That Day When Suzuki-kun Wasn't the Mob-B! Chapter 301: The Khaos Brigade Strikes
The grand conference hall inside Kuoh Academy was bathed in the harsh, artificial glow of fluorescent lights, but the atmosphere felt as heavy and suffocating as the deepest pits of the Underworld. The distinct, overwhelming auras of holy light, demonic power, and fallen grace clashed silently in the enclosed space.
Even though Sirzechs Lucifer, Michael, and Azazel had mutually agreed to hold this peace summit, the actual negotiations couldn't begin immediately. Instead, the moment everyone took their seats, the leaders of Heaven and the Underworld ruthlessly ganged up on Azazel—the man whose subordinates had nearly turned this quiet Japanese town into a crater.
"First and foremost, Governor," Sirzechs began, his voice perfectly calm but carrying a crushing, regal weight. "How do you explain the actions of Kokabiel, your direct subordinate, who attempted to restart the Great War on this very soil?"
Every eye in the room locked onto Azazel, staring at him as if he were a convicted criminal on trial.
Sitting a few seats away, Finn watched the political theater unfold with a lazy, detached gaze. He was far more focused on the delightful, distracting sensations pressing against his sides.
To his right, Ravel had securely linked her arm with his under the mahogany table. The soft, generous swell of her chest was squished delightfully against his bicep, radiating a flushed, feverish body heat. To his left, Akeno leaned in intimately close, crossing her legs. The silky fabric of her stockings whispered audibly in the quiet room, and the intoxicating scent of sweet vanilla and crackling ozone drifted off her skin, teasing his senses.
"Hey, hey, don't look at me like that," Azazel sighed helplessly, scratching the back of his head. "Like you two, I can't completely manage every single person under my banner. I might be the Governor, but I don't possess absolute control over everything. Even you, Sirzechs, as the absolute strongest Devil in existence, can't perfectly control the rebellious elements of the Underworld, right?"
"Do not attempt to deflect the conversation," Sirzechs replied, his expression hardening. "As a leader, you bear the ultimate responsibility for your cadre, especially when a Cadre-class Fallen Angel plots to reignite a three-way apocalyptic war. Is this a reflection of the Grigori's true agenda?"
"Instead of grilling me, you should be pointing fingers at Michael!" Azazel fired back, pointing a lazy finger across the table. "His holy Church actively conspired with Kokabiel to spark this conflict!"
It was a sharp, biting accusation. Unlike the Fallen Angels or Devils—whose human followers were essentially desperate outcasts seeking shelter—the Church was fundamentally driven by absolute faith. And that faith strictly taught that Devils and Fallen Angels were the ultimate evil. Could the Vatican truly claim innocence regarding the rogue Exorcists who had wreaked havoc in Kuoh?
"Those who foolishly followed your subordinate were excommunicated, stray priests who abandoned our grace. They acted entirely on their own twisted desires," Michael countered gracefully, completely dodging the political landmine. "As Sirzechs stated, rather than changing the subject, you should explain your own failures. A disorganized mob of humans cannot mobilize without a powerful supernatural instigator."
Michael was right. The gods may have gifted humanity with Sacred Gears, but humans were fragile. Using such divine artifacts aggressively drained their pitiful lifespans. Furthermore, with the God of the Bible dead, the remaining Angels and the System itself dictated the mandate of Heaven. To openly defy the Church was to become an irredeemable sinner.
"...."
Azazel looked between the glowing Archangel and the Crimson Satan, realizing he had walked straight into a two-on-one ambush. He subtly shifted his gaze toward Finn, silently begging for a lifeline.
Finn simply raised an eyebrow, casually inhaling the sweet scent of Akeno's perfume, and said absolutely nothing.
Azazel let out a massive sigh of relief. Finn staying neutral was the best he could hope for.
"Look, I acknowledge that Kokabiel crossed the line. But he's dead, okay?" Azazel said, leaning forward. "He faced the absolute consequences of his actions. You all saw exactly how he was brutally executed." Azazel threw another quick, nervous glance at Finn before clearing his throat. "So, instead of dwelling on the dead, shouldn't we be looking toward the future?"
