Masaomi Yaegaki sprinted through the streets of Kuoh Town. He wiped the sweat from his brow with a frustrated swipe of his sleeve, his breath coming in ragged gasps as he pushed through the thickening snow. The sun had almost dipped below the horizon, and the winter sky was fast approaching a bruised darkness. Between the cold and the falling snow, the streets had emptied, leaving nothing to obstruct his path.
The storm in the Underworld was finally breaking. Today, Cleria's cousin, Diehauser Belial, had made his move. If the Emperor could force the administration to back down, the only obstacle left would be the Church. The plan was for the Bael Faction to communicate to the Vatican that the Belial house held no hostility, opening the door for peaceful negotiations.
Masaomi felt a pang of guilt for leaving their problems to Diehauser, but there was nothing else he could do. That was why he had resolved to handle Touji Shidou himself. He wanted to bow his head, offer his sincere thanks for everything the man had taught him, and formally part ways with the Church. He knew he was no match for Touji's skill with a blade, but he intended to pour his entire soul into his words. Once the negotiations with the Devils were settled, surely it wouldn't have to end in a struggle to the death.
But the current of fate had shifted—forced off course by the hands of both Devils and the Church.
"Luciana!" Masaomi shouted.
"Masaomi... Is it... the real you this time?"
"Yeah. It's me. I'm really here."
Masaomi had been running because he had received an urgent message from Cleria's servants. First, Kanata Kuramoto—the boy who had stood by them through all of this—had alerted them to suspicious movements within the Church. Immediately after, a strange message had arrived from Cleria herself, requesting they meet at a specific, odd location. Sensing a trap, the peerage members had moved instantly and alerted Masaomi. They made the park Cleria had specified their destination, hoping to regroup.
What they found instead was Luciana, the Queen of the Belial peerage, collapsed on the ground. Her body was pale from the freezing snow, making the vivid crimson of her blood stand out even more sharply. She was still breathing, but her internal injuries were severe; she couldn't be moved safely. For now, the other servants had erected a barrier to keep civilians away and moved her under a nearby roof. That was where Masaomi finally caught up to them.
The other peerage members had already bandaged her wounds, successfully stopping the bleeding. However, the lingering agony from the Holy Sword's strike made it impossible for her to stand. Her golden hair was matted with dirt, her school uniform soaked in blood. Though she had regained consciousness, her usually sharp, intellectual features were stained with tears. Masaomi clenched his fists and bowed his head deeply.
"I'm so sorry. Touji... my own comrades did this!"
"Don't... don't apologize," Luciana gasped. "This isn't your fault. I was the one... the one who wasn't strong enough as a Queen."
"But—"
"You're persistent. Besides, Masaomi... you're one of our comrades too. If you look that miserable, it'll only make the rest of us feel worse."
Luciana offered a weak smile, though she immediately curled into a ball, coughing violently. The other servants rushed to her side, telling her not to overexert herself, but the stubborn Queen ignored them. After receiving a small infusion of magical energy from her subordinates, she wiped her cheeks and turned a determined gaze toward Masaomi and the others.
"I'm fine... the pain has lessened. We can't afford to just sit here."
"I understand," Masaomi said, his voice heavy. "It's hard, but can you tell me exactly what happened?"
"Of course. That's why Cleria... entrusted this to us."
The truth she told was staggering: Touji Shidou had kidnapped Cleria using the powers of a Holy Sword to wear Masaomi's appearance as an illusion. If Cleria hadn't seen through the fake, the entire household might have been wiped out, and everyone helping them—including Kanata—would have been exposed. Masaomi and the servants went pale at the thought.
"Thanks to Cleria, we avoided the worst-case scenario. Based on what Touji said, I don't think they plan to kill her immediately. He also promised... that if she came quietly, he wouldn't take the lives of us servants."
"Just the servants' lives..." Masaomi muttered.
"Yes. Masaomi, be careful. Touji Shidou intends to kill you. He knows you'll come for her."
