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With the initial agreement established, the atmosphere in the room relaxed considerably. Only by acknowledging the shared "elephant in the room" could they truly move forward.
Michael then spoke, his voice echoing through the chamber. He desired an end to the war that had ravaged the Three Factions for millennia.
"If this conflict continues, our races will be destroyed." His voice was filled with a grim certainty.
Destruction was a very real threat for the Angels.
Angels were created by the God of the Bible, and with his death, their numbers had dwindled, unable to replenish their ranks.
They faced not only the constant threat of falling, becoming Fallen Angels, but also the endless war against the Devils and Fallen Angels, a conflict that had decimated their forces.
The Fallen Angels faced a similar predicament.
Their numbers depended on fallen Angels, a process that was inherently unpredictable. And with the dwindling Angel population, the Fallen Angels' ranks, too, were thinning. While they could reproduce, like all mythological beings, their birth rate was incredibly low.
The Devils, for instance, despite their immortality, had produced only two children in this generation: Sirzechs and Rias. Compared to human nobles of the past—who often had dozens, even hundreds, of offspring in their relatively short lifespans—the Devils' low birth rate was…remarkable.
Relying on reproduction alone couldn't sustain their population, especially with the constant losses from the war.
As Michael had stated, if the conflict continued, they would be destroyed.
This threat, however, applied only to the Angels and Fallen Angels, not to the Devils. With the advent of the Evil Pieces system, their numbers had been steadily increasing. While their birth rate was low, humans, their source of new recruits, reproduced…enthusiastically.
In this world, humans lacked a power system that could rival the Devils. Consequently, recruiting talented individuals and transforming them into Devils was a highly effective strategy.
The Devils' power, in recent years, had been growing steadily.
And with Sirzechs, a Transcendent being among the world's top ten strongest, leading them, they arguably had the power to defeat both the Angels and the Fallen Angels.
However, the current Four Great Satans had no desire to continue the war.
Therefore, they agreed with Michael's assessment.
They began discussing potential solutions, their voices low and serious, the weight of their shared history—the countless lives lost—a somber backdrop to their deliberations.
——
"Rias, it's your turn to report," Sirzechs said, turning to his sister.
"Yes, Brother." She took a deep breath, Mika's encouraging gaze calming her nerves. She had been preparing for this moment.
Her report—a detailed account of Kokabiel's attack on Kuoh Academy and his attempt to start a war was the catalyst for this meeting.
It was therefore crucial that she present it accurately and persuasively.
——
"That concludes my report on the events surrounding Kokabiel's attack." Rias set down her notes and looked at the assembled leaders, awaiting their response.
"Well done, Rias. You may return to your seat," Sirzechs said, then turned to Azazel. "As the one responsible for this…incident, shouldn't you have something to say, Azazel?"
"This was indeed our oversight," Azazel replied, his expression sincere.
Unlike in the original story, where Vali, acting on Azazel's orders, had defeated Kokabiel, this time, it had been Mika.
Hence, Azazel's position was…less secure.
"As you heard in Rias's report, Kokabiel acted alone. It wasn't a sanctioned Fallen Angel operation."
"I sent Vali to retrieve him, but he was defeated." He glanced at Mika, who had been the one to kill Kokabiel. He had been puzzled by Kokabiel's defeat.
Some of the other Fallen Angel Cadres had even called Kokabiel incompetent, a disgrace to their ranks. But Azazel knew Kokabiel wasn't that weak.
Now, however, he understood. With Mika there, Kokabiel never stood a chance. He had picked a fight with the wrong person.
As Azazel's words and gaze turned towards Mika, the others followed suit. Mika, unfazed, met their gazes with a calm smile.
"We won't seek retribution for Kokabiel's death. In fact, we'll even offer compensation for…handling the situation for us."
"I'll discuss the details with Mika after the meeting." Azazel looked at Mika expectantly.
"Agreed. We can talk later," Mika replied, nodding. He wasn't going to refuse compensation. As for whether it was a trap, with his power, he could easily take the bait and then eat the fisherman.
"Good," Sirzechs said, pleased.
Michael, however, was still skeptical. "While I'm…surprised by your honesty, Azazel, I'd like to know—do you truly not want a conflict with us?"
Rias, in her report, hadn't omitted Kokabiel's assessment of Azazel's current obsession.
And through Kokabiel's words, Michael had glimpsed a different side of Azazel. Azazel had once been an Angel, a comrade of Michael's. He knew him, or at least, he thought he did.
