This time, I doubt she will let me live… If I kill her, her sisters will have my head, and if she kills me…
…It will be the end of angels.
As Saja remained still while glaring at Micaela, the seraph spent every single second available to analyze the possible outcomes of the fight: The battlefield was a wide open white plain, there was no cover, no hiding place, and since the dimension was created by Saja, no escape either. It was a one-on-one between her and the yoma. Nobody would come to help her, and even if they wanted, they certainly couldn't anyway. While both monsters were as fresh as when they were in their prime, only Saja was motivated to take down her opponent. Micaela just wanted this fight to be over with.
Both warriors suddenly charged each other without any warning, and hit each other in a shockwave that rumbled through the floor. Micaela's sword struck repeatedly like lightning against Saja's barriers before the seraph jumped back as the yoma attempted to strike her downward with her wings. The attack ended up violently connecting into the ground, creating a huge rift which forced Micaela to take into the sky. Saja soon followed afterward and the two clashed again in a storm of sparks, with several hundreds of blows exchanged in the several seconds the two of them recklessly attacked each other. At first, none of them dared try anything else as the smallest slip up would lead to a violent shock. They were locked in a deadly clash, glaring at each other when Micaela suddenly attempted to move back to get some much needed breathing room.
Sensing an opportunity, Saja casted a storm of ice bolts that Micaela only narrowly dodged. The seraph riposted by summoning a large column of light that Saja herself powered through in a heartbeat, seemingly not more inconvenienced than that as flying runes shielded her. As the yoma passed by once again way too close to her in a supersonic charge, Micaela's mind wandered on a short second to the sense behind this fight.
It's just like the Great Monster War… I'm fighting for the sake of someone else ego because they feel slighted by monsters. But back then, the Six Ancestors were terrible… However, They had just calmed down until this one attacked the Monster Lord's Castle.
This idiot is going to get every angel killed simply because she's still living by her hatred of monsters.
Saja exploited Micaela's distraction by breathing out a purplish noxious cloud. The first seraph used a counter-spell to breathe through, but she completely lost track of Saja while doing so. She didn't manage to clear out of the cloud in time before Saja ignited her last attack, sending the seraph tumbling through the sky. Micaela only managed to recover the instant the yoma started to wrap her in her powerful coils while her snakes bit the seraph's body. Micaela felt her limbs go stiff as her opponent started wrapping around her. However, in her hurriedness, Saja failed to block the free arm of the seraph. As the yoma started to crush her, Micaela switched her sword from hand through magic and slashed in a lightning fast motion at her opponent's neck, making a small gash appear. Saja unwrapped just as fast from Micaela, and instead of rushing again she bombarded her with meteors. The first seraph powered through the attack and destroyed any rock that got in her way, enjoying the shortest moment of tranquility as she escaped the area affected by the spell to heal herself. When she looked at Saja, the yoma was still glaring at her, making the seraph shiver.
Micaela turned her head just in time to avoid the yoma's demon eyes. Saja started charging at the seraph once again, but just before the collision, Micaela brought her Sword of Heaven down on her opponent in a cataclysmic explosion of light. The aftereffect of the attack even danced on Micaela's retina for a small moment until she heard Saja crash.
The first seraph was impressed with her handiwork. The yoma had left a large crater in the white ground of the pocket dimension she created. However, the dimension remaining standing was enough of a proof on its own to inform her that her opponent still had good energy reserves.
A sudden chill ran up her spine, and she dashed on the side just in time to avoid a blade of energy that tore apart the air where she was a second ago. All the while, she kept an eye on her opponent who was slowly getting up from her crater. Another blade of energy forced her to move around as she tried to see her invisible attacker while trying to guess which of the two monsters she was facing was a projection and which one was the real deal. The visible one remained at bay and closed her eyes as she summoned a powerful corrosive storm. Micaela attempted to charge her but was suddenly met with an impassable wall. Not losing time, the seraph struck the barrier down with a powerful attack, but she failed to dodge a large ice bolt that shredded one of her wings, making feathers fall around like so many dead leaves.
