"Look, Kanata! I did it! I achieved my goal of a ten-move, ten-chain combo!"
"Wh-whoa. That's so masterful, all I can say is 'wow'."
"Aaargh! You little—! I was just about to get a combo, and you dropped junk on me! ...Fine. I'll teach you what happens when you anger the boss of the fallen angels, a being mentioned in the Bible itself!"
"Professor Azazel, you're being very childish over a video game."
Chaos. Utter chaos. I sighed, watching the magical girl and the Governor-General of the Fallen Angels get worked up over their handhelds. For the record, the one playing on my device was Professor Azazel. He had shamelessly joined in while Lavinia and I were playing, declaring he was bored, and just started using mine. He was an amazing adult, in his own way. I could never imitate that.
Still, Lavinia was a brilliant magical girl, just as you'd expect. She was naturally smart, of course, but once you taught her the rules, she absorbed everything like a sponge. Now she was rattling off high-speed-rotation combos, completely ignoring the opponent to focus on her own personal goals.
She was supposed to be fighting a boss, but she just casually pulled off a ten-chain combo. Apparently, her next goal was to lock down the enemy by dropping a three-stage, five-chain combo on them. What even was that level of play? I didn't know falling-block puzzle games had lockdown strategies like that.
"Um, Professor? Is it okay to be this loud? Won't we bother the other passengers?"
"There aren't any. We've booked the whole train. I'm the top fallen angel, and you two are with me this time. It's on autopilot, so the only ones who know you're heading to the Underworld are Mephisto, our client, and us."
"It has been a while since I last went to the Underworld," Lavinia added. "The last time was a year ago, when I accompanied Director Mephisto on business."
I gave a noncommittal reply to the two of them as they explained without looking up from their games, and turned my gaze to the window. Outside, a landscape painted in cool colors—blue, purple, and cyan—swirled by. Other hues mixed in, creating a warped, twisting space. Staring at it for too long made my eyes hurt. I looked away from the window, taking in the luxurious interior that was hard to believe belonged to a train, and sat down on the sofa opposite them.
Since they were both engrossed and we only had two handhelds, I decided to think over the job Lord Mephisto had given me yesterday. Why were we, a couple of humans, going to the Underworld? Apparently, it was because of a request from his Queen—Tannin.
"A fire dragon's egg, huh? I wonder what it's like."
That's right, our destination was a fire dragon's nest in the Underworld. Normally, humans like us would be burned to a crisp upon arrival, but this was a nest under Tannin's protection, so with his introduction, it wouldn't be a problem. Lavinia mentioned she'd seen a dragon's nest before, though it was a different one. "The baby dragons are very cute," she had told me happily.
The core of the request was that one of the eggs a fire dragon had laid was unable to properly dissipate its own internal heat. If left alone, even a fire dragon's egg would burn itself out from the inside. The worried dragons had asked Tannin for help, and he had relayed the request to Lord Mephisto, who in turn assigned the job to Lavinia.
Her Sacred Gear possessed the power of ice. They had judged that with her proficiency, she could quell the heat inside the egg and allow it to hatch safely. It seemed that while she didn't get involved in Underworld politics, she did occasionally take on small jobs like this. Which meant, for this particular job, I was pretty much just tagging along.
"It'll be a good learning experience, so you should go with her," Lord Mephisto had encouraged me with a smile. Then Professor Azazel, who had been there as if it were the most natural thing in the world, chimed in with, "A fire dragon, huh? Come to think of it, I needed a fire dragon's scale for that research project..." and just like that, he became our chaperone, and our trip to the Underworld was set. Professor, are you sure you don't have work to do?
And so, here we were, heading to the Underworld on a train that ran on a route only he knew, an automated train called the "Azazel-Made: Emergency Escape Train" (I think it had a more cringey, dramatic-sounding name, but I can't recall). He probably used this to sneak away from his work in the Underworld. For an "emergency" train, he seemed far too practiced at arranging it.
"Oh, right, I borrowed a bestiary of the Underworld. Might as well kill some time with that."
I started rummaging in my backpack and heard a faint click from something on my wrist. I glanced down and saw a metal bracelet inscribed with strange characters. It still felt a little weird, but after more than two weeks of wearing it, I was getting used to it. Apparently, it used some kind of mysterious technology that made it invisible to normal people.
