"Is that really okay, Lavinia-chan? You possess a God-Destroying Weapon and have talent as a magician. That's precisely why it's important to observe your surroundings more carefully and respond appropriately to each situation."
"Yes..."
"I understand your regret, anger, and guilt over the child you tried to protect ending up in danger. But using your magic to freeze everything around you—even in such a narrow alley, twice, and at a level that could have been handled with magic alone—isn't that a bit excessive?"
"You're right..."
Um, could you please stop? Lavinia is starting to cry and tremble. Watching her makes me feel guilty and heartbroken. But what you're saying is correct, and since you're the one lecturing her, I can only hang my head in defeat. I'm sorry, Lavinia, my benefactor. I can't seem to help you.
"Well, you seem to be fine now. Even though you were healed by magic, I think young people have incredible resilience."
"Ah, um, yes! Thank you so much for treating me and helping me!"
"Haha, no need to be so formal. Children should be full of energy. Besides, I'm the one who dragged you into this mess. I should be the one apologizing."
"No, it's not like that... I was the one who first approached Lavinia while she was working, and she tried her best to protect me. So I have no hard feelings toward her or the association. The real culprits are those stray wizards. I got what I deserved, so I'm not holding a grudge."
That's how I really feel. Of course, I can't say I don't wish they had handled those rogue mages better, but that was just an accident—bad luck, nothing more. Above all, in the end, heaven was on my side. Maybe my luck just ran out for a moment there.
Besides, even though I was caught up in that battle, I think it would have been dismissed as a common occurrence in the underworld. In other words, my own lack of foresight was also a contributing factor. I'm truly pathetic, with so many shortcomings. This incident made me realize that painfully.
More than that, if I condemn the association, Lavinia will be sad. She saved my life, and she's the cutest girl I know. At least, she definitely suits that dreamy smile she had when I first met her. I want to hold onto that pride as a man and not let it be clouded.
"Hmm, that's very kind of you, but I feel bad about that... Well then, I'll give you a pass to 'The Gray Magician.' If you ever need anything, feel free to come by. I'll do my best to help you within my capabilities."
"Wait, I can't accept something so grand! Besides, 'within your capabilities' means asking the association's chairman, which is far too much for me to request..."
"Hmm, I can see why Lavinia said you're a good kid. I don't like being asked to do things, but if it's something like sending a dragon after someone I don't like, I'll do it."
He laughs and casually says something terrifying. It's probably his way of joking, but knowing about his demonic followers, I can only manage a strained smile. The fact that he could actually do it if he wanted to is genuinely unsettling.
I never expected to meet a character from the original work in such a way. And to make it even more unexpected, my first encounter was with one of the oldest demons, the chairman of the "Gray Magician" association. He was sitting in a luxurious chair reserved for the chairman—a middle-aged man with a slightly intimidating face and an air of mystery. However, once he started talking, he was surprisingly lighthearted. His tone was very casual. There was only one person who could pull off such a gap.
And there he was—Mephisto Pheles himself, the demon with red and blue hair and odd-colored eyes. Honestly, how did someone like me, an ordinary person, end up knowing such an incredible being? I think I understand the circumstances, but my mind can't keep up. I've met someone I never thought I'd be able to meet so casually!
"Um, Shou-kun. I'm really sorry. If I had been more careful back then, this wouldn't have happened..."
"Um, Lavinia-san. I already told you, I'm not blaming you. You helped me, and I was really grateful. Besides, you're about the same age as me, so it's only natural to make mistakes. I'm fine now, so don't worry about it. You already apologized."
"But..."
"Lavinia-chan, if you worry too much, Shou-kun will be troubled too. Anyway, Lavinia-chan, you should first be careful about being called 'that' in your current situation."
"Ugh..."
The Indiscriminate Ice Princess is real? Also, I didn't expect the oldest demon to call me by my first name. Still, watching these two, they seem like a strict father and a troublesome daughter. The age difference must be well over ten thousand years.
Lavinia is the owner of one of the God-Slaying Weapons, and she's actually Mephisto Pheles's favorite disciple. Come to think of it, there was a mention in the original story that one of the God-Slaying Weapons was held by the Mages' Guild. She must be the one. And with how cute she is, it makes sense. I've only read up to volume 20, but she's probably one of the heroines who appears after volume 20, alongside the protagonist. I really want to be the first to take down that lecherous breast dragon emperor.
After she froze the stray mages with her God-Slaying Weapon, they were all captured. I lost consciousness from the tension, so I don't know the details. When I came to, I found myself on a luxurious sofa, and the first thing I saw was Mephisto Pheles lecturing Lavinia. I can roughly guess my current situation, but what an odd experience.
