"They're spending their days quite happily—almost a little too energetically, if you ask me."
"I can imagine. My apologies for the trouble, Director."
"I don't mind the liveliness," Mephisto Pheles said, his gaze drifting to some distant point. "But those children... why must they always exceed my expectations? They have a knack for doing things that leave me completely at a loss for words."
Mephisto was remembering the recent 'Accidental Ice-Death by Magical Girl' incident in Kanata's room. Seeing them look forward and work hard without despairing over their new environment was heartwarming, especially considering the crisis they had endured just months ago. But that didn't change the fact that they were a group of world-class troublemakers.
Ajuka Beelzebub, one of the Four Great Satans, looked away. Everyone under Mephisto's protection was a "good person," but they were all outliers who broke common sense in the most unpredictable ways. Worse, they seemed to resonate with each other, creating a synergistic effect that gave everyone around them a migraine. Birds of a feather really do flock together, Ajuka thought.
It had been several days since Cleria and her companions arrived at the Grau Zauberer as "exchange students." The Director and the Satan were in contact under the guise of an official report, but as co-conspirators in the Kuoh incident, their conversation felt more like a private chat between friends. Ajuka cleared his throat to shift the mood.
"So, you're actually making that former priest your servant?"
"Yes," Mephisto replied. "I don't personally care for the Evil Piece system, but one should use the tools available. To you Satans, a peerage is a status symbol. If you intend to use those two as symbols of 'Peace,' the protection of the Belial house alone won't be enough. They would be targets for anyone with a grudge against the Three Great Powers. If Masaomi becomes my servant, it provides a necessary deterrent."
"I am grateful."
"Think nothing of it. Masaomi is a good man, and the choice to reincarnate is his alone. Though, if he does join me, I'll have to make sure he studies quite a bit."
They couldn't afford another scandal. By all rights, Masaomi Yaegaki and Cleria Belial should have been purged. In a world where the timing and the enemies were stacked against them, Kanata Kuramoto had thrown himself into the fray and turned the world upside down.
The boy had coerced multiple Satan-class beings into cooperation, detonated a "strike" that shattered Underworld common sense, and used Magical Girls and Super Robots to trample over the pride of both Devils and the Church. It was a bizarre rescue drama that involved every major faction, causing widespread psychological trauma while keeping actual casualties to a minimum. It had been, quite frankly, absurd.
"I have to ask... why, of all things, did it have to be Magical Girls and a Super Robot?" Ajuka asked, rubbing his forehead.
"Momentum, flair, and Kanata," Mephisto answered simply.
The Satan slumped his shoulders. Somehow, that explanation made perfect sense.
"Hahaha! Since you told me Serafall would be at the negotiations, I figured she'd provide the perfect backup. As for the robot... well, I knew my friend could handle the performance aspect."
"The 'Elite Support,' you mean. I won't pry; I have no desire to disturb a sleeping dragon. …Did you also account for Archduke Agareas joining in?"
"No, that was a complete wild card. A 'Newtype,' if you will. I suppose venting stress through 'romance' is a healthy outlet, in a way. Oh, and Ajuka? Don't push the Agareas family too hard. They're the only territory where stomach medicine is a local specialty."
"The Great King realized he pushed them too far before they broke... ahem! He realized they were exhausted and decided to focus on tightening the discipline of the Old Devils. He finally understood that letting allies run rampant until they trigger a civil war is a bad look."
The strike led by Diehauser Belial had brought a true revolution to the Underworld. By breaking the administration's top brass and installing talented individuals under Ajuka's influence—all under the pretext of ensuring the 'Ten-Match Series' proceeded as planned—they had effectively neutered the Old Devils' influence.
Furthermore, the nature of the Rating Games usually meant high-tier Devils were rivals and enemies. There had never been an opportunity for them to cooperate. Now, with the hero Diehauser at the top, the players had formed a powerful faction to oppose the corruption of the old guard. Supported by the public and reincarnated Devils, they had become a beacon of hope that the Old Devils could no longer touch.
Before, the establishment could silence or eliminate individual threats. But against a unified organization sharing information with a clear objective, their traditional methods were useless. Great King Bael feared that any attempt to exploit the Emperor would only provide an opening for the players to strike back. Surrounded by the Satans on one side and the Emperor's faction on the other, the Old Devils were finally pinned.
Even Zeukram Bael, who despised change, couldn't ignore the reality. The more the Old Devils flaunted their 'pride' and 'authority,' the deeper the hole they dug for themselves. Watching the administration's desperate rampage had convinced Zeukram that his peers were no longer fit for the new era. To preserve the authority of the nobility, he was forced to purge the very people he had protected.