"I'm not interested in war. Like Kokabiel said, my focus is on Sacred Gears," Azazel confirmed.
——
"Sacred Gears? Then why are you collecting them? I initially assumed it was to strengthen your forces, to attack Heaven or the Underworld, especially after Vali joined you. But that never happened. Care to explain?" Sirzechs, leaning back in his chair, his hands clasped behind his head, asked, his voice calm but firm.
Everyone looked at Azazel.
It was a question they all wanted answered.
Sacred Gears, artifacts created by the God of the Bible, were incredibly powerful, capable of significantly enhancing any faction's strength.
Among them were the thirteen Longinus, weapons with God-slaying potential.
Therefore, Azazel's collection of Sacred Gear wielders had naturally alarmed both Sirzechs and Michael, who suspected he was planning an attack. It was the most logical conclusion.
Azazel, however, seemed genuinely offended by their suspicion.
"I'm researching them! I'll even share my findings with you, if you'd like." He offered, but they clearly didn't believe him.
"I'm telling the truth! I'm not planning a war! I'm quite content with the current…arrangement. I've even forbidden my subordinates from interfering in human politics. I have no interest in religious conflicts or the Devil business."
"It seems my reputation truly is…abysmal," he muttered, seeing their continued distrust.
"That's correct."
"Indeed."
"Absolutely." Sirzechs, Michael, and Serafall replied in unison, their lack of faith in him palpable.
Azazel's face darkened.
"Sigh, Fine. I'm tired of hiding. Let's just form a truce. You were all thinking about it anyway, weren't you?" His blunt words, his sudden candor, stunned them into silence.
While they had all considered the possibility, to have it voiced so directly, so unexpectedly, it was…unsettling.
This war had spanned millennia, countless lives lost on all sides.
To simply stop it was a momentous decision, a turning point in their history.
But they were leaders, decisive individuals accustomed to making difficult choices. After a moment of contemplation, they began discussing the terms, their voices filled with a mix of apprehension and hope.
They all agreed that this conflict, started by the previous Four Great Satans and the God of the Bible—both now deceased—had become meaningless.
To continue fighting, with no clear objective, no tangible gain, it was foolish, a senseless waste of lives.
Therefore, they all desired an end to this war. With their shared goal established, the tone of the meeting shifted.
"It seems we've reached an agreement, then." Sirzechs's words were met with a collective sigh of relief.
This decision, a truce between the Three Factions, was incredibly important—a turning point in their history.
With the tension finally broken, Grayfia, who had been standing silently by the side, approached the table, offering them refreshments.
As they sipped their tea, Mika spoke. "I believe this calls for a break."
"Indeed! And Mika, if you have anything to say, please feel free to share," Serafall said cheerfully.
"I don't, but Issei does. He has a question for Michael," Mika said, gesturing towards Issei, who had been fidgeting nervously throughout the meeting. Issei had asked Mika and Rias earlier if he could speak with Michael. Mika, always willing to help his…junior, had agreed to facilitate their conversation.
"Issei? The Red Dragon Emperor? Of course, I have time," Michael replied with a smile. He, too, was interested in Issei.
"Issei, Michael would like to speak with you." Mika turned and called out to him.
"I heard! Thank you, Mika!" Issei rushed forward, his gratitude evident. He then turned to Michael, his earlier nervousness replaced by a serious determination. He had a question he needed answered—a question that had been weighing on his heart: Why had the Church abandoned Asia?
Asia's faith had been so strong, unwavering.
And as the most important person in Issei's life, he needed to understand, to find an answer for her.
——
Michael's response was an apology.
He knew of Asia's unwavering faith, but her expulsion had been necessary.
After the God of the Bible's death, the system he had left behind to manage the world had begun to fail, many of its functions lost.
Only the systems related to blessings, miracles, and mercy remained. The power of the cross and exorcism rituals, for instance, were part of this system.
They couldn't afford any risks.
Anyone who could potentially disrupt the system had to be removed. And the system's power stemmed from humanity's faith, so anything that could weaken that faith was a threat.
And Asia's Sacred Gear, Twilight Healing, capable of healing both Devils and Angels, was such a threat.
——
"I see…" Issei finally understood.
A Sacred Gear that could heal both Angels and Devils could undermine the very foundation of their faith—the belief in their inherent opposition.
Sacred Gears chose their wielders randomly.
Therefore, Asia's misfortune stemmed from a simple twist of fate, a random act of divine intervention that had placed her on a path of conflict.
"A cruel twist of fate..." Issei murmured, shaking his head sadly.
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