She probably tried to carry me to a safe place after I fainted. The safe place she chose just happened to be the principal's office. Lavinia... even so, letting an outsider like me into the top-tier room was probably a bad idea. The principal who gave permission was also questionable.
In the end, this trip has led me to meet the owner of a God-Destroying Weapon and the oldest demon. What a ridiculous trip this has become. My master probably never imagined that I would get caught up in a wizard's battle and end up being taken care of by the leader of the "Gray Wizards"...
Oh, I almost forgot about my master.
"It's okay. I heard about your master from this child. I've explained everything to him and told him that we'll send you back to Japan later."
"Oh, thank you. By the way, my master..."
"I haven't told him much. I only told him that I took you in because you got caught up in this incident. I didn't tell him that you defeated one of the stray magicians or that you have a sacred artifact. But he was very worried about you. He's a good master. Take good care of him."
"Ugh... Yes. Thank you very much."
I could only bow my head. His smiling words reassured me, but at the same time, I felt overwhelmed with guilt. They had taken care of everything for me. To be honest, they knew about the sacred treasure, but I felt secure knowing that they would be fine. Lavinia is admired for her character, and Mephisto for his knowledge from the original story. He is one of the few demons who doesn't place much value on his pieces. He has no interest in rating games and rarely involves himself in underworld politics.
I think his piece was Tannin, the "Queen." He was once a Dragon King, and his strength is recognized even in the original work. He was a serious, responsible, and capable dragon. And he was one of the unfortunate dragons affected by the protagonist's "milk power," making him the third of the "pitiful dragons." I remember that unnecessary incident well. I don't know any other council members' familiars, but in his case, it wouldn't be surprising if the Queen were his only familiar. I'm curious, but it's not the kind of thing I can just ask.
"Speaking of which, Lavinia-chan. Could you check the condition of the magic array we're using to send Shou-kun back to Japan? It's been a while since we've used teleportation magic to Japan."
"Understood. I'll take care of it. Shou-kun, please wait here."
"Alright, thank you. But there's no need to rush."
Perhaps because she had just been scolded, she straightened her back and left the council chairman's office. I wonder if she'll be okay. I hope she doesn't trip or something. I felt a little anxious, but she's a skilled magician and the bearer of a divine weapon. I'm sure she'll be fine, but why do I feel so uneasy? Maybe it's because of her natural innocence.
"She's a good girl, isn't she, Lavinia-chan?"
"Eh, yes. I think so too. She helped me, and she's cute, but she's a little clumsy."
"Yeah, that's right. You really see her for who she is."
"Huh?"
At the chairman's words, I shifted my gaze from the door she had left through to him. Leaning on his elbow at his desk, Mephisto was smiling ambiguously.
"Lavinia is the owner of a God-Slaying Weapon. Despite her young age, she possesses the power to kill even gods. At her age in this organization, it's hard to make friends. Plus, there are only eccentric people in this association, so her conversations naturally revolve around magic. Until she reached that age, I couldn't let her do anything childlike."
"Mephisto Pheles..."
"You're the only child who wasn't afraid of Lavinia even after seeing her God-Destroying Weapon with your own eyes. Maybe it's because you were also a divine weapon owner, but you always treated her normally, as if it were natural. Until you woke up, she looked lonely, as if she was afraid you would reject her."
"..."
Despite his light tone, it was clear that Mephisto truly cared about Lavinia. He sees her as a person, not just as a tool. That's why she didn't succumb to power like the other God-Destroying Tool wielders who joined terrorist organizations. She didn't become a tool like Valerie, the half-vampire who possessed the God-Destroying Tool. The fact that she was able to live here honestly until the original story is undoubtedly thanks to this person as well.
I don't think she's scary. The power of the God-Destroying Tool was both beautiful and terrifying. Still, Lavinia is Lavinia. Thanks to my knowledge of the original story, I have a better understanding of the divine weapons than others. I can see this world objectively from a third-person perspective.
"I'm sorry for bringing my personal matters into this. Once again, I apologize for involving you in our affairs. Please accept this apology on behalf of our organization."
"...Eh, yes. Yes, I accept it. I'm sorry for all the trouble."
I don't know how to respond in situations like this. I thought I was going to die after getting involved, but my anger has subsided. For now, they showed me sincerity even though I'm just a kid, so I think it's fine. I know my indifference is questionable, but that's how I honestly feel.
"Right, and about your divine weapon—it seems to have some interesting effects. So, if you're interested, would you like to get involved with us?"
"Involved?"
"Yes, you want to be an information broker, right? If so, why don't you become our exclusive agent? Being freelance isn't bad, but we can provide you with various kinds of support."
"Is that because my sacred treasure is dangerous if left unattended?"
