Kingu.
In Mesopotamian mythology, that is the name of a god. Not a particularly renowned one, however—a defeated coward who, despite being appointed general of eleven monstrous beasts, fled without fighting, consumed by fear. Thus ended the myth of Kingu.
And yet, in modern-day Kyoto, Japan, an entity bearing that name appeared—a strange, curious being neither youkai, demon, nor human. With Mesopotamian mythology obscure in Japan, few know the origin of Kingu's name, and even fewer would connect it to him.
Currently, he resides as a guest of Yasaka, the leader of Kyoto's youkai. To those unaware of his circumstances, the equation "Kyoto's oddity = youkai" leads them to assume he's one. Kingu himself doesn't mind, as the distinction holds little meaning. Created as a new human, he no longer knows how to define himself.
If he were his prototype, he would have declared himself a "weapon" without hesitation, unwavering despite any denial. But Kingu is not Enkidu. He can mimic actions but not thoughts. He ponders too much. For a long time, he avoided complex thoughts, focusing solely on his mother—his purpose was to act for her.
—But that was a mistake. That land held nothing. He was a fake from the start, meant to be discarded. No future, no hope, no will of his own.
Kingu had realized this world differed from the one he knew. No matter how history progressed, it shouldn't have led here. The "Mother of Genesis" was absent from the beginning, yet the Dragonic Goddess still lives. Though the Age of Gods has ended, gods can visit this world. Humans, however, are gradually distancing themselves from the supernatural. The otherworldly beings seem to intentionally conceal their mysteries, but do they realize this denies their own existence?
In a world so alien to his understanding, Kingu must decide how to live. Independent of his mother or origin, he must find something he truly wants.
"Skewers, huh? I get it."
Right now, Kingu is leisurely eating dango. Beside him is Kunou, a young fox youkai, adding to the serene atmosphere. With Kunou napping on his lap and Kingu accepting her presence, there's no trace of sorrow.
They're at a dango shop in Kyoto's hidden underbelly, a place some call the Phantom Kyoto. The shop is empty save for the two of them, the staff having stepped out.
Though Kingu's true nature is unknown, he lives almost as a member of Kyoto's youkai. Left alone with the leader's daughter without supervision, he's proof of their trust—or rather, a trust earned to secure trust. His extraordinary abilities are well-known. Rumors of his strength have spread to other factions, but they don't do him justice. As a faction, Kyoto's youkai desire martial power, and they wish for Kingu to stay permanently.
"—So, how long do you plan to hide?"
Kingu asks without turning, addressing the presence behind him.
"Asking when I noticed would be absurd, wouldn't it? Your capabilities rival the gods at their peak, the pinnacle of individual power. If you weren't living so indolently, you'd be a first-class alert target."
"A Demon God, then. Not King Solomon himself, I take it?"
"No. The King is not in this world."
The statement carries a hint of implication, but both let it pass without deeper reaction.
"I've come to negotiate. To be blunt, we've decided to burn the Hell and Heaven of the Bible to ash."
"I see. Trying to repeat history, are you? You never learn. And? Are you asking me to kill a Satan or something?"
"The opposite, Kingu. We want you to do nothing. Our plan's framework is complete. We've secured local allies and diversified our perspectives sufficiently. The greatest threat was confirmed absent from the start. In short, we want you to stay out of our plan and remain quietly in this city. Ignore any calls from Angels or Satan."
"That's a one-sided negotiation. Hypothetically, what if I refuse?"
"Oh? Unexpected. You'd entertain such talk? Well, hypothetically, how about we tell that girl what you did in that other world?"
For a moment, the air grows cold—or perhaps the space itself creaks. The successor to the gods' masterpiece moves to destroy the Demon God behind him.
Before the clay figure can act, the Demon God retracts its words.
"…A jest. You're like yet unlike the one who sought to fulfill her wish."
"Yeah, I'm surprised at myself. Exposing a weakness like that is beyond careless. So, I'll make a promise: as long as you don't harm this city, I won't interfere with your plan."
"My thanks. To reiterate, don't meddle. In return, we won't touch this city. Your aid would only hinder us. We're almost done—just a little longer, and it's over."
With that, the presence vanishes. Its tone was odd, but it seemed sincere about sparing Kyoto.
"…Kingu?"
"Oh, Kunou. Awake?"
"Mmm. Was someone there?"
"No, no one."
"Okay."
Kunou falls back asleep, clutching Kingu's clothes. He should shake her off and leave this city, hiding his unwanted past. It's surely a mistake to stay.
—Be happy.
But someone's wish echoes in his mind.
—Please, be happy, beautiful green person.
Just a little longer here, he thinks, gazing at the sky.
—Thank you.
"Is this what happiness is?"
"Ugh, what a mess."
Chasing an uncertain rumor to recruit a nurse, being called diseased, having their ideals shattered, and fleeing—it was the ultimate humiliation for those aspiring to be heroes. Fleeing from such a thorough verbal defeat wasn't even laughable. How did it come to this?
To top it off, a girl, apparently the nurse's disciple, chased them, and they only just escaped. Despite wielding the strongest barrier-type Sacred Gear, Cao Cao couldn't fathom how she tracked them. Perhaps she awakened some unique Balance Breaker. For a moment, he considered recruiting her, then abandoned the thought—she wasn't the controllable type.
