Chapter 29: Knowing the Truth and Reality

[Zadkiel POV]

When the three signed the paper, the three Archdukes and the two Archangels glowed brightly.

And when they all stopped glowing, Zadkiel smiled and said. "The contract's done, so what are your plans?"

"Plans? We're gonna bust in Camael's base and save Millie!"

The four sighed with disappointment from Ifrit's dumb plan, with a smile so that he won't insult Ifrit, Shota said. "Ifrit... Sorry but that won't work."

"Huh? It won't? Then you four create a plan if you think that my plan won't work."

The four sighed again from the pouting Ifrit and thought independently of a good plan to free Millie and the others from Camael's base.

Shota smiled since he thought of a plan that could actually work, so he raises his hand filled with excitement. "Me!" He said.

"Then what is it Shota? If it's worse than my 'Plan' then you're more dumber than I thought." Ifrit proudly declared. "Also, don't think that you're gonna get away if it's stupid."

"*Cough* Azrael, how long can your clone hold for? And can it change appearances?"

"I can hold it for as long as I want, but if you're thinking to change its place to the Princess and the others; it won't work, since I can't change its form to other else but me, so you're plan won't work."

"Ha! How's that Shota! Your plan didn't work too!"

Shota looked at Ifrit and said. "I didn't say that my plan won't work right? So zip your mouth for now and listen to me."

Ifrit was in silence after hearing Shota telling him to shut up, for him, it was the first time someone younger than him telling him to shut up, well there are people he calls an exception like Millie and Akemi who can shut his mouth with just one word.

"*Cough* Then look at this Azrael." Shota closed his eyes and let out a smile.

One by one, his body started to change. First, his arms and legs turned smaller, and his height shortens too; both the color and the length of his hair changed at the same time to a twin tail.

The four were in awe seeing Shota suddenly changing shape in his body, and when his body has completely changed, they saw Millie in front of them.

Seeing this Ifrit asked. "Millie is that you?"

Shota and the others were dumbfounded when they heard Ifrit asked him that; since for them, it's already common sense to know that it's not Millie who is standing right there in front of them.

"No Ifrit... It's still me, the General of Gluttony, Shota Beelzebub."

Not only Ifrit was surprised, but everyone was the same also, since not only does Shota looks like Millie, his voice sounds exactly sounds like Millie too when he talked.

Ifrit and Hans seeing this right now have an uneasy reaction on their entire body after seeing Shota turned to Millie; since for them the person standing right in front of them is Millie, and not Shota.

Everything on Shota's Millie appearance looks exactly like Millie's. The clothes, the twin tails, the swagger, smugness, and the cute look of Millie are exactly like Shota's.

Even his height and physical appearance look exactly like a small 14 years old child like Millie.

Not before long, Shota returned to his original body and he was now holding an entire colony of ants in his right arm.

Showing the ants to them, Shota said. "This is are called sankkantkus, these are ants that can create illusions that are real if the entire colony are together."

"Then we'll use these ants in my clones to change its appearance? But wouldn't the ants die if something squished them?" If the ants were to get attacked, then they could die. That is what Azrael thought. "So how are these ants exactly going to work?"

"Of course not, these ant's are tough, look at this."

All of the ants began turning to some sort of cubic shape on Shota's hand, and when it's finally over; everyone saw that instead of the colony of ants before. Shota's hand was now a normal Rubik's cube, Shota then began throwing and catching it and began playing with it like a normal Rubik's cube would, and it wasn't turning back to the shape of a normal ant.

Looking at it, Ifrit, Hans, and Zadkiel were all impressed by what they saw, but Azrael has started to stay cautious, since seeing this Azrael was both frightened and tense. He kept thinking to himself that if Shota has more special insects like these, he's someone that he can't mess within the near future.

Even when Azrael thinks what would the outcome of Shota's battle with him, is already making him more afraid, so Azrael thought if Shota Beelzebub is this powerful, then what power do the other new Generals have? He was starting to get more curious about the other Generals since he wants to think of a plan to defeat them if Yahweh ordered them to attack again.