The first seraph gritted her teeth in pain and focused all her attention on the enemy that she could see. Saja kept flying away while Micaela was forced to dodge magical assaults appearing from nowhere. Both opponents kept flying at the same supersonic speed, the seraph carefully avoiding the numerous attacks that got in her way while analyzing her surroundings. Without a single warning, she suddenly changed direction, stopping her chase to cast a small beam of light in a precise spot. The other version of Saja finally revealed herself, and Micaela exploited her surprise to charge her like a lightning bolt.
The yoma blocked the attack with her wings, but she recoiled under the violence of the assault as even her reinforced limbs were unable to fully deal with the brunt of Micaela's attacks. Several of her own feathers broke around, joining Micaela's own feathers as they started filling the sky. The seraph dashed back to avoid an attack from her second opponent. As both versions of Saja attacked, Micaela kept moving back to avoid being surrounded. Both versions of the Ancestor casted spell after spell, forcing the seraph further on the defensive while hoping her opponent spent more resources casting her attacks than she herself used to dodge them.
Eventually, one of the two versions of Saja changed her tactic and charged her head-on while the other kept Micaela busy with a series of different spells. The seraph was successively forced to avoid a beam of energy, a wave of air-freezing coldness and a noxious breath while being unable to ready herself against the one that charged her.
As she kept analyzing the battlefield, Micaela decided to let herself drop from the sky while her opponent passed by in a supersonic charge. The seraph tanked the spells going her way, and, with a powerful war cry, casted her Blade of Heaven toward the monster that had just overtaken her. The monster that had charged her disappeared into a small anticlimactic puff before Micaela saw the other version of Saja accumulating energy in a dark ball that seemed to swallow the very light around her. The first seraph readied her Blade of Heaven once again and struck at the moment Saja released her own attack, bathing them into dark flames. The cataclysmic explosion projected both of them apart, and Micaela could feel her ears ringing from the aftershock when she bounced on the floor in a violent shock, tearing her already damaged wings apart. She crashed into a large tree that instantly stopped her. The vegetation started slowly falling apart behind her while she collapsed on the floor. As she slowly got up, she recognized the grey, dusty floor of Hellgondo that was slowly getting covered by drops of blood flowing from her face. One of her own eyes was closed as a scarlet stream was running on her face, threatening to blind her as she kept limping forward. The incapacitated angels had reappeared, and Saja was surprisingly only a bit away, seemingly unconscious as well.
Micaela sighed: She couldn't even regenerate any of her wounds, and all of her senses were almost burned out. She couldn't even call that a victory. Saja would still ask for the head of the angels and maybe even get personal, said angels were still monster-hating fanatics, and their leader was slowly crawling toward the unconscious form of Saja. Micaela shook her head in exasperation and walked to her side.
"And then what?"
The masked figure turned toward her inquisitively. "What? What do you mean?"
Still limping, Micaela continued to walk toward her interlocutor. "I know what you're trying to do. You think you can take Saja's life. So you will kill her. And then what? The other Ancestors will have their revenge, slaughter everyone, march on Haven and kill every angel because you wanted to kill one more monster before being brought to the grave…" Micaela spat a clot of blood. "It's pathetic now."
"Pathetic…?" The figure was panting in furor. "You are the pathetic one! You abandoned Her Light to live on this pathetic ball of dirt and consort with monsters! You-"
"Oh, shut up already…" Micaela gulped wih difficulty, the metallic taste of blood still in her mouth. "I just wish for once… for once that you and the other ones would realize our sheer dumb luck… We lost. Ilias died because she surrounded herself with a mad Monster Lord and a scientist supported by sycophants like you who praised her for any decision, no matter how wrong she was…"
"You dare to say that she was wrong? She never did wrong!" The other figure slowly rose up, both of her arms limply hanging. "The Goddess is our blood, our reason of being, I will sacrifice my life for her!"
