[William listened to it all as he sipped on his tea. He wasn't entirely surprised, because one thing he had learned quickly in the past year or so was that matters were often not what they appeared to be. Dantalion coming into his life had forced William to adjust to a different and bizarre reality. So he's just listening right now and mentally organizing his notes, a little like this:
So a past of human sacrifices, not plants and animals. And Abel was a child of God and Lucifer, or rather a piece of an old god? That was a bit strange, but his mind could comprehend that. And then Cain killed Abel as some sort of grand sacrifice? And Cain became immortal and Abel was dropped into hell and then split again and became... oh, okay. That's so obvious.
He almost thinks about pressing the point, but doesn't, because well there is probably a reason Kazuya is holding back with him. Even if it is a little unfair when William has been completely honest with him. So far.]
...I imagine that must be a pain, being taken over by someone who is so angry. Solomon, he is just pathetically sad most of the time, despite trying to hide it.
You must really have a lot of dangerous people bothering you over it then. It's bothersome, isn't it?
[Kazuya visibly relaxed from his half-panicked fluster when William didn't comment or press on his slip of Abel's descent into demonhood. There was a twinge of guilt there, though, since William had been so frank and open, but- well. He just... didn't want Kevin to know...]
Ahh, ha ha, yeah. I've had more than a few demons trying to kill me so they can eat Abel's soul, or... something like that. [He started to tick them off;] Ignoring the run of the mill demons who just wanted to eat me out of hunger, there was Beldr, Belial, Belzaboul, Jezebel, Belberith, Babel... hell, even Lucifer took a whack at me once, but I think he was holding back in that encounter. He was very creepy, a little too forward for my tastes...
[Yeah, he had no idea how to react to having the Fallen Angel himself wax poetics about his "beautiful" soul, and how he wanted to see his "innermost, blood-red emotions" after declaring himself his true father. Like. Um? You were giving out very weird, mixed signals there, Lucy.]
It's only since coming to Cerealia that I feel like I can relax, y'know? Don't have to worry about this or that demon or angel leaping out of the shadows to decapitate me, or whatever.
Yes it is rather terrible, isn't it? They kept wanting to kill me to keep Heaven from having my soul. And half of them hate Solomon for enslaving them. And the ones that are not bound to him fear that I will do the same. So it is a fifty-fifty percent chance of violence whenever I meet a new one. Especially if one of the others is not around to stop them.
[He sets down his cup of tea and laughs a little at the word creepy.]
Yes, some of them really are perverse like that! Though I never met Lucifer, at least from what I can remember. But Balberith and Gilles, they are a bit... much.
[Why did Sytry end up surround by the all creepers? If William ever saw him again, they needed to have a talk about that.]
But it is nice here, is it? No one wants to kill you, or wants you to make any important decisions. You can just be. Not that I want things to stay like this, but it is a good break.
[Out of all the Bels he had to scramble over to become the King, Belberith was the worst of the bunch. True, Belzaboul had traumatised him for life, but Belberith had drawn humans into his cult, made them serve him, put a demon inside Amane and then consumed her father before her eyes! Nope. No way was he forgiving that freak for doing that to one of his friends!]
Ah, yes, exactly. You get me, you get me so much, future husband. [Kazuya smiled brightly, his mood buoying from the brief dip it had taken] Here, we can just be normal guys! Hell, we might as well be - do you know how many weird people live here? Compared to them, our worlds and lives are practically mundane and boring. It's a great feeling...
[If his friends back home were here, it'd be perfect. He'd never want to return to his world at all!]
There are a lot of weird sorts here, aren't there?
[Countries who were people, small monster hunting girls who liked lace too much, idiots as far as the eye could see...]
Granted, I hardly consider myself mundane in the slightest. And not because of demons or reincarnation or any silly rubbish like that.
[He was going places with his amazing brain. Sure, his dreams of being prime minster were impossible here, at least for now. But that was a minor detail.]
But yes, I do get you. And it is... refreshing to meet someone who knows what it is like. It is a difficult feeling, when your destiny isn't always your own.
[Kazuya lifted his tea cup in a mock cheer, before slowly lowering it to take a sip. Ah, he hadn't felt so happy and relieved in a long time. He never felt like he could connect with people ever since his... coronation, so to speak, and it made him feel so lonely. Not, painfully so, but enough for him to... well, ache, just a little bit. But now...]
So troublesome, having supernatural entities meddling in your life... say, if you didn't have to get bogged down with this Solomon business, what would you do with your life? If you don't mind me asking, of course. I'm just curious to see what kind of man my future husband aspires to be~
[He actually joined in on the little mock toast, because why not? A toast to comrades in... suffering. ]
What would I do?
[There is this big, arrogant smile on his face now.]
I have it all planned out! Once I am done with my schooling, I am moving on to a prestigious University. Then I will find a job in either law or politics. and then, I shall become my country's youngest prime minister. And then, after I have retired, I shall make a living through book royalties and lecture fees.
[He seriously has it all planned out.]
And I am going to do it regardless of those demons! And my current financial situation. And this place.
