"Greetings, everyone. I thank you for providing this forum for our discussion."
"Greetings, Diehauser. As the Satan ruling this realm, I thank you for heeding our request to talk."
Following Ajuka Beelzebub's lead, the first thing the Emperor saw as he entered the room was a shock of vibrant crimson hair. Before him stood Sirzechs Lucifer, the King of the Underworld, whose emerald eyes were calm yet sharp with a cautious intensity. Diehauser bowed deeply. As the man at the center of the storm, he felt every eye in the room instantly fixate on him.
The executive directors of the administration were already seated, glaring at the Emperor with unfiltered loathing. Zeukram Bael, the Great King, spared them a single glance before narrowing his eyes and crossing his arms in deep thought. Archduke Agareas sat further off, acting as an observer while surreptitiously wiping sweat from his brow. Sirzechs, the first to speak, was inwardly grumbling about how awkward this was, frantically calculating how to navigate an atmosphere that felt like a powder keg about to blow.
The heavy tension was suddenly punctured by a small shadow that stepped lightly to Sirzechs's side. Tossing her twin black pigtails, she met Diehauser's gaze with a wide, innocent grin.
"Hey there, Diehauser! It's been a while since your guest appearance on 'Magical☆Levi-tan,' hasn't it? ☆"
"Ah, Lady Leviathan. Greetings. Indeed, thank you for your help back then."
"Hehe! Your performance as 'Masked Emperor' was a huge hit with the kids in the Underworld. I'd love it if we could co-star again sometime!"
"I would be honored. Please, feel free to send an offer whenever the opportunity arises."
"Yay! I'm holding you to that! ☆ I'll have to give my director a serious earful to make it happen!"
Serafall Leviathan chatted with the Emperor in a frank, bubbly tone, acting as if the suffocating pressure in the room didn't exist. The administration officials watched in stunned silence, but it was clear to everyone that the air had lost its lethal edge. Had they started the meeting without this interruption, it likely would have devolved into a shouting match immediately.
Sirzechs sent a silent look of gratitude to Serafall, who replied with a hidden peace sign behind her back. Stirring the pot and resetting the mood was her specialty.
"Well then, I'd love to chat more... but I'm really just an extra for this scene. I look forward to our next real talk! ☆"
With that, Serafall took her seat among the Satans. She was here as a witness, not a participant. Her true role was as a diplomat monitoring the external borders; her presence here was merely a "show of force" to satisfy the administration. Knowing they were facing three Satan-class individuals—Diehauser, Roygun, and Bidaze—the administration had begged for three Satans to be present to ensure their "safety."
Sirzechs had initially wanted to decline to spare Serafall the burden, but she had accepted. She judged it best not to provoke an administration that was already backed into a corner. In truth, the officials had lost their usual arrogance; they were so terrified of the Emperor that they were forced to rely on the very Satans they usually viewed as rivals.
Still... Sirzechs mused.
Unlike the high-strung officials, the Emperor's side seemed eerily composed. Diehauser had played along with Serafall's antics perfectly, even thanking her as if he sensed her intent. The fear that he might lose control upon seeing the corrupt administration was gone, replaced by a sense of foreboding at his utter stillness.
***
"Now then," Diehauser began, taking his seat. "Let us discuss the conditions for ending the strike. My demand to the administration is simple: a full public apology to the citizens and the players, accompanied by a sincere commitment to future reforms. You will admit to every crime—the marginalization of players, the deception of the public, the privatization of the Rating Games, and the manipulation of rankings. We have the evidence; there is no room for denial."
"That is..."
"Before we proceed," Zeukram Bael interjected, his voice heavy with authority. He didn't wait for the administration to stammer. His presence alone commanded silence. Diehauser shifted his gaze from the officials to the Great King and gave a nod of acknowledgment.
"I appreciate your candor," Zeukram continued. "What I wish to know is the source of your evidence... including the information you intentionally withheld from the public."
"Great King, what information are you referring to?" an official asked.
"The information used to win over the individuals standing behind Emperor Belial," Zeukram replied.