Micaela grimaced and shook her head again as she got closer and closer from the figure. "You're only going to get every angel killed... This is downright suicidal... And this is certainly not what she would have wanted…"
The figure chuckled as she stared at Micaela. A condescending, almost otherworldly sneer echoed from beyond the mask.
"What are you going to do? Kill me?"
In a heartbeat, Micaela punched her in the face. Her interlocutor stumbled slightly in a mix of pain and surprise before the first seraph followed up with another, knocking her victim unconscious.
"At least nobody saw that one… Now, show me who you are…"
The seraph coughed up another small clot of blood in her hand, and, without waiting any longer, grabbed her victim in an attempt to pull the mask of her face. However, the accessory was apparently fused with the robe, and nothing budged. As she considered using her sword to pry everything open, a small noise attracted her attention. Saja was slowly rousing herself from unconsciousness. Micaela saw that the Ancestor was just as wounded as her, her wings almost torn while a large bleeding scar ran across her chest. Her expression was one of pure resignation, her mouth a straight line while her eyes were half-closed. Micaela and the yoma stared at each other in a heavy ambiance before the seraph finally decided to break the silent stalemate.
"Can we talk this one like civilized beings for once…?"
Saja remained silent for a bit before answering in an almost meek voice. "…You've changed a lot more than I thought."
Micaela didn't know quite she could answer at first. Of course, she did change a lot since the last time they met, their small altercation a few weeks earlier non-withstanding. She had rebelled against Ilias, founded her own community, welcomed monsters, helped preparing her nephew against the Ancestors before deciding to step up to help the angels in distress…
"I simply decided to take care of people in need. I just no longer need anyone behind me to tell me so." She gestured around her. "And those need more help more than ever before they get recklessly slaughtered. They need my protection." She glared at Saja as if challenging her again.
"They attacked the Monster Lord, and must be punished. Do you really think we will let them go free after the harm they've brought?"
"I never asked you to let them go free. I simply ask you to judge them fairly. I just don't want their blood on my hands. I don't want an escalation that would lead to the last angels getting slaughtered in throes that would also see the death of more monsters and humans as well… And I'm pretty sure neither the Monster Lord nor Tamamo would want that. Even the hero who beat you forgave them after one of them slaughtered his home town."
Saja frowned while looking down as to what she would do. Before the yoma could answer, a whispering voice echoed from behind Micaela.
"And what will you do with them yourself if we let them go?"
Micaela turned in surprise and regretted her sudden movement as she felt pain take over her body. She did recognize the appearance of Kanade, as the Slime Ancestor was slowly walking toward them with her arms crossed. Saja groaned.
"I did remember instructing you to take care of the Monster Lord…"
"And I am currently doing so. I'm surprised you'd even think I wouldn't."
Saja looked down in shame. Of course, Kanade had enough mastery over her division to be able to command a body several miles away. The slime firmly positioned herself in front of Micaela, and the seraph felt uncomfortable as she was unable to decipher Kanade until the latter started talking again.
"You didn't answer my question. What will you do with them? They're criminals who assaulted the Monster Lord, and they've been altered by Kagetsumugi. We already had monsters undergoing the same treatment, and the only one who could reverse the change was Hiruko. But letting the creations of Ilias in the hands of her sworn enemies is out of the question, isn't it?"
Micaela closed her remaining eye, lost in thoughts. At least, Kanade understood her dilemma. Now, she only had to make the right choice… She could contact Tamamo to ask for her support in dealing with her sisters, but she was concerned burdening furthermore the kitsune would be disastrous.
"Swear to me that they won't be further harmed."
Kanade bowed. "They will be treated decently."
Even as she knew it was the only option available, Micaela hesitated. She wanted to keep the Ancestors as far away from her work for a multitude of reasons, and it wasn't only because she was afraid of what they would do to angels. She was just as much concerned about what her fellows would do if they found out she let them be taken in. Unless…
…I guess it's time to give them what they long for…
"…In that case, take them to her. And make sure she doesn't decide to get a taste of them please..."
