NMHA Ch. 13 - Out of the Frying Pan...


(Three days prior...)

"This can't be right."

This couldn't be right.

Could it?

Ajuka was looking down, eyes widened in amazement as he stared down at the paper listing the results of his latest experiment.

The results were apparent, but he couldn't help but feel as though maybe, just maybe, he ended up making a mistake somewhere.

But where? His process was as immaculate as ever, his lab as secure, his experimentation itself both as technologically and magically stable as he could make them, solely for the reason he was staring at now, which he'd done more on a whim than anything else.

"I can't believe this."

He was so taken aback, that the normally placid scientist was shaking, pupils dilated and beads of sweat forming on his brow.

"I can't believe this!"

Ajuka Beelzebub's disturbance was great enough that his normally perfect control slipped, causing the room around him, as well as the next few rooms over, to shake as his aura bore down on everything nearby.

"This is... this is..."

Miraculous. Phenomenal. Of such a magnitude of a discovery that the Underworld might never be the same.

...But also very, very dangerous as a result. To say nothing of...

"L-lord Beelzebub!" A research assistant near the doorway that led to out of Ajuka's laboratory had managed to open it up before collapsing on the ground, body trembling as he struggled for breath.

The Satan glanced back, some part of his mind noting that assistant's resilience before reigning his power back in. "My apologies. My recent tests have provided an... alarming result."

"Ah... ah... Alarming how?"

'For what it could mean, going forward...'


(Present time...)

Lunarunn felt out of place.

It wasn't her outfit, nor was it because of any specific noble showing her up, nothing like that at all.

No, it was because of two reasons.

Reason one: the brunette was sitting in the back of a limousine sipping on some water.

Reason two: she was currently in the back of said limousine, with a sulking Ajuka Beelzebub in a tuxedo.

It wasn't completely obvious, but after spending so much time having him run all those tests on her, Luna noticed that he had a few of the same tics she did back when she was human.

Granted, she wasn't quite as introverted as Ajuka is, even as she was back then, but his staring out the window and exhaling heavily out his nose told her that he was just as reluctant to go to this as she was.

Plus, there was the fact that he could have just teleported to the party if he so chose, which meant...

"Sirzechs gang-pressed you into this too, huh?"

He glanced back at the Natural Reincarnated Devil, turning to face her before leaning in, resting his head in one propped arm and rubbing a temple with two fingers from his other.

"He was pretty insistent that I come along to play the angle of revealing my protege to the world. Even called in a favor he'd been holding over my head for ages, so clearly he meant business."

"I'm... not, though?" Granted, she'd picked up some things on magic from Ajuka and challenged him on a few concepts of it during their examinations, but that wasn't really a mentorship or even a partnership for that matter. It had the beginnings of it, but that was more just banter than anything else.

"That's what I said." He huffed out a short laugh. "But he had a point. Inviting you personally, despite your status, would raise all kinds of flags. You're just a random Devil who found herself waking up with a human soul, after all. But as an anomaly, that's much more up my alley to bring you along, particularly if I wanted to make an announcement regarding the Evil Pieces."

"This 'Devil with a human soul' takes offense to that." She lifted her nose up and huffed, taking on a haughty tone. "I, am the first of my kind, a Natural Reincarnated Devil, and the future of our kind, bearing the blood of our forefathers. To say nothing of making sure those upstart Strays become a thing of the past."

A beat passed, where normally there wouldn't be one. Luna briefly wondered if she'd said something wrong.

But then Ajuka gave a bark of laughter and grimaced. "Ugh, don't remind me of them."

"I wish I could, but chances are there's gonna be a few of the Old faction who try to send me back home crying because 'I'm reaching above my position'." The brunette shook her head with a derisive snort, eyes sliding shut as she took another sip of her water, wondering what the brief silence may have meant. "As if they've done any more than I have to deserve those spots."

"Fair warning, there will be a few who have done just that," the green-haired Maou tone brooked no argument. "Which is why you've gone to such lengths to prove you can hold your own at least in the environment of socialites."

"Yeah, yeah, I know." Luna scratched the back of her head, glancing upward and to the right now. "If I had to wear heels though, I'd have walked over to the Lucifer estate and told Sirzechs where to shove it."

He grinned, Ajuka clearly having something to tack on to that. "I'd have taken the heels too and stabbed him with them."

That got the brunette chortling. "Oh, that would have been irony at its finest! Good thing for him that this is a dance. Waaaaay more tolerable, especially after the paces Serafall put me through."

Ajuka leaned back in his seat, drumming his fingers on a thigh. "So she wasn't a bother?"

