Fantasy Library, Ch 121-125

Chapter 121: The Manifestation of Divine Will

At the same time...

In the guest room next to the master bedroom, Asia was kneeling on the floor, her hands clasped together in front of her chest as she prayed devoutly.

She was still wearing her nun's habit and hadn’t changed into the beautiful clothes she had bought earlier that day.

It wasn’t that she didn’t like those clothes, but she was simply accustomed to dressing this way.

Of course, what she was even more accustomed to was the act she was currently engaged in—prayer.

Prayer was something Asia had done every day throughout her past life.

Even though she had been expelled from the Church, branded as a witch, and labeled a heretic by the Church’s followers, she still persisted in her daily prayers.

This was naturally because her faith remained unshaken.

Despite the way the Church had treated her, and despite the fact that God had not saved her in her time of need, Asia’s faith in the Lord was still deeply rooted in her heart.

It was less of an obsession or a belief and more something she could no longer part with.

Her faith was deeply engraved in her mind.

Her devotion had been maintained over the past decade.

To abandon it now was something Asia simply couldn’t do.

So, she continued to persist, continued to hold on, and still harbored hope that one day, the Lord would bestow His grace and guide her.

Thus, Asia prayed devoutly, over and over again, allowing the pure aura around her to grow increasingly evident.

Suddenly—

"Hum—"

An indescribable wave of energy spread rapidly across the heavens and the earth, like a tidal wave.

It was an ancient mystery.

It was the supreme presence.

It was holy radiance.

It was solemn authority.

It was as if something long forgotten had returned, as if a great being had descended. The entire world seemed to sing in celebration of its arrival, and a profound, almost mystical sensation welled up in Asia’s heart.

"T-This is...?!"

Asia’s eyes snapped open in shock, and she stood up, her expression a mix of astonishment and excitement.

She didn’t know what she was feeling.

But she knew it was something she had longed for, something she had pursued, something she had believed in.

"It’s this way!"

As if guided by divine inspiration, Asia ran toward the door.

She ran through the hallway, down the stairs, and finally onto the open-air balcony, stepping outside.

And there, she saw it.

"God" was there.

"————"

The mysterious energy that had filled the heavens and the earth began to recede, and with it, the ancient mystery faded away.

Kaiser stood there, the holy spear in his hand gradually dimming its radiance and returning to its usual appearance.

In front of him, Raynare had manifested a pair of jet-black, crow-like wings, but she was now slumped on the ground, her arms hanging limply at her sides.

Her condition was strange—her expression was blank, her eyes vacant, as if she had lost her soul. It was as though she had been struck by an invisible attack and had collapsed, completely unresponsive.

Seeing her like this, Kaiser showed a satisfied expression.

"Finally, it’s complete—my own unique Balance Breaker."

His plan had succeeded.

His development had succeeded.

Though there were some limitations, he had still managed to achieve the Balance Breaker he had envisioned, unlocking the legendary power.

The True Longinus, the first and strongest Longinus, had indeed proven to possess nearly infinite potential, just as he had expected.

This holy spear, capable of awakening various miracles, was undoubtedly the most malleable of all Sacred Gears, allowing him to successfully develop the Balance Breaker power he had imagined.

"With this Balance Breaker, there are only a few enemies left in this world that I need to fear, right?"

Kaiser muttered this to himself as he turned his gaze from Raynare to the entrance of the open-air balcony.

Asia stood there in a daze, her eyes fixed on the holy spear in Kaiser’s hand.

She was entranced.

She was overwhelmed.

It was as if the Lord she believed in had appeared before her, causing the former saint to completely lose her composure.

"Lord..."

The girl clasped her hands in front of her chest in a posture of prayer, tears streaming down her face.

They were tears of emotion.

Seeing this, Kaiser thought to himself that this was bad, and he quickly retracted the holy spear into his body.

"Ah..."

Asia immediately snapped out of her trance, letting out a sound of loss.

"Why did you come here, Asia?" Kaiser smiled at her and asked, "Did I disturb your rest?"

He was clearly feigning ignorance.

"Kaiser-san!"

Asia didn’t respond to his question. Instead, she looked at him with excitement, and after a long pause, she finally spoke.

"Y-You... are you the incarnation of the Lord?"

The girl had actually said such a thing.

"Huh?"

Kaiser was stunned.

But Asia only grew more excited, and the way she looked at him changed.

"Kaiser-san must be the incarnation of the Lord, right?"

"I... I saw it just now!"

"That spear...!"

As Asia became increasingly incoherent, Kaiser quickly stopped her.

"That’s the True Longinus. As a nun from the Church, you should know about its existence, right?" Kaiser explained, "I’m a Sacred Gear user like you. My Sacred Gear is that spear."

"So, I’m not the incarnation of the Lord. I’m just a human who received a Sacred Gear, like you."

"Can you calm down first, please?"

Hearing this, Asia showed no signs of calming down.

"No, Kaiser-san must be the incarnation of the Lord," the girl declared firmly. "I truly saw it just now—the manifestation of the Lord’s will."

Kaiser was at a loss for words.

This was something he couldn’t deny.

The holy spear indeed housed the will of God, containing the miracles left behind by Him.

This miracle would only manifest when using a power deeper than the Balance Breaker, but the divine will within the spear had just descended.