...Wow, has it really been two weeks already? My Sacred Gear training had been conducted alongside my studies of languages and the Association. The Professor had designed a custom training menu for me as promised, but since we were starting from scratch, he had me try all sorts of things. Thanks to that, though, I think the number of things I can do has actually increased. It was seriously tough, though.
For now, all I can say is this: training with Professor Azazel was... intense.
***
"Listen up, Kanata. I'm going to teach you how to defend yourself and how to fight. But let me get one thing straight from the start. To be perfectly blunt… you have zero talent for fighting!"
"You're crushing my spirit right out of the gate?! I mean, I knew that, but still!"
It had been several days since I started training under Professor Azazel. He pointed at me so directly I could almost hear a sound effect, and all I could do was shout back. I know, I know I don't have any talent, I'm more aware of that than anyone! But you could at least let me have a sliver of hope!
After I collapsed and recovered, I had properly apologized to him. Lord Mephisto had told me what I had done. I never would have imagined I had erased my own pain sensors and the limiters in my brain. So that's why my body had been in so much agony.
I was told that if Professor Azazel hadn't stopped me, there would have been lasting negative effects. Of course, I might have been able to erase those effects with my Sacred Gear, but he still gave me a stern lecture about never doing it again. If the damage had affected my brain and impaired my thinking, I wouldn't have been able to erase anything. I had to agree, he was right.
Professor Azazel asked me for a detailed account of what I had experienced at that time, and I told him honestly. He got that serious look on his face again, but we decided to table that issue for later. Immediately after, though, he ruffled my hair and told me not to worry. Needless to say, I was forbidden from removing those limiters again, as it was far too dangerous for me at my current level.
"Ugh… But, Professor, if that's the case, how am I supposed to defend myself?"
"That's the point. You have no talent for fighting, but you do have one advantage over other Sacred Gear users. We have to build on that."
"Huh? An advantage?"
Did I really have something like that? The only other Sacred Gear user I'd ever met was Lavinia. Compared to her, all I could see were my shortcomings. He sighed at my confusion.
"I don't know how to put this, but… you unconsciously do things that are incredibly difficult for a normal Sacred Gear user. There are countless users out there who can't do this, and as a result, can't bring out their Sacred Gear's true power."
"Is that so?"
"Kanata, a question. When does a Sacred Gear release its true power?"
"Um, when the user has a strong will, right? But I don't think my will is all that strong."
"That's part of it, but that's more like a burst of adrenaline in a crisis. The most important thing in using a Sacred Gear is the bond of trust with it."
"...A bond of trust?"
I pondered his words. I understood that it was important, but how did that lead to drawing out a Sacred Gear's true power? A bond of trust was never a bad thing. I was happy to hear that my bond with my partner was strong, but still.
"Trust, or rather… faith. A heart that believes in the Sacred Gear's power. You have absolute faith in that Sacred Gear of yours, don't you?"
"Huh? Well, I guess so. I'm pretty helpless on my own, so I have no choice but to rely on it. And my partner really is amazing."
"That amazingness is also thanks to your trust. I heard about your fight with the stray magician. You stabbed yourself in the stomach with the spear to trick your opponent, then used its power to heal and turn the tables. That means you entrusted your very life to your Sacred Gear."
"Oh…"
"Any hesitation in the host's heart toward their Sacred Gear will dull its true power. Sure, there are geniuses who can master their Sacred Gears through talent and willpower alone. But those types tend to be consumed by their power. They don't believe in their Sacred Gear; they believe in their own strength. You have no idea how many users out there see their Sacred Gears as nothing more than powerful tools."
Other negative emotions, like fear, doubt, and anxiety toward the Sacred Gear, were also contributing factors. He told me many hosts couldn't even accept their Sacred Gears, wondering why they had to possess such a thing. Most of the users Grigori took under their protection were those who couldn't accept their Sacred Gears. Those who became drunk on their power were sometimes eliminated as threats. I frowned at that but continued to listen quietly.
He explained that while they protect them as much as possible, guiding users to accept their Sacred Gears was the most difficult part of their job. Therefore, my case—accepting my Sacred Gear from the very beginning and placing my complete trust in it—was extremely rare among users.
