Title inspired by Dungeon Defense's "The Most Extravagant Circus" chapter. It's a lot harder to write this sort of content than it'd seem, and it looked really hard from the get-go.
They gave Diodora a couple of days to recover and fetched him right to the meeting on the next day, no expenses spared for his treatment but with no contact from the outside world. Only Stain's shapeshifting abilities kept the creature with him without raising suspicion, and even then Diodora suspected that at least some alarms were raised from the constant presence that kept him company. And yet, no one came to destroy the slime.
Progress, at least, would be made in relative comfort. Since he could triangulate with Miyuzuin through Stain's many bodies, and so he sent them off to retrieve his… Their victory condition.
"Ah, it's been way too long. Thank you all for coming today." Azazel spoke up once Diodora entered the room, standing up and spreading his hands to talk to the whole room all at once.
It looked like how Kuoh Academy was decorated, with exquisite wooden lining on the lower and upper edges of the walls, and candles that looked right out of a Victorian setting. The decorations, too, looked a little too excessive. But at least they made sense in the context of what individuals had gathered there. So the paintings and handicrafts depicting angels, devils, and mythological creatures, could be explained away.
Azazel sat in the middle of a long wooden table of dark coloration. To his right, Serafall Leviathan sat demurely while the fallen angel talked. The Azazel's left, Michael stared at Diodora with a neutral but unflinching expression. Almost like he could see through the young devil and into the distance.
Now. How would Diodora do this? If he understood things right, then he could expect to be questioned mainly about two things: Stain, who didn't follow him inside, and Ophis' snake. If anyone tried to look, they'd be able to find the Infinite Dragon God's power within him. So it's not like he could deceive any of them on this, let alone prevent them from doing so. And for Stain… Well, too many people knew now about the Oblex. And Diodora had the feeling that Sona would've at least talked about this with her sister before the whole Miracle Child incident started, so it's not like Diodora could lie about the creature either.
So what, then, remained as an option?
"This Diodora Astaroth greets the representatives of Heaven, the Grigori, and the Underworld." Diodora bent the knee, hissing under his breath when the muscles in his back, thighs, and shoulders protested the motion. But otherwise tried not to shake on the spot too much.
It might've gained him a few cookie points, but he didn't have his sister's devilish ability to gauge sympathy. So he would try his best to hide his physical weakness as much as he could, without casting Autosuggestion.
With some luck, these guys would be able to tell he was faking good health. Which in turn would accomplish the same thing as showing weakness, without leaning too hard into it. Who knew? Again, his sister used to be the better one at gauging these things. She presented herself as the weak, the ignorant. She made herself agreeable by looking like someone harmless. Someone one would feel good being compared to, but who at the same time didn't deserve to be exposed to such comparisons…
Had he actually asked for help, she'd have probably said something like 'you're boy, you'll only be a bother if you do this'. To which he'd have probably said 'fine, screw you and your tactics anyway, you suck anyway'.
…
Okay, maybe he was looking for strength somewhere he shouldn't. But to his credit, he just came back from purgatory. So there's not much he can do in that department, with how death showed new lights of life and whatnot.
Diodora blinked a couple of times to clear his thoughts, and raised his head. It wasn't the time for such useless thoughts.
"The young heir from the house that produced the current Demon Lord of Beelzebub, correct?" Michael asked, his voice melodious but even. Almost like his every word belonged more to a song than a discourse.
"That is so, Archangel Michael." Diodora smiled weakly, and turned to look at the Demon Lord facing him "Lady Serafall. It is a pleasure to see you again."
Serafall smiled just as weakly.
"Yes, it is. I'm glad you're okay."
Okay might be an overestimation, but none of them said that. Instead, they allowed Azazel to take back the lead of the conversation. He clapped his hands as he sat back down and got comfortable in his chair. Smirking in a way that made Diodora slightly uncomfortable, but without looking straight at him. So the young devil couldn't even make a mental note to raise the topic later.
"What? No personalized greeting for me?" Azazel gave him a smug scoff, but this time it made Diodora share a bit of his good mood.
