Outside the church when Pal was convincing Talia of a crazy scheme, three men were 'peacefully' talking.
"Can't believe he died by an affliction. Isn't that really rare? I didn't think I'd cry like this."
"I know what you mean. He was a good guy." One of them comforted the other over their lost comrade.
The two twins had only one friend, and to think he'd die in a church of all places. Now that was sad.
Not only did it taint their friend's name as being forsaken by the Graces, but it also made that forgotten church even less popular. Some even said that their friend's ghost was haunting the place.
The only thing the two of them could do was sigh.
"...It's strange." Suddenly, one of them got up from where he sat. In the middle of the city's plaza.
"What was?" The twin smoked his cigarette.
"That he died in a church like that. A cursed place like that church doesn't deserve to exist." He cried.
Now if they were both reasonable MagiKnights with a basic sense for right or wrong, this'd be real dumb.
There was no way they'd do that, right?
"Alright, let's burn it down." They had the perfect sensibilities for a friend of that Iron Skin knight.
With just a few words, they'd already decided to become enemies of a church... which was no biggie.
Differing schools and sects teaching about the 13 Graces meant faith was divided and in holy battle.
The winner being the one who takes all.
Despite being in the Top 20 in the rankings for MagiKnights, they weren't well-known by the public.
Mostly because media had been handled in a way to make sure the city's protectors would stay like that.
Those that did things openly were culled in the back.
Ash looked at his brother, Smoke, and remembered when they were in the Academy learning chivalry.
And the words they were left with by the bigwig that let them graduate. Despite how crazy they were.
"We have to make sure no one finds out." When Ash brought this up, Smoke nodded in understanding.
Their memory of their last day at the Academy was vague, but the fear of being found out was deep.
They knew what'd happen if they commuted a crime.
But wasn't everything fine so long as they weren't?
They headed straight there after finding the stuff they'd need. Gasoline and weapons just in case.
As a Synergist himself, Ash had crafted some handheld weapons that didn't look like weapons.
Making sure no one stopped them on their way there. Taking it seriously despite being a whim.
Smoke took a pack of Enhancement Cigarettes his brother made and checked if they were still fine.
"You ready?" Because they couldn't be lighted that easily, Ash was the one who got out a lighter.
The flame that came out was different from normal.
It was called 'Machina Fire'.
A power all Synergist's used to smith and create powerful weapons that could change history.
But for an amateur like Ash, this was his limit.
Being only able to create Enhancement Cigarettes and other weapons like smoke bombs or blades.
After preparing, they left without looking back.
.....
....
...
..
.
"This is the place?" Ash looked at the outside of the church and found it somewhat rundown and grey.
No decorations. No colours. Nothing. The whole church looked so ordinary that one could miss it.
"Should we use it?" Smoke asked.
"Nah, we didn't get a ride for a reason. Let's make sure no one stops the fire after it's lit." Ash denied.
They both stepped into the open door of the church.
When their eyes looked at the faceless statue of Graces at front, they started to feel uncomfortable.
"Why is that there?" It's not like Ash hadn't seen a Grace statue before. This particular one was just...
...too artistic.
The details and lines were enough for even an amateur at art studies know it was high priced.
It'd at least sell for a few thousand credits.
"We should change our plans." There was money to be made here. Why not gain ownership of this place?
So long as the current owner was willing to let go of this place, that statue would also belong to them.
And when it did, how much could it sell?
Ash looked at the big box of gasoline Smoke brought and figured it better if they looked less dangerous.
He stretched out his hand.
Using the second Skill of Synergists upon touch.
'Material Moulding' infused into the gasoline tank and changed everything about it. All the tiny details.
When it was reformed successfully, Smoke found that instead of a box, he was holding a sword.
It had a sheath with the same texture of the tank.
"The gasoline will revert back to normal the moment it touches someone. Be careful." There was no point in a real blade made of flammable substances. He just wanted to make it harder to predict their moves.
"Ash..." Smoke called out to his twin brother.
"What's wrong?" Ash found his attitude weird.
"How long are we supposed to do this? Others only get away with morally grey stuff. If we do arson and get found by 'him'-" The moment Smoke got to that point, his brother shushed him. Looking irritated.
"Everything is fine as long as we don't get caught. It will be fine. Look, do you remember this?" Ash reached into his own pocket and took out a high quality manufactured knife. It was their 'engine'.
