"...I'm sorry, Mephisto. It happened on my watch."
"I know the depth of your knowledge when it comes to Sacred Gears, Azazel. The fact that even you were slow to react means that Kanata must have done something truly extraordinary. In that case, I'm glad you were here. If it had been just me, it might have been too late."
"...Thanks. How is he?"
"He'll be fine. The symptoms are from extreme fatigue and the effects of reactive oxygen. Had it been a moment later, there might have been lasting damage to his body. With a good long sleep and a delicious meal, he'll make a full recovery."
"Youth is a wonderful thing, isn't it?" Mephisto said with a gentle smile, but Azazel couldn't shake the bitter look on his face. He had been careless, and he hadn't anticipated it. But those were just excuses. Even if it was temporary, and even if it was for his own interests and for a friend, he was the one who had become that boy's instructor. A vortex of self-reproach swirled within him.
Kanata was currently deep asleep in the room prepared for him. He likely wouldn't wake for the rest of the day. Lavinia, declaring, "I will nurse him back to health!", was in his room, clumsily but earnestly preparing hot water and towels. I had told her not to overdo it, so she would hopefully be careful. Through the window, the evening sky could be seen gradually being cloaked in darkness.
"You haven't changed a bit in that regard," Mephisto mused. "That's precisely why we've remained friends for so long. Speaking of which, don't you need to get back to Grigori?"
"I've already contacted Shemhaza. I had to promise I'd get right to work when I get back."
"Hahahaha, it sounds like he has his hands full as always."
"Sorry for being such a pathetic Governor-General," Azazel muttered, sinking his large frame into the luxurious sofa in the director's office. The oldest of demons gave a small smile and shrugged at his old friend's demeanor. The usual jaunty attitude was gone, a clear sign that this incident had hit him hard. Mephisto retrieved a bottle of liquor and some glasses from a shelf and placed them on the table.
"Mephisto."
"It's been a while since you and I had a chance to talk like this, Azazel. If we're going to have an adult conversation, this is the way to do it. Besides, he is one of my own. I have no expertise when it comes to Sacred Gears. I had to rely on your knowledge with Lavinia's case as well. That means I must acquire the knowledge needed to protect them. You're going to tell me, aren't you? What Kanata did back there, and what his Sacred Gear truly is."
Mephisto had also watched the events unfold through a magical projection. He had seen Kanata thrust his spear into the light-infused dummy and struggle to erase the power. He had watched as fatigue began to show on the boy's face, as his body began to tremble, and as he pushed himself to the very brink, just as Azazel had instructed.
The bodies of living creatures are well-designed. If the body detects a danger signal, it will forcibly shut down consciousness or paralyze itself. Mephisto had assumed that once Kanata hit his limit, it would simply be over. He was just a kid who had done some light training, not a seasoned warrior. Even Azazel had had the leeway to think, So he's got some grit, and observe.
That changed when Kanata showed no signs of collapsing. Not only that, but he began pouring the Sacred Gear's power into the dummy with a clear purpose, a departure from the reckless stabbing from before. The speed at which the light-based power was being annihilated increased, vanishing with an efficiency that was like watching a tangled thread unravel. Furthermore, his eyes, though vacant, seemed to be tracking something.
At first, Azazel couldn't comprehend what was happening. The boy should have been far past his limit. The thought that maybe he still has more— was cut short when his intuition picked up on an unseen scream coming from the small body. He had forcibly separated Kanata from his Sacred Gear to stop him. The moment the spear left his hand, the full toll of his exertion hit his body, and the pain was too much to bear. He lost consciousness.
"Why did that happen? I thought Kanata's annihilation speed suddenly increased partway through."
"Yeah, I can't be sure about that part without asking Kanata for the details. But I have an idea as to why he was able to push past his body's limits and keep standing, right on the verge of breaking himself."
"...The Sacred Gear's effect?"
"Yes. Seeing him pass out the instant he let go of the spear confirms it. The idiot was probably so focused he did it unconsciously. He likely erased his own sense of pain and the limiters in his brain. If that Sacred Gear can truly affect concepts, then it's possible."
Sacred Gears respond to their host's will. This time, it had backfired spectacularly. Kanata had wished strongly to 'erase the light,' but his stamina was insufficient. The solution? Get rid of those limits. The human brain regulates the body, allowing it to use only about twenty percent of its true potential. Kanata had unconsciously erased this limiter, forcibly compensating for what he lacked. The cost, of course, was immense. Those regulators exist for a reason: to prevent self-destruction.