[Kazuya blinked, genuinely taken aback by this ambitious yet weirdly mundane goal. Youngest Prime Minister? That wasn't a common dream amongst teenagers in this day and age, where politicians were deemed negatively by the modern generation. It wasn't an easy thing either, and to get a shot at a Prime Minister seat? That was like aiming for the stars.
But William's enthusiasm and belief was plain as day to see. This guy really thought he could do it - no, he knew he could do it. It was...aspiring to witness]
That's... [Kazuya overcame his surprise and smiled - he couldn't help it, that stubborn type of belief reminded him almost of...] That's pretty cool. That you're so determined, I mean. Lots of people would give up in your situation, since, like, getting trapped in an alternative dimension, er, world... thingy would seem like a dream-ender to most.
[Well he likes being flattered and is getting used to being called "cool" by now. Sure some people are impressed with him back home, but many others tend to find him off putting for honestly justified reasons. Jealously is ugly sometimes. But here, it's simply gratifying to be thought of so highly.
Though he does think on what Kazuya said about being in this place a little more fully.]
Well I will admit, this has put a spanner in the works for me, since there is no government as we know it here and they do not wish to give us any sort of leadership roles. It's why I would rather go home. But, if by some awful chance I cannot do so...
[Honestly he hasn't come up with a good solution yet, but he's come up with options, because one must plan for the worst case scenario.]
I will just have to force them to allow me to do something of import. And in the mean time, I mean to learn as much as I can about the world we are in. My knowledge of certain things is out of date, so I need to catch up anyways. It would be irresponsible to do otherwise.
[Science could explain everything, but only when you understood it in full. And even for a brain such as his, it was taking time to absorb it all.
But well, enough about him, as much as his ego is enjoying it.]
What about you? What would you do without being the Messiah or whatever it is?
[Kazuya looked startled at the focus turned upon him, and he dithered for a moment. He honestly had no idea on how to answer that question. He never had a dream job, and he was well aware of his own limits, intelligence wise, so knew better than to aspire beyond his reach. He was, simply put, not very smart. He understood concepts and the like when they were explained to him (otherwise the lockdown would've been an even bigger, confusing mess than it already was), but he was nowhere near the same level as Atsuro or Naoya in terms of sheer brilliance or innovation]
I hadn't really thought about it. [Kazuya looked faintly embarrassed] I was still figuring out what I wanted to do before the whole... Messiah mess kicked off. Not that it matters. I don't really have any, uh, unique skills outside of killing demons anyway.
[Though, to be honest, Kazuya's rough "career plan" pre-lockdown had been banking on Atsuro becoming some sort of super amazing genius CEO of a computing company and doing him a solid by employing him as Coffee Boy, or even a footstool - God knows Atsuro deserved a human footstool - rather than striking out on his own and potentially festering in some sort of loveless, low-paying job for pure survival]
[Well now William feels a little guilty. While he doesn't always have patience for those who lack ambition or intellgence, he's also accepted that not everyone is like him in that regard. And it definitely hadn't been his intention to embarrass Kazuya, not when their conversation had been going so well up until this point.
He had to figure out a way to smooth this over.]
Ah, well not everyone is able to figure that sort of thing out. It just means that your options are open. Or rather, were...
[Okay, somehow that was even more awkward. He could have said something encouraging like "everyone is good at something," but that also felt trite.]
[Kazuya sounded a little dry there, but he didn't seem annoyed at William's fumbled attempt at comfort. In fact, his embarrassment eased somewhat, and he smiled wryly]
It's okay. Don't worry about it. I mean, it was probably best I didn't have a dream job. Less disappointment when getting dragged into this Abel business.
[After all, Messiah was for life... if only because they died criminally young. No time for dreams and what not]
[Kazuya looked somewhat guarded at the question, and there was a notable pause as he tried to think of a nice way to describe his role. His role of Messiah was linked so closely to being the King of Bel, it'd be difficult to...]
...no. [His voice was subdued] I'm... I'm supposed to ensure that humanity stays on the right path. Humans get led astray by demons easily, so one of my roles is to ensure that nobody is summoning them or making contracts when they shouldn't be. God doesn't tolerate anything like that, and if too many humans consort with demons too often, he... won't be pleased.
[The looming threat of having humanity's free will revoked still shadowed him. If he messed up, or didn't keep a strict watch or control over humanity, then everyone would become as puppet-like as the angels]
So, I, er, kill demons, block their access into my world, things like that. As well... [He paused, obviously debating on whether to say something] I'm meant to cleanse any, um... 'negative influences' within humanity itself. So, if there's an unrepentant sinner, or a demon summoner, then...
[He trailed off, his expression unhappy. He resisted that command as much as he could - many people they condemned to death had only committed sinful acts out of desperation or fear - but Kazuya only had so much leeway. If he couldn't get the sinner to repent, too bad, they were dead. Vaporised, in fact, if Kazuya didn't immediately slay them where they stood (which he didn't, so far, no human blood had stained his hands, but he knew it was only a matter of time until it did). It was a sort of tyranny that stuck sharply in his throat, but humanity just had to suffer it for a while longer. Kazuya was determined to make sure that they will escape from God's shadow, one way or another, with no casualties...!]