"Far from it. I actually enjoyed the politics lessons, and dancing with her was a pretty fun time too. Can't say I much appreciate how much I had to clean up, after she ended up chasing me down for bringing her sister into a discussion as an argument to tone down the history lessons a bit."

"And there we go." He shook his head again, sighing lightly. "I would think you'd have learned your lesson after what Sirzechs did to you for doing the same thing. Are you sure you're not cracked in the head from your reincarnation?"

"Eh, we're all a little crazy here. Sirzechs is aggressively overprotective of anything he sees as his, Serafall cosplays as a magical girl in public and has the forethought of a squirrel, you're so married to your work I'm surprised you haven't slept with it yet-"

"Watch it," he half-warned, half-joked. Luna held her hands up, palms outward, with a placating grin.

"All I'm saying is, everyone around me has got their quirks. My being the crass, slightly reckless girl I am is really not that much different than you guys."

Another pregnant paused passed, when Luna realized that this time she did say something wrong. Her smile dropped.

"I'd say more than slightly," Ajuka pinched the bridge of his nose and sighed. "That recklessness could get you killed, especially in the business you're getting yourself into. It nearly did, if I recall properly from your debriefing report on the site."

Luna stilled, pupils dilating briefly as he brought up that particular sore spot. She was still working with just how close she'd brushed with death, so having it mentioned in such a manner stung something fierce.

She grit her teeth and turned back to the window. Her fists tightened.

"Low blow, Ajuka."

He was contrite, at the very least. "I know, and I'm sorry. But the point needs to be made. You keep running into situations with half-baked plans, and you're going to wind up making your parents grieve over your body for a second time."

'Why you-!'

Her eyes narrowed, and her face turned into a snarl as the brunette spun back toward the Maou, pulling an arm back as though readying a wind orb to throw at Ajuka's face. His expression hadn't changed, except for a slight narrowing of his eyes.

"Shut the fuck up. I know that."

"Then why do you keep acting as though everything you do is going to always end well?"

Unbidden, a thought rose up as her arm dropped back to her side.

'Hasn't it?'

But that wasn't quite right, was it? She'd admitted that things hadn't gone to plan before, back when Serafall had put the brunette through that crash course. She got lucky. Nothing more, nothing less.

She wasn't happy with Ajuka for taking her to task so brutally over the matter, but he was right.

"Because... I don't know, because even if the little things don't go quite to plan the big things always turn out the way I hope?" The brunette ran a hand through her hair. "Fuck if I know."

The Beelzebub Satan frowned, the steel in his eyes falling away as he viewed Lunarunn. "It's one thing to be confident about your plans and see them through, it's another entirely to be so arrogant as to think they will always succeed no matter what."

"I know, I know," she bit out, letting her hand drop again. "It's just... fuck. I know I'm not perfect, I know that shit falls through, I know that I could have gotten myself and the exorcists I worked with killed."

"Then why do you not put that knowledge to use?"

Luna rubbed her face, shaking her head.

Why didn't she, especially knowing all that?

"I know all that stuff I said before, but... that's one thing I don't."

The drive was quiet after that, the green-haired Devil mulling over Luna's words while the brunette ruminated on the matter herself. Unfortunately, at least for Lunarunn, it was like running in a circle; she was getting nowhere.

"Sorry. For snapping at you."

Ajuka looked back up at the brunette. He inclined his head in an accepting nod. "Apology accepted. I did invite your reaction with my words, but you need to control yourself better."

The woman in question surely hoped her apology was better. As for her self-control, he wasn't wrong there either. She really needed to get a handle on herself.

'Work in progress. Work in progress.'

Didn't make her feel any less conflicted on the matter though.

"...How is Uvarys, by the way?"

"The Stray you had dropped off? About as well as you might imagine going through those tests."

It sounded like he'd been uncooperative. Luna probably should have expected that. She hoped the Stray had managed to survive though.

He should at least get the chance to set the record straight.

"Glad to hear you managed to grab him without much trouble. Wasn't able to get through the receptionist at your lab, so I had to leave a note."

"I was wondering about that." He smiled wryly. "The downsides of being an unknown. At the very least, you'll have the opportunity to clear yourself of that status tonight."

"I suppose so. Means I'll have an all-new slew of issues to deal with though."

"Such is life, sadly." The green-haired Satan wiped off a speck of dust he noticed on his attire. "Though after some time you'll get used to it, much like anything else."

"Not all of us have a lab to hide in when life gets too loud, Ajuka."

"Haha, I suppose not. Though I wouldn't count you among those."

