LP CH 84 (Patreon)

Kuoh academy was, in appearance, a calm town of the like that could be found everywhere in Japan.

The town had absolutely nothing particularly special from a human perspective, but it had been the gathering of many supernatural events.

“Say, Baraqiel, do you believe in fate?”

In a rather luxurious house, a man of average build that seemed to be in his twenties was clad in a simple grey yukata as he held a controller and amused himself with a game on the tv.

Standing behind him and holding a glass filled with wine was a gruff-looking middle-aged man with a rather muscular body.

Baraqiel was a fallen angel, once part of the fifth heaven under the nickname of Lightning god, he fell alongside Azazel and the other members of Grigori and created the third faction in the biblical war.

Thanks to his power, Baraqiel, alongside Shemhazai, was one of the two vice governors of Grigori.

As for the leader of their faction, it was the slovenly man who had nothing better to do than play video games even though they had an important things to do.

“I do not believe in fate.”

Baraqiel simply stated. He knew that Azazel liked bringing up such random discussions and he was willing to humor him.

“Hehe, of course, you don’t. I am sure there are no angels who would believe in Fate. After all, if there is fate, then wouldn’t it means that Free will doesn’t exist? This would go against everything the old man preached us.”

There was also the fact that they were fallen angels. People who fell after choosing to sin. Wouldn’t it be rather sad if their so-called choice had been an inevitability all along?

“Still, you see, even though I do not believe in Fate, sometimes, I can’t help but have my belief shaken.”
Azazel continued to play. It was an RPG-style game with dungeon and dragon and fantasy.

“Sometime I can’t help but wonder. Like those game characters. They have their life. Their stories, struggles, and tears. But for us, they are just imaginary characters. Their struggles have no meaning since the end is already determined from the start by a scriptwriter.”

Azazel laughed, “Did it never happens to you? Wondering if we were just characters in a story written by some super entity that surpasses us all?”

Baraqiel looked down at his glass, wondering if there was something strange that was put in the drink.

“I am not drunk. Neither I am under any kind of influence. I was just observing our set of circumstances with fresh eyes.”

“Does that kid bother you that much?”

Baraqiel now understood,

“Basara Toujou. The son of Jin Toujou and now we know he is also the cousin of Sirzechs. I wonder just how much tumult such a new would bring in the supernatural world.”

Azazel snickered, but his eyes were not laughing. Azazel was given back one of his two subordinates still captured as a sign of good grace. From the little fallen angel, he was able to learn quite a bit, and the more he learned, the more worried he became.

A great variable has appeared.

“You see, my dear Baraqiel. Over a thousand years of history, I have learned that every great shift in history were preceded by the advent of individual whom, through their power or charisma, could turn the world itself over its head.

“As it is now. It’s partially thanks to him that we are about to convene with the devils like this. All we lacked was an opportunity and he gave it to us. But will he always be a good thing for us?”

Azazel shook his head as his playing character, a knight in shining armor was incinerated by a dragon.

“I won’t lie. If possible, I would have loved to erase this nexus.”

Azazel was no kind man. He had his fair share of blood on his hands and knew that sometimes, it was kill or be killed.

If the Nexus was just someone without much influence, Azazel would take them under his wings. This was how he created an academy for people to learn how to control their sacred gear. [1]

All Sacred gears users were bugs in the system. People who, through sheer will alone, could change the world to suit better their wishes. In a way, they were all born with the innate arrogance to declare, “I can do it” and “There is nothing anyone in the world can tell me that will discourage me.”

Sadly, the current Nexus, unlike Tobio, was not some helpless orphan chased around by dangerous people who wanted his life.

There were only a few people crazy to attack and hurt Basara and earn the ire of the greatest hero alive.

As such, they had to find another way.

Azazel wanted to meet the kid and to discuss with him.

“Also, this isn’t just about this. Kukuku~! Aren’t you worried about your daughter?”

Baraqiel’s expression darkened. This was another reason he did not consider Fate as reality. He simply refused to accept that his kind and beautiful wife was destined to die long before they even meet.

Everyday, he lived with the gut wrenching regret of not having been here to protect her when she needed it the most

As if it wasn’t enough, the current relationship between him and his daughter was not particularly good.

In fact, there was no relationship to speak of. Akeno had fled from her relative house and lived as a street urchin for nearly two years. She was only 11 when she first meet Rias and was chosen to become her friend.

Every time he had asked her to come back, she would refuse.

As such all, he could do was to follow her and give her some help.

Otherwise, how could a girl who had been pampered all her life suddenly manage to survive all alone without ever suffering from physical abuse of any kind?

All those who had tried to do so were swiftly eliminated by him.

“What do you have in mind, Azazel?”

“Well, see, our hunt is coming to an end. But you see, I am of those who clear all the side missions first before jumping into the Main mission. What do you think?”

‘What could he say?’

Baraqiel could only let out a sigh,

“What then?”

“Well…” From the impish smile on Azazel’s face, Baraqiel knew that Kokoabiel would be terribly unlucky, “Let’s say that I have a plan.”


[1]: This is canon by the way. The school was introduced in Slash Dog. Tobio Ikuse went to that school with his team after he awakened his Longinus.

[2]: So many chara to dev. Now I make preparations for Akeno.