Raymond took a seat opposite Shinka and looked him penetratingly in the eyes.
'Does this kid still think he's a true genius...? It's annoying.'
"So, kid, aren't you tired of being wrong?"
Shinka raised an eyebrow.
"While I admit this fight was unnecessary, it was well-founded according to my initial premise."
"No. You were a complete idiot. You made this decision based on the poor logic of your even poorer knowledge. It doesn't make you smarter, just more stubborn."
"Well, from my perspective where there was no flow of information, it was impossible to draw completely accurate conclusions."
"It was your fault for not investigating. You had several methods, you just chose the hard path out of stubbornness."
Shinka's gaze turned confused.
"You could have talked to your sister, even with your grandmother. I imagine if you didn't, it's because you don't want to tell them about your supernatural abilities, but given the dangerousness of the situation, it was something you could have overlooked." A smile formed on Raymond's lips. "But you decided to handle it on your own. Imagine if when we face a threat, we had to eliminate every last trace."
"Due to the information asymmetry, your aunt and uncle could have died because of you. You didn't think it through and only acted based on what you believed, whether correct or mistaken. That privileged mind you think you have is a joke if you don't know in which direction to move your thoughts."
'Is he... scolding me?' Shinka couldn't help but feel irritated, but it also made him reflect deeply on his actions.
The way he narrated it, it was obvious.
'If everything had gone wrong, it would have been entirely my fault...'
"It's good that you understand. I'm glad to see you're someone open to seeing more than one perspective... So, Shinka Kusaka, for this interrogation, I want you to be totally honest. And you can stop using grandiose words; we're not in a detective series. Just talk normally."
Shinka closed his eyes for a few moments.
"Alright. I promise to be totally honest."
"Good. Then I'm speaking with Shinka Kusaka, but not the one pretending to be cold and tough, but Shinka Kusaka, 14-year-old boy, bearer of a strange Sacred Gear."
"I heard your answer about that, but my daughters gave you a brief explanation about some types, so I guess now you can be a bit more specific, right? I'd like you to share that information with me." Raymond showed an expression of false friendliness.
'I promised to be honest, so...'
"If I understood correctly, my Sacred Gear is of a sealed type. It allows me to increase characteristics of mine, both abstract like intelligence and more concrete like physical ones."
"I see. And is this increase in characteristics permanent or does it have a determined duration?" Raymond asked eloquently.
Shinka was a bit surprised by the question.
The boy assumed this question came from some old knowledge Raymond had about a specific Gear.
"It seems you know about a Sacred Gear similar to mine," Shinka whispered, looking at him.
"Come on! I told you I didn't want games." That was all the man said.
"S-Sorry! It's become a habit... Ahem. They increase permanently."
Raymond nodded and proceeded.
"Tell me, Kusaka, since when have you awakened this power?"
'Awakening is not the same as obtaining. It means bearers of a Sacred Gear have it since they are conceived.' That was the conclusion the boy reached.
"I've had it for two weeks."
Raymond nodded.
"That is, one week before you went to visit Kuoh. Correct."
'He obtained his Sacred Gear two weeks ago and already has the level of a low-level exorcist...' He was highly impressed by the boy's abilities.
"Now let's change the subject a bit. I hope you don't mind." He seemed contemplative for a few seconds before proceeding. "Tell me, how was your relationship with your sister before she left for Kuoh City?"
Shinka seemed to remember some things and took a breath to speak.
"Our relationship was quite good. We never fought or didn't get along like most siblings."
"Mom went out to work from morning to night. I was lazy and preferred to go hungry until my mother returned from work just because making an effort to do something seemed like a nuisance to me."
"Wow, that sounds like the most normal version of Shinka Kusaka."
"Well, I've changed a bit... So back in those times, when she saw me hungry, she would run to the kitchen to make something for both of us. She's undoubtedly a kind person. She was very passionate about her hobbies, but she didn't mind putting them aside if it meant helping someone else."
Raymond seemed to reflect for a few seconds.
"I understand you want to whitewash your sister's image in front of me, but I need all the details. Even of bad things she may have done."
Shinka, upon hearing those words, laughed.
"That's what surprises me too. She has never done anything bad. For me, who watched her grow up, she was always someone with a pure character." After saying those words, Raymond's lip curved into a discreet smile.
'Hard to believe, I know, but I'm being real!'
For him, it was also unbelievable that someone fitting those characteristics would have become a reincarnated demon.
"Tell me, how and why did you separate?"
"Hey, I know I promised to be totally honest, but honestly, there are things that..."
