(Sorry, the story progress very slow but I really want to add depth instead of just following original plot, change a bit and call it a day.)
When morning came, Leo made his preparation and went to Kuoh Academy for his promise to treat Sona. But before he could depart, someone was already knocking at his door.
When he opened the door, Sirzech with at least a dozen people standing solemnly at his doorstep.
"May we request an audience with Lady Ophis?" Sirzech asked. Leo felt something was very wrong and nodded before opening the door to allow them in.
He saw a few people who were recognized. A man with black hair and blond bangs wearing a suit is Azazel, another wearing silver and gold armor is Michael, one with green hair is Ajuka and a few others Leo didn't recognize. But one thing for sure, everyone is the big shots from the Biblical Faction.
They approach Ophis on the couch and interrupted her TV watching session. Mittelt quickly retreated to Leo after seeing the crowd.
"Good morning, Lady Ophis." Sirzech greeted with solemn respect like he was on official business.
Ophis nods and stares back at them blankly.
"We would like to ask. Are you working with Leonis Ashford despite knowing his relationship with the Outer Gods?"
Everyone became tense and waited for her response. Ophis looks at them for a moment before she nods which elicits several gasps.
"Can you tell us the reason?xl"
"He promise to defeat Great Red…" Ophis replied but then changed her answer. "No, he promise to give me Silence."
They frowned as they tried to interpret the meaning of her words. Silence? What does that mean? None of them can really give a conclusive answer but they can agree it's Dimension Gap.
This means, Leo has full support of Ophis. If they want to kill him, it would be very difficult. Not even Sirzech and Ajuka, the Super Devils can say for sure they will come out victorious against the Dragon God Ouroboros.
Even though Leo is a threat they must eliminate in their eyes, there's nothing they can do about it if Ophis wants to protect him. This a world where the strong decide the rules and the weak can only obey or be killed.
This means their only option is to make sure Leo isn't a threat to the world. The reason why they even came to talk is because Leo's deed up to this point which gained few approvals especially from Michael. He declared himself as the defender of the weak and innocent. If not for that, they wouldn't even have conceived the second option other than killing him.
Feeling the attention shifted to him, Leo tense up a little especially after knowing the identities of these people. Even with Ophis' support, he can't help but feel nervous being stared by these big shots.
They sensed his nervousness and instead of Sirzech, Michael volunteered for this conversation. He gestured Leo to the table which he nodded and followed to take a seat where they ended up face to face with one another.
"Your name is Leonis Ashford was it? I am Michael, one of the Archangels that represent Heaven." Michael smiled warmly, trying to present himself as a person to talk with instead of a threat.
Sirzech and Azazel also take a seat on the table before they get started.
"First, we would like to learn how you got in contact with the Outer Gods, if you are comfortable sharing the information." Michael asked his first question.
Leo sat there in silence for a moment, thinking how he should answer this question. It involved his death and Transmigration which he assumes should be sensitive information but Michael is an Angel and he thinks he should play safe and assume Michael would be able to detect falsehood in his words.
After half a minute passed, they waited patiently for Leo to figure out his answer. Leo looks hesitant for a moment but then swallows the hesitation to answer the question.
"It may sound ridiculous… But I am from another world. I was killed by a bogeyman hunting me down. After that, I found myself awake in the aftermath of a ritual which I first assumed was a Satanic ritual… But it turns out to be a ritual for the Eldritch God." Leo revealed.
Leo is betting on the fact there are other worlds out there just like the future invader that would kill Great Red. This way, he wouldn't need to lie.
He looks at each face on the table and none of them show any signs of surprise. They simply stay silent and wait until the whole story is revealed.
"Then, when I escaped that place. I found Ophis. She recruited me in her quest to defeat Great Red and made me forge a contract with her." Leo finishes the explanation and then waits for their response.
"Wait, a contract? To defeat the Great Red?" Azazel is the first to break the silence and laughs as if he just watched someone get scammed hard.
"I see. So, you didn't make any promise or cooperation with the Outer Gods?" Michael remains calm and continues asking further to clarify Leo's situation.
"No." Leo shook his head to deny it immediately.
Everyone seems to be looking at Michael for his verdict. It was indeed lucky Leo didn't resort to lies because Michael indeed has an ability to see through lies.
Michael then smiled and nodded before a wave of relief washed through everyone. But that isn't the end yet. It's only the start.
"Then, would you explain what happened to Sona Sitri? She is affected by something from you and you told Sirzech and Serafall you might know the cause of her nightmare." Michael asked.
"It's a curse in a sense. But also not. She gained Insight, the knowledge of the eldritch truth." Leo explains. "I do not know how she gained it. But it causes her to perceive things she shouldn't and I guess that is the source of her nightmare."
