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A New God's Conquest, Chapter 50 – Kuoh
– Touji Shidou –
Waiting on the outskirts of town, Touji checked his watch for the umpteenth time, the guests he was meant to welcome already more than an hour late.
When he was told that a high-ranking exorcist who he'd never heard of would be taking his station as head priest over Kuoh, Touji didn't know what to expect, but as a golden circle formed a distance away, depositing a well-built young man with two nuns and a child at his side, it certainly wasn't this.
Touji wasn't a proud man, he didn't really care about the subtle demotion. As far as he was concerned, the safety of this place he'd called home for as long as he could remember was all that mattered.
But seeing who would now be in charge, he couldn't help the doubts forming after this first impression.
He knew better than most of the corruption within the Church's higher ranks, and suffice it to say, gaining such a position so young while surrounding himself with beautiful women and a little girl who didn't look related to any present painted a grim picture.
Still, he had his duties, and after hoping for the best, he quickly approached the group wearing a calm smile on his face.
"Welcome to Kuoh, sir. Touji Shidou, at your service. I've been the exorcist entrusted with the local church for the past few years." Touji greeted, pausing after realizing the message sent with his orders failed to identify who exactly he'd now be working under. "Ah, but apologies, they never did give me a name."
"You may refer to his… mff…" the older woman began before his new superior muffled anything further with a hand over her mouth. But judging from the conceited tone she'd been speaking with, it might have been for the best.
"Just call me Lux; thanks for meeting us here, Touji." The man he now knew to be Lux introduced in his companion's stead, making him hide away any dissatisfaction at being referred to so familiarly by this stranger.
"These two are Melisandre and Asha. Don't mind anything they say; they're still not accustomed to social settings after spending so long in isolated training," Lux continued, gesturing to each respectively. "But most importantly, this is Asia, my recently adopted daughter," He finished, resting a hand on the blonde girl's head, and while he had questions regarding the mentioned training, at least one of his worries could be set at ease.
So that's what it was, an adopted child. Maybe he was too quick to judge. Though, he didn't think anyone would blame him, not with the reputation that the Vatican clergy carried.
"It's a pleasure, Mister Lux, Sister Melisandre, Sister Asha. And young Asia, I have a daughter about your age; perhaps you two could soon become friends," Touji nodded to each. Though, after looking at the shy, well-behaved little girl, he couldn't help but wonder if his rambunctious daughter would even be a good match.
He also wondered why Lux seemed to be suppressing laughter at his words, deciding to continue rather than bringing it up. "But if I may, your arrival has caught us all by surprise. Does this have anything to do with the Gregori's recent arrival?" Touji asked.
"The Fallen, yes. The angels always do get suspicious when their treacherous brothers and sisters are involved. But to answer your question: That's only a part of the reason I've been sent," Lux replied, any irritation by the man's lack of respect toward God's messengers pushed to the side by an awkward silence forming as Touji not-so-patiently waited for a further explanation that never came.
"Ahem… I see." He cleared his throat. "Well then, Mister Lux, shall I show you to our base of operation?" Touji asked, deciding to move past the issue.
"Lead the way," Lux nodded to him, continuing before he could turn around. "And tell me about the Devil overseeing Kuoh on the way."
Touji hummed in thought for a bit at that. He'd only met with Cleria on one occasion, any further interactions left to letters and messengers.
But, along with the fact that she was a public figure who didn't take any measures to keep her anonymity on the Devil Net, it was simple enough to get a general understanding of her personality.
"Lady Belial is more reasonable than most of her kind and doesn't seem to share the common contempt towards the church," he began as they walked, Lux listening in silence, only interrupting his explanation when his daughter brought up irrelevant questions about the people and buildings they passed.
Touji had to guess she'd been pretty sheltered up to this point, considering that most of what she asked was common knowledge.
It was also strange that the obviously foreign little girl spoke perfect Japanese, but his doubts about this odd bunch would probably be never-ending if he dwelled on every little thing.
