NMHA Ch. 21 - Catalyst


Serafall Leviathan was not someone you would call an individual who focuses too hard on the past. Lively, bubbly, and always ready to tackle the coming day, she was a whirlwind of energy and personality that both left mayhem in her wake and reveled in it.

Yet, the past nights have been... troubling, for her. Enough so that, at least in the past week, she found herself having to force the happy-go-lucky image she'd painstakingly crafted for herself. While she was so used to acting that way that nobody would notice that something was off, at night when she was by herself, or cooing at and playing with her darling sister Sona-tan, there were doubts that came to mind.

Namely, regarding a certain brunette that she'd been getting along quite well with over the past years.

Serafall was no stranger to just how hostile the political field can be to newcomers, especially newcomers with an ability that bordered on the miraculous - not just in the details of its creation but also the fact that it was hereditary - so watching Luna find herself in a situation where she had next to no protection was alarming. But she'd figured that as long as she had the support of the Satans, Luna would be okay.

But then Ajuka went about revealing her new bloodline in such as way that suggested they would stand idly by if Luna ends up getting devoured, too.

It didn't sit right with her. She knew that Sirzechs wanted to look after Rias. Hell, she'd kill Luna herself if the brunette happened to represent a serious threat to her own sister's safety. But to cut someone, who'd aligned herself with them closely, so harshly loose was unlike the Devil who she threw her lot in with. Yet, when she'd asked Sirzechs to explain why he tossed Luna away like that, she didn't get a straight answer.

"Just trust me on this one," he said, with that smile that soothed the soul, and gave credence to the very thought that everything would be okay so long as you just went along with his plan.

It was a smile she knew well enough to recognize, which only served to alarm her even more. Naturally she agreed, at least to his face, but once she was behind closed doors the agreeable facade dropped.

Sirzechs was hiding something big. If he was hiding it even from her, maybe even bigger than the fact that a new Pillar might be formed in the coming years.

Ajuka didn't prove to shed much more light on the matter.

"I'm not a fan of it either," he admitted, after she'd pressed him on how they all but abandoned the bearer of Worldweave. "But considering what I have heard... it's warranted."

"And Sir-tan decided to run a tight ship?"

"Yeah. I would tell you both if I could, both you and Luna, but..." The green-haired Maou held his hands up, shaking his head slowly. "Look. I get you want answers. I cannot help, but I will not let Sirzechs know you're looking for answers."

The Maou Shoujo didn't stick around for long after that.

Falbium, her last lead as far as the Satans go, was completely absent. Usually Serafall would be able to figure out where the laziest of the four got off to, but she was unable to find him at all in her search. Something niggled in the back of her mind about that, especially considering the looming shadow of Sirzechs's plan, but there was little she could do about it, and so let the matter lie for the time being.

Serafall didn't exactly like to be left in the dark. Something she and Luna shared, she'd learned over the few years of teaching her the ropes for PR.

And she probably knew more than Luna did, so if the Leviathan was this confused and suspicious...

The twintailed Satan looked over at the sleeping form of her baby sister, worn out after being awake for Serafall's visit, and the older sister's expression, with lips pursed and brows drawn together, softened.

What sort of sister would she be, if she didn't set a good example for her dearest Sona?


"You seemed to change your mind quickly."

Lunarunn frowned as she heard the woman ahead of her say that, as they walked though a supposedly-abandoned tunnel in the overworld. However, considering that Diodora had finally gotten back to her with a location and time, she figured it would not do to miss the opportunity.

The Khaos Brigade. It wasn't called such yet, nor was it a terrorist organization. Yet, it apparently had a secret hideout in the overworld all the same. So even if it wasn't technically a terrorist organization, there were certainly plans to keep it hidden away until the time came for them to come to light.

She need only look ahead further into the tunnel system to realize that.

Though she had to admit, the secrecy that they already operated with was impressive, as though they had every intention to become a covert organization going forward, if they weren't already. Diodora either knew what he was doing, or had really smart friends, though it could also be both. An abandoned tunnel in the middle of the North American wilderness, a holdover of the region's now-defunct iron and copper mining operations, likely leading down to a magically-sealed headquarters?

'Clandestine' came to mind, and it was one that fit the organization well even in canon, if they were able to hide from the entirety of the biblical factions before assaulting the peace summit.

"It's not so much that I changed my mind," she started, ducking beneath an old wooden pillar that looked to barely be holding up that section of the ceiling as the two descended further into the tunnel. "But I've seen what sorts of shit this sort of society can hand someone. I want to change that, if I can."

