"So, you're Kanata Kuramoto. Forgive me for being so pushy today. I've been dying to meet the person who influenced Diehauser so profoundly."
"Oh, no... it wasn't anything that grand, really. I'm just happy to meet you, Lüdiger. I even got your autograph!"
"Hahaha, that's a small price to pay. And please, 'Rosenkreutz' is a bit of a mouthful—just Lüdiger is fine. Still, after hearing the details of that incident, you certainly have a bold mind. I believe you're the first human to ever lead the Devil society around by the nose like that."
After chatting as a group for a while, we had split up to have more private conversations. Diehauser and the Rosenkreutz side took different corners of the room. I knew Lüdiger had come specifically to speak with me, so I was a bit nervous as our one-on-one began.
Across the room, Diehauser was acting the part of the stern older brother, lecturing Masaomi and Cleria about how much they had worried everyone six months ago. He had his arms crossed while the two of them bowed repeatedly in apology. Meanwhile, Lavinia sat beside me, happily munching on the sweets Lüdiger had brought as a gift. She looked perfectly content.
She seemed to be listening to us, but she was clearly committed to being a silent observer. When our eyes met, she smiled radiantly and placed a sweet in my hand. I think she thought I wanted one because I was staring at her. Well, thanks. These are actually delicious. Lüdiger watched our interaction with an amused chuckle.
"So... um. You said you wanted to talk to me, Lüdiger. What exactly did you want to discuss? I'm sure the others told you everything I did."
"They did. And I have to say, hearing about your actions made me laugh until my sides ached. It's been a long time since I've had such a good laugh. In a good way, of course."
"I... see."
"Having talked to you in person, I think I have a handle on your personality now. So, first, let me offer my thanks. Thank you for giving us the catalyst we needed to reform the Rating Games—those of us who could do nothing but wait for a 'new wind.' And thank you for saving Diehauser. If you hadn't stepped in to help those two, I might have lost my greatest rival and friend."
I felt a bit flustered as Lüdiger bowed his head in gratitude, but I accepted the sentiment. It was true—if Cleria hadn't been saved, Diehauser might have followed the original canon path, seeking revenge against the administration and ending up a criminal cast out from the world of the Games. Lüdiger shared the same passion for the sport as Diehauser; being left behind in a corrupt game without his rival would have been a bitter fate.
Our success in Kuoh had been a miracle born from the fact that the purge was tied to the corruption of the Games. We had the right connections and caught the Old Devils while they were overconfident. Looking back, that incident was a far more significant turning point than I realized.
"When I heard the details, I thought the odds of success were microscopic," Lüdiger mused. "You have ties to the Director of the Magicians and a former Dragon King, and you have the initiative to move Satans and Emperors. Yet, your reason for facing the Devils and the Church was the most common motivation of all: you just wanted to save your friends. Kanata, don't you have any ambition? The Underworld gained a massive benefit from this mess, and it was originally our fault. you could have demanded quite a fortune in compensation."
"No way. I caused plenty of trouble myself. I've already received more than enough. If I asked for more, the universe would probably strike me down for greed."
Saving my friends, securing a peaceful place for them, and now having experts oversee my training... if I asked for anything else, I'd be inviting a 'death flag' of pure avarice. Lüdiger laughed, noting that I suggested 'demonic' plans while being remarkably selfless. I wasn't sure if it was a compliment, but I let it slide.
"Kanata, I have a question for you. Do you mind?"
"For me?"
"Yes. You're a human, yet you know a great deal about Devils, and you aren't bound by Underworld common sense. I'm curious to see how you would answer this."
Lüdiger's tone was gentle, but his gaze was intent. I nodded, curious myself. I knew my own thinking was pretty straightforward—I usually just relied on what I knew from the 'future'—but if it satisfied him, I didn't mind answering.
"Currently, we are pushing for the reform of the Rating Games," Lüdiger explained. "We're trying to restore the administration to its proper function by stripping away the interference of the Old Devils. The Satans are attacking from a political angle, while we are attacking through the Game itself. But it's proving difficult. The enemy is on high alert, frantically hiding their tracks."
"I heard Great King Bael is leading the effort to tighten discipline," I noted.
"He is. Because of his intervention, the evidence we once had is being methodically erased. His skill at reading the board is, frankly, impressive. Before, they were overconfident, which made evidence easy to find. Now, they're in a defensive crouch, using their ancient noble connections to intimidate any neutral parties who might help us."
Lüdiger shrugged, making it clear that the reform movement had hit a wall. Furthermore, as a tactical move, the Great King had shifted the public's focus entirely onto the Emperor's heroics.