"I'll take that as a roundabout way of referencing my own lab as well as the fact that we're on pretty good terms."

"Excellent, because I meant it that way." He glanced up in thought. "That reminds me, we'll need to have more discussions on magical theory one of these days."

"Gee, good to hear that you see me as a sounding board." Though her tone and smile were sarcastic, Luna meant well, and Ajuka knew it.

"Humans can be rather creative when it comes to mechanics, be it in games, magics, or engineering, so I am at least glad that aspect of your old life was retained in the transition."

Another nod, before the brunette finally decided to challenge the elephant in the room. "Uvarys told me about how he became a Stray in the first place."

"A lover's quarrel, as I mentioned before," he replied blandly.

"It sounded more like she led him on, then completely left him in the rain." Luna glanced out the window. "And when the Underworld failed to help him, he took matters into his own hands."

"Are you agreeing that his revenge was deserved?"

So he wasn't going for omission any more.

"Hell no. But I get where he's coming from." She sighed. "So now I'm just curious; why not just explain his story in full? I'm sure you'd figured it out a long time ago."

"It's one thing to hear the cruelty of the world from a secondhand source. Another entirely to see it for yourself." The green-haired Maou looked out the window, recognition briefly flashing in his eyes before glancing back at the Natural Reincarnated Devil.

'What does he mean by that?'

Luna pressed onward, not satisfied with that answer. "That's the thing, I don't think that's the whole reason. As a matter of fact, why even send me out there against someone who was known for killing whole Peerages? Why erase that information from the database before bringing him to my attention?"

He opened his mouth to reply, but glanced outside again before shaking his head. "Let's shelve that topic for another time. For now, eyes in front; we've arrived."

The brunette scowled briefly, but nodded and cleared her expression nonetheless. "Then let's be sure to put on a good show. But we're not done with this discussion, you hear me?"

Ajuka glanced back, as their driver got out and opened the door on his side. "I would be surprised if you were."

After that, he said nothing else, instead stepping out and helping Luna out alongside him to the flash of cameras and excited chatter.

Luna wasn't focused on that, however. Something about what Ajuka just said there didn't sit right.


Her ruminations fell away when they actually stepped into the hall, however.

Even after years of living in what a human would consider utter luxury, Lunarunn still found herself baffled at the amount of wealth put into simple display. The hall that she found herself in shortly after joining Ajuka beyond the confines of the limousine was ornate to an extreme, crystalline chandeliers lighting the high ceiling filled with images of Devils fighting Angels fighting Fallen, and everything below the art from on high. The tables were elaborate, the host to foods of such high class, quality, and both that the brunette would be hard-pressed to name them all despite her studies under the Leviathan. The drinks were of a similar sort, bottles of fine wines and juices in enough variety to keep Luna trying new ones were she to be in the party for a week. The bodies that moved across the large hall, interacting with one another, were garbed in such pristine suits and dresses that she couldn't help but look down and briefly tidy her own appearance to not seem out of place.

Though the master of ceremonies appeared to take that distinction out of her hands by virtue of the one she joined the party with. A brief word with the green-haired Satan had the Master of Ceremonies blinking briefly in confusion, but recovered with an admirable swiftness to call to the hall their introduction.

"Announcing the arrival of Lord Ajuka Beelzebub, hero of the Civil War and director of the Beelzebub Research Foundation, alongside his invitee for this evening, Miss Lunarunn Bael, of the seventy-third Branch!"

The confusion and wonderment in the air at that declaration was all but impossible to not notice. Ajuka was notoriously averse to the general public, preferring much to remain in his lab and continue his studies in peace.

That he would show up to a party was already notable in itself, regardless of the joyous circumstances in which the party was held, but that he would invite a commoner?

She could practically feel the inquisitive eyes come to rest upon her. What was it about her, that drew even the Director Beelzebub, an introverted spirit almost as notoriously averse to public events as Falbium Asmodeus the Slothful, to bring her along?

"That should give you an opportunity to begin interacting with the other Devils around your age," the scientist in question offered, before turning away. "I will be speaking with Sirzechs and Serafall to officially congratulate them on their new siblings. Have fun."

And like that, Luna was on her own in a world not hers. Much like when she woke up, actually.

Right, this was just as much about her beginning to schmooze as it was to get attention away from talks of an arranged marriage.

Just how was holding a party based around the births of two sisters of the Satans supposed to do that, anyway? She was fairly big news, but considering just how high up the high-class was, Luna wasn't sure her abilities, contributions, and anomalous status alone would give enough pause to stop Rias and Sona from getting into marriage contracts. Especially since two sisters of the Satans was a very big thing.

