Part 4

I went up the stairs holding Asia, and came out to the sanctuary.

There's something wrong with Asia.

Her face is pale. I laid her down on one of the pews.

"Just wait a bit! You will be free soon, Asia! You will be able to play with me from now on!"

Asia makes a small smile at my words.

She then takes my hand. I can't feel any strength or warmth from her hand.

"...I was happy that...I had a friend...even for a short while..."

Asia is smiling even though she is in pain.

"...If I were to be born again, will you become my friend once more...?"

"W-What are you saying!? Don't say that! Let's go somewhere to have fun! I will drag you even though you don't want to! We will go to karaoke! Game centre! Let's also go bowling! Also other places! Also to that place! And there!"

I can't stop my tears from coming out.

I'm supposed to be talking to her with a smile, but I can't stop crying.

I know it.

I already know it.

This girl is dying.

She is going to die.

Even so, I want to deny it.

That this has to be a joke—

"We are friends! Always! Yeah, that's right! I will introduce you to Motohama and Matsuda! They are a bit perverted, but both of them are good guys! They will definitely become your friends! Definitely! We will have fun together! We'll have fun until we can!"

"...If I was born in this country...and went to the same school as you..."

"Let's go! Come to our school!"

Asia's hand pats my cheek.

"...You even cry for someone like me...now I can..."

Her hand that is patting my cheeks drops slowly.

"...Thank you..."

Those were her last words.

She passed away smiling.

I lost my strength. I just stood there looking at her face.

My tears won't stop.

Why? Why did this girl have to die?

She was a good girl. She was a kind girl who would heal anyone injured.

How come no one became her friend?

How come I was never by her side?

"Hey, God!? You are there right, God!? Devils and Angels exist, so you do exist as well, right, God!? You were watching, right!? You were watching all of this, right!?

I shouted at the ceiling of the Church.

I don't know who will answer me. But I just wanted to scream towards the ceiling.

"Please don't take this girl away! Please! I beg you! She hasn't done anything! She just wanted a friend! I will be her friend forever! So please! I want this girl to smile forever! Hey please! God!"

Even though I screamed towards Heaven, no one answers me.

"Did this happen because I turned into a Devil!? Did you abandon her because I'm a Devil and her friend!?"

I bite my teeth with regret.

I have no power. I didn't have any power at all. If I have more power as a Devil...

If I have the power to at least save Asia...

Even if I regret it now, she will never smile again.

"Ara, a Devil is repenting in a place like this? Or were you wishing for something?"

The voice I heard from behind me is that of Raynare.

When I turned around, there is a Fallen Angel smirking at me.

"Look at this. This is the wound I got from the [Knight] boy while I was coming here."

Raynare places her hand on her wound.

The shallow green light starts to heal her wound.

"Look. Wonderful, isn't it? I can heal any kind of wound. To us Fallen Angels, who lost the protection of God, that child's Sacred Gear was a wonderful present."

Hey.

That light belongs to Asia.

Why are you using it?

Are Kiba and Koneko-chan safe? I start to wonder.

"My status will rise since I will be a Fallen Angel that can heal Fallen Angels. I could be of help to the great Azazel-sama and Shemhaza-sama! There is nothing more wonderful than this! Aaah, Azazel-sama... My power is all for you..."

"Like I care."

I glared at Raynare.

"I don't care about that. Fallen Angels, God, and Devils... Those things had nothing to do with this girl."

"No, it did. She was a chosen human that possessed a Sacred Gear."

"...Even so, she could have lived quietly. She could have lived normally!"

"She couldn't. Those with irregular Sacred Gear would be left out of the world and groups. Because they possess a powerful ability. Because they have a different power than others. You know humans hate those things, right? Even though it's a wonderful power like this."

"...Then I would have protected Asia, as her friend!"

"Ahahahaha! It's impossible! Because she died! That girl is dead, you know? It's not the matter of whether you protect her or not. You couldn't protect her! You couldn't protect her back at evening and even now! You really are a weird boy! It's so amusing!"

"... I know. That's why I can't forgive you. And myself—"

I can't forgive everything.

Myself who couldn't protect Asia. Raynare who killed Asia.

Then Buchou's words come into my mind.

——Desire. Sacred Gear is driven with the power of desire. And it also determines the power for it as well.

"Give her back."

——Even though you are a Devil, your will to desire hasn't been lost. The stronger you desire, the stronger your Sacred Gear will respond to you.

"Give Asia baaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaack!!"

[Dragon booster!!]

The Sacred Gear on my left arm activates as if it responded to my shout. The jewel in the gauntlet makes a bright shine.

Some mysterious mark appears on the gauntlet.

At the same time, power flows into my body. From my left arm equipped with the Sacred Gear to my whole body.

I went ahead while having my body overflow with power.

I thrust my fist towards the Fallen Angel front of me who is smirking.

Raynare dodges it easily. As if she's dancing.

"I will explain it so even a dummy like you can understand. It's a simple power difference. I have a power of 1000. You have a power of 1. You can't shorten the gap between us no matter what. Even with the ability of that Sacred Gear, the power doubled is only 2. It's futile! How can you win against me!? Ahahahahahahaha!"