While public support is vital, too much of it is a cage. By keeping Diehauser constantly under the scrutiny of the media and the fans, they had intentionally slowed his movements. That was why Diehauser and the others hadn't been able to take a single day off in six months.
The administration was leveraging the public's excitement, forcing the reform faction into endless specials and interviews. Diehauser couldn't refuse without hurting his support ratings, and while he was busy smiling for the cameras, the Old Devils were securing their defenses.
If the excitement continues for years without any actual change to the Game's structure, the public will eventually grow bored and move on. That was the Great King's long game: turning Emperor Belial from a symbol of hope into a mere idealist who talks but never delivers.
"That old man is more flexible than I expected," Lüdiger admitted. "He took the Emperor's strategy of using the masses and made it his own. He's used the fans as a shackle, knowing we can't act aggressively toward the public."
"So the Old Devils have decided to stop fighting you directly and just wait for time to wear you down," I summarized.
This was a serious problem. During the strike, time had been on the Emperor's side. Now, the long lifespans of the Devils were working against him. They were shifting to a plan spanning years, slowly bleeding out his momentum. They weren't angry about what he did; they were calmly targeting the very people who supported him.
Effort alone isn't enough in politics. If he doesn't deliver results, the people will abandon him. They followed Diehauser because he offered a dream of a better Underworld. If that dream never manifests, they'll fall back into the habit of bowing to the Old Devils.
If the reform faction can't find a way to strike at the administration soon, all this momentum will vanish. I have to do something, I thought. I can't let my hero fall.
"If the status quo continues, the outcome in a few years is obvious," Lüdiger said. "We need a move that can shatter the Old Devils' influence. If we don't find a breakthrough, we'll be the ones eaten alive."
"..."
"So, here is my question. In this situation, knowing what you know... where would you strike?"
"Me?"
"Yes. If you were in our position, trying to save the person most important to you—the Emperor—how would you break them?"
Lüdiger smiled at me, his eyes twinkling with curiosity. I was stunned. I hadn't expected such a heavy question. My knowledge of Underworld politics and the various factions was practically zero.
Finding a crack in the armor of the Old Devils was supposed to be impossible. They were on guard, hiding everything. Anything the Satans or the Emperor did would be met with an immediate counter. How could a human kid like me suggest a solution?
"…How to beat someone with perfect defense," I whispered.
But my mind didn't stop. I refused to accept Diehauser losing. If a frontal assault was impossible, then the premise of the fight had to change.
In a game, if you face a boss with 999 defense, you don't just keep hitting it. you look for a 'setup'—a way to lower the defense or a 'weak point' that bypasses it. And if there is no weak point, you manipulate the boss into creating one.
In the original story, the 'Peace' summit provided a distraction that prevented people from focusing on individual agendas. But that was still a ways off. The reform faction needed to survive until then. Wait... what about the other problems in Devil society?
The Qlippoth and the Khaos Brigade were out of reach for now. But there was another group...
***
"…What about the Old Satan Faction?" I asked.
"The descendants of the originals?" Lüdiger raised an eyebrow.
"Um... the Old Satan Faction are a headache for the Old Devils too, right? The Old Devils can't give them orders, and they aren't the type to listen anyway. That's what Ajuka said. During the strike, Diehauser blamed them for everything, and the Old Devils couldn't even argue. And I heard there are still those who are secretly loyal to the original bloodlines."
Lüdiger's smile vanished, replaced by a look of genuine surprise. I didn't know if my answer was right or wrong, but I kept going. He gestured for me to continue, his expression encouraging.
I remembered from the books that when Rizevim Livan Lucifer appeared, several "Old Devils" had cooperated with him. They probably didn't know he wanted to destroy the world and flee to another dimension; they likely just dreamed of a world where a 'True Lucifer' sat on the throne again. It was a foolish dream, but for them, blood was everything. They were willing to be used by a monster just because he was the son of the original Satan.
Of course, Great King Bael and the majority of the nobility wouldn't commit suicide by following a terrorist. If their involvement was exposed, they'd be executed as traitors. They had surely ordered everyone to stay away.
In the original timeline, when Diodora Astaroth was found to be involved in terrorism, the Astaroth house lost its right to produce a Satan. That was a crippling blow to a noble house. No high-ranking Devil would marry into a family with that kind of stigma. It meant the slow death of the lineage or a desperate attempt to bring in outside blood just to survive.
