{Present — Airi Children's Home, Airi Town}
Soul transfer, body takeover, transmigration.
Whenever people think about these things, they imagine some grand backstory behind why the soul was accepted into the body. Or a tragic sob story where the new soul swears to fulfill the dying wish of the original owner. Maybe even a dramatic battle, where the winner earns the right to control the body.
Never had he expected to witness a real-life version of the screaming ash baby meme.
The moment he and Veylith stepped into the body and wondered how exactly they were supposed to take it over, they saw the baby's original soul turn to ash and vanish. Which, obviously, resulted in them taking over the body.
After that, it came down to Veylith and him deciding who would get control. And well, even that choice was made by the body itself.
'My damned luck.'
Veylith's sour grumble wasn't without reason.
It had been about five months since the whole transmigration fiasco, and exactly that long since Veylith's soul had been dragged toward the baby's arm and trapped around it.
'This place is even smaller than the void…'
It was smaller, but he surprisingly had the freedom to change how it looked. He could imagine the place however he wanted, and this new prison of his would reshape itself to match that image.
'Don't be so down. You'll have better days when I manifest you as a gear,' the 'baby' assured him. 'Also, at least you get to see the actual world now, instead of the same mountain.'
They were fairly confident that Veylith had turned into a Sacred Gear. Possibly even a Longinus.
Not just because his soul was conveniently trapped around the arm where both Vali and Issei summoned their Gears as gauntlets. But because ever since taking over the body, he'd been able to use Veylith's soul energy to strengthen himself.
Not enough to fight, but enough to reinforce his immune system, bone density, and muscles so he could actually walk.
When he was around seventeen months old, he could not only walk properly but also run without tripping over himself. His speech had improved as well, having learned Japanese over the first five months of being trapped while begging for milk and diaper changes, easily the most hellish period so far.
He still hadn't revealed how well he could talk, sticking to short, simple sentences like: Me hungry.Me need diaper.
He was also more than capable of distinguishing between things, especially food, which made it easier to show what he liked and disliked.
'Grow up quickly. I can't stay idle like this forever,' Veylith complained on a regular basis.
'I can't just grow up because I want to, can I?' came the equally regular reply.
Over the past few months, the duo had grown used to the place and learned quite a lot.
"Aww, Soren, are you reading?"
What he just couldn't get used to was being treated like a baby. Which he technically was.
'Books are for reading, aren't they?' He wanted to answer rhetorically, like he did with Veylith. But instead, he played along and acted cute.
"It is a nice book, Rui-chan!" He held it up for her to see. "It is about piggies!"
He didn't actually bother reading the book. He only ever carried picture books or toys so he'd have an answer ready for the usual What are you doing, Soren?
After being a baby for so long, he realized that people rarely questioned kids when they said they were playing. As long as there was a toy to back it up. So every time he slipped away to look for anything useful around the church or orphanage, he took full advantage of it.
With his tiny legs and light weight, his steps didn't even make a sound.
"Aww! You really love your picture books, don't you, Soren?"
The boy nodded enthusiastically, faking excitement for the books in front of the young nun.
Rui had apparently been brought to the church as a child of faith about fifteen years ago, when she was barely six. And since then, she had devoted herself entirely to serving the church and helping out at the orphanage.
And in all those years of service, Rui had never seen a child as bright as Soren. The only ones who even came close were children blessed with holy power. But Soren had none of that. At times, Rui convinced herself it must be genetics. Maybe one of his parents had been a genius, and that spark had somehow been passed down to their son.
Needless to say, Rui wasn't very knowledgeable when it came to science.
The members of the church were equally surprised by Soren's growth. More than a few would have loved to see him join the holy order, or even be sent to the Vatican. With his gifts, he would have made an excellent exorcist for any church. Not to mention, he clearly had some European blood in him. His appearance didn't resemble that of a typical Japanese child, and he would have fit right in at the Vatican alongside the other exorcists.
Unfortunately, he didn't possess even a shred of holy power. And because of that, he wasn't sent to the Vatican. Instead, he was kept at the orphanage under the care of Rui and the other caretakers, just in case he showed any sign of his holy power awakening later.
If he didn't, it was a shame. But even then, everyone knew Soren would do well for himself.
And if nothing else worked out, he could always become a preacher.
"Do you not want to play with your friends, Soren?" Rui's question made the baby boy pause. He seemed to sink into deep thought for a moment.