As mentioned before, Balance Breakers of Sacred Gears could generally be divided into three types: the first being an evolution that enhances the original power, the second being a descent into madness where the user and the Sacred Gear merge into one, and the third being a sub-species that doesn’t fit into either category.

The original Balance Breaker of the True Longinus belonged to the first type, an evolutionary Balance Breaker.

But the unique Balance Breaker Kaiser had developed encompassed all three types.

In this case, regardless of the third type, the characteristics of the first two types had clearly been displayed just now.

Perhaps this was why, when activating the Balance Breaker, Kaiser was surprised to find that the divine will that had been quietly dormant within the spear... had manifested.

He wasn’t the incarnation of God, but he had indeed summoned the divine will.

This was why Asia had become so emotional.

"You should calm down first."

Seeing the way Asia was looking at him with increasingly fervent eyes, as if she had transformed from a devout believer into an extreme fanatic, Kaiser clapped his hands, trying to snap her out of it.

But Asia remained unresponsive, simply staring at Kaiser as if the absolute truth was right before her, as if her lifelong pursuit was right in front of her. She refused to look away.

"This is a bit bad..."

Kaiser smiled wryly.

Those who gazed upon the holy spear with devout faith would have their minds taken away.

This characteristic of the holy spear seemed to have grown stronger after Kaiser used the Balance Breaker, revealing its true form and touching upon the evolutionary and maddened aspects.

Gazing upon the spear in that state was no different from gazing upon the true God.

This was something Kaiser had learned through his Unique Authority after successfully using the Balance Breaker.

The effect of the Authority allowed Kaiser to fully master the Balance Breaker immediately after developing it, understanding all its functions.

Now, it seemed that Asia had been completely captivated by the holy spear, seeing him as the true incarnation of God.

"Asia."

Kaiser could only grab Asia’s shoulders and shake her firmly.

But instead of snapping her out of it, this caused Asia to kneel before him and begin praying.

"Lord, please forgive me for my sins."

"I saved a devil, saved an enemy of God. This must be an unforgivable crime."

"So, I have no complaints about my current treatment. I only hope that the Lord will bestow His gaze upon me and guide me, telling me what I should do in the future."

"Ah, Almighty Lord..."

As Asia spoke, she began reciting scripture.

It seemed she was truly repenting, truly seeking forgiveness.

Originally, given Asia’s kindness, she shouldn’t have regretted saving a devil. But under the influence of the divine will, it seemed her perspective had shifted, and she now believed she had indeed done wrong.

As for this, Kaiser really wanted to give her a thumbs-up.

As someone who knew the truth, he was well aware of just how despicable the devil Asia had saved was. If Asia hadn’t felt any regret for saving such scum, he would have been displeased.

This was much better.

Why save such trash?

That guy was just waste, someone who deserved to be ground to dust.

...Oh, he had already been ground to dust.

Never mind.

As Kaiser was somewhat evasively thinking about this, Raynare suddenly plopped down on her knees beside him.

"I... I know I was wrong too! Please forgive me... forgive me..."

Raynare was trembling, her gaze at Kaiser no longer filled with the previous mix of fear and malice. Instead, she looked like a sinner who had seen a god, filled with terror and anguish.

"I’m a Fallen Angel... I’ve sinned... I’m a Fallen Angel... I’ve sinned..."

The female Fallen Angel continued to mutter like this, trembling as if she had lost her mind.

Kaiser could only look at the two women kneeling before him and sigh.

"I hope they can return to normal soon..."

Chapter 122: Don’t Say Such Things Again

Unfortunately, neither Asia nor Raynare returned to normal in front of Kaiser.

One kept praying, while the other kept repenting. Even when Kaiser tried to interrupt them, they didn’t snap out of it, remaining kneeling before him.

“This… what am I supposed to do now?”

Kaiser was at a loss, completely unsure how to handle the situation.

Just as he was about to try a more forceful approach, a cat-eared girl in a seductive kimono suddenly appeared.

“Need some help?”

The girl floated down from mid-air like a yokai wandering the night, landing gracefully on the railing of the open balcony. She smiled alluringly at Kaiser, as if teasing him.

“…You’re still here?”

Kaiser wasn’t surprised by her appearance. He glanced at her and spoke indifferently.

“Still here, yes?” Kuroka licked her fingers, her gaze dripping with allure as she looked at Kaiser. “I’ve been playing around nearby, but it’s been pretty boring all by myself.”

After helping Kaiser deal with Koneko at Kuoh Academy, she had been following him, staying close by.

So, she had seen most of what Kaiser had just done.

Recalling what she had witnessed, Kuroka’s eyes held a strange glint, and her calm demeanor belied the turmoil she felt inside.

She felt like she had just witnessed a miracle, a myth, something that left her deeply unsettled.

“Then go find your sister and play with her.”

Kaiser was too preoccupied to bother with Kuroka.

But Kuroka had no intention of leaving.

“Shirone’s too boring now. She’s no fun at all, even if she’s part of the Gremory Peerage.” Kuroka jumped down from the railing and approached Kaiser with a smile. “I’m more interested in you now.”

“What do you want?” Kaiser frowned. “You’ve been lurking around me. You’d better give me a proper reason.”

Kaiser always felt this cat girl had ulterior motives. She didn’t seem like the type to help out of goodwill.

She wasn’t that kind of person, otherwise she wouldn’t be an SS-class dangerous individual.