Every eye turned to Roygun and Bidaze. The two broke into a cold sweat. Zeukram's violet-navy eyes were as still as a lightless lake, yet they exerted a crushing pressure that seemed to squeeze their very souls. The evidence shown to the public was one thing, but they needed to know just how deep the Emperor had delved into their shadows.
"…Are you sure you want that spoken aloud here?" Diehauser asked.
"It matters not. Only those with the right to know are in this room."
"I see. 'Win over' is a strong term. I simply gave them a choice as part of a trade, and they chose. It seems the administration was no longer a partner they could trust."
Diehauser offered a faint smile and tilted his head toward the two behind him. Bidaze looked away, muttering, "Don't drag me into this!" while Roygun simply slumped her shoulders in exhaustion. Their synchronized reaction made it clear that while they were allies, their relationship wasn't built on threats or force.
"A trade, then?" Zeukram asked.
"Yes. A trade that weighed their past pride against the entirety of their future lives."
"And you used that as your bargaining chip? You, the man called the Emperor, who reached the top through raw skill?"
"Correct. After all, a poison as potent as a 'King' Piece is only useful for a situation like this, wouldn't you agree?"
The administration officials gaped in horror. They had never imagined the Emperor understood the darkness of the Games to that extent. He was a champion of justice, a man so fair and upright that political maneuvering should have been beneath him. To think he had recruited players using "doping" by promising to overlook their past sins was unthinkable to those who knew the old Diehauser.
Diehauser raised a hand and snapped his fingers. A magic circle flickered, and a stack of documents appeared on the table. The officials swallowed hard. Zeukram stared at the papers, his sharp gaze trying to pierce the Emperor's true intent. Diehauser gave a small bow and turned toward Ajuka.
"Now then, I wish to confirm this with the creator of the Evil Pieces and the architect of the Rating Games: Lord Beelzebub. The 'King' Pieces exist, do they not? And the administration used these secret pieces to create their own puppets and manipulate the rankings. Is this not the truth?"
"…It is the truth," Ajuka replied simply.
"Lord Beelzebub! What are you saying!?" an official cried out.
"Why act so flustered now?" Ajuka asked, his voice dripping with boredom. "Emperor Belial already has his proof. My denial would be meaningless. The Great King understood this, which is why he allowed the topic to be raised."
Ajuka's confirmation was met with glares from the officials, but as his exasperated attitude suggested, their resistance was nothing more than a death rattle. Some of the high-ranking members were already pale after glancing at the documents Diehauser provided. Ajuka spared the papers a look and smirked at the Old Devils.
"If anything, shouldn't you be blaming yourselves for this upheaval? You prize your ancient bloodlines so much that you allowed your subordinates to grow arrogant, and now they've bitten the hand that fed them. In the end, you've been used by the Emperor quite effectively."
The Old Devils winced at Ajuka's barbed words. They had a good idea where the Emperor's evidence had come from. The "Old Satan Faction"—Devils who clung to the original bloodlines—were obsessed with their heritage. They knew about the King Pieces and had every reason to sow chaos to undermine the current government. It seemed their plot had been hijacked by the Emperor and turned in a completely different direction.
Within the noble circles, there were those who secretly funded the Old Satan Faction, hoping to see them restored to the throne. Someone among them had likely gifted the King Pieces to the faction, urging them to use the power to "overthrow the false Satans." But to the proud Old Satan Faction, winning with a tool made by Ajuka—the current Beelzebub—was an insult to their blood. They viewed the Rating Games as a symbol of the current regime's power. To them, destroying the game was a desirable outcome.
"By the way, what are your thoughts on that?" Sirzechs asked.
"I tried not to get too involved," Diehauser replied. "They told me to 'lend my popular support to their restoration,' but I have nothing but gratitude for the Satans who created this game. Lord Beelzebub made the pieces, but the administration is the one that used them for corruption. I have no intention of confusing the creator with the user."
