NOVEL WEB Chapter 5: V. Daimonion
daimonion - δαιμόνιον (ancient greek)
A philosophical concept
known primarily
from the written legacy of Socrates' disciples
Plato and Xenophon,
which means an inner voice
that warns at a crucial moment
and thus deters
from an enterprise in which
danger to physical
or moral well-being
is hidden.
Thanks to Serafall's visit, it became obvious that I was even Googling with hands up the arse, if in a hurry, because "the Bishop Piece in the service of Satan Lucifer" on the local wiki about famous devils does not automatically mean "Satan Lucifer's Bishop". Apparently, Agrippa was not Rias' brother piece, but Rias' father, it just wasn't mentioned anywhere much. Although technically he was definitely accountable to the brother.
Most likely, Zeoticus Gremory, who even had a very telling nickname - "The Lazy Gremory" - simply gave carte blanche to use additional pieces for his mighty firstborn. Grandma Chysis's well-known nickname is the Sleepy Orchid, so he'd gotten off lightly, he would have been the Lazy Cactus if someone decided to play a prank. And after these news about the fiance - blegh! - I'll probably make that joke and fix up his page on the local wiki. It's petty, of course, but so far I don't even remember the details of this whole thing, except for the feeling of betrayal and confusion about that situation.
The Bishop's identity was important, and indeed it became clear for only one reason - in order for Serafall to get to us, she had to pretend to Zeoticus that Sona-chan simply couldn't take one more minute without Rias-chan right now. Sona-chan also pretended as well, so much so that she jumped me as soon, as she ran out of the teleportation seal. Apparently, that pedophile talk scared her so much that the Sona of three years ago woke up within her. That's the time, when we had to be pried apart by pincers no less, just to say goodbye for the day.
Oh, finally something else comes back! Thank God!
By the way, instead of the train, I could've also stepped through a portal seal with one of the adult demons, but apparently it was much more interesting for Rias to spend a little more hours on the road, but at the same time get new experiences. Still, this was supposed to be her first visit to the human world, unlike Sona-chan. Serafall took her sister with her almost from the cradle, because her job allowed it. So, Sona-chan and Serafall just boringly teleported directly to Agrippa's mansion with the permission of Zeoticus, as far as I could understand.
Simply put, if this territory was not of the Gremory Bishop, but the Lucifer Bishop, she could've gotten here much faster, but perhaps this might've caused questions from Sirzechs, and he may as well decided to visit. That's why, Akeno and I waited not for the promised five minutes, but for at least half an hour.
I even managed to turn on the first season of another famous mahou-shoujo, something about the Milk Spiral, for entertainment and distraction. In the very first episode, I caught the hentai references with my adult eye, but it was at the level of references from Shrek or some Disney cartoons. Which is why, it felt like watching a comedy, and I liked it much better than Sailor Moon.
Rias found this anime a bit boring before my existence in her head, and thought she had outgrown the Mahou-shoujo genre, but it seems to me that this one will be watched further in the future. To be honest, it definetely cut out all the thinking about any problems, and this is extremely important for the undisturbed rest. Of course, I won't be wearing any cosplay about this stuff, no matter how Serafall looks at me appealingly in the future. I didn't donate all the combat skirts I had in my past world to charity, just to jump out of my pants right away in this one.
Agrippa, of course, tried to resist one of the Satans teleporting us all to the park near the Ghibli Museum. Apparently, Sona-chan enlightened her sister about Rias' plans while they were solving all these political trivia with teleportation to the territory of another Pillar. And then she was going to take us to Akihabara, and I don't think it was pretend or a joke on her part. But the maid, again with her super kettle in her hands, seemed to notice some part of our secret scheming and offered to join us. This did not calm Agrippa down much, and he tried to force Akeno to stay.
Serafall's face darkened for a moment as she beat off his excuses with her incorrigible infantilism, but in the end, Sera-chan did not break the conspiracy and nevertheless accepted the maid as an escort. Serafall, on the other hand, was also shitting Agrippa with something on the lines of "I'll see to it, and return them back as they are" - in fact, fuck knows why she did it, as far as I'm concerned, but she probably had her reasons.