(Ajuka, of course, would protect the people of the Underworld as a Satan, but he wasn't particularly attached to his own house. He's the kind of guy who would abandon his own family if they deserved it. I heard he hasn't been home in decades; he'd rather play games than deal with his relatives. He's a very practical adult in that sense.)
The point was, terrorism was a line no one was supposed to cross. But knowing the original plot, I knew some of them would move.
In the books, there were definitely Old Devils leaking info to the Khaos Brigade. They helped hide the movements of the terrorists so the Satans wouldn't notice. Not everyone was involved, but enough were.
If the enemy is in a shell, you don't try to crack it. you bait something they can't ignore to make them come out on their own.
"The Old Satan Faction hates the current Satans," I explained. "They've been causing trouble for years. Until now, the Old Devils have buried the evidence of their crimes to protect the sanctity of Devil blood. But right now, the Old Devils are focused entirely on Diehauser. Their guard on the Old Satan Faction is probably at its lowest."
"…I see," Lüdiger said, rubbing his chin. "They're so busy erasing their own tracks that they might leave a hole elsewhere. It's plausible."
He nodded in agreement.
"So, instead of looking for old evidence they've already hidden, we set the stage for future evidence," Lüdiger summarized.
"If the current Satans catch the Old Satan Faction in the middle of a crime, someone from the Old Devils will inevitably move to protect them—even if they have to act alone."
"And if we set a net in advance," Lüdiger finished, "we can catch the Old Devils red-handed, working with terrorists to undermine the Underworld. We can denounce them with proof they can't erase."
That was the gist of it. I knew the current Satans were moving toward peace, which meant the Old Satan Faction—who would never accept a treaty with Angels—would make a move soon. It was a move that could only be played in this specific era.
If the Satans and the Reform Faction cooperated, they could attack from two sides. The Satans were already hated by the descendants of the originals, so their scrutiny was expected. But no one would expect the 'Game Reformers' to be watching.
Diehauser's team could move in the shadows, slipping past the Old Devils' blind spots to infiltrate the Old Satan Faction's periphery. Any info they found could be leaked to Ajuka.
Would the Old Devils be able to abandon their 'Holy Bloodlines' when things got messy? They could hide their own corruption, but they couldn't control the actions of the original descendants. The moment the Old Devils moved to protect a terrorist relative, they were finished.
"So, the Reform Faction should keep attacking the administration 'frontally'," I suggested. "Keep their eyes fixed on you. While they're busy defending against Diehauser, you secretly watch the Old Satan Faction. The Old Devils have probably told them to stay quiet, but those descendants aren't known for their obedience."
"Hahaha! It's a game of patience," Lüdiger laughed. "The Old Satan Faction might hate the Satans, but they likely don't view 'mere players' as a threat. By affirming their 'True Satan' status, we might even find a way to slip inside their circles. We've always ignored them because they're a headache; they won't expect us to start paying attention now."
Personally, I was terrified of the Khaos Brigade, so I wanted someone keeping tabs on them anyway. I didn't know when they'd start their move, but with the peace summit approaching in a few years, they were guaranteed to act. Establishing a surveillance network now, while the Old Devils were distracted, was the best possible move.
Let the Old Devils focus on their 'victory' over Diehauser. Let them think they've successfully stalled the reforms. And then, when the Old Satan Faction inevitably rampages, the reform group will be there to deliver the final blow.
If Diehauser's team can spot the signs of terrorism and alert the Satans early, we might even prevent the tragedies from the books—like Professor Azazel losing his arm or the Jabberwocky incidents.
"Still, Kanata Kuramoto... you've just casually drafted a plan that involves dragging the Satans into a massive, dangerous operation," Lüdiger noted with a grin.
"Ah... ha ha..."
I knew there were problems. Monitoring Devils is dangerous work, and the Old Satan Faction is no joke. This plan requires a long-term commitment and carries a high risk. And I was relying on my meta-knowledge—there was always a chance they'd decide not to take revenge and my plan would be a waste of time. It wasn't 100% certain.
And as Lüdiger said, I was dragging everyone into it. My plan was built on using the Old Satan Faction as bait... essentially sacrificing them. Even if they were the "villains," it was a ruthless way to think.
I was banking on them being as "evil" as they were in the books. Deep down, I hoped they might change, but if they did, I couldn't save Diehauser. It was a horrible dilemma. But it was the only way I could think of.
I didn't know who was "right" between the New and Old Satans. Maybe there were no real villains in a political struggle. Both sides had probably hurt humans. But I wanted to believe in Ajuka—the man who looked me in the eye and talked to me like an equal. I wanted to keep playing games with him.
