[On it. Tethering requested. Tethering check compatibility. Loading. Connection secured.]

A call notification popped up, and I accepted it.

“Hello, this is Lucifer.”

“Hello, Lucifer. Avner here. Can you see hir?”

“Avner, pureborn demons can’t be captured on camera.”

“Who is this?”

Lucia looked at the surface of the table which displayed Lucifer somewhere in her home.

“This is Lucifer, a demon,” I introduced.

“Name of the pureborn, and how did xe end up finding you?” Lucifer asked.

“Lucia of Hades is hirs name. Xe said hirs previous vessel died. Hirs father was captured and xe wants to find a way to save him.”

Lucifer closed her eyes.

Lucia waited anxiously for her next reply.

“Normally. In cases like this, the pureborn demons die.”

“I don’t believe it. My father must have some way to persuade them. He’s a porter of a major firm in Hades. It’s much more efficient for them to use him as a bribe!”

“Lucifer. Xe says that there’s a much higher chance that hirs father is still alive because he’s some big shot of a firm in Hades. It’s much better for them to bribe the firm using him as a chess piece instead of killing him outright.”

“Lucia. Angels don’t have the same values as us demons. I’m sure they would let him off just because of some bribe,” Lucifer said despite being unable to perceive the elf through the video.

Xe remained silent.

“What is xe’s reply?” Lucifer asked.

“Xe’s thinking.”

The pureborn demon looked at me with a forlorn expression, ruby eyes coloured eyes struggling to accept the reality.

“Do you believe that he’s still alive, Shin?”

– Do you believe that she’s still alive, Shin?

Somehow, such a question echoed back at me from my subconscious.

Why, though?

And my answer? It’s obvious.

“Yes.”

“Let’s strike a deal. It doesn’t matter if my father is found alive or dead, I’ll offer everything I can by the end. So, will you help me?”

Desperation.

Where was it that I felt this emotion?

It’s familiar–

That abyss.

“I don’t know if I can do it.”

“Avner.”

The pureborn demon floated in front of me.

“You can do it.”

Why does this elf believe in me so much?

So troublesome.

“Avner. Please.”

“Avner, what is xe saying?”

“Avner.”

“Find someone else. I’m not capable. I’ll bring you to meet the other and we’ll dicus..”

“No. Avner, only you can do it. Others would only try to dissuade me. You said you believe that my father is still alive, which I am very grateful for. Only someone who believes in the possibility will take action.”

Xe’s pushing hard.

Hirs father is in danger.

If Novelle was in a similar situation, would I do the same?

What if the person who I needed help from rejected my plea?

Why was I using this analogy?

“Shin.”

Why does xe know that name?

“You can do it.”

“Fine,” I relented.

Why did I even agree?

===

The call with Lucifer ended. In the end it was decided that I would assist Lucia with hirs search.

Lucifer just told me good luck. She didn’t have any leads she could use so it’s up to me. Her only advice was to bring Lucia to the demon association.

It didn’t matter if hirs father is or is not alive. The point here is to find out what happened.

“I’ll be honest with you. I have my limitations. I’m only a high school kid.”

“I don’t know what a high school kid means but I know you can do it.”

Is xe wrong in the head? Anyways.

“Have you finished your meal?”

“I’ll do it now, thank you for asking.”

While xe was filling hirs stomach, I scoured the kitchen and saw two mango puddings still left on the counter. Maybe my parents told Lia not to take it since I may be allergic to it.

In any case, it would be a waste to leave it there to rot. I’ll bring it for Lia.

“You said earlier that you had connections with the angels. Can you explain further?”

“When I realized that I was awakened as a demon, I stepped on an angel’s mine before I got a chance to meet another demon. Fortunately, I was spared.”

“You were spared?”

I locked the house and gate. Puddings in my pocket, I made my way through the park in the direction towards Tameo Station.

“I was spared. Yes. Putting it another way, not all angels are bad, not all angels are good.”

“You’re correct on that point. Not all demons are bad either.”

I passed the ticket counter, Lucia’s expression tensed.

“Be careful.”

“I will.”

I got on the ELRT.

“I think I have an idea,” Lucia said.

“What idea?”

“This was the place where the ambush happened. So if you stayed here, there’s a high chance the submarine will come again. I recognize their faces, so I can warn you.”

“I can’t just sit in the train for the entire day you know?”

“Please?”

I shook my head.

“Let me tell you my plan instead. I’ll go meet up with that angel I told you about. I’ll ask him if he knows any way to find a fleet composed of 5 submarines. You said earlier it was a fleet of five submarines, correct?”

“One among them is a demon.”

“That helps narrow the search.”

The ELRT was on its last stretch. The door shut with a sizzle. I’ll be getting off next station

“How do you feel about this all anyway? Having to come to this world, the first thing that happens is an accident. It’s probably harder on you than me. I’m wondering if you need to rest and cry or something.”

Lucia did say this was hirs first time here.

“It’s pointless to talk about that. Push forward. The longer I delay, the lower the chances of my father’s rescue.”

“You’re going to wear yourself out. And, you’re going to drive yourself to your edge. I know you’re desperate, but I have my own schedule I need to follow. I just go out and flip every rock.”

“..You’re right.”

“Take care of yourself. If not, you wouldn’t be able to take care of others. By the way, do you have enough food to last? Where can we get food?”

“I read that I can eat food from this world as normal. It’s just that it would look like immensely large portions.”

I was about to ask how the waste removal process for them works when I decided against it. There’s nothing to be gained by understanding how my mind is a toilet to them.

In my silence, Lucia disappeared into a flash of light. Xe probably went into my cabin, whatever that is.

The train came to a dtop, I stopped leaning against the standing seat and walked out of the entrance.

===

[“Cain, can I ask you something?”]

[“Is there anything the matter?”]

[“I want to know if there is some way you can search for angel fleets. I need to find a fleet, a team of all submarines. One of them being a demon that has allied with the angel’s faction. They camp out at the train and ambush demons.”]

[“Why do you need to know that information?”]

[“To save someone.”]

There was a pause. A few minutes passed.

[“There’s a cost.”]

[“What cost?”]

[“Are you free tomorrow? Come meet me at school as usual.”]

[“Alright.”]

===

dotturndot: Idk if what Avner had done was logical or not. I don’t want Avner to solve everything through coincidental encounters, so I went with ‘utilizing his limited connections’ instead (though ultimately, it is still coincidental). Anyways, just to clarify, Lucia is not a succubus.

But oh shit, if I had succubuses then I’ll have to create a 3rd terminology for elf-succubus/incubus don’t I?; f*ck that shit, I’ll just assume it’s like husband and wife where you don’t have a 3rd term solely for elves. Ugh..

A blunder on my part for the gender thing– so confusing awawawa–