Kokabiel POV
I stared at the parchment in front of me until the words started blurring together. Strategic positions. Troop movements. Supply lines. Casualty reports.
The endless bureaucracy of warfare distilled into neat, organized documents that somehow made death and suffering feel administrative.
"This section needs your seal, Lord Kokabiel," Penemue said softly, leaning over my shoulder just a bit closer than necessary. All that talk about personal space, sigh.
Her voice had that particular tone she always used, professionally helpful with an undercurrent of something else entirely. "Authorization for reinforcements to the Eastern front."
I picked up the quill and signed without really looking at her. After three thousand years of her attempts, I'd learned to recognize when she was using "work" as an excuse to get close.
"Done," I said, passing it back without making eye contact.
She took it with a small, knowing smile, her fingers brushing against mine deliberately. "You've been working so hard, Lord Kokabiel. Perhaps you need someone to help you... relax later?"
"Penemue, you were tied up by Gabriel because last time I asked for my stress ball, you shoved your breast in my palm. I can't even close my eyes around you."
"Just a suggestion, and I recall you squeezing them... Rather roughly." she said with shy look, though the innocence was entirely manufactured. "You do seem tense."
"I wonder why," I muttered, reaching for the next document.
Gabriel glanced up from her own stack of papers near the window, her expression shifting to that usual look of disapproval she reserved for Penemue's antics.
"perhaps you could maintain professional boundaries while we're handling military logistics?"
"I am being professional," Penemue protested. "I'm very good at multitasking."
"That's not what I..." Gabriel started, then sighed. "Never mind."
I suppressed a smile. This was normal.
Gabriel being protective, Penemue being persistent, and me trying to actually get work done somewhere in between.
"The supply chains are holding steady, brother," Gabriel said, turning her attention back to me.
"Food, weapons, medical supplies—all within acceptable parameters. The logistical networks you established are working excellently. You are really good at this brother."
"Good," I said, genuinely meaning it. At least something was going right.
Twenty years into the Great War. Almost a year since I killed Ddraig and Albion.
Yahweh had been gone from Heaven for most of that year, busy sealing Trihexa, the Beast of Apocalypse, before it could destroy everything.
My chest tightened slightly at the thought. He was out there right now, fighting one of the most dangerous entities in existence, and I was stuck here signing papers.
I knew what came next. Had seen it with my omniscience. He'd return weakened from sealing the 666 Beast. Lucifer would finally make his move. And Yahweh would die.
I couldn't stop it. He insisted on this end. Changing that event might break everything that came after. The fragile peace. The three-way Cold War. The eventual alliances.
But knowing that logically didn't make it easier to accept emotionally.
He'd given me purpose when I'd been drowning in my own confusion after transmigrating. Had given me time to adjust, to find myself, to become something more than just a confused human soul in an angel's body.
He'd been patient. Understanding. Had never pushed me to be something I wasn't ready for.
And I was going to watch him die.
"Brother?" Gabriel's concerned voice pulled me back. "You have that look again. The distant one."
"I'm fine," I said automatically.
"You're not fine," she countered, moving from the window to stand beside me. "You've been carrying too much for too long. You need to rest."
"There's too much work—"
"There's always too much work," Gabriel interrupted gently.
She placed a hand on my shoulder. "But you're no use to anyone if you collapse from exhaustion. Michael and I worry about you. Even that pervert over there." She glared a5 Penemue who was sneaking closer.
Gabriel had always been like this—protective, caring, treating me like actual family. A bit clingy at times, but truly sincere.
Others in Heaven had noticed. Some whispered that Gabriel was in love with me, that her attentiveness went beyond sibling affection.
But I knew better. She was just... Gabriel. This was how she loved—completely, openly, without reservation.
And I saw her as a little sister, even though she was actually older than me in angelic terms. Something about her earnestness, her kindness, brought out protective instincts I didn't even know I had.
Strange. It's making me remind me of someone. A little girl? Who was that?
"I'll rest soon," I sighed as I tried to clear my head. "Let me finish these reports first."
"That's what you said three hours ago," Penemue pointed out, though her tone had shifted to actual concern rather than flirtation. "Gabriel's right. You need a break. Perhaps I can offer a... Thorough massage?"
I looked at the remaining stacks of documents. Supply requisitions. Personnel transfers. Diplomatic correspondence. More casualty reports.
"Fine," I relented. "But let me address the immediate priorities first. What's the situation with the Devils?"