It was a Devil's nature to be true to their desires, but the era of mindless exploitation was over. That was a relic of the original Lucifer's time. Those who couldn't control their greed were obsolete. By slowly incorporating human reincarnated Devils over centuries—ostensibly to bolster their numbers after the war—a new era had finally taken root. An era of 'coexistence' rather than 'exploitation.' It had taken hundreds of years to build this path.
"Honestly, it's too late," Mephisto sighed. "This should have been done the moment you all became Satans. Using the Evil Piece system to plant the values of other races into Devil society, slowly chipping away at the old guard to ensure the survival of the species... do you have any idea how many humans and other races were sacrificed for this?"
"…I have no excuse."
"Sorry, I didn't mean to lecture you. I have no right to meddle in Underworld politics. I don't like the methods, but I know you children made these decisions to fight those old foxes. It's finally bearing fruit. See it through to the end. Once their power is broken, you can finally improve the Evil Piece system, can't you?"
"Yes. We won't waste this opportunity."
The values of the modern Devil had finally gained enough weight to challenge the old ways. To protect the race as young Satans, they had decided that rapid expansion and coexistence were necessary. They accepted the blood on their hands—the selfish, arrogant, and cruel acts they had committed to get here. There would be no excuses.
"Anyway, enough of this," Mephisto said, waving a hand. "I live in the human world specifically to avoid these tedious conversations."
"I'm a bit jealous."
"You only became Satans because you had the power... it was unavoidable. This is a critical time, but don't overwork yourselves. Enjoy your hobbies once in a while. Oh, Kanata mentioned the combo you showed him in that fighting game was 'too Satanic' and he's desperate for a lesson."
"Heh. I'll teach him a few tricks next time I analyze his Gear. …But are you sure? Is me acting as his official backer really enough of a reward?"
"I got to mess with the Old Devils, which was reward enough. Besides, Kanata is the type to get flustered if you thank him directly. If we frame it as a condition for me taking in Cleria, the Underworld won't be able to pry into it due to Association secrecy. Just treat his training as a favor to the Association."
Transferring Cleria and Masaomi to the Grau Zauberer had been the plan all along. But since the incident was the Underworld's fault, and since Kanata's meddling had provided the catalyst for the new era, the Satans owed him a massive debt.
Kanata believed Ajuka was just a "kind Satan" who helped him save his friends. To the Satans, however, he was the boy who had solved a centuries-old political deadlock. But because Kanata's existence had to remain low-profile and Ajuka was a public figure, a direct reward was impossible.
Mephisto's solution was for Ajuka to become Kanata's official patron. By acknowledging their relationship—built on "gaming together"—they signaled to the world that the boy was under a Satan's protection. Anyone who touched him would have to answer to both the Satans and the Magicians' Association.
"This will increase the attention on him," Ajuka noted. "You're changing your policy of hiding his existence until he matures?"
"After seeing this incident, I realized something," Mephisto said with a distant look. "With that boy, it doesn't matter how many safeguards I put in place. His absurd initiative and unconscious talent for causing trouble mean he'll always find a way to blow up my expectations anyway."
Ajuka let out a genuine "Yikes" at the Director's resignation.
"So, I decided to give him a status that can handle the fallout of whatever he does next. He's already contributing to the Association by taking on requests. I knew his Gear was versatile, but the range of its application is staggering..."
"If the power of Kanata Kuramoto's Gear is available for official use," Ajuka said, "I have several requests I'd like to submit as a Satan. Is that possible?"
"Certainly. Provided you pay the full fee through me."
It had only been four months since Kanata started taking requests, but he already had "regular customers." Magicians prize their research above all else. Materials refined to near-perfect purity by a Sacred Gear are a dream for researchers. Kanata's schedule was already booked months in advance.
Mephisto managed all the requests personally. Kanata's Gear was so disruptive that it could have crashed entire industries if left unchecked. Mephisto regulated the volume and scope, slowly introducing Kanata to the market while framing it as "training" to build his record of achievement.
Even Tannin had asked about "consultations regarding dragon dietaries," and Azazel had submitted requests as the head of his organization. Azazel would often ask Kanata for personal favors and pay him directly, but for anything involving Grigori, he went through official channels. Courtesy even among friends, after all.
When the heads of organizations like the Satans, Dragon Kings, and Governor Generals submit official requests, the pay is astronomical. Kanata was currently happy about being "well-off," but in reality, he was earning enough to bankrupt a small nation. He had no idea he was handling state-level contracts; he'd probably shout, "Have some self-restraint, you people!" if he knew.
And as he mastered his Gear, the demand for "Concept Repair" or "Healing" would only grow. Mephisto had no intention of revealing those abilities yet.
"Kanata is using a portion of his earnings to fund the Association," Mephisto noted. "The magicians love him for it. Old equipment is being replaced with state-of-the-art gear, and research budgets are expanding."
