Chapter Text
A messiah had been chosen to bring about God's millennial kingdom. The boy who'd ended Tokyo's week-long lockdown and won the war to become a demon king had chosen to use his power for good. God had entrusted His new servant with a host of angels to help conquer false gods' lands in His name. Upon meeting intense resistance from the master of his homeland, the difficulty of the boy's task became clear. To aid his quest, God granted His messiah a new boon.
Kazuya Minegishi, messiah of the new world, finished lighting the last of the candles that sat on the church's altar. He bowed his head and dropped to his knees, silently praying just as the angels had instructed. Kazuya suspected the prayer wasn't necessary for this summoning, but he knew voicing that suspicion wouldn't accomplish anything. It was likely summoning a spirit would be different from summoning a demon, so he'd abide by the angels' guidance without resistance. Once the prayer was finished, he began the real work: biting his thumb, murmuring words in a long-dead language, and smearing his blood on the summoning circle he'd prepared. The process was time-consuming and elaborate, and Kazuya knew from talks with his cousin that a misstep in this sort of ritual often ended the summoner's life. Normally he'd be afraid to perform a ritual without a safety net like the little computer his cousin gave him long ago.
Unfortunately, the COMP had been destroyed after humanity was no longer allowed the power of demons, and Kazuya had to rely on angels and other supernatural allies who had already made their way to the human world. Some of his old friends had already tried old-fashioned summoning techniques after the COMPs' destruction to mixed success. They'd grown in strength over the course of a hellish week of war, so none of them perished in the attempts, but one rebellious friend had been injured after summoning a chaos-aligned succubus who was too powerful to fully control. Worse, the demoness had ties to Kazuya's cousin, and so she bolstered the power of the brother figure who'd once interfered in Kazuya's campaign. The entire incident had left Kazuya nervous for the day the angels would instruct him to try a summoning himself.
Thinking about Naoya broke Kazuya's concentration. His foreign words came out less certain when he remembered the look of desperation on his cousin's face. Naoya hadn't interfered with Kazuya's attempts to spread order since the Okuninushi incident, but he was never truly accepting, either. They'd fought more times than Kazuya could recall, all because Kazuya now served the God his cousin hated. He loved Naoya dearly, so finding out his chosen path wasn't compatible with his cousin's ideals had come as a shock. At the time he'd chosen to follow God, it had seemed as if eliminating demons would finally bring peace. Instead, Kazuya had been placed on a war path.
A candle blew out, nearly giving Kazuya a heart attack. When the second flame was snuffed, he was prepared. This time, he channeled his magic into the smoke so it would waft down instead of up, crawling over the magic circle beneath his feet like fog. He took a step back, encouraging that fog to thicken. It obediently spiraled up, seeming to feed on his regrets, and formed into a humanoid shape. Just when it seemed the fog had begun to thin, it dissipated and revealed an ethereal figure. The newly formed man swayed and flickered until color touched his skin. Kazuya held his breath.
“Are people happy?” The figure's voice was soft. His words seemed just as ready to vanish as the smoke he'd appeared from.
“I... guess?”
Again the man swayed, though he seemed to gain strength with every breath. Mana gathered in the air, and he finally seemed to gain enough presence to be tangible. His voice lowered a pitch. “Are. People. Happy?”
Kazuya frowned, uncertain how to answer the simple question. He opened his mouth no fewer than three times before he finally settled on something. “I want them to be.”
The saint stared Kazuya down, though his hard look quickly dissolved into a gentle smile. “Then it seems we are allies. My name is Moses; most know me as prophet of the Creator. Through His grace and your summons, I have returned to continue the work I started.”
Kazuya released a breath, tension leaving his body as he eyed the unassuming young man up and down. He'd expected a bearded old guy, but it seemed summoning saints was just as unpredictable as summoning demons. Even with uncertainty in his heart, he'd still managed to succeed without incident. He was still getting used to his new power as the appointed messiah, but he was finally making progress.
“It's an honor to meet you. I'm Minegishi Kazuya, a student at-” He swallowed his words and redirected himself. “...I'm a messiah appointed by God to bring peace to the world. I still have a lot of work to do, and there's a lot of tough battles ahead of me. For that reason, I was directed to seek your help. Will you fight with me?”
Moses immediately bowed his head. “So long as your path is one that will bring the world happiness, my staff is yours.”