"Yet before, you probably would have killed my fiance if you thought you could get away with it. So yeah, I'd say you changed your mind pretty quickly." Tara glanced back at Luna, expression harder than the stone surrounding them. "I'm surprised my King took your about-face in stride; I would imagine you have ulterior motives."

"You aren't wrong; I loathed Diodora. But so far, he's been... subverting my expectations. So, benefit of the doubt. Actually joining his little movement though?" She glanced down. "Still not entirely sure why I decided to give it a visit myself. Could be that I jumped the gun when I saw someone I gave a damn about hurting because of how the Underworld's shaped right now. Maybe I wanted to give Diodora an opportunity to prove me right, or wrong. Or maybe I want to join to make sure that this organization stays on the right path; it's easy for a movement to become a rebellion, or even an insurrection."

The brunette wasn't quite sure about it, herself. Even now, she felt a lingering sense of trepidation, as though she were walking into unfriendly territory.

"So you need to see it to believe in it?" Tara closed her eyes and sighed, ducking into a hidden corner of the mine that opened up into a cavern. "Oh ye of little faith."

Luna chuckled. "Never claimed to be a saint, sister."

The nun looked back, with a speculative furrow to her brow.

"You don't need to be a sister to believe in something greater than yourself."

The brunette fell silent at that, frowning at Tara's comment. "I'll only fight for something when I know I can stand by it without being betrayed. I would rather be a skeptic than a fool."

The hair running down the other Devil's back sank, then slowly lifted back up as the Astaroth Queen acknowledged Luna's words, continuing their path in silence for several more minutes.

Finally, Tara came to a stop, partway across another cave, resting a hand and brushing it against a stalagmite. A sigil lit up, one that Luna recognized as belonging to the Glasya-Labolas Pillar, followed by a rumbling as the ground beside the stalagmite opened into a yawning maw, from within she could see the flicker of light.

"After you." The blonde gestured for Luna to enter, an invitation the Worldweaver took, walking down finely-chiseled steps fashioned from the stone of the cave. As she walked down, the faint flicker of torchlight became brighter.

Eventually the room opened up into a large forum-like room carved from the cavern. Even from the entryway, Luna could tell it was both well-crafted and well-defensible; she could notice several spaces on higher floors where one could hurl spellfire at the only apparent entryway, and when the brunette let her eyes slide shut to let her magical sense roam she could tell that there were guards in those crannies. They were at ease, judging by the lack of rapid circulation from their core, but it didn't stop Luna from recognizing the feel of defensive enchantments woven into the clothing around said magical cores.

Her eyes reopened to the sight of other Devils conversing amongst each other, congregated into groups around tables of drinks, some wearing finery and others wearing modern clothes, some wearing a mixture of both in the form of business suits.

It was honestly a little surprising that there were this many Devils gathered at what she was sure to be a fledgling organization.

Yet... Luna felt like she were walking into another gala. At least the clothes were more comfortable this time, but the similarities between the gathering here and the gala where she was outed as bearing a new bloodline left her uneasy.

Especially when those Devils started taking notice of her, and started flicking their gazes between their conversation partners and her.

She really was starting to get sick of the recognition factor.

"Ah, welcome!" Speaking of which...

"Diodora," she started, tone dry as the desert.

"Lunarunn." He nodded at her with a smile, before turning to Tara. "Did she give you any problems on the way here?"

"None at all. She made for a decent conversationalist, even if we don't... see eye to eye on a few things." Tara glanced over at Luna and smiled slowly again, her prior frost having thawed somewhat. "But you do seem the reasonable sort when you aren't acting like my King is a rabid animal."

Luna rolled her eyes, but held a hand to her hip and smiled back. "We'll just have to see if my being willing to at least hear him out is warranted."

Her eyes shifted to the 'him' in question, who simply shrugged and grinned unapologetically through his naturally-squinted gaze. "Hey, a chance is all I could ask for. I'm glad you are willing to give me that."

The blonde nodded, looking between Diodora and Luna before speaking to her King again. "Is there anything else you need from me?"

"Yeah, if you could start gathering the leaders, we can get started on the meeting now that everyone of note's here."

With a nod, Tara took her leave, with Diodora watching her do so with a smile.

"You know, I really am glad you decided to join." That was aimed at Luna, even if the teal-haired heir didn't turn back her way.