[That was a bit... not what he was expecting and William took a moment to think on it. Truth be told, he still held now to the impression of God he had expressed to Kevin: a pitiable being whose mistaken need to control humanity was futile. Humans were capable of great and small evils. He'd experienced that himself within his own family and knew of what was out there in the world. Humans were flawed and inherently sinful, and you were not going to stop that through fear and coercion. Nay, you only made it worse.
Such tyranny struck him as inherently wrong headed, yet it was also obvious that this wasn't what Kazuya wanted.]
So you are stuck in an unfair position, huh? The divine is illogical in that way. What was it I remember Solomon saying: humans sin because they enjoy it.
[It was simplistic and stupid way to put it, but Solomon did have a point.]
What a thankless job for you.
[It made him a little angry honestly, especially when he thought of his own situation. These demons, angels and gods, that held themselves so high above humanity had the nerve to shove their responsibilities onto others. With no regard as to what that person's wishes might be. Or their suitability to the task at hand. What nonsense.]
Though honestly, it sounds like your situation is far worse than mine. They haven't demanded that I kill anyone.
Give it time. It'll probably come out that you're the "chosen one" to slay, I dunno, Lucifer or something at some point, and the hope of the world rests on you beating him at rock, paper, scissors.
[Kazuya's feeble attempt at humour fell flat, as his words came out a little more bitter than he intended. He lowered his gaze, staring at the tea in his hands blankly. Every time he had to genuinely consider what his job as Messiah entailed, he always felt this great... something. Something far too cold and hard for anger, and that weighed greatly on his diaphragm like a sharp edged rock.
Something that felt like hatred, a rancour so alien and bitter that Kazuya simply couldn't comprehend it. Was it his own? Bel's? Abel's? All three of them combined? He didn't know. It existed. It was there. It remained.]
...I. [Kazuya stopped, remembering who he was talking to. He made an odd noise, difficult to discern, and lifted his head and gaze, the shadow gone from his eyes] I mean, it's fine. To be honest, mine's more straightforward than your situation of refereeing a demon election. That sounds way more troublesome.
[That was a horrifying thought, because much as William liked to brag, he didn't think he would ever have a chance. He couldn't even help Baphomet in the end. What would he do against Lucifer? Even in a case like rock, paper, scissors, Lucifer was probably capable of cheating somehow.
He blinks when they turn back to his own duties, but decides to go with it. Especially since Kazuya seems so bitterly unhappy.]
I do not know if it is all that troublesome. I have abstained from voting thus far and I mean to keep at it. I just wish they understood I had bigger problems to deal with than their stupid power struggle.
It is just difficult when nothing I do against them seems to matter.
[Even the few steps he took in the end were futile.]
And the few safe ones, I cannot rely on them forever...
[Would Dantalion have even came back? Did he even wish to?]
[Kazuya said this rather emphatically, punctuating his words with a sharp nod. Even though he himself used demons, he ensured that he didn't rely on them, because that was a dangerous crutch. Reliance meant you needed them, and if you needed them, you gave them an opening, and if you gave them an opening, then they had you, and that would be that. Kazuya treated his demons how they should be treated - an ends to a means, and tools to be utilised to their fullest capacity]
Which is why you should learn how to deal with demons on your own. Though... that's difficult, considering you're a mostly normal human. No offence, but even a Pixie could snap you in half, and they're the weakest demons around. Hm...
[Which was why he did think William had it worse in that respect. Kazuya, at the very least, couldn't be menaced or bullied by demons. After clawing his way to the very top of the demonic food chain, there were only a scant few who'd dare to openly challenge him. The angels were still an issue, but even then, Metatron was the only legitimate threat. William... well, William was pretty much at the demons' whims, from the sound of it. He may have an advantageous position of having what the demons wanted, but in the end, he couldn't fight them one-on-one and win]
But, maybe... [Should he? Would it even work for him?] I may have a solution. I could give you a way to stand on the same level as a demon, you know, able to fight back and win if you ever get stuck in a tight spot.
[A pixie? Well William couldn't even be insulted, because it was true. There was little he could do when he was still learning magic and hardly any sort of expert. It hurt his pride to admit, but all William could do is run, or hide behind others.
And then watch when they died.]
...a solution? What is it? Though it better be free, or else I will have to pass.
[But, if it could work...
Even in this place, what could it hurt? It might make Kevin's life easier. And if the others came, wouldn't it be something if they could see William standing on his own?]
[Kazuya felt some hesitation, but after a moment, he reached down to his belt. There, a small closed console had been hanging from where it'd been clipped to his belt loop. It was a dark blue colour, and its surface was pitted with small scratches, scuffs, and mysterious dark stains or scorch marks. Obviously battered but, definitely still functional]
This, my future husband, is a COMP!
[Kazuya held it up dramatically, before flipping it open and turning it to show William the two screens. There was a menu on the bottom screen, though some of its icons were greyed out]
It's a cheat system that allows normal, mundane humans to fight on par with the strongest of demons - indeed, you could even stand up to Lucifer with this! I know, because I did it. Anyway, what it does is... well, everything.