I could vaguely understand the feeling of not being able to accept it. At first, I was shocked to have a Sacred Gear and even treated it like a curse. But before I knew it, having my partner around had become normal. It felt natural to rely on it, and I even thought that I was alive because of its power. I had assumed my way of thinking was the norm, but apparently not. It makes sense when you think about it, but I hadn't realized until he pointed it out.
Come to think of it, in the original story, Ddraig, the Red Dragon Emperor, had said that among all his past hosts, Issei Hyoudou was the only one who didn't treat him like a tool. Issei was known as the weakest Red Dragon Emperor. But by conversing with Ddraig and building a relationship of trust and understanding, he awakened one new possibility after another, eventually becoming known as the greatest Red Dragon Emperor. Thinking about it that way, believing in your Sacred Gear might be incredibly important.
"Well, for guys like that, we have some… educational methods, like the 'Iron Ball Crane' that Armaros recently came up with, or 'reconstructive surgery' to teach them how to use their Sacred Gears with their bodies, making them think, 'I'll die without my Sacred Gear!' so they can learn to control it. Hahaha!"
"Professor, do you know the meaning of the word 'education'?"
I was so glad I had a good relationship with my Sacred Gear. Seriously glad.
"I was complimenting you, but that doesn't mean you can just let your Sacred Gear carry you all the time," he added.
"...Yes, sir."
"So, while you'll be training to build up your stamina, we're going to put more emphasis on expanding the versatility of your Sacred Gear. I doubt you could handle close-quarters combat right now anyway. It would take years for you to learn."
"I understand focusing on my Sacred Gear. But does that mean I don't have any means of attack right now?"
My weapon was a spear. It was useless unless I could stab my opponent with it, and I couldn't activate its annihilation effect otherwise. For someone like me who couldn't fight up close, it seemed difficult to handle. So, were we going to train me to run away faster?
"Kanata, you need to be more flexible in your thinking. In your case, being bound by preconceived notions makes you weaker. You have a means of attack. A spear isn't just a weapon you hold in your hand and hit enemies with."
"Other uses for a spear…?"
I was skeptical of his words, but I tried to recall every other use I could think of. I had explored possibilities based on games, manga, and my knowledge from my past life. One that came to mind was...
"Like… throwing it?"
"Exactly. We fallen angels and angels often shape our light-based power into spears and throw them as our primary attack. It's a common mid-range offensive tactic because it's powerful and has low energy consumption. In your case, conserving stamina is the top priority, so it's perfect, right?"
"Well, I get that, but..."
Spear throwing was the main attack method for fallen angels, so it had come to my mind immediately. Given my personality and athletic ability, I would naturally think of acquiring a long-range attack before a close-range one. The problem was, it was quite difficult.
"But, Professor, if I throw my spear, I'll probably die, won't I? Without touching my Sacred Gear, I'm just a normal human."
"See, that's what I mean by being inflexible. We're going to train and develop a way to get around that."
"Huh? We are?!"
"Now, summon your Sacred Gear. We'll do this step by step."
"Uh, okay. …Partner."
I summoned the Sacred Gear into my hand, gripping it with both hands. Professor Azazel pulled out a thick notebook from his pocket and started flipping through the pages, muttering to himself. When I asked what was written in it, he said it was a collection of possible applications for my Sacred Gear that he had stayed up all night writing. Seriously? How much did he write? He's more excited about this than I am.
"Honestly, there are a lot of things I want to try, but if we're going to get you into decent shape by the end of summer break, this is the place to start…"
"Will just being able to throw the spear be enough?"
"Hehehe. Once you have a long-range attack, you'll be able to do all sorts of interesting things. And when you combine it with that annihilation ability of yours, even more so. …Oh, right. I forgot to give you this."
"Huh? A shiny gold bracelet?"
It looked expensive, but I could see it was a simple design, just inscribed with strange characters. He tossed it to me, and I fumbled to catch it. It was surprisingly light. What was it? A souvenir?
"I told you before, it's a support tool made just for you. As long as you're wearing it, it will measure your stamina consumption."
"My stamina? —Whoa! When I focused on the bracelet, a gauge like something out of a video game appeared!"
