Chapter 83: An Open Book
I watched as Runeas’ eyes widened, obviously making a connection with the name my statement had provided her. The Satori existed in this world, as a type of Yokai, but compared to their version in Gensokyo they were vastly inferior. Still, that didn’t prevent the woman in front of me from deducing the truth, where many others would have dismissed it out of hand as ridiculous.
“That sharpness of yours is much more trouble than it’s worth.” I spoke, crossing my arms and examining her critically, “To be honest, killing you is still the simplest solution.”
“Yet, I can’t help but notice I remain alive.” She pointed out, getting a tired nod from me, “Should I take that as a good sign or are you merely arranging for the disposal?”
“I said it was the simplest, but that does not always mean the best.” I responded, “It’s rare the two meet and it should always be celebrated when they do.”
“Well then, I will accept my luck gratefully.” The joke fell flat, causing her to hesitantly continue, “I hope that we can do away with the pretences and speak to each other frankly. After all, with your new helper, I can’t really hide anything, can I?”
Well, she couldn’t know that for sure. Satori can read the depths of someone’s innermost thoughts, but her ability is very far out of this world’s context. It seems that Runeas is attempting to indicate that she will act as if Satori could see everything, thus will be utterly truthful.
Whether that is actually the case… Well, we will see.
“I will be frank with you, Runeas, if that is what you want.” I finally said, after a long pause, “I would have much preferred you to be completely aligned with the New Satans and acting to directly undermine me. Although, on reflection, I should have known that wasn’t the case.”
“Oh? So my guess was correct then?” She asked, sitting down on the bed of the room, looking at me with forced calm, “If I may ask, where exactly did she reveal my loyalties to lie?”
I didn’t answer immediately, instead considering how she was going to play this. The most obvious thing to do in her position was attempt to sow doubt. After all, although her mind had been compromised, it was not me with the ability to do so. All my information came third hand, from Satori’s rendering of Runeas’ thoughts. It would be a very apparent idea to try and build up doubt that Satori was relaying the contents truthfully to me.
It wouldn’t work and thankfully, it appeared as if she had decided against the attempt, at least for now. The main reasons were the fact that Satori’s findings made sense and that I trusted her far more than the devil in front of me.
“She revealed that your true loyalty lies where most Devils do.” I spoke. “With yourself, first and foremost.”
“You speak as if you aren’t one of us.” Runeas smiled a thin smile at that, “You act much the same, accruing power for yourself to the detriment of all others.”
“It’s because I am the same that you are still alive right now.” I calmly explained, “I know how you think now. That means I also know you can be bargained with. You are useful, but only if you can be trusted.”
It was true. As an Ancestor, Runeas’ words held weight that most other devils lacked. Even if she had spent her centuries goofing off and ignoring politics, she still commanded respect and admiration. More than that, she had friends and allies, contacts and favours she could leverage. Such things could prove invaluable to my plans, but it also represented a very dangerous blade. One that could cut me just as easily as my enemies.
My eyes looked to the mark on her hip, even now displayed proudly in the flimsy piece of fabric she called a dress. With the Stamp, after enough time, such worries about betrayal or sabotage from within would cease to be a factor. But that is only if I played my cards right.
“Spoken like a true Lucifer.” Her smile turned melancholic, “You know, it was said that he didn’t have friends. Only allies and slaves.”
“I don’t really care what they said about him, or how he acted.” I responded, shutting down that attempt to manipulate me and earning a wide-eyed look, “He was an idiot who entered into an unwinnable war out of spite and died like a fool for it.”
“He is your ancestor. Lucifer’s blood runs through your veins.” She hesitantly spelled out, “How can you not at least be curious?”
“Because he lost. Whatever he was, however he acted, it doesn’t matter to me right now. I am a Sagan, not a Lucifer and I refuse to be suckered into his messes.” I stated, “Regardless, you have changed the topic. We should get back to what to do about you.”
She stared at me for a time, purple eyes considering, as she re-evaluated me.
“You want to rule Hell.” She eventually stated, certain.
“I don’t, actually.” Such an admission surprised her, before I continued, “But I have to anyway. If I wish to reclaim my Family’s rightful place, I will have to crush all who would rather I didn’t. After that, Hell will be rather short of leaders and therefore, stability.”
“...I wanted to mould you into a proper King.” She admitted, causing me to raise an eyebrow, “Our race has been in decline, ever since Lucifer died. Sirzechs and his friends try, but they refuse to actually do what needs to be done to stem the bleeding. It appears that my plans would have been better served if I had done nothing.”