Rui found it adorable. The way the child weighed his choices like an adult rather than a toddler. His thinking face alone was enough to make everyone around him smile warmly.
"No," Soren finally answered. "They don't like picture books. They only eat toys."
Rui chuckled, understanding that Soren found those actions childish, even though he was a child himself.
Some of the caretakers felt a twinge of sadness seeing how quickly Soren was growing while his peers lagged behind. The concern wasn't really for the other kids, but for Soren. Growing up too fast meant he might never truly relate to children his own age.
Rui had shared that worry at first. But seeing how satisfied and content Soren was with his books, the occasional toy, and learning things on his own, she didn't hold onto that concern for long.
Soren wasn't exactly an outcast either. He was perfectly capable of making friends. Adults were naturally drawn to him, and when one child had tried to bully him once, Soren somehow turned that kid into a friend.
Or well, more like a subordinate or lackey. But Rui didn't need to know that. To her, and to the other adults, it simply looked like the kid followed Soren around as a friend.
"Don't forget to come for lunch," Rui reminded him. "You lose track of time when you're buried in books."
Soren smiled and nodded, then cutely walked back toward the pile of books he had gathered around his spot.
Most of them were picture books. The rest were books no child his age should have been able to understand. Everyone assumed he kept those because he liked the covers, unaware that Soren's adult mind could read them just fine.
He had also nearly mastered Japanese, which was a feat in itself, considering how difficult the language could be.
As the light-brown-haired child tiptoed toward his books, Rui suddenly remembered something important.
"Oh, Soren," she called. "Make sure you come for breakfast early tomorrow. Someone from the Vatican will be coming to take a look at the orphanage. And all of you."
Soren didn't think much of it and simply nodded. It wasn't the first time someone from the Vatican had visited. Any church or orphanage that managed to produce even a single wielder of holy power would catch their attention, and the Vatican would often spend large sums to improve the facilities afterward.
This was also why the people of the church wished Soren had holy power. If he did, he would have been the fourth wielder of holy power produced by their orphanage in the last fifteen years. Sadly, they had no choice but to rely on their old glory and hope it would be enough to secure funds for renovations to both the orphanage and the church.
'So, when and how are you going to acquire a blessing to protect your mind?' Veylith asked, reminding Soren of the very reason they had chosen the body of a child from the church.
'Normally, for someone like me who isn't naturally blessed with holy power, it takes a long time,' Soren replied. 'I'd have to prove my abilities over the years, maybe become an exorcist. That should guarantee a blessing.'
That answer earned him a grumble.
'Too long. Make it fast.'
Soren chuckled as he sat beside his pile of books. 'Why do you think I've been showing off my skills since such a young age? I may not have holy power, but it should be enough to get me noticed by the higher-ups as a future exorcist. And if we manage to impress whoever this person from the Vatican is, we might get lucky and receive a blessing early.'
Veylith went quiet for a moment, and Soren continued.
'And don't forget, I want it soon too. The reason I haven't actively tried to awaken you as a gear is the risk of being discovered without a blessing.' He recalled, 'You said most powers can have their presence suppressed with holy power. That should help keep attention away until I'm at least ten.'
He had no intention of dealing with enemies at the age of three. The entire plan was to obtain a blessing to hide the presence of his gear, then use that 'holy protection' as cover to train, grow stronger, and eventually awaken it.
That way, he could avoid being drafted as an exorcist too early. Maybe even refuse the offer altogether in the future.
'I'd prefer to keep my freedom, he muttered to himself. Being tied to religion comes with too many restrictions.'
After all, he was anything but holy. Unholy in both mind and body.
'Just make sure you get the blessing, no matter the cost,' Veylith ordered. 'If you want to grow strong, awakening my abilities comes first.'
'Noted.'
With that settled, Soren buried himself in his books, just like he did every night.
* * *
{Hours Later — Airi Children's Home}
—Vasco "The Church's Device of Violence" Strada—
Vasco didn't visit Japan often. And when he did, it was usually the major cities or deeply religious rural regions. Mostly because those places were the ones most frequently harmed by the unholy, and he would be dispatched to deal with the problem.
He was sixty-nine years old, only a few months away from entering his seventh decade. Most men his age would be plagued by constant pain, illness, or physical decline, confined to beds or at least slowed to a crawl.
Vasco was not most men.
