That night, after another successful stray devil hunt, I felt it again.
That prickle on the back of my neck. The low-level buzz in my nerves. The feeling that someone, somewhere, was watching me.
"Who's there?" I called out, mana already gathering in my palm as a flame flickered to life.
Nothing. Just the wind, a rustling newspaper, and a very confused alley cat glaring at me like I'd interrupted its midnight snack.
For a second, I thought maybe I was being paranoid. Too many late nights, channeling my inner Batman.
But no.
I wasn't imagining it. My enhanced senses weren't wrong. Something—someone—was absolutely out there.
"I know you're there!" I shouted, unsheathing my sword.
Silence. Then–
Clap.
Clap.
Clap.
The slow, deliberate clapping echoed around me.
From the shadows emerged a tall man with black hair, golden bangs, and a black goatee.
Azazel.
My instincts tell me how dangerous this guy is, no matter how laid back he looks.
"Impressive," he said, a smirk playing on his lips. "Most wouldn't have sensed me."
I narrowed my eyes. "Who are you?"
Oh, I knew exactly who he was.
"My name is Azazel," he replied, inclining his head slightly. "Governor General of the Fallen Angels"
"Fallen Angels?" I played ignorant.
Internally, I was screaming. Azazel—the strongest fallen angel, science nerd, and low-key chaos agent—was standing right in front of me.
He was very real, very powerful, and very much interested in me.
"I'm sure you already have an idea of who we are, especially with your nightly routines, but let's just say, we're the ones who didn't quite fit in with the angels upstairs or the devils downstairs. You could say we're the... morally flexible middle management of the supernatural world."
"Sounds complicated. So what, you guys got kicked out of heaven and now you're just... hanging around earth?"
"Something like that."
"What do you want with me?"
"Nothing, really," he said with a grin. "Just curious about the human who's been hunting stray devils easily. "
"Still doesn't explain why you're stalking me."
Azazel's grin didn't fade. If anything, it widened. "You're interesting."
I fell quiet.
Then he continued.
"The way you use magic," Azazel said, eyes narrowing slightly. "Refined, instinctive... more like a devil than any human. So tell me—how is that possible?"
I stared at him as his golden eyes studied me with scientific curiosity. Not predatory, but not exactly comfortable either—like I was a particularly fascinating specimen under a microscope.
"And that book... it responds to you. Is it a Sacred Gear? If it is, it's one I've never seen before. And trust me, I've seen them all."
"Sacred what?" I asked, deliberately playing dumb."I don't know what you're talking about, and even if I did, it's not really your business, is it?"
"Touchy, aren't we?" Azazel chuckled, clearly amused. "Relax, I'm not here to steal it or kill you.I'm merely curious."
"So what now?" I kept my stance defensive, flame still dancing in my palm. "
Azazel's golden eyes glinted with amusement in the flickering light. "To be honest, I was perfectly content watching you from the shadows. "
"Didn't expect you to sense me, though." He continued. "Still, I need to give you a warning."
"Are you threatening me?"
"Haha, no." Azazel's laugh was rich and genuine as he crossed his arms across his chest.
"Quite the opposite, actually." Azazel said, his smirk returning.
He reached into his pocket, and I immediately raised my sword higher. He paused, amused by my reaction, then slowly withdrew a small, ornate business card, pinching it between two fingers like it was a peace offering."Think of it as... an apology for stalking you. And maybe, an opportunity."
"Someone with your... talents... tends to attract attention. Not just mine. And when that happens, you might need an ally."
I reluctantly took it with my hand, keeping my eyes on him.
"Why would you help me?" I asked.
"Let's say I have a soft spot for interesting puzzles and wildcards. And you, my friend, are both."
Besides," he looked up at the night sky, "things get so dreadfully predictable after a few thousand years. You're the most interesting thing I've seen in centuries."
Then he turned, his coat billowing just a bit too dramatically. As he stepped back into the shadows, his voice echoed one last time.
"One more thing," Azazel had said with that ever-smug grin, pausing. "That magic signature you're leaving behind? You might want to work on that."
Right. Of course.
Damn it. I'd been sloppy. Rookie mistake.
"Anyways, we'll meet again. Leon-kun. "
And just like that, he was gone.
My blood went cold.
Fuck. He knows my identity.
Of course he did. Azazel wasn't some two-bit fallen angel
He was the Governor General of the Grigori, with knowledge and power that made most supernatural beings tremble.
But deep inside, a strange relief washed over me. If someone had to discover me first, Azazel would probably be the least worst option.
In the anime, he was one of the few high-ranking supernatural big shots who didn't walk around with a holier-than-thou attitude or treat humans like ants. He was clever, unpredictable, and walked that weird line between chaotic neutral and chaotic good.
He wasn't out to rule the world or start some apocalyptic war; the guy just wanted to study cool powers and tinker with Sacred Gears like a mad scientist with ADHD.
Still, I kept my armor just a thought away, ready to deploy the moment things went sideways. Because for all his charm and jokes, Azazel was still a Fallen Angel who could probably flatten a city block before I finished blinking.
Still. The fact that he knew who I was meant the clock was ticking. It was only a matter of time before others noticed me.
I stood there for a while, letting my heartbeat settle.
I wanted to continue my devil hunting, but after this encounter with Azazel, it looked like I needed to lie low. At least until Laevateinn was finished.
—
Author's Note:
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