Overlord of a High School (15)

It existed in nothingness, unaware of either existence or even the phenomenon of nothingness. But existence itself required awareness of nothingness, so after moments of meaningless existence, it ceased to exist.

First, it existed without existing. Then it ceased to exist.

A nothing with no meaning, no consciousness, no role.

Then it felt the possibility of existence.

It felt the possibility, but it did not understand the meaning.

It could have not existed, or it could have existed – it did not know the difference. There's no desire for either, for it could not desire without being conscious of anything, including the absence of anything and emptiness.

It had no consciousness, so it could not decide. And even if it did, it did not know that there was a choice in the first place, nor did it know which choice was preferable. It cannot choose, for there is no choice.

The touch of existence brought a thought. Someone wanted it to exist. It had to exist because someone decided so.

It obeyed, and it was created, existing once again. By whom it couldn't tell, nor does it matter.

It now exists, and it can learn all that later.

***

Miki opened her eyes, letting the picture captured by her eyes imprint itself on her retina.

She felt a little dizzy, as if she was hungover, her eyes were seeing doubles and her body seemed bereft of all power, but Miki was instantly able to figure out what she was seeing.

The Supreme Being, her adopted son, Satoru Suzuki, was leaning over her, looking at her intently. There was only a detached, friendly politeness in the surface of his eyes, but Miki's eyes could not penetrate beyond their depths. Miki was aware that beneath Satoru Suzuki's polite facade there was more, something immeasurably greater, frightening and alluring, like the cold vastness of space beyond all known stars, chaos full of emptiness, horror and mystery.

Like a chick appearing for the first time in the world, instantly imprinting on the first vision she saw before her. Miki, whose mind had been shattered before, before returning into this completely empty, not yet capable of independent thought, sealed the new, first-seen discovery, the face of Satoru Suzuki, the Supreme Being, in her mind.

"Miki?" Satoru looked at her without changing his expression. "How are you feeling? Are you alright?"

Miki thought about it for half a moment before answering. "I don't know."

Miki didn't know how she should feel. Was it right for her to feel pain? Should she have been hungry? Was it normal to feel hate, or is it inappropriate? What was 'alright' in this case? Did it all make sense, should the Supreme Being even know about her condition, maybe it already did, and it was a test for Miki?

Miki's empty mind foamed with questions, demanding answers, and at the same time not understanding whether it should have demanded answers, or how to determine what was an 'answer'? Without anything to draw upon, her expression returned to a neutral, empty one.

"Umu, I see." The Supreme Being, Satoru Suzuki, nodded, before walking away from Miki, and without Satoru taking over all she could see, she now noted the other person in the room. "Issei… No, Pandora's Actor, I suppose it is no longer necessary to hide it, watch out for Miki. I'll be back in a couple of hours, I suppose."

"Yes, mein Vater!" Miki's gaze caught the figure of Issei Hyoudou, or more specifically, the creature that had taken his form, saluting, but the thought evoked no emotion in Miki. Miki did not know what emotion it was supposed to evoke. She didn't know what 'emotion' is.

After another moment, a black portal appeared in front of Satoru, seemingly created from an impenetrable darkness that reflected no light, into which Satoru fearlessly took a step into. For a time, Miki stared after his disappearing back, before the portal shrank to the size of a dot that vanished into thin air a moment later.

Miki continued to stare at the emptiness in the air, trying to determine what she was supposed to be doing now. Her mind was at once whole and yet completely empty, like a freshly bought computer, one that was completely devoid of an operating system. It might be ready to be used, to work, and yet without an operating software, all it was capable of producing was only the odd slight spikes in voltage between different circuit boards, unable to form a single meaningful signal.

"As one would expect, Father has performed the great deed of creating a blank slate, and I have been given all the necessary information as to what picture should be painted on the now blank canvas… Welcome to this world, Miki Hyoudou."

The words of the being who took the form of Issei triggered a response within Miki that matched her memories, creating a new shell for her identity.

"I am Miki Hyoudou."