"I appreciate your discernment," Ajuka said. "But that means there is no definitive proof of the Old Satan Faction's direct intervention?"
"My apologies. I judged it too dangerous to dig any deeper," Diehauser said.
This was all according to the script. The Old Satan Faction hadn't actually been involved, but by mimicking their methods, Diehauser had successfully diverted suspicion. They were a group that never left a trail anyway, so a lack of evidence was expected. Even if the administration investigated, the faction would simply shout, "We did no such thing!" which was technically the truth.
The truth was buried in shadows. The officials gripped their documents so hard the paper wrinkled, their irritation palpable. The noble houses were not a monolith. Even if the administration wanted to blame the Old Satan Faction, other noble houses would move to protect them. Deeply offending the original bloodlines was a political minefield no one wanted to walk.
Zeukram Bael frowned, but he remained still. There were too many suspects. He looked at the Satans, but their behavior during the strike hadn't seemed like an act. All four of them looked genuinely exhausted, their eyes devoid of life. They, too, had been swept up in the storm.
"…Very well," Zeukram declared. "The Bael house will not involve itself in the pursuit of responsibility for that specific matter."
"Lord Founder!?" the officials screamed.
By deciding to look the other way, the head of the Bael family had effectively stripped the administration of their last defense. Zeukram silenced their protests with a single, crushing look.
The administration was now in a state of total collapse. They faced not only the public evidence of corruption but the exposure of the forbidden King Pieces. If these facts were fully publicized, it wouldn't just be about the rights to the Game—their very authority as nobles would be incinerated.
"…I do not wish for chaos," Diehauser said. "I am a player, and I seek no status beyond that. Politics and games will always overlap, but the game should never exist for the politics. I only wish for the Rating Games to return to the ideal of 'Dreams' that they were founded upon."
"And for the sake of those 'Dreams,' you are prepared to make all of us your enemies?" an official sneered.
"I am but a single Devil who loves this game," Diehauser replied with a serene smile. "A 'Dream' is hope; it is the power of a wish that can bring about miracles. I simply believe that no one has the right to trample upon that wish."
Grey eyes met violet-navy eyes. Both men stood their ground, their pride unyielding. Diehauser wore a refreshing smile while Zeukram chuckled softly, and yet those around them recoiled from the pressure. Neither man's eyes were laughing.
"The cub certainly knows how to bark," Zeukram noted.
"Youth is a vital source of momentum," Diehauser countered.
Sirzechs and Serafall shared a distant look, rubbing their arms against the sudden chill in the room. Ajuka sighed inwardly. This is what happens when you make a sister-obsessed man get serious. As someone surrounded by people with "complexes," Ajuka understood all too well how troublesome a Devil became when their family was involved. Roygun and Bidaze looked like they wanted to vanish. Archduke Agareas was currently downing stomach medicine with practiced, fluid motions.
After a long silence, Zeukram suddenly yielded, bringing an abrupt end to the standoff. He wore a satisfied smile. The predatory glint in his eyes vanished, replaced by his usual graceful, elderly composure. Diehauser was momentarily caught off guard by the sudden shift.
"There is no need for such caution. I shall say no more. I am merely a mediator here. It is unseemly for an old man to take center stage for too long. ...I have learned the measure of the man called Diehauser Belial. I will take that as my prize for the day."
"…I see."
"Yes. You have good eyes. —Forgive me for making you listen to an old man's rambling."
Zeukram didn't mind a Devil who barked for the sake of ambition. With those words, he fell silent, assuming the stance of a quiet observer. He had realized early on that the strike was a losing battle for the administration. He had interjected solely to gauge the Emperor's character. Zeukram knew the real fight would begin only after the strike was over.
It wasn't just the corrupt players the Emperor had won over; he had the support of the Dragon King Tannin and the "Upsetting Sorcerer" Lüdiger Rosenkreutz. They were becoming a force that could no longer be ignored. Under Diehauser's banner of "the righteous path," they would continue to attract followers.
