We chased after Euclid and found him waiting for us a considerable distance ahead.
Still holding Rossweisse under one arm, the bastard pointed downward with one finger.
The cheek. He was telling us to come down and face him.
Rias and I descended to the ground. We had reached an area of rugged terrain, far from any farmland. There were no buildings or signs of life as far as the eye could see. We could probably be a little reckless here without having to worry about collateral damage.
“Euclid!” I shouted as we prepared to face each other once again. “What are you doing?! Why have you and your terrorists shown up again now?! You’re rebelling against the demon government?!”
He might have been one of the terrorist masterminds, but I owed it to Grayfia to double-check his intentions. After all, he was still her brother.
“…There are a great many reasons, Issei Hyoudou,” he began. “From my discontent with the current government, to questions about my sister, to my countless hours spent in self-reflection. Answer me this, Issei Hyoudou. What is a demon?”
I found myself at a loss at this sudden question.
Euclid nodded in response to my silence. “There’s no one-size-fits-all answer, is there? I arrived at the same conclusion.”
“…Are you saying you share Rizevim’s ideas?”
“Everyone has their own thoughts. I’ve simply decided his perspective is essential to my own inquiry.” He took a deep breath. “In my view, what matters most is that one present oneself as a demon to humans and other forces—in other words, that one be more wicked than any other creature or being. This does indeed align with Rizevim’s thoughts. But that is where our perspectives diverge.” He spread his arms wide. “Through Rizevim, I will show the world the true meaning of the word demon. I will have every being remember how vicious and dangerous we are at heart, how inherently evil. At this point, politics and control don’t mean anything to me. Nor do they to Rizevim… Ultimately, we will reveal the true nature of demonkind to humanity as well.”
…What kind of crazy logic was that?!
So he wanted to flaunt his own misguided notion of what it meant to be a demon?!
The smiling faces of the kids who had come to the school floated up in my mind.
Why did they have to get dragged into this mad plot…? Honestly, why…?
“…Are you trying to push demonkind away from everyone else, even the human world…?!” I shouted with a snarl.
Euclid gazed off into the distance. “My sister…was my inspiration. She was always stronger and braver than anyone else I knew. To me, she embodied pride itself. I thought supporting her was to be my path in life. Yet she defied her duty as a Lucifugus to serve the true Lucifer and opened her heart to one not even worthy of being called a demon. Can you imagine my shock, Rias Gremory? What that did to my sense of values?” He pointed to me with one finger. “For the longest time, I was lost—all but dead, both mentally and physically. But then I met you, Issei Hyoudou, always acting as you please. It was a breath of fresh air. And it made me realize something important.” He stared up into the firmament, his expression radiant. “Ah, yes, I thought. I, too, can live life as I want.”
—!
Was he saying he figured out he could live the life he wanted…? What was that supposed to mean?! I couldn’t make heads or tails of this guy!
“Is that really what this all comes down to?!” Rias fumed.
Euclid didn’t seem particularly concerned. “It was a simple thought. A hero for demonkind… The children see him and look up to him. But it doesn’t feel very demonic. So I thought, why not show them a true demon?”
“And you’re saying that’s Rizevim?! Quit fooling around!” I shouted, just as angry as Rias was.
“…You’ve twisted it all!” she cried, on the verge of tears. “Why do you want to abandon peace for the sake of chaos when the future of demonkind itself is in danger?!”
Euclid tilted his head to one side. “Twisted it, have I? Me? You blame me for the distorted nature of demon society? Not the annihilation of our true Demon Kings? We are merely extras; outsiders whose existence has deviated from the Bible and scriptures. No, it’s precisely because the mythos was already shattered that irregular entities like your brother and Ajuka Beelzebub have come about. Perhaps we aren’t even the demons of scripture anymore.”
…
He wanted to show the children what he thought it meant to be a demon? And I had triggered that desire in him…?
I shook my head.
“You can brag about your grand ambitions if you want…,” I growled.
No. Whatever his ambitions, whatever his dreams—those children had nothing to do with them!
“But keep the kids out of it, dammit! You’re trying to tear down the underworld, aren’t you?! In that case, we have to stop you!”
Euclid flashed me a faint smile as I unleashed my crimson armor. “That’s right, you’re doing fine. After all, heroes are supposed to offer fierce protection. You’re on the right track. Unlike Rizevim, I won’t deny you your role. It’s what makes you such a worthy opponent!”