"Indeed, mutter, and my name is Pandora's Actor, but at this moment I am playing the role of your son, Issei…"

More and more knowledge was being added into her head, gradually beginning to establish a construct. However, just as a house cannot stand without a foundation, so the construct in Miki's head could not appear without standing on a forming core.

"Who am I?" Miki Hyoudou looked, asking a question that philosophers would argue generation about, as she stared blankly at the Pandora's Actor.

"That is to be decided by my Father, the Supreme Being, Lord Momonga, now known as Satoru Suzuki. You, Miki Hyoudou, have been bestowed a great honor." Actor smiled.

"You are his mother, Issei's mother, the housewife, you were to act like before He came into your life, the former wife of Gorou Hyoudou, and now, my Father's pet, created for his amusement and care."

Piece by piece, the puzzle of her identity was coming together in Miki Hyoudou's head, forming something new, created from the old. Creating something that ordinary people were not capable of grasping with their understanding.

Yet, at the same time the foundation, now created in unity, was not held together, facts were not able to cling to one another, all threads were leading to the unknown.

"Who is Satoru Suzuki, Lord Momonga, the Supreme Being, your Father?" Miki asked, causing Pandora's Actor, in the form of her son, Issei, perhaps the Pandora's Actor in that case was also her son? Miki doesn't really know, whatever her relation to this being in front of her seemingly didn't matter as it smiled.

"I'm glad you asked that of me, mutter"

Pandora's Actor blurted out a smile, like a preacher that had met a willing convert. "Let me tell you the story of the Tomb of Nazarick, and the Overlord that ruled it all…"

***

Momonga teleported back to the Great Tomb of Nazarick, his mind awash with worries that he no longer knows which one was more crucial.

The demons he'd attracted for reasons unknown? Miki Hyoudou, whose resurrection had happened seemingly without incident, but whose condition he now needed to deal with? The money, or more his lack of it, for the sake of finding a way to earn it, he had gone to Nazarick in search of Raynare? Or, perhaps, his strange incomprehensible attitude toward Albedo, from whom he had fled before, and now with his return to Nazarick, he now has to deal with?

"And then there's Shalltear…" Momonga unknowingly blurted out the thought of the vampire, the guardian of the three upper floors of Nazarick and the NPC created by Peroroncino, creating some complex feeling inside him.

"When I first was moved to this world, she showed her admiration for me and called me the most beautiful of all… Or was it because of her tastes? Maybe now, having taken a different form, she'll stop liking me? Huh, I hope so, or my already complicated situation where I don't even know if I should respond to Albedo's feelings will get even more complicated. If besides Albedo, Shalltear will show up, it would even become more entangled… And that's only if it ends with Shalltear. Who knows? I haven't met all the residents of Nazarick, what if any of them think the same way as Albedo and Shalltear? What if someone thinks the same of me, but is just less open about their preferences?"

Imagining his possible complex relations with the female denizens of the Tomb, Momonga doesn't know what he's supposed to do to his potential harem. At that last thought, Momonga almost physically flinched.

"What am I even thinking about! It's all because of Issei and the trio of perverts!"

A moment later, Momonga's emotions were suppressed, and he silently thanked his abilities as he took a step into the icy room where Raynare was supposed to be kept… Which was completely empty.

"Ah right, Demiurge must have moved Raynare somewhere out of this place, now that he's sort of taken her into his care… though where is she then?" Momonga thought about it for a moment.

"It wouldn't be in the Seventh Floor anymore, right? Even if you turn off its passive defenses and terrain effects, it's still ill-suited to the existence of low-level players like Raynare, so it wouldn't be the Fifth Floor, either… Okay, I give up, time to just ask. I don't think one [Message] from me will suddenly destroy Demiurge's faith in me, especially if it hasn't been ruined by everything else that has happened before."

Placing one of his hands to his ear, more out of a habit than anything else, Momonga cast [Message].

"Demiurge, where are you now, and where is Raynare? I have come to Nazarick to - umu, to speak with her."