"And as far as we've come to understand, the Belial clan has only recently gained a standing in the underworld after Lady Cleria's cousin began dominating the Rating Games," Touji finished, and with perfect timing it seemed, stopping at the foot of the pathway that led to the town's modest church.
"Now this won't do at all," Lux commented, shaking his head just before he could begin boasting about the location's history.
Touji had to force a frown from showing on his face. Sure, his church couldn't match the grand architecture of Europe, but it was more than enough for a town this size.
"It's not much, but these hallowed halls have served us well," Touji said, feeling the need to defend himself.
"Nothing a little renovation won't fix," Lux waved him off, snapping his fingers just before he could argue that they wouldn't have time for a construction project.
"Greetings, Master, how may I be of service?" A high-pitched voice asked, nearly making him jump in fright at the short, dark-skinned creature popping in out of nowhere.
For the sake of his aging heart, Touji was really wishing that it had been his friend Masaomi sent instead of whatever this nonsense was quickly becoming.
"Ah, Oak, just the elf I was hoping to see," Lux smiled at the newcomer as Touji felt like he'd just been relegated to a stunned onlooker. "We'll be staying here for some time, and this place is in desperate need of your magical touch."
"So it seems, Master," the short… man? Sneered, pulling a clipboard out of thin air before rapidly scribbling all while glaring at his beloved church like it owed the thing money.
And if not for already resigning himself to his fate, Touji would have had some less-than-pleasant words for the little man disparaging his place of worship.
"Shall I arrange things similar to the palace, Master?" The man he guessed was named Oak asked after his writing paused.
Wait… What was this about a palace? Was he dealing with royalty?
"Hmm, I was thinking something more modern this time," Lux told the little guy.
"And for the color scheme?" Oak asked.
"Do you even need to ask?" Lux smirked, making Touji feel like he was being left out of some inside joke.
"You heard the Master, boys. Time to get to work." Oak shouted to seemingly no one, and what looked to be more than a hundred of whatever species he was making themselves known the next second.
"Oh, and Oak. Send some of your workers to make sure the town's mundane inhabitants don't notice any of the changes," Lux added before turning his attention back to himself. "Right, now that that's taken care of, I'll be relying on you to arrange a meeting between me and this Lady Belial."
"…Sure, that shouldn't be a problem. Which day and time should I ask for?" Touji lifelessly responded, a part of his mind realizing that he'd need to let his fellow exorcists know not to take up arms against the hordes of little men descending upon their town.
"In about an hour will do," Lux answered, and it took all the patience he had not to finally snap.
"Sir, I don't think Lady Belial will take kindly to such an abrupt meeting," he said, deciding to stick with diplomacy.
"I'm sure she'll be willing to make an exception. And if not, I'll be sending Asha with you to make my position clear."
"…Fine, where will you be holding this meeting?" Touji sighed, wondering if their peace talks would really be ending so soon.
"Asha will know where to go," Lux nodded to the younger of the two nuns, the teen girl glaring a hole into the back of her leader's head.
Fuck.
Now he knew why so many of his colleagues decided that going astray was their best bet.
– Asha –
Asha couldn't believe the gall of that bastard. To think she'd been a princess of the Seastone throne not long ago, and now she was being commanded to run errands like some peasant.
Okay, so maybe her role as a princess only lasted for the few months before her father got himself beaten down and killed like the imbecile he was, but her point still stood.
"Sister Asha, have you known Mister Lux for long?" the man she was skulking behind asked. Fuck, she'd already forgotten his name.
"No," Asha replied, cutting off the attempted conversation so she could return to her brooding.
Sure, her first attempted rebellion may have failed miserably, but it obviously couldn't be blamed on her. How could she have known just how powerful her mistress and the bitch's master were? Even to the point that they could apparently travel between entirely different worlds.