"I've heard it's appropriate to refer to you as 'Professor Azazel' nowadays, but I'm not a part of Kuoh's school." Diodora pointed out. Speaking slowly, taking his time. He needed to breathe without much hurry because it still hurt him to do so at a normal pace. A little bit, but uncomfortable enough to make his breathing rough.
"Unfortunate." Azazel chuckled "But I am still the General Governor of the Grigori, so you could also go with that. Although I don't mind if you drop the honorifics altogether."
Highly unconventional, but Diodora nodded all the same.
Now then…
"Now then." Azazel seemed to mirror Diodora's thoughts "Sorry for calling you so suddenly after you came back from death. I'll try to make this worth everyone's time. Michael?"
The archangel nodded and got to his feet, moving his chair-slash-throne back a bit before clapping his hands once above his head.
A golden light blinded Diodora, who feared that he'd just get a smite to the face then and there, and when his eyes got used to the lighting again a number of open doors had appeared all around the room.
People began filling in as Diodora stood there, mouth agape while feeling the stinging sensation of the light element making him slightly uncomfortable as it slowly washed away.
Had that been… An archangel's miracle?
"You know who we are, there's no need for further introductions." Azazel continued while Michael got back to his seat. The fallen angel motioned toward the teenagers entering the room "So let's go to the main event. All these people here have been questioned on their own. One year and a half ago, we reunited to discuss a topic of utmost importance. And right now we're going to close this case so we can all move one to brighter times."
Diodora allowed himself to look around, seeing Rias lead her peerage with Sona filling in the opposite side, to Diodora's right. They both had new people with them, which almost distracted Diodora enough to not feel overtaken with panic when Fate Weaver and Star Seeker crossed their own threshold right behind where Diodora stood. And it took all of his restraint to force himself to look away and forward in spite of every instinct telling him not to.
Even Ophis' snake, which Diodora hadn't felt in just as long as he hadn't been awake, rattled deep within him under the stress.
Diodora took a deep breath and fired a bit of his self-brainwashing spell to calm his nerves. Just enough to soften the edges before letting the spell die down on its own.
He couldn't get nervous here. All the cards were on the board, all the turns had been taken, all pieces had been used. Now, more than any time, Diodora felt the most clearly his main goal right in front of him. That he hadn't been around to nurture his plan, and face the adversities didn't matter. He thought back on Miyuzuin, tired as she looked, and silently thanked her again for weathering the storm for him.
Because he closed his eyes to do this, he was taken aback when a couple of strong hands found their way around his body and lifted him up into a tight hug.
"Genshirou?!" Diodora squealed as he snapped his eyes open and saw the blond lifting him from the ground.
"Diodora-san!" The boy… Well, the young man, rather. The young man beamed at him with watery eyes and a big dumb smile on his face "You're okay!"
"Okay might be an overstatement." Diodora sounded worried, but in reality his bones were rattling due to Genshirou's newfound strength. He had grown, and he now looked so swole that Diodora hadn't actually recognized him instantly "You look fine, though. Better than fine, actually."
"Ehehehe…" Genshirou put him down and scratched the back of his head awkwardly.
"Do you mind?" Azazel interrupted before Genshirou could say something.
"I… Right! Sorry, Azazel-sensei!" Genshirou ran off to Rias' side, standing to her left and between her and Miyuzuin. Who had just arrived.
Diodora offered only a single glance before he looked back to the front, into Azazel's eyes.
"Ahem… Well then." Azazel coughed on his fist before continuing "Now that we're here, Diodora."
The devil couldn't help tensing his shoulders. Azazel's eyes grew cold.
"A year and a half ago, we discussed matters and talked to most of the people present." Azazel crossed his fingers and placed his elbows on the table. Behind him, a gray haired girl walked closer until she could recline on the fallen angel's chair's backrest "And we found something very particular. While a lot of mistakes were made, and unneeded conflict erupted, there was a single constant in all of those happenings."
Azazel didn't point a finger to Diodora, but he might as well have done it.
"Me." Diodora murmured without much energy.
"That's right, you." Azazel didn't take his eyes off Diodora "Not only were you there for Shiki's attack, nor did you play a critical role in the last fight against her. Your presence in Kuoh started a series of events that led, not only to the death of several agents of the church, but to the harm of your fellow devils. And also, to the almost start of another armed conflict between Heaven and Hell."