'...Just what does Sirzechs have planned?'

The brunette had a growing suspicion that she would find out soon enough.


Once again, however, her suspicions had to be set aside to handle a more pressing issue.

That is to say, the Devils that had decided to approach her, laden with questions about the commoner woman who found herself joining a birth party with one of the big faces of the Underworld. Thankfully, the questions seemed fairly benign, if overwhelming coming in all at once.

"How did you and Lord Beelzebub meet?"

"When did you get invited here?"

"What is it about you that drew Lord Beelzebub's attention?"

"Would you happen to be his lover?"

Luna was very glad she was not drinking the glass of water that she'd managed to collect before being surrounded when that last question was aired, so she choked on air rather than accidentally drowning herself in the middle of a dance hall.

Still, her sudden and very physical reaction to that question had the Devils quieting down, glancing between each other as she recollected herself, one of them chiding the person who'd asked her that question. Unfortunately, Luna was too busy trying to not choke on air too hear what they said specifically.

"Ah, my apologies," she finally got in, thanks to the gathering finally growing quiet. "That last question was not one I was expecting."

The one who asked it, an admittedly handsome man with blonde hair and blue eyes, smiled and inclined his head. "The onus is mine. My query was rather sudden, after all. Though your reaction does raise more questions. The primary one being... are you?"

Something about him tugged at Luna's memories, but for the life of her she wasn't sure where she recognized him from.

The once-human shook her head, both to answer the man's question and to focus again on the matter at hand. "As flattered as I am that you would consider the possibility that he and I may be... romantically involved, Ajuka Beelzebub and I are simply acquaintances by virtue of his occupation."

"How so?" Another Devil, this one she didn't recognize at all, queried, her short raven hair-framed expression tilting to the side.

"Well, perhaps it would be better to show you." Lunarunnn gestured for the throng to back away, to which they did.

A moment later, and she had manifested her wings, those pinions of white and prismatic shimmers, to murmurs of surprise and a little awe.

The bodyjumper couldn't help it; she preened a little at the attention. She adored her wings herself, so it was only natural that those who were seeing them for the first time would be amazed.

"Fascinating." The blonde leaned back in, brows furrowed as he studied these strange Devil wings. "They don't look, or even feel all there as far as their presence goes. Yet, they are. Yours are a most fascinating set of wings, Miss Bael."

Was he noting her lack of... physically-oriented demonic power?

"You have my gratitude for the compliment." The brunette smiled and nodded back, looking around at the others now. "As you can see, my wings are... unusual. A side effect from a ritual that I'd undertaken some years back, and from what I've heard from Lord Ajuka a complete fluke."

She smiled thinly. "As glad as I am to have such a unique appearance, I should not even be here now."

The psychic Devil glanced around, half-expecting some entitled twat to jump in on her last comment. To her surprise, even the surlier-looking Devils who'd taken notice of her were more interested with her wings.

"Most fascinating indeed." The blonde Devil stepped back and nodded his head at Luna with a polite smile of his own. "Then I presume your acquaintance with Lord Beelzebub is a result of his curiosity into your physiological changes from that ritual?"

"From the sounds of it, yes. I like to think I'm at least giving him an intellectually stimulating conversation whenever we do meet, though."

"You do seem like a fairly personable sort," he... agreed? It was hard to tell, though the contrite expression was far from fake as he glanced down at his watch. "I have other matters to attend to, but it was nice to speak with you, Miss Bael. I look forward to seeing what sort of splash you make in the future."

With a bow, the easy smile on his face widening briefly as the blonde turned to leave, and alongside him a couple others in the group left alongside him, prompting Luna to withdraw her wings.

Where had she seen him before, though? And how did she never even catch his name, for that matter? Agh, that was going to keep pestering her-

"Wow. If even Lord Ruval's taken an interest in you, then you're definitely something special!" the ravenette gushed, beaming at Luna.

'Wait, what.'

"...That was Lord Ruval Phenex?'

That... that would explain where she knew him from, actually.

"You didn't recognize him?" Another Devil snickered lightly. "No wonder you were so collected. Most commoners would have been completely blindsided by meeting the Eighth King of the Rating Games."

The ravenette followed up with that, copper-colored eyes flashing with curiosity. "I'm surprised you didn't recognize him; he was the one hosting the last Young Devil's Rating Game Tournament. Where were you, if not watching it?"

"Ah. In a coma."

"Ehhh?" The gathering around were surprised by that. "From what?"