"I haven't joined, at least, I haven't decided to dedicate my full support to this little revolution yet."

"Still, you are here, so you are at least willing to put in the effort of learning more about what we do, and why we're here." The Astaroth turned to face her again. "Skeptical or not, that alone says a lot. Did you want a drink? We may be squatting in this cave for a little while."

The brunette looked around, noting the other Devils again. Though they still occasionally glanced her way, many had went back to their prior activities.

"...Sure."


Luna soon found herself with a glass of water, watching as more people came down from the topside of the cavern, where she'd detected those guards beforehand. As they hurried into one of the entrance of a side room, one clearly meant for meetings judging by the long table, Luna noted that the large gathering including minor lords and businessmen of some repute.

But there were a few that were clearly not that. Devils that didn't wear such clothing, but carried themselves more like fighters. The leaders of the guard she'd noticed stowed away in the alcoves? Would that make them mercenaries? Or soldiers?

"Once-soldiers from the Biblical War, and the civil war following that," Diodora clarified, having taken notice of Luna's mild curiosity as to the origins of this third group that Tara had been gathering. "Most ended up returning to peaceful lives, but there were a few that couldn't exactly do so, for one reason or another. These are some of the best of them."

"So... mercenaries, then?"

"No." The Astaroth heir shook his head emphatically. "Men and women who fell through the cracks. They ended up abandoned over by their lords or ladies as a matter of greed or plain idiocy on the side of their superiors, and found themselves with no place to go. Fighting for their people, and that's the reward they got? At least we gave them a reason to not go rogue."

So people who had no place to go, then. If that was the case, their loyalty would be ironclad... as long as they weren't given a better offer.

Mercenaries, then. Luna pulled a face, glancing back to Diodora. "And how can you be sure they'll die for this cause?"

"Because I've been honest with them, the whole way through." the teal-haired Devil opened one eye to meet Luna's. "They fought for someone or something they thought would repay their loyalty... and what they were repaid with was betrayal."

Just like her, huh? That gave Luna some more perspective. She was also fully aware of what Diodora was doing though, suggesting similarities between her and the current Khaos Brigade. That being said... he wasn't exactly wrong.

Still... that was a little naive, wasn't it? People would do what they thought was best for them and theirs, and Devils would be even more inclined toward self-serving acts.

"We just want our rightful dues," one of them, a middle-aged woman with a stern face and gray hair, added, having overheard their conversation. While she had been walking toward a seat, now the uniformed woman stepped to the side to jump in, giving Diodora a brief nod before focusing a heavy gaze on Lunarunn. "I get we were fighting to make a better life for Devils, and considering what it was like before it did for many. But our lives never got better. Mine certainly didn't. I was cut loose by the Caim family myself."

She smiled, though it wasn't a pleasant one. "Needless to say, I wasn't too displeased when I heard that they went extinct. Serves them right."

Luna wanted to say 'sorry', express sympathy, but she got the feeling this particular Devil wouldn't be too pleased with that. "...Why tell me this?"

"A pretty face and a special ability like yours has all the tools to succeed, but you still got shafted by someone already in power." The older woman scoffed. "Goes to show just how much better our current day and age is from the last. It's not as overt, but still; if you get noticed, you're either get big by the big boys, or get fucked by them. No in-between."

"You've seen both happen?"

"Seen? Hah! I fucking lived it, girl." She gestured to herself before striking a salute from her seat. "Vicidia Caim, commoner under the now-defunct Caim family. Field commander beneath General Aznoyan Caim in the Civil War, responsible for getting our asses out of the fire with victories under our belts rather than losing our entire troop because Aznoyan was a fucking numbskull."

Vicidia scowled again, short gray hair swaying side to side in time with her head. Her hand dropped to the side. "Before me and mine got ejected I was practically a war hero! He knew it, I knew it, my soldiers knew it. Of course, the loss of face that the Caim house's heir was a dumbass was clearly too much to bear, so they decided to cover it up."

Lunarunn winced, knowing exactly where she was going with that. Trumped-up insubordination charges coming from a higher house? Yeah, especially in a hierarchical system like the Devils currently had in place, she could see how that was a death knell to a commoner.

The woman with granite features lifted her arms in a shrug, seeing that the whelp she had been speaking to understood full well. "So, here I am: disgraced, stripped of any accolades, left to rot, and the Caims were lauded for their mercy in disposing me and mine. Pah. I think I have more reason than most to dislike the system in place, and want to do something about it."