[Kazuya leaned forwards, over the coffee table, to make sure that William could see better as he began pointing at individual parts of the COMP's menu]
Some of the options are greyed out, because Cerelia messes with the COMP's connectivity with its server, but basically, this top middle one is the important one. "Team". Now, the COMP has a function where you can make contract with demons and make them your own, though you can only summon two at a time, look, I'll show you.
[He selected the icon, and it came up with three images. There was Kazuya's profile picture, followed by his name, and on either side of him, there were two more names: Ongyo-Ki and Metatron. Down along the right hand side was a column of an obscene amount of demons, both well known and obscure, but strangely, all of them were greyed out. Yeah, Kazuya was unable to access them, because of the aforementioned connectivity issues. Stupid Cereals...]
This is my current team. Now, I may be able to summon demons, but I make sure that if I have to fight them, I can easily crush them. You never summon a demon stronger than yourself! Most important rule ever. Anyway, that's not the important bit, I'm not letting you have any demons in your team. The important bit is... this!
[Kazuya selected himself in the team set up, and a list appeared, with words like "Zandyne" and "Anti-Most"]
The skill list. With this, you can select high level magic spells, passive and active, and use them without having to do all that backbreaking study and practice. It's right there at your literal fingertips. There're loads too, look.
[He selected "Zandyne", and another list appeared, a large one with all sorts of spells. He went back, then selected the other one, "Anti-Most", and another list with different spells appeared, with names like "Repel Fire" or "Null Phys", or "Elec Amp"]
So you see? With this, you can stand on par with a demon. It helps that the COMP has a Harmoniser system, so if a demon comes at you? Nooo problem! The Harmoniser, erm, how to explain... I guess you can say it weakens the demon to the point where a killing blow just gives you a bruise. So if an Ogre comes charging at you, swinging his cleaver at you, it'll hurt like fuck if he gets you, but he won't be able to sever limbs or anything. Just cut you badly. Also, also!
[He went back to the main menu, and selected something else: Demonic Compendium]
This is pretty useful too. A list of all the demons, their lore, and their weaknesses. It'll tell you which spell you need to destroy them completely, and which ones they're strong against, as well as giving you a low down on what skills and spells they'd have. The COMP automates this too, so if you find yourself ambushed, it'll bring up the demon's profile and tell you mid-battle what it's weaknesses are. Hell, it even does it for angels and humans, so it might do it for anything here.
[He lowered the COMP then] And I'm gonna lend it to you, since it sounds like you need it more than me.
[And, more importantly, Kazuya didn't need it when he went back home. He could use magic without the COMP, thanks to Bel, and he could summon demons without it too, also thanks to Bel. Cerealia was different, since it felt like something was stifling Bel's influence to the point where Kaz had to rely on the COMP to summon Ongyo-Ki and Metatron, as well as cast the very high level magic spells, but so far he hadn't encountered anything in Cerealia that required him to need them. So, yes, sentimental value aside, the COMP was better off in William's hands than his own]
[William listened to the explanation intently. So it was a computer that functioned the same as a high level magical grimoire and could turn anyone who had it into a high level sorcerer? That was incredible, beyond anything William could imagine. What would Mathers think of this? Did Kevin know about this?
When Kazuya offered it to him though, William blinked.]
You are offering to let me borrow it? Me? But it's so powerful...
[He wanted to take it of course, because it looked incredible, but this? This was too much for a first meeting.]
Are you sure that you are okay with lending it to me? With some of the things that happen here, it might be better in your hands. I do know some magic after all, so I am not completely defenseless.
[He just couldn't stand up to an actual demon, angel or demigod, or anything else like that.]
Ah, but that's why I'm lending it to you: because of some of the things that have happened here.
[Like "The Jungle". A few people had died there, and the predators that had prowled beneath that thick, green canopy had been dangerous enough to give even himself pause, and that terrible accident that claimed Ket's life... then, there was the volcano, or - wherever it was everyone else went to. This place was safer than the lockdown, true, but it was still dangerous. Kazuya could survive easily without his COMP, but William? The only person he met who was truly and honestly a kindred spirit? Well... it was a no brainer, really]
I can take care of myself perfectly fine without it, but you... [Kazuya gently closed the lid of his COMP] I understand your feelings, you know? To feel helpless while surrounded by creatures that are older and more powerful than you. I just want to give you a bit of a leg up, like I was given. It's only fair when your opponents are demons and angels.
[He smiled and held the COMP out, giving it a tempting little wriggle;]
Besides, I've outgrown this. If I face a high level demon without it, chances are I'll crush it underfoot without breaking a sweat. [Bold, but true. Mostly. If Lucifer popped his head back in, Kazuya would be destroyed, but against the likes of Beldr or Belzaboul or anything like that? Psh. He'll come out of it battered and bruised, but very much alive and on top] It'll serve better use with you. If it'll make you feel better though... just think of it as being a temporary loan. If I ever need it, I'll come and claim it back off of you. Sound fair?
[After a moment of consideration, William takes the comp and looks it over and smiles a little, because he is moved by this offer.]
Very well then, a loan. I will make sure to take good care of it in the mean time.
[Despite how dinged up it was, it looked expensive. Terrifyingly so, like all electronic devices were.]
And it is appreciated. I should ask Kevin what he thinks of it to make sure, since he might have his own ideas about it.