"Uh..." Was talking about capturing a Stray for Ajuka's research a privacy breach? "Not sure if it's still confidential or not, actually. I'd rather not break my NDA with Lord Ajuka, I hope you understand."

"It almost sounds as if you are working for him." The black-haired woman again.

"...Technically he contracted me for a specific purpose, but yes."

A whistle from someone in the group around her. "Whooooooooa. What would a Satan need you for, in particular?"

"It would probably be more worthwhile to wait until Lord Ajuka makes an announcement. He's not just here to celebrate the birth of two Satans' sisters, after all."

Unfortunately, she couldn't say more if she wanted to, mostly because she wasn't quite sure what else he was here for. Only that Ajuka had another reason for being here that had something to do with her, that he wasn't sharing.

It did, however, bring to mind a session with Serafall about the current inter-Pillar political climate.

("The Phenexes are a Pillar who, while they did support the New Satan Faction in the civil war, are strongly traditionalist in their beliefs regarding blood purity. They aided us specifically because they were convinced the Old Satan Faction would drive Devils to extinction, rather than siding on ideological similarities."

"Blood preservation instinct, then?"

"Mhm. They are a heavily family oriented Pillar. Not quite so much about the bonds of affection that the Gremory family are well known for, but rather they have a strong focus on bloodline and individual capability. An excess of one can make up for the other in their eyes, but having both are most desirable."

"Gotcha. Water of the womb, as opposed to fire of the crucible?"

"Ah, Luna-tan knows exactly what Levi-tan was getting at! Ironic, but yes. Additionally, the Phenexes have been petitioning to discuss matters of the children with the Gremory family, something that I'm sure Sirzechs has brought up with you."

"Yeah, he has, that's why I'm practicing all this stuff for the ball."

"As it so happens, Lady Phenex recently had a child herself and appears to be trying for another despite three children already being quite rare amongst Devilkind. With the apparent surge in fertility these past few decades the Phenexes want to take advantage of it and maintain the strength of their bloodline for the next generation, if not improve it outright.")

'Hmmmm...'

"Miss Bael?"

"Ah." She'd gotten lost in her thoughts, shoot. The brunette turned to the remaining Devil, the purple-dressed ravenette, the others having their curiosity as sated as possible for the moment. "My apologies. I was merely thinking over a past lesson."

"On?" The black-haired girl pressed.

"The Pillars, of course."

"Hmmmm..."

"Though admittedly, I have little knowledge on the specific members of each family, so I apologize for not knowing your name either." Luna laughed easily. "I hope you'll allow me to rectify that matter?"

"...Very well." The ravenette agreed after a few seconds of though, inclining her head and making a curtsy. "Jaspal Valac, heiress of the Valac Pillar. Pleased to meet your acquaintance, Miss Bael."

"Lady Valac." She made to bow but was stopped by the other woman.

"None of that, please. I know a hidden gem when I see one. As far as I care, we are on the same level."

"Hidden gem?" Luna quirked a smile. "Interesting way of putting it."

"Am I wrong though? Your wings sparkle like a precious stone, you've the ear of Lord Beelzebub, and you caught the attention of the Phenex heir for some reason." She glanced around, before leaning in conspiratorially. "Between you and me, there is something big going on that surrounds you, and I want in on it."

Ah, that made more sense now. "An alliance of convenience, is it?'

"I must place my bets somewhere, and Valacs are banned from casinos by virtue of name, so I may as well do so here."

"Was... was that a joke?"

"You tell me, you are the one who supposedly took lessons for this party."

"...Hah, you've got quite the tongue, Lady Jaspal."

"I did not hear a 'no' from you."

"I'm not even High-class, though."

"You're not?" That threw the friendly Valac for a loop, eyes widening briefly, though she recovered with admirable speed. "Well, you could have fooled me. Then call it an... investment. Like I said, I know a hidden gem when I see it."

Was this a first ally in the stage, then? Just like that? "If you want to know what's going on about me, then I'm afraid I'm as in the dark as you regarding whatever may be happening."

"Perhaps not as in the dark as I am, but not much better either way." Jaspal hummed, swaying from side to side. "Regardless, if you're willing to declare yourself a friend of the Valacs then I would gladly accept it."

Tempting, to be sure. And the Valacs weren't exactly in a position to abuse the hand the heiress was extending; they were pretty low in the Pillar totem pole, with no Devils who had achieved notable positions or achievements compared to the higher castes and as such were relegated to the bottom rank of the top class, the rank of Baron.

A remarkably mediocre family in combat ability, but rather successful as business tycoons thanks to their inherent ability to sense potential in others. And quite socially progressive, given their large amount of interaction with humans in their business dealings.