Luna inclined her head. Something about that seemed... a little off, but it was more a brief feeling than any particular indication to the contrary. "Then perhaps we'll be seeing more of each other."

Though the former field commander smiled, there was not an iota of warmth to it. "I would hope so. You're the brightest rising star the Underworld's seen in a while. It'd be a damn shame if you ended up becoming part of the problem."

She turned back away to return to her seat, while Luna's gaze shifted to the side to see Diodora standing there. His smile was still there, but this time it was laced with something approaching embarrassment at the intervention of the other Devil.

"What's the smile about?"

"I didn't expect Vicidia to speak with you so early on," he admitted, rubbing the back of his head. "She's something of a loner, so her jumping in was a bit unexpected, is all. But she's good at what she does, and is definitely dedicated to the cause. Even if she does stick to the name of the family that ended up throwing her aside."

"That was a little weird, to me," Luna admitted. "Especially since it's an extinct Pillar. Still... you sure you can trust her?"

"I can trust her insofar as she wants to challenge the culture in place," the Astaroth heir tilted his head in Vicidia's direction briefly before turning back to the brunette. "I see no reason to be worried as long as I share those same intentions."

"Hmm." Luna gave him a suspicious look, but otherwise fell silent, watching as more Devils entered, until finally the last one seemed to file in.

Yet... there was still a seat open. At the very far end of the room.

Considering that's where the presumptive leader would go, she shifted her gaze over to Diodora. "...Is that your seat at the end of the table?"

"Hm?" One eye opened to look upon the empty seat, before holding a hand to his face with a sigh. "Go figure. Tara is probably still looking for him."

That answer wasn't one to inspire confidence. "A leader isn't a good one if they aren't able to keep a schedule, y'know. Besides, you're the one who brought this together, didn't you? Wouldn't that make you the head?"

"It's not so much that, but more along the lines of... we've all got our individual strengths. I'm good at opening people up to ideas such as joining, and the guy who's supposed to be up front runs the logistical side of things. It's not so much a headship as it is a... meeting of leaders."

"Pretty meritocratic of you," the brunette deadpanned.

"Considering how plenty of Devils in power are still hung up on bloodlines, you can't exactly say meritocracy's at the root of our world." Diodora shrugged. "If they're so focused on power in the past, then it's on us to remind them that the power of those living now is of more importance."

"Yet the strongest Devil to ever live is quite happy with the status quo." To say nothing of how he'd burn it all down for the sake of his family.

The teal-haired man winced. "...Never said that power was equal to control, or skill."

"Let's not forget that he's got all three in spades though, and on top of that he's got allies, patrons, and a reason to gun us all down if we so much as blink at him wrong."

Diodora stilled, eyes slowly opening as his gaze shifted to Lunarunn, expression uncharacteristically grim.

"What was that about 'patrons'?"

Luna lifted a brow, leaning away slightly despite looking at him, wondering if her big mouth had spilled something she shouldn't have. Her voice grew low, to prevent others from overhearing. "...You mean to say that Zekram Bael's supposed to be a secret?"

"I mean, not technically, he's just supposed to be in retirement." Diodora lifted a hand to rub his eyes and bridge of his nose. "Guess you were aware his retirement's more a shadow ruler status then, huh? How'd you guess?"

Ah, that might be a bit... tricky, to explain. Thankfully, at least in this case, she was getting a bit too good at coming up with excuses for her own liking.

"As frankly absurd as Sirzechs is, he's only one Devil, and as powerful as he is, there's no way he alone would be able to hold everything together. Even with the tools at his disposal. Not without some way of keeping the old guard satisfied. Zekram, though... he's the son of the original Bael, isn't he?"

Diodora's furrowed brow, then nod of realization encouraged Luna to continue. "That sort of bloodline helping to run the Underworld from behind the scenes would definitely act as a placating factor. I can imagine knowing that, regardless of what things may look like a direct descendant of one of the original demons ruling from the shadows, would be quite good at soothing nerves that would otherwise ignite more tensions."

As he continued to stare her down, Luna's other brow lifted. "Plus, I did spend years technically working for Sirzechs. I was able to get a good feel for the sorts of tools the Satan Lucifer can use to keep the houses from fracturing. He alone wouldn't be enough to keep the peace. After a little history lesson, it all fell into place."