Fighting them is going to be exhausting, Zeukram thought. He felt a surge of youthful heat and laughed at himself. Ancient Devils often lost their attachment to life as they ran out of goals, but a Devil with much to do could harbor ambition until the very end. Zeukram was already looking forward to his next clash with the Emperor.
In the Great King's mind, the current administration was already discarded. They had enjoyed their power for long enough, and knowing when to retreat was a vital trait for a leader. If this negotiation ended well, he might find new positions for them in a few centuries.
But as Zeukram prepared to close his part in the drama, he was blindsided—by the very allies he was supposed to be protecting.
***
"…Sin. Yes, Emperor Belial. You said we have crimes to answer for."
"Indeed. Your corruption in a game that claims to be fair is undeniable."
"True... and a sin must be punished. That is the way of the world, is it not?"
The executive officials knew the terror of losing authority better than anyone. They had seen the Old Satan Faction—the former peak of the Underworld—stripped of their seats and reduced to "historical relics" treated like eyesores. They refused to accept that same miserable fate.
The Bael house had abandoned them. An official stood up with a crash, glaring at the Emperor with a desperate, malicious light in his eyes. Sirzechs and Ajuka immediately tensed, ready to step between them. Serafall moved to Zeukram's side as a guard. Zeukram's eyes widened as he realized the truth: these men were consumed by a primal, irrational fear.
"Then the crimes of the Belial clan must also be punished! That is the fate of those who break the laws, as you so righteously claimed!"
"..."
"The crimes of the Belial clan...?" Sirzechs muttered.
"You fools..." Zeukram whispered. "Did you really touch that?"
Unlike the confused Satans or Roygun's group, Zeukram understood immediately. He realized he had misinterpreted the administration's request for negotiations. He thought they had given up; instead, they had played their most desperate, lethal card. Having been trapped in Auros, he had no way to verify their movements. He had underestimated just how deep the trauma of "losing authority" ran within the Old Devils.
"Hehe! What are you implying, Great King? We haven't laid a finger on them ourselves. However, we did receive word that another faction has intervened. We are simply the only ones who can mediate a solution."
"…You've prepared quite a convenient script for yourselves," Zeukram spat.
"Wait, Lord Bael," Sirzechs demanded. "What is the meaning of this? What 'crimes' of the Belial clan? What 'other faction'?"
As a Satan, this was information he couldn't ignore. If another power was moving against a noble house, the time for talk was over. Sirzechs stepped between Diehauser and the administration, directing his suspicion at Zeukram. Ajuka glanced at the officials before turning to the Emperor, who was staring at them in chilling silence.
"…Emperor Belial. Do you know of any 'crimes' committed by your family?"
"None within the Underworld. My peerage is with them; there is no opening for another faction to strike. However... I have one relative currently studying in the Human World."
"Her name and location?"
"Cleria Belial. My cousin. She currently manages Kuoh Town, a territory jointly ruled by the Bael and Gremory houses."
The names Bael and Gremory carried deep weight in this room. Sirzechs went pale at the mention of his own family's territory, and Zeukram's expression turned grim. Kuoh Town was a training ground for young nobles, overseen by the Bael house. If something had happened there, the Founder should have known.
"Yes, exactly! Cleria Belial!" the official shouted. "She has committed a crime that, for a Devil, is nothing short of high treason!"
"…What exactly did she do?" Sirzechs asked.
"She fell in love! With a warrior of the Church—our sworn enemies! And she gave herself to him! She entered into a forbidden romance!"
The room froze. A Devil falling in love with a human Exorcist was unthinkable. The Church would never allow it, and for the sake of appearance, they would be forced to act. If it were true, Cleria Belial had indeed broken the law.
"We were already negotiating with the Church to persuade Lady Cleria to end it," the official continued, his voice slick with fake concern. "We didn't want to see a fellow Devil perish. But she refused to listen. And today, the Church finally lost its patience."
"Is she... already dead?" Sirzechs whispered.
"…No. The Church knows we were trying to save her. Therefore, they offered a trade. My associates are on standby in Kuoh Town right now. To save her from the Church's dungeon, we must intervene immediately. We wish to help our kin, but alas... if Emperor Belial strips us of our status, we will no longer have the authority to act..."
