"When I woke up, I realized my body was in far better condition than would be expected after years of unconsciousness."
He raised one finger.
"I felt as though I had merely taken a good night's sleep."
Another finger.
"My muscles showed no critical atrophy."
One more.
"And I only felt hungry, and as soon as I ate, it felt as though everything was normal…"
Ajuka was now looking at him with growing interest.
"So I considered two hypotheses: either some extremely advanced external method had been used during my coma… or my own body had done it." He paused briefly: "Knowing the trait of the Häagenti House… the second hypothesis seemed plausible."
Ajuka remained silent for a full three seconds. Then a genuine smile—one of those rare ones that reached his eyes and weren't mere diplomatic courtesy—curved his lips.
"Impressive…" He said calmly: "It's not every day I meet someone capable of analyzing their own body with that level of logical precision right after waking from a seven-year coma. Your intellect is… remarkable, Mr. Häagenti. Truly remarkable…"
Serafall crossed her arms again, puffing out her cheeks.
"Hey! Ajuka-kun! You're praising my fiancé way too much, you know?" She pointed dramatically at Alear: "If you keep this up he's going to get way too full of himself!"
Ajuka merely cast a sidelong glance at her.
"I praise when something deserves praise."
The reaction was immediate.
"Muuuuu!" Serafall turned her face away with a small huff, but the corner of her mouth rose discreetly. Despite the complaint, she clearly looked pleased.
Ajuka then turned his attention back to Alear and spoke calmly: "There is one more thing I should mention. You know you are only partially a devil, correct?"
Serafall became strangely silent at that moment, and even her childish expression seemed to grow more serious… as she sat back down in the armchair…
Alear noticed the change in her but said nothing about it, simply answering Ajuka without hesitation.
"Yes, my mother was the daughter of a Devil and a Half-Devil, making her partially human. From what I heard from my father about her, her lineage was quite unusual…"
Ajuka nodded slowly. He crossed his arms again while organizing his thoughts and spoke: "If we analyze your bodily composition, lineage, and everything else, you are approximately ninety percent Devil and about ten percent human."
He raised one finger.
"That may seem insignificant at first glance."
Then he raised a second.
"But in the supernatural world… even small percentages can produce unexpected results… During the examination… I detected something. There is an unawakened Sacred Gear inside you…"
The silence that followed was absolute.
Then Serafall blinked once, twice…
"…Eh?"
"…Ajuka-kun."
"Yes."
"…Did you just say Sacred Gear?"
"Yes."
Serafall wore a serious expression as she stated:
"That shouldn't be possible, right? Since only humans can be born with Sacred Gears!?"
Ajuka didn't seem the least bit bothered by the reaction.
"There have been cases of hybrids between humans and other supernatural species who were born with a Sacred Gear. However, there has never been a recorded case of someone who was only ten percent human—like young Häagenti here—at least not that I've heard of. He is a unique case. It seems that even with that tiny percentage of human ancestry, he still met all the necessary conditions to be born with a Sacred Gear."
Serafall opened her mouth and closed it.
"…So…" She looked at Alear: "…Ale-chan has a Sacred Gear?"
Ajuka nodded.
"Yes." He paused before adding: "Although it is still completely dormant, and I'm not certain which one it is…"
Alear remained silent for a few seconds.
[Sacred Gears], also known as God's Artifacts, are mysterious instruments imbued with divine power, granted by the God of the Bible to humans and hybrids. It is said they were created with the purpose of giving strength, hope, and possibilities to humanity—allowing even ordinary mortals to interact with and, to some extent, equal existences far beyond themselves, whether supernatural beings, gods, or even buddhas.
From what he knew of the original story, the original God of the Bible conceived the Sacred Gears as part of His system to perform miracles in the human world. Individuals who awakened such artifacts became figures of great power and influence, and it is possible that many names enshrined in history were, in reality, bearers of these divine relics.
These manifestations range from common examples like [Twice Critical] to exceptional rarities like [Twilight Healing], with the legendary [Longinus] occupying a singular level due to their ability to threaten even deities. Although each Sacred Gear is unique, some types can appear in multiple individuals, such as [Blade Blacksmith].
