The Evil Pieces created by Lord Ajuka Beelzebub, one of the Four Great Maou, were revolutionary technology for devil society, which had lost so many members in the Great War and civil wars. To revive their weakened forces, they could increase their numbers by reincarnating people as devils and bring talented individuals to the devil side.
Furthermore, with the birth of Rating Games—an underworld game that provided combat experience close to real battle—a new path was shown to devils. In the underworld that championed meritocracy, these game results came to greatly influence even peerage titles and positions. Even reincarnated devils and non-noble devils gained hope that they could achieve success and obtain peerage titles if they had ability. For devils with peerage titles, it also became a chance to obtain underworld interests. As a result, devils began moving to make those with high potential into their peerage members.
Lord Ajuka's development was certainly revolutionary technology for devils. They could increase the number of devils that had decreased. However, at the same time, there were various problems. Devils appeared who would forcibly make other races into their peerage. Among the reincarnated different races, some became intoxicated with devil power. Discrimination and disparity arose between devils and reincarnated devils. I think that also caused an increase in Stray Devils.
Among these, humans probably suffered the most harm. Humans were numerous, and many didn't possess the power to resist. Especially those with Sacred Gears—unique abilities—became targets. The biggest reason my wariness toward devils never disappeared was probably the existence of these Evil Pieces.
I had thoughts about Evil Pieces, but I understood there was no point blaming the creator here. It would be like telling someone who developed bombs, "Many people died because of you!" That wasn't necessarily wrong, but at the same time, there were those who were saved. Like Tannin, who could protect his species by becoming a devil, or like Hyoudou Issei, who wanted to live as a devil. In the end, it depended on those who used them. This would continue to be a problem to think about going forward.
"I see, the King Piece. I never thought those words would come from the mouth of a human—someone in the most distant position, neither devil, nor underworld resident, nor someone from Heaven or divine circles."
"I'm still confused about parts of it myself, but I think it just happened to be me who could speak about it."
"Do you really think the King Piece exists? The information that Belial family girl found in this house might be baseless. It's treated as an urban legend even in the underworld, information no one believes."
I'd told him everything about this incident and all the information I'd gotten from Cleria and the others. At that time, I'd also given my name and that I belonged to the "Gray Magician," and told him I'd asked Tannin to mediate. I thought Lord Ajuka must have his own thoughts about Evil Pieces, and that he wasn't someone who would bring disadvantage to the magician side.
And what he said was perfectly reasonable. No one would believe something like this coming from my mouth. Even Cleria had only been thinking "maybe it exists." It might exist, or it might not—both were possible. Right now I was just a weirdo who'd heard someone say "I saw a UFO!" and came searching for UFOs based on that. But my answer was already decided.
"It exists. The King Piece exists."
"...Oh? What's your basis?"
"I have a basis. Because Lord Ajuka Beelzebub is called a transcendent being, a super genius. There's no way someone like you couldn't manufacture the King Piece!"
"...I didn't expect such reasoning to come flying at me."
Huh, I thought that was pretty persuasive reasoning. Seeing the confusion on my face, Lord Ajuka held his forehead like he had a headache, saying "You seem to really mean that..." I mean, he was an inventor who created revolutionary things like Evil Pieces and Rating Games. Shouldn't it be natural he could do it? I also knew they actually existed.
"You think quite highly of me."
"Think highly, or rather, let me ask you the opposite then. Lord Ajuka Beelzebub, are you someone who could accept abandoning something you developed partway through?"
"...I see. And?"
"Eh, yes. Um, Evil Pieces are based on chess pieces from the human world, right? That's why their characteristics, numbers, and designs are all faithfully reproduced. When something is developed with that level of perfection, ending with fifteen pieces without manufacturing the most important King Piece would be, how should I say, unsettling, wouldn't it? If you gave up because manufacturing wasn't possible as the rumor says, that would be the same as the Evil Piece creator saying their work being incomplete is fine, right? The fact that you're enjoying your 'game' hobby in the human world means you're not manufacturing pieces now."
At my words, Lord Ajuka wore a mysterious smile and gently hid it with his hand. I didn't really understand, but he seemed to be enjoying himself somehow. Meanwhile, I was at my limit and super tense. Dealing with someone whose inner thoughts I couldn't read was incredibly hard on my stomach. I wanted medicine.
There was lots of information and logic saying the King Piece didn't exist, but if I thought about who would be least convinced that there was no King Piece, I thought it would be the manufacturer himself, Lord Ajuka Beelzebub. He was a Maou politician, but at his core, he was an engineer. Someone who loved creating something from nothing, a genuine technician—there was no way he'd abandon Evil Piece manufacturing partway through. Even less conceivable that he'd give up with the excuse that manufacturing was impossible. If he was a real technician.