'Ah, my Lord, you have predictably arrived at the most fortunate of moments.' Demiurge's pleasant voice echoed in Momonga's mind a moment later, as punctual as ever. 'At the moment, we are in the Sixth Floor Amphitheater.'

'Hmm, the Amphitheater? An odd choice, but the Sixth Floor? Ah, yes, I suppose it's quite suitable, it has places that don't have any terrain effects.' Momonga nodded to himself, another mystery solved. "Okay, I'll be right there."

A moment later, Momonga used his [Ring of Ainz Ooal Gown]. It was the only means of travel in Nazarick other than just walking through its passages and stairs, as [Teleportation] is blocked in the entirety of the Dungeon as a matter of course.

Instantly, the squat and ice-covered walls of the Frozen Prison changed to the sunset artificial sky of the Sixth Floor, with Momonga himself in the VIP box of the Amphitheater. Momonga's eyes instantly found Demiurge, bowing his head and kneeling before him.

"Umu, Demiurge, you can stand up and look up." Momonga was still not particularly sure how a ruler was supposed to communicate and behave with their subordinates, and he was definitely still unused to seeing all this kneeling and similar subservient actions. But, trying not to lose his image before the eyes of the NPCs, he tried to act as majestic and calm as possible. As if all he had done in the past was manage his subordinates, who were trying all the time to do something for him that he absolutely did not need…

The case of Miki is the most important and recent example so far.

Demiurge rose instantly from his knee, his perpetual smile on his face, and his eyes hidden behind the sparkle of his glasses casting glares around even under the dark canopy of the VIP box. Momonga's only thought at that moment was that Ulbert had definitely spent [Data Crystals] on the visual cosmetic effect.

"My Lord, please allow me to demonstrate the results of just one day of Raynare's training under me." Demiurge after a moment shifted his gaze from Momonga, who had only now noticed the flashes and glow, along with the muffled sounds of battle in the arena in front of him, which slightly surprised Momonga. The VIP-lodge was equipped with [Silence] spells and the like, to be able to create room for private conversations.

But at the moment, all of these abilities and spells were deactivated, allowing Momonga to shift his gaze forward, trying to determine exactly what the Demiurge was talking about. All the while, moving and acting as if he already knew the full context for what was happening.

'Demiurge, please speak more clearly, I'm not as clever as you, I need context! '

"Umu, I see." Contrary to his inner thoughts, however, Momonga pretended that he absolutely understood what Demiurge was telling him, grasping the most important thought.

'So Demiurge is training Raynare, why…? Okay, I guess he has his reasons, it's not like I could just ask at this juncture.'

After these thoughts, Momonga found Raynare with his gaze at the arena below the VIP box, followed by her opponent. 'Hmm, an Elder Lich? Not a bad choice, if Raynare has flight abilities, then her opponent must either have flight too or long-range attacks to make the battle not completely one-sided. An Elder Lich is capable of both, though he's much more clumsy in flight than on the ground, not that it's very mobile on the ground in the first place… If it was created by Nazarick's automatic monster generation, his loss will have no effect on Nazarick's defensive capabilities. Plus, he's only level thirtieth or lower, meaning he'll have difficulty killing Raynare in direct combat with a single hit, and Raynare herself can be easily cured without cost to Nazarick. At the same time, it's an inconvenient opponent for Raynare, given her low level she probably has no decent AOE spells, which means that the Elder Lich can just spam summons and support from afar… Good choice for training, I approve.'

Momonga frowned a moment later, internally that is, as he discovered that he was seeing something strange and unfamiliar in front of him. 'Hmm, a strange flicker, has Raynare activated some kind of aura? No, it's not an aura, it's…'

Momonga blinked again after a moment, looking at Raynare more closely. 'Wait, she's supposed to only have two dark raven wings! Since when did it become four?!'

***

Raynare spun frantically in place, dodging the lightning, the flashes of fire, the shards of ice, and the ghosts, constantly seeking to clasp her in one place and thrust their cold hands into her. Never mind the blast of destruction, of fire, ice, or lightning, the ghostly hands would easily pierce her flesh, forcing a mortal cold through her bones. All the while, she was busy snapping back at the skeleton mage with little spears of light.

