Chapter 9 - Gather Heaven, Earth, and Hell (1/2)

A clock ticked with perfect regularity.

Clocks were science incarnate. The world was ruled by time and man had built clocks to rule over time. They were proof that man used springs to oppose the world that god had created.

That was why the girl loved this old clock.

Leaning on it was enough to relax her. The ticking of the second hand was especially comfortable. Its regular rhythm felt like the beating of a heart, reminding her of her mother's heartbeat. It brought her back to her time as a fetus.

The girl was human, so that was where her memories of peace lay.

And the girl was human, so it was only natural to rely on science.

"Miss A, I have a report from Miss E who contacted that boy."

A mechanically synthesized voice cut in. The girl frowned at having her rest disturbed and she looked upwards.

The clock was a pocket watch with a leather strap and it hung around a white rabbit's neck.

Light reflected from the rabbit's red eyes which were larger than the girl.

"She succeeded in procuring the boy's sperm. He is definitely Adam, the core of our plan. However, it seems the cells can't be implanted for artificial insemination. She also failed to request his cooperation. He is already working with the angels."

"I see. I suppose Machina…Miss E is too poor a talker."

The girl got up from the old clock and placed her tall leather heels on the floor which was entirely covered with countless playing cards.

"Not a problem. We can correct this scenario."

She parted her blonde hair.

"Maintain the current situation so we can make our next move against the angels and demons on a moment's notice. It hurts that they got the first move in, but all three factions are still lined up alongside each other. If he's leaning toward the angels, that gives us a slight advantage."

"Understood."

The girl gave a small sigh.

"The time of rivalry has arrived."

Despite the girl's appearance, she gave a deep, deep sigh that seemed to hide a thousand years of life behind it.

"If we cannot break through destiny, nothing remains for us. We need him to break it for us."

"Yeah, that's right, mama. I broke through a piece of destiny."

There was darkness.

It was too dark to tell which way was up and which was down, but Lucia lay there.

Or was he really lying down? He might have been standing or he might have been falling.

Regardless, he seemed to be using the darkness as a comfortable bed.

"I was too late to make the first move, but I made up for it this time. Didn't I tell you I could manage even against an angel?"

He opened his pale, cloudy eyes.

A woman was there. She had long blonde hair and a beautiful yet somehow inhuman devilishness to her.

Her gently drooping and maddeningly bewitching eyes were just like Lucia's.

"I'll move to the next stage soon. …Heh heh heh. I'll be taking another step closer to Mutsuki-kun."

The mention of "Mutsuki-kun" was enough for both the boy and the woman's cheeks to melt.

They laughed obscenely like they were drunk on sweet wine. And…

"All three factions are lined up alongside each other now. It'll take us some preparation to achieve our goal, so we might be falling a little behind. Well, we'll make up for it soon enough."

He jumped down to a large clock.

"After all…"

He landed on Megutono Academy's clock tower.

"I'm the one that loves Mutsuki-kun the most♪"

A place far closer to the sun than the earth was filled with never ending light.

The humans commonly called it "above the clouds" and both the floor and walls were as white as clouds. The reflecting light dazzled Micha after her time in the dimmer human world.

But unlike on earth during the summer, this place was nice and cool.

She narrowed her eyes and stretched her back.

She faced…a mass of wings. Something had six pure-white wings wrapped around itself like a cocoon.

"Thank you for the report. So you are certain it is him?"

Someone spoke from within the wings. The voice was too muffled to tell if it was male or female.

"There is no mistaking it."

"Then…you and the maiden of blue fire are to prioritize protecting Adam rather than the Serpent's Eye holder. I will pass the report on to the higher ups."

"Understood. And according to the report, one of Mutsu-…one of the boy's classmates is a member of FeTUS. At Ange's current level, I believe she would have trouble opposing them."

"That is not a problem. We have already taken measures against that. We are all on equal footing, which is not the best situation, but as long as the humans and demons stay put, this should be fine."

"Understood."

Micha gave a quick bow with her back still straightened.

The winged individual finally lowered its voice like a living creature with actual emotions.

"Gather heaven, earth, and hell and you will have everything. …Who would have thought they would be gathered in such a small place?"

The six wings slowly opened.

"According to Genesis, the world was created from discord."

It was not clear what or who was there. It was as bright as the sun, so Micha could not even look at it after growing accustomed to the dim human world. But she did know one thing.

"Human history is a history of discord. Ever since they were created from the dirt of the earth, they have never forgotten conflict. And the same can be said of us angels and the demons. After all, god is the only perfect being."

This being was superior to her.

"But…"

The light spoke.

"If some form of harmony does in fact exist…"

"Listen, Mutsuki."

"Y-yeah?"

"She got away yesterday, but we're definitely getting that girl to talk today. I doubt she would talk even if we threatened her, so you talk to her. Get her to tell us what's going on inside FeTUS and what she's doing."

"But…I wouldn't know what to say."

"Think about it. You were getting along so well yesterday. Just get her to tell you about FeTUS as a continuation of your pillow talk. Simple, right?"

"I-I wouldn't call it getting along…"

"Here she comes!"

It was eight thirty the following morning.

Ange and Mutsuki looked out the window and spotted Machina slipping through the school's gate at the last second like a machine.

"Morning, Fujita-kun, Jiyuuni-san. You left early yesterday, but are you oka-… What is it?"

"Ah…ah ha ha. Good morning. It's nothing."