Game of Monsters - 200

A Single Touch of the Divine

[Agnes Waterhouse]

“So, you’re saying that you can’t teach any of the classes outside the Valkyries?” she asked, narrowing her eyes at the man across her desk. It wasn’t like she could stop him, but she was far from pleased by this sudden development and expressing otherwise would be a blatant lie. “Can I ask why?” she tried, but she had a feeling that it wouldn’t be that easy.

Joshua looked concerningly out of it. Similarly to how he looked after big fights he was in and that almost made Agnes think that she didn’t want to know. She had to ask though, because anything related to Joshua was a big deal for her association. She couldn’t afford not to know something about him if he would deign to tell her. Alas…

“You can,” he said, a weary half-smile on his face. “But I won’t answer,” he added, predictably. Then the man took a deep breath in and leaned back on his seat. “I’m not leaving you or House of Water out to dry though,” he reassured after that pause, and damn was that effective all by itself. “Ravel…” he encouraged then, gesturing to his pet devil, who straightened in her seat and glanced at the notepad in her hands before staring straight at Agnes.

A lot could be said about the Phenex, but the fact that she basically managed all of Joshua’s business made her powerful. Calling her Joshua’s pet devil might seem like an insult, but it wasn’t really one. That little girl could ruin the organization that Agnes and her family had created through generations. It made her nervous and it also annoyed her to no end. So, she contented herself calling the girl names in her head, because she’d basically lucked out with her position, the little shit.

Not that she had a lot of ground to stand on, considering it was fortune alone that had seen Joshua in her association and not in one of her competitors’.

“Right,” the devil started, clearing her through and then locking eyes with Agnes. “We believe that Eliphas Levi is capable of teaching Mr. Davis’ classes on his own to an adequate degree. If there are any issues, Mr. Davis is more than willing to help Mr. Levi with any problems. However, he won’t take kindly to fabricated issues, which some of his students are more than capable of.”

‘I will work, but if you bother me for nothing, we’ll have a problem,’ was the clear message Agnes got after that, and she nodded her agreement. What else could she do? Besides, Joshua had already talked to her about setting Levi as his replacement for his classes some time ago. Evidently, whatever had come up had sped up those plans. Still, her associates and her would have to keep a close eye on that class, just to make sure any concerns were valid and that no one caused too much trouble for Levi.

“As he said, he’ll keep working on the classes with the Valkyries, but he won’t be able to make the schedule as fluid as he has so far. He’ll stick to the timetable that’s stated in the agreement that was made,” Phenex continued and that was hardly a problem for Agnes. Sure, the possibility of longer class hours was something that was considered once they realized how Joshua taught, but it was hardly a problem if he decided not to teach like that anyway, so long as the quality of his classes didn’t go down with the time. “I don’t foresee that will be a problem.”

‘That better not be a problem,’ was what Agnes heard, and she nodded. It wouldn’t be. The Norse might take issue with that a little bit, since they likely had heard about how Joshua taught and could have different expectations. However, the fact of the matter was that Joshua was pulling away from classes altogether other than theirs, so that was bound to help ease things plenty.

“The last point is addressed to both Ms. Waterhouse and Ms. Báthory,” the Phenex child continued and Agnes straightened, sharing a look with her associate. She had an idea of where the conversation was going. If he wanted something from both her and Báthory, then it was likely- “Mr. Davis requires information.” Exactly that. “More specifically information on the Dimensional Gap,” Phenex added and this time it gave Agnes pause. What could Joshua possibly want with that particular hellspace? “This also takes priority over the efforts to procure rune magic knowledge.”

Ok… Something big was going on, much bigger than Agnes had initially guessed. She didn’t know what Joshua had gotten into, but she knew that he wouldn’t give up runes that easily, not after what she’d seen since the topic came up. No, something huge was happening and she  was really doubting if she wanted to know about it or not.

“That’s all for now,” the Phenex child finished with, nodding as if pleased with herself. The expression became ten times more obvious when Joshua reached out to pet her head, even if the devil tried really hard not to act that way. Was it any wonder that Agnes called her Joshua’s pet devil in her head?