"Stable," Gabriel reported, returning to her professional demeanor while staying close. "Michael's skirmishes with the other three Satans haven't escalated.
Beelzebub attempted a probe at the Northern border two days ago, but Michael repelled them without significant losses."
"And Lucifer?"
"Still defensive," Penemue said, consulting her notes. "No major movements from his forces. It's... unusual. The strongest Satan staying passive while Yahweh is absent."
"He's afraid," I said simply. "After what happened to the Dragon Emperors, he's calculating whether attacking is worth the risk of facing me."
It was pragmatic. Lucifer was many things, but stupid wasn't one of them. He'd seen what I did to Ddraig and Albion. Seen me turn two of the strongest beings in existence into Sacred Gear parts.
Why would he risk the same fate?
"What about the Fallen Angels?" I asked, moving to the next topic.
"Still withdrawn," Gabriel confirmed. "Grigori hasn't made any aggressive moves since... since that day."
That day, huh. The memory was crystalline clear despite being over a year old.
A thousand Fallen Angels, led by Azazel, Baraqiel, and Shemhazai. Preparing an ambush. Thinking they could cripple Heaven's logistics and force us into unfavorable positions.
Yahweh had looked at me calmly and said, "Deal with them, Kokabiel. Show them why attacking Heaven has consequences."
So I had.
The Fallen Angels had seconds to realize what was happening. I still remembered the moment their confident posture had shifted to pure terror. The moment they'd understood exactly what was falling toward them.
Only three had survived. Azazel, Baraqiel, and Shemhazai—the strongest among them.
They'd erected barriers at the last possible second, pooled their power, managed to survive the initial impact though badly wounded. They would have also died if not for those 2 lizards.
Azazel had learned his lesson. Within a week of me killing the Dragon Emperors, he'd sent a formal letter of withdrawal.
Brother Kokabiel,
I won't insult your intelligence by pretending we didn't attack Heaven. We did. We lost. A thousand of our people were erased in seconds. Only three of us survived because you had more important things to do than finish us off.
We're not stupid enough to think that mercy was kindness. It was pragmatism. And we don't think it will be extended twice.
Approximately three thousand Fallen have rejected the withdrawal and joined Lucifer's forces. They're fanatics. I hold no responsibility for their actions. Kill them if you wish.
The rest of us are done. We're tired. We just want to survive.
- Azazel
Michael had accepted it immediately. Three thousand enemies was better than six thousand.
"So Grigori remains withdrawn," I confirmed. "What about the three thousand who joined Lucifer?"
"Integrated into his forces," Penemue said. "They've been involved in some skirmishes, but nothing major. Lucifer seems to be keeping them in reserve."
Smart. Use the fanatics as shock troops when the time came.
I moved to the next report. Then stopped. Read it more carefully.
"What is this?" I asked, tapping the parchment.
"Intelligence from Southeast Asia," Gabriel said, her tone shifting to concern. "It came in this morning. Indra is mobilizing his forces."
I scanned the details. Troop movements. Supply stockpiling. Border fortifications being reinforced. Swarga's entire military preparing for deployment.
I closed my eyes and extended my omniscience toward Swarga. Toward Indra. Toward the patterns of movement and intention.
And I saw it. The strategy. The timing. The cold calculation behind it.
"It's an ambush," I said quietly.
Both Gabriel and Penemue looked at me sharply.
"Brother?" Gabriel asked. "What do you mean?"
I opened my eyes and set down the report. "Indra is preparing to attack Heaven. But not now. He's waiting for the final battle between Heaven and the Devils.
When both sides are fully committed to destroying each other, when we're weakened and depleted—that's when he'll strike."
"How can you be certain?" Penemue asked carefully. She knew about my omniscience but rarely pressed for details.
"Because it's brilliant strategy," I said, which was true without revealing too much. "Indra knows he can't fight Heaven at full strength. Not after the Dragon Emperors. But if he waits until we're already damaged..."
"He could force extremely favorable terms," Gabriel finished, her expression darkening with understanding.
"Territory. Resources. Political concessions. He could make Heaven subordinate to Swarga without technically conquering us."
"Exactly," I confirmed. "He doesn't need total victory. Just needs to be strong enough when we're weak enough that we have no choice but to accept his demands."
"That's..." Penemue's expression was troubled. "That's devious."
"It's smart," I admitted grudgingly. "Low risk for him, potentially massive reward. Even if we somehow repel him, he can retreat and claim he was responding to the conflict threatening regional stability."