Masaomi had expected as much. Even so, hearing that the man he looked up to as a father was truly prepared to cut him down felt like being buried under lead. He shook his head, physically throwing off the fear. He was the only one who could face Touji. The only one with a chance to save Cleria.
Touji Shidou would not be holding back. He had taken Cleria precisely to draw Masaomi out. But their fighting force was too thin. Masaomi was the only one who could hold a line in a sword fight. With their King captured, their Queen incapacitated, and no strategist to guide them, the Belial servants were in a desperate spot. Furthermore, they wouldn't just be facing Touji; they would be facing the other elite Exorcists as well. For servants with little combat experience, the odds were abysmal.
Cleria wouldn't be killed until the negotiations with Diehauser Belial were over. Diehauser wouldn't abandon her, but if he were forced to concede, everything they had worked for would be for nothing. If they didn't rescue Cleria now, their struggle would have been in vain.
Masaomi couldn't accept that. Even if it meant cutting down Touji and his former comrades, he had to stop them. He gripped the hilt of the sword at his waist and bit his lip.
"You have a terrifying look on your face, Masaomi."
"Luciana... I will save her. I swear it on my life. Even if I have to cut through every one of my comrades!"
"Stop that. Do you want to make Cleria cry?"
"Whu—!?"
With a sudden crack, the Queen brought a sharp hand-chop down onto Masaomi's head. She shouldn't have had that much strength left, but the blow was perfectly placed, snapping Masaomi out of his dark resolve. He groaned in pain, looking at her with confusion, while Luciana let out an exasperated sigh.
"Cleria would never want that. I want her to be happy, and for her to be happy, she needs you."
"But—!"
"I told you, you're our comrade. It's not just Cleria; none of us want your hands stained with the blood of your family."
Luciana knew she was talking about fairy tales and idealism. She was the one who had supported Cleria from the beginning, wishing for her salvation above all else. If Masaomi's strength was all that was needed to save her, she might have normally egged him on as a Devil. But she had been entrusted with Cleria's will. She couldn't throw that away.
"Besides, Cleria said it herself: 'Maybe a cute little fairy will bring us a miracle as a present.'"
"A miracle...?"
"Honestly, both King and servant are pathetic... not only did we drag that little boy into this, but now we're relying on him for the impossible. Even though he's already given us more than enough gifts..."
Still, she believed that Kanata could help Masaomi. He might just bring the "miracle" needed to save Cleria. Of course, he was just a human magician from the Grau Zauberer. He couldn't move openly against the Church to save a Devil. It was selfish to ask him to walk such a dangerous path for people who could offer him nothing in return.
But Masaomi and the servants stood no chance against the Church alone. The Devils couldn't intervene without starting a war. They needed the boy's help. He had shown them time and again that he could find a way through the impossible.
"Did you talk to Kanata?" Masaomi asked.
"I reached him before you arrived."
"What did he say?"
Masaomi couldn't deny the spark of hope in his chest. No matter how hopeless things seemed, Kanata always reached out his hand. Masaomi knew he was being selfish by relying on the boy's kindness, but he felt that with Kanata, they really could save her.
"Well... it was very noisy on his end," Luciana said, her expression flickering. "But he answered through tears, saying, 'I understand, I'll do my best.'"
"Why was he crying?"
"I... I don't know. I was in a hurry, so I didn't get the details. But I heard a deep, husky voice shouting, 'This is for you, Kana-tan!' followed by a pained scream from the boy before the connection cut out..."
"What? Is he okay?!"
"I think so? I managed to tell him our meeting location, at least..."
Kuoh Town was in a state of emergency, but apparently, Kanata was facing his own crisis. It had been chaotic enough to make even the panicked Luciana pause in confusion. A silent moment passed between Masaomi and the servants. Is he really going to be okay?
Regardless, Kanata had given his word. They had to trust that he would do his best, in his own unique way. The heavy tension from a moment ago had vanished, replaced by a strange sense of levity. Perhaps that, too, was one of Kanata's powers.
"Heh... that sounds like him," Masaomi laughed softly.