Forcibly removing a Sacred Gear inevitably leads to the death of its bearer.
Only humans and hybrids can be born with such artifacts, and even after being reincarnated as devils or angels, the bearers continue to possess them. There is also the possibility that descendants of former humans may inherit the power.
The reason supernatural beings are not born with Sacred Gears remains a mystery. However, one hypothesis is that it relates to humanity's role as beings destined to cultivate and pursue their own desires—since it is an artifact that feeds on the bearer's desires to grow stronger…
Ajuka kept his gaze fixed on Alear for several seconds, analyzing every subtle change in his expression. Then he asked calmly:
"Do you know what a Sacred Gear is?"
Alear raised his magenta-pink eyes slightly to meet his.
"Yes." He answered without hesitation: "Before I fell into the coma, my father taught me practically everything I needed to know about the supernatural world. Among those things… were the Sacred Gears."
Ajuka nodded slowly.
"I see."
The Super Devil's eyes studied the young Häagenti for a few more moments, as though evaluating something. Then he spoke:
"If that is the case… there is something we could try."
Serafall immediately leaned forward.
"What?"
Ajuka did not take his eyes off Alear.
"You could attempt to awaken it."
Silence once again filled the room.
Serafall blinked.
"…Eh?" She looked back and forth between the two: "…Is that possible…?"
Ajuka answered with his usual calm.
"Not always." He brought his hand to his chin: "In most cases, Sacred Gears awaken under strong emotional or physical stimuli. Desire, desperation, fear, determination… intense emotions often serve as triggers. But there are also cases where the bearer manages to invoke it consciously."
His eyes narrowed slightly.
"Especially when they already know they possess one."
Alear remained silent for a few seconds. Then he asked calmly:
"…Does awakening it involve imagining the strongest thing I can think of? At least… that's what my father told me when I asked about it when I was younger."
Ajuka nodded.
"Your father explained it correctly." He crossed his arms: "Sacred Gears respond to the bearer's desire. Imagining something that represents absolute strength to you can serve as a catalyst for awakening. Of course… there is no guarantee it will work. But it is worth trying."
Both pairs of eyes were now completely focused on him. Ajuka watched with scientific interest. Serafall watched with almost childlike anticipation.
Alear noticed it immediately.
He then took a slow breath and closed his eyes for a moment. Inside his own mind… he organized his thoughts.
Imagining the strongest thing…
He was already quite familiar with this kind of concept.
Sacred Gears responded to desire.
Alear slowly closed his eyes.
"Imagining the strongest thing…"
He mentally repeated Ajuka's words. Sacred Gears responded to the bearer's desire. It wasn't simply thinking about "strength," but rather recalling something that, to him, represented absolute power—the Ea unleashed against Tiamat...
That moment had been the most terrifying thing he had ever witnessed in his entire life.
He imagined that scene.
In that very instant—
Something changed.
The air in the room grew heavy.
A distant rumble of thunder echoed.
Ajuka's brows furrowed slightly.
Serafall blinked in confusion.
Then the ceiling of the room began to darken. Clouds were born out of nowhere above them, slowly swirling as though the very weather was being summoned inside the mansion. Blue lightning tore through the interior of those clouds, and in the next second, drops of rain began to fall...
A gentle rain.
But completely impossible inside a closed hall!
Alear slowly opened his eyes.
The moment the first drop touched his face, two distinct sensations were born within his heart. It couldn't be... He had two Sacred Gears!? He turned his attention to the second sensation—the one manipulating the weather. He could feel it: the currents of air, the atmospheric pressure, the formation of clouds.
It was as though all those natural phenomena were simply extensions of his own will.
He raised his hand slightly. Instantly, the clouds above the room moved.
Serafall's eyes widened.
Ajuka remained completely still.
A small mass of cloud descended slowly until it floated at the height of Alear's hand, as though it were something solid.
Alear observed it with curiosity.
Then he gently squeezed his fingers.
The cloud changed.
The rain disappeared.
The small white mass began to cool… until it transformed into a tiny snow cloud releasing icy flakes onto his palm.
Inside his heart, Alear was genuinely surprised.
…Interesting.
Ajuka was the first to break the silence.