“I will kill Sirzechs.” The words fell like lead, causing a weight to settle over the two of us, “He has made it impossible for me to abide his presence. The animosity of someone so powerful is a thing that I cannot allow, should he eventually strike out at what is mine.”
“Rias will not accept that. Their relationship has become strained as of late, but he is still her beloved brother. Neither will his parents, nor Grayfia, or the rest of the New Satans. It will spiral, thousands will die and the Devil Race will never recover from the aftermath.” Runeas spoke plainly, not at all embellishing her words, “Your rule would be over ash and dust, not a nation, should you succeed.”
“It won’t.” I grimly said, “After all, Devils look out for themselves, first and foremost.”
Runeas slumped at that, “You can’t be everywhere at once, Damocles. Once the other Factions hear that a descendant of Lucifer is back on the Throne of Hell, they will all move against you. You need strength, in both quantity and quality, to repel them.”
“You have a high opinion of yourself.” I mused, “Here I was, expecting you to be giving me reasons to not kill you, instead you are attempting to get me to spare my other enemies.”
“The two are connected. There is no point to me continuing to live if my Family dies out, with our entire race soon to follow it.” She was resolved as she said this, before she stood, walking to stand before me, “I have my pride, you know.”
With that said, she got to her knees, kneeling forwards and placing her forehead on the ground, prostrating herself, “I beg you, Damocles. Allow me to try and avoid catastrophe. Let me advise Sirzechs and the others, let me convince them to surrender to you. I have sworn myself to you, allow me to prove the truth of my vow.”
I stared down at the begging Ancestor, considering. To be honest, with what I knew from Satori, I knew she was most likely to actually earnestly attempt what she was telling me she would. However, I doubted her ability to actually succeed. When she failed and Sirzechs, Serafall and the rest were determined to oppose me, what would she do then?
In the end, I could either trust her, or I couldn’t. Unfortunately, the only way to know for sure which it was was to find out in practise.
Regardless of the eventual outcome, she was useful to me in the short term, as well as desperate to succeed in her self-appointed task. That same desperation could be used against her.
As her red hair spilled out over the floor, I made my decision. I would use every tool that was offered to me to win and if any broke…
Well, some tools I cared about more than others.
---XXX---
She drank deep of the cup in front of her, letting the beverage sit in her mouth for a time, allowing the flavour to suffuse her taste buds. It had been made by Naomi, her beloved’s Head Maid, who had taken to her role far more fully than its original purpose as merely a cover for her presence.
Her Consort had been quite busy since he had arrived in this world, already neck-deep in schemes since he had been born anew. It brought her much relief that his mind seemed just as sharp and skilled as his blade. Of course, even the most intelligent still sometimes lapsed in their judgement.
It had not struck her Consort yet, but that didn’t mean that it would never do so. His Peerage, his constructed family in this world, was much more than merely servants congregating around a master. He was already intimate with a good portion of them and it did not seem like it would be long until that portion turned into a complete set.
Even should the Ghost take her advice and join, she did not see that changing overmuch. Her issues had clouded her realisation of the truth, but Melina desired her Consort in much the same way a fish desired the hook.
Damocles was still just as much of a hunter in this world as he was in the Lands Between, although his chosen quarry had changed to something that brought her much chagrin.
Swallowing the delightful tea that was made of the nostalgic blackberries, she looked over the cup to the other seat of the table, set and served here in the centre of her Lord’s gardens. Her Consort’s latest quarry, Satori, was appreciating her own cup, seemingly quite taken with the flavour.
She had some taste, at least, which was the barest point in her favour.
“So, Satori Komeiji.” She spoke, causing the girl’s eyes to open and her attention to be placed fully upon her, “Thou art the latest to be ensnared by mine Dear Consort.”
Satori blinked, seemingly thrown by the opening move. Disappointing, CC had struggled much more fiercely than this, already bearing fangs dripping with spite and venom.
“You… Know that Damocles targets other women like this? You are accepting of it?” Ah, it seems that the girl was something of a romantic.
No wonder she had crumbled, even with the ability to see the truth of her Consort.
“Accepting, is it?” Ranni hummed, mulling over the word, “Yes, I suppose that is a good word for it. As much as I would prefer to be singularly coveted by Damocles, I do not desire that enough to interfere with him in this. The taking of concubines was common within mine homeland.”