The imaginary engine they had purposefully chose.
When he looked at that, Smoke also reached into his pockets to bring out an exact replica of the knife.
"Right. We have these abilities." Smoke felt more confident when they brought up these abilities.
However, there was still a seed of doubt.
They acted like they were as invincible as they were in their youths, but reality showed this was wrong.
There were times they lost, and times when their abilities were mismatched with their opponents.
Even after getting into the Top 20, he felt that way.
But Ash had no cowardice like he did.
Ash had gotten them to their rank by being bold and ruthless. Taking any and all shortcuts he found.
That's how they got here.
Able to so casually wreck places simply because they wanted to. Even if it meant ruining people's lives.
Just when he thought that, someone spoke:
"Are you here to pray?" Both of them put away their knives and looked at the person speaking to them.
A nun appeared in front of the Grace statue.
Acting like an obstacle to what they desired.
Ash kept his cool, but Smoke started blushing when he saw the cute look on her face. Heart smitten.
"We came to ask a few questions." Ash walked up closer while gesturing Smoke to show their badges.
Proving they were MagiKnights.
The closer they got, the more aware they became of the beauty being hidden behind that nun habit.
"Wait." Her authoritative voice stopped them.
"Yes?" Ash sweated. Not knowing what she thought.
"No smoking." She looked at his brother.
Smoke took the cigarette out of his mouth and acted like a dolt. Seeming embarrassed by forgetfulness.
"Now can we talk?" Ash calmed at that point.
They continued to approach her with evil intentions.
"Is it about that incident? I'm sorry, but it must have been the mercy of the Graces." Talia just stood there.
Acting stiff in front of the two MagiKnights.
Her attitude showing that she rarely had visitors like them. Because, funnily enough, MagiKnights weren't as religious as their monicker expected that to be. Normal citizens were more faithful than them.
"What can you tell us about that incident?" Ash crept closer while pretending he had professional intent.
Smoke's smitten look hid his nefarious intentions.
After all, people couldn't simply 'sense' evil intent simply by looking at their face. It was all perfect.
Talia looked down as if to remember something, and that was the moment Ash chose up ambush her.
A syringe hidden in his pocket stabbed her neck.
SMACK.
She quickly snapped the syringe and threw it away from her, but the contents had entered her system.
Talia started to look intoxicated.
"What... did you-?" It didn't take long before she couldn't even speak anymore. Her eyes were empty.
Unable to grasp at reality.
"We're going to have to take you in for narcotics, ya know~?" Smoke followed up by circling the nun.
They seemed practiced at this.
Talia quickly realised that she had been too careless in front of them. What more, Elves cannot harm Humans. That was the promise that had been set ever since they'd got into contact with humanity.
"...Do you not fear 'him'?" For a brief moment, Talia regained enough of her senses to ask them this.
'That person' who raised them wouldn't be happy.
"The fact he doesn't stop us right now means we're either out of his sight, or that this is fine. To the rest of the city, MagiKnights should stay as a symbol of purity." Ash grinned while gazing at her wickedly.
Her helplessness stimulating him.
The situation was dire. Smoke was the first to move his hands to touch her waist, but Ash stopped him.
Smacking his hand away.
"…?" He looked at him.
"We've always agreed that I go first, right?" There was a violent look in his eyes that suppressed Smoke.
Ash ignored his brother and touched her waist.
'Was this too easy?' A part of him found something about this suspicious, but he didn't mind it at all.
So long as it got the job done.
CLICK.
Even though he had touched the lower end of her habit, a curious clicking sound had occurred.
Almost like stepping on a single branch.
The feel of her body was strange. Despite her soft exterior, actual touch was like handling lead.
'Wait…' He realised the strangeness way too late.
…..
….
…
..
.
Going back to earlier, Talia hadn't left the room Pal was in as they were still discussing about Hell.
As they were discussing that, she suddenly went quiet and communicated telepathically with another.
Probably the Dungeon Core.
'The core is actually intelligent?' Pal had his doubts at first, but now everything was becoming strange.
Greeted with things he couldn't understand again and again. After all, 'cores' were usually simple power sources. He'd initially thought she was controlling the dungeon. Not actually talking to it.
Moreover, what did they talk about right now?
Was it related to what he was saying?