Sirzech nods and turns to Ajuka who also nods as they seem to be having a wordless conversation on the side. Leo ignores them and looks at Michael, waiting for any more questions he might have for him.
"Alright. This next question is a question from me personally. I heard something interesting that you claimed and I selfishly wish to ascertain if it's the truth." Michael apologized for his selfish desire.
"N-No need to apologize. I will answer it if you wish." Leo quickly stopped him from bowing his head considering what Michael did is good for his image. "Please ask ahead."
"Alright." Michael lifts his head back and nods with a smile. "I heard that you claim to be a defender of the weak and innocent. Do you genuinely mean what you said?" Michael asked. The other also paid close attention to Leo.
Leo closes his eyes for a moment, recalling the Hunter's Oath he took. The beast he vanquished and the innocent people that fell victim to the greed of those in power. Of course he has his selfish desire which is to grow stronger. However, what he went through triggered a desire within him. To protect those he could. He would not claim to be a selfless hero of justice dedicating his life to save people left and right. But when he sees injustice in front of his eyes, he will not remain silent and watch. Just like the Hunters before him.
Those Hunters are all driven by their selfish wishes from the start to the end. To seek cure to their ailment. But their selfish desire saved many by ending the Scourge of Beast. To bring peace back to the city of Yharnam when the sun rises from the horizon and drops the curtain on the Night of Hunt.
Leo opened his eyes again with his resolve burning in his eyes.
"Yes. It's an oath I took. A similar oath taken by my predecessors" Leo answered.
"An oath?" Michael was curious.
"Yes. A Hunter's Oath. It's from another world. We Hunters carry a burden, to cleanse the plague ridden world off the Scourge of the Beast which turns humans into mindless beasts consumed by their bloodlust. They are the result of experimentations carried out by those selfish people in power." Leo becomes emotional as he speaks. He remembered what he saw in Yharnam. The mindless denizens turn into nothing but bloodthirsty beasts.
"Our work is done without recognition, our work is nothing but a thankless job. Yet we persevere to spare the innocent people from their greed. That's why I frown upon the Devils, their peerage system is the same. It might be done out of goodwill but those who are greedy will exploit it and the victims are the innocent people they treat as nothing but insects." Leo ended his words with his eyes laid on Ajuka, the creator of this Peerage System.
Ajuka and Sirzech couldn't find a word to refute. Azazel finds it humorous that a human points out their flaw. Only Michael stayed silent throughout Leo's speech and listened carefully to each word.
"It's an admirable deed. A quality of a hero. Yet it's sad to hear such an event had transpired. I can only offer you my recognition and thanks for your heroic deed." Michael stood up and offered his hand to Leo. "I, Michael is willing to vouch for you due to your character. The Heaven always welcomes people like you. However, you already have your place that you belong to."
"Oh, it's my turn then." Azazel said after Leo accepted Michael's handshake.
"I only have one question. I overheard something interesting about you." Azazel shows a wide grin. "I heard you can use Holy Lightning, a power that should be unique only to Baraqiel and his descendants. But for you to also possess it. May I ask how you did it?"
"You can use Holy Power?" Michael is also surprised as he never heard of this if Azazel didn't bring it up.
Mittelt looked quite nervous when Azazel suddenly asked about Leo being able to use Holy Power. She wished no one would discover Leo is the Biblical God. She wants to hog him herself. But she knows it's impossible to keep it a secret forever. Besides, she also hates both Azazel and Michael now that she realized who Leo is.
"Yes." Leo answered with a demonstration. "However I'm not capable of using the Holy Lightning you are speaking of. What I am capable of using is to mix Holy Power and Lightning I generated to produce Holy attribute Lightning."
Leo shows himself producing lightning before adding Holy Power to create Holy Lightning.
"Fascinating… It's indeed not Holy Lightning." Azazel observed and made note of his observation.
"But how can you use Holy Power?" Michael was surprised. Only Angel can wield it. Not even the believer of the Church could. They can only borrow it.
"I don't know." Leo answered.
He really doesn't. It's an ability given by the System. He didn't know how he was able to use it.
As they were going to ask more, suddenly someone contacted Sirzech and from how his face suddenly turned into a frown. It can't be good news.
"Sona ran away and went missing." Sirzech shared the news.
It's bad indeed. Sona was afflicted with knowledge beyond her understanding. Now she went missing. Who knows what she would attempt with that knowledge.
—————
If you readers feel generous or want to appreciate my work and effort, feel free to tip me here.
https://ko-fi.com/lazy_kat_aoi