"Yes. It's strange, but even in the worst situations, you end up smiling when he or Cleria are around. So, let's do this. One step at a time."
Time was still against them. Rushing in blindly would only get them killed. If they wanted to save Cleria and settle things with Touji, they needed to be certain. They weren't fighting because they were cornered; they were fighting for the future they all wanted—the one where they could laugh together.
"First, we need to find out where he took her," Luciana said, her tone shifting to a command. "If we rescue her, we win. After that, we trust Diehauser and the others to handle the rest."
"We really do rely on everyone else, don't we?" Masaomi noted.
"We tried to solve everything on our own and it led to a 'Purge' ending," Luciana shot back. "At this point, we have no choice but to bow our heads and ask for help."
The cool, composed Queen was starting to show a wilder side. She had been pushed past her breaking point, and her inhibitions had followed. The other servants, who had been despairing, began to show small smiles.
"Masaomi, do you have any idea where Touji would have taken her?"
"…Probably not the church. His wife and daughter are there. He wouldn't want to involve them."
"Should we take them hostage instead?"
"Wh-What!?"
"I'm joking," Luciana said quickly. "Touji likely anticipated that and left guards. Besides, our pride as Belial servants won't allow us to involve innocent women and children."
They wouldn't stoop to the level of the Old Devils. Taking hostages would only tarnish the sincere feelings of Cleria and Masaomi. Even if it worked, it would cause a permanent rift between the Church and the Devils. Most importantly, it would break Cleria's heart. Masaomi nodded in agreement.
"What about the Church's private properties in Kuoh? I know a few, but searching them one by one will take too long."
"Then... why don't we just ask?" Luciana suggested.
"Ask who?"
"One of the other Exorcists. We'll ambush one. With you and the rest of us, we'll have the numbers. We'll beat the location out of them."
"Luciana, please. Come back to us. We need the calm, rational Queen who gives us reality checks back," Masaomi said, his voice dropping into polite concern. The Queen was being a bit too aggressive tonight.
"But it's not a bad plan, right? They're definitely coming for us anyway."
"That's true."
"Once we have the location, we'll handle the other Exorcists ourselves. Masaomi, you head straight for Touji."
"Wait, what?"
Masaomi, who had assumed they would stay together, was shocked. Even if Touji promised not to kill them, the plan was too dangerous. These were high-school-aged Devils with little combat experience facing battle-hardened veterans. Luciana bit her lip.
"This is a rational decision," she whispered. "We would only be a hindrance in a fight against Touji. Your odds of winning are higher if you face him alone. We are powerless against a Holy Sword. But... if they can't kill us, we can use that to stall the other Exorcists. We will make sure you get your one-on-one."
Realizing she didn't have the strength to save her King herself, Luciana chose to entrust everything to Masaomi. Since the Church was already tracking them via the barrier, they would act as decoys. If they had an opening, they would move to support him or rescue Cleria.
Besides, Kanata and his team would be providing backup. Even if Masaomi struggled, having hidden support from people the Church didn't know about would shift the odds. Luciana had decided that their role was to clear the path.
Masaomi could see her small frame trembling. Yet she held her head high, her voice ringing out with the authority of a Queen. Behind her, not a single servant wavered.
Masaomi felt ashamed for thinking he had to solve this alone because the others weren't "fighters." They knew their own weaknesses better than anyone, yet they were prepared to fight with everything they had to create a path for him.
"…Thank you, everyone."
"Of course. But remember, Masaomi, you're in the most danger. Don't get obsessed with 'winning' against Touji—focus on rescuing Cleria."
"Yeah... you're right."
Masaomi offered a dry laugh, feeling the familiar sting of the Queen's lecture. He pictured a normal day: the Queen scolding him while Cleria watched, and the other servants laughing at him. He gripped that memory.
He would swing his sword to get those days back. For the woman he loved, for his precious comrades, and for the future they wanted. He had sworn his blade to her.
"Well, thank you for waiting. I've recovered enough... let's move."
"Are you sure?"
"I'm fine. I can't have the Queen looking pathetic, can I?"
