ABANDONED HOUSE – KUOH
The atmosphere inside the abandoned house had been heavy ever since Darius's death. The silence felt even worse now that part of the group had simply disappeared without leaving any trace, and that was starting to bother even Lucien.
"They haven't come back..." Lucien broke the silence while staring at the front door of the house for what felt like the thousandth time. "This is taking way too long."
Magnus remained seated near the broken table while keeping a cold expression.
"They're probably dead."
Lucien quickly turned toward him.
"You say that way too easily."
"Because it's the most likely outcome." Magnus replied without emotion. "Darius was carrying an Excalibur. If even he disappeared... then they found someone powerful."
Lucien remained silent for a few seconds after that. Deep down, he knew Magnus was probably right, but accepting it was another matter entirely.
"What now?" He crossed his arms, trying to hide his nervousness. "What do we do?"
Magnus rested his elbows on his knees before answering.
"We wait for orders from the Fallen Angels." His gaze remained serious. "As God's messengers, they understand the situation better than we do."
Lucien slowly nodded, although he didn't seem entirely convinced.
Then—
SHHHHH.
An intense light appeared on the second floor of the abandoned house, illuminating part of the broken walls and spreading holy energy throughout the entire building.
Lucien's eyes widened immediately.
"The Fallen Angels..."
Magnus stood up at once.
"Bow."
The tone was firm enough to prevent any argument.
He immediately lowered his body in respect, and Lucien did the same a few seconds later, still clearly uncomfortable with it.
Footsteps came shortly afterward.
Slow.
Calm.
The first one to appear descending the stairs was Luminara, maintaining her gentle smile as she observed the two kneeling humans. Behind her came Seraphiel, far quieter and carrying a cold presence powerful enough to make the entire atmosphere uncomfortable.
"Hello, my dear humans." Luminara lightly opened her arms while walking through the room. "The plan is finally about to begin."
Lucien lowered his head even further upon hearing that.
Seraphiel wasted no time with introductions.
"And the hostages?"
Magnus answered immediately without even raising his eyes.
"They're imprisoned in the basement, Master Seraphiel."
The Fallen Angel watched him silently for a few seconds before slowly shifting his gaze toward the door leading underground.
"Excellent." His tone remained cold. "Then Kokabiel-sama will be pleased."
He slowly turned his attention back toward the two kneeling humans.
"Now go." His finger pointed directly at Lucien. "You too."
Lucien quickly raised his head.
"My name is Lucien, Master Seraphiel."
"Whatever." Seraphiel answered without any genuine interest. "Go down to the basement and kill all of them."
The atmosphere immediately became heavy.
"And then scatter the bodies throughout the city."
Magnus immediately lowered his head even further.
"It will be done, Master."
Lucien froze for a second after hearing that.
'What the hell is this...?'
Discomfort immediately surfaced inside him, but it quickly disappeared when he felt the holy and demonic pressure crushing the entire atmosphere.
In the end...
He lowered his head as well.
"...Yes."
A slow smile spread across Luminara's face as she watched the reactions of the two humans.
"The streets of this city are going to become a wonderful work of art."
Her tone sounded almost excited, and that made Lucien even more uncomfortable as he stood up beside Magnus.
The two walked silently toward the basement door before slowly descending into the dark underground level. The smell of fear and human sweat became stronger with every step, mixed with the faint sounds of people crying in the darkness.
Outside the basement, Seraphiel remained standing while observing the entrance without changing his expression. Luminara leaned partially against a broken wall while absentmindedly playing with her hair.
"How long do you think it'll take?" she asked with a small smile.
"Until the screaming starts."
Seraphiel answered without emotion.
And only a few seconds later—
"AAAAAHHHHH—!!"
The first scream echoed from the basement.
Then another came.
And another.
Men.
Women.
The desperate sounds began filling the entire house as blood was spilled in the underground chamber below.
Luminara slowly closed her eyes as she listened to the screams.
Her smile widened.
"This..." She slowly exhaled. "Is almost poetic."
She began whispering obscenities under her breath while enjoying the sounds of the massacre taking place beneath them, but Seraphiel completely ignored her behavior as if he were already used to it.
"Let's go." He turned toward the exit of the house. "We need to meet Azraelion and Kokabiel-sama."
Luminara opened her eyes again.
"Yes."
The black wings of both Fallen Angels spread instantly.
FWOOOSH.
With a single flap of their wings, they vanished from the abandoned house, leaving behind only the screams of humans echoing through the dark basement of Kuoh.
___
RIAS'S OFFICE – GREMORY MANSION
"Let's go in." Gasper opened the office door while briefly looking at Selene. "Rias should already be waiting."
Selene silently nodded before entering right behind him, clearly more nervous now that she finally understood that this conversation would determine her future.
"Excuse me, Lady Gremory."
Rias remained seated behind her desk while observing the two entering the office. Gasper closed the door immediately afterward, completely isolating the room from the rest of the mansion.
Selene lightly clasped her hands together before finally asking the question she had been holding back since arriving.
"Are you... going to kill me?"
Rias ended up letting out a small amused laugh upon hearing the question, more entertained by Selene's fear than genuinely irritated.
"Should we?" Gasper answered before Rias could.
Selene immediately lost some color from her face.
"No!" She answered far too quickly while taking a small step forward. "I can still be useful!"
Her eyes began to water as she spoke.
"I know magic... I helped you... I'll do anything..." Her voice faltered near the end. "Just please don't kill me."
Gasper observed her silently for a few seconds before turning his gaze toward Rias.
"There may be another option."
Rias rested her chin on her hand while watching Selene instantly react to those words.
"W-What option?"
"My boyfriend needs to strengthen his peerage." Rias answered simply. "And you'd make an excellent Bishop."
Selene froze for a moment.
Her mind practically understood the answer before the confirmation even arrived.
"You want to reincarnate me as a devil...?"
"That's exactly what I said." Rias replied bluntly.
The office became silent for several seconds as Selene tried to properly process that.
She had never imagined becoming a devil one day, and honestly, she didn't even know how she was supposed to react to the idea.
But at the same time...
The alternative was death.
"So?" Gasper slowly pulled out a Bishop Evil Piece and showed it to her. "Are you joining my peerage?"
Selene remained standing still while organizing her thoughts. It meant completely abandoning her old life, abandoning her human side, and officially stepping into the supernatural world once and for all.
She clearly didn't want that.
But she wanted to die even less.
"...How would I be treated?"
This time, Rias answered first.
"As family." Her tone remained firm. "If you protect us... we'll protect you."
Selene slowly shifted her gaze toward Gasper.
"I'm living proof of that." He lightly raised the Bishop Piece while maintaining a calm expression. "Rias did the same for me."
Silence returned for a few more seconds before Selene finally closed her eyes and slowly exhaled.
"...Alright."
She opened her eyes again shortly afterward, clearly resigned to her choice.
"I accept."