"The future?" Sirzechs and Michael echoed in unison.
"Yes," Azazel nodded, his goofy demeanor vanishing, replaced by a sudden, intense seriousness. "I officially propose a permanent peace treaty between all three of our factions."
"......."
The entire room fell into a deafening silence. It was so incredibly blunt and straightforward that even the stoic Angels and aristocratic Devil guards were left speechless.
"I know it's a shock, but continuing this eternal cold war is utterly meaningless," Azazel sighed, crossing his arms. "The Fallen Angels' numbers are critically low to begin with. And Michael, I know for a fact you refuse to allow any more Angels to fall."
Michael's golden eyes narrowed slightly, but he didn't deny it. Without God to create new Angels, their numbers were strictly finite. They couldn't even reproduce biologically; engaging in sexual acts caused them to instantly Fall.
"If we keep tearing at each other's throats, my faction will go extinct. And I know you both are facing the exact same demographic collapse," Azazel pressed, looking at Sirzechs.
The Devils had nearly wiped themselves out during their Civil War. Even worse, a mysterious 'sleeping disease' plagued pure-blooded nobles, forcing many into eternal comas. While Ajuka Beelzebub's brilliant invention of the Evil Pieces allowed them to reincarnate humans into Devils, biological reproduction among Devils remained incredibly difficult and rare.
"Fighting each other is pointless," Azazel concluded. "If we continue to bleed ourselves dry, the other mythological pantheons will simply swoop in and slaughter us all. You know exactly how ruthlessly we've treated the pagans and heretics in the past. They are just waiting for a moment of weakness."
"......"
Michael and Sirzechs exchanged a long, heavy look.
Azazel was speaking in undeniable logic. For the sheer survival of their respective races, peace was the only mathematically viable option. Everyone in the room understood this on an intellectual level. Yet, centuries of deep-seated hatred, spilled blood, and emotional trauma made accepting it a bitter pill to swallow.
But before Michael or Sirzechs could officially offer their consent, a sudden, terrifying shift distorted the very fabric of reality within the room.
It felt as though a massive, invisible meteor had just slammed into the building. A heavy, suffocating wave of dread completely washed over the hall. The vibrant colors of the room instantly bled into a dull, monochromatic gray.
The sound of breathing stopped. The flickering of the lights ceased. The entire world ground to a devastating, absolute halt.
"Huh?"
Before the time-stopping magic could completely freeze the blood in his veins, Finn simply tapped his foot against the polished floor.
[A time-stopping anomaly has been detected.]
[The 'Self-Made' skill is analyzing the foreign temporal energy.]
[The user has successfully adapted. The user is now absolutely immune to temporal suspension.]
Hmm, Finn mused internally, the system-like notifications fading from his mind. I almost forgot there was a certain half-vampire with a forbidden time-stop ability hidden in this school.
With a casual flick of his wrist, Finn released a pulse of his own Demonic Energy. A shimmering, crimson barrier instantly expanded from his body, enveloping Ravel, Akeno, Asia, Xenovia, and the leaders at the table, violently shattering the time-stop effect in their immediate vicinity.
"W-What's happening?!" Rias gasped, suddenly able to breathe again. Her chest heaved as she gripped the edge of the table in panic.
The rest of the summit attendees who had been freed by Finn's barrier stared at him in sheer, unadulterated awe. To instantly and effortlessly neutralize a high-tier temporal lock was a feat reserved for gods.
Yet, in this moment of chaotic crisis, the true enemy revealed themselves.
Two cloaked figures violently shattered the massive glass windows of the conference hall, stepping out of a dark teleportation circle.
"I WILL NEVER ALLOW THIS PATHETIC PEACE TREATY TO SUCCEED!" a booming, hysterical female voice echoed through the room. "SIRZECHS! YOU ARE A SHAMELESS USURPER AND A DISGRACE TO ALL DEVILS! YOUR WEAKNESS WILL RUIN US ALL! WE WILL TAKE BACK THE UNDERWORLD AND RETURN IT TO THE GLORIOUS, BLOODY RULE OF THE OLD SATANS!"
The heavy, metallic scent of blood and dark magic flooded the room.
The Khaos Brigade had officially crashed the party.