Kuroka, however, didn’t seem to care about hiding her intentions. Like before, she nestled into Kaiser’s arms.

“If I give you a reason, will you play with me?”

Her seductive words whispered into Kaiser’s ear, her breath tickling him, stirring something within.

“Go ahead.” Kaiser barely resisted the urge to summon the True Longinus again, keeping a stern expression. “Let’s hear what you really want.”

“What I want is actually quite simple.” Kuroka wrapped her arms around Kaiser’s neck, her voice sultry. “I want your child.”

Kaiser’s eye twitched slightly.

What kind of light novel development was this?

“You…”

Kaiser looked at her with a strange expression.

“Are you in heat?”

While Kaiser wasn’t as knowledgeable about Nekomata as Koneko, he did know some things about their race from the original story.

He knew that Nekomata, like regular cats, had heat cycles, and they were attracted to the genes of powerful beings.

Especially female Nekomata, who had a long-standing tradition of mating with males of other races, often human males.

After reaching physical maturity, female Nekomata would periodically enter heat, and they could mate with other species without reproductive barriers. If the partner was human, the child would still be a Nekomata, not a hybrid. If the partner was of another race, the child would inherit traits from that race.

Kuroka was the rarest type of Nekomata, but even so, she would enter heat once her body and mind matured, wanting to bear children. Some even entered heat before fully maturing.

Was this black cat in heat now?

But she should be different from her immature sister, right? She wouldn’t just enter heat randomly, would she?

“I just want a strong child.” Kuroka leaned against Kaiser, blowing softly on his neck. “Originally, I wasn’t interested in humans. They’re generally weak, and even if they could help me bear a Nekomata child, I wasn’t very interested.”

“But you’re different from other humans. You’re strong, powerful, and you’ve even cultivated Touki.”

“You’re also the wielder of the True Longinus. While Sacred Gears don’t pass down through bloodlines, the fact that you can wield the strongest Sacred Gear must mean you’re special, right?”

“If you’ve inherited the bloodline of historical heroes or great figures, that’s even better. I really want a child like that~~~”

Kuroka’s voice was sultry, her words dangerously provocative, making Kaiser’s heart itch.

Unfortunately, he had absolutely no interest in this.

“I haven’t inherited any heroic or great bloodline. I’m just an ordinary human.” Kaiser flatly refused. “I also don’t want to casually have children. You’d better find someone else.”

He hadn’t even been in a relationship yet, and now he was being asked to skip straight to having kids? That was way too dramatic.

“You don’t have to take responsibility. I’ll raise the child myself~~~”

Kuroka’s words would have made ninety-nine percent of men lose control.

No responsibility… that phrase was incredibly tempting for most men.

But Kaiser wasn’t among them.

“…Don’t say such things again. I don’t like it.”

Kaiser couldn’t help but think of his own origins, of how his parents had separated and left him with his grandparents. His voice turned stiff.

“Are you angry?”

Kuroka seemed surprised by Kaiser’s reaction, momentarily taken aback.

“If you keep saying things like that, I might get angry.” Kaiser said calmly. “Let me take this opportunity to tell you something. If you’re not planning to give your child a proper family, it’s better not to have children casually.”

“You might think it’s fine, but your child definitely won’t.”

Hearing this, Kuroka fell silent.

For some reason, her gaze at Kaiser became complicated.

“…You’d probably make a good father, wouldn’t you?”

Kuroka murmured this evaluation.

Kaiser didn’t respond to the topic.

“You said you could help me, right?” Kaiser changed the subject, pointing at Asia and Raynare. “They’re like this. What can you do?”

Even though Kuroka had suddenly appeared, Asia and Raynare still showed no reaction, as if they hadn’t noticed her.

“The energy inside them is very chaotic, probably affected by your spear.” Kuroka quickly adjusted her mood and followed Kaiser’s lead. “If I use Senjutsu to regulate their energy, I should be able to help them snap out of this state.”

“Alternatively, mental magic or spells could work. Yokai techniques could also be useful.”

“As long as the influence isn’t too deep, it shouldn’t be too hard to help them recover.”

At least, for someone like Kuroka, who was proficient in magic, yokai techniques, Senjutsu, and even illusions, this wasn’t a difficult task.

Immediately, Kuroka formed a strange hand seal, muttering something under her breath. A serene aura emanated from her, giving off a peaceful, gentle, and comforting feeling, completely different from the evil and eerie atmosphere she had exuded earlier.

She placed her hands on Asia and Raynare, controlling the energy within them, guiding the chaotic energy to flow smoothly and become orderly.

“Mmm…”

Before long, both Asia and Raynare seemed to wake from a nightmare. Their eyes snapped open, then closed again as they collapsed.

“What’s…?”

Kaiser immediately asked.

“Don’t worry, they’re just asleep.” Kuroka withdrew her hands, looking satisfied. “Their energy has been regulated, but their minds and spirits are still affected. Sleeping like this will only do them good, not harm.”

“That’s good.” Kaiser nodded, stepping forward to pick up Asia.

“Meow?” Kuroka’s ears twitched, and her usual teasing smile appeared. “What? Planning to take this child back to your room?”

“I’m taking her back to her room to rest.” Kaiser shot Kuroka an annoyed look. “Don’t make everything sound so suggestive.”

With that, Kaiser walked out of the open balcony.

