Azazel. The current Governor-General of the Fallen Angel organization, Grigori—"The Watchers of the Children of God." In the original story, this was the man who served as the protagonists' teacher, a central figure with a pivotal role. He was a passionate Sacred Gear researcher, possessing such a wealth of knowledge that I doubt anyone knew more on the subject than him. He was on a level where he could artificially create and functionalize his own Sacred Gears. He also had a flair for the dramatic so ingrained that he wouldn't be discouraged even when Lord Michael teased him about his cringey past. He was the very model of an adult you couldn't quite tell if you should admire or not.
But his presence was immense. In a way different from the protagonist, Issei Hyoudou, he was a cornerstone of the story that couldn't be removed. In the original work, there was a scene where the God of Destruction, Shiva, warned him that he had an aura of death about him, and Azazel himself acknowledged it. It was a nasty bit of foreshadowing. As a reader, I loved Professor Azazel; he was a fun, compassionate, and memorable character who I even saw as an incarnation of gags and trouble. Just shatter a stupid flag like that! I had felt from my reader's perspective.
So naturally, a part of me had wanted to meet him. I did. But if possible, I wanted to do it from a safe distance, as a third-party observer. The last thing I ever wanted was this—to be face-to-face with him, the subject of his blazing, undivided interest. Because this man is a massive troublemaker with a mad scientist's mind! If you were ranking characters you couldn't predict, he'd be right near the top!
"Heeey, I might be a fallen angel, but I'm not gonna do anything scary, I swear! I'm friends with Mephisto, so you can drop the guard. Now hurry up and show me the power of that Sacred Gear. C'mon, c'mon, c'mon!"
"Being a fallen angel has nothing to do with it! You're the one who's terrifying!"
He was inching toward me, wiggling his fingers! An adult creeping closer with a huge, gleeful grin on his face. This was genuine trauma material. Partner, please. Erase this trauma for me! Huh? You can't for 'some reason'? What do you mean, 'some reason'?!
Just as Azazel was closing in on me while I scrambled backward in confusion, Lavinia spread her arms and stepped between us, halting the production of my new traumatic memory. Thank you, magical girl, you're a true ally of justice. I did feel a pang of shame for hiding behind a girl younger than me, but I was seriously terrified.
"Azazel, could you please stop bullying my ward? Honestly, showing up the very next day after I call you… Your obsession with Sacred Gears is as strong as ever."
"Mephisto. I've gotta say, I'm a little jealous. Why do all the Longinus and other fascinating Sacred Gears gather around you instead of me, the one who's actually collecting them?"
"In my case, I can only call it a coincidence. Besides, I hear you've been gathering Sacred Gear users yourself, Azazel. And it's making people nervous. They're wondering if you're amassing power to start another war."
"Hah! Same old story. I'm not trusted by anyone. I keep telling them I have no intention of starting a war, you know."
A magic circle had suddenly appeared in the training room, and from it emerged Lord Mephisto himself. Lavinia and I both let out a sigh of relief. Your presence is incredibly reassuring, Lord Mephisto. Even if you're the one who contacted this guy in the first place. Azazel, for his part, looked chagrined and scratched his head at Mephisto's arrival. At least now we could probably have a civilized conversation.
"My apologies for the surprise, Kanata," Mephisto said. "I contacted an acquaintance of mine who is an expert on Sacred Gears. I figured if we want to improve your abilities, it's best to ask a specialist. He may be a fallen angel, but he would never harm one of my own. I trust him on that. I can personally guarantee that he is not the kind of man who would go spreading rumors about your Sacred Gear's abilities or misuse them."
"Oh, right. If you say so, Lord Mephisto, then I'm okay with it. You went out of your way to contact him for my sake, didn't you? Thank you so much."
It was a shock, yes, but Lord Mephisto's reasoning was sound. Even I knew that you couldn't find a better teacher for Sacred Gears than this man. What's more, his kindness and mentorship were top-class in the original story, and he was widely respected. As I bowed my head, Lord Mephisto gave a slightly troubled smile, while Azazel stared at me as if I were some strange creature. Um, did I do something wrong?
"See? Isn't he a good kid?"
"A good kid, or maybe… I don't know. Isn't he a little too trusting?"
"He's actually quite wary. This is likely a measure of his trust in me, hahaha."