Exhausted from using his Sacred Gear at full power, Georg slumps beside him.
"Cao Cao, maybe we should leave future recruitment to Jeanne or Heracles?"
"No, that won't do. Those two can't handle recruitment, and the lower members' trust must center on me."
Born with great lineage and powerful weapons, they were meant to be heroes. They had to be.
It was a fantasy, an illusion, an obsession. The nurse saw through it, calling it a "disease." Naturally, they couldn't accept that. It's said mental illness is hard to recognize in oneself, and they were no exception.
Their lives existed solely to become heroes—or so they believed. If they could see the absurdity of that, they might heal sooner.
"May I have a moment?"
Traumatized by recent events, Cao Cao and Georg whirl around impulsively, abandoning their usual caution.
But the nurse isn't there. Nor is her disciple or that strange white furball creature.
Instead, a man in his fifties, the epitome of a British gentleman, stands before them.
"Who are you?"
The gentleman introduces himself vaguely. "I'm here to offer cooperation, Cao Cao of the Hero Faction."
Cao Cao isn't optimistic enough to trust him outright. He summons the True Longinus, ready for battle. Georg conjures mist, prepared to act. Yet the gentleman remains unfazed, suggesting he's either a fool or highly skilled, knowing exactly who they are.
With deliberately elegant steps, the gentleman approaches, stirring irritation and anxiety in Cao Cao. The irritation is a tantrum-like anger at his unshaken demeanor; the anxiety—compounded by their recent escape—stems from the fear that their power might not be enough.
"As for my name…" The gentleman smiles mischievously, his refined expression tinged with a sinister edge. "Call me 'Napoleon.'"
"Gremory's report concludes."
"…"
"..."
"...…"
"Request from Marbas. Gremory shows functional abnormalities. Immediate repair is needed."
"Support from Astaroth. A Demon God's malfunction is unprecedented. Our knowledge may be insufficient. Summon Florence Nightingale back to the control tower."
"Approval from Berith. I'll arrange it immediately."
"Protest from Gremory. My report contains no falsehoods, exaggerations, omissions, or distortions. My functions are flawless."
"Agreement from Haagenti. Humans and Heroic Spirits sometimes exceed our expectations."
"Assertion from Asmodeus. Lust is a core component of the human psyche. It's not surprising some reject our offer for such reasons."
"Supplement from Forneus. These Devils differ from those we know. Their loyalty seems tied to their bodies. Affairs with otherworldly beings hold value for some humans, but such vulgarity is unacceptable. They aren't our salvation targets. We should screen reincarnated Devils for Evil Piece extraction more carefully."
"Counterargument from Gamygyn. If it's merely a contract, there's no need to wax poetic about a woman's breasts. Human psychology suggests hiding shameful motives. It might not be his true intent but a false motive to conceal something, like being a hostage."
"Point from Halphas. In the Fifth Singularity, many Heroic Spirits acted for love. A boy defied a curse to reunite with his wife. A youth stood beside a subordinate who stole his wife. A warrior sought to destroy the world to fight his nemesis. A mad king affirmed a wanton woman's wish. Humans are driven by love and desire. Their reasons for fighting are often base. Some may become Devils for lust."
"Question from Vine. Could reincarnation as a Devil cause mental abnormalities? A tool that alters the soul could affect the mind."
"Denial from Sitri. Human desires are inherently so—violating, toying, devouring. So-called 'commoners' are the epitome of desire, hence the term 'vulgar.'"
"Denial from Baal. Our revenge target, Ritsuka Fujimaru, was once an ordinary person ignorant of magecraft. If Gremory's reincarnated Devil is typical, Ritsuka Fujimaru would be the same. Are you saying the Temple of Time was breached by base desires?"
"Counterargument from Asmodeus. Love is essential to humans, but not everything. Ritsuka Fujimaru was at an age of high sexual desire. It's reasonable to assume he lusted for Mash Kyrielight. We didn't observe it, but it's plausible they were intimate. Given the Master-Servant bond, assuming they weren't is less natural."
"Speculation from Berith. Considering the situation and timing, it's likely before the Temple of Time."
"Denial from Sitri. Accounting for our summons and their response time, it's too short. They could've been intimate at the First Singularity. Facing an endless journey, it'd ease fear and build trust."
"Pursuit from Buer. The discussion is derailing."
"Proposal from Flauros. Permanent silence for Berith, Asmodeus, and Sitri."
"Goetia, fighting over breasts?"
"…Ophis. I've long felt rage toward a certain man for not speaking up. But now, I want to tell you the opposite. Please, be quiet. And how long will you stay here? Why not retreat to your Reality Marble?"
"I'm interested in you, Goetia. I'll keep watching."
"Fine. Just don't interfere. We're almost done."
"Report from Naberius. Negotiations with the Underworld succeeded. Greece is now off-limits."
"Directive from Goetia to all Demon God Pillars. Upon completion of Baal and Flauros' strategy, advance to the next phase. Layer the bands of light and burn Hell. Let us conclude the Incineration of the Bible."
***
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