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Outside Adam's house, Rias's group had gathered with countless tools. Some of them were clearly unnecessary for what they were about to do…
But that didn't seem to cross the minds of Kiba and Koneko. The boy held a hammer with a smile while the smaller girl, strangely dressed in a work jumpsuit, held a saw with a stoic expression.
In this situation, Issei was, without a doubt, the most normal among the three, merely staring at them with a defeated expression.
"I'm pretty sure we won't need a hammer, let alone a saw… Wait, where did you get those? And when did you change clothes, Koneko?!"
"We have to dress appropriately for the job, Issei. President's orders," Kiba replied with his usual calm demeanor.
"And I don't mind wearing this outfit…" Koneko answered, the memory of a smile forming on Adam's face when he saw her in it flashing in her mind.
"I don't remember the president saying anything about this… And why are you both ignoring my other questions?"
"Alright, let's begin. Remember, no demonic power," Kiba ignored him, turning with his hammer in hand.
"Hey!"
"I'll grab the drill." Koneko walked past Issei, completely oblivious to his existence.
"Drill?!"
The two walked off to carry out their own tasks, leaving Issei totally lost. "Why not use demonic power…?"
"To avoid unnecessary attention."
Issei jumped when a voice came from behind, turning to see Akeno walking toward him.
"O-Oh, Akeno!"
"Rias doesn't want to draw attention, so she asked that most of the work be done manually. Besides, we're in a residential neighborhood, so exposing ourselves could be dangerous."
She explained, and Issei just nodded. It's not like they couldn't fix everything with demonic power, but it would take more effort due to people constantly passing by. Besides, Adam preferred they keep the use of demonic powers to a minimum, since Asia still didn't know they were demons.
And there was also the fact that Adam didn't seem too happy when Rias mentioned they could alter the memories of nearby residents so no one would suspect anything…
"I see." Issei didn't understand the full context, but if it was the president's decision, there was no reason to argue.
"So, Issei…" Akeno, satisfied with his response, stepped closer with a mischievous smile. A seductive tone in her voice made him instinctively step back in nervousness. "I noticed you staring at Asia quite a lot… Is something going on?"
"What?!" Confronted with the question, Issei went into defensive mode, his cheeks slightly red. "Of course not! I was just… curious! That's it, curious!"
"I see… Curious." Akeno nodded, but it was clear she didn't believe a word he said. "Alright then, keep working."
But she decided not to push it. Once he realized the way Asia behaved around Adam, she knew his hopes would be crushed. Akeno didn't want to destroy her junior's dreams too abruptly.
Besides, Rias's interest was as clear as day… Issei's dreams would be even more crushed if he knew.
She returned to the house, showing no reaction when, as she opened the door, she saw Adam sitting on the couch with Rias and Asia at his side.
Asia leaned against him, and Rias, pretending not to notice the girl's overly protective demeanor, just silently observed while Adam explained some magical theories he had.
Since they wanted to maintain a friendly relationship with Adam, Rias didn't mind offering her own knowledge in return.
That's how they spent the next few hours. Adam didn't really mind because Rias gave him some interesting information, but he did find it strange that even after rejecting the contract, she was so willing to help.
But he didn't think too much about it. The girl didn't seem to have any malice, and if this was a way to earn his goodwill, then she was clever — but it wasn't something that offended him.
Having so many demons around was a bit uncomfortable… but he was slowly getting used to it.
. . .
On a battlefield littered with bodies as far as the eye could see, a figure covered in light armor walked through the sea of the dead, exhausted. His sword, the blade broken, barely held steady in his hand.
His hair, now dyed red, still showed traces of its natural blonde color.
How many hours of fighting? How long had he been killing? This warrior had long lost track of time, but still, he continued to raise his sword against anyone who dared challenge him.
And he was still willing to keep going, for as long as necessary.
!
The warrior stopped when something gripped his ankle tightly. His blue eyes looked down to see a hand clinging to him in desperation.