With that, the pact was sealed, the summon complete. Moses's body became solid, and Kazuya felt a bit of wind leave his lungs. The exchange didn't feel dissimilar to the times when he'd summoned demons through his old COMP. Once upon a time, that feeling had been a familiar lifeline. Now, without a clear path forward or his cousin at his side, he felt only the new constant in his life: uncertainty.
***
Kazuya squashed a wriggling squid underfoot, his nose wrinkled in disgust. Two more disintegrated into shadow nearby as Moses's magic found its mark. The pair were scouting a new region for false gods when they'd stumbled upon a ghost town. No matter which door they knocked on, every building was left abandoned and crawling with squids. Between a saint and a messiah, the creatures were little threat, but the mystery of what happened in this place made Kazuya's skin crawl.
“Is that the last of them?”
“Probably not.” Moses returned his staff to a ready position, his eyes sweeping from one cobblestone to the next. The wary smile he wore was a common expression even among allies, Kazuya had noticed. While the saint smiled often, rarely did it reach his eyes. It looked like Kazuya's cousin wasn't the only one who'd built up walls around himself.
“We should keep looking for survivors. It's strange that there's not any blood.”
“Normally I'd agree, but I have a bad feeling.” Moses paused. “--Perhaps it's more accurate to say I have a premonition? That if we stay out in the open like this, we won't make it home.”
Kazuya had no desire to go against the gut feeling of a prophet. “You got it. We'll regroup and find shelter for the night.”
“Understood.” Moses flipped his staff back to neutral and fell in step behind Kazuya, obedient as always. His footsteps made no sound; Kazuya could swear the saint floated when he walked. Since the saint was a sort of spirit, it was possible he wasn't imagining things. Even just being by Moses's side made him feel as if his own presence had disappeared. Maybe there was some truth to the thought, too, since the squids never seemed to notice them when they were near each other. Stealth was definitely one of Moses's strong suits, and that ability seemed to extend to his summoner.
A hand covered Kazuya's face, stifling his gasp. He was pulled into a building's shadow, his presence melting into the background. He tried to ask why he'd been treated roughly so suddenly, but one look up at Moses's expression forced his question to die in his throat. The saint's usual smile was gone, replaced by an intense stare directed toward the town's well. Kazuya followed that gaze to its target and would've gasped again if not for the firm hold Moses had on his mouth. There, crawling out of the well they'd been near not a minute before, was a mass of writhing tentacles. Another moment later, and Kazuya realized exactly what sort of creature they were dealing with.
A Deep One.
The monster at the well was the servant of an unnamed god from another world. He'd never seen one himself, but Moses had given him a rundown of every heretical god he knew about. While he hadn't had much information on the Deep Ones, he had mentioned the creatures left suspiciously few traces in their wake.
A great serpent approached me once to make me an offer. Though I refused, she told me of threats to this world. She showed me the unclean, the scaleless creatures that live in the deep. I can't explain what I felt when I looked upon them, but I hope I never have to again.
Kazuya clutched his chest as an empty pit formed in his stomach. It felt as if his innards had been dyed black and were being sucked out of his nostrils. The more he watched the creature rise from the ground, the more he felt sucked toward a sticky void. He felt compelled to leave his hiding place and dive into that void, but the moment he swayed forward, a muscled arm yanked him back. Pressed firmly against Moses's chest, Kazuya blinked back to awareness. Above him, the saint mouthed the words, 'Look at me.' Kazuya complied. The world was off balance around him, wavering around the focal point of Moses's violet eyes. 'Breathe,' Moses worded. Again, Kazuya obeyed. In and out he breathed, time seeming to stand still as one source of gravity warred with another.
Moses released Kazuya and let out a breath of his own. Kazuya wobbled as he readjusted to supporting himself with his own two feet. Cautiously, he glanced back at the village well only to find the horror was gone. The atmosphere in this place had returned to a neutral 'unsettling'. Far better than a moment prior.
“Let's get out of here.”
“No kidding.”
Kazuya tried to convince himself he wasn't just running away from a monster under his bed.
***
“So you're still alive. Good job.”
Kazuya didn't have to look to know whose voice those words belonged to. His cousin Naoya had butted into messiah business many times before, and not always to help. He braced himself and turned around, wondering whether he'd see an ally or enemy this time. Seeing the man directly made every ounce of dread disappear, replaced by relief that Naoya seemed to be doing alright. He couldn't help but relax at the familiar face. At Kazuya's side, Moses didn't miss the change in demeanor, but he didn't drop his guard. Instead, the saint pulled out his best polite smile.