"Shinka, I know for you I'm not someone trustworthy, just as I know you don't want to talk about that. And, being honest, I know the story from beginning to end, but hearing it from you will clarify all the doubts I have about you."
Shinka sighed.
"A little over a year ago, my mother was on a trip with my sister to visit my grandmother. Supposedly, halfway through that trip, there was a terrible crash involving my mother's car, resulting in her death."
Shinka reflected for a few moments before continuing.
"My mother died, but my sister survived. She had non-fatal but serious injuries, so they transferred her to Kuoh Hospital. She spent a few days there until they discharged her, and my grandmother went to pick her up."
He finished his story.
"I understand. Now tell me how your relationship with your mother was." Raymond went straight to the point.
"She and I were close. When she arrived home after work, I would tell her everything that had happened during my day. She was understanding, even when I told her about something bad I had done."
"And... Being honest, before obtaining the Sacred Gear, I hadn't overcome it. I just coped with it in my mind and tried to keep myself busy with constant stimuli to not think about her." Shinka took a breath.
'Maybe I'm talking too much, but...' He felt a slight pain in his chest, remembering, but it didn't seem like a bad thing.
Perhaps it was the first time he could talk about this with someone.
"When I gained the ability to improve my mind, then I simply stopped thinking of it as something painful. It was useless for me to remember her as a martyr in my heart. I just accepted it as something that had to happen..."
Raymond felt the weight of the boy's words. He even saw himself reflected for a moment.
"And before I wasn't very clear, but if all these supernatural creatures exist, then there is a place where I will reunite with her when I die too."
"Returning to your sister, why did she never return to Takido?"
"I also asked myself that."
"So you have some theory?"
"I guess the accident in which my mother and sister were involved had something to do with the supernatural. Somehow my grandmother understood the danger my sister was in, and I can assume she had some kind of contact with a member of the Sitri clan, and she gave my sister to them to be under their protection."
Raymond closed his eyes for a few seconds.
"So, you don't condemn that your sister became a demon by her own decision?"
Shinka let out a small laugh.
'Is he trying to turn me against her?'
"I don't know. I guess not. Under those circumstances, it was the most logical. She was destined to be an ordinary human, but she was dragged into the magical world without being able to do anything."
"But what if your theory weren't correct, do you condemn it?" the man asked boldly.
Shinka looked him in the eyes and gave him a penetrating look.
"If my premise were wrong, then yes. Becoming a demon just to be a subordinate and be tied to someone who controls your actions seems stupid to me. But there must be an important reason behind it. Besides, I don't understand the power hierarchy. Maybe it's better than it sounds and I'm wrong."
"Well, it's just that you don't know the benefits of becoming a demon. Drawing a conclusion must be difficult that way." Raymond refuted.
He could only raise an eyebrow, confused.
"When you reincarnate as a demon, your strength doubles based on the body of a supernatural being, the same happens with your mana pool. It's a huge advantage compared to other supernatural beings."
He simply limited himself to looking at the man in front of him calmly.
"Reya wouldn't agree to serve another for something like that," he said with total conviction.
"Maybe she wouldn't, but you? If you take all that into account, Kusaka Shinka, would you agree to become a demon, to increase your strength and protect your loved ones?"
This question really struck him. Shinka looked at the cell ceiling and closed his eyes.
Raymond waited for his answer expectantly. He expected it would take a long time thinking about his answer, but no.
In an instant, the boy lowered his head again and looked at Raymond.
"Me? Change my race?"
The status screen opened in front of Shinka, and he remembered the first time he opened the system.
'The system grants the capacity for continuous evolution for all your skills, regardless of their nature. Its purpose is to guide the user towards absolute perfection.'
Shinka recalled verbatim the text that appeared before him.
"Why would I consider degrading myself that way?"
That was the only answer he gave.
'There it is again... This child, he's crazy. He's really crazy!' Raymond released an internal laugh.
The priest's eyes contracted for a few instants, and a big smile formed.
"Aren't you afraid of the possible fate that awaits you? Aren't you worried you could be surpassed by a supernatural being?"
"If you let me leave here today, I swear the answer will be 'No' forever!"
"BWAHAHAHAHA!" Raymond laughed heartily after hearing the boy.
"It's splendid to hear that. You're becoming shameless too!" He recomposed himself.
"Then, Kusaka, I have one last question for you."
The boy prepared himself.
He seemed really serious.
He swallowed, as he had to be careful with what he would answer.
"Are you good or evil?"
Even the boy felt it was a bit hard to breathe.