But, it might be nice to have on hand. Or even to study for a bit.
[If only Isaac was here. He would have delighted in this and probably have even been jealous. It would have evened the playing field between them. Though, when he thought about it, that wouldn't have given William much pleasure in the long run. He wanted their next magical duel to be one of equals.
Though for now, this was fine. Monsters didn't play fair after all.]
So does it need to be charged or anything like that?
It's got a decent battery life, but yeah, make sure to keep it charged. I've got a hand charger back in my apartment for it... I'll, er, give that to you later.
[When he remembered. You may need to send him reminders to go snag it - it was a pretty important piece of kit, after all! Electricity and plug sockets weren't going to be around everywhere you went!]
Anyway, open the COMP up. It'll need to register you, since you're a new user. It creates some sort of mental link or... something. I'm not sure, I don't really understand its inner workings all that much. Far too complicated and technical for me. [Oh... hold on...] Ah, but, when you do, be on guard. I'm not sure if the COMP completely reboots if someone new starts using it, so it miiiight spit out a demon as a "test". Don't worry, if that happens, I'll take care of it. It should only be a Kobold or something equally pathetic. After that, the COMP should work normally and you'll have unlimited power at your fingertips!
[Yeah he's gonna have to nag the living daylights out of you to get that vital piece of equipment, isn't he? Fortunately William is a pro at that sort of thing.]
...yes that would be useful to know, about a demon possibly appearing.
[William said dryly as he opened it up. He wasn't exactly afraid anything small like a Kobold though. He was fairly used to sprites and fairies by now. Granted, this probably wasn't the same thing.]
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no subject
So a past of human sacrifices, not plants and animals. And Abel was a child of God and Lucifer, or rather a piece of an old god? That was a bit strange, but his mind could comprehend that. And then Cain killed Abel as some sort of grand sacrifice? And Cain became immortal and Abel was dropped into hell and then split again and became... oh, okay. That's so obvious.
He almost thinks about pressing the point, but doesn't, because well there is probably a reason Kazuya is holding back with him. Even if it is a little unfair when William has been completely honest with him. So far.]
...I imagine that must be a pain, being taken over by someone who is so angry. Solomon, he is just pathetically sad most of the time, despite trying to hide it.
You must really have a lot of dangerous people bothering you over it then. It's bothersome, isn't it?
no subject
Ahh, ha ha, yeah. I've had more than a few demons trying to kill me so they can eat Abel's soul, or... something like that. [He started to tick them off;] Ignoring the run of the mill demons who just wanted to eat me out of hunger, there was Beldr, Belial, Belzaboul, Jezebel, Belberith, Babel... hell, even Lucifer took a whack at me once, but I think he was holding back in that encounter. He was very creepy, a little too forward for my tastes...
[Yeah, he had no idea how to react to having the Fallen Angel himself wax poetics about his "beautiful" soul, and how he wanted to see his "innermost, blood-red emotions" after declaring himself his true father. Like. Um? You were giving out very weird, mixed signals there, Lucy.]
It's only since coming to Cerealia that I feel like I can relax, y'know? Don't have to worry about this or that demon or angel leaping out of the shadows to decapitate me, or whatever.
no subject
[He sets down his cup of tea and laughs a little at the word creepy.]
Yes, some of them really are perverse like that! Though I never met Lucifer, at least from what I can remember. But Balberith and Gilles, they are a bit... much.
[Why did Sytry end up surround by the all creepers? If William ever saw him again, they needed to have a talk about that.]
But it is nice here, is it? No one wants to kill you, or wants you to make any important decisions. You can just be. Not that I want things to stay like this, but it is a good break.
no subject
[Out of all the Bels he had to scramble over to become the King, Belberith was the worst of the bunch. True, Belzaboul had traumatised him for life, but Belberith had drawn humans into his cult, made them serve him, put a demon inside Amane and then consumed her father before her eyes! Nope. No way was he forgiving that freak for doing that to one of his friends!]
Ah, yes, exactly. You get me, you get me so much, future husband. [Kazuya smiled brightly, his mood buoying from the brief dip it had taken] Here, we can just be normal guys! Hell, we might as well be - do you know how many weird people live here? Compared to them, our worlds and lives are practically mundane and boring. It's a great feeling...
[If his friends back home were here, it'd be perfect. He'd never want to return to his world at all!]
no subject
[Countries who were people, small monster hunting girls who liked lace too much, idiots as far as the eye could see...]
Granted, I hardly consider myself mundane in the slightest. And not because of demons or reincarnation or any silly rubbish like that.
[He was going places with his amazing brain. Sure, his dreams of being prime minster were impossible here, at least for now. But that was a minor detail.]
But yes, I do get you. And it is... refreshing to meet someone who knows what it is like. It is a difficult feeling, when your destiny isn't always your own.
no subject
[Kazuya lifted his tea cup in a mock cheer, before slowly lowering it to take a sip. Ah, he hadn't felt so happy and relieved in a long time. He never felt like he could connect with people ever since his... coronation, so to speak, and it made him feel so lonely. Not, painfully so, but enough for him to... well, ache, just a little bit. But now...]