When we finally got rid of Agrippa's insistent requests and teleported away, Serafall took the maid by the elbow, which scared the woman very much, and said in a sweet voice.
"Well, Kyuu-chan, we got rid of the nasty Gen-san, so you're free to talk as you are! What's he up to again?"
"Kyuu-chan?" I muttered to myself and frowned.
This particular maid had only a dash as her name, and the name of the species before the devil-turning, coincided with the nickname from the system, but for some reason it was not translated literally, but transliterated - tsukumogami. It didn't mean anything to me at all. And I honestly didn't give a damn, when I had time to search on the internet, which particular type of supernatural this turned devil belongs to. It wasn't the most important thing at the time, for that matter. And my bracelet only mentioned me in greater detail. That's why this "Kyuu-chan" from Serafall was a bit of a surprise to me.
"It's from the Japanese word for "teapot", Rias-chan!" Serafall informed me cheerfully, noticing my puzzlement. "Dear Kyuu-chan, a while ago she was just a disaster for my department! The Youkai faction was extremely unhappy with your father for turning her into a pawn. In the end, it turned out that Gen-san was behind the whole idea! Before that, it had never occurred to anyone to turn the spirit of the tool into a devil."
"Uh-uh-uh..." I paled and glanced warily at the maid. "Kyuu-san, what's that supposed to mean, this teapot?.."
"Yes, this teapot is me," the girl shrugged her shoulders, as if it's nothing. "What about it?"
"Yes, I... yes, I almost drank out of the spout... And anyway, how's that so? Was I actually drinking your... Uh-uh... liquids?"
"Mistress..." the maid's cheeks turned a deep red at my wording, and she bowed silently.
"Rias..." judging by the expression on her face, Sona-chan began to feel vicarious embarrassment and could barely keep herself from facepalming.
"Oh-ho-ho, Rias-chan! Who is that condemned who taught you such bad things? It's not allowed for such little girls to express such things!"
"What things?" I acted the fool and stared at her innocently. "Sera-chan, was something I said, wrong?"
The smile on her face froze as soon as she realized that she had given my words a different connotation all on her own, apparently. Serafall cleared her throat, pretending that I hadn't said anything to her at all, and changed the subject.
"So, I told them that we'll meet here, I hope they don't throw a tantrum... Still, I asked for an informal meeting, and I didn't say why Baraqiel was necessary at this meeting."
"Sera-chan, why did you make this appointment at the park?" I sighed and rolled my eyes.
At the same time, the maid perked up and clasped her hands under her chest.
"Agrippa-san won't like it..."
And she said it so resignedly, that it made me feel uneasy. Agrippa was a man of a different era, and quite possibly could afford to be excessively harsh towards servants, even if they're the same as him. Of course, I wasn't just going to assume that.
"I can ask my father, so he would transfer you to serve me," I said, and looked at this Kyuu-chan with a crooked smile. "You're not attached to this Agrippa dude, are you?"
"Him... He used to do measurements and... experiments. But now... I am not that needed anymore?" Her voice faltered, and our eyes met.
"I have only one question, why are you not the piece of Agrippa, but the piece of my father?" I didn't like what I saw in her eyes, so I had to clarify.
"Because Gen-san likes the exotics, and not like all the other lustful idiots, but for the sake of his research at the institute for the study of demonic energy," Serafall answered me, instead of the maid who lowered her eyes again.
"And he wanted to give me a half-fallen with the power of Baraqiel... What did you say, Sera-chan, Holy Lightning? Wouldn't she get torn apart by the energy disparity or what? Of course, I'm not some kind of super cool scientist, but this is something to doubt."
"Of course, I've heard about turning exorcists and nuns, but you know, Rias-chan, Sona-chan probably told you all about those broing duties of mine..."
"Sister!" Sona-chan turned pink. "I just once said that putting seals and going through reports on problems with other factions is more boring than playing timed checkers, but it doesn't mean that..."