Kanade nodded in acceptance. "Very well." The slime turned toward Saja. "I have this. Don't you want to be by the side of the Monster Lord?"
Saja instantly took flight in a powerful flap of her wings and slowly disappeared. Micaela looked at her erratically flying away, and wondered how the fight would have ended if it lasted a bit longer considering she wasn't capable of flying herself. Kanade's voice interrupted her thoughts.
"I will have to heal you if you wish to go back to Haven. I can tell that you're too deeply wounded to return there by yourself.
Micaela hesitated for a second, but nodded in acceptance. The next instant, she shivered in discomfort when her interlocutor's slime wrapped around her back. As she could feel her wings painfully reform, the First Seraph decided to let out what has been eating at her since the slime first stepped in.
"Kanade… if I may ask… Why are you helping me? It might have been millennia ago, but the last time we met we were enemies. You could have helped Saja finish me and all those angels and then marched on Haven… With Tamamo and her partners in shambles, nobody can stop you."
Kanade answered without a single beat of hesitation.
"It is because you're just like me. You only want to protect your kin. And to fulfill that end, you want peace."
Slightly less than an hour later, Micaela was checking herself as she arrived in sight of Haven. Her body didn't show any sign of her recent struggle, but she still felt extremely heavy, and she considered herself lucky that the Lilith Sisters were still busy back at the Monster Lord's Castle. Everyone was supposedly still at peace, but she doubted the succubi would pass an occasion to molest her if they could do it without repercussion, and she was still exhausted even after Kanade healed her. As hindsight settled in, she appreciated the small moment she had spent with her. The slime's words and actions had made her more comfortable than what she expected given that she was healed by one of her past mortal enemies.
I must still keep my guard up. Just because they helped me doesn't mean that they're friendly. I really hope Tamamo will keep a leash on Hiruko and make sure the latter doesn't do anything more than taking care of those angels.
…And we still don't know where Luka is. If Kagetsumugi put him in a pocket dimension before dying, he could be anywhere, or even dead. I should…
…Let Tamamo and her fellow Heavenly Knights take care of that themselves. They have the network and the skills required, and I have no doubt that I'll have my hand full with those other winged idiots. Speaking of which… Of course it would end like that.
When Micaela could finally distinguish the different angels in Haven, the first thing she noticed was the heavy ambiance on the plaza as the angels were separated into three clear groups, with one not so subtly doing its best to remain between the two others. She didn't even need to hear anything to understand the issue at hand. The last seconds before her arrival, she hatched her plan and a speech with the hope that she would finally put an end to this idiotic conflict.
Micaela landed on top of the tip of the water that was sprouting from the fountain located at the center of the plaza, and every gaze turned toward her as whatever discussion and murmur died down.
"I've cleared the situation with the Monster Lord. It was a deliberate attempt by Kagetsumugi to lead everyone astray and start a war between us and the Monster Lord."
A few whispers were not-so-discreetly shared as angels shared what they heard and knew about the small puppeteers. Hearing some contradictions, Micaela decided to clear the facts.
"Yes, she's the descendant of the one who's been chosen by Black Alice herself and was always at odds with the current Monster Lord. This is why she wanted her destroyed. Now, I advise every angel to remain in Haven for the night and to repair the warding stones as they can. Mariel, Ariel, Herja, meet me in my office immediately."
Micaela flew to her large house and entered by the balcony, mentally steadying herself as her fellow angels respected protocol and made her way on foot through the remainder of the building. She slowly breathed in and out one final time before sitting herself on her large chair, her fingers interlocked in front of her face and her elbows resting on the desk. After a small moment, she heard a small knock, and Herja entered with a small bow before being followed by Mariel and Ariel. Micaela gestured in front of her.
"Please, each of you, take a seat."
Micaela appreciated the initiative of Herja who appropriated herself the middle one, keeping both archangels apart even as Ariel was regularly glaring at her fellow.
"I will make it short. Those monsters weren't the only creations of Kagetsumugi. She had transformed several angels as well."