Luciana stood up, using a pillar for support. Her legs were shaky, but she forced strength into them. No one tried to stop her; they all knew once she made up her mind, she was immovable. Masaomi sighed and stepped forward to offer his shoulder—
"Wait!"
Masaomi didn't stop. He lunged past Luciana and swung his blade, cleaving through a bolt of magical energy that had been flying straight for her.
"Masaomi?"
"Stay back, Luciana! Everyone, get down!"
Masaomi stood in a low stance, his eyes fixed on the source of the attack. The others immediately scrambled into defensive positions. It was an ambush. If Masaomi hadn't noticed, the strike would have hit Luciana directly. As they realized the nature of the attack, their faces hardened.
"Oh my, how interesting. So you're the foolish priest who fell in love with a Devil. I see you've already regrouped with the Belial servants. I forget your name, but I heard you had some skill as a swordsman."
A dark, condescending voice reached them. A blood-red magic circle manifested, and a Devil stepped out. He looked at the group with a sneering appraisal, chuckling to himself.
"...A Bael Faction Devil," Luciana spat.
"Indeed. Did you really think the Church was your only enemy? It wouldn't be fair if the Church moved for a 'purge' and we didn't do our part, now would it?"
"Cleria hasn't been killed yet!"
"She'll be dead soon enough anyway, won't she? Along with the rest of you."
The arrival of the Devils was completely unexpected. Luciana knew the Bael Faction intended to use Cleria as a bargaining chip against Diehauser. If the Emperor accepted their terms, they were supposed to release her. But here they were, attacking even before the negotiations had concluded.
"…I see," Luciana whispered.
"Luciana?"
"They'll tell Diehauser they saved Cleria. But they never said anything about her servants. Killing us doesn't technically break their deal."
"Wait... why would they go out of their way to do this?" Masaomi asked.
"Pure spite against the Belial family," Luciana said, her voice dropping as she analyzed the enemy. "They can't touch Cleria because she's the hostage. But we're fair game. They know killing her peerage will break Diehauser's heart."
Masaomi gripped his sword hilt so hard his knuckles turned white. The sheer malice of the Devils was sickening.
"They'll probably just blame the Church for our deaths," Luciana continued. "Cleria was taken by Exorcists, after all. If her servants 'died' during the struggle, it only makes the Church look more dangerous during the negotiations."
"But they'll check the evidence later—"
"They'll cover it up. Cleria's scandal is real. And since we're just servants, not nobility, the administration won't bother with a deep investigation. The Church will want the scandal buried, too. Our deaths will simply vanish into the shadows."
The servants were an afterthought in the grand scheme. The Bael Devils had come to tie up loose ends and inflict pain. Unlike Cleria, their status was low; the Devil nobility wouldn't care if a few servants went missing.
"Honestly, that Holy Sword user is far too soft," the Devil sneered. "He captured Cleria Belial easily enough, yet he promised to spare her servants? If he were a true priest, I expected him to cut down a Devil or two."
"Don't compare him to monsters like you who don't value life," Masaomi said. He forced his rage into a cold, focused calm, measuring the distance as a warrior. If he let his anger take over, he would be playing into the enemy's hands. He had people to protect.
The Devil was powerful, but Masaomi didn't feel an insurmountable gap. He calculated the enemy's strength based on the intensity of the magic bolt he had just parried. He analyzed the posture, the flow of energy, and the likely fighting style. As a warrior of the Church who had spent his life fighting monsters, he became a single, sharp edge.
Behind him, Luciana and the others began to channel their magic to support him. The Devil had likely expected to face only weak servants. He didn't realize Masaomi was an elite swordsman, second only to Touji Shidou. Together, they could drive this Devil back.
"Heh, such defiant eyes. Your King is captured, your Queen is broken, and your only hope is a single man from a hostile faction. How do you maintain the will to fight?"