"What do we do?" Gabriel asked, and there was something in her voice—absolute trust that I'd have an answer. That I'd find a solution.
The weight of that trust settled on my shoulders like physical pressure.
"We adjust our deployments," I said, thinking through the logistics. "Quietly. We need reserves that can respond to an attack from the Southeast.
Strengthen our rear guard beyond what's necessary for just the Devil conflict. Create redundancies in our supply lines."
"That will weaken our front lines against Lucifer," Penemue pointed out.
"I know. But we fight Lucifer at ninety percent strength or get blindsided by Indra when we're already committed. The choice is obvious."
Gabriel nodded slowly. "I'll begin drafting revised deployment orders. This will require significant reorganization."
"Do it quietly," I stressed. "If Indra realizes we know his plan, he might change strategies or accelerate his timeline. Better if he thinks we're oblivious until the moment we're not."
"Understood, brother."
"One more thing," I added, my voice hardening slightly. "Make it clear through our intelligence networks, that if Swarga attacks Heaven, I will personally visit Indra in his palace. Even if we lose, I'll take his pantheon with me before I die."
The threat was implicit. I'd killed Dragon Emperors. Indra knew exactly what that meant.
"Will that deter him?" Penemue asked.
"Probably not," I admitted. "But it'll make him cautious. Make him second-guess his timing. That hesitation might be enough to make him miss his optimal window."
"Or he'll attack anyway and we'll fight on two fronts," Gabriel said quietly.
"Or that," I agreed. "But at least we'll be prepared."
The room fell into contemplative silence. This was war. Not glory or heroism, but careful calculation. Trying to predict enemies and counter them before they moved.
It was exhausting.
"Brother," Gabriel said softly, placing her hand on my shoulder again. "You've been working for six hours straight. Please. Take a break."
I looked at the remaining documents. Still so much to do. Always so much to do.
"There's—"
"There's always too much," Gabriel interrupted firmly. "But you'll make mistakes if you're exhausted. Take one hour. Clear your head. We'll handle anything urgent."
I looked at her concerned expression. Then at Penemue, who'd set aside her usual flirtation and was nodding in agreement.
"Fine," I relented, standing from the table. My back protested the movement. "One hour."
"Thank you, brother," Gabriel said with obvious relief.
I left the administrative chamber and walked through Heaven's corridors. Angels bowed as I passed. Some tried to approach, but others intercepted them. Word had spread that I needed space.
I'd run Heaven for the past year. Seamlessly, they said. They respected me. Trusted me. Looked to me as their leader in Yahweh's absence.
They didn't know how much I hated it.
Not Heaven itself. Not the angels. But the responsibility.
The weight of every decision affecting thousands of lives. The constant pressure of being Heaven's Wrath when I just wanted to be... something else. Someone else.
Michael should have been doing this. He was better at leadership. More patient. More genuinely invested in the role.
But Michael was fighting. Protecting borders. Leading armies.
So I handled everything else.
Once Yahweh died and the war ended, I was dumping this on Michael and disappearing for a while. Maybe visiting other worlds through the chat group. Anything to escape this crushing responsibility.
The chat group.
After three thousand years of existing as...Arthur, of rejecting every system that tried to integrate with me, I'd finally chosen to connect with something. To reach out instead of staying isolated.
That was why I'd finally said yes. After three millennia of isolation, I was trying to move forward. To grow. To be more than just the broken transmigrator pretending to be an angel.
I found my way to one of Heaven's observation platforms. The view was always perfect here. Golden light. Peaceful clouds. Serene beauty.
All completely artificial. Constructed. Maintained by divine power.
Even the peace felt manufactured.
I pulled up the chat interface, grateful for the connection to something real.
The time dilation between worlds still confused me. A year has passed for me. But just a week for Klein and Jin-Woo. Three days or so for Robin, Kazuma, and Ritsuka. Half a year for Yoruichi in Soul Society.
I didn't understand it. Didn't care to. Had more important things to worry about.
Messages had accumulated.
[The Fool: Successfully conducted my third gathering. Justice brought someone new—Temperance. The gray fog palace is becoming more stable. I can maintain it for longer periods now without exhausting myself.]
Klein sounded more confident. Good. He was growing into his role instead of just pretending.
[Girl Who Loves Reading: We've arrived at Water 7. The city is fascinating, entirely built on waterways. I've found three libraries so far. The historical records about ancient shipwrights are quite detailed. Following leads about something called Adam's Treasure Tree.]