"You bastards...!"
Sirzechs shook with rage as he realized their plan. They were using Cleria's life as a shield to threaten the Emperor. The fact that they hadn't reported this to the Satans proved it was a calculated ambush. Using such a vile method to warp the truth was unforgivable.
Diehauser had suppressed his emotions for a rational talk. Zeukram had backed off because he knew better than to provoke this man. And yet, the administration had chosen to take his most precious family member hostage. Sirzechs felt his own face going pale.
Did they realize what they were doing? If the Emperor's rage broke its levee, the Underworld would drown. Even with multiple Transcendentals present, a rampage by a Satan-class being of his caliber would be catastrophic. Worse, if the public—who now viewed him as their hero—saw him resort to violence, their frustration would explode. A civil war would ignite under the banner of the Emperor's "justice."
It was a nightmare. Sirzechs had been so focused on the Emperor's strike that he had failed to stop the administration's insanity. He gripped his fists so hard blood began to seep from his palms.
A gentle, steady voice broke his spiraling thoughts.
"Are you alright, Lord Lucifer? Your hands are bleeding."
"I... I'm fine, Diehauser. More importantly, we need to settle your rage—"
Sirzechs stopped. Every eye in the room fixed on Emperor Belial. Why on earth are you the most composed person here?!the room thought in a rare moment of total consensus. Diehauser simply shrugged and offered a small smile.
"Um, Diehauser," Sirzechs asked hesitantly. "Are you... not angry?"
"Oh, I'm absolutely livid. My blood is boiling. They're using my family as a tool for blackmail."
"I knew it," Serafall muttered. "He really is the ultimate family-obsessed Emperor..."
"Yeah, that's him," Bidaze added. "Honestly, the moment they mentioned a hostage, I expected this place to turn into a literal hellscape. I have no idea what's going on in that man's head."
Roygun and Bidaze had retreated to the far corner the moment Cleria's name was mentioned, but seeing that Diehauser wasn't destroying the building, they had cautiously returned. Years of knowing him gave them the confidence that he wouldn't snap—but even they were looking at him with squinted eyes.
"I'm fine for now," Diehauser said calmly. "There are things I need to confirm before I direct my anger. ...Lord Bael, is it true that Cleria entered a romance with a member of the Church?"
"…Yes. It is a fact," Zeukram replied. He, like Sirzechs, sensed the impending civil war. He chose to tell the truth, being careful not to provide any further provocation. The room fell silent at his confirmation.
"I see. And is it true that she is currently being held by the Church?"
"…I see where you are going," Zeukram noted. "Unfortunately, I do not have that information. Such an event had not occurred by the time the strike began."
"I see. So, we don't actually know if the administration's claim of her capture is true."
"What!?" an official shouted.
The suggestion that they were lying made the officials grit their teeth in fury. Diehauser knew from Ajuka that Mephisto Pheles had intercepted the Devil headed for Kuoh Town. It was highly likely that the "associates" the official mentioned were being stalled. Diehauser leveled a provocative smile at them.
"Don't play games with us! Cleria Belial is undoubtedly in Church custody!"
"Can you prove that?"
"Ugh... while you waste time with semantics, your cousin could be executed at any moment!"
"…Then I suggest you contact your associate in Kuoh Town immediately. If the Church is willing to trade, I want to hear Cleria's voice, or at least receive proof from a member of the Church."
Diehauser's voice was firm and unyielding. The officials' eyes bulged with frustration as their plan continued to derail. They decided that hearing Cleria's voice might actually work in their favor—surely she would be crying and begging for help. By now, their man in Kuoh should have finished "cleaning up" her peerage. They would have him call Touji Shidou and let the Emperor hear her screams. Once he knew her servants were dead, his composure would finally shatter.
"…Fine! If you're that skeptical, we'll let you hear her. Though I can't promise she'll be in one piece!"