Even at his age, he was built like a titan, standing over six foot seven. A truly monstrous man, backed by faith and power so overwhelming that even monsters feared him.
As for his power, it wasn't something that could be easily explained. Or even fully understood. It existed on a level that defied logic, something truly supernatural, far beyond the norm.
And when you factored in the holy sword he wielded, he was someone the vast majority of the supernatural world could not afford to take lightly.
Which was exactly why it made no sense for a man of his caliber to visit a backwater town like Airi.
To everyone else, it seemed he had come to bless the town and its people.
In truth, he was there for an entirely different reason.
"Welcome, Your Eminence."
Airi Town wasn't high on his list of priorities. But since he had to visit Kuoh anyway, stopping by Airi made sense. Passing through both towns saved the Vatican the cost of dispatching another bishop.
"It is always a pleasure to meet gifted children," he said with a warm smile. "And this orphanage has long supported the unfortunate. So it is only right that I visit it at least once."
In truth, he was here because of the rumors surrounding Kuoh Town. Devil infestation, to be precise. He was already aware of the Fallen Angel problem in the area and had no intention of letting devils make things worse. The new Pope had dispatched him personally to confirm whether the rumors were true.
And if they were, he would deal with them.
For now, though, his task was to see if there was anyone worth taking to the Vatican. Or at the very least, someone worth keeping an eye on.
He already knew that no child in this orphanage had been born with holy power. Still, if anyone showed promise, he wouldn't hesitate to grant them a blessing.
Unlike many cardinals, he firmly believed that effort trumped everything. Even without holy power, one could reach heights others never would, even with it.
So as long as someone was hardworking and skilled enough, he was willing to lend a hand.
"We have already prepared your room, Your Eminence. If you wish to rest, it is fully furnished," the caretaker offered. The old cardinal simply smiled.
He was old, yes, but resting was rarely on his schedule. He preferred training, teaching children, or reading scripture far more than lying down.
"We did not expect someone of your status to visit our orphanage, Your Eminence," the caretaker added nervously. "I apologize if anything is not to your liking."
He resisted the urge to sigh. Luxury was never something he desired. If anything, he considered such wants sinful. Still, he understood her anxiety.
'The poor woman must have suffered through a previous official visit.'
He wasn't naive. He knew not everyone in the Church was like him. Even among the cardinals, corruption existed. And as much as he wanted to tear it out by the roots, he lacked the power to do so.
Even as a Cardinal Priest, the Pope's right hand in matters of combat, it wasn't enough. That weakness weighed on him every single day.
"This is a lovely place, child. You've done well with it," he said kindly. "Have the funds been sufficient?"
Money, after all, was necessary. If not for oneself, then for others. He couldn't fault anyone for that.
Running an orphanage required funds.
"They've been enough to get by," she admitted. "But we're short on money for renovations. Donations cover food, clothes, and books for the children, but the infrastructure needs work, and those costs haven't been covered."
Vasco glanced around. She wasn't lying. The place was clearly old and in need of care.
"Do not worry," he assured her. "I will look into it."
As the Pope's right hand, he had enough authority to handle matters like this.
"How about you show me to the children?" he suggested. "I need to pass through Kuoh Town as well, so I'd like to see them before I leave."
It was his polite way of saying he didn't want his time wasted. Food and rest meant little to him. Seeing the children was his priority.
"Ah, of course," the caretaker hurriedly replied. "They're in the dining hall, having breakfast."
He wanted to tell her to let the children enjoy their meal, but time was precious. So he didn't stop her as she led him toward the dining hall.
The place was old. The wooden floor creaked loudly under his mountainous weight. He felt a twinge of guilt, probably damaging an already worn-out building, but it wasn't something he could help.
'I might need to make a larger donation for this place.'
With that thought in mind, he reached the doorway of the hall. From inside, he could hear murmurs, giggles, and the occasional scolding.
"I apologize," the caretaker said. "The children can get a little rowdy sometimes."
He nodded. Dealing with children could indeed be a nightmare. With that, the caretaker pushed the door open, revealing a long dining table with sixteen seats arranged around it.
Every seat was occupied.
Sixteen children, matching the number of chairs, each with different features. Most were clearly of Japanese heritage, with black hair and a few with dark brown. One child, with noticeably lighter hair, looked a little sickly and was bundled in heavy clothing.
None of them looked particularly gifted.
Or rather… almost none of them.