"What's wrong with checkers?!" I interrupted her and put my hands on my hips. "Next thing, you'll tell me that backgammon is boring!"
"Yes, it's a game of luck" Sona-chan protested in response, raising her voice, and also put her hands on her hips.
"And also memory, logic and perseverance!" I almost started yelling too, but for some reason I obeyed Akeno's elbow tugging. "Oh, yeah, I'm sorry, Akeno-san, we're not in Hell, we're in Japan. It's not customary to yell in public places here, right?"
Serafall was clearly already preparing to separate us, well, as usual, yes, but my quick cooling down, and from a simple touch on the elbow from Akeno, Sera was pretty much amazed. I could tell by her raised eyebrows and appraising look at the two of us.
"I almost changed my mind about giving you back to the Fallen, Akeno-chan... Few people can restrain our baby Gremory like that."
"No one would ever think of restraining me," I rolled my eyes and patted Akeno's palm, which was still resting in the crook of my elbow. "This is my special relationship with Sona-chan, and that's why you often witness this behavior, Sera-chan. I generally don't talk for almost the whole day, unless there are some events, so cut me some slack, will you?.."
"Rias..." Sona-chan grabbed me by the other elbow, for some reason losing all her combativeness and pursing her lips. "Why, you never..."
But before she could finish, she was interrupted by the brazen voice of a man.
"Oi, Serafall, what are you talking about, you obnoxious devil! What's that with - changed your mind? I'm finally getting to see my niece! Niece, good day to you, I am your best uncle Azazel!"
It became clear that he had been here for some time, and Serafall clearly felt it, hence the comment about "changing her mind", so that they would stop hiding and acting like idiots. Akeno's father, however, wasn't in the open yet. Makes me feel a bit defective. Well, it's okay, I guess, as he is way older.
"Then who is the best aunt?" Serafall couldn't resist teasing and smiled tensely at the leader of the Fallen.
"Of course it's Penemue!" that's what Azazel said.
"Of course it's Gabriel! " and that, somehow, was me.
Azazel and I locked eyes, almost the same way Sona-chan and I had just a minute ago, and neither of us was going to give up our positions.
"Since when do you like Gabriel?" Serafall found something to cling to and pointed her finger at me. "Now you definitely won't turn away from suiting up as the magical girl! My Arch-Enemy! Such betrayal cannot be forgiven!"
Both Azazel and I decided to ignore our surroundings and start selflessly reveling in this shit, and yes, I understood that this was a losing situation, because at least he knew both angels personally, but in my head there was only an idealization of Gabriel. That woman, for a strange reason, was quite popular in the Underworld.
"Penemue is the best angel healer in Grigori's service!" Azazel began to list furiously.
"Gabriel is generally the best angel there is!" I shook my head, took a step forward, and clenched my fists.
"Penemue has a noble purple hair color!" Azazel also stepped forward and stared into my eyes, unwilling to give up.
"And Gabriel is a platinum blonde with a beautiful halo, which you, the Fallen, could never dream of!"
"What's going on here anyway, Sona-cha-a-an?!" Serafall groaned theatrically and covered her face with her hands, however, leaving a crack between her fingers, because of course she couldn't leave Sona-chan and me unsupervised.
"I don't know, big sister, but I am strangely invested in the outcome of the confrontation..." Sona-chan muttered, watching our ping-pong from the front rows.
"Penemue has been in the first position of the Fallen Grigori Beauty rating for three hundred years! And this rating has only been around for three hundred years!" Azazel slammed his fist into his palm, ha, as if I can't get back at him!
"Gabriel is the most popular woman in the Underworld, and we've never even seen her in anything other than some kind of shapeless robe the age of the Big Bee!"
"Big Bee? Why Bee? It doesn't matter! Do you even know how amazing Penemue's boobs are!"
The Fallen man grabbed my shoulders in anger and started trying to shake my soul out.
"Surely they're no better than my mother's!"
I also grabbed the front of his coat and tried to shake him in response, I even managed not to let out the power of Destruction, although I really wanted to dissolve his swift multicolored locks in this scarlet mist.