'Father, why didn't you tell me the doctrines of the church had changed so much!' Raynare howled inwardly as she felt the flare of fire that flew past her explode beside her, singing her wings.

'I knew repentance was hard to get, but I missed the moment when reciting the Lord's Prayer a thousand times was replaced by gladiatorial fights!'

Raynare knew she wasn't going to die, though it didn't bring her any comfort. No, not dying wasn't bad, being alive was better than being dead, in almost every case except the biblical sense where 'the living will envy the dead'. Not that much of a rare fate seeing who's 'training' her, and the threats that he seems to be eager to implement.

But perhaps it's no surprise, when it became clear that the Bible's protagonist, God Himself, was there for her and suddenly agreed to forgive her easily. Raynare knew that God, for all his mercy and love for mankind, was strict and did not grant forgiveness for nothing.

So it was once again no surprise to Raynare, that when she was suddenly freed of the icy dungeon, that she would find herself in the pleasant surroundings of the midlands. Nor that the amphitheater, or coliseum and arena that appeared around her, was not merely a decoration.

A ring had then suddenly appeared on Raynare's finger, but what would otherwise have caused at least some joyful feelings in Raynare's soul proved to be only a prelude to her suffering. Because the ring proved to be a magical artifact that suppressed the need for sleep and food, and when a moment later, an opponent appeared opposite Raynare, she didn't need to ask why. She would either prove herself or die, at least close enough to death before she would be revived, and the fight would resume.

It is what Raynare imagined Purgatory to be.

Faces and figures merged in Raynare's eyes. One after another, undead, monsters, demons and angels, though ones that are not familiar to Raynare. One after another, she would fight them to the death, until Raynare cleared her mind of all previous distractions, concentrating on the battle, not even paying attention to any pain or wounds.

In addition, as soon as she was actually wounded and unable to continue fighting, the magic would immediately heal her body completely and Raynare would be thrown back into the arena.

At one point, Raynare basically stopped paying attention to where she was and who she was fighting, the incessant hours of death battles blurring her memories. The only thing that pierced through that fugue was when she failed to dodge, either she would burn to a crisp or be beheaded by two crude swords, and then it would repeat.

Her barely alive body would be dragged from the battlefield and brought back into shape to continue fighting.

Then reality snapped back into view, as her opponent, some sort of undead mage, stopped abruptly before turning around and crouching down on one knee.

It was only the damage to her body that stopped her from throwing her [Spear of Light] at her opponent's back. Hesitating for a second, it was enough time for her mind to return to normal operations, and she mimicked her opponent's action, realizing just as to why her opponent suddenly adopted such a strange action.

Soon enough her caution was rewarded, as the powerful demon who had thrown her into this arena, Demiurge, still dressed the same way he did when she first met her, and the Father were approaching Raynare. Their steps were not particularly hurried, clearly aware of their power and influence, and that no one was them hurrying.

Such a picture made Raynare momentarily lower her gaze, inwardly, trying to prepare for the next test in her path. 'Ha, Father… While I remain living, I'll agree to almost anything, but what about ending my battles in the arena with an unknown purpose?! I understand that I was originally created for war, but I don't like fighting! I'm no good at it!'

Raynare of course did not voice any of her thoughts.

"Umu, Demiurge," Making his way to Raynare and her opponent, stopping a few meters away from the two, Father shifted his gaze momentarily to Raynare, causing her to draw her breath, in anticipation of Father's verdict. "I see that Raynare… Umu, her wing count has changed."

Raynare was confused for a second before realizing that not all the strange sensations in her body at the moment were related to her still-burned body slowly beginning to recover. Apparently, the number of her wings had increased, too, though if previously it would be a source of elation for Raynare. Now? She was more ambivalent to it, aware as she was as to how she had achieved such a feat.

'No wonder. After twenty-four hours of fighting to the death with no fatigue and no way to even be distracted for a second, I would be surprised if I didn't improve in any way.' Raynare sighed inwardly, if it weren't for the inhumanity of such training, it could even be called effective. Raynare would gladly agree to send her subordinates to train in such ways, day after day, if only they could grow another pair of wings in a matter of days.