"Please… Help me." The voice, full of pain and fear, begged for mercy and help.
The warrior simply stared in deep silence. He had long forgotten the reason for this war, lost in the vast sea of thoughts that plagued his mind.
Forgiveness? Mercy? Help?
Did anyone in this world truly deserve any of that?
Raising his sword, he let what remained of the blade fall upon the back of the poor man's neck, piercing him cruelly to finally end his life.
He no longer knew… how long he had lived. How many years had passed since he lost everything? It hurt to realize that… he couldn't remember.
!
The warrior shielded his eyes as a bright light threatened to blind him, dimming just enough for him to see something descending amidst the powerful light from the clouds.
Confusion filled his thoughts for a moment, but when an illuminated figure landed firmly in front of him, he opened his eyes in recognition.
"It's been a long time, Adam." An angelic smile, accompanied by a calming aura, made Adam's shoulders relax. "How have you been, my brother?"
"…" Adam stared at the angelic figure wearily. Someone he knew — the one who had once offered him a hand… The one he now despised like all the others. "What do you want, Michael?"
Michael, the one second only to God.
"I see you've kept yourself busy all these years…" Michael looked out at the vast battlefield with knowledgeable eyes, as if he could see the entire history behind the war in a single glance. "I don't think this is a healthy way to spend millennia."
Adam growled at his words, shoving past the Archangel to continue across the battlefield. "I didn't ask for this, remember?"
Adam's rude attitude didn't offend Michael, who simply flew beside him to keep pace. "I know, Adam. When our Father—"
"Our Father?" Adam stopped, disgust clear on his face as he turned to Michael. "What did our Father do besides bring disgrace to everyone? He only shows up to drown the world and disappears right after? He's not my father, Michael — and you're not my brother."
Those words landed like a blow, freezing Michael for a moment before he regained composure and continued walking beside Adam.
"I understand your anger, Adam. But God's plans—"
"To hell with God's plans!" Adam shouted, fed up with Michael's attempts to make him see God in a good light. "A God who knows everything but can't fix anything. What a great example of a god."
"…"
Silence hung between them, the tension thick in the air. Michael had no words to counter Adam.
He might have been closest to God, but even he couldn't unravel the Father's plans. When Adam and Eve were exiled, Michael was confused — it had all been Lucifer and Samael's fault — but even so, he didn't question it.
When Adam received his punishment, Michael thought it was far too severe, but still, he didn't question it.
He never dared to question God, because he believed everything was part of a greater plan… But in the end, even he knew nothing of those plans.
He wanted to know why his beloved brother had to be condemned so cruelly for the mistakes of others. Why his descendants had to bear the weight of sin?
But he couldn't ask those questions. Standing by God's side, he had to be the most loyal, and believe wholeheartedly in the Creator.
His faith couldn't be shaken by doubt… He simply couldn't allow it.
"If you came only for this, then don't waste your time." Adam walked past him, his steps tired and uneven from the many hours of battle and wounds across his body. "Go back to your damn paradise."
"…" Michael silently watched Adam's back fade into the distance, a disheartened expression on his face as he could do nothing but stare, unable to support the brother he loved.
He wanted to pull him out of this endless quest for vengeance… but every time he tried to get close, he was pushed away by the hatred in Adam's heart.
Watching him sink so deeply… hurt.
'Father… Why?'
And so, watching his brother walk toward a fate of disgrace and sorrow…
Michael questioned for the first time.
.
Michael's eyes opened, the memories of a depressing moment still fresh in his mind.
"What… was that?" he asked, his body numb with a strange sensation he had never felt before.
Those memories, that moment… It hadn't just come to him — it brought sensations as well, as if warning him, calling him.
"...Adam?" he blinked, the image of his brother's hate-filled face appearing in his mind.
It had been a long time since he last knew Adam's whereabouts. With God's death, not only did he lack the time to search, he also found himself unable to.
But now, he felt he needed to find him… No — something was telling him to do it.
He just hoped that this time… they could talk under better circumstances.