“What about this one?” Kuroka crouched down, poking Raynare’s chest. “Not taking her back to your room?”

Her words, though seemingly innocent, carried a mischievous undertone.

It was as if she was saying, if the pure nun was off-limits, then the fallen angel should be fair game.

“If you’re interested, you take her.”

Kaiser’s voice came from the hallway.

“I’m not interested.” Kuroka shook her head, standing up and muttering, “A fallen angel’s child? Doesn’t sound appealing.”

Besides, this was a female. She couldn’t help her have children.

Indeed, that guy’s child would be better…

Thinking this, Kuroka’s eyes sparkled with mischief. She then smiled and followed Kaiser into the villa.

Left behind, Raynare: “……”

So fallen angels have no human rights, huh?

You’re all so noble, so impressive.

Chapter 123: You Hesitated Just Now, Didn’t You?

Without much conversation along the way, Kaiser smoothly escorted Asia back to her own room.

He hadn’t forgotten about Raynare, but that woman was too rebellious. Even though he had considered using her to test his Balance Breaker as a form of punishment, he still decided to leave her alone for a while longer, letting her stew in her own thoughts.

However, Kaiser did retrieve Ser-Veresta, no longer leaving it with Raynare.

The main reason was that this Fallen Angel had already completed her primary task—bringing Asia to him. He no longer had much use for her. Considering her previous efforts, if she wanted to escape, he’d let her.

He hoped that woman would learn her lesson and stop being a deviant Fallen Angel, or she’d inevitably meet her end in the story.

As for Kuroka…

“You’re still not leaving?”

Kaiser was speechless as he looked at the cat-eared girl who had been following him with a smile.

Could it be that she really wanted to have a child with him?

Just as Kaiser was thinking this, Kuroka, who had been smilingly trailing behind him, suddenly spoke up.

“That terrorist group, the Khaos Brigade—did you really join them?”

At these words, Kaiser’s steps toward his room came to a halt.

“So you were there after all.”

Kaiser pointed this out without much surprise.

He was referring to the time he had confronted the Gremory Peerage at Kuoh Academy.

“I even stopped Shirone for you, you know?”

Kuroka showed no guilt for eavesdropping and instead acted as if she deserved credit.

“Were you helping me? Or were you helping your sister?” Kaiser saw right through Kuroka’s intentions and called her out directly. “The Gremory Peerage doesn’t have a full grasp of my strength, but you witnessed my fight with that trash Devil. You have a good idea of my capabilities, and you know I have the True Longinus, the natural enemy of Devils.”

“If I had used the True Longinus on your sister during that fight, she would’ve been done for.”

“That’s what you were thinking, right? That’s why you showed yourself to stop her.”

After all, Kuroka was a high-priority target on the Devils’ wanted list.

Her SS-level danger rating reflected both her strength and her notoriety, as well as the Underworld’s focus on her.

The Underworld had zero tolerance for Stray Devils, especially powerful ones who killed their masters and fled. They were seen as thorns in their side, to be eliminated at all costs.

If all reincarnated Devils dared to kill their masters, how could the pure-blooded Devils maintain their status?

Thus, such behavior could not be allowed to spread, and Stray Devils who committed such crimes had to be executed.

Kuroka had been hunted by the Devils for a long time, which was why she had spread miasma in the forest to deal with them.

Someone like her, once she revealed herself, would inevitably be discovered by the Underworld and face pursuit again.

Kuroka surely knew this, yet she still showed herself—all to prevent her sister from being killed by Kaiser’s spear.

Now, as Kaiser pointed this out, Kuroka’s smile vanished for a moment.

But soon, her smile returned.

“You’re wrong, you know? I’m not as concerned about Shirone as you think.”

This line might fool others, but not Kaiser.

Because Kaiser knew the original story and the truth.

He knew that Kuroka and Koneko had once been very close, always together—whether sleeping, eating, or playing.

Their parents had died, leaving them homeless and without support, so they relied on each other to get through each day.

Until… Kuroka was chosen by her former master and became his servant.

After being reincarnated as a Devil, Kuroka’s growth accelerated rapidly, her hidden talents bursting forth, allowing her to surpass her master in a short time and gain power beyond that of a high-class Devil.

Then, she killed her master, fled the Underworld, and abandoned her sister, becoming a Stray Devil.

According to the Devils, Kuroka had lost control due to her rapid growth, consumed by her power, and turned into a bloodthirsty, battle-crazed villain, thus committing such a grave sin.

Even Koneko believed this, which was why she began to fear her sister, feeling terror and possibly even resentment toward her.

After being abandoned by her sister, Koneko was held accountable by the Devils, seen as a potential danger who might lose control. She was nearly executed, but the Gremory family intervened, taking her in and renaming her Koneko Toujou.

Under these circumstances, those who didn’t know the truth would indeed think Kuroka had abandoned her sister and couldn’t possibly care for her.

Only Kaiser knew that Kuroka had killed her master because that master wanted to use her and her sister as test subjects.

The master sought results that surpassed the limits of Devils and had set his sights on the rare combat race among youkai—the Nekomata.

When Kuroka saw that her master intended to harm her sister, she could no longer tolerate it and killed him.

Abandoning Koneko was also unavoidable, as Kuroka herself was in dire straits at the time. Staying with Koneko would only put her in more danger.

Considering this, Kuroka chose to leave Koneko behind and draw the Devils’ attention alone.