“I’m sorry if this is inconvenient, I really am, but I can do nothing about this,” Joshua told them before locking eyes rather intently with Agnes. “If anyone gives you trouble over this, feel free to tell them that once I’m done with what I have to do, I’ll make sure they know how displeased I’ll be,” he added and Agnes felt a shiver run down her spine. She expected that threat would be plenty effective, considering it scared her when she had no intentions of causing any issues herself. “Also, whatever it is that you think the information is worth for me? Double it, maybe triple it. That’s how much you can take off your debts with me if you can find me plenty of info. Maybe more, if I find any of it particularly useful.”

Oh, was she going to find information for him. If there was a piece of paper anywhere in the world with the words Dimensional Gap in them, then Agnes would turn the world over to find it. And she’d get plenty of people to do just that for her too.

“I’m also raising the value of runes knowledge, but not as much,” he added and Agnes nodded firmly.

She’d have a lot of work to do.

[}-o-{]

[Ravel Phenex]

It had been a hectic morning, but at least there wasn’t that much to deal with that very day other than House of Water.

Most of Joshua’s other appointments could be found on other days and he could more or less schedule his own spellcrafting time on his own, really. That and other things were dealt with in a matter of minutes. More complicated things like his services for Heaven, Grigori and Hell were a tad trickier, but the fact that he was on such good terms – if it could even be called that – with Heaven and Hell helped plenty. As far as any of them were concerned, Grigori’s opinion on the matter was irrelevant, but it was nice that Joshua had built some rapport with Penemue.

It’d make things a little simpler.

Azazel could throw a tantrum, but he didn’t have a leg to stand on, not unless he wanted to cause issues between his faction and everyone else. Ravel might even be able to drag the Norse into the fold if she really needed to, but she doubted it’d come to that. Grigori was unlikely to decide to burn bridges with all the factions that were connected to Joshua. Not unless they were tired of living.

“You’re thinking too deeply,” she heard, a sudden poke to her cheek making her frown as she turned towards Joshua. “And that’s coming from me,” the man said. At least he was aware of the irony there, but Ravel wasn’t sure if she liked the implication. “I called you in earlier than usual and with more work than usual. Take a break, alright? I’ll feel bad if I make you work too much,” he told her and she pouted. She wasn’t dumb. She could tell what he wasn’t saying.

“I’m not a child,” she mumbled, pouting and turning stubbornly to the schedule she was still working on. She’d have to check with Serafall about the show shootings. Those would likely cause some trouble, but the entire ordeal they were dealing with was more important than the air tight continuity of Levia-tan’s episodes.

Just a little bit.

“I know,” Joshua commented, planting a hand on top of her head and Ravel knew it didn’t help her case to just let him. Just like Kunou’s giggles didn’t help her mood. However, would it be any better to huff and puff about it?... Besides, she kind of liked it. “But you’re entirely too young to be dealing with what you do. So, take it easy, alright? I can make that an order, if it’ll help.”

He was such a silly man.

And yet…

“Fine,” she mumbled, finishing off the notes she was making and then pushing her notepad away. “I still don’t like being treated like a child though,” she added. Although, she wondered if she was fooling literally anyone.

“Of course.” He could at least act like he believed her. Was that too much to ask? She huffed, and her annoyance turned a little more real when a new person walked into the room. “Hey, Koneko,” Joshua greeted and Ravel just turned a glare towards the nekoshou, who stared rather intently back at her. “I’m sorry, but I won’t be very fun today. Stuff happened and I’m kinda busy and out of sorts.”

“Again?” was the flat response from the girl. No tact at all.

“Sort of,” Joshua answered with a shrug. “I didn’t get into a fight, not really. I just… something very urgent and worrying came up and now I’ll have to be working a whole lot. Won’t be fun to hang around for around a month, I’m afraid. Kunou, Ravel and you can play in another room though, so I won’t ruin the mood,” the man rambled and this time Ravel shared a long-suffering look with Koneko. They knew there was no point in arguing though, so, instead, they just decided to let their actions speak louder.

Ravel didn’t see the way the nekoshou walked around the table and then draped herself over Joshua’s back coming though. She narrowed her eyes at the girl. A moment later though, she blinked as she saw the man’s body relax as if a weight had been taken off his back instead of added. Was she doing something?

“You don’t have to do that,” Joshua said, unknowingly answering Ravel’s unasked question.

“I want to,” Koneko replied, voice just as flat as usual, but Ravel thought she heard a hint of stubbornness. “You’re tired, and tense, and off,” she added, hugging the man closer.

“I don’t know how to do that yet,” Ravel heard Kunou grumble from the side.