“What business do you have with my summoner?”
Naoya frowned at the word. “Your summoner? Not your messiah? Hmph. I owe no explanation to God's dogs.”
“It's alright.” Kazuya patted Moses's shoulder and happily stepped toward the newcomer. “This is my cousin, Naoya. He's lived with me ever since we were kids.” His smile wavered. “...Until recently.”
“Until you gained and threw away the power of a demon lord in one night, though that is not the matter I'm here to discuss.” Naoya sent Moses a side glance. “I'm here to demand an explanation.”
“You already know I'm here to secure the world's lands. Or- Oh, you mean Moses?”
Naoya visibly flinched.
“Ahaha... I guess you did mean Moses, huh. Yeah, I summoned him a while ago. He's been really helpful since our COMPs were broken! I didn't want to keep putting Yuzu and Atsuro in danger when-”
“Why did you summon a prophet!?” Naoya covered his eyes. “...No, the better question is- why didn't you just ask me for assistance?”
Kazuya blinked. That was why his cousin was upset? Because he didn't give him a house call in the middle of a holy war? He snorted. “I didn't realize you were so lonely.” That was a lie. But he knew better than to stir the pot more than necessary when it came to his cousin. Even this much teasing was probably pushing it, but it was funny to see Naoya wrinkle his nose. “You know, video calls are a thing. If I knew you wanted to see me that badly, we could've set up a time! Oh, but that'd mean you have to talk to one of 'God's dogs' wouldn't it?”
Before he could press any further, Moses slipped between the two cousins, his hand raised like a student waiting to be called on in class. “Forgive me, but does that mean this is just a social call? Then we should probably speak on the road, since we're still in enemy territory.”
“Oh right! Let's go, Moses.”
“Yes.”
The two fell in step with each other, leaving a bewildered Naoya in their wake. He growled and darted forward, catching up to the two with practiced grace. Moses casually blocked the man's access to Kazuya with a sidestep, then shot him a serene smile. Naoya's expression darkened, his voice a growl. “Whether you're that murderous prophet or not, you shouldn't be near my brother with that holy aura of yours. You're going to stir up the Bels.”
Kazuya pursed his lips and forced himself not to acknowledge either the term of address or the reference to the powerful beings he'd long ago brought to heel. Still, he couldn't help the ice that crept into his tone. “You don't have a say in who I'm friends with. You haven't exactly been supportive of my goals.” Moses glanced his way questioningly. Kazuya kept his gaze firmly on Naoya.
“You know why.” Naoya's voice was thick with menace. He let Kazuya's imagination run for a moment before returning to a more relaxed tone. “I didn't come here to convince you away from His side this time. Not today, at least. I came because I realized where you'd gone. This area isn't safe for you, even with your power. Surely you're perceptive enough to sense the danger here, so why did you come?”
“Hah! Once upon a time, you told me I could even face God with my power. I dunno why you're so worried now.” That drew a look of alarm from Moses, but once again, the saint had enough sense not to ask Kazuya for details right away.
“This isn't a battle that can be won with power alone. It's certainly possible to manage at your current level, but not without fully understanding the situation and exemplifying full control over your abilities. I didn't want to lose you to something preventable.”
The sentiment was surprisingly earnest, enough to make Kazuya pause. Ever since he'd become the messiah, his cousin had hurled nothing but desperate, hurtful words his way. To say Naoya had a rough history with God would be an understatement. Naoya was the incarnation of the first murderer, after all. He had been cursed to live life eternal, an outcast from his original home. While his sentence had been in response to his own crime, Naoya had chosen to blame God for his own actions. Despite Naoya's need to shift responsibility, Kazuya still loved his cousin dearly. He still wanted the guy to be happy, but Naoya always seemed to have other ideas. For Naoya to be upfront about his feelings in any situation meant this one had to be serious. He must have truly feared for Kazuya's life back there.
“Then tell me what I'm missing. What's so dangerous about this place?”
Naoya's lip twisted, partially in surprise and partially in disbelief at being taken seriously. “This place is proof that your crusade is meaningless.”
“Excuse me?”
“There are demons who are best dealt with by making them into allies. I'm sure you saw the reigning lord of this place firsthand? Killing that creature would only lead to another, more powerful terror taking its place. That's how the Deep Ones work.”