All the while being careful to make sure that none of them became stronger than Raynare herself, of course. Otherwise, instead of direct pressure on her subordinates she would have to negotiate, and Raynare was not predisposed to treaties.

Raynare had lived hundreds of years, but she had spent almost all of her free time neglecting her own training. With the Great War over with, even the sister of Crimson Satan herself was afraid to cross her path without caution in fear of re-igniting the war. Not out of any fear of her prowess, as much as it galls her to admit – as she would probably die even if only she suffered a brush with the princess' vaunted Power of Destruction.

Without that pressure of imminent conflict, Raynare had no need to train and maintain her level of strength. Of course, Raynare had not spent all that time freely, she had gained all sorts of knowledge and skills during her life. In fact, she was already one step away from crossing the invisible line separating a strong two-winged Fallen Angel to that of a weak four-winged.

Though, even that small gap seemed insurmountable for her. There was no way Raynare could cross that separating line before… That is, before she was captured and sent to fight in the arena by the Father, without a single opportunity for distraction.

"It is so, Lord Momonga. Raynare was simply too weak for any use, so I took the liberty of increasing her abilities and raising her level through training battles. And from what I could tell, the creatures of this world don't have to kill their opponents to gain [Experience]."

'Huh, the Demons were speaking as if to sound like some kind of computer game.' Not that Raynare liked or was interested in such things, those were more Mittelt's hobby, but at the very least she couldn't help but note the similarities.

'I'd love to get an explanation as to why that is, but on the other hand, I still don't even know what I am allowed in the current circumstances. No, of course it's nice to hear that I've been sort of forgiven and allowed to get on the path of correction, but everyone acts as if I'm the only one who doesn't know something about what's going on… Father, I need new commandments!'

"Hmm, that's really… Interesting." Raynare thought for a moment that Father must have known about how angels and fallen ones grow in power levels, getting new pairs of wings along with their new power, up to twelve for a Seraphim. So why does he sound so unsure? Raynare's thinking however was interrupted a moment later, as Father spoke once again.

"Anyway, Raynare."

"Yes, Father?" Realizing that this time Father was addressing her, Raynare looked up at the Father, looking at his still human form. This time, however, he looked different, instead of looking like a middle-aged man, this time Father looked like a… Schoolboy? Younger looking even than Raynare herself by a few years, slightly older than the previously murdered Issei, but not by much. He looked like a young man in his last year of High school, or as a freshman in college.

On the other hand, who else could the Demiurge call 'Lord' if not the Father. And besides, what form the Father took was simply a detail, given that he once took the form of a burning bush and a Holy Spirit and a voice from heaven – though usually that last function was performed by Metatron…

Having personally glimpsed the superpowered demons subordinate to the Father, Raynare was no longer sure which scriptures were true and which were fictions of later authors.

"Raynare, umu, you may rise from your knees, and you, too, Elder Lich." Raynare sighed a little relieved, rising from her knees, still looking at Father respectfully.

"Raynare, I would like to know how you earned money during your stay in Kuoh… If you earned it, of course."

'Huh, another question? Is it a test? How does He even know about that… Right, what a silly question, do I even have a chance to lie to him, does it make sense?' Raynare thought about it for a moment, but for now she had a policy of honesty and was still alive, so once again she decided to repent of her sins after all.

"Father, please forgive me, I have sinned, and sinned repeatedly. I have, ahem, engaged in extortion, theft, robbery and… Ahem, what do you call it… right, usury!"

"Um, umu, okay," The Father only nodded graciously in response to her confession, causing her to exhale slightly, easing her nervousness somewhat. Well, she had already repented of a dozen sins while she was still alive, only a million more remained to be repented of!

"And what is… I mean, ahem, how specifically, that is, I need you to tell me about specific ways of making money that are suitable for the city… I mean, not the ones that you used, I… Yes, the world has changed a lot in the intervening time I was last on this Earth, so I'm not sure how people on Earth exist now, umu."