Wasn't that too much? Diodora had, indeed, attacked and helped kill several exorcists after Star Seeker first arrived at Kuoh. And she and Elijah might've gone there due to Diodora giving Genshirou the Shadow Prison. But even the most biased diplomat had to agree that none of those things happened because Diodora directly did something to them.
He couldn't have expected that giving Genshirou a Sacred Gear would awaken something in the other Vritra hosts, nor could he be blamed for helping defend Kuoh Town and make an example of those who tried to fight the heirs of the 72 Pillars.
…Then again, did any of that matter?
"Are those the things I'm being accused of?" Diodora's voice broke a little bit, but he pulled the question off as a single sentence. He kept his breathing even, his head held high and his eyes focused on Azazel. His gaze didn't wander to either Serafall or Michael to search for confirmation.
No. Fairness had nothing to do with this process. All that mattered was the way that facts were presented, and how agreeable that way was found by the people in charge: Azazel, Serafall, and Michael.
Diodora knew for a fact that fairness did not exist. His mother had favored his sister, and his father never gave anything that he wasn't convinced his children hadn't earned. And he didn't need his older brother to be reminded that his situation was utterly unfair.
Fairness does not exist. Fairness is a lie told by the people in power to those below, so they are subdued into complacency. So all they can do is ask for it, and be rewarded sparingly while the ones with actual power hoarded benefits with impunity. From a politician that silences reporters looking into their secrets, to a father that does not give clear answers when asked for help.
With this reminder, Diodora's heart grew cold again. The warmth that Genshirou gave him got drained from his face and chest until only an empty amusement remained, Miyuzuin's expectant expression was pushed back into the corner of his mind, and he ignored the rest of the reincarnated devils in favor of giving all of his attention to Azazel.
"That's right." The fallen angel confirmed, amusement basically gone as he sat back.
Diodora smirked slightly, feeling the gaps in his skin touch when his cheeks raised.
"I'm sorry. It might be that I just woke up from a year-long coma, or maybe the exposure to the Archangel Michael's light energy, but I can't really understand what you're talking about." Diodora spoke slowly but clearly, letting the leaders keep their attention on him or miss his words. He didn't feel slighted now. No one had, for unfairness could only exist in a world with its opposite "How am I, the one that's just recovered from the outcome of the Miracle Children's powers, responsible for so many wrongdoings?"
Diodora ignored the reactions to his words, choosing to close his eyes so he could rest them a bit. At least while he waited for an answer.
He opened them when an amusing thought crossed his mind, making him chuckle.
"Surely, you're not accusing me of plotting to get so brutalized that only the cooperation of the Three Factions could save my life. Right? Because in that case, I'd take offense at being called such a hopeless buffoon that I might have to ask for a duel to save my honor." Diodora frowned "Defend my honor, rather."
The girl behind Azazel chuckled, but the leaders didn't react to his words very well.
Okay, lowering the tone then.
"Are you accusing me of trying to hurt you?" Michael frowned. Not out of anger, or feeling slighted. But out of concern "If I wanted, you'd not be standing and speaking. I'll have you know."
"Nonsense, right?" Diodora ignored the unspoken threat in favor of pushing his point "So please, speak frankly so all of this makes sense to me. You don't need me to show you the scars, you don't need me to explain how things turned out. So do explain to me why I'm being charged for… Almost starting a war, of all things."
Azazel nodded, and turned to Serafall.
"Diodora-chan." The Demon Lord sighed, not hiding how unwilling to proceed she was "Is it true that your peerage consisted of only nuns before coming to Kuoh?"
So they wanted to start with that? Unsurprising, but a little tight on how Diodora could spin it around. He almost wanted to divert the attention, but he could clearly see that they intended to build their case from the very beginning. To paint a clear picture to everyone present step by step.
"Incorrect." Diodora replied with no hesitation. He wanted to feign confusion, at least partially, but decided against it. Staying firm in his word and stare, taking advantage of the way Serafall worded the question. Perhaps like she wanted him to "Some of my girls weren't nuns, but exorcists… Or ex-exorcists, I suppose. Not all of them took the votes, and not all of them were taught how to assist during mass."