So troublesome, having supernatural entities meddling in your life... say, if you didn't have to get bogged down with this Solomon business, what would you do with your life? If you don't mind me asking, of course. I'm just curious to see what kind of man my future husband aspires to be~
no subject
What would I do?
[There is this big, arrogant smile on his face now.]
I have it all planned out! Once I am done with my schooling, I am moving on to a prestigious University. Then I will find a job in either law or politics. and then, I shall become my country's youngest prime minister. And then, after I have retired, I shall make a living through book royalties and lecture fees.
[He seriously has it all planned out.]
And I am going to do it regardless of those demons! And my current financial situation. And this place.
[He says the last into his tea very bitterly.]
no subject
But William's enthusiasm and belief was plain as day to see. This guy really thought he could do it - no, he knew he could do it. It was...aspiring to witness]
That's... [Kazuya overcame his surprise and smiled - he couldn't help it, that stubborn type of belief reminded him almost of...] That's pretty cool. That you're so determined, I mean. Lots of people would give up in your situation, since, like, getting trapped in an alternative dimension, er, world... thingy would seem like a dream-ender to most.
no subject
Though he does think on what Kazuya said about being in this place a little more fully.]
Well I will admit, this has put a spanner in the works for me, since there is no government as we know it here and they do not wish to give us any sort of leadership roles. It's why I would rather go home. But, if by some awful chance I cannot do so...
[Honestly he hasn't come up with a good solution yet, but he's come up with options, because one must plan for the worst case scenario.]
I will just have to force them to allow me to do something of import. And in the mean time, I mean to learn as much as I can about the world we are in. My knowledge of certain things is out of date, so I need to catch up anyways. It would be irresponsible to do otherwise.
[Science could explain everything, but only when you understood it in full. And even for a brain such as his, it was taking time to absorb it all.
But well, enough about him, as much as his ego is enjoying it.]
What about you? What would you do without being the Messiah or whatever it is?
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[Kazuya looked startled at the focus turned upon him, and he dithered for a moment. He honestly had no idea on how to answer that question. He never had a dream job, and he was well aware of his own limits, intelligence wise, so knew better than to aspire beyond his reach. He was, simply put, not very smart. He understood concepts and the like when they were explained to him (otherwise the lockdown would've been an even bigger, confusing mess than it already was), but he was nowhere near the same level as Atsuro or Naoya in terms of sheer brilliance or innovation]
I hadn't really thought about it. [Kazuya looked faintly embarrassed] I was still figuring out what I wanted to do before the whole... Messiah mess kicked off. Not that it matters. I don't really have any, uh, unique skills outside of killing demons anyway.
[Though, to be honest, Kazuya's rough "career plan" pre-lockdown had been banking on Atsuro becoming some sort of super amazing genius CEO of a computing company and doing him a solid by employing him as Coffee Boy, or even a footstool - God knows Atsuro deserved a human footstool - rather than striking out on his own and potentially festering in some sort of loveless, low-paying job for pure survival]
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He had to figure out a way to smooth this over.]
Ah, well not everyone is able to figure that sort of thing out. It just means that your options are open. Or rather, were...
[Okay, somehow that was even more awkward. He could have said something encouraging like "everyone is good at something," but that also felt trite.]
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[Kazuya sounded a little dry there, but he didn't seem annoyed at William's fumbled attempt at comfort. In fact, his embarrassment eased somewhat, and he smiled wryly]
It's okay. Don't worry about it. I mean, it was probably best I didn't have a dream job. Less disappointment when getting dragged into this Abel business.
[After all, Messiah was for life... if only because they died criminally young. No time for dreams and what not]
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So, if you are the Messiah, what does that entail? I assume it is not the same as Christ.
[And what did that mean for Kevin? That's what he was really itching to know.]
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...no. [His voice was subdued] I'm... I'm supposed to ensure that humanity stays on the right path. Humans get led astray by demons easily, so one of my roles is to ensure that nobody is summoning them or making contracts when they shouldn't be. God doesn't tolerate anything like that, and if too many humans consort with demons too often, he... won't be pleased.
[The looming threat of having humanity's free will revoked still shadowed him. If he messed up, or didn't keep a strict watch or control over humanity, then everyone would become as puppet-like as the angels]
So, I, er, kill demons, block their access into my world, things like that. As well... [He paused, obviously debating on whether to say something] I'm meant to cleanse any, um... 'negative influences' within humanity itself. So, if there's an unrepentant sinner, or a demon summoner, then...
[He trailed off, his expression unhappy. He resisted that command as much as he could - many people they condemned to death had only committed sinful acts out of desperation or fear - but Kazuya only had so much leeway. If he couldn't get the sinner to repent, too bad, they were dead. Vaporised, in fact, if Kazuya didn't immediately slay them where they stood (which he didn't, so far, no human blood had stained his hands, but he knew it was only a matter of time until it did). It was a sort of tyranny that stuck sharply in his throat, but humanity just had to suffer it for a while longer. Kazuya was determined to make sure that they will escape from God's shadow, one way or another, with no casualties...!]
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Such tyranny struck him as inherently wrong headed, yet it was also obvious that this wasn't what Kazuya wanted.]