Hearing Azazel's analysis, Mephisto's usual smile vanished. He tilted his glass back, draining the liquor. Listening to the clink of the ice, he thought, This is insane. He wondered if this was truly the extent of what a Sacred Gear was capable of. It had the drawback of high-stamina consumption, but that was something that would likely improve to a degree as Kanata grew stronger.
At the same time, he wondered why there was absolutely no information on a Sacred Gear this powerful. Mephisto didn't know everything about Sacred Gears, but he had at least heard of all the Longinus and other famous ones.
He was one of the oldest demons, who had lived for millennia. He also considered himself the demon who had observed the human world more than any other. As such, he had seen many of the Sacred Gears wielded by humans—those who drowned in their power, those who feared it, and those who fought with it. And yet, the power held by the boy his own ward had brought to him was enough to fill his heart with astonishment.
The ability of the Sacred Gear wielded by a boy he met by chance. It immediately brought to mind the young Demon Lord who ruled the Underworld, one of the "Super Devils," Sirzechs Lucifer, due to the crimson color and the theme of annihilation. However, Kanata's power was similar to the Bael clan's 'Power of Destruction,' yet it was a different and far more troublesome beast. Its sheer versatility had allowed him to instantly judge it as dangerous.
That was why he had invited the boy with the crimson Sacred Gear here. He had chosen to protect him, not eliminate him. A child who was highly cautious yet lacked a sense of crisis, who was slightly off-kilter. He was fully aware of the danger of letting him live, yet he hadn't wanted to crush such young potential. He did not regret that choice. Not when he saw Lavinia's happy face, or the determination of a boy who pleaded to become stronger. He believed they would continue to walk their own paths, straight and true.
And for that very reason, he now grimaced at the true nature of the power held by Kanata Kuramoto.
"...After you told me about Kanata's Sacred Gear, I went through some old cases and materials," Azazel said. "And what do you know, I found information on that spear in the most ridiculous place."
"So you're saying it has existed in the past. Then why is its renown so low?"
"Simple. Because it never had an effect that was considered dangerous."
"What?"
The words from Azazel elicited a genuine sound of disbelief from Mephisto. Not considered dangerous? Impossible, he thought, but his friend simply nodded in agreement. "I know, right?"
Azazel then took a small notebook from his pocket and placed it on the table. The title scrawled on it was "Collection of Joke Sacred Gears"—a completely ridiculous name. Mephisto, though skeptical, flipped through the pages and found entry after entry of strange, chuunibyou-esque Sacred Gears that looked like they belonged in a manga or anime. However, the contents were written with serious detail, suggesting that despite the silly title, it was a proper research report.
Then, Mephisto's hand stopped on a certain page. On it was the very same troublesome Sacred Gear that was the source of their current worries. But the description was bizarre. Azazel's memo read, 'Who does he think he is, some Demon Lord? (lol)', followed by the rather insulting note, 'Sirzechs Cosplay Joke Sacred Gear.' If this past research report was to be believed, this Sacred Gear had never possessed any power that would be considered dangerous. The realization dawned on him.
"Honestly, when you first contacted me, my first thought was, 'No way,'" Azazel admitted. "The power of that Sacred Gear, 'Ruin-Lonskarllet, the Crimson Spear of Annihilation,' was a simple ability that only worked on 'matter.' It was never some outrageous power that could affect 'concepts,' like Kanata's can."
The records of past users showed only effects that worked on physical matter. Since the Sacred Gear's power was influenced by the user's own strength, even with the power of annihilation, a human couldn't accomplish much with it. In terms of pure offense, Kanata's Sacred Gear wasn't particularly strong. There were countless ways to counter it.
It was baffling. Then why could he use it that way? Had all previous users simply never thought to try it on 'concepts'? That seemed impossible. He'd heard that Kanata had discovered the conceptual annihilation a mere day after it first manifested. There was no way that generations of users had overlooked a method even a novice boy could find. More importantly, a Sacred Gear should communicate its functions to its host. Indeed, Kanata himself had been exploring various uses with his partner's guidance.
"I can't be sure of the reason. The Sacred Gear's effect might have suddenly changed with his generation. There is one other possibility, but it's probably not it. With God and the original Demon Lords gone, this world—including its Sacred Gears—has become unstable and warped in unseen ways."
"So you're saying Kanata is the first person to ever manifest this effect."
"That's right. I myself have no earthly idea how far that Sacred Gear can go. For now, it's just another troublesome ability among many. But if mishandled… it has the potential to reach for a realm beyond that."
"Hah… It makes me truly believe that God left behind some awfully troublesome things when he died," Mephisto sighed.
"Just goes to show you should never start a war," Azazel added.