"...Alright, that makes sense. Really, anyone who is knowledgeable enough could see that the Great King has a lot of influence in the political game even if he is supposedly living out the rest of his days as a spectator." Diodora shrugged, eyes closing again as arms crossed beneath his chest. "Again, it comes down to the status quo. He has everything he wants, the realm is stable, relatively speaking, so he does not give a damn about the rest."

"You've met him?"

"Zekram tends to visit Devils he sees as... of particular note. Somehow he caught wind of my talents, but was not too keen on my reticence to explore it once we did talk. Never saw him again." His head tilted down, frowning, the sides of his closed eyes crinkling in consternation. "But there is no way I wouldn't remember our meeting as clearly as if it happened five minutes ago..."

The Astaroth heir trailed off, as if caught in a memory, before shaking his head and continuing. "He has this... presence. It's incredible just how powerful it is; without even lifting a finger he could command the attention of this whole room. Even if it's about something as mundane as the weather. Myself included."

"Your point?"

"My point, is that taking everything into account, there's no reason for him to come to someone like me, unless he knows that I have the potential to shake the kingdom he made." Diodora's head swiveled around, his smile breaking through once more. "I think it is fair to say he was right in seeking me out, but it goes to show what kind of foe we face to make a difference for those trampled by his designs."

People like Vicidia. People like her.

"You... do realize that it'll be damn near impossible to succeed, right?"

"Perhaps," he allowed. "But if I don't, then who else will end up getting hurt by the callousness of the Great King? How many more people will be left behind for the sake of maintaining blood purity? How many more people will be betrayed by the very superiors they should be able to trust? If not me, if not us, then whom?"

"I believe the humans have a saying: that 'for evil to win, good must stand by and do nothing', if I recall properly?"

The voice was not Diodora's, or anyone else's Luna recognized from those who'd already entered the room. Her gaze shifted, and she noticed idly that everyone else's had too.

That being said, the voice itself rang of a great, if reluctant, authority. The voice belonged to someone who bore great strength but of little desire to wield it. And of the cloaked figure, his hairless head and full goatee triggered recognition in the brunette.

There weren't many Devils who chose a clean-shaven head, particularly Devils of this caliber.

"Now, it would be far too easy to fall into the trap of 'us versus them'. However, it stands to reason. Lord Astaroth is correct; if this continues, how many more will become victims, guilty of only being in the wrong place at the wrong time?"

"And as always, I appreciate your agreement, Lord Falbium."

As Diodora welcomed the fourth, laziest Satan, Luna's brain restarted with a sputter.

"W-wait. The Falbium? Falbium Asmodeus?"

Said Devil just sighed, inclining his head as he realized that this was someone who had not yet been introduced to the idea that this organization had members climbing to the very top.

"Ugh, no formalities, please. Simply call me Falbium, anything more's a waste of time. We all know who you're talking about; such is the curse of a name such as mine."

Yet, Luna recognized, he accepted that Diodora would keep calling him that.

Maybe it was just a force of habit?

"Ah. Uh, sure. It's just... surprising. You're not really someone who goes into the public eye; you're even more withdrawn than Ajuka."

"Not for lack of trying, that is for certain." Falbium's hand lifted to his face briefly before dropping, sending a small, irritated look at the teal-haired heir. "Forget the politics, I'd rather focus on those things I'm actually good at. Like strategy, or sleeping. You owe me one for sending your Queen to wake me up by the by, Lord Diodora."

Diodora, for his part, had a serious expression on his face, even if his eyes were still squinted shut. His hand lifted to the side, gesturing to the Devil at his side.

"I figured you would not want to miss this one. After all, the Worldweaver is here."

"Really?" Falbium rubbed his eyes before refocusing in on Lunarunn. Despite his lazy outward appearance, she could almost feel the force of his gaze. It was easy to tell that this man, no, this Devil, was the epitome of the sleeping giant. And something had stirred his slumber. "Hm. Yes, that does change the circumstances. I was not made aware of this beforehand, simply that a gathering was being called."

"I thought I'd mentioned something about it being important," Tara huffed as she walked out from behind Asmodeus, sending another smile to Diodora and a nod to Luna before joining them at Diodora's side opposite of the Worldweaver.

"Every meeting is important when I'm invited. At least, to the people at the meeting," the bald Satan huffed. "Though usually they can go just fine without me. The more time I can spend idling, the more plans I can devise in that spare time. Plus, I don't like doing more than I have to."

"That's... kind of a given." Tara dryly commented. "Your indulgence in Acedia is well-known."