What did that mean? As I puzzled over their exchange, Azazel took a few steps closer. Then, with a sudden fwoosh, twelve jet-black wings unfurled from his back. I could only stand there, stunned, staring at the dark plumage.
I'd had the chance to see and even touch a demon's wings, thanks to the milky-white demon who had brought me here. But this was my first time seeing a fallen angel with my own eyes. As he spread his wings, several black feathers drifted down around us.
So this was a fallen angel. A winged being from the scriptures. I recalled what Vali had said in the original story when he first appeared: "Azazel's wings were darker, like the eternal night." I understood now what he meant. The black was so pure it felt like it could pull you in.
"From the look on your face, I take it this is your first time seeing a fallen angel," he said.
"Uh, y-yes. It's my first time. They're… incredible."
Honestly, that was all I could say. I had been moved when I touched a demon's wings, but seeing a fallen angel's wings was just as moving. Demon wings were bat-like, with a core that felt smooth yet had a flexible softness. When I touched them, I felt a warm pulse, like that of a living creature. I wondered what a fallen angel's wings felt like. Were they as soft as the fluffy blanket in my room? Or were they hard?
"Hoh, incredible, huh? So, what's your impression of seeing a fallen angel for the first time?"
"I was wondering if they'd be fluffy or hard to the touch."
…
"…Huh?"
Azazel, who had been posing majestically with his wings spread wide, froze mid-action. Behind him, I could see Lord Mephisto's shoulders shaking faintly. Lavinia chimed in, "Ah, I must admit I am also curious." See? It's a valid question. I was hoping for fluffy, but Lavinia apparently wanted them to be cool and smooth. Perhaps her Sacred Gear gave her a preference for things that were cold and sleek.
Watching me and Lavinia chat so pleasantly, the Governor-General of the Fallen Angels let out a weary sigh and pressed a hand to his head as if nursing a headache. A moment later, his expression cleared, and he flashed us a grin just as gleeful as the one he'd had when we first met.
"Alright, listen up, brats! As a special treat today, I shall grant you the right to touch these magnificent wings of the Governor-General of the Fallen Angels himself!"
"What?!"
"Oh my, what a special service," Mephisto chuckled. "Kanata, Lavinia, it would be rude to refuse such a kind offer. You should take him up on it. An opportunity like this is rare, you know."
I understood that, but was it really okay to touch a fallen angel's wings? Especially the wings of their highest leader? This was a major figure from the Bible! As we hesitated, the two adults laughed and urged us forward. Lavinia and I exchanged glances, then timidly approached Azazel.
"Um… Lord Azazel. Are you sure about this?"
"Don't be shy, kid. And stop with the 'Lord,' it's embarrassing. Why not just call me Azazel?"
"I don't think I could do that… Well, since you'll be teaching me about my Sacred Gear, would Professor Azazel be okay?"
"...'Professor,' huh? Feels a little weird. But hey, if that's what you want to call me, I don't mind."
In my mind, his impression was overwhelmingly that of a "teacher." Plus, it was true that Lord Mephisto had asked him to help with my Sacred Gear, so in a way, I was becoming his student. I felt a mix of excitement and anxiety. If only I could be sure he wouldn't start throwing iron balls at me, performing remodelling surgery on me, or making me play tag with a dragon. …Now that I think about it, I'm getting very nervous.
After that, Lavinia and I were treated to a "fluffy time" with the jet-black wings. It was incredibly moving.
***
"Alright, let's get down to business," Professor Azazel said once we were done. "I saw the power you used earlier to annihilate 'matter.' Now, show me the other power Mephisto told me about."
"Um, okay. But what would be the easiest thing to demonstrate its effects on?"
Having had our fill of fluffing the supreme fallen angel's wings, we returned to our original purpose. With the Sacred Gear expert here, it was now just the two of us. Lavinia had looked like she wanted to stay, but I didn't want to keep her from her duties any longer. I gave her a wave to assure her I'd be fine, and she headed off. If I was going to erase a 'concept,' the effect would be clearest if it was on myself. Affecting others would require me to stab them with the spear.
"Ah, good point. In that case… I just happen to have this 'Gender-Swap Gun (Prototype)' in my pocket. I'll shoot you with it, and you try to erase the effect."
"Why are you casually pulling out something so horrifying?! Stop that, don't you dare point it at me! I'll tell Lord Mephisto you're bullying me!"
"Aww."