“If you know of them, then you should understand why it's so important we don't leave them be. Them, and any other demon who threatens the order of the world.” If nothing else, Kazuya had affirmed his convictions since the last time he'd met his cousin.
“If you're so worried about the 'order of the world'...” Naoya sighed and tried to grab Kazuya's shoulder. Instead, he found his hand blocked by a staff. He bared his teeth at the politely smiling Moses and tried to yank the staff to the side. Moses's grip remained steadfast. “...then maybe you should start by getting yourself a less problematic watchdog.” Naoya and Moses stared each other down, unmoving. Naoya was the first to break away from the showdown, averting his eyes and acting as if he were disinterested in the whole affair. He lept away from summoner and summoned both, no longer interested in keeping pace. “You've received fair warning. Unless you change your approach, I can't bail you out this time.”
Kazuya nodded solemnly. “Yeah. I know.”
Naoya glanced at his cousin over his shoulder, his smile tightening. After one last condescending look in Moses's direction, he left without another word.
***
Naoya put as much distance between himself and Kazuya as he could muster, only pausing to rest when he could no longer sense his cousin's powerful presence. Ever since Kazuya had claimed the power of Bel, the boy had been hard to ignore no matter where Naoya based himself. The power of a demon king was only kept in check by the holy power that came with the boy's new title of 'messiah'. The two forces seemed to harmonize within Kazuya, slowly blending into something new. Naoya was surprised the two forces didn't war with each other, but he was starting to suspect 'Moses' had something to do with that fact.
“...Did you get a good read on the spirit?”
Naoya's voice didn't seem to elicit any answer from the trees or cobble surrounding him. The path he stood on was peaceful despite the lack of chirping birds in the area. He sighed with exasperation, suddenly suspicious he'd truly been left alone. Just as he was about to move on, his shadow wavered unnaturally. Naoya watched it with greater condescension than when he'd looked at Moses.
“You really called me for advice!? I was so shocked, I couldn't move! Big Brotheeerr!” A feminine figure came sailing out of Naoya's shadow. It darted straight toward the irritated man, though he avoided it with ease. Instead of tackling him, it crashed into the ground. Shadow materialized into flesh, revealing an unearthly beauty underneath. The woman's long white hair was a shade ligher than Naoya's, though her eyes were the same brilliant red. She looked just as foreign to the human world as her 'big brother', though the curved horns on her head and batlike wings on her back implied a more substantial divide from reality. The shadows that licked at her knees only solidified what was already clear from her features; this woman was a succubus.
“Well?”
“Waaaah, am I just a thermometer to you? You're gonna make your lil' sis cry! At least gimme a big hug before I gotta work!”
Naoya ignored her demands, instead keeping his voice firm. “Lilian.”
Lilian straightened up, though she still scowled indignantly. “Yeah, yeah, I get it. Lil' bro's more important than your cute but reliable sister!” She lifted herself off the ground and patted dirt off of her hips. “You got it right. That guy was some sort of spirit that's been tethered to this plane. It's kinda wild, really! That kind of feat's gotta take some amazingly powerful magic or something! Even your cute lil' sis could never hold someone here like that without making some fun sacrifices!”
Naoya ignored the woman's implications. “Is it dangerous?”
“Probably! But that's probably the point, isn't it? Why else would the big bad angels make lil' bro summon something so wild? Lil' bro called the spirit 'Moses', right?” Lilian tapped her chin thoughtfully. “If it's really the spirit of a prophet or whatever, I could see it being the reason that scary Bel power's been assimilated into lil' bro's messiah-ness so easily!”
“'Messiah-ness'..?” Naoya sighed and shook his head. “Nevermind, I understand. So that means the spirit is the real deal.”
“Yup! Yanked outta the cycle of reincarnation and everything, big brother style!” Lilian jumped onto one foot and pumped a fist in the air. She stuck her tongue out to complete the pose. “Lilia did good, right? Super good! You gotta praise me now, right!?”
“That will be all. Dismissed.”
“Shock!!”