Serafall showed a small smile for the briefest of moments. Perhaps with a bit of understanding mixed in.
Did she approve of Diodora's understanding of his ex-peerage members? Or did she want to confirm for herself if he cared about them at all?
"So yes, all of them belonged to the church. Right?" Azazel ignored the technicality in favor of getting the point across.
Diodora expected Michael to be the one doing that, but he couldn't complain.
"Ex-members, but yes."
"As I understand, all of them seem to have renounced the faith after problems from demonic nature." Michael continued this time, sounding a lot more bothered now "Their behavior is reported to have changed, and the problems they caused those around them got a lot worse before either falling off the radar or causing an armed conflict that left their groups either crippled or completely eliminated."
Diodora gave Michael his full attention. The archangel's wrath now shone in his eyes.
"Am I expected to understand that all of these events have no relation between each other?"
Okay, another strange way of wording things. Accusing Diodora without actually coming out and saying it. He didn't know why, but he'd do his best to keep things on track anyway.
"Of course not. There's too many things in common, if I'm led to believe these things happened more than just a few times." Diodora feigned ignorance, giving a broader answer than the implicit question on the table "I'd not breach the trust given to me, especially not that of the dead, so you'll have to excuse me if I simply ask you to look inward to the organization that you now lead."
Michael blinked in confusion, maybe unsure of how to take Diodora's answer. He didn't give the angel time to fully process it.
"I do not consider myself a bad person." Diodora shrugged "Even without taking into account where my household stands, I'm still a member of the clan that birthed the current Demon Lord of Beelzebub. The house renowned for one of the finest devils to ever come out from all of devilkind."
Diodora turned to Serafall, giving her a meaningful look while he talked.
"Our Demon Lords have done their best to push forward. In spite of war, and decadence, our society still flourishes under the power that the Evil Pieces give us. And, because the reincarnated devils give us such chance, society has moved to accommodate them as a matter of fact. I was born under such common sense, and I can't help it when I see people in need."
Diodora turned to Rias, reaching out with his hand as if to point her as an example.
He didn't. He wasn't supposed to know.
"Rias' cousin, Sairaorg Bael, is one with such a mindset as well. He has recruited half-devils and those of lower stance in our society to give them a chance. To let them join under his banner so they can get the recognition they deserve, to see their potential realized." Diodora shook his head, trying not to go too overboard with his mannerisms and only succeeding partially "Alas, it seems like my intentions are misunderstood. Archangel Michael, angel of the Heavenly Host. I did not cause conflict in the church by reaping their holy maidens and seeding doubt and anger, those things were always plentiful amidst the ranks of humanity. All I did was take those in need away from their places of struggle. All I did was try to help and let them join my ranks so they could realize their full potential."
Diodora directed his gaze toward Azazel, the one that should know the best how strict the God of the Bible's light truly was.
"So you've been told that my girls changed for the worse? That's a very convenient way to wash their hands of their own wrongdoings, if you ask me. A very useful excuse to hide their errors and mistreatments, of the horrible things that fester under the guise of faith. Again, I shall not disclose the details to honor the memory of my peerage. But I guarantee that, if you look, you'll find a lot of dark secrets that have been birthed by your church long before I was born."
"Yeah, because that explains why everyone in your peerage was a woman." Fate Weaver stated, no inflection in his voice beyond that of pointing out the obvious.
The silence was deafening enough that Diodora worried he had gone too far while overlooking something so simple. He looked around furtively, trying to gauge the reactions from everyone present. Trying to find Dulio amidst the people that gathered, and trying to guess how the Miracle Children behind him had reacted.
"Sister Belen Murray was used as an executioner." Genshirou broke the silence, swallowing his nervousness before continuing "As I understand it, she was used for her Sacred Gear. Letting her forge evidence of demonic presence with its taint just so she could execute rivals and undesirable problems for her higher ups."
Diodora suppressed a smile. He'd have to thank the boy later.
"Isn't she in charge of a stray exorcist's siblings?" Out of the blue, Star Seeker also spoke up "One of the Sellzen. That guy's a menace, and the Sigurd Institute is a whole bag to unpack there."