'Well, that at least makes sense, it's been a long time since Father directly intervened in the world of Humans, so the Earth has changed cultures many times in the intervening years. It's been thousands of years since the time of the Son, did Father take any serious interest in Earth at all, so it makes sense that he might not know much now… On the other hand, He should be omniscient, but then again I have little idea how such abilities work. [Omniscience] after all, didn't save him from Lucifer and his strike… Or?!' Raynare suddenly shuddered at the random conjecture that pierced her, before hissing from the pain her action had caused her still unrecovered hand.

"Umu, right, you're injured." After a moment, Father reached out his hand to Raynare, and a small bottle of red liquid instantly appeared out of nowhere. "Drink it."

'Blood?' Seeing the blood-red content of the bottle, Raynare thought for a moment about the possibility, but it was still more likely to be a potion. Not that Raynare had seen many in the past, the absurd costs of one making it impossible, but a potion was still an understandable enough thing for her.

'Maybe something to speed up regeneration? Father, you do give not only punishment, but mercy as well, thank you!'

After a moment without question, Raynare unscrewed the lid of the potion and took a sip… Then, with a start, she realized that her previously scorched flesh had returned completely to normal, even the missing feathers from her wings returned.

Raynare blinked, then glanced at the emptied bottle with no small amount of wonder and confusion. 'I don't get it.'

Healing potions of all kinds were a common object in the world of the paranormal, many magical associations or youkai clans made or sold some kinds of them. All of them were all simply kinds of medicine in one way or another, just magically enhanced, helping heal the bodies of the wounded, but not curing them instantly, more just helping their normal regeneration.

Of course, if the wounds were not significant, and the potion used was of high rank, then this effect could look like an instant recovery, but Raynare clearly felt that she had recovered completely, in the same second even.

There were few kinds of potions that could heal a wounded truly instantly, for obvious reasons such things cost an incredible price and more a trump card in any battle. Raynare only knew of one option that occasionally appeared on the black market, costing fabulous sums that Raynare could never earn with her lengthened lifespan – the [Phoenix Tears].

'Father, did you just…' Raynare felt her throat go dry as if wishing to regurgitate the priceless liquid into the bottle and return it, not that such a thing was possible of course.

'Did you just spend a priceless [Phoenix Tears] on me?!'

Raynare far from being selfless, of course, and so she would feel nothing special if someone were to buy her something pricy, but there was still some limit, even for Raynare. Beyond which, she simply could not comprehend the act, instead looking for strings that would strangle her from the gift. The Father, of course, needed no such things, and therefore was completely sincere in His actions.

So, Raynare, quite clear on the needs for her redemption, and thus was at the bottom of the ladder at best, were at a loss.

Raynare, who until that moment had been in the dark about her position in this world, expecting to be executed at any second, was suddenly confused, then a measure of guilt, she couldn't help but lower her gaze. 'Father, forgive me for doubting you… You said I was already moving towards redemption, so I don't know why I doubted you… I'm sorry, I don't know if this is actually the first time I've ever felt remorse, but I do feel ashamed…'

"So, umu, about the money." Father spoke once again, cutting through the silence where Raynare was even contemplating praying in thanks for the first time ever since her fall, after which Raynare exhaled. Well, at least if Father decided to spend [Phoenix Tears] on her, it at least meant that she wouldn't get killed any time soon, otherwise no one would spend something so valuable just to kill her soon after.

"Usually we'd just find some business, especially the newer ones, or those that just recently moved in that didn't know about the paranormal, and then show up in front of them, arranging a racket. That is, demanding money for protection. First and foremost from us, because no one else typically gets into the Demon territory for fear of pissing them off,"

Raynare sighed, living by the side of the younger sisters of the ruling Satans was a good decision for her, no one would let any real threats near them. And at the same time, while Raynare and her group sat quietly in their corner, no one could also confront them without provoking a scandal… The position in which Lord Azazel had placed her was indeed fortunate – if it were not for the Father, Raynare would probably still be living quietly in her ruined church.