"H-Hey... WHAT KIND OF STUPID QUESTION IS THAT?!" A vein formed on his forehead. "I'm taking this interrogation seriously! Do you even want to sound a bit more mature?!"
"Ah, this child... Look, it's the first time I've interrogated someone so young. Do you know how complicated it is to be a single father? Well, sometimes it's complicated to get a young boy to be totally honest." He cleared his throat for a moment. "So, I guess you want me to rephrase it in a more 'Seinen' style, like that manga genre!"
"Stop saying those weird things, you're making me cringe! Shut up!"
"Try to understand me, Kusaka. Normally my interrogation method consists of cutting off one or two of the person's fingers, and they start singing like a bird. Do you prefer me to be more serious with you?"
"N-No! I think this is the perfect level of seriousness!" he said frantically while trying to urge his other internal self to meditate more intensely.
'No matter how you look at it. His strange personality changes always maintain the same essence. There's no doubt that no matter how many cognitive improvements he has, this boy is still only 14 years old.'
"Alright, alright. You'll keep your fingers intact."
"Just answer this: Are you on humanity's side, or on the contrary, are you willing to act against humanity alongside demons if it's for your sister's sake?" Raymond's gaze became oppressive on Shinka.
Shinka regained his previous mental state and thought carefully about the answer.
"If a living being suffers before me, I will help them because it's my nature. But even so... The world is not black and white. I do things based on what I believe is right for me." He clenched his jaw comically. "Besides, it's stupid that you ask that if you know the answer. I didn't face you because I thought it was fun."
Shinka raised his head and met Raymond's pacified gaze.
"Well, you and I aren't very different, but our starting point is indeed different. I joined the Church because I knew about the existence of demons and fallen angels. Beings that threatened the lives of my loved ones. I swore loyalty to the Church with all my faith and promised to protect humanity."
'Who the hell asked you...?!'
"But in the oath, there was also the part about protecting the interests of the Church, regardless of whether they opposed the exorcist." Raymond closed his eyes for a few moments.
"At that moment, I imagined the worst, a scenario where the Church would force me to take innocent lives, or even my family's, and I opened my eyes."
Raymond suddenly stood up from his chair.
"Oh wait, I forgot! Where did you learn that magic?"
'Wasn't that supposed to be the main point?!'
For a moment, it felt like Shinka.exe stopped working.
"I-I found a grimoire... I know it might be hard to believe, but I—!"
"I believe you! Kusaka, you're free of suspicion."
The boy's eyes lit up briefly as he looked at Raymond's confident gaze.
"B-But you didn't let me finish speaking! Do you really believe me?!" Shinka was incredulous.
Raymond smiled.
"I am the bearer of a Sacred Gear that allows me to discern between truth and lies. I know you're not lying..." He took on an amused expression.
Raymond calmly left the cell.
WHOOSH!
The door closed firmly.
"Wait, you said I'm free! Aren't you going to let me out? You haven't even taken off the handcuffs!"
Raymond showed the boy a confused expression, clearly mocking him.
"Kusaka, I'm not the type of person who schemes in the dark, nor those who pull the strings. I like to act openly and be totally transparent, which is why I always deliberately and forcefully share information with you."
"Stop putting yourself on a pedestal!"
"How hypocritical! Don't you do that yourself? I'm not stupid; I've been monitoring your body since you were talking with my daughters. I know you discovered how to free yourself on your own. Besides, you created a shared presence in your own body."
His jaw almost dropped to the floor. He was astounded by the man's words.
"I don't consider myself the intellectual type, but I like people not being able to predict what I will do."
Shinka looked at Raymond with irritation.
"Well, good luck freeing yourself. Tomorrow morning I'll be back." With a superior smile.
The man calmly walked through the corridors and went up some stairs, whistling some happy tune.
He walked a bit more and finally reached the main hall of the church.
It seemed apparently empty, but Raymond knew there were two people there.
"You two. I told you to go home."
After those words, two female figures emerged from the shadows.
"But we were really curious," Kaede spoke, while her sister nodded repeatedly.
"That's not a valid reason to disobey me. Remember—" Raymond was about to speak but was interrupted by his daughters.
"Honor your father and your mother, and your days will be long."
"That's right. Good that you remember." The man huffed but still continued speaking.
"So, what do you think we should do about Shinka?" Raymond asked as he began to walk again.
His daughters followed him and seemed thoughtful.
"To me, he seems crazy!" said Kaede.
"Valid, valid," her father whispered.
"I think his problem is that he operates under incomplete premises," Shizumi also added something.
"Explain it in more detail." Raymond patted her head.