"I heard you like video games. This should be the easiest way for you to understand, right? Just think of that gauge as your stamina, your 'HP.' As long as that gauge has something left, you can use your Sacred Gear's power."
"Whoooa!"
This was insane. Way too cool. The technological skill of the fallen angels—or rather, of Professor Azazel—was off the charts. He could make something like this? I knew he was the type of person to build things that shattered the very fabric of a fantasy world, like a giant robot or a UFO, but this was amazing in a genuinely useful way.
I had tried to increase my stamina and reduce my consumption, but it was incredibly difficult to measure something so abstract. Now, the consumption rate and stamina growth that had been so vague before were clearly visible. This was fantastic, and it would definitely help me improve my control and regulation of my Sacred Gear.
"I made it custom-fitted for you using the data from when we measured your limits at the beginning. It also has a function to stop you from going berserk."
"Going berserk?"
"Even if I tell you not to remove your limiters like last time, you seem like the type to do it again unconsciously. When that gauge hits the red zone, it'll alert you. And if the gauge hits zero, I've designed it to forcibly shut down your Sacred Gear's power."
"So as long as I'm wearing this bracelet, I won't make the same mistake as last time."
"That's the idea. —And, Kanata."
I was staring at the bracelet on my wrist with sparkling eyes when the Professor's serious tone caught my ear. I looked up. His gaze was fixed straight on the bracelet and the crimson Sacred Gear. I straightened my posture in response to the atmosphere and waited for his next words.
"You can take that bracelet off if you want to. If you ever face a situation where you have a reason you absolutely cannot back down from, where you have to go beyond your limits, you can remove it. But promise me this: you will absolutely not die."
"...Professor."
"Basically, don't be reckless. You're weak, after all. And Mephisto is a worrywart. Most of all, I still want to research that Sacred Gear of yours. So I'm counting on you, got it?"
With that, Professor Azazel gave me a thumbs-up and a grin. I clutched the bracelet he had given me and gave him a silent nod. He was right. I didn't want to die. And I couldn't die. In this brutal world where death was always just around the corner, there were people like him who would look me straight in the eye and tell me not to.
"Alright, let's get started! I've got a mountain of experiments I want to run."
"Yes, sir! I'll do my best! But please, keep the training at a level where I don't have to stop being human!"
"Don't be a wimp while trying to show your grit. …Ah, once we clear this step, maybe we can try that next. If you can erase gravity and wind pressure, it should be possible."
"Y-You're really into this, huh?"
"Of course I am! Speaking of which, with your ability, you might even be able to do something like that mysterious crane-dropping incident that caused so much trouble for the devils and the Church. I heard the rumors and went to the human world to check it out..."
"Huh? You went to see it? Wait, does that mean the old man sleeping on the park bench back then was—"
"...Kanata, how about you and I have a little chat about that old man?"
...I'm such an idiot.
***
"That was months ago, you could just let it go already… Besides, it was like ninety percent the Professor's fault for getting curious about a rumor, going to check it out for fun, and then trying to sneak back after a little nap in the park because he didn't want to get lectured for ditching his work…"
"Kanata, we are about to arrive in the Underworld," Lavinia's voice cut through my grumbling.
"Huh? Oh, sorry. Thanks. I'll get ready to get off."
It seemed that while I was lost in thought, a lot of time had passed. I thanked Lavinia for the heads-up, got my handheld back from the Professor, and organized my backpack. I also cleared away the food and drinks that had been on the table, making sure everything was neat and ready for our departure. Manners are important.
Well, this was my first time ever setting foot in the Underworld. Honestly, I never thought I, a human, would end up coming to this world, but it was a rare opportunity. It would be a waste not to make the most of it. Thanks to Professor Azazel, I had managed to expand the applications of my Sacred Gear. I was here as Lavinia's assistant, but I was determined to help out as much as I possibly could.
"Alright, energetic children! Your chaperone has some important announcements. If you break the rules, especially you, Kanata, you could actually die, so listen up!"
"Yes, Professor! I'll listen very carefully, but I'm already starting to feel a little blue, enough to make me want to cry!"
"Yes, Professor," Lavinia chimed in.
I was a little worried if this laid-back attitude would be okay, but just like that, the first half of my summer vacation passed, and I was set to spend the second half in the Underworld.
***
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