How could someone like her not care about her sister?

After all, when she first appeared, she had mentioned coming here to find her sister, hadn’t she?

She had likely heard rumors about unusual events happening in Kuoh Town, attracting various factions, and worried that her sister might be caught up in the danger, which was why she had come to Kuoh Town.

“You’re just being stubborn.”

Kaiser didn’t expose her.

“Oh, let’s not talk about Shirone anymore.”

Kuroka crossed her arms, looking a bit flustered and annoyed, causing her collar to slip and reveal a large expanse of fair skin.

Kaiser’s gaze involuntarily drifted downward, but he quickly looked away without a trace.

“I was asking about you,” Kuroka steered the conversation back on track. “Have you really joined the Khaos Brigade?”

“Yes,” Kaiser admitted straightforwardly. “And? What do you plan to do now that you know?”

Surely she didn’t want to join too?

…Wait, this cat actually does join the Khaos Brigade in the original story!

Sure enough, Kuroka spoke up.

“Can I join too?” Kuroka looked directly at Kaiser, not hiding her intentions. “I want to go there too, nya~!”

Hearing this, Kaiser met her gaze.

“Can I hear your reasons?”

He asked this tentatively.

“The leader of that group is Ophis, right?”

Kuroka’s smile was dazzling and alluring.

“The strongest being in the world’s faction—if I join, I should be able to gain a lot of benefits, right?”

For example, she wouldn’t have to hide anymore, nor worry about dying alone someday, leaving her poor sister without any family or anyone to protect her in the shadows.

Moreover, Kuroka was genuinely interested in Kaiser now, especially after their recent conversation.

If before she had only wanted Kaiser’s genes, now she wanted to understand what kind of man he really was.

Unaware of Kuroka’s thoughts, Kaiser fell into deep thought.

He considered that letting this cat-eared girl join might not be a bad idea.

Not just joining the Khaos Brigade.

In the original story, she had successfully joined the Khaos Brigade, so her joining now wasn’t particularly noteworthy.

What Kaiser was thinking was that since she was going to join the Khaos Brigade anyway, he might as well bring her into his own team.

“Setting aside our previous interactions, purely in terms of qualifications, Kuroka would undoubtedly make a great teammate.”

“In terms of strength, she’s on par with the highest-class Devils.”

“In terms of abilities, she’s proficient in demonic power, youkai arts, senjutsu, illusion techniques, and even poison, with some knowledge of spatial manipulation—she’s very versatile.”

“She’s also the type I’m least adept at dealing with, meaning she could compensate for my weaknesses in areas beyond raw power.”

“Like just now, when I was at a loss with Asia and Raynare’s situation, she resolved it in an instant.”

This was likely why she had been invited to join that person’s team in the original story.

Now, having encountered her first and having some history with her, this might not be a bad thing.

“Asia excels in healing and recovery but has almost no combat ability.”

“I excel in direct combat but lack versatility.”

“Kuroka perfectly fills the gaps between Asia and me—she can fight, control, and handle situations.”

As someone who had once participated in the Phoenix Festa, a partner-based competition, Kaiser instinctively considered the team’s compatibility and realized that the three of them were a perfect match.

They had a vanguard, a rearguard, and even a healer—what more could a team need?

Thinking this, Kaiser’s gaze toward Kuroka shifted slightly.

“Nya~?”

Kuroka tilted her head, her ears twitching as she smiled again.

…Well, she’s also a cute and eye-catching creature. Maybe it’s worth keeping her around.

“Alright,” Kaiser nodded. “You can join my team. I’ll take responsibility for bringing you into the group.”

Well, the Khaos Brigade is still a group.

“Thank you, nya~~~”

Kuroka blinked at Kaiser, speaking in a playful and seductive tone.

“As a thank-you, how about I give you a child?”

“No, thanks.”

“Oh, come on, think about it. Despite how I look, it’d be my first time, you know?”

“…No, thanks.”

“You hesitated just now, didn’t you?”

“I didn’t.”

“You totally hesitated, nya~!”

“I didn’t!”

The two began to bicker, making the atmosphere a bit more lively and less stiff than before.

Chapter 124: At the Center of the Vortex

An alternate dimension, a temporary base of the Hero Faction.

At the mist-shrouded mountain peak, Cao Cao sat bare-chested in a waterfall, his spear resting on his shoulder.

"Boom…"

Torrents of water cascaded from above, crashing onto Cao Cao’s body like a thousand-pound boulder, testing his physical endurance.

Cao Cao sat firmly amidst the waterfall, not only enduring the relentless impact but also managing to conjure a magic circle above his palm.

"Is that so?" Cao Cao muttered as if talking to himself. "He recruited a saintess expelled by the Church, a Nekomata who became a Stray Devil, and even has a Fallen Angel by his side?"

As Cao Cao spoke, a voice echoed from the magic square above his palm.

"The intel has been confirmed. It’s accurate."

It was Siegfried’s voice.

"I must admit, that guy is quite capable. In just a few days, he’s managed to recruit some impressive talents," Siegfried continued through the magic circle, communicating with Cao Cao from a distance. "One is a former saintess with the rare Sacred Gear, 'Twilight Healing'. The other is a Nekomata who killed her master, defeated the Devil’s pursuit squad, and wields demonic power, youjutsu, and senjutsu. Both are top-tier talents, even among us."