So you are stuck in an unfair position, huh? The divine is illogical in that way. What was it I remember Solomon saying: humans sin because they enjoy it.
[It was simplistic and stupid way to put it, but Solomon did have a point.]
What a thankless job for you.
[It made him a little angry honestly, especially when he thought of his own situation. These demons, angels and gods, that held themselves so high above humanity had the nerve to shove their responsibilities onto others. With no regard as to what that person's wishes might be. Or their suitability to the task at hand. What nonsense.]
Though honestly, it sounds like your situation is far worse than mine. They haven't demanded that I kill anyone.
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[Kazuya's feeble attempt at humour fell flat, as his words came out a little more bitter than he intended. He lowered his gaze, staring at the tea in his hands blankly. Every time he had to genuinely consider what his job as Messiah entailed, he always felt this great... something. Something far too cold and hard for anger, and that weighed greatly on his diaphragm like a sharp edged rock.
Something that felt like hatred, a rancour so alien and bitter that Kazuya simply couldn't comprehend it. Was it his own? Bel's? Abel's? All three of them combined? He didn't know. It existed. It was there. It remained.]
...I. [Kazuya stopped, remembering who he was talking to. He made an odd noise, difficult to discern, and lifted his head and gaze, the shadow gone from his eyes] I mean, it's fine. To be honest, mine's more straightforward than your situation of refereeing a demon election. That sounds way more troublesome.
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He blinks when they turn back to his own duties, but decides to go with it. Especially since Kazuya seems so bitterly unhappy.]
I do not know if it is all that troublesome. I have abstained from voting thus far and I mean to keep at it. I just wish they understood I had bigger problems to deal with than their stupid power struggle.
It is just difficult when nothing I do against them seems to matter.
[Even the few steps he took in the end were futile.]
And the few safe ones, I cannot rely on them forever...
[Would Dantalion have even came back? Did he even wish to?]
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[Kazuya said this rather emphatically, punctuating his words with a sharp nod. Even though he himself used demons, he ensured that he didn't rely on them, because that was a dangerous crutch. Reliance meant you needed them, and if you needed them, you gave them an opening, and if you gave them an opening, then they had you, and that would be that. Kazuya treated his demons how they should be treated - an ends to a means, and tools to be utilised to their fullest capacity]
Which is why you should learn how to deal with demons on your own. Though... that's difficult, considering you're a mostly normal human. No offence, but even a Pixie could snap you in half, and they're the weakest demons around. Hm...
[Which was why he did think William had it worse in that respect. Kazuya, at the very least, couldn't be menaced or bullied by demons. After clawing his way to the very top of the demonic food chain, there were only a scant few who'd dare to openly challenge him. The angels were still an issue, but even then, Metatron was the only legitimate threat. William... well, William was pretty much at the demons' whims, from the sound of it. He may have an advantageous position of having what the demons wanted, but in the end, he couldn't fight them one-on-one and win]
But, maybe... [Should he? Would it even work for him?] I may have a solution. I could give you a way to stand on the same level as a demon, you know, able to fight back and win if you ever get stuck in a tight spot.
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And then watch when they died.]
...a solution? What is it? Though it better be free, or else I will have to pass.
[But, if it could work...
Even in this place, what could it hurt? It might make Kevin's life easier. And if the others came, wouldn't it be something if they could see William standing on his own?]
But, I am interested.
COMP TUTORIAL
[Kazuya felt some hesitation, but after a moment, he reached down to his belt. There, a small closed console had been hanging from where it'd been clipped to his belt loop. It was a dark blue colour, and its surface was pitted with small scratches, scuffs, and mysterious dark stains or scorch marks. Obviously battered but, definitely still functional]
This, my future husband, is a COMP!
[Kazuya held it up dramatically, before flipping it open and turning it to show William the two screens. There was a menu on the bottom screen, though some of its icons were greyed out]
It's a cheat system that allows normal, mundane humans to fight on par with the strongest of demons - indeed, you could even stand up to Lucifer with this! I know, because I did it. Anyway, what it does is... well, everything.
[Kazuya leaned forwards, over the coffee table, to make sure that William could see better as he began pointing at individual parts of the COMP's menu]
Some of the options are greyed out, because Cerelia messes with the COMP's connectivity with its server, but basically, this top middle one is the important one. "Team". Now, the COMP has a function where you can make contract with demons and make them your own, though you can only summon two at a time, look, I'll show you.
[He selected the icon, and it came up with three images. There was Kazuya's profile picture, followed by his name, and on either side of him, there were two more names: Ongyo-Ki and Metatron. Down along the right hand side was a column of an obscene amount of demons, both well known and obscure, but strangely, all of them were greyed out. Yeah, Kazuya was unable to access them, because of the aforementioned connectivity issues. Stupid Cereals...]
This is my current team. Now, I may be able to summon demons, but I make sure that if I have to fight them, I can easily crush them. You never summon a demon stronger than yourself! Most important rule ever. Anyway, that's not the important bit, I'm not letting you have any demons in your team. The important bit is... this!