“And you don’t need to, not really. I’d rather you focus on how to defend yourself,” Joshua said. Apparently, there was some kind of senjutsu shenanigans going on. It made Ravel wish she knew anything about the art. Or, at least, that she could tell something of the sort was going on without being told. It wasn’t even the first time something like that happened without her having a clue. “Same for you, Koneko.”

“Kuroka insisted,” was all the nekoshou said and Joshua just shook his head.

“I guess I can’t complain too much,” Joshua mumbled then, cracking his neck and then focusing back on whatever he was doing. “I gotta send that one to Raynare some more, evidently. Maybe for Incinerate Anthem train-” he grumbled under his breath, probably not meaning a single word. However, he seemed to cut himself off at the end there, blinking and straightening where he sat a little, making Koneko almost jump.

Ravel almost wanted to ask what was the matter, but she knew one of Joshua’s inspiration moments when she saw one.

Then he leaned down, writing at twice the normal speed on his notebook. Ravel was fairly sure she caught mutterings under his breath too, with how close she was. Whispers such as “gotta ask Yasaka” and “might be a bit risky, but it could-” reached her ears and some of those were very concerning.

She could only hope that Yasaka and the others would be able to talk him out of anything too dangerous though.

As it was, she didn’t want to ruin the moment for the man.

It could be important.

[}-o-{]

[Kuroka]

She had to make a conscious effort not to laugh at the sight before her.

Although, to be fair, it wasn’t that hard, considering there was a very big mood dampener in the shape of Joshua’s worries. If a man that could defeat Longinus and cause miracles on a whim was worried, the Kuroka knew she had good reason to be terrified. She was actually kind of glad that she didn’t know what was going on so far.

She also knew that it was a matter of time until she was told, but she was enjoying the blissful ignorance while it lasted.

Back to her amusement though – much more preferable topic, if anyone asked her –, Kuroka felt her lips twitch at the sight of her little sister draped over Joshua’s back and using her senjutsu freely and eagerly. On each side of the man were Kunou and Ravel, adorable little things that she was very grateful for. They gave Shirone – she didn’t think she’d ever be able to call her sister Koneko, not in her mind – much needed support that the Gremory peerage had evidently struggled to.

At that moment though, they had formed a team to support Joshua though. The adorable part came from the fact that they clearly couldn’t do much to help, but they still tried. The Phenex child was doing her best to do her job, more diligent than ever, while Shirone was using what little mastery of senjutsu she had to try and soothe the man’s body and mind. She wasn’t that practiced in the branch, but she was giving it her all anyway.

Then there was poor little Kunou, probably the one that wanted to do the most and just… didn’t have anything to do. Ironically though-

“I want to do something too,” the little fox whined, apparently unable to take it anymore. She turned away from the homework she wasn’t doing anyway and widened her eyes pleadingly at her father. “Dad, can I do anything?” she asked, which would have been hilariously counterproductive if the situation were any other… or if Joshua wasn’t so completely wrapped around her little finger.

“You’re doing plenty, Kunou,” the man replied, kindly, softly, warmly, but also wearily. Then again, ever since that fateful morning, Joshua had never not looked tired. “I know you want to help, but it helps to just have you here,” the man said, reaching over and patting the girl’s head. She didn’t seem very reassured, but she did settle some. “I know it doesn’t feel like it, but I like having you here. It helps.”

“Koneko and Ravel have things to do though,” the little girl mumbled and Kuroka wondered if she – or any of the other three, for that matter – noticed how she seemed to put the other two on the same level as she was. Did any of them realize the implications of that kind of behavior? Kuroka doubted it, considering how often they all said stuff like that without ever actually addressing the matter. “I want to do something too,” the girl whispered, looking down and fidgeting with her clothes on her lap.

Kuroka could almost see Joshua going for the same kind of reassurance he’d used before and then reconsidering. Maybe he wasn’t as socially inept as he liked to think. Then again, he had his moments, both the good and the bad.

“How about this?” he asked then, making the little fox perk up. “Friday is still a little shaken and could use some help herself, you know? Someone to play with and comfort her,” Joshua explained and Kunou perked up even more. “You can go with the others and help her. I’ll get your mother to forgive the undone homework,” the man said, smiling a little when his daughter beamed at him. Not even a minute later, the homework had been thoroughly pushed aside and Kunou had rushed off.

Kuroka wished she had popcorn sometimes while she spent time in that house.

