Volume 1, Chapter 9 - Gather Heaven, Earth, and Hell
A clock ticked with perfect regularity.
Clocks were science incarnate. The world was ruled by time and man had built clocks to rule over time. They were proof that man used springs to oppose the world that god had created.
That was why the girl loved this old clock.
Leaning on it was enough to relax her. The ticking of the second hand was especially comfortable. Its regular rhythm felt like the beating of a heart, reminding her of her mother’s heartbeat. It brought her back to her time as a fetus.
The girl was human, so that was where her memories of peace lay.
And the girl was human, so it was only natural to rely on science.
“Miss A, I have a report from Miss E who contacted that boy.”
A mechanically synthesized voice cut in. The girl frowned at having her rest disturbed and she looked upwards.
The clock was a pocket watch with a leather strap and it hung around a white rabbit’s neck.
Light reflected from the rabbit’s red eyes which were larger than the girl.
“She succeeded in procuring the boy’s sperm. He is definitely Adam, the core of our plan. However, it seems the cells can’t be implanted for artificial insemination. She also failed to request his cooperation. He is already working with the angels.”
“I see. I suppose Machina…Miss E is too poor a talker.”
The girl got up from the old clock and placed her tall leather heels on the floor which was entirely covered with countless playing cards.
“Not a problem. We can correct this scenario.”
She parted her blonde hair.
“Maintain the current situation so we can make our next move against the angels and demons on a moment’s notice. It hurts that they got the first move in, but all three factions are still lined up alongside each other. If he’s leaning toward the angels, that gives us a slight advantage.”
“Understood.”
The girl gave a small sigh.
“The time of rivalry has arrived.”
Despite the girl’s appearance, she gave a deep, deep sigh that seemed to hide a thousand years of life behind it.
“If we cannot break through destiny, nothing remains for us. We need him to break it for us.”
“Yeah, that’s right, mama. I broke through a piece of destiny.”
There was darkness.
It was too dark to tell which way was up and which was down, but Lucia lay there.
Or was he really lying down? He might have been standing or he might have been falling.
Regardless, he seemed to be using the darkness as a comfortable bed.
“I was too late to make the first move, but I made up for it this time. Didn’t I tell you I could manage even against an angel?”
He opened his pale, cloudy eyes.
A woman was there. She had long blonde hair and a beautiful yet somehow inhuman devilishness to her.
Her gently drooping and maddeningly bewitching eyes were just like Lucia’s.
“I’ll move to the next stage soon. …Heh heh heh. I’ll be taking another step closer to Mutsuki-kun.”
The mention of “Mutsuki-kun” was enough for both the boy and the woman’s cheeks to melt.
They laughed obscenely like they were drunk on sweet wine. And…
“All three factions are lined up alongside each other now. It’ll take us some preparation to achieve our goal, so we might be falling a little behind. Well, we’ll make up for it soon enough.”
He jumped down to a large clock.
“After all…”
He landed on Megutono Academy’s clock tower.
“I’m the one that loves Mutsuki-kun the most?”
A place far closer to the sun than the earth was filled with never-ending light.
The humans commonly called it “above the clouds” and both the floor and walls were as white as clouds. The reflecting light dazzled Micha after her time in the dimmer human world.
But unlike on earth during the summer, this place was nice and cool.
She narrowed her eyes and stretched her back.
She faced…a mass of wings. Something had six pure-white wings wrapped around itself like a cocoon.
“Thank you for the report. So you are certain it is him?”
Someone spoke from within the wings. The voice was too muffled to tell if it was male or female.
“There is no mistaking it.”
“Then…you and the maiden of blue fire are to prioritize protecting Adam rather than the Serpent’s Eye holder. I will pass the report on to the higher ups.”
“Understood. And according to the report, one of Mutsu-…one of the boy’s classmates is a member of FeTUS. At Ange’s current level, I believe she would have trouble opposing them.”
“That is not a problem. We have already taken measures against that. We are all on equal footing, which is not the best situation, but as long as the humans and demons stay put, this should be fine.”
“Understood.”
Micha gave a quick bow with her back still straightened.
The winged individual finally lowered its voice like a living creature with actual emotions.
“Gather heaven, earth, and hell and you will have everything. …Who would have thought they would be gathered in such a small place?”
The six wings slowly opened.
“According to Genesis, the world was created from discord.”
It was not clear what or who was there. It was as bright as the sun, so Micha could not even look at it after growing accustomed to the dim human world. But she did know one thing.
“Human history is a history of discord. Ever since they were created from the dirt of the earth, they have never forgotten conflict. And the same can be said of us angels and the demons. After all, god is the only perfect being.”
This being was superior to her.
“But…”
The light spoke.
“If some form of harmony does in fact exist…”
“Listen, Mutsuki.”
“Y-yeah?”
“She got away yesterday, but we’re definitely getting that girl to talk today. I doubt she would talk even if we threatened her, so you talk to her. Get her to tell us what’s going on inside FeTUS and what she’s doing.”
“But…I wouldn’t know what to say.”
“Think about it. You were getting along so well yesterday. Just get her to tell you about FeTUS as a continuation of your pillow talk. Simple, right?”
“I-I wouldn’t call it getting along…”
“Here she comes!”
It was eight thirty the following morning.