Don't give me that "Aww"! I'm pretty sure I saw a completed version of that thing in the original story! And didn't it spread chaos and mayhem throughout the neighborhood?! What are you doing making a prototype of it this early on!
Since I was under Lord Mephisto's care, we agreed to skip the fallen-angel-style Sacred Gear training methods, for now. That "for now" was the scariest part. I truly had no idea what he'd do if I let my guard down.
"…Out of curiosity, why did you make it?"
"Well, you see, in my organization, all the top brass are men, except for Bennemene. There aren't enough 'flowers' in the garden, you know? So, I figured it'd be fine if I turned one or two of them into girls."
"How did you possibly arrive at the conclusion that it would be 'fine'?"
This is bad. The Governor-General of the Fallen Angels has lost his mind. Kokabiel seemed like a warmonger, but he must have had the patience of a saint to stick with this group until the events of the original story. Even Raynare, who tried so hard to win his favor… she was probably better off getting taken out before she learned what he was really like. If she knew and still tried to curry his favor, well, her methods were wrong, but I'd have to respect her guts. I certainly don't have the confidence to work as this man's colleague.
"Tch, fine, I get it. I'll just put it in the corner where it won't get broken," he grumbled. "...Come to think of it, I never got your name. What's your name, and the name of your Sacred Gear?"
"Uh, it's Kanata Kuramoto. When I use a pseudonym, I go by 'Sho.' My Sacred Gear is called 'Ruin-Lonskarllet, the Crimson Spear of Annihilation.'"
"...So it really is that name."
"Huh?"
"Never mind. Anyway, list off the things you've erased so far. I'll pick one from there."
For a moment, upon hearing my Sacred Gear's name, Professor Azazel had a thoughtful expression. But he quickly brushed it aside and pointed at my spear, asking about its past uses. Maybe he was just curious because its name was similar to the Sis-con Demon Lord's ability.
I tried to recall everything I had erased. First, there were the stealth-type effects, like 'Sacred Gear aura' and 'presence.' For physical effects, I'd erased 'gravity' and 'impact.' For status effects, it was things like 'pseudo-recovery arts' and 'erasing spells cast on me.' As for offensive uses, I'd used 'magical power annihilation' and 'stamina annihilation.' I've erased quite a lot of things, haven't I?
"Alright, try erasing your Sacred Gear's aura. I've seen all sorts of Sacred Gears, so it'll be easy for me to judge."
"But my Sacred Gear's effectiveness depends on my own power level. I'm not sure if I can completely fool a final-boss-class opponent like you, Professor."
"You're another one who casually throws around terms like 'final boss.' I'm not looking for perfection. We're going to try a lot of things. Just get to it."
"Understood. Partner."
As I called out, my partner responded as usual, activating the effect. I felt something inside me just… vanish. The crimson spear in my hand glowed faintly. I cautiously lifted my head and waited for his reaction. Professor Azazel had a serious look on his face, his hand on his chin. S-so, how was it?
"A high-class being might notice if they got close enough. For a mid-class one, they'd have to be paying close attention. From my perspective, it seems to be erased well, but there's a faint sense of unnaturalness, a feeling of something being out of place…"
"Is that good?"
"Of course it's good, you idiot. If you combine that with erasing your presence and appearance, you could slip past most standard detection methods. You're using a derivative of your ability to replicate the effect of a presence-erasing Sacred Gear. On its own, that's an incredibly useful power."
So there are Sacred Gears that just erase one's presence. It seems that users with those kinds of status-altering Sacred Gears often end up in darker professions, like assassination. This ability does feel very assassin-like. Still, to think that's the level my power is at. It's still a bit worrying for going on adventures.
Next, Professor Azazel took a small sphere from his pocket and threw it onto the floor. I blinked, and before my eyes, the sphere began to morph, rising into a humanoid shape. I instinctively took a step back, but a few seconds later, it had settled into the form of a doll made of a rubbery-looking material.
"What's this?"
"A training dummy. Even if it breaks, it'll stick back together and reform itself. Though it does have its limits, of course. Now, I'm going to pour my light-based power into this dummy, right up to its durability limit. I want you to use that spear to erase the power I've imbued it with. …And I want you to use your full strength."
"My full strength?"
"Yeah. It's fine if you collapse afterward. For today, I just need to get a rough idea of the scope and limits of your ability. Next time we train, I'll bring some support tools and a custom-made regimen for you."