Mariel gasped in shock. While the two other angels remained straight-faced, Micaela could tell that they were also feeling uncomfortable with the idea that their fellows had been altered by monsters.
"They were accompanying the disappeared leader of the True Faith. We still do not have her identity yet, but the point remains. They did end up in Kagetsumugi's grasp after escaping one of the Six Ancestors, and that damn puppeteer managed to hide from the sight of the world. I do not have the full details myself, but it seems that they somehow freed themselves, killed her, and attempted to assault the Monster Lord's castle after being… altered. This assault has been a failure and they're currently in the custody of the Monster Lord and her forces."
By the end of her speech, both archangels had lost their composure. While she wasn't surprised by Mariel's shock, the sight of the usually stoic Aariel being completely dumbfounded was something she appreciated. She was further impressed by the calm that her valkyrie lieutenant displayed. The first seraph raised a hand to silence any upcoming question and closed her eyes.
"The situation is made furthermore complex as the Monster Lord suffered from Kagetsumugi's plan and is currently unable to lead on her own. Luckily, the Six Ancestors do understand that we're not related ourselves to this incident and won't act against angels…"
She heard several relieved sighs.
"However, I do not wish to push my luck by asking for any out-of-place favor. In the meantime…"
Micaela opened her eyes again and gave out a warm smile.
"You are all free to do as you wish as long as you follow the rules of Haven and don't try attacking monsters again."
Ariel frowned. "We should still ask for reparation as a monster is the source of all our woes."
Micaela felt mixed feelings. On one hand, her plan was going exactly as she anticipated. On the other hand, she was going to have to do exactly what she had wanted to avoid.
"I told you that they were opposing each other and that the Monster Lord herself did suffer from her plan. We cannot decently ask for any form of reparation."
"She was still one of her subordinate. If she was competent, she would have gotten that uppity brat under control."
Micaela felt something tick inside her and thanked her years of training to keep her emotions in check. She answered with her gentle voice, the one she usually used to solve any conflict without a weapon.
"Mariel, you are free to leave this room, and whether you decide to stay around or leave, I want you to know that I will do my best to always make you feel welcome into Haven. Herja, stand guard at the door."
Both angels bowed before exiting the room, leaving Ariel and Micaela alone. The first seraph leaned back on her chair and started drumming on her desk with her fingers while her expression turned serious.
"After everything I told you during this reunion and given our history, I invite you to thoroughly think about what you just said."
This time, Micaela felt Ariel completely lose her serenity. Good, it looked like the archangel at least remembered about Promestein and Black Alice…
"…The situation was different…"
"You're right, it was different, the Monster Lord had always been in opposition with Kagetsumugi while Her Light had still attempted to rely on the ones that betrayed her."
"…Are you saying that she made a mistake?"
Micaela stopped drumming on the desk with her fingers. Answering that one correctly was going to be tough.
"While she had thoroughly planned an effective backup should her plan fail because of them… Yes, she was wrong to rely on them in the first place."
As Ariel inhaled to prepare what was likely going to be a scathing repartee, Micaela raised a hand to stop her while her eyes seemed to glow briefly. The words the archangel had prepared died in her throat.
"Both myself, Lucifina and Eden knew it. Now Lucifina made the questionable choice of openly rebelling, Eden decided to still loyally support our Goddess even as the latter actually entrusted me with her plan all while Promestein was scheming against her… Do you see yet my point?"
"…I'm afraid I don't."
Micaela joined her hands in front of her again as she kept her eyes locked with Ariel's.
"We're angels. We all come from Her Temple, grew under Her Light, followed Her Teachings and obeyed Her Commandments. And yet, even then, we disagreed and went into conflict with one another. And as you probably understand now, some of us questioned Her method and even acted against her. Do you hold her responsible for those?"
Ariel almost jumped in panic. "No, of course not! I wouldn't accuse her of such things!"
"Good. Now monsters… while they all come from Alipheese, they grew separately, have different culture related to their own species and their ancestries, and as you yourself observed during all those years, they regularly clash with one another… Do you think Alipheese should be held responsible?"