Ange and Mutsuki looked out the window and spotted Machina slipping through the school’s gate at the last second like a machine.
“Morning, Fujita-kun, Jiyuuni-san. You left early yesterday, but are you oka-… What is it?”
“Ah…ah ha ha. Good morning. It’s nothing.”
A deadly look came over short-tempered Ange who was already prepared to fight, so Saya and their other classmates looked shocked.
“Anyway, you need to get her talk by force. After what you did yesterday, you should be able to do that.”
“Qu-quit mentioning what happened yesterday.”
The eager girl made Mutsuki blush and grow frantic.
This time yesterday, Machina had been a classmate he was happy simply watching from the sidelines. He did not know what kind of distance to keep from her after the previous night, but…
“…”
At the same time, it was useful to have a way to find out about FeTUS. Ange would be providing backup and there was a lot he wanted to ask about: what kind of organization it was, why they were after him, and…
About yesterday.
“Here she is.”
He looked up at Ange’s comment and saw Machina enter the classroom.
Mutsuki and Ange’s desks were next to and behind hers, so she naturally approached them with her usual doll-like lack of expression.
“C’mon, say it.”
“O-okay. Um, Ibekusa-san…”
Once she was within earshot, he hesitantly spoke to her.
She walked past him, placed her bag on her desk, and then spoke.
“What?”
She turned only her eyes toward him.
“…Um.”
“?”
“Um…”
What was her connection to FeTUS? Was she after his Serpent’s Eye? Was she okay after what happened yesterday? He wanted to ask so much and it all swirled around his head.
And he ultimately managed to get out a single word.
“G-…”
“…”
“Good morning.”
“…Good morning.”
A smile naturally rose to his face and he had a feeling her expressionless look had softened when she replied.
Ange, on the other hand, collapsed onto her desk behind the girl.
“You are useless! That’s enough. Hey, Ibekusa! We need to talk!”
After kicking her roommate in the butt, she approached Machina.
But time was already up.
“And this is our classroom. …Hey, Mutsuki, you here?”
The friend he had not seen yet today entered the classroom.
“What is it, Sakae?”
“Well, we’ve got another transfer student today. I was showing him around the school, but he claims to know you.”
“Mutsuki-kuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuun?????”
Someone pushed passed Sakae and dashed toward Mutsuki.
It happened too suddenly for Mutsuki, Ange, or Machina to react. The transfer student jumped right into Mutsuki’s chest.
“Eh heh heh~ I couldn’t resist, so I came here. I’ll be in your class from now on~?”
The boy’s smile may have been cuter than any of the girls in the class as he rejoiced like a puppy.
“Eh? Wah. Wait. You. Lu-…”
For some reason, he was wearing the same Megutono Academy boy’s uniform as Mutsuki.
“Lucia-kun?”
Mutsuki’s mouth hung open.
“—————!”
Ange was just as shocked and she quickly pulled her wing pendant from her chest. She prepared to summon the divine sword that could respond to this demon’s surprise attack, but…
“Stop. No fighting in the classroom.”
“Gh…”
Machina stopped her with a hand.
Even if Ange had the upper hand against a demon, she had to be cautious of the FeTUS girl, so she was forced to stop.
Lucia continued rubbing against Mutsuki’s chest and stuck his tongue out toward the other two.
He also showed no sign of fighting.
“U-um. Why?”
Once Mutsuki’s mind finally caught up, he hesitantly moved away.
“Satowa Lucia here is transferring in today,” introduced Sakae. “Looks like he really does know you, Mutsuki. Anyway, Satowa, I’m the Tomono Sakae, class rep and the man who will one day stand at the center of the world. Nice to meet you.”
“What are you talking about? The most you’ll ever manage is the center of this class.”
The other classmates gathered around.
“Um, Satowa-kun? Wow, you’re so cool?”
“Damn, I was hoping for another cute girl, but it’s just a guy. …Wait, that is a guy, right?”
“Ha ha. Looks like we’ve got a new friend? I’m Kurikara. Kurikara Saya. You can call me Saya.”
Lucia was surrounded in no time.
He fully pretended to be a transfer student and pleasantly said “nice to meet you all”.
The androgynous and coquettish boy had stolen the hearts of every girl in the class (and of a lot of the boys), so Ange could not touch him. She glared at him but had to put away her pendant top.
“Hey, you! What’s the meaning of this!?”
She knew she had to be cautious, so she shouted angrily at him.
“Eh heh. This is Mutsuki-kun’s scent~”
Lucia ignored her and rubbed up against Mutsuki some more.
“…”
Machina did not seem to care and sat in her seat.
Ange: a short-tempered angel that protected Mutsuki with blue flames and a large sword.
Lucia: a hedonistic demon boy who commanded creepy demons and opposed the angels.
Machina: a mysterious classmate who claimed to be one of the FeTUS Witches.
Gather heaven, earth, and hell, and it was said you would have everything.
And according to Genesis, the world was created from discord.
But when one classroom’s worth of the world was gathered…
“Eh heh. I finally get to be with Mutsuki-kun~?”
“Mutsuki! How long are you going to cling to him! Get away from him!”
“I-I’m not clinging to him. He won’t let go.”
“…Phew.”
Strangely, it felt no different from a normal lively morning.