"You didn't clean up properly. I'm hearing that there are MagiKnights that need dealing with." (Talia)
"You want me to deal with them?" (Pal)
"No point. One death can be covered. Three is just asking to be investigated." Talia shook her head.
"…Sorry." Pal looked like he felt bad about it.
It was strange that people were coming for revenge even though he assassinated that guy so cleanly.
This was just bad luck.
"Don't be. This was just bad luck." Talia agreeing with his inner voice made Pal feel more at ease.
"You can't harm Humans, right? I should be the one to finish them." Pal offered to make things right.
Rather than answering him, she simply smiled as if he said something adorable. She let him go past.
To see the situation that would occur.
When he got there, the sound of crunching bones could be heard along with a man howling in pain.
When he opened the door, the sight of a creature that had taken on the form of a Talia shifted.
He could only think of one Monster that did this.
'Mimic.' Pal thought of those annoying creatures that would disguise as chests in order to lure in victims.
The type of disguise it took had changed. In fact, you could even say the degree was concerning to see.
She could make mimics take on the appearance and tone of herself? Did she have such a cunning mind?
It was scary to see.
"AAAARGH!!!" The burlier man who was next to the now cold corpse roared. He pulled out a sword.
The moment it made contact with the Mimic, it turned into gasoline that blinded the creature.
It shrieked before trying to grasp at him.
The sound of the Mimic grating the ears.
"Fuck you!" A hand of flames, likely the brother's innate gift, ignited the liquids he threw on it.
It screamed and resisted the flames to attack.
However, the MagiKnight simply continued.
Once again, the gasoline blade that had 'healed' thanks to his Skill, and he ignited the Mimic again.
And again.
And again.
The tactic was pretty interesting.
However, he couldn't let the man kill the creature.
'Should I help now?' Just when Pal thought that, a branch thrusted past him like a javelin from behind.
The MagiKnight, who had noticed the ambush too late, was pierced. The javelin went through him.
Straight through his heart.
Blood was coughed out the dying MagiKnight when he turned around. Looking at the perpetrator.
Talia walked forward from behind Pal, and behind her was a humanoid creature that was like a tree.
Most likely a Treant.
"I'm sorry a Monster ended up killing you. Such a darn shame, really." She joked to the dying man.
Looking angry likely from what happened before.
That beautiful face looking nothing more than the face of a devil. An evil that came straight from Hell.
Ironically speaking…
She spoke as if her weapon was what killed him. Not her. Really not. Even though she relished his demise.
Pal's heart thumped irregularly.
He initially thought she was a doormat, but what just occurred only made it obvious she was cunning.
What would happen if she found out his cowardice?
That he was trying to leave this world not out of a misguided obligation, but simply to survive.
If she found out, then…
CHOMP.
The burnt up Mimic ate the second MagiKnight and gulped him down. It became quiet afterwards.
Acting like it was going into hibernation.
"Would you look at that. The ability is working?" I couldn't understand what Talia meant by this.
What ability?
Was her Mimics different from how he thought that Monster worked? Why did its empty belly get full?
Two humans were enough?
Monsters shouldn't work like that. They didn't need food for sustenance, so why didn't it spit them out?
"Now. Let's continue our talk. I'm sure you have a great plan to rule over Hell and help me get revenge on humanity, right?" Talia's words forgetting that she was talking to one of those humans right now.
"What did I hear? Revenge?" A drunkard came from who knew where with the frosty woman next to him.
His newly wedded wife, Shia.
"I'm proud of ya, Sonny. You're finally showing me some grit here. And here I thought the fear of death turned ya into a boot-licking swine. My bad." Simon smacked his back, which made him turn around.
Making him see the interested look Shia made towards his 'new goal'. Not stopping him at all.
'I am royally fucked.' He couldn't get out of this now.
Peer pressure was telling him that if he denied what they said, he would experience hell here on Earth.
Simon and Talia seemed to be of one mind.
"Of course, that totally was my plan." His answer made Shia admire him, Simon proud of him, and Talia appreciate his presence. Likely forgiving that he'd went out earlier and got a wife for himself.
Pal cried on the inside. Having purpose was one thing, but they wanted him to take over Hell now?
'Whelp, why not do that?' There's no reason not to.
Maybe conquering Hell would be fun, but first things first was meeting and greeting a Succubus in reality.
He'd make plans from there.