Luna could see potential in the family too, though not necessarily in a violent or political capacity, which Devils seemed to prefer when it came to determining the worth of an individual.

Very tempting indeed, but then again, that was Devilkind in general. She should play this safe, to avoid cornering herself early on.

"I'll reserve my judgement until I know a bit more about the Valac family on a personal level, and where its heiress intends to steer it," Lunarunn slowly stated, choosing her next words carefully. "Additionally, I can only offer my own friendship in the event that I do accept the hand you offer. Whatever relationship I bear with the Valac family will not reflect the Bael Pillar's relationship with the Valacs as a whole."

"Pragmatic of you." Rather than upset, a slow smile broke across Jaspal's face. "Already I can see I was not wrong. Those are terms I can readily accept."

One more push. "Do you accept those terms, though?"

That got the short raven-haired woman laughing openly. "Ahahahahaha! If I didn't know any better I would think you were born for this!"

She calmed down and held out a hand, the pleased expression from before returning in force. "Yes, I do. I hope this tentative agreement to get to know each other blooms into a legitimate partnership going forward."

Just as their hands met and shook, there was a commotion around them, and a brief silence before someone started speaking, voice amplified by some sort of enchantment.

"If I could have everyone's attention?" Oh, that was Sirzechs. Time to see what exactly was happening, then. Everyone fell into line pretty quickly by quieting, even Jaspal, so Lunarunn played along as well.

"I do apologize for the interruption. I know many of us here were enjoying the fine company among us today, myself included. However, I do have a few words that must be aired before the dance floor can open." A brief pause before the Crimson Satan, having taken a podium and wearing a tuxedo much like his closest friend, continued.

"Now, I can imagine that there are quite a few of you that are curious about why Ajuka Beelzebub decided to join this party. And with a commoner girl as his plus-one no less, though I'm quite certain we all know what is the more alarming of the two."

While his tone was jovial, and even she herself was chuckling at the implication toward the Beelzebub's antisocial behavior, Luna wasn't quite sure she liked how a few of the other Devils seemed to glance her way.

Her sense of concern was also slowly rising, considering the announcement that Ajuka seemed likely to make following Sirzechs.

"With that being said, allow me to welcome my closest friend to the podium, and allow him the opportunity to share the wonderful news he's brought along for this occasion."

Polite applause followed, with the other Satan in question stepping onto the stage, nodding and shaking hands with his peer before turning to the small, slowly rotating magical seal that was floating where Sirzechs had stood before, letting his eyes drift shut before opening them again, a thin smile spreading across his features.

"Yes, it is true that I would generally prefer to avoid such parties as this in favor of my research." Ajuka looked around the room, nodding once as he noted everyone's attention. "Science never ceases, and so I try to emulate that as much as I can without sacrificing what made me the Beelzebub in the first place.

"But there does come a time when unexpected occurrences cross my sight. Anomalies in the system. Miracles like those expected of our oldest, and most respected, adversary had performed in his prime. Miracles, like the survival of a girl, who in her foolishness entreated with a conceptual being."

That garnered gasps abound, even from Jaspal, who looked back at Luna with wide eyes.

She simply gave a half-smile, a shrug, and a small wave in return.

"By all accounts, this girl should be dead. The core of her being, stripped from her body, which would be soon to waste away as what gave her life in the first place ceased to be. Science never stops, and had we not strove to become something beyond what we once were, she would have.

"And yet, she is not dead. We have continued to progress, and the medicines we have come to learn were able to keep her alive long enough for a miracle." Ajuka had the audience rapt. "Though the Lunarunn Bael that performed the ritual was gone, she awakened bearing a new light. A human, light. Imagine my delight, when I realized what an anomaly she was; a Devil with a human soul. Reincarnated, yet still pure. An individual who can represent what Reincarnated Devils can become, yet still remain as much a Devil as any King here despite that Reincarnation. And to think, that she was Reincarnated without even using an Evil Piece? Just what could I learn from this opportunity?"

Murmurs, with the Valac heiress glancing between Ajuka and Lunarunn with a manic light growing in her eye.

Well, that was that. Her secret was out. So why was that feeling of foreboding still growing within her?

"So with Miss Bael's agreement, I have conducted a myriad of experiments upon her blood and what vestigial demonic power I was able to gather from her. And with it... advancement. Progress. Centuries, if not millennia, of research completely bypassed thanks to the contributions this most wonderful Resurrection Anomaly."

"Wait, were those last two words capitalized? Did he just bestow a moniker on me?"

