Marius clicks his finger, then chills pass through the ORC's bodies.They feel a pressure which signifies an extreme danger.
A tall man wearing a black coat appeared. His hair is a mixture of black and blond. He has heterochromia where his right eye is gold and his left eye is black.
The man looks down on the floor after glancing towards the ORC once.
"He clearly has a power in a different league. Judging from his presence, he doesn’t seem like a Vampire……” Kiba says it with a stern look while sweating.
“If that man was involved in the coup d’état, then of course they would succeed. It even makes me wonder if there is someone who can even withstand that thing among the current Vampires.” Xenovia says while wiping off her sweat from her cheek.
"{That man is on a different level to all of you...}"
"[He is someone that none of you can currently handle.]"
"Voltaire, Ddraig, you know him?" Erin asked after sharing a look with Issei.
"{Yeah, we knew it the moment we saw him even though he has the form of a human. —The Crescent Circle Dragon, Crom Cruach. The Dragon that was said to be the strongest among all the Evil Dragons.}"
"For real?! So that is……one of the strongest Evil Dragons, Crom Cruach……! Issei gasped.
"{Do not fight him at all costs. Even I thought you could fight the majority of enemies because of your abilities……but he’s a different story.}" Voltaire warned Erin.
"Has he realized about me and Issei?"
"{Yeah, he must have sensed that you two are the Blue Empress and the Red Emperor.}"
"Erin, how are we supposed to tell this to everyone else……?" whispered Issei in worry.
Marius claps his hand once again.
“Let’s end here for today. We have your rooms prepared. Please stay here for a while everyone. Oh, that’s right. The current Head of the House of Vladi is also present at the basement of this castle, so all of you may want to meet him.”
The meeting ended so the ORC have no choice but to exit the room.
“I find it hard to believe that the man is a Vampire.” Azazel said, referring to Marius.
“Yes, you won’t find that many Vampires that will take action to satisfy his own greed over his blood and pride.” agreed Rias.
“That’s why fellows like him are dangerous. Since he can easily break the rules made by his clan after all. The coup d’état must also have started from there and the one who went along with him were those nobles. Marius needed the cooperation of politicians for his own ambition. The politicians that agreed to his actions fulfilled the two desires of being strengthened by the Holy Grail and to get rid of the dissatisfaction they had towards the current government."
Azazel narrows his eyes.
"It must have been easy for them to defeat the King’s side if they had the Evil Dragons that were revived by the Holy Grail with them... And the one who gave them such opportunity was 'him'…… It’s something that was achievable with the terrorists and the rotten nobles since this country is shunned from the outside world.”
Erin asks Rias while walking through the corridor.
“Where is the actual Head, the King of Tepes?”
“He was fatally wounded and escaped from this territory.”
“Didn’t the King of the Tepes’ side ask for any help besides the Carmilla’s faction?” Erin wondered. Azazel breathes out in response as if he is grieving.
“Yeah, they probably haven’t. Since the Khaos Brigade was involved in the shadows, the other forces will strongly negotiate to allow themselves to come in to this country and that is something they don’t want right now. We were allowed to enter as an exception though.”
The Goddess then asks Azazel about the scenario that bothered them in the audience room.
“Valerie....Who was she talking to?”
“……The dead from that world.” replied Azazel with stern eyes.
“You mean……the souls of humans that went to hell, the realm of the dead, or the Underworld?”
"She was talking to beings whose origins you can’t tell nor what kind of state they were in. Just think that she was talking to something you can’t really understand. Her mind has been contaminated quite a lot for overusing the Holy Grail,”
Rias nods at Azazel's words.
“Yes, I realized that right away. –How Valerie Tepes’s heart and emotions
weren’t normal.”
“……What happened to Valerie……”
Gasper looks gloomy. The one who is the most shocked among the members is him. He has been putting on a face as if he is about to cry ever since he saw Valerie’s face.