[Boost!!]

Another sound from the jewel. The mark on the jewel of the gauntlet changes from [I] to [II].

HEARTBEAT

A second change happens to my body.

The power—something to beat down the enemy in front of me is increasing.

"Uoooooooooo!"

I went charging at her while concentrating my overflowing power to my fist. I'm already promoted to a [Rook].

"Heh! Did your power increase a bit? Still, it's not enough!"

My attack is dodged again.

Next moment, lights gather to Raynare's hand and it forms into something.

"I put a lot of power in it! Eat this!"

ZUDON!

The spear of light pierces both my legs. It went deep into both of my thighs. Even with the defence of a [Rook], it wasn't able to defend against it.

"Guaaaaaaaaaah!"

I screamed.

My body goes through intense pain, but I can't get on my knees for something like this.

I grab onto the spear immediately.

BURNS.

"Guaaaaaaaaaah!"

The sound of my flesh burning. Hot! It's burning hoooooooot! Is it because it's made up of light!? The palm of my hand that is holding onto the spear gets burned.

There are smokes coming from my hand. Also from the wounds on my thighs. It's burning my hand and legs violently.

Raynare starts to laugh at me after she sees me trying to pull out the spear.

"Ahahahaha! A Devil trying to pull that spear out is foolish! To Devils, lights are intense poison. Just touching it will make you burn. That is the ultimate pain that Devils can taste! For a Low-class Devil like you, it's—"

"Nugaaaaaaaah!"

I made a scream which you can't describe in words, but I tried to pull out the spear of light slowly by gripping strongly onto it.

The intense pain caused by the spear that is piercing my legs. The intense pain that is inflicted on me by the power of light. Those things are causing me so much pain.

I'm about to lose consciousness because of it. It feels like I will die if I don't bite my teeth hard.

So what about it? What about it!?

"This! That girl! This is nothing compared to what Asia went through!!"

I pull out the spear slowly while my tears and drool comes out of my face.

It hurts. It huuuuuurts dammit!

But this! What about this!

Zuryuuzuryuu.

The spear is being drawn out from my legs while making horrible noise.

When I got the spear out from both my legs, I dropped it from my hand and it disappears before hitting the ground.

Splash.

After losing the thing that was blocking the holes on my legs, blood starts to flow out from the wounds.

Even though I took out the spear, the pain still remains.

[Boost!!]

Even if I was pierced by the spear and stopped my attack, the gauntlet on my left arm continues to make a sound.

It hurts. It really hurts.

I'm crying a lot and I have so much drool coming out from my mouth.

Slip.

I slipped onto my butt after I lost some strength in me.

I don't have the strength to stand up. Shit, I don't have any strength in my legs. No, I don't have any strength left in my whole body.

Am I in a bad condition?

"...Quite remarkable. A Low-class Devil pulling out the spear of light made by a Fallen Angel. But it's futile. My light isn't flashy, but has a high killing ability against Devils. The density of the light is strong. So strong that it is used as the blade of light priests uses. Getting hurt even once will be hard to heal, even for a Middle-class Devil. For a Low-class Devil like you, this is the limit. Fufufu, you can't look down on the damage caused by the power of light, you know? Especially my light."

Like always, she is talking long about something I don't understand.

"The light circulates around your body, and cause damages to your whole body. If you are late at healing it, you will die. No, normally it won't be weird to die with that damage. You really have a strong build, don't you?"

Ah, is that right? So for a trash like me who just became a Devil, this wound is lethal, huh.

Just like I thought. I can feel pain even from inside my body. It's not the pain of getting hit but something worse.

It feels as if my muscles and bones are melting because of the heat. The pain is transmitted directly by my nerves, so letting my guard down even once will feel like it's going to screw my head.

I will probably die if I don't get healed soon.

But.

I can't just sit here. But I don't have any strength in my legs. Damn.

Is this the end for me?

Then I look at Asia.

A girl who is sleeping quietly.

I'm sorry for being noisy. Yeah, I'm all right. I'm seriously fine. I'm quite strongly built.

So it's not a problem. See, look? I'm going to ease some of the regrets you have left, Asia.

"At times like this, are we supposed to pray to God?"

Suddenly that slipped out of my mouth without realising it.

"?"

Raynare seems puzzled. But I continue to talk.

"But God is no good. He didn't listen to me before, and he didn't even help a good girl like Asia at all. Hahaha, such a useless God."

"I wonder what you are trying to say. Did you finally break?"

"Then, him. Maou-sama, will you listen to my wish? You exist, right? Are you listening? I'm also a Devil, so will you listen to my wish?"

"...He's totally lost it. This boy is talking to himself in a place like this."

"I'm going to bash this shitty Fallen Angel in front of me, so please make sure no on interferes. I seriously don't want anyone to interfere. I also don't need any back up. I will do it myself. And my legs are fine as well. I will get up on my own. So make it a one on one fight. It's a good situation. My anger is so high that I think I can handle this pain. –Just one hit is enough. ...Please let me hit her."

My legs can move. I have already lost the sensation in my legs. Just moving it by a millimetre gives me intense pain.

But it can still move. My butt leaves the floor.