Naoya wrinkled his nose in disgust. He looked away from the demoness and returned to his thoughts. That spirit was almost certainly summoned at the behest of angels, just as Lilian'd assessed. Pushing Kazuya to summon a spirit also pushed him away from calling on demons. If part of God's plan was to eliminate all demons, it was better for His messiah to not accidentally grow attached to any along the way. The holy spirit of a prophet tethered to the messiah was the ideal solution to supporting the boy's power. It seemed this particular spirit was a solid, stabilizing force at that. If Moses was able to help Kazuya rein in his personal demons, all the better. The spirit could act the part of a guard dog and a friend baked into one, keeping Kazuya loyal and happy without seeking out his old family.
Without seeking out family...
Naoya bit a finger, his lip twisting. Breath on his cheek interrupted his downward mental spiral, and he jumped. The demoness was inches from his face.
“That's a pretty good expression, Big Bro. You're gonna make me wanna gobble you up.”
He hurled a ball of fire at Lilian on instinct, though she didn't dodge the blow at all. Instead, she yelped and cradled her newly burnt chest, a tear forming in her eye. The blackened skin quickly regained its color, leaving only a scandalously torn top as evidence she was ever attacked.
“So mean! And here I was gonna comfort you and everything!” She sniffled and looked up at Naoya through her lashes, not backing away from his face at all. “I know what it's like to watch your favorite human be stolen away! It sucks, doesn't it?” Lilian reached for Naoya's arm, not allowing it to escape when he tugged it away. “Lil' sis understands everything about you. Let me help.”
Naoya forced himself to relax despite the heavy weight on his chest. He could use this. The demoness was powerful enough to turn tides but fickle enough to destroy nations. However, he knew from experience this woman was reliable in exactly one thing: pulling through when attention was on the line. He could endure this much if it meant a better chance at peeling his brother away from God's grasp. “...What do you suggest?”
Lilian squealed with glee. “I won't letcha down, Big Bro! You'll find out just how useful lil' sis can be! Hm, hm~” She finally settled down, seeming unprepared for any actual productive planning. After thinking through her options, she lifted a finger. “One, we could convince lil' bro to dismiss the spirit. Two, we could destroy the tether. Which is probably lil' bro himself, sooo--” One look at Naoya's glare made Lilian rush to her next point. “Three, we could see if the spirit could be corrupted or persuaded. Since it's a big scary prophet man, I dunno if it's possible, but lil' sis could give it a try! Mm, but isn't the monster around here supposed to be suuuuper scary? How well do ya think lil' bro will do against it alone?”
“Not well.” Naoya scowled, his interest waning. “Right now, it's most important Kazuya make it through this encounter unscathed. If we see an opening along the way, we take it. Understood?”
“Yup yup! Got it!”
“It's not ideal, but it seems I'm stuck without an easy path forward for now. I already know Kazuya won't respond to force... and he's more likely to get himself into dangerous situations when I'm not looking.” Concern slipped into Naoya's eyes. “We'll have to put aside the matter of the spirit for now.”
Lilian's smile hardened. Her lips moved, but no audible words slipped out.
Look for any opening we can, huh?
***
Moses stepped out of shadow and crouched down to examine a wriggling squid. He'd sent his summoner on to safety and returned to the settlement alone, hoping to find new information on their opponent. Before, he'd been able to turn away his gaze and ignore the Deep Ones, condemning them as a threat. Now, it wasn't that their dangerous nature had changed, but Moses's perspective had. He needed to be open to any possibility, since his first attempt at saving the world had failed.
“I did fail.”
He reaffirmed the words to himself, just to remind himself they were true. Long ago, Moses had wished dearly for a world where everyone could be happy. Over time, he'd had to settle for a world where only the maximum number of people could be happy. He'd been forced to mark people for death at the behest of his new God and had harmed many in His name. He'd enforced commandments to help people get along, opened up the earth to swallow dissenters, and even sacrificed his nephew just for the hope that the world would become that place of happiness he dreamed of. He could still remember the agony on Ramses's face as his brother held his lifeless son. Moses had hoped his despair would be worth the result. He'd hoped that, even if a lifetime of work wasn't enough, his successor would complete his work. If not his successor, perhaps his successor's successor. He'd hoped with all his heart that he'd set something truly meaningful in motion.
The existence of a messiah was proof that he'd failed. If the world needed saving, then it was still imperfect. There were still many, many people out there who weren't happy, and if the world kept spinning as it had for a thousand years, those people never would be happy. Even if Moses's summoner meant well, even if this 'Kazuya' kid were as diligent as Moses had been, this world would never be full of happiness on this route. He had to find another way.