A moment later Raynare suddenly realized that she was not just talking about her life, but, in the literal sense, at this moment she was repenting before the eyes of God, and instantly tried to rectify the situation. Looking at the Father, who had been silent in moments of reflection, Raynare decided to continue confessing her sins.

"But we also had legal business! We gave our, uh, 'employee' lucrative loans, and traded with other Fallen, and a little with Kyoto, and we even had an underground casino… And an underground fight club, and we traded a little… In the black… Market…"

With each successive confession, Raynare realized more and more how much she needed to repent for, and for each one felt the weight of her sins pressing on her. "And, technically, we lived in an abandoned church… And we did usury and traded inside it…"

Raynare closed her eyes and then knelt down, folding her hands in front of her, she could no longer hold herself back from praying, though this time for absolution. "Father, forgive me, I have sinned…"

Raynare didn't feel too much remorse for what she'd done, all Fallen and many Humans have done the same as she did, and Raynare was no worse than many who allowed themselves to do it. But a little shame still stung Raynare, when she was confronted by Father's gaze, making her look away from Father's face a little. She was, after all, an angel, albeit a fallen one, who at least was deemed worthy of repentance.

So, ahem, looking from the height of her current situation at her past, Raynare felt a slight shame at that realization.

"Ahem, ahem, umu, I forgive you." Father, apparently seeing the shame in Raynare's soul, nodded lightly without changing his expression, as if he already knew all that Raynare thought… Indeed, if his [Omniscience] was still working and doing what one would expect from it by the name, Raynare's thoughts and feelings were as known to him as the palm of his hand.

"Ahem, in that case, does that mean you have money saved?" Father asked a question that made Raynare think for a moment. "And you're able to give me, I mean, umu, another person, say, a favorable loan, maybe only at… One hundred percent interest per year?"

Raynare almost choked on these words, a hundred percent per year! Such interests could not even be called robbery, such loans were simply not given by anyone, because no one in their right mind would ever take it!

Even Raynare, in the harshest conditions, or when she was in a bad mood, was giving out loans at thirty percent interest. For ordinary people, Raynare would settle for ten percent a year, wanting both to gain her own benefit and not to ruin other businesses, killing the golden goose as it were. And so, over the years she had settled on just such interest rates.

"Um, I mean, sure, it's only a small interest, but if the applicant has a guarantor…"

Raynare's brain shuddered after a moment. 'A small interest?! Not even demons would demand such hellish loans, wouldn't it be easier to just come and take everything from someone who took such a loan outright?! And what could be worse, a hundred percent a day?'

"No, when you think about it that way, hmm…" Father seemed to be in thought for a moment, before snapping his fingers sharply, causing Raynare to wince, as he returned from his thoughts.

"Raynare, what if you went back to your place, and, umu, what if someone approached you with an offer of protection and assistance, and you, um, handed over some of your proceeds in return?"

"I'd only be glad of such a thing, but no one would risk influencing Kuoh. In demon territory, my only protection was that I sat quietly, and trying to move me out of my seat carried more trouble than benefit. Someone not powerful enough wouldn't dare help me, and for those too powerful, no one was interested in me, since it would be bringing more trouble than good, especially if someone too powerful moved, other powerful individuals would notice."

Raynare sighed, remembering her previous predicament. Having reliable protection in the world of mundane people was desirable, but in the world of the paranormal, where there were insane monsters capable of wiping out a medium-sized country with a single random sneeze, it was simply vital. Raynare would have been glad to have powerful patrons of her own, but, as has been said, she was definitely not strong enough to the level at which she could interest anyone at the top with her… Anything, in fact. She was just too much of a nobody to even try to stand on her own feet, forced to hide in demon territory from all outside threats and even from the demons themselves. She lived on the border of their territory, semi-legally. "So I don't know…"

After a moment. Raynare blinked, then looked at her Father, and Demiurge, who had been waiting silently the whole time, caught her attention with a flash of his glasses, causing Raynare to squint at him. It was then that Raynare noticed that the seemingly eternal smile on his face, to deepen…

At that instant, Raynare felt shivers running down her back. Somehow, she felt that this smile was a lot more sinister than usual, showing a bit of the Demon's true feelings. That is, as far as Raynare could tell by her senses. The demon had no trouble whatsoever deceiving her. But somehow, in the current circumstances, when the Demiurge was a servant, apparently a loyal one, of the Father, and Raynare was essentially a servant as well though of course not on the same level – Raynare believed in his sincerity.