"Then why is it that all I need to do is offer one minute's worth of strategic advice in any meeting I go to, and it's always over something so asinine?" He made a pointed look at Diodora for that, though got no rise from the Astaroth heir.

"We haven't really had an opportunity to actually make waves before, so it's mostly been shoring up our numbers," the teal-haired Devil defended himself. "But now that we have a face, we can actually take steps in becoming more known to the public."

"Now that you have a face...?" Once more, Falbium's gaze looked at Luna, and with it, a glimmer of approval behind those lidded, tired eyes. "Ah. So we're going with the cultural revolution option?"

"Least chance of casualties, lowest chance of outright violence," Diodora affirmed, both to himself and for... Luna? "But... it will take a while. To say nothing of the pushback we'll receive if it goes too slowly. And it is contingent on Lunarunn actually agreeing to join us."

"I'm right here, you know," Luna pouted. "I'd appreciate it if you'd include me in your discussing what path to take this little rebellion."

"Why would we, if you aren't a part of it yet?" The Asmodeus Satan bore down on Luna once more. "Until you do decide to join, I fail to see how what we do and what we talk about may affect you."

"There's something called courtesy, y'know. I came here to see for myself what Diodora was talking about when he mentioned a revolution."

Falbium crossed his arms, not budging an inch on his stance. "Courtesy is for those who are seeking something from someone else, or trying to make themselves not look a threat. Right now, I care to fulfill neither purpose. If you came here to see for yourself what it is we are attempting to accomplish, then why should I go out of my way to make you feel welcome?"

Luna bristled at that, eyes closing with a smile as a tick mark appeared on the side of her head. "I see now why it's Diodora who does the recruiting, because I had no idea you were this much of a gruff son of a bitch."

"Kh." The bald Maou rolled his eyes. "You have fire, even if you run your mouth more freely than is safe. My point is, I am blunt because I see no need to be flowery. Our purpose, and our methods, will speak for themselves. If you've a problem with that, then clearly your place is not here."

At that, the brunette had to back down, because as rough as Falbium had said it, he made a good point. She was here to see what the organization was like, after all.

As she looked away, expression turning to something more contemplative, the Asmodeus Satan gave a nod. "That's more like it. So, you want to know our purpose? I'm surprised that Lord Astaroth hasn't shared it with you, yet."

Luna exhaled. "I wanted to hear it from someone other than Diodora. Because as much of a smooth operator as he is, I know better than to get my information from only one source."

"Mm." Again, the brief glimmer of approval. "You're sympathetic, but you're not going to jump into another commitment without knowing the details of what you're getting into. A holdover from being betrayed by my compatriots?"

That got her bristling again, but the Worldweaver recognized it as a gut reaction to his touching a sore point, and instead nodded with another sigh.

"I can't blame you. What Sirzechs and Ajuka did to you was cruel." He glanced to the side to see that the meeting was more or less waiting on him. "...Tell you what. Speak with me after we're done here, and we can talk it out, from an uninvolved Satan to the discarded subject of two."

'Talk it out...? What does he mean by that?'

Though Luna was unsure of his particular wording, she knew better than to pry just now when she could do so all she wished afterward, and instead nodded silently in agreement.


As the meeting went on, Luna was struck by how... official, it seemed.

When she was looking at the formative years of the Khaos Brigade, the brunette was expecting something along the lines of a few people meeting in a cave, discussing plans on how to reclaim the Underworld in the name of the original Satans.

While they were meeting in a cave, everything else was far off the mark.

Even half-listening Lunarunn heard the leaders discuss supply chains, logistics, public relations angles, political impacts, and so many other things that her head practically spun trying to process it all.

It was like their organization had been running for years, or even decades already, and had yet to make a significant move.

Not that she could blame them; Sirzechs could utterly vaporize every inhabitant in the room, and only Falbium would be able to make him even have to put effort into it.

But it sounded like they were gearing up to move on to the next phase of their plans, now that they had a face to show to the Underworld.

Her.

Granted, she hadn't officially joined, but even now she was leaning more and more in the direction of joining this... pre-canon Khaos Brigade. Which wasn't even called that, even if she recognized a few Devils which were Old Satan Faction sympathizers.

Didn't exactly matter when they were abandoned though; what mattered was fighting to see the next day.

Hell, it wasn't even called the Khaos Brigade, from the sounds of it. She kept hearing the group as a whole called the 'Front'. And when she nudged Diodora to ask what they meant by that, his answer suprised her.