Because there's no way that Shota Beelzebub is the only one who's strong because even if Milicas Lucifer is only the son of Lucifer, his power is already outstanding enough that he can fight an Archangel head-on.

With nervousness filled throughout his entire body, he whispered to himself. "Devils are really formidable monsters..."

"So how's my plan? It'll definitely work right?"

"Good plan indeed Shota Beelzebub... I never thought that you're that smart, so Azrael? Are you fine with that?"

"Yes, using insects on my clones is okay, so let's start moving now!"

When walking to the way of the lab, both Ifrit and Hans looked at the land of the seventh floor. Seeing it, they were saddened because it doesn't look the same as in the past.

There was no sign of life except for some insects, and seeing that there were no animals and forests here, the two hid their pain and anger toward the two Archangel walking with them.

Even Ifrit who hasn't trusted Zadkiel and Azrael yet distanced himself from the group and walked behind them to remain calm.

But for now, Ifrit has to put his trust in them, since Millie and the others' lives are at stake in this rebellion of Camael.

Looking in front of him, he saw Shota looking at him and smiled, and saw him ran beside Zadkiel and began starting to shout Zadkiel's name.

Zadkiel was surprised when Shota went beside him and started talking. "Hey Zadkiel, can you tell me more about Heaven?" Like a normal kid like Shota, he started asking questions to Zadkiel as nothing happened between them at all.

Even if the two know that angels and devils are natural enemies by both nature and past, Shota still didn't care about that.

Feeling nervous from the sudden question, Zadkiel couldn't answer it, so he looked at Azrael in the eyes telling him to help him.

Azrael sighed deeply and walked faster to go in front of them and leave the two alone to have their chat.

So when Zadkiel saw Azrael leaving him, he knows that Azrael gave him an opening to know the Archdukes better alone.

But even so, Zadkiel was still nervous and shy so he answered Shota's question very slowly. "Heaven..? It's wonderful..."

Shota smiled again and kept asking Zadkiel more nervous and almost made Zadkiel die from nervousness, but at the same time, he was also happy since this is his first time talking to a devil not as an enemy, but as an ally.

Even Ifrit saw the two talking mutually with no intent to even start fighting, has given up and decided to fully trust them for now.

He got near Hans and Ifrit looked at Azrael who was ahead of them and talked to Hans. "So Hans... aren't you gonna tell Azrael about her? You know that she's captured too and most of all she hated Azrael right?"

"I want to, but do you even think that Azrael even wants to see her? Or worse, do you think that Azrael even knows about her existence at all?"

"Well, I don't know about that... But isn't better to talk to him about her alone? It's better since you took care of her, so I think I can see that Azrael is grateful for you for doing that, well if he knows at least."

Looking at Azrael a bit, Hans saw Azrael trying to make eye contact with him; like he wants to ask Hans something important.

Seeing this, Hans clenched his fist with force and went forward to talk to Azrael.

Ifrit can only react with a smile of joy when he saw this, so he whispered to himself. "Do it for her, Hans."

When Hans went to Azrael, he immediately spoke to Hans when he saw Hans going near him. "So is Luna okay?" Was his first question to Hans.

Hearing this made Hans happy because Azrael knew that Luna existed. "She's doing fine, but ever since you left Luna's mother who was pregnant at the time, it got me and the other Archdukes insanely angry."

"I see... So where is she? Cianna? Is she okay?" Azrael voiced looked concerned after he asked that question, it looks like he already knows the possible answer to it, but wasn't still too sure.

"Azrael... She died 6,300 years after she gave birth to Luna, she was stressed and depressed when not only you left her, but also when she founds out that the man she loves killed her entire family."

Azrael was in complete silence when Hans answered his question, even when looking at Azrael, Hans knew that Azrael was crying on the inside.

He can see the emotions of Azrael, whom he ought to meet in the future, who he also reflected himself as like his own self to Azrael.

"I see... So what about Luna? Is she okay? And does she have something like a sickness when Cianna gave birth to her?"

"Luna was very weak when she was still a child, but since Cianna was a half-human half-undead, she stayed strong, and now Luna is still walking up to this day."

Hans can see Azrael smiling from joy, which also made him smile too.