Just as fast as she lost it, Ariel returned to her haughty attitude. "Of course. She's the mother of all those abominable monsters."
She's considering monsters as trash to which her own rules don't apply, and she treats anyone who associates with them the same way… I'm starting to want to slam her face on this desk right now…This is going to be harder than I thought…
Micaela tried to consider her options. She remembered how Tamamo, Lucifina and herself softened up a great deal when they were forced out on their own with only a small part of their power, and it also apparently even did wonder for the Lilith Sisters. However, for a reason, the first seraph decided that the archangel would only cause more trouble that way and not learn a little humility or open-mindedness.
"In that case, I will need you to accompany me the next time I'll have to travel abroad. In the meantime, you stay in Haven and make sure those restoration works are complete.
"Her wish is my command."
Ariel bowed and left diligently. Once the door was close, the first seraph ended up surprising herself by voicing her thoughts.
"You're not half as smart as you think you are, are you?"
Micaela sighed as she perambulated through her office. She needed the right counterweight right now, and hoped that she wasn't making any mistake.
"Herja, come in."
The valkyrie entered and kneeled. "What do you need me for, my lord?"
"I wanted to thank you for making sure no conflict erupted during my absence."
"I was only doing my duty, my lord."
"Maybe… But I didn't remember giving you any explicit order to do so, and yet you took this decision." Her tone shifted to become more motherly while she made her way around her desk to get closer to the valkyrie. "May I ask you why? And before you ask, I'm doing this out of pure curiosity. I am not judging you in the slightest."
I shouldn't have said that last one…
Still, the valkyrie didn't hesitate before answering.
"I considered that as your priority was the preservation of angelkin, any conflict was to be avoided. I couldn't do anything more than rally my allies to prevent both groups from coming to hands."
"And you made a good decision… Now, do you have any idea as to how I could negotiate with the Ancestors? I don't have much to offer."
"A lowly warrior like me has no idea, my lord."
Micaela sighed. "Maybe I should offer myself as a gesture of goodwill… If I am their hostage, it will show them that I'm willing to work with them."
She heard the heart of the valkyrie skip a beat, but the latter didn't move in the slightest.
"If I may, my lord… This is a terrible idea. You are our only current authority figure after the fall of Ilias… even if some angels are still questioning you, most of us are fully loyal to you… We cannot afford to lose you, and even should you come back safely, some angels will still fall in paranoia and asked if you didn't get corrupted by the Six Ancestors…"
"I'm used to deal with monsters. We did indirectly need their help to get the material to build Haven. No humans could bring so much material in such a remote location."
"Yes. But I do understand that you do so out of necessity, my lord."
"And what are your thoughts on monsters? What do you think of the idea of living with them, dealing with them…"
For the first time since the beginning of their exchange, the valkyrie hesitated before answering.
"I… cannot give you a consistent answer. My results when dealing with them are mixed. I would lie if I say I didn't appreciate sparring against some of them, but some other disgust me with their lack of basic decency."
"Thank you… I have one last question before I let you go. Whatever your answer will be, I insist nothing will change our current relation."
"I will do as you wish my lord."
"Do you want to become an archangel?"
The valkyrie finally lost her composure, her wings almost hitting Micaela as she jumped up in surprise.
"My lord?!"
"Please, get up. And look at me."
The valkyrie obliged with a visible hesitation. Micaela slowly inhaled and talked in a neutral tone again.
"I will be straightforward with you. I need loyal lieutenants who can take decisions on their own while being able to understand the picture at large. I do not know yet what will be done about the angels currently imprisoned by the Ancestors but whatever happens… I will need lieutenants that are able to accept that fighting monsters is out of the question, and that monsters, even moreso than angels, are individuals who differ from one another if only because of their race. You're also loyal, but you do not hesitate to express your concern in front of your superior's plan. To summarize, I need strong, but open-minded angels, not sycophants who are still fanatic of Ilias."
The valkyrie gulped. "In that case… I will accept, my lord."