Did the fucker really need to drag her along to this land filled with weird squinty-eyed people?
Whatever, one day he'd get his comeuppance.
And even though that day might not be this one or the next… or any in the near future, he'll regret ever stealing her maidenhead.
Heh, maybe she'd be merciful enough to keep the bastard alive doing the one thing he was useful for.
She could already picture it. The handsome fucker chained at the foot of her bed, his only purpose to provide her with that same pleasure as the night she was made into a woman.
Damn, she was in a good mood now, even ignoring the priest's odd looks at her maniacal giggles.
It was too bad her dreams couldn't come true anytime soon. In the meantime, she'd have to figure out a way to get her womanly needs met more than the few times Lux decided to visit her chambers.
Well, at least there was the bright side to this whole thing. Surely, Lux wouldn't be able to ignore her charms in the absence of his other lovers.
"Oi, what's the hold-up?" Asha butt in, brought out of her scheming as the priest argued with some trollop wearing a skimpy maid uniform.
"Sister, it appears that Lady Belial won't be able to meet with us on such short notice," the priest shook his head.
"Oh? Is that so?" She asked, glaring at the maid.
"Indeed, the mistress's schedule is filled for today. Do try sending word in advance next time," the bitch sneered with her nose held high.
Asha chuckled darkly at that as she drew her driftwood wand. Who did this lowly woman think she was to talk to her like that?
"Hmm? I wonder if your mistress will still be so busy once I start cutting down a few of her servants." Asha drawled, her magical might already pressing down on the bitch.
"P-Please, I'm sure Lady Belial will reconsider," the maid stuttered, barely even able to stand within her presence.
"Tch, what a coward. Fine, go and see what your mistress has to say now," Asha scoffed, easing off her magic enough for the woman to scurry away.
Damn, she was really hoping to let loose right there.
Alas, Lux would probably scold her if she made too much of a mess. Or worse, tell on her to Bella; she shivered at the thought.
– Cleria Belial –
Scrolling through the comment section, Cleria giggled at the obscene remarks made towards one of their vaunted Satans.
Sure, the article about Serafall's risqué magical girl photoshoot was interesting enough, but the real entertainment was in the cesspool below.
"My lady, envoys from the church are asking for an audience," A servant called out after knocking on her bedroom door.
"Tell them I'm busy," she immediately shirked her duties before getting back to the juicy drama still unfolding.
But just as an argument was starting to heat up, a presence at the peak of high class washing over the manor had her shooting to her feet, her pajamas swapped with a battle dress before her forgotten phone could even hit the ground.
"My lady, it's bad!" the same servant shouted, barging into her room without a care for decorum.
"Yeah, I figured. But who is it?" Cleria asked, already planning on making an escape back to the underworld.
"It's one of the church's nuns. I've never seen her before, but she won't take no for an answer," the flustered maid rambled, making her pause.
"Wait, a nun? Really? And she's only asking for a meeting?" Cleria asked, happy that she probably wouldn't have to disgrace her family name by fleeing.
"I believe that's it, my lady."
Well, if that was all, she didn't know why her silly servants were making such a fuss, she thought, pocketing her cell before strolling out to meet their guests. It wasn't like they weren't used to interacting with even stronger beings, after all.
"So, it's you, Shidou, and I thought we were getting along until now," Cleria grumbled after seeing who was at her front door, keeping an eye on the powerhouse by the man's side.
"Apologies, Lady Belial, my commander requests a meeting," the priest said.
"Commander? I thought you were the one in charge around here." Cleria rose a brow, noting that the man seemed to be in a particularly glum mood.
"Things have changed," he stated simply.
"So it seems," Cleria deadpanned.
– Lux –
Watching the ashen-haired beauty saunter her way into the café, Lux gave the woman his patented smile that he knew left all the fair maidens weak in the knees.
He'd forgotten the name of the man who ended up with Cleria in the original story, but that guy could go and get fucked.
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