Moses whirled around with his staff at the ready, his eyes flicking from one corner of the dark room to another. It felt as if he were being watched by more than just a handful of squids. An intense presence set him on edge, though he couldn't quite identify the source.
“What's a big city boy doing in a small town like this, huh? It's kinda romantic that we'd meet like this, don'tcha think?”
The feminine voice pierced Moses's thoughts like a bell through mist, drawing him into its melody. He slammed his staff against the floor, creating a small barrier. A presence as shadowy as his own seemed to bounce off it, allowing Moses a short-lived sigh of relief. He felt arms wrap around his shoulders and breath tickle his ear.
“Caught you! You're even cuter up close.”
Again Moses whirled around, taking practiced calming breaths even with a threat in his face. He centered himself and swept his staff low, filling the air with a dark miasma. The little cloud seemed to take on a life of its own, solidifying until it revealed a feminine form. The misty form seemed startled by her exposure, though she quickly took a bow and materialized properly. A hauntingly beautiful woman stood before Moses, her red lips sharply curved in a wicked smile. Her equally bright eyes dispelled Moses's meditative breath, replacing it with her own rhythm. He forced himself to calm down, though he couldn't help but scratch at the ear this woman had touched.
“Begone, demon. You have no business with me.” At least his voice sounded firm.
“Mmm... Nah! I'd rather play. Name's Lily, by the way, not 'demon'! Oh, but 'Debbie' has a nice ring to it, don'tcha think? Maybe I'll use that name next time!” She grinned, revealing her teeth to be perfectly straight but for two sharp incisors. “Oh wait, Big Brother's been calling me 'Lilian' lately, so we'll go with that instead!”
Moses managed to maintain his smile despite his bewilderment. 'Lilian' immediately noticed the look in his eye and hopped forward, letting her cleavage bounce as she cleared the distance between them. Moses pointed his staff at the woman threateningly.
“Stay back.”
“It's so hard to hold back though! You seem like such a nice snack.”
Moses split the foundation of the little country home they were in, sending several squids falling into the earth. Lilian jumped into the air and wings unfurled to keep her afloat. A twirl of Moses's staff, and two balls of pale blue light were sent sailing at the demon, though they were quickly intercepted by two balls of shadow.
“Wooow, our magic is super similar! I guess I shoulda figured from your legends and stuff. Your name was 'Moses', right~?”
“I said begone.”
Another set of pale missiles shot at Lilian, though this time she darted out of the way, giggling the entire time. “It's hard to leave when you're such fun to play with!” She flitted and zoomed, dodging one attack after another, closing distance with each roll of her wings until--
Their lips met. Moses released a strangled yelp, so startled by the sudden contact that he dropped his staff. Lilian deepened the kiss, pressing her tongue into the prophet's mouth. He immediately felt his strength leave him, his knees too weak to stand. The demoness caught him before he could fall. She looked down at him with eager, hungry eyes, already licking her lips after her meal.
“I'm surprised you taste so tempting, little saint. I love the flavor of ambition.”
Anger twisted Moses's delicate features. Shadow exploded from his form, and a thousand buzzing insects swooped at the succubus while he regained his footing. She drowned in the cloud of mandibles and chitin, screaming. As soon as his staff was in hand again, the insects disappeared, leaving nothing but stardust and a traumatized succubus in their wake. She lay on the ground with chest heaving, her already scanty outfit left in tatters after the assault. She looked up at him with tears in her eyes, and he looked down at her with nothing but condemnation. He lifted his staff.
“Why kill?”
Moses flinched. “I don't. I merely judge.”
“Isn't that the same thing?”
“It isn't. It's clear you cannot exist in a world of happiness, so you must be cleansed.”
A snort. The succubus sat up cross-legged, her pathetic stance of a moment prior all but forgotten. “How can you tell? You don't even know me!”
“If you'd try to harm me unprovoked, you'll try to harm others.”
“That's super dumb. I just popped in for a nice lil' chat, and you got all hissy the moment I touched you. If you didn't assume the worst, we could be having tea right now!” Moses frowned, unimpressed. Lilian grinned back at him. “...You finally showed your true colors too, y'know. You can't hide from someone like me.” The staff swung down. This time, Lilian caught it. Her skin began to blacken where it made contact, though she didn't flinch away. “Why did you come here?”
Moses's eyes flicked toward the burn marks on the demoness's hand. A shadow of guilt passed over his chest. “Reconnaissance.”