[Kazuya selected himself in the team set up, and a list appeared, with words like "Zandyne" and "Anti-Most"]
The skill list. With this, you can select high level magic spells, passive and active, and use them without having to do all that backbreaking study and practice. It's right there at your literal fingertips. There're loads too, look.
[He selected "Zandyne", and another list appeared, a large one with all sorts of spells. He went back, then selected the other one, "Anti-Most", and another list with different spells appeared, with names like "Repel Fire" or "Null Phys", or "Elec Amp"]
So you see? With this, you can stand on par with a demon. It helps that the COMP has a Harmoniser system, so if a demon comes at you? Nooo problem! The Harmoniser, erm, how to explain... I guess you can say it weakens the demon to the point where a killing blow just gives you a bruise. So if an Ogre comes charging at you, swinging his cleaver at you, it'll hurt like fuck if he gets you, but he won't be able to sever limbs or anything. Just cut you badly. Also, also!
[He went back to the main menu, and selected something else: Demonic Compendium]
This is pretty useful too. A list of all the demons, their lore, and their weaknesses. It'll tell you which spell you need to destroy them completely, and which ones they're strong against, as well as giving you a low down on what skills and spells they'd have. The COMP automates this too, so if you find yourself ambushed, it'll bring up the demon's profile and tell you mid-battle what it's weaknesses are. Hell, it even does it for angels and humans, so it might do it for anything here.
[He lowered the COMP then] And I'm gonna lend it to you, since it sounds like you need it more than me.
[And, more importantly, Kazuya didn't need it when he went back home. He could use magic without the COMP, thanks to Bel, and he could summon demons without it too, also thanks to Bel. Cerealia was different, since it felt like something was stifling Bel's influence to the point where Kaz had to rely on the COMP to summon Ongyo-Ki and Metatron, as well as cast the very high level magic spells, but so far he hadn't encountered anything in Cerealia that required him to need them. So, yes, sentimental value aside, the COMP was better off in William's hands than his own]
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When Kazuya offered it to him though, William blinked.]
You are offering to let me borrow it? Me? But it's so powerful...
[He wanted to take it of course, because it looked incredible, but this? This was too much for a first meeting.]
Are you sure that you are okay with lending it to me? With some of the things that happen here, it might be better in your hands. I do know some magic after all, so I am not completely defenseless.
[He just couldn't stand up to an actual demon, angel or demigod, or anything else like that.]
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[Like "The Jungle". A few people had died there, and the predators that had prowled beneath that thick, green canopy had been dangerous enough to give even himself pause, and that terrible accident that claimed Ket's life... then, there was the volcano, or - wherever it was everyone else went to. This place was safer than the lockdown, true, but it was still dangerous. Kazuya could survive easily without his COMP, but William? The only person he met who was truly and honestly a kindred spirit? Well... it was a no brainer, really]
I can take care of myself perfectly fine without it, but you... [Kazuya gently closed the lid of his COMP] I understand your feelings, you know? To feel helpless while surrounded by creatures that are older and more powerful than you. I just want to give you a bit of a leg up, like I was given. It's only fair when your opponents are demons and angels.
[He smiled and held the COMP out, giving it a tempting little wriggle;]
Besides, I've outgrown this. If I face a high level demon without it, chances are I'll crush it underfoot without breaking a sweat. [Bold, but true. Mostly. If Lucifer popped his head back in, Kazuya would be destroyed, but against the likes of Beldr or Belzaboul or anything like that? Psh. He'll come out of it battered and bruised, but very much alive and on top] It'll serve better use with you. If it'll make you feel better though... just think of it as being a temporary loan. If I ever need it, I'll come and claim it back off of you. Sound fair?
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Very well then, a loan. I will make sure to take good care of it in the mean time.
[Despite how dinged up it was, it looked expensive. Terrifyingly so, like all electronic devices were.]
And it is appreciated. I should ask Kevin what he thinks of it to make sure, since he might have his own ideas about it.
But, it might be nice to have on hand. Or even to study for a bit.
[If only Isaac was here. He would have delighted in this and probably have even been jealous. It would have evened the playing field between them. Though, when he thought about it, that wouldn't have given William much pleasure in the long run. He wanted their next magical duel to be one of equals.
Though for now, this was fine. Monsters didn't play fair after all.]
So does it need to be charged or anything like that?
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[When he remembered. You may need to send him reminders to go snag it - it was a pretty important piece of kit, after all! Electricity and plug sockets weren't going to be around everywhere you went!]
Anyway, open the COMP up. It'll need to register you, since you're a new user. It creates some sort of mental link or... something. I'm not sure, I don't really understand its inner workings all that much. Far too complicated and technical for me. [Oh... hold on...] Ah, but, when you do, be on guard. I'm not sure if the COMP completely reboots if someone new starts using it, so it miiiight spit out a demon as a "test". Don't worry, if that happens, I'll take care of it. It should only be a Kobold or something equally pathetic. After that, the COMP should work normally and you'll have unlimited power at your fingertips!
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...yes that would be useful to know, about a demon possibly appearing.
[William said dryly as he opened it up. He wasn't exactly afraid anything small like a Kobold though. He was fairly used to sprites and fairies by now. Granted, this probably wasn't the same thing.]
So do I just wait and it'll do this registration?
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