"...There have been those who showed reasoning through logic and theory before, but this is the first time someone's used my qualities and emotions as the basis. You might know me better than my compatriots."
"No no, someone like me couldn't possibly measure a Maou. I just said what I thought..."
"It exists, the King Piece does. I have my pride as a technician too."
Wait, he was telling me? I was dumbfounded at the Maou's sudden affirmation, but I hurriedly corrected my posture and straightened my back to listen. And Lord Ajuka began telling me about the King Piece's manufacturing process and the results that occurred from it.
The King Piece's ability was simple enhancement. However, its effect was an ability that made power jump ten to a hundred times or more. That's exactly why it couldn't be made public. There was the reason of preventing duplicate pieces, but the bigger reason was that overwhelming power clouded judgment and might create malice or wicked emotions toward the underworld. Even the Old Maou faction in the original story—part of why they joined the terrorist organization was because they obtained the powerful force of Ophis's snake. Possessing power was probably an important element for meritocratic devils.
However, the Old Devils used these pieces for themselves. They gave the King Piece to their cronies and made them Rating Game top rankers. Without ever announcing that fact. Due to the danger of the King Piece, only those manufactured in the initial period existed, but several of them flowed out during Diehauser's generation. Lord Ajuka continued watching for opportunities to recover those pieces, but the Old Devils kept their eyes on them too.
"They'll do anything to obtain noble society and interests. They'd have no sentiment about eliminating the Belial family girl, and they're looking down on the Emperor just as you imagined. Furthermore, it might even include harassment toward him. He's a genuinely skilled person. For those manipulating rankings over politics, economics, and interests, he'd be an annoying existence who won't go along with their plans."
"That's not fair, Diehauser hasn't done anything wrong..."
"Ah, he's a 'user' who genuinely enjoys Rating Games. As the originator, I wanted him to keep enjoying the game without knowing anything."
For Lord Ajuka, who had developed and managed the system, the current state of Rating Games—where most interests were taken by the management side and filled with fixed matches—must have been unpleasant. Within that, the figure of the Emperor who became champion through his own ability and enjoyed Rating Games might have been his only salvation.
Suddenly Lord Ajuka brought his right hand into the air and snapped his fingers with a small sound. Then a magic circle appeared from the air, and dozens of document-like objects materialized on the table between me and Lord Ajuka. As I blinked at the sudden occurrence, he spoke while lifting the corner of his mouth.
"The documents now placed before you are materials about Evil Pieces. They include content proving the King Piece exists."
"Huh?"
"This is what you wanted. And you're thinking of giving this information to Emperor Belial."
My gaze naturally went to the documents. It was certainly what I wanted. Lord Ajuka had explained it to me, but presenting it as documents would be more credible than conveying it through my words. But I didn't understand. Why was he cooperating this much with me, who had suddenly appeared?
"You're giving me these documents?"
"If you understand how much blood will flow from just these documents, and you still want them."
"Blood will flow?"
"As I told you, the current underworld is unreasonable. But even so, on the surface it looks like it's functioning well. With one mistake, internal conflict could break out—it's that precarious. These documents are a bomb that could easily trigger that conflict. Information that would fundamentally collapse the underworld populace's values themselves and overturn everything. Do you properly understand that and still want these documents?"
Lord Ajuka's voice was flat and calm. That conversely made the anxiety and fear within me swell.
"Emperor Belial—is it really okay to drag him into such a bomb? To save Cleria Belial, will you throw the underworld into chaos for that? Or is the underworld and devils just something that doesn't matter to you as a human?"
"It's not that they don't matter..."
"Even so, for humans it's just a fire on the opposite shore. If the Emperor receives these documents, he'll become antagonistic toward the Old Devils. He might be able to temporarily save Cleria Belial. But there's no future beyond that. No matter how skilled he is, do you think he can keep standing against them on equal ground? They're cunning. They'll use every means to bring him down."
"But if the Emperor holds the pieces' secret—"
"I told you. They look down on the Emperor. Even if he obtains the information, they won't think he can seriously spread it to the underworld. To throw the underworld into chaos to save his cousin, make those who learn the truth into rioters, cause appropriate sacrifices. It can't be said he wouldn't go berserk when cornered. If that happens, what remains is a sea of blood. If such a situation occurs, the human world would be affected too. For whatever reason, the Emperor who led the underworld to chaos might have to be punished as a criminal."
I couldn't deny it. The Emperor, Diehauser... even if it meant he'd be purged himself, he had the will to steel his resolve. He'd proven that in the future ten years from now.
"You came here with the reason of wanting to help your friends, and as a human you're trying to get involved in a devil problem. That's brave. As a Maou, I'm happy you'd go that far to save fellow devils. However, your actions might cause blood to flow that didn't need to flow. This isn't a world that runs on ideals alone."