Did he ever shut up?! I would never forgive him!
“Then why go after Rossweisse?” Rias demanded. “Do you need her help to unleash Trihexa? You took quite a risk coming after her in Tokyo.”
Exactly. It was foolhardy in the extreme for a terrorist to go out of his way to try recruiting her in the heart of Japan. If they were caught, they would have difficulty breaking in a second time. They wouldn’t have taken that risk unless there was a very good reason for it.
“…Because of her wisdom,” he said, shifting his gaze to Rossweisse. “She has talent. We could put her to great use. What she was trying to discover wasn’t a way to unleash Trihexa, but the opposite it—to seal it.”
—!
Rias and I were taken aback!
Rossweisse’s paper hadn’t been about breaking the seals placed on it…?
“Besides…,” Euclid said, stroking her silver hair. “The two of them are very similar. Very similar indeed.”
“…Who is?” Rias asked, visibly confused.
“Rossweisse and my sister.”
—?!
All three of us—Rias, Rossweisse, and myself—were left speechless.
Similar? They didn’t look at all alike. I mean, they both had silver hair and carried themselves with confidence, but that was about it…
“…Perhaps she could take my sister’s place for me?” Euclid said with a faint smile. “That’s what matters most.”
…
…It finally made sense… That’s why he told me to give Grayfia his regards when we first met…
…Had he been chasing after her shadow all this time…?
Had he committed himself to this insane cause in a misguided effort to reconnect with his sister?
I mean, the fact that he had risked everything to meet Rossweisse in Tokyo just because she looked vaguely similar to Grayfia… If that wasn’t a red flag, I didn’t know what was.
“…Euclid Lucifugus,” Rias began, her face awash with sorrow. “Your heart, it’s already…”
“…Huh? What are you talking about? I’m perfectly normal here.” He breathed a sigh, then turned to me—or rather, to Ddraig. “Red Dragon Emperor Ddraig—would you consider transferring your soul to this gem?”
“You’re asking me to switch sides?” Ddraig asked out loud so everyone could hear.
“Exactly. I can master you better than any of your previous Red Dragon Emperors. I can bring out far more of you than Issei Hyoudou here. You could be the embodiment of the Heavenly Dragon you once were without having to rely on the false power of that crimson armor… You wouldn’t need that Juggernaut Drive.”
“I see… I’m sure someone like you could tap my full potential.”
“Precisely. I’m stronger than Issei Hyoudou.”
“…Yeah, my current partner is the weakest I’ve ever had. Not only does he struggle to use the strength he has, he always ends up pouring his energies into unnecessary distractions. His obsession with breasts has caused me no end of trouble.”
…He was really letting it all out there, wasn’t he? I mean, I knew he had a lot of pent-up stress, but still!
“But,” Ddraig declared, “he’s still infinitely better than you. In fact, he’s better than anyone I’ve had up till now. What I’m saying is he’s a great partner for me.”
…Thanks. Not that was I was worried, of course.
Euclid shrugged his shoulders, then burst into laughter. “Ha-ha-ha! Then let’s do this!”
He snapped his fingers, and a small magic circle appeared and unfolded atop his hand.
The next moment—a powerful explosion echoed far behind us.
…That was the direction of the school…! No…!
Rias and I were struck dumb with shock.
“Given your lack of foresight, you probably captured the traitorous mages alive, I take it?” he said nonchalantly. “They were rigged with a little surprise—primed to explode at the right moment. Your cherished school is no more, all your hard work up in smoke.”
“…”
“…You bastard…,” I growled.
Both Rias and I were shaking in rage, but that didn’t stop him from going on.
“But ultimately, who cares? It was just a pathetic school building for low-class demon children. What do you know of the school only select high-class, pure-blooded demons can attend? The teachers, of course, all hail from high-class backgrounds as well. The facilities incorporate modern technology while still valuing traditional education. Students connect with their peers through various activity programs. It creates a solid foundation for their futures. For expanding one’s children’s social circles, an elite school is a solid investment… But what value did that school serve?” he asked, speaking as if he found its very existence abhorrent. “Which high-class demons will be going there? No matter how hard one studies, they will end up with average jobs at best. Perhaps they’ll even earn enough to scrape by. But that will be all.”