My body hasn't stopped shaking. Even so, my body gets up slowly.

It hurts. My whole body hurts. But I can move. I can still move. I just have to endure it until I hit her once.

"—! I-Impossible! Your body isn't in a condition to move! Because of the damage of light—"

I approach Raynare slowly who has a shocked look on her face.

And I stood up. Right in front of her eyes. With my feet shaking and lots of blood flowing out of me.

"Hey, Ex-girlfriend. I've been through a lot because of you."

"...There's no way you can stand! A Low-class Devil shouldn't be able to stand up with those wounds! The lights are burning your insides from within your body!? A Low-class Devil who doesn't have the demonic-power to ease the effect of light shouldn't be able endure it!"

"Yeah, it hurts. It really hurts. I'm even close to losing my consciousness. But you know, my hatred towards you is so great that I can endure this."

I glared straight at my opponent without even blinking.

My next hit will be my last blow. If I use it, I will fall down.

That's why I have to finish it with my next hit. I can't look away from my target.

"Hey, my Sacred Gear. You still have the power to punch this thing in front of me, right? Then let's finish it."

[Explosion!!]

The sound from the jewel made just now sounded especially strong.

The jewel shines even brighter. Such a bright light. It's dazzling.

But unlike the light of a Fallen Angel, this light didn't give damage to me but instead it gives me peace.

Just getting touched by this light feels like I am over flowing with power. It's similar to the light of heal that belongs to Asia.

So there is a light that doesn't cause harm to Devils.

I take a step forward. The blood splashes onto the ground from my wounds.

I also coughed some blood. Looks like I'm in a critical condition.

There is no stopping to the pain I'm feeling right now. It even reaches up to my brain. But it's okay. I can still move.

Even now, my gauntlet is flowing power into me.

When I was against Raynare at evening, I was scared of the power difference between us.

My instinct as a Devil instinct grasped hold of the overwhelming power difference between us, and my body didn't stop shaking because of it. That time, I thought that I could never beat her.

But it's different now.

The power I'm receiving from this gauntlet is insane.

I somehow know. It's possibly because I'm the Sacred Gear possessor.

This power won't last forever. This power is one time only.

If I use it against my enemy even once, then it will end there. Even though the Sacred Gear isn't telling me verbally, it's telling me physically.

I made a posture to punch. I have no experience in fighting. But it will be okay if I hit her once.

My target is the shitty Fallen Angel that is in front of me. I'm definitely going to hit her. I'm absolutely not going to miss it.

"...Impossible. What is this? Why is something like this happening...? Isn't that Sacred Gear supposed to be the [Twice Critical] which doubles the power of the possessor? ...It can't be. It's not possible. Why has your power surpassed mine...? This wave of demonic-power I'm feeling... is that of a Middle-class...no, that of a High-class Devil..."

My power is that of a High-class Devil? Is it because of my Sacred Gear?

Hey hey, weren't you supposed to be a Sacred Gear that just doubles my power?

Buchou is the only High-class Devil I met, so it means that I'm currently about the same strength as her.

"Lies! This is all lies! I am the Fallen Angel that has attained the ultimate healing power! I turned into a superior being by obtaining this [Twilight Healing]! I received the right to be loved by Azazel-sama and Shemhaza-sama! I wouldn't lose to some low-life like you!"

Raynare once again has a spear of light in both her hands.

BUUN.

I hit it to the side with my fist. The spears of light disappear easily.

Seeing me hit away her spears with ease, Raynare's face gets even paler.

"N-No!"

Raynare is flapping her black wings, and is about to fly away.

Is she trying to run away? Hey hey, you were looking down and laughing at me till a few seconds ago.

You run away as soon as you find out that you can't win? Who do you think you are?

But I won't let you escape. Like hell I would!

TAP

I went up to her at the same time she's about to fly, and I grabbed her arm. I have unbelievable speed. A speed that even the Fallen Angel can't react to.

The arm I'm holding onto feels unreliable, and it's so small that she looks weak.

I pulled her arm towards me. I definitely won't let her go.

"I won't let you get away, fool."

"I'm superior—!"

"Blow away, you shitty Angel!"

"Damn yoooooooou! Low-class Deeeeeevil!"

"Uoryaaaaaaaa!"

The gauntlet released all of its energy. All the strength gathered in my left arm, and I concentrated them on my fist.

I used that fist to punch straight and accurately at the face of the enemy I detest.

HIT!!

The hard sound echoes. My fist is dug into her face, and I pushed my fist even further!

Raynare went flying backwards with my punch.

GASHAAAAAAAAN!!

The Fallen Angel crashes into the wall while making a very loud noise. The wall broke and there is a big hole in the wall. Dust starts to spread everywhere.

When the dust disappears, there is nothing left in the direction I punched Raynare towards.

The hole continues till outside of the building where Raynare is on the ground.

She isn't moving. I can't tell if she is dead but she won't be able to move for a while.

—I'd finally paid her back.

"Serves you right."

I'm smiling from the bottom of my heart. That's my true feeling. That punch felt so good.

But soon, tears are falling from my eyes.

"...Asia"

She won't smile ever again.