The Super Devil's eyes were shining like a child's in front of a new scientific toy.
"Without a doubt…" He spoke slowly: "…this is the Zenith Tempest! The Prison of Brilliant Heavenly Thunder, a high-tier Longinus!"
"A Longinus…" Serafall said slowly, an indescribable expression on her face.
Alear raised his gaze to him and nodded faintly: "It seems so…"
He closed his hand; the cloud vanished instantly, and the artificial sky inside the room dissipated as though it had never existed.
His Sacred Gear was not an ordinary one—as could be seen from the reactions of both Satans. It was a Longinus!
The Longinus, also called God-Destroying Tools, constitute a set of thirteen supreme original Sacred Gears, endowed with power sufficient to slay even deities. Revered and feared in equal measure, the Longinus are also described as Incarnations of Divine Destruction, Celestial Tools of Ruin, or simply Supreme Sacred Gears—titles that reflect the magnitude of their threat to the world.
This class of Sacred Gears received its name in honor of the [True Longinus], the first and most powerful among them. Unlike most other Sacred Gears, of which multiple copies of the same type can exist, the Longinus are completely unique—only one of each exists in the world.
Another striking characteristic of this class is that each Longinus is formed by the combination of extremely powerful abilities that, under normal circumstances, should not coexist within a single Sacred Gear. This fusion of capabilities creates abnormal and exceptionally potent effects, placing these weapons on a level far above ordinary Sacred Gears.
For this reason, all Longinus are considered the supreme Sacred Gears within their respective categories.
Furthermore, the Longinus possess an extremely high growth potential. When a user reaches the state known as [Balance Breaker], the power of the Sacred Gear increases dramatically, expanding both its scale of power and the variety of abilities it can manipulate. Over time, these Sacred Gears tend to increasingly reflect the bearer's capabilities, imagination, and combat style, functioning almost as a receptacle for the bearer's desires.
The [Zenith Tempest], also known as [Prison of Brilliant Heavenly Thunder], is classified as the second most powerful Longinus, surpassed only by the [True Longinus]. It is considered a top-tier Longinus, possessing power sufficient to destroy the world if it falls into the wrong hands.
It grants its user the ability to manipulate weather and the elemental attributes present in nature, allowing control over elements such as fire, wind, lightning, water, earth, and ice. In addition, this Sacred Gear can also trigger weather phenomena such as snowfall and alter atmospheric conditions in a location, even enabling the creation of artificial clouds in regions where they would not naturally exist.
Its weather control can reach an extremely wide scale—up to the level of an entire country. From what he felt, he was also capable of creating bubbles that could simply trap targets but could also manifest different special effects, just like Dulio in the original story...
Yes, originally this Longinus should not have belonged to him. In the original story he knew, it belonged to Dulio—the strongest exorcist of the Church, the "Trump Card" of the angelic faction.
If he had the Zenith Tempest… then Dulio did not exist in this universe. Or at least, not as its bearer.
An alternate universe—confirmed once again...
But setting that aside, when he concentrated on awakening his Longinus, he ended up awakening another Sacred Gear. And furthermore, he also manifested characteristics of three different demonic families…? One from the Häagenti family as expected, but two others from completely unexpected families…? Even he was surprised by that, but he did not let the surprise show on his face...
He then rose calmly from the armchair.
He turned to Ajuka and inclined his head slightly in a polite, noble gesture: "Your Excellency. I thank you for guiding me to awaken my Sacred Gear."
Ajuka merely shook his head faintly, as though it were of no importance.
"There is no need." He replied in his usual calm tone. "I was interested in seeing the result."
To him, it really did seem more like a fascinating experiment than a favor.
Still, Alear maintained his posture.
"Even so, I believe I should thank you." He said calmly: "If not for your suggestion, it would probably have taken me much longer to realize I possessed a Longinus. And that would mean wasting valuable time that could be spent learning to control it."
Serafall, who until that moment still seemed somewhat dazed by the revelation that her own fiancé had awakened a Longinus, puffed out her cheeks again: "Muuuu… Ajuka-kun should thank him too! Ale-chan just awakened a Longinus right in front of him! This is like a historic event!"