Clearly, the Hero Faction had thoroughly investigated Kaiser’s situation and kept tabs on his movements.

Siegfried reported all this to Cao Cao, but it didn’t seem to faze him.

"A Nekomata… hmm, a Nekomata," Cao Cao mused, tapping his spear against his shoulder. He spoke leisurely, though his thoughts were unclear.

"Rare indeed, and full of potential. But she’s a youkai, not a human."

Siegfried understood the implication behind Cao Cao’s words.

"We only need humans. We have no use for non-human entities," Siegfried said. "Kaiser knows this, yet he recruited that Nekomata. Isn’t this a blatant disregard for the Hero Faction’s principles?"

"This proves one thing," Cao Cao chuckled. "He’s not here for us. Otherwise, he wouldn’t have done this."

If Kaiser had joined the Khaos Brigade with the intention of targeting the Hero Faction, he would never have acted in a way that contradicted their principles.

The Hero Faction would never acknowledge Kuroka, nor would they accept her. They wouldn’t allow Kaiser to bring her along.

If Kaiser insisted, the Hero Faction would likely shut him out, refusing to let him return.

Kaiser must have known this, yet he still recruited Kuroka, clearly demonstrating his indifference toward the Hero Faction.

"Though it’s unclear if he’s backed by another force, he has no interest in the Hero Faction and no ulterior motives against us. At least that much is certain," Cao Cao said with a smile, his eyes closed. "I’m not sure whether to feel happy or frustrated."

"Just like Arthur Pendragon, he’s part of the Hero Faction but has no interest in our ideals," Siegfried’s voice continued from the magic circle. "If he truly has no intentions toward us, he’ll likely end up acting independently, just like Arthur."

"That’s probably the case," Cao Cao said indifferently. "He’s not one of us. What a pity."

"He’s been quite active in Kuoh Town," Siegfried continued his report. "He attacked a Fallen Angel’s temporary base, destroyed a Stray Exorcist organization, killed the successor of the Astaroth family, and even made contact with the heiress of the Gremory family, the sister of the Satan Lucifer."

"Quite the eventful journey. That guy is anything but quiet," Cao Cao grinned, seemingly amused for some reason. "While we’re still in our dormant phase, his actions will likely turn Kuoh Town into a focal point, attracting all sorts of people."

"Indeed, especially the Church, Devils, and Fallen Angels. All three factions have been thoroughly stirred," Siegfried said. "The Church has dispatched combat personnel, reportedly a Holy Sword wielder with a genuine Holy Sword. The Fallen Angels seem to have sent a high-ranking figure, though their identity hasn’t been confirmed yet. The Devils are the most active, with even the Satans being alerted."

Kaiser’s actions in Kuoh Town had managed to offend all three major factions.

The Devils were undoubtedly shaken by the death of the Astaroth family’s successor.

The Fallen Angels were equally provoked, as Kaiser had destroyed one of their temporary bases and annihilated a Stray Exorcist organization under their command. It was inevitable that they would retaliate.

The Church, while not directly targeted by Kaiser, had its own reasons to act. Kaiser’s ties to the Church and his harboring of a former saintess gave them ample justification to intervene.

Thus, Kuoh Town had been thoroughly stirred up by Kaiser alone, growing increasingly chaotic. The number of factions and individuals drawn to the town was only increasing.

Cao Cao listened thoughtfully to this information, then suddenly spoke.

"With so many powerful figures from various factions gathering in Kuoh Town, the Old Satan Faction will likely make a move, won’t they?"

Though phrased as a question, Cao Cao’s tone was filled with certainty.

"Still as sharp as ever, Cao Cao," Siegfried chuckled. "They’ve indeed grown restless."

"With the three major factions gathered in one place, such a rare opportunity is too tempting for those not-so-bright minds."

"They’ll definitely act."

This entirely predictable outcome made Cao Cao open his eyes.

"It seems the Khaos Brigade’s dormant phase is about to come to an end."

Cao Cao understood that once the Old Satan Faction made their move, the Khaos Brigade’s existence could no longer remain hidden.

The day they revealed themselves might not be far off.

"So, what will you do, standing at the center of this vortex?"

Cao Cao stepped out of the waterfall, looking at the spear in his hand, and smiled silently.

"I’m looking forward to your performance, my fated rival…"

…

The Underworld.

The so-called Underworld is what humans refer to as Hell.

It is the destination for the souls of the deceased, though not the entire Underworld is dedicated to this purpose. Only a specific area is responsible for receiving and managing these souls, and this area occupies just a small portion of the Underworld.

Contrary to the terrifying depictions in legends, the environment here isn’t harsh. While the Underworld is as vast as Earth, its population is much smaller. The sky is purple, there are no seas, but there are large lakes, making the land quite expansive.

There is no sun or moon here, and the concept of time differs from the human world. However, to align with the human world, the Underworld’s leaders have adjusted the time using special magic, so both worlds now share the same time.

The inhabitants of the Underworld are primarily divided into two groups.

One is the Devils.

The other is the Fallen Angels.

Yes, Devils and Fallen Angels are the rulers of the Underworld.

The Underworld is divided into two territories: one ruled by Devils and the other by Fallen Angels. Both factions have deep entanglements with the human world.

Devils form contracts with humans, demanding a price in exchange for power.

Fallen Angels manipulate humans, seeking to eradicate Devils.

