In many people's eyes, Kaguya Shinomiya was like a chilling Japanese doll—cold, indifferent, and seemingly devoid of emotion.
But Leo knew better. That "Ice Kaguya" persona was nothing more than a hardened façade she had created to protect her true heart. A mask.
Her mother had passed away not long after her birth, and her father had remained distant ever since. Deep down, Kaguya had always yearned for familial affection.
That was why, even though she no longer held any expectations for the Shinomiya Family, she still cherished the stone tablet she believed her father had given her. To her, it was proof of that lingering desire for family.
Because of this, Leo had already made up his mind before coming to Tokyo. He would approach her through that longing for kinship and make her willingly hand over the Tablet of Destiny.
His plan was simple in concept, if not in execution: help Kaguya find her mother's soul. Give her a chance to see her mother one last time—or, at the very least, speak with her once. That would be his bargaining chip.
But even something that sounded as simple as meeting or speaking to one's deceased mother was far from easy.
Once the souls of the dead entered the Underworld, they didn't linger. They were sent onward to different destinations.
There was a region within the Underworld dedicated to managing souls—the first stop for those who died in the human world. From there, some were dispatched to the depths of hell in the lower layers of the Underworld, a realm people referred to as the Realm of the Dead. Others were sent to Limbo or Purgatory, places where devout believers went after death. After cleansing their souls there, they would be permitted to enter Heaven, leaving the Underworld entirely.
Neither of those places was somewhere you could just waltz into.
The Realm of the Dead was the domain of the god of death. It was crawling with reapers responsible for guiding souls, and the god of the Realm of the Dead himself presided there. While the Underworld and the Realm of the Dead currently maintained a tense but non-aggressive relationship, they detested one another. Any outsider who trespassed would inevitably be targeted—by the reapers or even the god himself.
As for Limbo and Purgatory, the Church collectively referred to them as the afterlife. They were said to have been defined by the God of the Bible with the Realm of the Dead as a reference. In other words, they were Heaven's territory. Whether devil or fallen angel, stepping foot there would immediately draw the hostility of Heaven.
Because of this, even though devils and fallen angels resided in the Underworld and hell, the number of souls they could actually control was extremely limited. Most souls eventually went to the Realm of the Dead or the afterlife. Very few remained in the Underworld, unless they had fallen into the hands of devils or fallen angels for special reasons—or were still in the soul management region.
Trying to find Kaguya Shinomiya's mother's soul among them was practically impossible.
Her mother had been dead for over a decade. Even if her soul had once passed through the Underworld, it had likely already gone to the Realm of the Dead or the afterlife—perhaps even Heaven itself. Searching for her now would be like looking for a needle in the ocean.
But that was exactly why this deal was fair.
Only by accomplishing something so difficult could Leo accept taking the Tablet of Destiny with a clear conscience.
He wasn't alone anymore, either. House Phenex stood behind him, the Sitri House continued to support him, and he could even leverage figures like Sirzechs and the other Maou. If the three great factions ever moved toward peace, using his influence to ask them to help locate the soul of an ordinary human was hardly an unreasonable request.
Leo was confident Kaguya wouldn't be able to refuse this deal. Compared to a so-called treasure that held only sentimental value and couldn't even be used, the chance to see a loved one again—or speak to them once—was far more precious.
And reality proved him right.
"…Can you really let me see my mother?"
After a very, very long silence, Kaguya finally spoke.
"At the very least, I can let you speak with her once," Leo replied calmly. "That, I can promise. Of course, it will take some time."
"How long?" Once she made up her mind, Kaguya became decisive. "And how am I supposed to trust you?"
"Within one year," Leo said with a smile as he looked at her. "I don't expect you to trust me. I'm a devil, after all. But precisely because I'm a devil, I abide by the principle of fair trade."
"There's no reason for me to lie to you. If I didn't intend to do this, I could've just taken the tablet by force. Why bother talking this much?"
"Or do you think I lack the strength to seize the Tablet of Destiny from you?"
Kaguya fell silent again.
Leo didn't rush her. Seeing that she had no intention of drinking her tea, he casually picked up his own cup and took a slow sip.
Outside the car, bursts of firelight, explosions, and gunfire continued to ring out, a clear sign that their servants were still locked in battle.
Boom!
With a wave of explosive force, the luxury car finally lost its balance and began to shake violently.
Kaguya, still wavering, nearly got thrown from her seat—but Leo reacted instantly, pressing her back down.
"Looks like it's almost over out there," he said leisurely.
Her heart tightened.
She didn't know how the battle was going, but judging by how relaxed Leo looked, victory clearly wouldn't belong to her maid—it would be his servants instead.
And she was right.
Ai Hayasaka was on the verge of defeat.
At first, her superb exorcism techniques had allowed her to fight Ravel Phenex to a standstill. The outcome had been unclear. But as time dragged on, exhaustion crept in. Her breathing grew ragged. Her maid outfit was torn to shreds, pale skin marred with scorched black marks. Eventually, she dropped to one knee on the car's roof.
Ravel's attacks worked on Hayasaka—but Hayasaka's attacks did nothing in return. Against Ravel's Immortal Body, they were completely ineffective. Ravel still looked utterly unscathed.