He asked with a smile, his tone as light as before. It felt like he didn't care either way if I accepted or declined. Still, I couldn't help but unconsciously ponder the true intent behind his words. Why was I, who wasn't a magician, being invited to join an organization—not as a servant of the devil, but as a member?
I vaguely understood that he was a demon who supported Sirzechs and helped the protagonists, but I still didn't know anything about him personally. I don't know if he's really as lighthearted as he seems, or if he's calculating gains and losses in his head.
I know I shouldn't let my knowledge of the original work sway me. So, I decided to prioritize myself and talk to him honestly. To be frank, I'm not strong, and unfortunately, I don't think I have any outstanding abilities. Even if this was an apology, there's no need for the organization to go out of their way to take care of me. The result of that thought was the danger of my sacred treasure.
My divine weapon's attack power is probably on par with an average divine weapon. Its power to annihilate is incredible, but it also has numerous cheat-level abilities. However, the power of this spear cannot be measured by strength alone. The battle with that stray mage was proof of that. Normally, there's no way I could have defeated that mage, even if I stood on my head. That's how great the difference in power was.
But I managed to win by sheer luck. The enemy was also extremely careless, but even so, depending on how you think about it, there's a possibility of defeating a superior opponent. Above all, the "Magic Power Annihilation" I used this time—if I had taken the time to stab him with the spear, I might have truly annihilated the magic power he possessed. I have the power to erase a mage's entire life. From the perspective of the Mage's Guild, it's extremely dangerous, and it's only natural to want to keep such a power under control rather than release it into the wild.
"Shou-kun, you're perceptive. Yeah, your thinking isn't wrong. Depending on how it's used, that sacred artifact could be quite frightening if it falls into the hands of another faction."
"What, that bad?"
"The fact that you're not aware of it is what scares me the most. Sure, with your current power, there's only so much you can do. But the future is uncertain. Someone might discover terrifying applications that you never even imagined for your sacred artifact. And it's a troublesome thing that you wouldn't be able to deny."
His mysterious red and blue eyes were fixed on me. He wasn't threatening me; he was just stating the facts. I'm always amazed by the versatility of sacred artifacts, and I do think there are many elements that could be misused. But I think Mephisto is telling me that my sense of crisis isn't enough.
"Yeah, well, let's say, for example. If your sacred treasure can erase the concept of magical power, then maybe it can erase emotions too, right?"
"...I think so."
"Yeah, yeah, so let's say there's someone who wants Lavinia's power. But she's not the kind of person who would misuse the power of a divine weapon. So, the person would think, 'Let's erase any sense of good and evil from her mind.'"
"Eh...?"
"And then, she would lose her emotions and her heart, and transform from a beautiful girl into a deadly killing machine. ...Do you feel a sense of crisis now?"
...Ah, this person is a devil at heart. He's a good person, but he's still devilish. It's incredibly effective, damn it. So, if I wanted to, I could do something like that too. I never even considered it before. No, I've erased someone's memories before. I might even be able to brainwash someone. I realized that his analogy was not just a fairy tale.
"Are you sure you want me to tell you about such cases? You could misuse that knowledge."
"The reason I interact with humans at the Magic Association is because I'm endlessly fascinated by their potential. Humans have unique ideas and a strong determination born from their short lives. If you're serious about it, you'll figure it out on your own eventually, even without hearing such examples."
"…Mephisto Pheles, you like humans, don't you?"
"Hmm, maybe. But it's not just humans. I believe every species has its own potential. Living a long life, one can't help but be drawn to the power of youth."
Sitting elegantly in his chair, he squinted his eyes as if dazzled by light. I listened to Mephisto's words and slowly sorted them out in my mind. I think he was probably saying that with me in mind. He probably has his own thoughts as the leader of the organization, but I think that's the root of it.
He could have drawn me in more skillfully. He could have charmed me into compliance without leaving me so confused. I don't want to misuse the power of this sacred artifact, nor do I want anyone else to. And I'm sure he wouldn't bind me here against my will. He truly intends to be my protector. With the oldest demon as my backer, no one would dare lay a finger on me.
I'm sure Lavinia has been protected from other organizations in the same way.
To be honest, I can't accept being treated the same as her, a god-slayer, but is that okay with him? With my limited understanding, I can't see the big picture. ...Then I'll stop overthinking it. It's my life. What's important is whether I can do what I want to do.
"Mephisto Pheles, if I become involved with this place, what restrictions will be placed on my actions?"
"Basically, you can do whatever you want. As long as you don't oppose other factions, I don't care. Tannin-kun—oh, he's one of my dragon familiars. He's dedicated to protecting dragons in the underworld. You should prioritize doing what you want to do, just like him."
"Does that benefit you, Mephisto Pheles-sama? Demons are supposed to operate on a quid pro quo basis, right?"