“It’s the Holy Grail. By being in contact with the principle of life, she is forcefully told about how the life and soul are made and what it really is, the more she uses the Sacred Gear. The information about life is so huge that we think it is endless. She takes in the mind and the concept of the dead, the living, and various other things as she uses the Holy Grail. Within her heart and soul that is. Many thoughts of other people come into her heart where corrosion occurs... It’s natural for her to become broken.” replied Azazel.
“Then she is……”
Azazel breathes out at Rossweisse’s words.
“She is no longer in a normal state. Having the dead talk to her is only one of the traits. Talking to them while enjoying it proves that the contamination of her mind has already reached a critical stage. Marius must have Valerie use the Holy Grail quite a lot. ……To the stage where she can revive the dead Evil Dragons to this world. There is a multitude of different ways of using it where it can be very serious and you can even abuse the power by using it.”
“Azazel, is there any way of saving her?” Erin inquires. Azazel puts his hand under his chin and starts to think.
“First, we need to stop her using the Holy Grail itself and -
Azazel halted in his words when he sensed a person walking ahead of them. The person is a middle-aged man with silver hair and he looks like he is in his 40’s.
What shocked the ORC the most is that the man is wearing a Devil-king costume similar to Sirzechs'. The only difference is that the costume of the man doesn’t have a distinct crimson color but instead have a silver color.
Azazel's eyes widen and he confronts the man with an expression filled with hatred.
As soon as the man sees the ORC, he puts on an innocent smile used by people younger than his appearance.
“Oh? Oh my, what a coincidence.”
“It is you after all……!” Azazel said in rage.
The man accepts the response very happily.
“Nhoho! It’s been a while♪ Uncle Azazel, looks like you are doing fine, hmm?”
“Azazel, who is he....?” Rias asks.
“……Rizevim. Even if you are young, I’m sure you have heard this name from your parents. It’s a man who you should know if you are a Gremory.”
Hearing that name, Rias’ expression stiffens and her voice shivers.
“Y-You must be joking……right?!”
Azazel introduces the man to the rest of the members.
“……I won’t forget this bastard’s name. Right, —Lilin? No, Rizevim Livan Lucifer!”
“Don’t put on such a scary face. You’ll get old♪” Rizevim smiles happily.
“……Azazel, by Lucifer do you mean-
“Yeah, he’s no doubt the real son who was born between the previous Lucifer and 'Lilith', who is said to be the beginning mother of all Devils. The one who is recorded in the Bible as “Lilin”. —And also the real grandfather of Vali who is called the strongest White Dragon Emperor of all time.” replied Azazel to Erin.
"......Vali’s grandpa!!" Issei said in shock.
"The silver color of this man’s hair is indeed identical to that of Vali’s and his appearance also reminds me of Vali...." Erin mused.
“And he’s the current boss of the Khaos Brigade. It’s the so-called “bastard” I had been saying this whole time since we came here.” Azazel continued.
The rest of the ORC became speechless hearing that.
"Then the new boss that Euclid mentioned is this man?!" Akeno uttered.
“In the past during the time when the kins of the previous Maou ruled the Underworld, Rizevim Livan Lucifer was counted as one of the Super Devils along with my brother Sirzechs Gremory and Ajuka Astaroth-sama.” Rias informed.
"He is the Super Devil that hid himself." Azazel said in disgust. "After his disappearance, the two Super Devils consisting of Sirzechs and Ajuka led the world of the current Devils. Well, he was originally one of the centered Devils within the former Maou-faction. There’s no way he’ll have the same opinion as Sirzechs and others who wish for peace and survival of their kind.”
The Fallen then faces Rizevim.
“For the man who hid himself during the Devil’s civil war between the old- government and the anti-government.. You are not going to tell me that this is your grudge towards the current Devil’s government like the old-Maou faction, right……?”
Rizevim makes a creepy laughter at which echoes through the corridor.
“Uhyahahya, well, I just returned because I have something I wanted to
do now. Were you also doing alright, uncle Azazel? I hear that you are trying to make peace with all of the forces, right? I seriously want to support you for that~♪”
He then moves his gaze to Rias.