At the query, Jaspal turned back to Lunarunn, nodded rapidly, then turned back to Ajuka.

'And it sounds cool too. Thank you, Ajuka~'

The murmurs were growing, as were the glances over to the once-human. She was receiving more and more attention... although admittedly, the Devils she'd labeled as OSF sympathetics hadn't become any more or less aggressive in their glares. But there was more curiosity there, as nobody was quite sure what to make of her at that point. Progress...?

'Nhhh... what is with this bad feeling that keeps growing?'

"With it, I have theorized multiple methods in which to refine the Evil Pieces," Ajuka threw his arms out to the sides. "By Miss Bael's hand, Uvarys Leraje-slayer was placed in my custody and has been subject to these theoretical methods. These methods were... unpleasant for the recipient admittedly, and so Uvarys has since become deceased, already severely injured as he was by Miss Bael."

That got the purists applauding, likely more for the 'just' punishment of a Stray who'd consigned a Pillar to extinction than anything else, though Luna looked down and scowled, hands tightening into fists briefly as she fought off the wave of revulsion that coursed through her.

Uvarys was dead? Ajuka worked fast. And he was dead because of her. Unable to reconcile his past before he fell to the green-haired Maou's experimentations, which he admitted freely were basically torture...

'Dead because of me.'

The brunette rubbed her forehead harshly, eyes squinting shut as she refocused herself back on the speech.

She'd probably have a few nights of rough sleep ahead, considering the guilt she felt. She knew he was probably dead once Ajuka got ahold of him, but to have it confirmed was not kind on her. If only she'd done more to try and convince him...

'Oh well. He deserved it anyway. Who knows what other sort of things that brute did aside from serial killing?'

"Hmh..."

"Are you alright?" Oh, that was Jaspal.

"Yeah, sorry, my head started hurting all of a sudden. I think I'll be fine though." Lunarunn looked back up at where Ajuka was continuing his announcement-slash-speech.

"Being able to access two Stray Rook pieces from one who was able to kill Peerages has allowed me to cross-reference what I saw with what I learned from Miss Bael. After testing the pieces further..." he reached into his jacket, pulling out two bright red castle carvings. Two Rook Pieces. Uvarys's, Luna realized with a mixture of fascination and distaste.

"I have not only been able to return the Evil Pieces that Uvarys possessed to their original state, but refine the process that helps Reincarnated Devils from other species control their Id to the point that Reincarnated Devils no longer run the risk of their emotions spiralling out of control any more than that of a Pureblooded Devil."

That got the rest of the room applauding, with whistles of approval mixed in. Luna found it in herself to smile, taking solace that at least the Stray Rook's death wasn't meaningless.

"All newly created Evil Pieces will come with this array. For those pieces already in use or in circulation, I will have my research foundation send seals with the updated Id control array out to all Peerages first thing tomorrow. Again, thanks in large part to the selfless contributions that Miss Bael provided to the well-being of Devilkind."

Appeal to the purists, and then to the progressives? Even if he divested himself of politics, Ajuka was doing well to win the crowd's unanimous favor, and even paint Luna in a good light while doing so. Honestly, this was going well. Really well.

So what was the catch? What was it that has her on edge? What was she missing?

"Additionally." A brief flicker of something crossed Ajuka's expression, for just the smallest fraction of a moment, but it was gone so fast Luna wasn't sure if it was there at all. "I come bearing most joyous news regarding Devilkind as a whole, pertaining to Miss Lunarunn Bael."

'That sounds ominous.'

"While studying the blood of Miss Bael, I came across a most curious specimen. During one of my genetic tests I noticed an unusual string of code pertaining to her inherent abilities. After comparing it to Lord Lucifer's and Lady Venelana Gremory nee Bael, I noticed several similarities. While there were unusual enzymes present in Lunarunn's blood, the strands all bore a common pattern."

He smiled in a self-deprecating manner and coughed politely, gathering the attention of the Devils who'd zoned out in the brief tangent. The green-haired Maou went on. "Pardon the scientific speak. In short, I may have alarmed some of my researchers with the intensity of my reaction."

Lunarunn froze, even as a few chuckles rippled through the audience, even as others looked her way with a form of realization appearing in their eyes.

The pieces were coming together. Was he saying...?

"That ritual Lunarunn Bael undertook, she succeeded. And as a result, Devilkind has obtained a completely new, utterly fascinating bloodline."

Her eyes widened, pupils dilating as the realization around her turned into calculating gleams. 'Oh no. He's not kidding, is he? Please tell me he's kidding!'