“Why?”
“To assist in consolidation of land.”
Lilian pulled at the staff, drawing Moses closer. “Through the murder of cute gods.”
“Through the judgment of demons.”
Lilian smirked and tossed the wood away as if her life hadn't depended on her hold a moment prior. She brushed herself off and stood up, allowing herself to take an easygoing stance. She hopped up onto a fractured kitchen counter, whistling to herself when she finally took stock of the damage around her. “I'm in.”
Moses sputtered. “Excuse me?”
“You heard me! I'm in!” She laughed and crossed her arms. “You seem to know what you're doing. If you can figure out who can and can't live in happiness or whatever, then clearly you've got it all under control!” He raised an eyebrow. She winked back. After holding each other's gaze a few seconds, she made a dismissive gesture and pointed at a nearby squid. The thing was clinging to the crater in the floor for dear life. “So what's your plan for these guys? Happiness? Judgment?”
“Judgment.”
“So fast! Man, that's gotta suck, doing your thing in life until some abomination turns you into a squid, only to get squashed by your own messiah.”
“...Explain.”
She quirked her lip, eyes narrowing like a cat's. “They were human, dipshit.”
The man paled. He stumbled backward, bracing himself against an overturned table. His fingers caught against something sticky, but he ignored the feeling, instead focusing on his roiling gut.
“What, you didn't know? They're all humans who had their memories and personalities altered! The Deep Ones love humans. Even what's left of them.” She thumped her tail twice. “Sweet. Oblivion.”
Everything clicked into place. The empty settlement, the clingy nature of the squids that populated it, the primal draw of that creature in the well– it all made sense. That tentacled mass somehow had the ability to change a person's nature, and because of the twisted intentions of the Deep Ones, the result was the desolation of an entire settlement.
“Didja know? Demons really like eating these lil' guys!”
Moses snapped to attention. The succubus was leisurely holding a squid above her head, eyeing it like a piece of meat. Moses jerked forward, his staff already whirling and smile tightening.
“Let it go.”
“Now you care, huh! Don't worry, I prefer to feed on other sources.” Her eyes appraised him, then returned to her prize. “No, no, I was just thinking about how happy these little squiddies seemed until you arrived. I guess lil' bro's Bels stirred them up!”
A blink. There was that term again, the 'Bels'. His summoner's cousin had used it during their brief encounter, but he hadn't had enough time to properly consider it. He was aware the messiah was an amalgamation of creatures with a dominant personality. The moment he was summoned to this time, he'd sensed distinct demonic auras within Kazuya drowned out by a human's. Kazuya seemed to carry pure intentions despite those demons, and so Moses trusted this new messiah.
“Oh yeah, maybe you didn't know? Lil' Bro's Bels are demons he absorbed!” Lilian splayed her fingers and flapped her hands against each other as if they were two halves of a little mouth. “Some of them were suuuuper powerful, too. It's how he got to be all fancy and scary and holy in the first place! Chomp chomp! Yummy!” She tilted her head innocently. “Maybe I'm not so different from lil' bro either, even if he's annoying.”
“Absorbed?”
“Aw, you're no fun. All business, huh?” The succubus dropped her hands to her hips and huffed indignantly. “Your little messiah boy can absorb demons. It's a trait unique to Bel! Or something. Really, Big Bro explains it all way better, and I don't understand it all, but it's cool right?” A shadow fell over her eyes. “Something that gross makes Lil' Bro a lot less appealing than Lil' Sis, right?”
Moses ignored the demoness completely, instead turning to leave the ruin. His thoughts raced as he pushed through the door. Lilian squeaked when her plaything turned on her. She flitted after him, whining the entire way.
“Hey, hey, pay attention to meeeee! Hey Momo, I can call you 'Momo', right? I really thought we made a connection, you and I! Don'tcha want a round two? Chemistry, we had chemistry!”
Moses whirled on her one last time. He opened his mouth to say something, thought better of it, and instead drew a line with his staff at the door. The threshold glowed, that pale light quickly spreading around the perimeter of the little house. Lilian hopped after him, only to be stopped flat at the open doorway. She made an embarrassingly high-pitched noise and knocked on thin air, amazed at the solidity of the barrier trapping her within. Satisfied with his work, Moses continued his journey back to his summoner's side, tuning out the indignant shouts behind him.
Suddenly, a world of happiness didn't seem impossible anymore.