Adding to this is the third faction—the Angels and Church followers, who act on God’s orders and oppose both Devils and Fallen Angels. These three factions have been locked in conflict since ancient times, their relationship as volatile as fire and water.

However, today, in the heart of the Fallen Angels’ territory, the highest ruler here received a communication from the supreme leader of the Devils.

"Long time no see, Azazel."

The figure of a red-haired man appeared on a small magic circle, his voice gentle yet carrying a hint of authority as he greeted the master of this place.

"Oh? Isn’t this the current Lucifer, Sirzechs-sama?"

A man with a playful tone, exuding an unconventional and inscrutable aura, held the small magic circle and spoke in an exaggerated manner.

He was the Governor of the Fallen Angels, the current supreme leader of the Fallen Angels—Azazel.

"What brings you to me?" Azazel seemed genuinely surprised, smiling as he spoke. "You’re not here to declare war on behalf of the Devils, are you?"

Hearing this, the red-haired man on the magic circle shook his head.

"You know, Azazel, both your side and ours have suffered too many casualties in past wars. Starting a war now is simply unrealistic."

Azazel merely smiled at the red-haired man’s words.

He was well aware of this situation but had deliberately brought it up.

"Then, what important matter brings the great Satan Lucifer to this humble Fallen Angel Governor?"

Azazel’s tone remained playful, but he was already probing.

In contrast, the red-haired man’s expression and tone were solemn.

"I’ve come to verify something," the red-haired man said, staring at Azazel through the magic circle. After a moment, he continued, "Today, my sister brought me some crucial information."

"It's about a group of terrorists called the Khaos Brigade..."

"Azazel, you’re already aware of this organization’s existence, aren’t you?"

At these words, Azazel’s eyes narrowed.

"So… you’ve finally noticed them too?" he murmured.

"Judging by your reaction, this terrorist group does exist," the red-haired man said gravely. "Then, is it true that the Infinite Dragon God, Ophis, is the leader of the Khaos Brigade?"

"Yes," Azazel sighed, then straightened his expression. "Since you’ve noticed, I think it’s time for us to talk."

"Along with the Heavenly Faction, the three of us should have a proper discussion."

Chapter 125: The Governor of the Fallen Angels

From this day onward, Kuoh Town suddenly became peaceful.

The various factions, which had previously been in constant friction, conflict, and contradiction, seemed to have agreed to a truce all at once.

Their actions became more secretive and restrained than before. Even when encountering sworn enemies, they no longer erupted into conflict but instead parted ways silently, each focusing on their own affairs.

Some even withdrew from Kuoh Town entirely, choosing not to stay any longer. In their place, more heavyweight figures began to appear in Kuoh Town.

Thus, Kuoh Town regained its tranquility, but it felt like the calm before a storm—oppressive and foreboding.

Kaiser didn’t know what the various factions were doing behind the scenes, but he could guess some of it.

“Is this the result of me exposing the existence of the Khaos Brigade?”

Though unintentional, after revealing the existence of the Khaos Brigade, Kaiser had anticipated that the various factions would take action.

Especially the three major factions—the Devils, Angels, and Fallen Angels. Knowing of the Khaos Brigade’s existence, they could not remain indifferent.

Not just these three factions, but even other mythological factions couldn’t stay calm.

The reason was simple: just hearing the name “Ophis” would make even the most powerful and confident mythological factions tread carefully. Now that Ophis had become the leader of a terrorist organization, it was only natural that it would cause widespread panic among the major factions.

Therefore, Kaiser wasn’t surprised by these changes, though he hadn’t expected the center of it all to be Kuoh Town.

The Hero Faction hadn’t sent him any insider information about this, but he had keenly sensed the change in atmosphere in Kuoh Town, telling him that something big was about to happen.

And he might be affected as well.

“This actually makes me a bit excited.”

Kaiser wasn’t panicked; instead, he felt a sense of anticipation.

After all, his original intention was to stir up the winds and clouds, making this life experience as exciting as possible.

He wasn’t afraid of trouble—at least not now.

After achieving the Balance Breaker of the True Longinus, he was confident in facing all kinds of enemies.

“Let the storm come even fiercer.”

With this thought, Kaiser didn’t leave Kuoh Town. He stayed there, even flaunting himself every day, wandering around aimlessly.

Perhaps due to the excellent concealment measures the Hero Faction had taken for him, even though Kaiser wandered around so conspicuously, none of the factions operating in the shadows of Kuoh Town approached him.

Kaiser wasn’t in a hurry. He went about his daily activities as usual, enjoying himself, often taking Asia and Kuroka out to explore shops, go shopping, or visit various amusement facilities. His life was quite comfortable.

It’s worth mentioning that Asia had accepted Kaiser’s invitation to join his team.

This happened after Asia was influenced by the will of the True Longinus.

The day after Kuroka decided to join, Asia woke up in her room and approached Kaiser, telling him she had decided to join his team.

Kaiser initially thought the girl hadn’t fully recovered, but after Kuroka observed her, she concluded that Asia's aura was smooth and completely normal.

Asia also gave her own reason.

“Since the will of the Lord resides within Kaiser-san, perhaps this is the guidance the Lord has given me.”

Asia seemed to have found a new meaning in life. Her gem-like emerald eyes shone with brilliance as she looked at Kaiser. Though not as fervent as the previous night, her gaze was full of trust and longing, as if he were her spiritual pillar.