Diodora turned around, puzzled. Fate Weaver looked at his fellow Miracle Child with similar confusion, but his expression hardened as he put his attention back forward. Sending Diodora a glare.
He looked back at the leaders, still confused about the intervention. And the three in front of him didn't really help him clarify anything. Azazel looked interested, while Michael showed a lot more concern than Diodora expected. Only Serafall feigned any sort of calmness in all of this, and it seemed to be because the topic switched back to the church instead of remaining on devil territory.
Had Diodora misunderstood something? Was he fighting the wrong battle, being confrontational with Michael instead of quietly letting them come to their own conclusions? No. That'd be madness. But he still didn't understand this setting, why these things were flowing like they did.
"The Sigurd Institute?" Diodora asked, trying to buy himself some time to think. It'd probably have to do with Freed anyway, and the way people reacted to the topic would say more about their goals than their answer itself.
"It's besides the point." Fate Weaver declared, forcing Diodora to turn around to look at him again.
"I mean, he's got a point." Star Seeker added, and Fate Weaver hissed a 'Star, please' under his breath.
Diodora turned back to look at the faction leaders, feeling horribly out of place now that the two Miracle Children seemed to be in disagreement with one another.
What the actual fuck? What is going on?
Diodora wondered for a moment whether Star Seeker was messing with his head, trying to trip him by acting like she agreed with him. After all, revealing this sort of information didn't seem to get any form of real backlash, so maybe she could try to lul Diodora into a false sense of security.
It'd fit, but Diodora didn't want to start second guessing every single comment made by everyone in the room. It'd be easier to discard her comments, ignore her for the sake of simplicity. But at the same time…
What was Diodora not getting?
"Well, yes. An institution run in the image of the divine is bound to have a lot of trouble." Azazel easily discarded the notion, motioning with his hand as if bored of the topic "They lack the guiding light, and have too much… How should I put it?"
"Desire?" Michael suggested.
"Individuality." Serafall stated.
"Individuality, yes." Azazel smirked "Let's call it that. Not a lot of unity, a lot of thoughts, different levels of faith."
Diodora frowned again.
"And?" He tilted his head.
"Nothing." Azazel shrugged "Unless you want to make a case of the slights and mistreatment you've known to happen within holy grounds?"
Diodora fell silent. He couldn't do that, even if he wanted. Because he had never been there, and wouldn't be able to keep his story straight.
These beings had centuries of life experiences, Azazel and Michael probably even millenia. How was Diodora supposed to fool them with just a couple of days of preparation?
Azazel smirked again.
"Any other comments about this?"
"Everyone's entitled to their own choices." Serafall commented "Diodora-chan shouldn't be held accountable for only helping certain people."
"It becomes a problem when there's such obvious interest involved." Michael argued "Yes, helping others is good no matter how you see it. But Fate Weaver's comment also brings some truth: It's evident that no goodness of heart was involved in his choice, no matter how true his story."
Diodora pressed his lips together, eyeing Genshirou and Miyuzuin for a brief moment.
They didn't look too excited about any of this.
"Now then, while we're on the topic of the church… Elijah the Witch Hunter." Azazel straightened his back "We're all aware why the church approached Kuoh Town to begin with. What I fail to understand is how you intercepted a second Vritra Sacred Gear."
Azazel placed his elbow on the table and held his head with his hand.
"Care to elaborate on that?" He asked, almost purring in how he spoke.
Diodora understood that, if he kept being the one answering the questions, he wouldn't be able to paint a different picture from what they've found. No matter if Star Seeker, or Genshirou, and or even Serafall herself chimed in to give their opinion. The leaders had already come to their own conclusions, probably doing all of this just for the sake of the procedure.
He knew this, it was obvious and self-evident.
And yet something still didn't make sense. From the way the leaders sort of let the teens speak and interact, the way Diodora had gotten away with trash-talking the church, how neither was Serafall actively helping him nor was Michael doing the opposite. The way Azazel led this whole thing with little to no actual firmness…
Diodora eyed Azazel, who still looked somewhat amused. He stared at the girl behind the fallen angel, with her lukewarm interest in the whole affair.
He cursed under his breath.
"No." Diodora glared at Azazel "I shall not."