As the fight continued, Hayasaka's injuries accumulated until she could no longer hold on, while Ravel remained energetic and composed. Before long, she would surely take Hayasaka down completely.
Whether Hayasaka would survive afterward was anyone's guess.
With that thought, Kaguya finally made her decision.
"I agree… to give you the tablet."
She spoke as if sighing.
Leo smiled.
"Then the contract is sealed."
Ten minutes later, the luxury car drove into a Western-style mansion and came to a stop at the front gate.
"Milady."
Ai Hayasaka, covered in wounds, helped Kaguya out of the car. When she saw Leo step out as well, shock filled her face.
She hadn't sensed his presence at all—not when he infiltrated the car, not when he spoke with Kaguya.
She had been less than a meter away, right on the roof.
This man was dangerous. Extremely dangerous.
She wasn't even close to being his match.
"Are you okay, Hayasaka?" Kaguya asked softly, her expression shifting despite her composure.
This was the first time she had ever seen Hayasaka in such a miserable state.
In the past, she'd been targeted by attackers before—some even High-Class Devils or powerful fallen angels. But every one of them had been dealt with by Hayasaka, and none had ever inflicted injuries this severe.
The realization hit her hard.
Hayasaka wasn't invincible.
If today's attackers hadn't come without malicious intent—if they hadn't adhered to a fair trade—both mistress and maid might have been in grave danger.
"I'm fine," Hayasaka said, shaking her head. "She didn't intend to kill me."
As she spoke, Hayasaka looked up at the night sky, drawing Kaguya's gaze with her.
Only then did Kaguya see it—a beautiful girl descending from above, flame-like wings spread wide.
"Leo-sama."
Ravel landed beside him, retracting her fiery wings as she looked up at him.
"Well done," Leo said, smiling as he patted her head.
Compared to Hayasaka's battered state, Ravel was completely unharmed.
"It was nothing," Ravel replied.
She seemed unaccustomed to the intimacy, but she didn't resist. Instead, she lowered her head shyly, a faint blush coloring her cheeks.
Leo chuckled.
A tsundere who was proud, strong, and brilliant—yet this easily flustered. The contrast was amusing.
"So that's Ravel Phenex's master," Hayasaka murmured, her gaze heavy with caution.
"Phenex…"
Kaguya's eyes changed as well.
House Phenex ranked thirty-seventh among the Seventy-Two Pillars—squarely in the middle. While the ranking wasn't particularly high, they still held the title of Marquis, only one step below Duke-ranked House Eligos. But considering the special nature of House Phenex and the current state of House Eligos, their standing in devil society was likely even higher.
A noble daughter from such a family had no reason to become someone else's servant. With Evil Pieces, she could easily have been a King piece herself.
And yet, here she was—serving Leo Eligos.
What did that imply?
Kaguya's understanding of Leo's background deepened—and with it, her confidence that he would honor his promise.
A devil of such standing wouldn't stoop to deceiving an ordinary human girl. Nor would he fail to keep his word.
"You should rest, Hayasaka," Kaguya said quietly. "Leave the rest to me."
"No," Hayasaka refused immediately. "I have to stay by your side."
Her guarded gaze toward Leo and Ravel made her stance clear—she wasn't about to leave Kaguya alone with potentially dangerous individuals.
Kaguya seemed like she wanted to say something, but seeing Hayasaka's resolute expression, she stayed silent and turned toward the mansion.
Hayasaka followed, leaving Leo and Ravel behind.
"Still not done?" Ravel asked loudly.
"It's settled," Leo replied with a nod.
They waited for about fifteen minutes before Kaguya and Hayasaka emerged from the mansion.
Hayasaka was still covered in wounds, her clothes unchanged. In Kaguya's hands, however, was an old, battered stone tablet.
"That should be what you're after," Kaguya said flatly, tossing it to Leo.
He caught it and examined it.
At first glance, it looked like nothing more than an ancient slab of stone. But its surface was carved with countless stars, radiating mystery.
The star patterns seemed chaotic, yet carried an underlying order. As Leo focused on them, he felt as if he were being drawn into a vast cosmos, watching stars rise and fall.
"So this is the Tablet of Destiny…" Ravel murmured.
"Seems like it," Leo replied.
He couldn't sense any obvious power from it, but the strange visions alone told him it was anything but ordinary.
Whether it truly was the Tablet of Destiny would have to wait until they brought it to the Familiar Forest and handed it to Tiamat for confirmation.
If it checked out, then Tiamat's request would be complete—and Leo would receive those two exceptional servants no one had ever managed to reincarnate successfully.
His strength would grow once more.
"You have what you wanted," Kaguya said quietly. "I hope you keep your promise."
"Don't worry," Leo replied. "You'll have your answer within a year."
He handed the tablet to Ravel, nodded to Kaguya, and activated a magic circle beneath his feet.
In the next moment, Leo and Ravel vanished.
Kaguya and Hayasaka stood there in silence for a long time.
"Milady…" Hayasaka hesitated, then fell quiet.
Kaguya stared at the place where Leo had disappeared. In her calm heart, a faint, barely perceptible mix of hope and unease began to surface.
"Mother…"
Her weak whisper was carried away by the night wind, fading like a quiet lament.
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