"Tara might have wanted something more... Devilish, but we don't plan on just stopping with the Underworld," he admitted, voice low as to not interrupt the meeting. "We want to bridge the gap between the Three Factions, help them get back up on their feet too. Nobody wants to struggle for survival, so wouldn't it be better if we all stood together? Yet, Devils are an 'evil' species, looked down upon by just about every other supernatural race in the world."

"And you want to try and break past that prejudice?"

"Exactly. We want to be the ones who show that for all that Devils stand for ambition, for instinct, and for the darker side of one's psyche, we can also represent unwavering grit, acceptance despite flaws, and a force of spirit great enough to command the respect of even the Biblical God."

"Big shoes to fill, especially since you're planning to start a cultural revolution."

"I know. But for all those Devils, and for anyone else that comes to us, we want the Forgotten Front to be a place where they can shelter. Even those forgotten, or forsaken, by those in power... they deserve a chance to make something of themselves."

Luna found herself at a loss for words, instead just nodding once before looking down at her hands.

Hands she used to bring an unrepentant murderer to 'justice'.

But he'd been forgotten too. Forsaken, by someone he should have been able to trust.

'Devils are Devils are Devils.'

But the goal here, at least on the surface, was... honestly really noble. It resonated with her, actually.

Even now, her mind flashed back to her most recent weekly visit with Kuroka. Already, the nekoshou seemed so much healthier than before, the very memory of it warmed her heart. Especially knowing that she was the one who was able to help like that.

"...The Forgotten Front, huh...?"

As Lunarunn looked down in contemplative silence, Diodora smiled, and returned his attention to the meeting.


Yet, by the time she found herself returning back to her home, the brunette's head was spinning in another way.

Her chat with Falbium proved to be... enlightening.

Even if it did leave her with even more questions to ask, speaking with him proved to be worthwhile.

At the very least, those questions she wanted to ask, they weren't the sorts of questions she could get good answers from Falbium about.


("If you think about the action itself in a vacuum, you lose understanding of the circumstances. Think about your prior conversations beforehand.")

Lunarunn walked through the foyer of her house, looking up with brows drawn together in thought.

("Well... she did mention she was descended from Dantalion, from her mother's side. A heads-up that she had skill in the mind arts?"

"Indeed. The fact that she said so meant she wanted you to know. If she wanted you to know, then clearly there was a reason behind it."

"I'm not exactly the best at reading people, y'know? I'm better than I was, but even so.")

After walking through the silent halls she stepped into her room, and walked over to the pile of letters she'd taken to going through from time to time. It was slow going, but she was seeing the pile shrink.

("Then let me spell it out for you. If she is descended from Dantalion, is the public relations expert among the Satans, and has a vested interest in psychology and mentalism, then it should be a foregone conclusion that she has immense skill and experience with mind magics and other forms of mental manipulation and was hinting at using it."

"Okay, I get it, Serafall was the one to put that compulsion in my head.")

Luna paused, stiffening for a moment as she lifted a hand to her temple, easing down the throb of what could easily become a migraine.

("No, you don't get it. Think, Bael. If she's that skilled, then why would she do such a shoddy job as to make such a simple compulsion as apparent as it was? She could have just as easily made you think that keeping calm and playing along was your own idea, yet she went with the brute-force method instead."

"...Oh... you're saying she wanted her work to be discovered?"

"...I am amazed you didn't realize this sooner."

"In my defense, my brain wasn't exactly connecting the bubbly, ditzy Maou Shoujo to the Machiavellian mastermind with fucking mind control powers and is still able to make the public dance to her every tune without!")

Hah. Even her. Honestly, Luna couldn't really say she could be surprised any more.

Devils are Devils are Devils after all.

They couldn't be trusted.

Falbium was one, too. But, considering how well his words filled out a lot of the questions as to what happened at the gala and leading up to it, she was willing to take them at face value for a time.

("Even after she explicitly stated she was related to the Machiavellian mastermind with mind control powers?"

"...Yeah... yeah. Even then. I thought it was an expression of trust, something she was just interested in sharing."

"...You were quite taken with her facade, weren't you?")

Luna's eyes slid shut, hands clenching around one of the letters she'd picked up, crinkling the paper.

She didn't really care at the moment.

("I didn't exactly think she was planning on putting something in my head like that. I trusted them all, you know."

"Yes. I know full well how likable my fellow Satans can be. ...I should not have been quite so snappish.")

She breathed out slowly, counting to three as she set the letter on the desk.