Kaiser wasn’t sure if this was a good thing, but since Asia was now normal and had made the decision of her own will, he had no reason to refuse.

Thus, Asia joined Kaiser’s team and, like Kuroka, followed him around everywhere, almost inseparable.

This somewhat displeased Kuroka.

“So annoying… Now I can’t sneak into his room at night.”

The cat-eared girl’s ulterior motives were so obvious she didn’t even bother to hide them.

If Kaiser hadn’t strictly forbidden her from barging into his room at night—even going so far as to place the True Longinus at the door as a sentry—this lustful black cat would definitely have tried something like a night raid.

This made Kuroka even more dissatisfied.

“Am I not pretty enough? Not attractive? Why are you so resistant?”

The cat-eared girl often muttered these complaints, almost driving Kaiser to the brink of irritation.

Truth be told, if she weren’t so fixated on having children, Kaiser might have given in.

He wasn’t some saint or a man of restraint. With such a beautiful woman throwing herself at him, and a cat-eared girl at that, not taking advantage would almost feel like a disservice to his ancestors.

But this woman’s constant talk of having kids, as if not producing a football team would be a disgrace to her Nekomata heritage, was too much for anyone to handle.

Kaiser certainly couldn’t handle it, nor did he dare to.

He had just escaped reality and become a cheat-like player, and now he was supposed to fast-forward to having children and a perfect family?

No way.

Thus, Kaiser kept his distance.

“Night raid?”

As for a certain former saintess, whenever this topic came up, she would tilt her head in confusion and curiosity, appearing utterly innocent.

Clearly, she was the true saint, so pure she didn’t even know what a night raid was.

This was how the three of them interacted now, and it was quite lively.

By the way, the day after the night Kaiser unlocked his Balance Breaker, when Asia decided to join his team, Raynare disappeared.

Without a doubt, the female Fallen Angel had fled.

“Since that woman ran away, my presence here probably won’t remain a secret, right?”

Kaiser’s thoughts were confirmed about a month later.

On this day, the three of them went out again and didn’t return to the small villa until evening.

“…Wait.”

Kuroka, who had been smiling and enjoying herself, suddenly froze, stopping in her tracks and calling out to Kaiser and Asia.

“Miss Kuroka?”

Asia looked puzzled.

“What’s wrong?”

Kaiser, seeing Kuroka’s serious expression, asked.

“We have a guest at home.” Kuroka revealed the cat ears and tail she usually hid when going out, staring at the villa they were about to reach. “The barrier I set up nearby has been breached.”

With those words, the leisurely atmosphere surrounding the three of them vanished instantly.

“Finally, they’ve come knocking, huh?”

Kaiser wasn’t surprised. Instead, a slight smile appeared on his lips as he strode toward the villa.

The villa showed no signs of change, exactly as it had been when they left. The door lock was still intact, showing no signs of forced entry.

But when the three of them entered the living room, they found someone who shouldn’t have been there.

“Back from your outing? Did you have fun?”

The man acted as if he were the owner of the villa, sitting leisurely on the sofa and smiling at the three of them as they entered.

He was a man who didn’t look particularly upright, with black hair that had streaks of color in some places.

The man didn’t appear old, but he had a beard and carried a sense of world-weariness, giving off the impression of someone who had experienced much, unlike a young man.

He wore a summer kimono and was quite handsome, but his expression was arrogant, giving him a roguish charm—a bad boy type.

Such looks and demeanor were undoubtedly the favorites of married women or young girls.

But seeing this man, Kuroka felt the fur on her tail stand on end.

This feeling told her that the man before her was dangerous.

“You…”

She instinctively raised her hand, wanting to do something, but Kaiser stopped her.

“Kaiser-san…”

Asia also seemed uneasy, gently grabbing Kaiser’s sleeve.

“It’s fine.”

Kaiser smiled at Asia, reassuring her, then walked toward the man.

“Can I accuse you of trespassing?”

Kaiser immediately went on the offensive.

“Human laws don’t apply to me.”

The man laughed carelessly, saying such a thing.

“Sounds like something a villain would say.”

Kaiser commented.

“Haha, I am a villain, after all.” The man laughed heartily. “But you’re not much better, are you?”

“The Spear Wielder of the Khaos Brigade.”

Facing the man’s words, Kaiser remained indifferent.

“I’m definitely not as bad as you.” Kaiser said with a half-smile. “After all, you’re a notorious villain even in mythology, right?”

“The Governor of the Fallen Angels.”

When Kaiser revealed the man’s true identity, both Kuroka and Asia's expressions changed drastically.

The Governor of the Fallen Angels… Even the most ignorant person would understand the significance of this title upon hearing it.

He was the leader of the Fallen Angels, one of the first angels to betray God and choose to fall.

He was a twelve-winged Fallen Angel, the highest-ranking Fallen Angel, whose status and power rivaled that of the Satans.

He was also someone Kaiser had mentioned multiple times, someone Kaiser held in high regard.

“Just call me Azazel.”

Azazel didn’t stand up, looking up at Kaiser, who stood before him, yet giving the impression that he was the one in charge. His face bore a confident smile.

Kaiser met his gaze, and in the moment their eyes locked, the atmosphere in the living room changed.

It became incredibly heavy.

[End of Chapter]