Ajuka's gaze raked over the crowd, pointedly not looking at her, something the brunette noticed and immediately grew alarmed about.

'No, no, no, don't do this to me man! At least look me in the eyes before you fuck me sideways!'

"I come to declare the most magnificent news," he intoned, sealing Luna's fate with his next words. "that Lunarunn Bael bears a new ability I have taken to calling 'Worldweave'. Furthermore, she is fully able to pass these abilities to any offspring she bears in the future."


A/N:

Dun, dun, dun! And now she has a major in with the high class of Devil society. On her own terms though? Uhhhh... moral of the story! Be careful what you wish for; you just might get it.

Valac in the Ars Goetia is said to know hidden treasures and deliver snakes safely to their summoner. So, the Valac family in my headcanon's going to have a skill somewhere in that vein.

There were a couple reviews this past chapter which were... disappointing. But, they weren't like that bot review that spammed hard 'Rs' that I removed as soon as I saw.

So, let me get to those couple reviews that I wasn't too keen on from the earlier chapters.

One goes on about Luna cursing a lot. Yes, she does. It's part of her character to prefer coarser language when she can get away with it. But, as you saw this chapter and in other various scenes she's also capable of coming off just fine without.

And the other goes, more or less, 'oh a devil with no devil power in the bael family thats so lame there's already sairaorg'. My words, not theirs. Theirs are... more rude. I'm choosing not to delete it though, because admittedly there are quite a few comparisons that can be made.

To that person, I have three things to say, if they have made it this far.

The first one is that Luna isn't so much lacking Devil power. Her 'power' is just from a different source than her own blood or body. It's a mental thing, and one that she will need to understand extensively to master. If you've read up to this point, then you'd have figured that out by now. In a sense, she is the polar opposite of Sairaorg, even if that wasn't my original intention.

Secondly, the reason I chose Bael is because Bael isn't just the main Pillar family from which Zekram rules. The Bael pillar is the big name in the DxD underworld, so it makes sense that there would be many branches from the main family that live on their territory, tending to it and the like. Lunarunn Bael is really only a Bael in name, with a very thin blood relation to the actual Pillar proper. Also something that's been previously mentioned in the story. To have her receive the Power of Destruction would actually be more unusual than to not have it at all.

Thirdly... if you don't like the story, then that's valid, I respect that, and will not begrudge you for putting it down to choose another. Even more if you leave a well explained and thought-out critique about how I might be able to improve going forward. Leaving a review that curses out the author for their choice of creative direction, however, just looks childish.

Now, for another review, which is more of a question: Is Luna going to be completely lesbian, or will that change? This is one that probably was going to be brought up at some point, and now seem to be a good time to address it.

So, let me reframe the question with a question in turn: how will Luna end up changing because of the body she ended up in? Because even if the body is the vessel of the mind is the vessel of the soul, each of them can and do have an effect on each other. I may not have framed it perfectly well, but there are physiological changes to her that she's already noticed. Simpler things, like a more sensitive taste and touch, a body that's filled with more vitality than she had before, but also more instinctual changes, like an inherent attraction to power.

This is a headcanon thing admittedly (fanfiction though), but it makes sense that Devils would want to be near power in the hopes of being able to gain from it. Plus there's the whole 'alpha male' thing in nature atop that. Throw those together with a species highly in tune with their instincts, and you get a race whose females are going to have a very physical reaction to certain shows of might. Went over this near the beginning, actually. Will Luna change as a person? Absolutely. Does that mean she's absolutely going to end up having her sexuality change? No. But, it is possible, and I am certainly keeping the prospect in mind. But, I like to keep the paths of my characters open-ended, so I cannot say whether or not that will be the case.

And XDSnowy, you suggested I look at Re:Zero and Oregiru? I may well have to do that at some point, especially since I am trying to focus on the characterizations and psychology of individuals. Even looking into the former from a video I can see where I might make improvements. Though, yes, Luna's early breakdown was part of learning to handle those types of stresses, so she'll handle future occurrences like that better going forward. Still, definitely worth noting for the future, so thanks again for the recommendations.

I'm coming up to 100k words too, which is kind of mind-boggling to think that I'm still working with the pre-story of canon. That being said, I've been keeping an eye on the number of views for each chapter, and it looks like there's a number of consecutive 'weak' chapters early on. So I've put up a poll to determine what chapters people think need a rewrite for consistency or just to make more interesting. I would really appreciate it if you stopped by and took it so I can improve the overall quality of the story!

Anyway, with that out of the way, Tempura Wizard out. This A/N was way too long. I had a lot to say this past week though.