"Because we won't lose!" Luciana shouted, rallying the others. "We'll break through your plans and save Cleria! If we work together, you're just one man—"
The Devil erupted in a fit of laughter. It was a cruel, mocking sound that pitied her for clinging to hope. Luciana flinched, but she kept her eyes fixed on him.
"…I see. So that little spark of hope is why you haven't despaired. Then, let me give you a gift: a despair so deep it will snuff out that foolish hope forever."
Masaomi didn't understand at first. But he was the first to notice the change. He knew those presences. He knew that killing intent. He broke into a cold sweat.
"It's been a while, Masaomi. It's a shame it had to come to this."
"…Gouro? Smith? Everyone...?"
"No... why...?" Luciana whispered.
Multiple figures emerged from the snow. By the time the servants noticed them, the perimeter had already been closed. Warriors with swords and blades emerged from the darkness, surrounding them. Their faces were etched with sorrow and resolve.
Masaomi had known Touji intended to incapacitate the servants. But he hadn't expected the entire unit of Exorcists to move with such overwhelming force. And he certainly hadn't expected them to be working with the Devils.
"Don't misunderstand," one of the Exorcists said. "Our cooperation with the Devils and our presence here is our own decision. Touji doesn't know about this."
"What...?"
"Touji intended to shoulder everything himself. He took it upon himself to be the one to kill you. He told us to stay at the church and only move if the Belial servants attacked. He even told us to give you his location if you came looking for him."
Masaomi stood frozen. Touji Shidou really had intended to settle it one-on-one. He was trying to protect his subordinates from the sin of killing their comrade.
Touji couldn't bring himself to command his "family" to kill Masaomi. It was his weakness, his softness, and his kindness. As a warrior of the Church, using his unit would have been the logical choice, but he chose to fight alone.
"Isn't that such a waste?" the Devil interjected. "A foolish choice when failure isn't an option. That's why I reached out to them. They seemed... conflicted."
The Devil spoke gleefully. The Exorcists glared at him but said nothing. They had listened to the "Devil's whisper" because they were terrified of letting Touji carry the burden alone. They couldn't stand the thought of him having to kill the boy he loved like a son.
And they had another fear: Touji's health. They had seen his struggle with stomach ulcers from the front row. In the last few months, the number of hospital visits, the pained nights, and the desperate prayers had become uncountable.
They knew Touji was at his physical and mental limit. He was only standing because of his faith and his sense of duty. But what would happen after? If he killed Masaomi with his own hands, his spirit would break. His stomach wouldn't survive the stress.
To them, Touji Shidou killing Masaomi Yaegaki was synonymous with Touji Shidou's own end. And if by some miracle Masaomi won, Touji's resolve would have been for nothing.
They had agonized over how to minimize the tragedy. If Touji killed Masaomi, they wouldn't just lose a comrade; they would lose their leader to the agony of his own conscience. They had to prevent that at all costs.
"…Therefore, we have made our resolve!" an Exorcist shouted. "We will be the ones to kill you! Even if it means defying Touji's orders! Even if it means trampling on his pride! IT IS THE ONLY WAY TO PROTECT HIS STOMACH!!"
"Shidou... his stomach was really that bad?!" Masaomi gasped.
Masaomi couldn't find the heart to blame them. He knew, better than anyone, that he was the primary cause of those ulcers.
"Masaomi, you can hate us if you want," the leader continued. "We feared your skill, so we were forced to use these underhanded tactics. You can't run away and leave these Devils behind, can you?"
"Ugh...!"
The reasoning was bizarre, but the tactical situation was absolute. Masaomi might have been able to escape alone, but the servants would be killed instantly. The Bael Devil wanted the servants dead; the Exorcists wanted Masaomi dead. Their interests had aligned into a nightmare.
Masaomi couldn't abandon them. But fighting off both Devils and Exorcists while protecting the wounded was impossible.
"I...!"
He had sworn to protect them. He had promised himself and Cleria. For the woman he loved. For his precious comrades. For the future where they could walk together. He wouldn't give up until his life flickered out. No matter how deep the despair.
As the Devil's mad laughter rang out, the snow continued to fall, burying them in despair.
***
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