Because seeing that Azrael cares for Luna made Hans happy, now his wish of reuniting the both can come true.

"So Azrael, did you come here to try and talk to Luna? Because like Millie, she's been imprisoned by Camael."

"Imprisoned? What do you mean Hans?"

"You don't know that she's also been caught by the ghouls?"

"No, I thought only Millie and some Archdukes were caught by Camael."

"Well, I guess you can consider Luna as an Archduke."

Azrael was confused about what Hans said. Cianna, Luna's mother and Azrael's lover was just a normal citizen of Hell, hence why Azrael was confused about Hans' declaration. "Consider? What do you mean Hans?"

"Like Vladamir Dracula's daughter Dawn, she's gonna be an Archduke in the future. Well... Dawn's gonna take Vladamir's position, and Luna's gonna take mine, I guess because I want to retire someday."

"I see... So she's gonna take your position as a Ruler of the Undead, but even if she's half is it okay?" Being half-undead is not the problem that he was talking about, but it was Luna's blood of an angel is the problem.

Not only the undead are gonna be unhappy, but the entire citizens of Hell would too if they found out that Luna; who is the daughter of an angel is an Archduke, would cause a massive uproar to Hell.

"Even if the undead citizens- no, the citizens wouldn't like it, I'm still gonna make her the heir of my position, because not only she's strong, she also has the power of an angel right?"

"But wouldn't that cause a problem? Since she's also part angel..."

"Discrimination happens all the time, but even so you can't change what's gonna happen when it's already settled right? Also, don't worry, Luna's smart and strong, so she can take my position without problem."

"I guess you're right..." Azrael looked below the ground to reflect on what has happened between him and Cianna, and by remembering what happened, he could only let out a melancholic smile. "Hans I want you to know that I'm forever grateful and indebted for taking care of Luna, I guess I'm a failure as a father. But if there's anything I can do to thank you, then just order me to do so."

Hans laughed loudly hearing that. "Then I order you to try and fix your relationship with Luna when you see her."

"I never thought that an undead would tell me that, but thank you Hans for ordering me to do that." Azrael couldn't be happier than hearing Hans' order, Azrael felt this as one of the happiest things he ever felt in his lifetime.

"Don't mention it, Luna is like my own daughter, so seeing you the real father still caring for her, is making me happy."

Looking down with sadness, Azrael asked this to himself. "Why did you betray us Lucifer? I can see that you still have kindness in your heart, and your people too. So why?"

"Did you say something Azrael?"

"Nothing, I was just talking to myself." Azrael replied with a smile.

Upon seeing the two having a good conversation, the three behind them were in shock seeing the two get along.

Zadkiel who saw Azrael being calm and happy with an undead made him more confused about what's happening with Azrael.

For him, Azrael being kind to an Archduke of Hell is impossible, but looking at what's happening right now, he finds out that there's always a possibility in anything.

Asking Ifrit who was also confused. "Ifrit, If I may I ask, I wanted to know why are you all called Archdukes? Isn't suppose to be Archdevils?" For the longest time, Zadkiel has been wondering about why they are called Archdukes indeed.

Hearing that, Ifrit looked at his surroundings and told him. "Look at the seventh floor, it's just an endless wasteland, it's the same with the floor above it too."

"I know, so is it because you all failed to fight against us and protect the floors of Hell?"

"Yes, all of us decided to throw out the name Archdevils or Archdemons, since it doesn't fit us when we failed to protect our home. Because us being called Archdevils? Don't screw with me... Only a hypocrite of a demon would think that we are called Archdevils, after all, we are not. Since a true Archdevil is a person that protects his homeland, but now that all hope of the return of the Archdevils is gone, that title is nothing but mere dust to us."

"I see... I'm sorry for hearing that." Zadkiel was saddened by what he heard. He knows that the Archdukes lost their pride ever since they took the other floors from them.

They stopped their walking for a moment; Ifrit looked at Zadkiel and Azrael and told them straight. "I don't know why you two are really helping us, but if it's to regret your way of attacking us; know that I'm not gonna forgive you two for what you have all done."