“Crimson-hair missy, is your brother doing well?”
“……Do you have anything against my brother?”
“It’s not like I don’t. We are using the same name called Lucifer after all. Oh well, it’s not that important if you ask me. But it seems like I’ll be seeing him quite soon so say hi for me, will ya?”
“……........................……!!!”
Rias narrows her eyebrows at the words. The rest of the members make a battle stance but Rizevim simply laughs at this.
“Well, I won’t take any action due to grudge or hatred like Shalba-kun or the other kins of the previous Maou. The politics for Devils should be enough with Sirzechs-kun and others, you know? I just want to do something else which isn’t related to those kinds of things, so I was doing things by using this organization, you know?”
“It might be okay to punch you here and interfere with what you are doing……but this country is a neutral country which we still haven’t formed a proper alliance with. So I can’t lay my hand on you so easily. I’m sure you are receiving VIP treatment by giving false identity in the outer appearance, right?” Azazel says it with hatred, veins appearing on his forehead.
“Uhyahhya, yeah, that’s right. I am the investor for Marius-kun’s research and revolution. So I’m treated like a special guest from the temporary government. So it won’t be wise to lay your hands on me here. Though I don’t have any intention of losing as well, you know?”
Out of nowhere, small shadows appear behind Rizevim without any presence. A short girl wearing a black dress emerges and she looks identical to Ophis.
Rizevim puts his hand on the head of the girl.
“The mascot girl of our organization we made by using the power stolen from Ophis, —Lilith-chan. Please get along with her~♪ I gave her my mummy’s name. Nice, right?”
"So the power which Cao Cao stole from Ophis turned into a girl." Erin said with narrowed eyes.
“This girl is small but insanely strong since she is Ophis-chan, you know?
She also happens to be my personal bodyguard~. While Euclid is away, she’s the one who protects me! This old man here is emotionally moved! Small girls being strong sure is filled with romance, right♪"
Just like Crom Cruach before, there is an unexplainable pressure which is being released from the girl.
“Now then, I’ll be passing through here since I have something to discuss with Marius-kun. Let’s be peaceful here~. This house belongs to the Vampires~.Fighting isn’t good~. An enclosed country where those who live there have so much pride is wonderful♪”
Rizevim is having fun to his heart’s content. He walks past the group while taking the other Ophis with him.
Rizevim, Vali is after you.” Azazel said.
“Oh yeah, if I remember now, the Grigori took him in and raised my Grandson-kun.”
Rizevim turns around and asks the Fallen.
“Did he get a lil’ bit stronger? Though he was stronger than my foolish son who happens to be his father.”
“He’ll be able to take your head one day.”
Hearing that, Rizevim makes a big smile.
“Woah, as his grandpa, that makes me so happy that I want to cry.” He then moves his gaze at the Goddess. He narrows his eyes while having fun.
“The current Blue Dragon Empress, aye. The one and the only existence who has a premium value for having the power of Great Red and Ophis." Rizevim chuckled when the twins hissed at him. "Wanna come to my side?”
“There’s no way I will.” Erin immediately declined. Rizevim smiles happily after seeing her reaction.
“Oh my, that’s unfortunate♪”
Even though Rizevim is smiling happily, the Goddess couldn't deny the uncomfortable feeling she got under the man's gaze filled with scrutiny and malice.
Rizevim then advances through the corridor as he leaves his creepy laughter behind. He puts his hand back and waves at the group.
“If you are trying to start a coup d’état while teaming up with Carmilla, then come at us anytime♪ I’m really looking forward to it.”
*(BOOOGSH!)*
The sound of a huge destruction echoes through the corridor. Azazel shows a rare side of him where he destroys the wall with his fist because he can’t supress his anger.
“……Vali, I can’t help but understand how you feel.”
After the ORC moved to the room prepared for them, they decided to meet Gasper’s father, who is in the basement.
- End of Chapter -