I trusted the Four Great Satans because Ajuka trusted them. It was a biased answer, but it was my honest feeling. I just wanted to be with the people I cared about.
"Hehe, it's a fascinating perspective. If you can't break the defense, light a fire elsewhere and wait for the enemy to stumble. It's a classic tactic. A very human, and very ruthless, move."
"Hey..."
"Oh, I meant that as a compliment. I'm famous for being a harsh critic."
Even so, being called 'ruthless' doesn't exactly make me feel like a hero.
"I've been thinking of my own ways to break the stalemate," Lüdiger continued. "I was focusing on the players. If the enemy wants to use 'Time' as an ally, I was going to make Diehauser's faction so strong that time wouldn't matter."
"So you never intended to face the Old Devils head-on either?" I asked.
"Of course not. I know how cunning they are."
This guy is a bit of a bully, I realized. He had asked me "how to attack," knowing that phrasing would lead me to ignore defensive or indirect solutions. I'd only brought up the Old Satan Faction because he had framed the question so narrowly. If he'd said "how to win," I would have thought of something else.
"Haha, sorry. Don't look so sour. It was a bit of a trick question. I wanted to see if you'd notice the trap or if you'd come up with something entirely different. I never expected you to actually provide a viable 'Method of Attack' that utilized our biggest political liability."
"So I walked straight into your trap with a smile on my face, huh?"
"You walked into it and then leaped right over it. I haven't been this surprised since Diehauser's strike. Though, I suppose that was your idea too."
Lüdiger chuckled, his body shaking with amusement. It wasn't the roaring laughter of Azazel, but he was clearly having a great time. I felt a bit miffed—it's not nice to laugh at someone's serious effort. Still, the man's "sparkling aura" didn't fade even when he was laughing. The perks of being handsome, I guess. Go ahead and explode, you married guy.
"In addition to the players we've already won over, there are other 'Kings' who have ties to the administration. I intend to track their movements and secure evidence of any new corruption. Since the administration is in 'defense mode,' they won't be able to help those sub-contractors if they get caught. We'll purge our own ranks and offer the culprits to the public as examples of our commitment to reform. As long as we time it correctly, we can keep the public on our side. The longer the Old Devils stay hidden, the more the players will drift toward us until the administration loses all control. I have several other plans in motion as well."
"Wow... you really are a Master Strategist."
"…First, I need to vet this idea of yours. It's risky and incredibly difficult, but the logic is sound. And the potential return on a success is too high to ignore. Now I understand how Diehauser and the Satans felt dealing with you..."
The strategist regained his composure and discussed the details with me. I wondered if it was okay to tell me all this, but he just said, "You wouldn't say anything that would harm Diehauser." I guess that meant he trusted me. Though he looked a bit tired.
"Kanata, are you causing trouble for more people again?" Lavinia asked.
"No, Lavinia! I was just making suggestions. The decision to actually do it belongs to Lüdiger and the Satans."
"…I see," Lüdiger noted. "You dangle a delicious carrot in front of us and then leave the decision to us, ensuring we can't look away. And then you watch the fallout from across the river like it's none of your business. You really are a Devil."
"Lüdiger!" I shouted.
"I'm joking."
His tone did NOT sound like he was joking! Satisfied with my reaction, he chuckled again. He seemed like a cold, calculated person, but he had a playful streak. Diehauser looked shocked to see Lüdiger laughing so much. I have no idea how I did that. I'm the one who wants to know why I'm being laughed at.
After that, the heavy talk ended. We discussed the Rating Games, how they spent their holidays, how to annoy noble Devils, how he met his wife, and the fact that he was going to be a father soon. When I mentioned I was struggling with having too many high-level contact numbers, he just smiled and gave me his too. He's definitely treating me like a toy. I literally just said it was a problem!
"One last thing, Kanata. Do you consider yourself weak?"
"Huh? Well, yeah. I'm definitely weak."
I answered instantly. In a world full of monsters, I was at the bottom of the ladder. No matter how hard I worked, I'd never be a 'protagonist' who could win a fair fight against the heavy hitters. I wanted to get stronger, but I knew my limits.
"Good. Keep that mindset. That awareness will make you strong."
"Strong? Even if I'm weak?"
"Because you are weak—because you lack power—you are forced to think. You become greedy for every scrap of information and every tactical advantage just to survive. The key is to never give up on even the smallest possibility... just as you did when you thought of a way to save Diehauser."