Even when Zadkiel knew that this would happen when they saved them from the ghouls, he still was silenced even when he was prepared to answer something like this.

They can't forget what happened between them in the past, and the same also goes for the angels who regretted attacking them.

They might as well fall and be fallen angels because they felt sympathy for their own enemies. But even so, Zadkiel wants to be forgiven for what he has done, not as an angel who's failing to do his duties, but as an angel who's successful in what he can do.

Because he won't accept forgiveness from a separate faction, but he would accept forgiveness of the same faction.

"But despite that, you angels attacked us in the past, it doesn't change what's happening now. If you two really did plan to save our friends and citizens, then I guess I can make an exception to you two and forgive you two-"

"Wait Ifrit! I'm not gonna accept your forgiveness."

Ifrit was confused. "What do you mean Zadkiel?"

"I'm only gonna accept all of your forgiveness when everything's over, and there's no dispute between us angels and devils."

Ifrit laughed loudly when he heard what Zadkiel said. "I see... Do you really think that peace between Hell and Heaven can really happen?"

"Yes, cause I'm gonna make that happen one day, I'm gonna break the boundary between devils and angels, so we all can live together peacefully."

"You know Zadkiel, what you're gonna is impossible, but *laugh* I like it, and if you're gonna do something as impossible like that, then I'm with you."

"Then I can't wait to do that with you someday, Ifrit."

A whistle came from Shota who was happily watching both of them talk together. "Wow! If you two are really gonna do something stupid like that, I can see it working since you two's interacting is already the first step to break the boundary between us."

Both Ifrit and Zadkiel laughed in joy upon hearing what Shota said, so Ifrit took Shota and pulled him along with him to continue their walking to the base.

Seeing the four who were in front of him walking together happily, Zadkiel smiled since his wish finally came true.

"Breaking the boundary huh? I can see that as an absolute win." Looking at the four again, he thought that he was never alone in the first place.

I'm not gonna break the boundary between devils and angels alone, I'm gonna break the boundary with the help of the devils and angels,

because I know that I'm not gonna break the boundary between us two races, but the Prince of Hell can.

Seeing the rivalry of Michael and Hotaru Jarren is what changed my mind about the devils because when I saw them considered each other as friend and foe I was intrigued.

An enemy of yours being a friend? How envious of me to you Michael, but now that friend of yours is dead, my hope for that peace lays on the son of Hotaru Jarren.

"Hotaru Haruki, I can't wait to meet you..." Zadkiel whispered to himself with a smile.

"Hoy Zadkiel! What are you doing there? We're waiting for you!"

Looking at the waving Shota, Zadkiel smiled and went immediately to them as fast as he can and saying to them. "I'm sorry, something came to mind that made me think."

"Then you better stop that for now, because look over there!"

Looking at where Shota pointed at, they saw the base of Camael.

It was lurking with hundreds of ghouls and angels, and they saw the ghouls making the citizens of Hell do work in the area outside.

The way Zadkiel and Azrael saw the ghouls treating the devils who were working harshly, made them tremble in anger.

This is not what an angel does, even if they were former angels, they shouldn't do something like this. That is what they both thought.

Azrael was almost in anger, but he knows that he won't hold it if Camael did something to his daughter, Luna.

"The entire base is crawling with them, my insects even saw about a hundred more inside, and they saw them making Millie and the others do work, but for how they were treated..."

Already creating his clones, Azrael said. "Then let's go, so how many clones do we need?"

"Just five, but seeing the inside... This is gonna be hard since they are separated."

Ifrit patted Shota in the head with full force and with a smile. "There's five of us here, so let's each one of us go to one of them."

"So how are we gonna do it Ifrit? Who's gonna go to who?"

"I'm going to Lilith, Shota to Dawn, Hans to Vladamir, Zadkiel to Millie, and Azrael to Luna."

Hearing that made everyone shocked, but Shota and Hans both happily agreed to Ifrit.

But the two Archangels who were tasked to do almost the impossible made them nervous and almost fall to despair.

But they can't do anything but listen to them since there are three people who agreed to do this and only two of them who don't.

With a forced smile filled with nervousness, Zadkiel said. " I can't wait..."