Robin was still seeking truth. Still following the breadcrumbs of her world's hidden history. That persistence would serve her well. Or get her killed. Possibly both.
[Shadow Monarch: Cleared an A-rank dungeon solo. The system tried to give me another stupid quest. I told it exactly where to shove its quest.
It's been passive-aggressive for two days, but at least it backed off.] He chose to omit certain details while speaking in the chat group.
Jin-Woo was establishing boundaries with his system. Smart. Systems that thought they owned you were dangerous.
[Flash Goddess: Kisuke has been suspiciously quiet lately. That's never a good sign. He's either planning something brilliant or about to cause a mess. Possibly both. I'm keeping watch but he's annoyingly good at hiding things.]
Yoruichi was as perceptive as ever. Reading between lines, watching for schemes.
[Last Master of Humanity: We completed the Third Singularity—Okeanos. So many pirates. So much sailing. I got seasick during rayshift, which shouldn't even be possible, but we saved that timeline. Drake was amazing. I'm going to miss her.]
Ritsuka sounded tired but determined. Saving humanity one impossible battle at a time through gacha luck and sheer stubbornness.
[Advocate of Gender Equality: I LEARNED EXPLOSION MAGIC! Well, Megumin taught me. Sort of. I can do one small explosion before passing out, but it's PROGRESS! One step closer to being useful! ]
Kazuma was still Kazuma. Enthusiastic about ridiculous things while pretending it was practical.
The conversations were different now. Deeper. More real. These weren't strangers making small talk anymore. They were... friends? Allies? Something in between.
Klein wasn't pretending to be a mystical sage. He was genuinely developing into The Fool.
Jin-Woo was less hostile. Still suspicious, but there was actual trust developing.
Robin was sharing her adventures, her thoughts, her discoveries. That openness from someone who'd spent decades trusting no one was significant.
This was growth. Real connection. The reason I'd finally accepted the chat group after three thousand years of rejecting everything.
Not for power. Not for advantage. But because I needed this. Needed people who saw me as something other than Heaven's Wrath. Needed to learn how to move forward instead of staying frozen.
I was Arthur Morgan once. Then I became Kokabiel. Now I was something in between—learning to accept both parts instead of keeping them separate.
The chat group was helping. Forcing me to interact. To care about people outside Heaven's politics. To think about futures beyond war.
[Heaven's Wrath: Klein, congratulations on the new member. Building something substantial. How are you handling the additional responsibility?]
[The Fool: Honestly? Still terrified every gathering. But it's getting easier. I'm learning their patterns, understanding what they need. Your advice about honesty was right, it makes everything simpler.]
[Heaven's Wrath: Good. Confidence comes from competence. You're becoming competent. Let the confidence follow naturally.]
[The Fool: Thank you. That actually helps.]
[Heaven's Wrath: Robin, found anything interesting in those Water 7 libraries?]
[Girl Who Loves Reading: Several leads about ancient shipwrights who worked with Adam's Treasure Tree wood. The historical implications are significant. I'm getting closer to understanding the Void Century.]
[Heaven's Wrath: Stay careful. The closer you get to the truth, the more dangerous people will want you silent.]
[Girl Who Loves Reading: I've learned caution well. But thank you for the concern.]
She had spent a week nagging me to send hear some detailed lore of DxD world. Her search for knowledge was relentless.
[Flash Goddess: Kokabiel-san, you've been quieter in the group lately. You didn't even join the first taskm Everything alright in your world?]
Perceptive as always.
[Heaven's Wrath: Busy. Running Heaven while Yahweh is away is more administrative work than I expected. It's tedious but necessary.]
[Advocate of Gender Equality: WAIT. You're still doing that? It's been like a year for you, right? A WHOLE YEAR of paperwork?!]
[Heaven's Wrath: Yes. Almost a year now.]
[Last Master of Humanity: That sounds exhausting. Are you taking care of yourself?]
[Heaven's Wrath: Define "taking care of myself."]
[Flash Goddess: Eating properly. Sleeping enough. Taking breaks. Basic self-maintenance.]
[Heaven's Wrath: Then no. Not really. Angels don't really need thosem]
[The Fool: That's concerning. Even beings with our advantages need rest. Pushing too hard makes you sloppy.]
[Shadow Monarch: He's right. I learned that the hard way during dungeon runs. Exhaustion kills faster than enemies.]
[Girl Who Loves Reading: When does the war end? You mentioned it would be soon.