People think because they are weak... I felt I understood what Lüdiger was trying to say. I never wanted to fight a strong enemy head-on. If someone else could fight for me, or if I could find a way to win without a fight, I'd take it every time. But I had a feeling that one day, a fight would come that I couldn't run away from. I resolved to keep his words in my heart.
We exchanged farewells, and Diehauser and Lüdiger prepared to return to the Underworld. It had only been a few hours, but it felt like a lifetime. I let out a long breath. Cleria and Masaomi had been thoroughly "vetted" by their overprotective older brother and were currently slumped on the sofa in exhaustion. Luciana looked like she was about to cross herself in pity. Good work, everyone.
The meeting with the leaders of the reform movement—a major event before my summer break—had concluded successfully.
***
As the teleportation circle faded, the scenery shifted back to the Underworld. Diehauser allowed a small smile to touch his lips, still basking in the warmth of the afternoon. Seeing Cleria and Masaomi so happy had finally given him true peace of mind.
"Still, Lüdiger. you seemed to be enjoying yourself quite a bit. I've never seen you laugh like that."
"I had a wonderful time. That boy has a fascinating mind."
"Fascinating?"
Diehauser had been eavesdropping slightly during their talk. He hadn't expected Lüdiger to ask such a question, and he certainly hadn't expected the boy's answer. Framing the Old Satan Faction to save us last time was one thing, but monitoring them to use as bait this time? He's as unpredictable as ever.
The Old Satan Faction was a topic no one in the Underworld liked to discuss. They weren't necessarily shunned, but everyone kept their distance, sensing a fundamental difference in values. Diehauser didn't understand them; he couldn't grasp their logic. So, like most Devils, he simply chose not to think about them.
"He's interesting. It's been a long time since I've seen a child who is so expressive and emotional, yet so easy to read. He has no hidden agenda, which I know is why you like him. But for the life of me, I couldn't figure out the process that led him to that conclusion. And I pride myself on my observation skills..."
Kanata had been too focused on helping Diehauser to notice, but Lüdiger had been scrutinizing him the entire time. He had analyzed every facial twitch and tone of voice as they discussed "Methods of Attack," trying to solve the riddle of the boy's logic. He had failed to reach a definitive answer.
That was what made it fun. He couldn't predict the boy's next move. In a normal conversation, the boy was an open book. But when he dove into the "sea of thought" to solve a crisis, his dark eyes held a depth that Lüdiger couldn't pierce.
"He speaks without a shred of malice, objectively stating his thoughts," Lüdiger mused. "Most sentient beings base their logic on their own values and emotions. But Kanata seems to ignore his own feelings, looking at the world as if it were a diagram on a page, analyzing the relationships and structures as a whole."
"..."
"And the most interesting part is that he sees through the facade to the essence of his opponent. He understands human cowardice perfectly. He knows that if you can't win a fair fight, you must trick the enemy into your own field and show your fangs only when the killing blow is guaranteed. That boy becomes his most ruthless when something important is on the line. Because he knows he is weak, he is absolute in his pursuit of a confirmed kill."
That was why Lüdiger had given him that final piece of advice. He wanted the boy to keep weaponizing his weakness—to never stop thinking. For a man whose hobby was observing others, Kanata was a treasure trove of entertainment. It was the same exhilaration he felt during a top-tier Rating Game match where anything could happen.
Diehauser, meanwhile, had a complicated expression. To him, Kanata was the hero who saved his family, a boy he viewed as a younger brother. Seeing him be so genuinely devoted to Diehauser Belial—the individual, not just the Emperor—made him happy.
But he felt a bit guilty that the boy had caught the attention of someone as "twisted" as Lüdiger. Especially since he was the one who introduced them.
"…Did you tell him any of that?"
"Of course not. I think those are parts of himself he'd rather not touch. If I said it, I'd just scare him away. I have no intention of losing my most precious fan."
Lüdiger's smirk widened.
"From now on, I'll just act as the 'slightly bad older neighbor' type. I'll offer him some 'interesting' advice now and then and watch his progress with interest."
A Devil giving 'bad advice' to a natural disaster. That is the worst possible combination. Diehauser's cheek twitched. Between Mephisto and the Satans, his circle was already full of "Too-Demonic Devils." He clutched his aching head as the strategist continued to chuckle.
It had been six months of constant stress for the Emperor. He pulled out a bottle of medicine he'd bought from the Agareas territory—marketed as 'Your lovely partner for waterless relief'—and swallowed a pill for his growing headache.
Even with his new responsibilities, Azazel was still Azazel. And the Underworld was about to get a lot more interesting.
***
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