"..."
"Even so, will you receive these documents? Accepting the sacrifices that might flow from your own actions."
Narrowing his blue eyes, Lord Ajuka quietly looked at me. As if seeing through everything, as if understanding it all. I closed my eyes once and ruminated on the words he'd told me.
To be honest... I didn't have that kind of resolve. I'd only been thinking that if I left it to the Emperor, if I gave him the trump card of the King Piece, he might be able to save Cleria and the others from the Old Devils. What he presented wasn't a threat at all. It was reality that could very well happen.
I understood that and bit my lip. I opened my closed eyes, glanced at the Evil Piece documents, and slowly met Lord Ajuka's gaze.
"So, what's your answer?"
"For now, please give me the documents."
At my immediate answer, the corner of Lord Ajuka's mouth twitched. Huh, what happened?
"...Did you think it through?"
"Huh, I did think about it. Won't you give them to me?"
"No, it's not that. After creating all that atmosphere, having you answer so casually is a bit..."
The Maou started massaging his temples with his fingers. Why did he seem more tired than me, who was scared out of my mind?
"I just told you the concerns that would arise from these documents."
"Yes, since I hadn't thought about that, I'm glad you told me here."
"'Told me'... In that state, you'll still receive these documents?"
"Huh, right now we're talking about whether I want the documents or not, right? Then I want the documents. If I don't get them, I'd just have to go back to square one. From what you said, I understand that just handing these directly to Diehauser might be problematic, so I need to discuss with Cleria and everyone one more time and think if there are other options. It's best if there are no sacrifices."
I didn't like accepting sacrifices, and if there was a possibility of that future, I had to think about more things. Accepting sacrifices could come after that. Still, as expected of a Maou. It was a perspective I hadn't noticed. There really were areas where my thinking was insufficient, and honestly I felt like getting depressed. But I knew from the start I couldn't do anything alone, so we just had to complement each other where we fell short. It was pathetic, but I had to keep trying.
I was human, but I still didn't want to force sacrifices on unrelated people in the underworld. I didn't want to make Diehauser a criminal. Underworld politics, interests—I didn't understand any of that stuff, but I was the one who decided to do this.
"You'll drag Emperor Belial into this?"
"Drag him or not, isn't it Diehauser who decides that? ...At first, I was suddenly dragged into this situation too. Originally I didn't need to be involved in this matter, and I could have chosen the path of not getting involved. But I got to know them by my own will, became friends, agonized over it terribly, and still thought I wanted to save everyone. I'd do everything I could and use anything to save everyone. I decided myself to get dragged in."
What I could do was only create options for Diehauser. I'd long been aware of relying on others. But the him in the original story wasn't even provided with that option. There wasn't a single bit of his will in it. The only thing he could choose by his own will in the original story was joining the terrorist organization.
"I want the documents. I don't want sacrifices. I want to save Cleria and the others. I want Diehauser to keep working hard as champion going forward. ...Is that greedy?"
"Yes, even as a devil I'd say that's greedy."
"Ahaha, right? But I don't think aiming for that is wrong. I don't know if it's possible, but if you give up, nothing changes, right? Even if this world is unreasonable and cruel, not kind to mobs and full of things that make you want to cry, even if it's a world that doesn't run on ideals. If you don't give up and work hard, it might change even just a little. That's what I want to believe."
There were tons of non-humans, life-threatening situations everywhere, unreasonable and merciless, and in such a world the protagonist kept going "oppai oppai," it was really an incomprehensible world. But still, I was born here and I'm living like this. Sure, I'll probably keep complaining and grumbling going forward.
Even so, living pessimistically and self-deprecatingly isn't fun, so I'd rather smile and work hard positively. Even if this thinking of mine was naive thinking I could only say because I'd never lost anything. Because I wanted to work hard not to lose what I had now.
"You're thinking but also really winging it."
"Ah, yes. I don't really understand devil government, politics, the situation, and all that. Compared to everyone I'm weak, and my head isn't good either, so all I can do is rely on those around me. I know I'm hopeless."
"However, that's exactly why you can move forward. ...Even without power like Sirzechs or mine."
The Maou picked up the teacup on the table and sipped the tea. It really suited him. Just drinking tea made him seem elegant and noble—he really was aristocracy. The tea had cooled a bit while we talked, but it was also true that tension had made my throat dry. Since he'd specially prepared it, I should drink the tea too. Honestly, I didn't feel like I could properly taste it.
"Well then, here. Documents about Evil Pieces."
"Cough, hack! Um, really, c-can I really take these? I know it's late to ask, but these are important documents, right?"
"You're the one who said you wanted them. I've made it so no one can tell I gave them to you, so don't worry. Think of it as a Christmas present."