The official activated a magic circle, setting the audio to broadcast throughout the entire VIP suite. Everyone held their breath, fearing the worst. Diehauser remained still, arms crossed, waiting. His role was to buy as much time as possible, trusting that the friends he had entrusted with his wish would save her.
Ajuka Beelzebub reached into his robe and touched the green marble. Just before leading Diehauser into the room, he had given Mephisto the signal to begin the rescue, but the success signal hadn't arrived yet. The marble was supposed to glow the moment the mission was complete.
An ancient Devil was overseeing the operation, supported by "elite help." It should have been a guaranteed success, yet the tension was agonizing. But seeing Diehauser—the one most affected—holding back his fury, Ajuka resolved to wait. He stared at the manifesting magic circle.
Their worries, however, were about to be rendered obsolete by an event occurring far across the world.
***
"Now... can you hear me, brother?" the official spoke into the circle. "We're negotiating with Emperor Belial. Let us hear Cleria Belial. Contact the Exorcists immediately."
<...Static...>
"Hmm? What's wrong? What are you saying? I can't hear—!?"
The official's words were cut short. Ajuka, Diehauser, the Satans, the Old Devils—every single person in the room stared with bulging eyes as a vivid, lightning-sharp Catastrophe screamed through the communication circle.
"MILKY... BUUUUUUUUUURN... STRIKE!!"
"HAHAHA!! MY HAND BURNS WITH DARKNESS! MY HEART SCREAMS WITH HATRED FOR ALL THE HAPPY COUPLES IN THE WORLD! EXPLOSIVE... ZAZEL FINGERRRRRRRRRR!! (Which is actually just a Rocket Punch!)"
"GYAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!!"
Click.
The magic communication cut out. A lonely dial tone filled the room, marking the sudden disappearance of the other side. The suffocating tension that had gripped the room was literally blown away by a reality so nonsensical it defied explanation. Everyone stared at the dead magic circle in silence, their brains struggling to reboot.
"…Should I... try to connect again?" the official asked, his voice returning to its normal, un-arrogant pitch.
"…Yes, please do," Diehauser replied, equally stunned.
The situation had turned "cloudy" in an entirely different sense. Diehauser glanced at Ajuka; the Satan shook his head with a perfectly straight face, silently signaling: I know nothing.
They tried several more times, but the officials' shouts of frustration were met only with silence. One turned to Diehauser, shouting, "Is this your doing!?" but Diehauser frantically shook his head in denial—he genuinely didn't know the specifics. Though he had a hunch about the culprits, and a cold sweat began to run down his back.
"Was that...!?" Serafall gasped, her eyes sparkling. "That was the 'Milky Burn Strike' used by the original Magical Girl Milky in the first movie! When a girl's burning heart and a noble spirit that refuses to forgive evil combine, her true magical force is unleashed! It's a supreme spell that concentrates all magical energy into a single point! To think... there was another 'True Magical Girl' besides me who could complete that technique...!"
"That finishing move... the chant was filled with evil spite, but the silhouette was clearly a 'Dungam'!" Archduke Agareas added, tears of emotion streaming down his face. "And those mechanics—that was clearly influenced by the 'G-Series' that broke the Dungam status quo! Based on the resonance of the drive systems, it was a fifteen-meter-class steel frame... did he build it with his own hands!? What a man... there are still those who understand true romance in this world...!"
Serafall and Agareas began to ramble at high speed, geeking out over the audio they had heard. The Archduke was glowing with such intensity that even the Great King Bael had to look twice.
Sirzechs clutched his temples as a massive headache set in. I don't understand. I just don't understand. Some mysterious entities had rampaged, trampled over the serious atmosphere, and seemingly solved the problem through sheer absurdity. Even the eyes of Satan Lucifer couldn't make sense of it.
He turned to his brilliant, analytical best friend, seeking some shred of logic.
"Ajuka... tell me. What on earth is happening...?"
"…Heh. Your guess is as good as mine."
I'm the one who wants to know, Ajuka thought from the bottom of his heart.
***
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