He'd look as bald as a knee! Hehe, that's a tempting idea.
"What's your mother got to do with it? We're arguing about the best aunt for Akeno-chan!"
"Gabriel is almost my namesake, so I will stand until the end! So shut your food muncher, and accept the draw with honor!"
"Wait a minute..." He lost the fire of argument and frowned in disbelief. "The namesake?"
"Yes, yes, my full name is Gabrias," I waved him off and sighed miserably. "It's just got shortened to Rias, just because of Gabriel, I think."
"Yes, of course, because of Gabriel!" Serafall threw up her hands and added. "Like I'm going to call you Gabri, or something like that! Br-r-r!"
"Why did they call you that in the first place?" Baraqiel, who had been silent before, asked. He decided to come closer during this argument.
The man was huge, taller than Azazel and twice his size. But his humble posture and soft voice were somehow confusing.
"Good afternoon, Akeno Papa," I decided to be polite, so I finally let go of the fallen leader's jacket. "Oh, I'm sorry, I calculated it wrong, a little bit..."
There were still traces of my palms, as if his jacket had been subjected to accelerated decay where I touched it.
"Come on, whatever it is. I'll admit it's a draw, even though Gabriel still is a dumb snitch!" He smiled wryly and turned to Baraqiel. "Well, ask what you wanted to ask, and let's fly. Your daughter is here, we can move to the base, and you can explain everything to her there. Not in front of devils."
"Why didn't you take advantage of the moment?" Baraqiel even bent down slightly to look into my eyes and try to catch me in a lie, obviously. "And don't try to act like you don't understand what I mean. What do you need from Grigori, Gabrias Gremory?"
"You know, it's much easier to live, if you understand one very simple point. Do the good and throw it into the water," I met his gaze with mine and grinned, but did not continue to explain further.
It seems to me that this is quite enough in order to clarify that inner feeling I have, and not stray into some kind of senseless moralizing.
"Hmm," Baraqiel drawled, and looked at Serafall. "In my day, children weren't taught that in the Underworld."
"In my day, as well," Serafall shrugged, but her smile grew even wider as she shifted her gaze to me. "Peaceful times give birth to peaceful children, it seems. Even such relatively peaceful ones, as they are now. Don't worry, Baraqiel. Even if Rias doesn't want anything, I'm sure I'll find something to pull off."
"Just let us stay connected, if Akeno-chan wants to."
I sighed wearily, glanced at Akeno, who did not take her glistening gaze off her father, and then I rubbed my forearm.
"Anyway, we're preventing my political suicide and the inter-factional scandal here, so it benefits me too," I muttered.
Baraqiel looked at his daughter, held out his open palm to her, and sighed dejectedly.
"Akeno, please give me a chance to explain myself. I am... very sorry. But I got rid of those... who was much more to blame than me. Please, will you at least promise to listen to what I'm going to tell you? Ok?"
Akeno put her hand in his and looked at me with a bright and slightly trembling smile, and tears rolled down from her eyes - as if she had finally released this inner spring and found this connection with her father again, probably running deep, since she was so hurt by his possible betrayal of their family.
A normal father! Wow, Dear God, are you really their father?
"Really," muttered Azazel, who'd been standing aside from the unfolding scene all this time, and scratching his goatee in thought. "Is this really the result of your boasted Gremory power, your vaunted mythical daimonion, your warning against wrong decisions? Rudimentary, but still. Everything predisposed her to become your piece. But you decide to do something else. And you can't even explain why, exactly?"
I didn't try to convince him otherwise, because to do that, I would have to explain exactly how Gremory's power works. And it would be doubly stupid to do that, when even our closest allies, the Sitri, had no idea what exactly it was - the Gremory's power of luck, and how exactly it could be controlled. To others, it probably always seemed not something that is being controlled by us, but a thing, that is controlling something in us.
But the Daimonion? Something from ancient philosophy? The main Fallen has decided to get smart on me, so I won't bother him much. Let him come to his own, completely wrong, but certainly interesting, conclusions.
As Serafall correctly pointed out, times are only relatively peaceful now.