"...Is it okay for a Maou to give a Christmas present?"
"Why not? I just heard about it from another devil the other day, and Sirzechs is apparently throwing a party for his sister too. It's trending among devils, isn't it?"
You devils are completely free with events, huh? Since Sirzechs' peerage had Okita Souji, I think it said Rias became interested in Japanese culture because of that. And that made the Maou start Christmas parties—truly a sister complex performance.
I carefully placed the teacup on the saucer and received the documents Lord Ajuka handed me with both hands. At that moment, something like a magic circle flashed, and I almost dropped the documents in surprise. For security, apparently only I could hand these documents to Diehauser. If they passed from me to someone else or were seen, the documents would vanish without a trace.
Once given to Diehauser, that effect would disappear since they'd be needed to present evidence, but I had to be careful. Well, I understood since these were important documents that could destabilize the underworld, but please give me a heads-up beforehand.
"Um, Lord Ajuka Beelzebub. Thank you very much for the documents."
"There's no need to be so formal. The current Rating Game situation was originally caused by my lack of foresight. Including how I prioritized my pride as a technician over being a Maou. The Belial family girl learning about the King Piece also had to do with me enjoying hobbies in the human world. Also, could you give this to the Emperor together with those?"
"...A letter?"
"By the way, I've made it so no one but him can break the seal with my magic, so terrible things will happen if you carelessly open it."
"I absolutely won't open it! But why a letter..."
"I told you. I also bear cause and responsibility. I don't want to abandon my compatriots either. Whether he'll go along with my proposal is, as you said, up to him."
I looked back and forth between the letter I'd received and Lord Ajuka, tilting my head. When did he prepare something like this? Well, since he was a Maou called a transcendent being, maybe he wrote it with magic or something. Until just now he was saying really scary things to me, but suddenly he became cooperative. He really was a Maou whose thoughts I couldn't read.
And so, despite unexpected developments, I somehow managed to obtain the King Piece documents.
Today's Mil-tan Episode 3: "I'm Not Afraid of Anything Anymore"
Silence. A stillness as if all sound had vanished, as if even breathing had been forgotten. No one could move, they could only stand frozen. Only the brilliance of stained glass reflected by sunlight flickered within the solemn church.
In such a place, a single sound was born. That sound was the footsteps made by the very person who had led the church into this silence of nothingness. Due to movements and footwork so nimble they couldn't be imagined from that figure, his footsteps weren't particularly loud. However, for the current church, those footsteps alone dominated this space.
A man who had devoted himself as God's faithful in the church—Shidou Touji. At first, he couldn't recognize it. He had no idea what it was. No, one answer had emerged in his mind. However, Shidou Touji's brain stopped before reaching the domain of understanding that. Activity was forcibly stopped by being suddenly struck with shock exceeding his capacity at once.
"...Pastor, hello."
A voice calling to him echoed in the silent church. The owner of the voice was the owner of the footsteps walking straight through the church. A deep voice and mysterious verbal tic. If that was all, he knew it. What it was had been thoroughly imprinted with an incredible presence. However, currently, wearing a presence that overturned all of that, he had appeared at the church.
A giant body wrapped in an impossible mass of muscle. That physique was thoroughly trained, and those who saw would prostrate themselves before that perfected mystery of humanity. That person smiled at Shidou Touji with features too deep and intense, while directing pure, clear eyes at him.
"It's Mil-tan. Came to church to become a girl."
If one were to describe that phenomenon in a word—some might call it a miracle. Buttons that looked like they'd tear off with the slightest movement. Screams arose from every edge of the clothes, and though they should have been torn to shreds at any moment, they maintained equilibrium in exquisite balance. While possessing tree-trunk-thick upper arms and thighs and a magnificent chest, he was clad in clothing obviously the wrong size.
"Did as the pastor taught. What's necessary for Mil-tan to become a girl, practiced that today. And through practice, understood. Understood the one step Mil-tan was missing, the importance of honestly expressing Mil-tan's heart."
White-based Gothic Lolita attire that fluttered in the wind. Pink lace accents and a ribbon decorating the chest. A bright red frilly miniskirt and striped over-knee socks creating the supreme absolute territory. Beside the straight-cut bangs, glossy jet-black twin tails swayed. And there were cat ears on the head.
Shidou Touji swallowed hard. A line of sweat ran down his cheek, and his hands began trembling slightly from tension. His thoughts were confusion, chaos, already hellish pandemonium. This was a manly maiden. This was fantasy. This was the result of him consulting on his problems.
"Pastor, thank you for giving Mil-tan the push. Mil-tan is no longer... afraid of anything."
"I-I'm... glad to hear that..."
That was all he could say. On this day, Shidou Touji cried.
***
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