"Good… Take a rest for tonight, I'm exhausted myself and will promote you properly by the end of the week. If you have fellow angels to recommend, don't hesitate to tell me."
"I will do so, my lord."
When the valkyrie left, Micaela nearly collapsed on a comfortable chair.
I really need to make myself my own circle… Whatever the Ancestors will do with those angels, I can't count on those… Either nobody will trust them and they'll go on their own again, or they'll try to impose the rule of Ilias and I'll have to fight tooth and nail to keep everyone on my side.
Unless I do like Ilias… If they want her, I'm going to give it to them until they're completely sick of it.
Back in her smaller form, Tamamo slowly walked through the main hallway of the castle as she examined the aftermath of the battle: The main door had been torn open once again, and the walls had suffered heavy damage. Even if she used her full skills, reconstructing them would take a few weeks at best. Maybe she could even arrange the place and make it look livelier in the process… They were now inviting humans to live in after all.
Don't distract yourself. Take a good look at your failures…
Tamamo then looked at the floor of the castle itself. The stone was covered with different marks of blades and with blood. The bodies of the dead monsters had already been moved away before they would be dealt with in the appropriate fashion for each species. Fortunately, there hadn't been many deaths, but each one of them was one too many caused by her own failure to correctly deal with Kagetsumugi. The remaining guards had been given permission for the remainder of the day, and they returned to consoling humans who were still shocked by the sudden attacks after they got healed.
I'm surprised they're still around after that. Most people I knew would have left the place, and with good reason. Maybe they're already completely hooked to the pleasures we bring… Luka was right, I should take a look into that, it could really become an issue in the future.
And where can he be? I really hope we'll be able to pull something, anything from those angels. Even under Erubetie's care the Monster Lord keeps getting weaker and weaker.
The kitsune started tearing up. I don't want to see another Monster Lord dying in my care again…
"Can I do anything for you, mistress?"
Tamamo looked up to see a concerned Yao and calmed herself ever so slightly. Between her clan, and her fellow Heavenly Knights, she still had some loyal friends and family she could rely upon. She wanted to stay strong for them.
"What are the damage between the healing ward and the roof?"
"The usual result of an angel attack. The healing ward's main entrance had been blown wide open, and we have a large part of the floor damaged, but nothing that threatens the integrity of the castle. Yao's ears drooped while her tone became an octave lower. "We also deplore four deaths: Two succubi, one vampire, and one behemoth."
Tamamo made the math. With the ones in the lobby, twelve monsters had died in this pointless battle.
"Did any monster give any additional information as to what happened?"
"I'm afraid not."
Tamamo sighed and started strolling again, kicking a pebble that had broken away from the floor. Whether it was Alma Elma, Erubetie or Granberia, none of the other Heavenly Knights had given her relevant information that she didn't already know. In hindsight, she was just relieved that they were all alive and successfully defended the Monster Lord.
The report she got from the Lilith Sisters had left her with mixed feelings: She couldn't pierce through the succubi's expression to know if they were telling the truth or lying through their teeth. Apparently, Minagi had guessed that Kagetsumugi had captured the angels and had then asked her daughters to help her defend the castle.
Tamamo didn't even attempt to ask any question afterward. She knew that she would only be met with flourished embellishment of this story and their fight. Her only hope to get the bottom of this would be to ask the Ancestor of succubi directly, and if the Lilith Sisters probably lied, she had no doubt Minagi would use the same tricks she herself used in the past.
She took a few minutes to meditate in front of the laid down bodies of the dead monsters, silently asking for their forgiveness after she made so many mistakes in the name of her desire to maintain the fragile peace between monsters and angels.
Five Ancestors supposed to be in Hellgondo, and not a single one of us was there to defend the castle. I should have alarmed my sisters. I'm not sure Hiruko would have made herself available, but Kanade is trying to do a lot for others, and Saja… No, I couldn't contact her in the first place.
And nothing would have happened if I didn't let Kagetsumugi roam free in castle in the first place… I completely underestimated her. If only I had also taken care of her and not focused on my sisters!