("...I feel like an idiot, seeing everything line up like this. I should have seen it."

"Yet, you are still but a woman not even the age of twenty-five, with only a few years in the Underworld proper. These hidden messages may not come as easily to you as they would someone with more experience."

"You know, that's a pretty shitty way to try and comfort me."

"I'm not cut out for comforting. Too much hassle. Simply giving more context to the situation you find yourself in now.")

Devils couldn't be trusted.

Yet, when she closed her eyes Luna could see at least the surface of the Forgotten Front. The front, of the Front. Whether it ran deeper or not she had yet to see, but deep down she really, really hoped it was their true purpose.

They couldn't be trusted.

But she wanted to help them become something more than they are now.

But they couldn't be trusted.

Then she would need to give them a reason for them to be trustworthy, wouldn't she?

But they were Devils. And Devils are Devils are Devils.

("Even Ajuka, huh...?"

"Indeed. He said something along the lines of showing you how cruel the world can be, correct? That itself could be taken as a warning. An opportunity to prepare yourself for what was to come."

"He could have just said that they were cutting me off."

"He may not have been able to do so.")

But even if they are Devils... they aren't demons. They aren't all evil.

...Right...?

("Sirzechs. Motherfffff- it all comes back to him, doesn't it?"

"What do a man with a purpose, a man with power, and a man with everything to lose have in common? They can all become so easily blinded by their circumstances.")

Lunarunn walked over to her bed and flopped back onto it, staring at the ceiling with muddied eyes.

She just didn't know any more.

("I figured you'd say something about them being dangerous."

"Blindness to the plight of others is how one becomes the greatest danger to those around them. It's why I'm here, rather than supporting Sirzechs. He's gone blind, now that he has everything he has ever wanted.")

She stayed like that for a while, staring up at the ceiling, processing all those thoughts running through her mind.

Luna really wished she could just shut down for a while. Stop thinking, for a bit, and not necessarily by sleeping either.

("I figured you would be like that too, just sleeping your days away.")

But at the same time... she couldn't.

Not when she still had so much more to do.

But she kept up the pace she could break. Snap. Fracture. Dissolve.

("...Maybe in one world I would have. But even if I do want to while my days away doing nothing... there are things more important than my own desires. It just means that when I do finally get to lay my head down and rest, it will be all that more deserved.)

What was her purpose? Why did she travel down this path of blades when a safe one had been just a single decision away?

She didn't know.

But she kept moving forward anyways.

("That's... I'm glad. That you decided you want to do something about the way the Underworld is now."

"I fought alongside the other current Satans to save our people. But I see now that all I accomplished was a changing of the guard. Are things better? Perhaps. But in my eyes the war still isn't over. Maybe Sirzechs only fought for his family, or to stop the True Satan Faction from dragging us into a war of extinction. But me? ...I fight so that tomorrow, there are more people who can sleep peacefully.")

Hah.

If only Lunarunn could be so assured in her own path.


Ring ring, ring ring! Ring ring, ring ring!

Ring ri-

"Hello?"

"...Hey. Luna-tan? It's me."

"...Serafall." The brunette's tone was dead.

"...I... Haaaaah. I can tell you're in a mood right now. But this can't wait; we need to talk."

"Yeah. Yeah, we do."


A/N -

And with that, I hereby draw curtains on this chapter, and this part of Lunarunn's life as a Devil. Next chapter will see the timeline moved forward by years, bringing us all closer to when canon arrives. Consider yourselves notified.

Anyway, couple of notes.

OSF is the Old Satan Faction, which is an offshoot of the 'True Satan Faction' which incited the Civil War. They're basically the same thing, but one is a political party and the other is deemed insurgents by the current government of the Underworld.

The Khaos Brigade has yet to become a cell-based organization centered around Ophis. As it is now, it's basically a non-profit organization with a private army and only rumors of its existence to the Underworld at large. Also, 'Forgotten Front' just rolls off the tongue so much easier, and has a much less malicious feel to its name. Perfect for an organization that wants to effect change in the name of those who've fallen through the cracks, and is willing to fight for it if need be.

And now that there's a bit more context behind what's going on with Sirzechs, Ajuka, and Serafall, I like to think there's room to explore what might happen here, both between Luna and the Four Satans, as well as between the Four Satans themselves.

Hope you guys like the chapter, I spent a bit more time on it than I was expecting to. Schedule should return to something more regular going forward.

Tempura Wizard out.