"Well, you could help me with my work occasionally, like Lavinia does. As I mentioned earlier, your abilities seem versatile. Also, I'd like priority access to information about rogue mages. Oh, and please avoid handling any information that could be detrimental to us. How does that sound?"
I pondered his conditions repeatedly. To be honest, it was a golden opportunity. It's so good that I want to ask if there's really such a thing. There are dangers in belonging to an organization, but the same is true for going solo. If you make allies, you also make enemies.
He didn't mention much about the three major powers, so I guess he's leaving that up to me. Demons value contracts, so I don't think what he told me is a lie. I've always been worried about my family's safety, but I think he can take care of that with ease.
Joining the mage side is completely new information for me, so my previous knowledge won't be of much use. In other words, I'll have to build everything from scratch. But then again, isn't that just part of life?
"Is there anything else you'd like to ask me?"
"What is it?"
"Well, regardless of whether I join or not, would it be okay for me to become friends with Lavinia? I don't think I can talk about magic, which she seems to like. But I'd like to talk about anime, games, go out and play, or just relax at home and chat about nothing in particular. I'd also like to learn about the magic she likes and talk more about sacred artifacts. It might be weird, but... would it be okay for us to be friends?"
Maybe I should ask her guardian first. But Mephisto-sama showed an expression other than a smile for the first time in response to my question. He blinked in surprise, then burst into laughter. It wasn't the calm, gentle smile he had been wearing earlier, but a warm smile that seemed to convey genuine kindness.
Ah, maybe. The main reason he wanted to protect me was...
"Hahaha, that depends on your efforts, Shou-kun. I'll support you in that regard. By the way, that girl has a few quirks, so be careful. And if you ever try to do anything inappropriate with Lavinia-chan, then—"
"Don't worry. What I want to build is a fun and pure friendship! Long live friendship!"
No way, I swear the last expression from Lord Mephisto wasn't a smile.
"I'm ready! The teleportation array to Japan should be operational without any issues."
"Perfect timing. Shou-kun, you should head back to Japan for now. You're probably still tired, and it's better to be in a familiar place. Plus, it might get too late if you stay out too long."
"Um, yes. Thank you for your concern. You've done so much for me..."
"It's fine. Also, if you show this to them, I'll make sure they let you through. ...Well then, I'll be waiting for your reply."
What he handed me was a card-like object with a mysterious magic array drawn on it, with a gradient of red and blue mixed with purple. He told me that it was the symbol of Mephisto Pheles. Huh, so that's what it is. I wonder if I've just been given something incredibly powerful without even realizing it.
And so, my extraordinary experience in the hidden world began. I learned the terrifying nature of stray devils, met a magical girl with blonde hair, blue eyes, and a god-slaying weapon, got caught up in an incident and fought for my life, and formed a connection with the oldest demon. When I list it all out, it really is unbelievable. I'll think about whether to join the "Gray Magicians" after I go home and sleep on it. I also want to go over the details with my master and use his wisdom.
As I got up from the sofa to move, I started thinking. I'm still considering whether to join this group, but my answer to one question is immediate. I should tell her properly. I want to be friends with her. I want to talk to her again. So, I decided to tell her. This is the only thing I can give her right now.
"Hey, Lavinia. As I mentioned earlier, Shou is my pseudonym."
"Yes, I understand."
"My real name is Kuramoto Sota."
"…Kura, Kana?"
"That's a pretty cool name."
Lavinia blinked in surprise, and I couldn't help but laugh. She then asked if she had pronounced it wrong. Still, before we knew it, we were both giggling.
"Well, let me introduce myself again. I'm Sota Kuramoto. Um, Lavinia, if you don't mind, would you be my friend?"
"…Sure, Sota-kun. You can call me Lavinia. Next time you come to this country, I'll show you all the best spots here, just like I promised."
"Alright, as I mentioned earlier, I'll bring you lots of Japanese food and cultural items as souvenirs. By the way, have you ever played any games?"
"Games? I've never played any."
"Alright, then I'll bring some easy puzzle games next time. Let's play together!"
"I'll be looking forward to it!"
We walked along the path to the magic circle leading to Japan, chatting about nothing in particular. We parted ways with Lord Mephisto in the principal's office. He was a lighthearted yet elusive individual until the very end. I had a vague sense of what was going on with Lavinia.
I glanced at the girl beside me, who was wrapped in a dreamy aura and smiling happily. Even in such a small body, she possesses the power to kill even a god. I believe she can live her life straight through to the original story even without me.
But since we've become friends, I want her to smile more. If she ever gets hurt, I might be able to be there for her and support her. After all, the fate awaiting her is probably harsher than mine.
With a puzzled expression on her face, Lavinia looked at me, and with a small smile, I set off on my journey back to Japan.
***
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