…There's no point in ruminating over what I could have done in hindsight. I'm just going to further hurt myself, and I have to fix my mistakes.
First, let's go check on Alice...
Tamamo made her way to the Healing Ward where, unsurprisingly, Saja was present, guarding near the Monster Lord's bed, just at the other side of Erubetie. What attracted her attention, however, were the numerous wounds all over her. Kanade was also here, helping Erubetie maintain the health of the Monster Lord, but Tamamo was more concerned with the visible sorry state of the yoma.
"What happened to you?! Why are you wounded?!"
Saja answered in a threatening growl. "I had a disagreement with someone you know well…"
Tamamo felt panic rising through her before Kanade managed to sooth her.
"And her interlocutor is doing fine. The conflict has been settled in a civilized manner."
Tamamo sighed in relief, trembling all the while. Micaela's death would have been a killing blow to her already low morale.
"Still… Why are you not healed? It would only take a few minutes…"
"I had bigger priority at hand than my personal well-being. The safety of the descendant of the Dark Goddess is more important than my own comfort."
"She felt guilty for leaving the region before the assault happened."
Saja glared at Kanade, but the latter completely ignored her, focusing instead on maintaining the vitals of the comatose Monster Lord. Instead, the yoma reported her attention on Tamamo.
"And you, why weren't you guarding the Monster Lord castle? From what I gathered, this was the result of an enemy under your responsibility."
Tamamo heavily sighed and slumped against the wall under everyone's gaze. She remained silent for a few moments before talking in a trembling tone, still looking down.
"I underestimated Kagetsumugi… I wanted to make sure this war didn't restart, while making sure all those monsters wouldn't get slaughtered… I was afraid you would eagerly join the fray afterward, and I couldn't even contact you to warn you…"
Saja looked down in shame again. The two Ancestors remained silent while Kanade and Erubetie tried to continue their work while trying to ignore the quarrel besides them, their magic and slime barely making a noise.
"…Why didn't you tell us about Micaela and her plan?" Saja's tone was poisonous. She attempted to look into Tamamo's eyes, but even all her supernatural authority was insufficient to make the kitsune react. "We were bound to discover it, and we could have avoided this needless conflict. I feel that you currently trust the first seraph more than your own sisters."
Tamamo defiantly returned Saja's glare. "Do you really have to ask why? She deliberately turned a blind eye to my activities during all those years. She supported us at a critical time against her old master. She helped us again and again. And when you returned the first thing you did was assaulting her. Kanon attempted to devour a city. Minagi tried the same with another one, and Hiruko was trying to turn Safina in her sandbox again. The only one I had a doubt would try anything was Kanade who had always focused on taking care of her kin, just like the current queen.
"I did learn about your plan through the Grand Noah Queen by the way… Still, I would have wished to hear it from you instead."
Kanade's murmuring tone didn't let any emotion filter. Tamamo was unnerved as she was unable to tell if her sister was furious, disappointed, or simply jaded.
"But it's in your nature to keep secrets, and if it wasn't I wouldn't be sure we would have the luck to be here with the descendant of the Dark Goddess…"
"Maybe… But we're supposed to be her children as well, and we cannot continue to quarrel against one another because someone kept silent, and it is clear there is a conflict between you and Minagi. Now…" The yoma's tone hardened. "Tell us the truth. Tell us how we can help you. I'm willing to compromise for the descendant of the Dark Goddess."
Tamamo looked at the scene in front of her. Saja was inquisitively looking at her, but even beyond all the hostility, she could feel the yoma's concern for the Monster Lord and for herself. In the meantime, Kanade and Erubetie were working together on the Monster Lord at the same time as if it was the most natural thing. And she already knew that Hiruko would take care of the transformed angels and monsters, if only for the challenge they posed. She started regretting having kept them out of so much away from them… She bowed in front of the group, surprising everyone.
"I sincerely apologize for keeping you in the dark about my designs so often then. Minagi and Kanon have completely put me on the edge. I will tell you what exactly happened."