I stared at that question for a moment.
[Heaven's Wrath: In a few months. Maybe less. When Yahweh returns from sealing Trihexa, Lucifer will make his final move.]
[Advocate of Gender Equality: Wait. When Yahweh returns? But doesn't he... I mean, in the original timeline...]
[Heaven's Wrath: Yes. He dies. I know.]
The chat went silent for several seconds.
[Last Master of Humanity: Can't you stop it? You have omniscience. You know it's coming.]
My chest tightened. This was the question I'd been dreading. The one I asked myself constantly.
[Heaven's Wrath: I could try. But changing that event might break everything that comes after. The peace between factions. The eventual alliances against common threats. Sometimes the worst outcomes lead to necessary futures.]
[The Fool: That's a heavy burden. Knowing something terrible will happen and choosing not to prevent it.]
[Heaven's Wrath: Yes. It is.]
Heavy didn't begin to cover it. Yahweh had given me purpose. Time to adjust. Understanding when I'd been lost. And I was going to watch him die because changing it might cause something worse.
The logic was sound. The emotional cost was devastating.
[Shadow Monarch: I understand. Sometimes you have to let bad things happen because the alternative is worse. Doesn't make it easier though.]
[Heaven's Wrath: No. It doesn't.]
[Flash Goddess: Then we'll help. You're not alone in this.]
[Advocate of Gender Equality: Yeah! We're a team! A dimensional team of traumatized people with questionable coping mechanisms!]
[The Fool: That's surprisingly accurate.]
[Last Master of Humanity: I'm still offering to help if you need it. Even if it's just moral support during difficult times.]
[Heaven's Wrath: I appreciate that.]
[Shadow Monarch: Don't get emotional on us.]
[Heaven's Wrath: Wouldn't dream of it.]
[Advocate of Gender Equality: So! On a completely different note! Wrath-san, are there really devil girls with huge—]
[Heaven's Wrath: Kazuma. We've discussed this.]
[Advocate of Gender Equality: I KNOW, I KNOW! Cultural appreciation! But seriously though!]
I chuckled and sent a picture of Penemue in her not so professional outfit.
[Advocate of Gender Equality: aaahhhh! You got a secretary like that! What kind of angel are you!]
[Flash Goddess: Admin-kun never changes.]
[Girl Who Loves Reading: That's not necessarily positive character development.]
[Last Master of Humanity: Um...]
[The Fool: I'm just grateful attention shifted from my earlier admission about being terrified constantly.]
[Shadow Monarch: We didn't forget. We're just prioritizing mocking Kazuma.]
[Advocate of Gender Equality: WHY DOES EVERYONE GANG UP ON ME?!]
I smiled genuinely as the conversation devolved into comfortable chaos. Kazuma defending his "interests." Jin-Woo making dry observations. Klein trying to sound mysterious before giving up. Robin's pointed commentary. Yoruichi's teasing. Ritsuka's earnest attempts to keep peace.
This was why I'd finally said yes after three thousand years.
Not for power. Not for advantage. But for this simple, human connection that made the crushing weight of responsibility feel lighter.
My hour was almost up. Time to return to administrative work. To war planning and logistics and marching toward an ending I couldn't prevent.
But I'd come back to the chat later. Talk more. Learn about their worlds and their growth.
Because after three millennia of isolation, I was finally learning how to move forward.
One conversation at a time.
[Heaven's Wrath: I need to return to work. But thank you. For being here.]
[The Fool: Anytime. We're in this together, remember?]
[Shadow Monarch: Don't work yourself to death. That would be inconvenient for the group.]
[Girl Who Loves Reading: Take care of yourself, Wrath-san. You matter to us.]
[Flash Goddess: Come back soon. These conversations need your particular brand of dry observation.]
[Last Master of Humanity: Good luck with everything! We're cheering for you!]
[Advocate of Gender Equality: KICK BUREAUCRACY'S ASS! Wait, that doesn't sound as cool as I wanted it to...]
I closed the chat interface and stood up.
Time to return. Gabriel would be waiting with that concerned expression. Penemue would probably make another attempt at seduction disguised as work assistance.
I chuckled and walked back towards my office. The war would soon come to an end, and with it, I shall begin a new life.
It's about time I lived for myself a little.
*****
We broke into the top 5! Yorokobe Shounen!
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The good stuff is coming next week. So get some Lovecraftian knowledge before that if you don't , you might need it 😉
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