As Rias and I chased after Eugrit, we advanced for a while until the bastard was waiting for us up ahead.
Eugrit, still cradling Rossweisse-san in his arms, pointed downward with his finger.
...So, he wants us to descend.
Rias and I complied, descending alongside him.
The place we landed was a barren, cracked expanse of earth far from town. There was nothing around—no buildings, no signs of people.
This was the perfect spot for a no-holds-barred brawl.
Facing off against Eugrit, I demanded answers.
"Eugrit, what the hell are you thinking? You vanished without a trace, and now you show up like this? As a terrorist, no less."
No way he cut contact from the start just to rebel against the demon government... right? That'd take way too long, even for him.
Eugrit began to speak.
"There are many reasons, Hyoudou Issei. Dissatisfaction with the current regime, questions for my sister—I've spent an immense amount of time soul-searching. Tell me, Hyoudou Issei: What is a demon?"
"...Isn't it just one of the races that exists in this world?"
"I see... So that's how you view it."
"...? What else is there?"
When I pressed him, Eugrit raised his index finger and answered.
"Lord Rizevim told me this: Demons should be evil—fiends, beasts, steeped in wickedness, heresy, depravity, sorcery, brutality, and malice. We demons must embody 'evil' and 'demons'."
Embodying 'evil' and 'demons,' huh.
In biblical texts, demons are portrayed as villains—purely malevolent beings.
As a kid, I got that image from manga and games too: demons as the bad guys. Probably most people in the world think the same.
"I can't agree with that ideology. I've seen the Underworld with my own eyes. It might just be a small part, but to me, demons aren't 'evil' or 'demonic' beings. If they were, I never would've joined Rias's peerage."
It was because of Rias that I was okay with reincarnating as a demon. Because of seniors like Akeno, Kiba, and Koneko, I could shed my old preconceptions about what demons were.
And that's not all. I met pure-blood upper-class demons like Sona and Sairaorg—people with unyielding conviction.
I encountered kind Maou like Sirzechs who genuinely care about the Underworld's future.
Even Riser changed. And Ravel promised to support someone like me.
What I've seen is just a fraction of the Underworld—of demons.
But it's an undeniable truth.
I turned the question back on Eugrit.
"So, you agree with Rizevim's ideology and follow him?"
"Ideologies vary from person to person. There's yours, and there's Lord Rizevim's. But I judged his ideas essential to answering my own questions."
Eugrit took a deep breath.
"I believe the most important thing for demons is to be 'demons' to humans and the other factions. That means being more wicked than any other creature or existence. Up to that point, Lord Rizevim and I agree. But from here, this is my answer alone."
He spread his arms wide.
"Through the man called Rizevim, I will show all factions what 'demons' truly are. I'll make them understand—how vicious, how dangerous we are. I want the very species of 'demons' to be recognized as evil by every faction. Domination or politics don't matter. In the end, I'd even like to show 'demons' to the human world."
Rias's face twisted at Eugrit's words.
"You intend to isolate demons from all factions... and even from the human world...!"
Eugrit gazed into the distance, hand over his heart as he continued.
"My sister... she was my idol. A woman stronger and braver than anyone. She was my pride, my aspiration. I believed supporting her was my reason for living. But she defied the Lucifuge destiny to serve 'Lucifer.' And she gave her heart to a monstrosity that isn't even a demon. Can you imagine the shock, the collapse of my entire worldview, Rias Gremory?"
Eugrit pointed at me as he turned to Rias.
"I lost my emotional balance for a long time—mentally and physically, I was no better than a corpse. But then, Hyoudou Issei... I learned of you and came to a realization."
"Me?"
"Yes. You, who act freely and blow fresh winds through the Underworld. I learned from you."
Eugrit looked up at the sky, his expression almost serene.
"'Ah, I see. I can just live as I please.'"
...Huh?
He looked at me, learned about me, and decided he could live freely?
What kind of bullshit is this guy spouting?
Rias's voice seethed with anger.
"And this is the result!?"
"It was a simple thought. Demons have a hero. Children see that demon and are influenced. But that's not demonic. So, I'll show the children what 'demons' really are."
"That's twisted! The species' very survival is at stake, and instead of peace, you bring chaos! You know the Underworld's situation!"
Rias's shouts echoed, but Eugrit just tilted his head.
"Twisted? Rias Gremory, what exactly do you mean by 'twisted'? My actions? The Maou's demise? We're 'extras'—deviations from the original Bible and its texts. Because mythology crumbled, irregularities like your brother Sirzechs Lucifer or Ajuka Beelzebub were born. ...No, with mythology in ruins, we might not even be 'biblical demons' anymore."
Eugrit rambled on at length.
This guy...
I shifted my gaze to Rossweisse-san and asked,
"Why target Rossweisse-san? Because she was close to touching Trihexa? Even so, showing up in Tokyo was way too bold."
I couldn't hide my shock back then. It was reckless beyond belief.
One slip-up, and capture was certain—the difficulty of infiltrating again would skyrocket.
No sane person would do that without a damn good reason.
Eugrit glanced at Rossweisse-san as he replied,
"She's wise. Talented. If she joined us, that talent could be fully utilized. After all, what she was trying to derive wasn't a way to unseal Trihexa—it was a method to seal it."
—!
So Rossweisse-san's paper was about sealing Trihexa!
...Azazel-sensei must be floored reading it.
If Trihexa revives, Rossweisse-san could be the trump card.
As Rias and I reeled, Eugrit stroked Rossweisse-san's silver hair and continued,
"And she... Rossweisse resembles someone. So much."
Rias frowned suspiciously.
"...Resembles who?"
"My sister, Grayfia. ...This woman could become my sister. That's incredibly important."
A faint smile crept across Eugrit's face.
...Rossweisse-san resembling Grayfia-san.
Well, the silver hair and aura do feel vaguely similar...
The first time we met, he said "tell my sister."
Even in Tokyo, his gaze toward Rossweisse-san felt less about her abilities and more... something else.
...I had a hunch, but to actually go there...
I let out a deep sigh, then snorted.
"Hah... You've been spouting grand nonsense about showing 'demons' to all factions, about being properly 'demonic.' But in the end, that's all it is, right?"
I said it with exasperation.
Eugrit looked puzzled.
"...? What are you trying to say, Hyoudou Issei?"
"Your words are hollow. Tell me—what do you plan to do after showing 'demons' to all factions? To the kids? Even if you isolate demons, what's the point? Answer me."
"To make all factions understand how evil demons should be, so we can reclaim our true form."
"And then? What happens after you reclaim it? Any benefit for demons? Probably not. You're just parroting Rizevim's ideology—it's not even yours."
"..."
Eugrit fell silent, lips sealed.
I jabbed a finger at him.
"You did all this stupid shit because you want your sister Grayfia-san to notice you. Admit it. You dressed it up with fancy ideology, but your head's empty. You're just a siscon. And kidnapping Rossweisse-san because she 'resembles' her? You're a creepy, perverted siscon. I'm dumbfounded."
No matter how much they look alike, Grayfia-san is Grayfia-san, and Rossweisse-san is Rossweisse-san.
Nothing more, nothing less.
Seeking a replacement is pointless.
Eugrit doesn't get that simple truth.
I pressed on.
"I get called a siscon too. I'd be jealous and crushed if someone took my beloved sister or little sister. But if you truly care, wish for their happiness."
"...It's not that simple. My sister has the Lucifuge duty..."
"Spare me the excuses. You're just throwing around 'Lucifuge duty' because you're shocked Sirzechs-san 'took' Grayfia-san from you, you siscon."
"...!"
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