"As one might expect, Lord Momonga." Demiurge nodded silently, then glanced at the Father, who had turned sharply toward him, seemingly equally surprised, but Rayanre was sure that it was just a trick of the light.

"It is true that not only the people but the stage must be prepared, and that Raynare alone is not enough… I understand, my Lord."

"Um, umu, yes, of course, Demiurge, you understand my plans quite correctly." Father nodded favorably towards Demiurge, as if tacitly praising him for his ingenuity, as a wise teacher praises his able pupil.

"In that case, I believe we should begin our preparations, but, my Lord, I am still not certain if Raynare is ready to act on her own," Demiurge said quietly, glancing back at her with some measure of coldness, and Raynare had to hold back her despair at the prospect at returning to the torture disguised as training.

"Umu, Demiurge, of course I will leave the control of this side entirely in your hands," Father nodded.

'Huh, is that how it is? So the Apocalypse will begin with my little church… Huh, I wonder what the question about the money was about? Or is it that my church fits? Any way you look at it, it's a nest of sin, a nexus of underground fights, racketeering, usury… Hah, there really is an Apocalypse that starts small.'

"Yeah, um, if you think about it that way… We'll have to think about developing that business, that is, the church – definitely…" Father was deep in his thoughts for a moment, then he nodded and looked at the Demiurge and then at Raynare. "I – that is, right, Miki will need money, definitely…"

Raynare only chuckled a little at the Father's words. 'To help people, using money from the fallen church from which the apocalypse will begin, which is inhabited by fallen angels, a demon, and a Biblical God… Sounds more like the beginning of a joke than the new holy scripture.'

"Okay, in that case," Father nodded and glanced at Raynare, "I'll leave it to you, I suppose, tomorrow, or whoever will be in church by then, but now…"

Father thought for a moment, then nodded. "I think I can retreat to my chambers for a while… Demiurge, I shouldn't be distracted at this time."

"Of course, Lord Momonga," Demiurge merely nodded before the Father disappeared in a whirlwind of teleportation.

Raynare was now left alone with the Demon, but she sighed in relief. The signal for the beginning of the Apocalypse had not yet been received, but apparently Father had already decided that it was time to slowly bring Raynare back to her church and begin to prepare for… What actually?

'Huh, Kalawarner, Mittlet, and Donahseek will definitely be surprised by their change in employment, but they'll adapt soon.' Raynare only hummed slightly at the thought before glancing at the Demiurge, who only, as if a little supportive, nodded slightly back at her.

'Huh, he's maybe a demon, and he clearly does not let feelings get in the way of his effectiveness, but, in some strange way, with his support and patronage I feel confident… Huh, so this is how angels always felt when Father was with them?'

Raynare smiled a little. 'It's a strange feeling, some kind of invisible support, a feeling of sureness, like whatever happens it's how it should be. Everyone in their place and everyone fulfilling their function… Maybe, maybe, that's not such a bad thing.'

With a strange feeling running through her, Raynare nodded back to the Demiurge. Before, feeling some strange new light in her soul, she turned to the undead, who had stood silently not far from her the whole time, nodding to him.

The undead nodded back just as lightly, and, before she returned to Earth, Raynare, sensing a strange glow in her soul, decided to make the most of her training with the opponent.

How strange it was for Raynare to say this, but the fallen angel felt in herself a strange desire to better herself.

Not for her own sake, but…

Raynare shook her head, shedding her past memories of her Father, replacing them with new ones. Until the moment Father decided to reveal the secret to her, she would train.

Not for her own sake, but for Lord Momonga's.