"Your Eminence," a younger caretaker with short brown hair and a fuller face quickly brushed down her long skirt and hurried over to greet him.
"It's alright," Vasco said with a smile, his gaze drifting toward a certain boy. "At ease. Please help the children. They look a little… uneasy."
And that was putting it lightly.
Most children, especially ones this young, would immediately cry at the sight of a towering man with a bald head and a cross-shaped scar carved into his face.
And they did.
Some yelped. Some sobbed. Some froze in place. One might have even wet himself.
It stung a little, but Vasco was used to it. Decades of experience had made children fearing him a daily occurrence.
"Children," the younger caretaker said quickly, doing her best not to offend him, "it's alright. He is the honorable Eminence, the Cardinal Priest of the Vatican, Lord Vasco Strada."
The title of lord wasn't accurate, but he let it slide. She was nervous, just like the children, only better at hiding it.
The oldest child there, around eleven years old, tried to give a respectful nod. But he froze the moment Vasco's eyes fell on him.
Except Vasco wasn't actually looking at the boy.
His attention had shifted to the child sitting beside him, calmly eating his food without a care in the world.
A very young child. Less than five. Maybe even three.
The boy held a spoon in his tiny hands, carefully scooping porridge into his mouth, doing his absolute best not to spill a single drop.
Vasco expected the child to freeze or burst into tears once he noticed him. That was how it always went.
But the boy was so focused on his food that Vasco almost smiled.
'At least one of them isn't crying,' he thought. 'Even if it's just because he hasn't noticed me yet.'
That was where he was wrong.
He realized it the moment the boy, after taking a few spoonfuls, finally turned his head.
The bright-eyed, light-brown-haired child with mixed features didn't freeze. He didn't cry. He didn't scream.
Instead, the child gave a small, respectful nod. He didn't get off his chair. He didn't even bother fixing his posture.
Then he calmly went back to eating his porridge.
And that confirmed what Vasco had thought he'd imagined earlier.
'He was the first one to snap his head toward me when I entered, wasn't he?'
The moment Vasco stepped into the room, he noticed a child already looking toward the door, even before his body had fully crossed the threshold. He hadn't been able to identify who it was at the time, but now, seeing the boy up close, he was certain it was the same child.
'His senses are sharp.'
"Don't worry about it," Vasco said with a short smile. "I should probably let them eat."
With a light laugh, he turned to the older caretaker. "It seems the children are doing well. You're taking good care of them."
"We're only doing what the Lord taught us, Your Eminence," the older caretaker replied, her head lowered.
Vasco didn't comment on that. Instead, he turned around, which left the caretakers momentarily confused.
"I've seen the children," he said calmly. "Now, how about we discuss the donations and funds needed to improve this place for them?"
That single sentence made the older caretaker's eyes light up. She almost forgot about the children altogether and nodded eagerly.
"Of course, Your Eminence. Please, allow me to guide you to the office."
Vasco agreed without hesitation and followed after her. Or at least, that's what everyone thought.
Until the younger caretaker suddenly spoke.
"Soren? Is something wrong?"
That one question made it impossible for Vasco to hide his grin.
'So my eyes didn't deceive me. He really is sensitive to holy power, isn't he?'
Turning his head back to look at the same child now staring at him with wide eyes, he muttered softly, "After our discussion, I may have to bless someone, Caretaker Hana."
"Pardon?" The older caretaker froze for a moment, then her face lit up with overwhelming joy. "I-I mean, thank you, Your Eminence! It would be our greatest joy, and the children's greatest blessing!"
Vasco didn't pay much attention to her rambling. His eyes were fixed on the one child trying his hardest to act normal and return to his porridge.
But it was already too late.
He'd been noticed. And Vasco couldn't have been more pleased.
'At least one of them is worthy of the holy order,' his smile lingered. 'Holy power or not, sensitivity can take you far.'
With that, he followed the caretaker out of the room.
'I'll have to return after dealing with Kuoh Town,' he thought. 'I won't let a talent like this rot away in the countryside.'
What he had done was simple. He had released a faint trace of his holy power into the room, subtle enough that no one but the gifted could sense it.
And just like that, he had found one.
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{A/N: Got a pat reon named RedLamp01 with 30+ chapters. Veylith's dialogue's will be italicized from now on.
Rui and Hana both are inspired from a certain anime (A really messy one), kek, can you guess which?}