Ajuka completely ignored the provocation. His eyes were focused on Alear. Or, more precisely… on the [Demonic Power] that was slowly circulating around him.
It was at that moment that Alear raised his hand.
A small stream of water began to emerge from nowhere above his palm, formed purely from condensed [Demonic Power]. The water elongated and swirled; in the next instant, it took shape—a small serpentine water dragon appeared, sinuous and elegant, its translucent body reflecting the light of the hall as it slowly coiled around his arm like a living creature.
Serafall's eyes widened.
"…Eh?"
The aquatic dragon let out a small silent roar, made only by the movement of the water.
Serafall's eyes widened even further.
"Eeeeeh?!"
She practically jumped out of the armchair.
"Ale-chan! That's—" She pointed at the small water dragon as though she were seeing a ghost: "That's the trait of the Leviathan family?! Serpent of the End!?"
The hall fell silent once again.
Ajuka narrowed his eyes slightly.
The Super Devil said nothing immediately. His gaze analyzed every detail of the power manifestation before him.
Meanwhile, Alear simply turned his head toward Serafall; his expression remained calm, almost indifferent.
"This…" He said slowly: "…is exactly what I would like to understand."
He raised his hand a little higher; the small water dragon swirled around his fingers before coiling back around his wrist.
"When I was awakening my Longinus, I ended up feeling that I could use this kind of ability. The sensation is the same as when I use the Häagenti family trait. And your reaction just now confirmed my suspicions… If I truly possess this ability… then it can only mean that my maternal grandfather belonged to the Leviathan family. My mother must have been the daughter of a pure-blooded Leviathan and a half-breed from some other family…"
Serafall froze.
Ajuka said nothing.
But his gaze became even more attentive.
Alear continued, as though he were simply organizing his own thoughts out loud.
"My father mentioned a few things about the engagement when I was younger." He lowered his hand slightly. The small water dragon continued to circle slowly, like a living serpent made of liquid crystal: "According to him, the marriage was decided because of an ancient promise between two families: the Häagenti family… and the Leviathan family. But honestly… I always found that explanation a bit too simplistic. An ancient promise between families doesn't seem strong enough to convince the current Satan Leviathan to accept a political engagement so easily. Especially considering that my family is in decline…"
"At first, I thought the old politicians had simply pressured her into taking on that responsibility as Leviathan and marrying me to maintain her position as Satan. And in ninety percent of cases, that would probably still be true. But my mind could never explain the other ten percent… until now. My father probably used the argument that I am a descendant of the original Leviathan through my mother. And since you assumed the position of Satan Leviathan despite originally belonging to the Sitri Family, those who are obsessed with the idea that only a true Leviathan should hold that position—and who oppose you because of it—would become much quieter if you married a descendant of the Leviathan lineage. That was what made you accept…"
"The problem is that I am also a Häagenti who suffered from the 'sleeping sickness.' That meant you would be marrying someone destined to die. Which, in a way, would be perfect for you, right? You would silence your opponents and, at the same time, formally assume responsibility for the Leviathan lineage, proving your legitimacy for at least a few years—since that kind of old politician is never not annoying. Honestly, the situation was practically a gift from heaven for you… That's why I didn't wake up in a hospital. I know the Sitri family is famous for having the best hospitals and that, as Satan, it would have been enough to pull a few strings for me to be in the best room possible. Still, you didn't do that. And honestly… I don't blame you for it."
Serafall became completely still and silent...
Alear sighed and finished his explanation calmly.
"I also hold no resentment of any kind. After all, you were kind enough to send maids to take care of me and use resources to keep me alive, right? I even considered the possibility that you tried to convince the Sitri family to help me live a few more years, but couldn't—perhaps because, to them, it would have just been a waste of resources. So in the end, you used your own means to keep me alive until now… though these are just my assumptions. I hope you'll give me an explanation..."
Silence.
Ajuka's gaze slowly moved from Alear to Serafall. And then back to Alear.
The Super Devil's eyes were shining again.
But this time… it wasn't just curiosity. He seemed quite impressed with the deductions of the young man before him. Extremely intelligent, wasn't he? Making precise assumptions with so little information...
Serafall must be surprised too!
___________________
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