“I see.” Satori contemplated the dark liquid within her cup, not elaborating further.
“Hmm.” Ranni decided to cut to the chase, “Now, to the root of the matter. What is thy reason for needing my Consort?”
The Yokai raised a brow, confused by the question, “Sorry? Why I need him?”
“Yes. Damocles has a preference, I know thou know this. Thy eyes have peered into his deepest depths, something that until now only I had done. Yet, thou did not back down, nor did thee refuse his leash. Thy collar hath been placed upon thine own neck willingly. This proves that he was most right in his targeting of you.” She placed her cup down, her lower pair of arms coming to rest in her lap while her upper pair steepled their fingers, “Thou need him. Thee are dependant on him for some reason, that was compelling enough that once thy awareness had been drawn to his existence, thy were unable to turn him down. What was that reason, is mine question.”
“He views relationships as purely transactional.” Satori did not answer her question, instead explaining something Ranni already knew, “A game of give and take, where what each person gains is the primary goal, rather than sentiment or love.”
“Correct.” Ranni responded, having divined this in the Lands Between already, “Most having discovered this would have recoiled, yet thou didst not. This is because thou saw the truth, what he desires most of all, what he most wishes to gain from others. It is the reason he targeted thyself and the others, because they like thee need him. They are dependent on him, thus, they…”
She allowed the Yokai to finish her sentence, “...Are loyal to him.”
“Did that prickle thy tender heart? Did My Consort’s desire to be truly needed by those close to him call to thy sense of compassion? Is that why thy accepted his offer?”
“I see. You will not stop until you get your answer.” The girl was quick on the uptake, at least, “Very well. First, however, I need to ask, why are you so determined to hear this from me? My answer will not change the outcome that has already occurred.”
“True enough, thy art a part of my Consort’s family, that much is set in stone. However, should thou harbour delusions or gross misapprehensions, it falls upon me to correct them. Eternity is a long time, Yokai, I shall not have mine Consort spend it miserable.” She narrowed her eyes, “Nor with those that would make him so.”
The pink-haired girl looked at the table, avoiding her gaze. Ranni had heard the tragedy that had befallen her and her sister, of course, but she also heard that the other being had become dependent on her ability. It reminded her of Miquella, her most enigmatic sibling, who spent more time in the future than he did amongst his kin. Of course, that allowed her to operate with greater freedom than she would have had he been lucid, but that proved her point.
Someone who was accustomed to hearing the deepest thoughts of others, would obviously have a clear, immense advantage in conversation. However, such a thing could just as easily become a liability should the advantage be removed. She did not think her Consort would choose one for which this would be a fatal flaw, but it would take time and effort to mitigate. Time and effort Satori has yet to have.
It was much better to have this conversation with her sooner rather than later.
The silence that had befallen the gardens was shattered by the words of her interlocutor, “He was never afraid of me.”
“Oh?” She was intrigued, “That was enough, was it?”
“He knew about my ability. How deep it could look. Yet, he never once faltered or hesitated to let me look as deep as I wanted. Not just because he knew whatever I found wouldn’t be enough to change my mind, but because he knew it was a part of me. He feared my reaction to some of which I gleaned, but he never once felt fear or revulsion from me looking at his thoughts.” She hugged herself, the eyes in her head staring at the one attached to her body, “This ability, this curse, it’s a part of who I am. If I never found anyone who accepted that… Would I ever be able to truly connect to anyone?”
“Mine original thinking was correct, it seemeth.” Ranni spoke, causing the gaze of Satori to fall upon her instead, “Thou art a hopeless romantic, thus utterly defenceless against mine Consort’s deprivations.”
Satori puffed up at that, apparently taking offence, “Hey, I wasn’t defenceless! I even rejected him at first! I only agreed to go with him because I decided to do so for myself!”
“Self-delusion is an admirable skill, at this level.” Ranni dryly replied, continuing before the indignant girl could embarrass herself further, “At last, someone appears before thee, as if by magic, who allows thee to drink as deep of his being as thou wishest, accepting thee unconditionally so long as thou come with him. In return, he not only offers thine deepest wishes’ fulfilment, but all he requires in return is for thou to be with him forever and thy loyalty? My dear, thou never stood a chance.”
The younger woman buried within her hands her head, her cheeks flaring a brilliant crimson.
Ranni smiled, taking a languid sip of her tea as she finished, “Worry not, tis good. All are young once.”