"I see... so you're preventing betrayal from within," Ajuka mused. "If something happens to Kanata, it directly harms the magicians' own interests. Magicians are greedy for profit. They'll keep his secrets and protect him just to keep the funding coming."
"In a few years, Kanata will be indispensable to the Grau Zauberer. Given the potential of that Gear, I have to take these precautions."
Had Kanata possessed an offensive Gear like a Longinus, Mephisto would have simply helped him carve his own path. But a support-focused Gear like Ruin Lorn Scarlet—similar to the Sephiroth Graal—was high-value and low-defense. If a hostile organization took him, it would be a disaster. In the worst-case scenario, enemies might decide it's better to kill the host than let someone else have him.
Seeing Kanata develop the Rewrite ability to save Cleria had confirmed Mephisto's fears. The "aura" emitted by the Gear was not standard. Mephisto had decided it was dangerous to categorize it as a normal Sacred Gear.
Mephisto narrowed his eyes, focusing on the Satan in the magic circle. "I'll be blunt, Ajuka. Tell me everything you know about his Gear. Usually, I'd leave it to your judgment, but I can't rest easy until I know what 'That' is."
"So you noticed the 'Distortion' as well," Ajuka replied.
"You mean you saw signs of it before?"
"Yes. It's highly likely the Gear manifested because it was influenced by an external, massive power. Normally, a human child—no matter how determined—can't just wake a sleeping Gear. It must have already been active, allowing it to answer his call so easily. I couldn't identify the source, but the residue suggested something profoundly 'wrong' had touched it."
Ajuka had kept this to himself. As a master of the Kankara Formula, his pride wouldn't allow him to report something he hadn't fully solved.
"A massive power... Is that why it deviates from the standard system?"
"I don't know. It might be a factor, or just the catalyst."
"Ajuka, you're using 'probably' and 'possibly' quite a bit. Didn't you analyze it?"
Ajuka looked down, searching for words. "I tried. But I failed."
"What?"
"I could analyze Kanata and the Gear's structure without issue," Ajuka explained. "But the moment I tried to look 'beyond' the Gear, my ability was erased by a will residing on the other side."
"Beyond the Gear...?"
Ajuka nodded. Mephisto remembered Azazel muttering something similar. The "Erasure" of a Satan's ability was likely the Gear's Concept Nullification. Had Ajuka forced the issue, he might have succeeded, but pumping a human full of Satan-class power was too risky. He had used a tiny amount of energy, and a will other than Kanata's had intervened.
Kanata seemed completely unaware of it. When asked if the Gear had a "voice" or a "will," he just looked confused. Only the host is supposed to be able to use Ruin Lorn Scarlet. But one thing stood out.
'My Partner always looks after me. I'm lucky to have him.'
The boy's overprotective "Partner" was the likely culprit. A will—or an entity—lurking on the other side of the Gear's power.
"A Sacred Gear is a system created by the God of the Bible," Ajuka said. "It is managed by Heaven and connected to every Gear in the world. I believe Kanata has been unconsciously applying 'Concept Nullification' to the line connecting his humanity to the system for years."
"Kanata did that?"
"It's a theory, but I believe his constant wishing for the Gear to 'have a will' for over five years stimulated the connection. When I looked, the boundary between him and the 'Black Box' of the system felt incredibly thin compared to other users."
When Ajuka tried to touch that connection, he was met with the Concept Nullification. It was an impossible convergence of three factors: a boy with the power to erase concepts, a heart that sincerely wished for a partner, and an entity on the other side that wanted to answer. It gave even a Satan a headache.
Kanata "knew" he could talk to his Gear because of his meta-knowledge. For five years, he had treated it as a person without a shred of doubt. In the original story, the First Sun Wukong told the user of Dimension Lostthat he lacked "dialogue" with his Gear. Dialogue is what builds mastery.
A Gear doesn't need a sealed soul like the Boosted Gear or Divine Dividing to have a dialogue. Even a "hollow" Gear can improve through interaction. Because Kanata lacked the stamina to use its power as a child, he had prioritized that interaction. He acknowledged the Gear as a sentient being.
Combined with the influence of a "Massive Power" and the resonance from Lavinia's Absolute Demise—a Longinus that warps reality by its very presence—Kanata's Gear had undergone a unique evolution. His strong desire to "Change the Story" during the Kuoh incident had been the final push.
"Haa... my head hurts," Mephisto sighed. "The only comfort is that the will inside the Gear seems to respect Kanata. If anything, it's inherited the Gear's 'overprotective' trait to a ridiculous degree. It answers his every whim, however absurd."
"I felt no hostility from it," Ajuka added. "Likely because the host doesn't wish for it. Conversely, it will likely turn its fangs on anyone it perceives as a threat to him. …I'm glad you were the one to find him, Director."
A Gear follows its host's heart. The stronger the wish, the greater the impact. Kanata's growth was the result of his dreams and reality aligning.