As he spoke, he placed his hand on the dummy and began pouring his light-based power into it. The dummy reacted, starting to glow, and I thought it looked a little bigger than before.
Watching him work, I focused my consciousness on my partner. I realized that I had never used my Sacred Gear's full power on a single target to the point of collapse before. The times I had passed out were from erasing multiple effects at once, draining my stamina. I had no idea what kind of effect this annihilation ability of mine could have if I really let it loose. It wasn't exactly easy to find opportunities to train until I dropped.
Still, the Professor was being incredibly helpful. He was taking time out of his day for me and even planning a custom training menu. And this was all out of his own goodwill. He might have made some deal with Lord Mephisto, and he was obviously a Sacred Gear fanatic, but I felt that he was only doing this much because of the kind of person he was. After all, he was training me, a member of another organization, with no direct benefit to himself.
"Professor Azazel… um, thank you. I know you must be busy with your own work."
"Ah, work. I left Shemhaza in charge, so I'll probably get an earful later… But hey, don't worry about it. I'm doing this because I want to. If you want to thank me, then show me what that Sacred Gear of yours is capable of. Once I get back to Grigori, I'll probably get chewed out by Shemhaza, then spend all night thinking about what new annihilation abilities we could create with this."
Wait, pulling an all-nighter for ability development? And he was just casually planning to prioritize Sacred Gear research over his duties, even after getting lectured. I was grateful that he was doing this for me, but at the same time, I felt guilty. I'm sorry, Vice-Governor. I can't stop this man. I've only added to your troubles.
"Alright, that should do it. Hey, Kanata. Aim for this thing and give it everything you've got."
"Yes, Professor."
Professor Azazel patted the now-glowing dummy and took a few steps back, creating distance between us. I took a deep breath and gripped the spear tightly with both hands. The power he had just shown me was a power of light—a force used by angels and fallen angels that had a devastating effect on demons and other creatures of darkness. I was going to erase that light.
"Partner."
I felt a response from the Sacred Gear, a will that seemed to answer my own. I stepped forward, approaching the dummy, and raised my spear. Then, aiming for its torso, I thrust the Sacred Gear forward with all my might.
"—Ghh!"
The first thing I felt upon impact was the immense pressure of the light-based power packed within the dummy. It was like a swirling vortex, pushing back against my annihilation ability. I felt like I was about to be blown away by the sheer force of the light, but I dug my heels in and continued to pour my power into it.
The annihilation was working. I was sure of it. But the sheer mass of the light-based power was so great that it didn't feel like I was making a dent. I could hear my heart pounding in my chest. As I exerted my power, my breathing grew ragged, and my body began to tremble. My grip on the spear weakened as if my strength was being siphoned away by the annihilation itself, but I told myself I could still go on, resolving to pour every last bit of my remaining stamina into the ability.
My mind was focused on one thing: 'erase the light.' All other coherent thought was thrown aside, my mind a sea of white. My body screamed in protest; I was breathing as if I'd just run a full sprint, and pain flared in my arms and legs. My focus blurred, and my vision swam. Just when I thought I was at my limit, a straight, crimson line of light appeared, cutting through the haze and giving me a path to follow.
It was strange, like a slash of red had pierced through the world of white. I intuitively directed my power of annihilation along that crimson line. The moment I did, I found I could erase the light with far less stamina than before. Realizing this, I focused on tracing the crimson path.
The pain that had been wracking my body moments ago was gone. My senses were a complete mess, but could I still push on? For a fleeting moment, an image of the crimson light flashed in my mind, accompanied by a thought that I should stop. But I felt like I could still go. I was on the verge of grasping something… I felt like I was finally starting to understand.
I was just beginning to grasp how to erase the light—
"Stop! Any more and you'll break!"
"—Ah!"
A hand covered my eyes from behind, and the spear was forcibly ripped from my grasp. The instant it was gone, all the sensations I had been numb to came rushing back into my consciousness at once. The nausea, the dizziness, and the unbelievable pain screaming from every part of my body. What was this? Why was I… like this…?
My thoughts flickered and clouded over. I suppose I had finally hit my limit. I couldn't muster an ounce of strength. My legs gave out from under me, and as I started to fall, I vaguely felt a pair of thick arms catch me. The last thing I saw before my consciousness sank into darkness was the panicked look on the Professor's face.
***
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