"His motivation for doing all this was because he thought we could harm his family. Perhaps if he had investigated properly, he could have found the truth. He unnecessarily exposed himself to a conflict that was simple to fix."
"Good reasoning, but I'm concerned you talk as if you had no blame."
His two daughters started whistling to divert attention.
"You're not wrong at all. That boy is missing a few screws, and his rationality is usually linear, not vertical. And, what do you think of his ability?"
"I think it's quite a powerful one. Do you know what his Sacred Gear is, Dad?" Kaede was very curious.
"I have the theory that maybe it's the Boosted Gear." It was as if Raymond had dropped a bomb.
Both girls became thoughtful.
"But that doesn't make much sense! If it were the Boosted Gear, then it would have been harder to beat him, even for you," said Kaede.
"That's what I was thinking, but maybe the Boosted Gear isn't fully awakened."
Raymond seemed thoughtful about his complicated theories.
"The Boosted Gear allows the user to increase their physical characteristics and also abstract ones like the amount of magical energy. But if my thinking is correct, then in that semi-awakened state, Shinka managed to make it improve his intelligence, and starting from that, somehow managed to make the improvement ability permanent." A drop of sweat ran down Raymond's cheek.
"But how are you sure it could be the Boosted Gear?"
The man closed his eyes and continued.
"It's the only one that fits the vague description he gave. And I highly doubt a Sacred Gear exists that hasn't manifested until now. It can only be the Boosted Gear."
Both girls agreed with their father's thinking.
"Didn't you just say he used a lot of linear thinking? It seems even you aren't spared," said Kaede.
"Well, a little hypocrisy also makes us human."
"So what will you do with him? It sounds like it's quite dangerous to let him wander as he has been until now."
The man showed a shameless smile to his two daughters.
"You two know the critical situation Takido is in. The Church is about to abandon us completely for being so close to Kuoh, which is dominated by demons."
"And things are stirring in the supernatural world. It's a matter of time before something big happens and affects Takido, so I've decided that I will train Shinka Kusaka to be the city's first line of defense."
"There are three days of vacation left. In this span of time, I will make that boy's ability brush against its maximum power in the semi-awakened state it's in."
Kaede was astonished at her father's words full of confidence.
For her, it was illogical.
Did her father really trust that boy that much?
She, who saw the improvement ability of that person, understands better than anyone that it could be detrimental to them.
"But will he agree to join the Church?!" Shizumi asked almost with stars in her eyes.
"During the interrogation, I understood a bit of his personality. It's impossible for him to join a faction."
"Then where do you get the confidence from?" Kaede couldn't help but confront her father.
He simply turned his head a little and looked deeply into his daughter's eyes.
"My intuition doesn't fail." That was all he said.
Kaede remembered the primary ability of the Sacred Gear her father bore.
Intuition.
It was a Sacred Gear considered low-level, but it was very versatile in many aspects.
Listening carefully to her father's words, Kaede remained silent.
"By the way, bring me a phone. I need to call the Kusaka family. We have to create an alibi for the poor boy."
. . .
Meanwhile, in the cell in the depths of the church, Shinka was looking at the ceiling with a lost gaze.
As if there were no soul in his eyes.
"This place is quite empty," the boy spoke in his subconscious world.
Everything inside was pure darkness and chains enveloping his primitive self.
"It deserves more life." He whispered, extending his hand toward the horizon.
WHOOSH!
A huge green meadow spread out before him.
The sky turned blue with some rain clouds around it, adorning it with a beautiful gray hue.
Shinka closed his eyes.
BRRRR!
The ground began to rumble, and from the soil, a giant stone cathedral began to emerge.
'This place is the imaginative representation of what I consider myself to be. I didn't think to endow it in a specific way, but it arose like this.' Even he himself was a bit disconcerted.
The boy's footsteps walking towards such a majestic temple resonated in the vastness of the place.
The temple doors rumbled upon sensing Shinka's approach and opened wide.
Shinka entered, and the first thing he saw was that in the middle was his primitive self trapped by chains.
The place was immense; the interior was full of shelves with an immense amount of books, each representing Shinka's memories and knowledge.
The boy approached his other self and looked at its placidity while meditating.
"According to my understanding of these things, I won't be able to remove them until I surpass the maximum amount of mana with which the caster created the handcuffs."
Shinka opened his status and looked at his mana.
[MP: 3778/3778]
His other self had been increasing his mana pool by one point every second.
"D-Damn, that's a huge amount...!" Shinka whispered, sitting down beside his other self and beginning to meditate as well.
[Mana Meditation skill potency x2]