"I see. That makes it even more important to secure his environment," Mephisto said. "By having him in the Association, we provide a sense of security for both him and the Gear. We need to make sure he wants to stay here of his own free will."
"Force would be a mistake with those two," Ajuka warned. "Proceed with caution."
"So, we maintain the status quo and keep a close eye on them."
Mephisto realized that any forced experiments or intrusive investigations would be met with Concept Nullification. If the Gear perceived a threat to its master—even from an ally—it would likely erase the threat's memories or worse. The Director's "hands-off" approach was the only reason they were still in the Gear's good graces.
"I'm curious about 'That,' but we lack the data," Mephisto concluded. "For now, the Gear is an asset to the Association, and it clearly cares for Kanata. We'll just observe."
"I'll keep an eye on him during our 'Concept' training sessions," Ajuka promised.
"Appreciate it. …I suppose I should tell Kanata that his Gear is a bit... abnormal soon."
Kanata was scheduled to train with Tannin over the summer, and Azazel was planning to take him to Grigori. He'd probably scream when he found out. Mephisto decided to relay Ajuka's analysis to Azazel—the Governor General was obsessed with research and prone to getting carried away. He likely wouldn't do anything to Kanata, but Azazel's track record warranted caution.
Watching Kanata look up to Azazel as a mentor, Mephisto could only shake his head. That boy really is a bit 'off' himself.
***
"Oh! Is that the big brother from the hospital?"
"Wait... Issei? What are you doing here?"
"Irina is helping out at the church today, so I'm just taking a walk."
"I see. I'm glad you two are still getting along."
Issei Hyoudou had spotted a figure wandering around with a small map. Sensing the person was lost, he had approached, only to realize he recognized the face. Hearing his own name, Kanata Kuramoto had smiled and greeted him warmly. Issei ran up to him, happy to be remembered.
Kanata patted Issei's head when he mentioned Irina. He looked at his map with a sigh and showed it to the boy.
"Actually, I'm trying to visit a friend, but I can't find the street. Issei, do you know where this is?"
"Hmm... wait. Isn't this Miltan's house?"
"Eh? Oh, right... you've been playing with Miltan too. But... you've actually been to his house? You're that close?"
Is it already too late? Is the corruption complete? Kanata muttered to himself. Issei didn't understand, but he was happy to help. He puffed out his chest and offered to lead the way. Kanata looked hesitant for a second but eventually accepted with a grateful smile.
"We watch anime at Miltan's house!" Issei chirped. "Dungam, Magical Girls... he has a ton of them!"
"Ah... I might have been the one who recommended those. I didn't know Miltan was building a collection."
"Why are you going to Miltan's house? To watch anime?"
"I'm... er... I'm going to fulfill a promise I made to him."
"Whoa."
Kanata couldn't exactly tell the kid he was there to try and turn his friend into a girl. He could have met at the 'Milky' magicians' house, but they were official members of the Association. Their connection to Azazel, the Governor General, was a top-level secret. If the "gender-swap" worked, explaining the source of the tech would be impossible. While the magicians would keep quiet, it was better to be discreet.
Cleria and Masaomi would eventually find out about Azazel, but they weren't magic experts; they thought the gender-swap gun was just a weird magical item. To a professional, however, it was a piece of high-tech machinery. It was deeply personal business, so Kanata had decided to visit Miltan's private residence instead.
"…And Miltan said it was too dangerous for us to follow, but he fought a secret evil organization the other day!" Issei continued excitedly.
"What? What is he fighting now?"
"Um... 'Bael' something? I don't know, but they wear black suits and strike weird poses. Miltan gave them a 'Fist of Love'! You should be careful, big brother!"
That sounds like he's just beating up random suspicious people. I should probably tell him to call the police instead,Kanata thought.
They walked through Kuoh Town, chatting about daily life. Issei talked about school, Miltan, and "Irina's Legends" (mostly involving her beating people up), while Kanata listened with a mixture of laughter and concern. It was a peaceful afternoon.
Kanata bought Issei a crepe as a thank-you for the directions. Issei happily munched on it, sad that Kanata didn't live in town but resolving to tell Irina all about their meeting tomorrow.
"Here we are. Thanks for the help, Issei. You're a lifesaver."
"No problem! Hey, next time let's all watch anime at Miltan's together! You, me, and Irina!"
"Uh... sure. As long as it's just anime. I guess I need to make sure Irina doesn't get too influenced by Miltan for the sake of her dad's stomach. See you later!"
"Yay!"
With a small promise made, they waved goodbye.
(Later, when Issei asked how Miltan's wish went, Kanata would simply stare into the distance and say: "The beam hit a mysterious phenomenon and reflected back with twice the power. It was... intense." Issei assumed it was a video game story and didn't pry, though he understood that Miltan's dream was still a long way off.)
***
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