They drank together, each voicing their complaints. The world keeps turning even without God. While that was true in the present, distortions still appeared. The scars of that war continue to rain down upon the entire world, even now.
"Azazel, I want you to keep this a secret from Kanata. For him, that realm is nothing more than a possibility. I don't want to needlessly worry him."
"...If that's what you want, I'm fine with it. But as his teacher, I'm going to tell him exactly what happened this time and train him properly. If he tries to use it like that again, he'll die."
"Yes, I'll leave that to you. But are you sure about this? It feels strange for me to ask, since I'm the one who requested your help, but are you sure you want to get this involved?"
"Don't be a stranger. Besides, there have been some suspicious groups making moves in the shadows recently. It's actually helpful for me if he has the means to defend himself and you're looking after him."
The 'Gray Magicians,' while led by a demon, was fundamentally a human organization. They likely wouldn't get involved in the Underworld's troubles. Furthermore, if a crisis were to threaten the entire world, they were an organization that would surely cooperate fully with his side. For Azazel, there was no one he'd rather entrust this to.
"By the way, Azazel," Mephisto said, "you mentioned another possibility for why Kanata's Sacred Gear changed. You dismissed it, but what was it?"
"Hm? Oh, that. If there was another possibility, it would simply be that the host, Kanata himself, is the cause."
"The boy?"
"The effect of the Sacred Gear as I know it is 'to select a target and apply the effect of annihilation to what one has defined.' That much applies to Kanata. That's why past users could only annihilate 'defined matter.' …But what if, for him, the very definition of this world itself falls under the category of 'what can be defined'? If that were the case, he might be able to erase the 'concepts' that constitute this world. …It's an outlandish, bug-like possibility."
"Well, a weird kid like that probably isn't capable of something so grand," Azazel finished with a dry laugh. He placed his empty glass on the table and rose from the sofa. Mephisto used his magic to clear the glasses and stood up as well.
"Leaving already?"
"Yeah, we've talked. I also need to go back and get the support gear for him. I don't like it, but I'll go get my lecture, finish my work, and then I'll be back."
"Understood. Thank you, Azazel."
"Don't mention it. See ya, Mephisto."
With a casual wave over his shoulder, the fallen angel spread his twelve jet-black wings and vanished into the night. Mephisto watched him go, then sat down heavily in his director's chair and closed his eyes in silence for a few moments.
***
"...Huh? Is it morning?"
A hazy consciousness, an aching body, and a throbbing headache. Wincing at the combined assault, I sensed that I had woken up to a new day. I had no memory of getting into bed. In fact, my memories of yesterday were fuzzy. Was this my third day here? My thoughts were so jumbled I started to wonder if it was still the second.
"It is morning..."
"—!"
FWOOSH! The voice reached my ears, and I forced my aching body to sit bolt upright. I remembered this situation. This was, without a doubt, the third day of my homestay. Because I had experienced this on the second day. A bittersweet event that made me want to cry tears of blood.
Don't tell me she wandered in here half-asleep again?! I frantically looked around, but my gaze quickly came to a halt. I found her immediately. Not in my bed like last time, but sitting in a chair beside it, her upper body slumped over onto the mattress. She was also in her usual magician's robes, not the kanji t-shirt. Her trademark pointed hat had fallen to the floor.
The next thing I noticed was the basin and towel placed beside her. And Lavinia's sleeping face, looking somewhat exhausted. It was only then that I finally remembered what had happened yesterday. I met Professor Azazel, he was training me, I did something reckless, and he had to stop me… My memory ends there. He had said it was fine if I collapsed, and I guess I did exactly that.
"I see. You were taking care of me all night."
I thought she was awake from her words earlier, but it seemed she was just talking in her sleep. She was sleeping soundly, and it would be wrong to wake her. I checked the clock and saw I had time. I carefully gathered her golden hair, which was spread across the bed, and draped my blanket over her. She stirred slightly but seemed to be in a deep sleep. I smiled faintly, picked up her pointed hat from the floor, and placed it beside her. I wasn't feeling my best yet, so I simply lay back down in bed. It was summer, so I'd be fine without a blanket.
As I closed my eyes, I sensed a fleeting flash of crimson light. Ah, it seemed I had made my partner worry, too. I planned to thank Lavinia properly when she woke up, but for now, I sent a silent word of gratitude. My body craved recovery, and sleep quickly beckoned me.
Still, what was that sensation I felt back then? I don't really get it, but maybe Professor Azazel can explain it. The next time I see him, I'll have to properly apologize for being so reckless and ask him about everything. And I need to apologize to Lord Mephisto, too.
With those thoughts, I quietly drifted off to sleep.
***
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