“Thanks for the help,” Joshua commented, giving her an annoyed look.

“You had that under control~” she replied with a wide smile that the man didn’t seem to appreciate. “Your other children will get jealous though, you know~?” she added, glancing meaningfully at Ravel and Shirone, who both did their best not to look at her or at Joshua. She didn’t miss the tinge of pink in their cheeks though.

Honestly, Kuroka wondered if she should be surprised anymore. Joshua had a way of getting himself in that kind of situation and just never addressing it until it hit him in the face. The social awkwardness, she supposed. However, the way he seemed to rub that trait off on other people was kind of impressive and hilarious.

“I’ll make it up to them,” Joshua replied with that indulgent smile and tone that he used when he couldn’t be bothered to deal with her personality. Kuroka almost burst into laughter at that response. He really was an oblivious bastard at times, but she rather liked that about him.

Not enough to face down three faction leaders though, not at all.

It was still very fun to witness.

Kuroka felt like taking as much of that good mood as she could. She was fairly certain that things wouldn’t be nice and cheerful for much longer, considering Joshua’s state after that one night. Something big was happening, and the chances of it being bad were… not small. So, she’d just have to make the most of it while she could still enjoy it, just in case.

Then she saw the man tilt his head, in a way that told her he’d picked up something from a spell somewhere.

“Raynare needs a spar partner, Kuroka.”

“Do I have to~?”

“Yes.”

“You suck.”

“Thanks.”

Joshua could be a real buzzkill at times.

She was also sure that was just bullshit too.

She had no proof, but neither did she have any doubt.

[}-o-{]

[Kokabiel]

“You do look so good, oh illustrious torturer,” he greeted.

Was he being flippant, definitely.

However, there was only so much fear he could feel, no matter how great the pain Davis could unleash on them was. Pain was, if Kokabiel could be excused from the cliche, an old friend of his. He’d lived through wars that he had no business surviving. He’d been a soldier more, really. He wasn’t the strongest of his siblings, nor was he the smartest, nor the fastest, or the most skilled. However, he had just the right skillset to survive the Great War and that had counted for a lot, when those greater than him kept dying and he kept fighting.

All the same, the experience had been far from pleasant, and he’d gotten plenty out of that. One such thing was the capability to just… shrug off things that would have made others go crazy. Sure, Davis’ spells were bad, probably the worst thing he’d ever felt. Even for someone as old as him, he didn’t think he’d ever had his soul poked and prodded quite like Davis did. However, in the face of all the pain and suffering that he’d experienced through the Great War? He fell a little short.

There was also the fact that as Davis’ collection of text subjects grew, he had less time to divide between them all. That kind of helped Kokabiel, giving him time to recover and calm down. Didn’t really help him be any closer to get out, but oh well. If he lived, he lived; if he died, he died. ‘Just like the old days,’ he thought, reminiscing bitterly.

Back to the present though, Davis looked like an exhausted mess. He looked paler than usual and there were bags under his eyes. His steps looked ever so slightly slower than usual and there was an invisible weight that hung over him. He reminded Kokabiel of some of his more expressive siblings when there was a battle that they knew they’d die in right around the corner.

“You can say that again,” was the response he got, a dejected smile on the man’s expression. “Fortunately for most of you, I won’t be coming around for a bit, since I’ll be busy,” the man added then, stretching his back a little as if trying to shake off whatever he was carrying on his shoulders. It didn’t help any, predictably.

“Most?” Beelzebub asked, cowardly little shit that he was. His ancestor was probably rolling in his non-existent grave, Kokabiel would bet. “What do you mean most?”

“Don’t shit yourself, Shalba. You’re safe,” Davis answered, rolling his eyes in a very similar way to how Kokabiel did, which made the fallen smile. For a human and an enemy, he was remarkably alright. Shame that they were on opposite sides of things… and that he liked angels and devils so much. “I’m here for two of you,” the human continued, cracking his neck and looking off to the side. “Georg,” Davis called, the man in question stiffened. “You’re coming with me,” he said and with a wave of his hand, the door of the man that had been there the longest opened. “Don’t try anything, because I’m really not in a mood that you want to test,” he added, as if there was any question.

If there was anyone that’d be too scared of him to do anything, that was Georg.

“Cao Cao,” Davis continued as if nothing had happened, while the magician wielder of Dimension Lost stumbled out of the cell, looking like he could hardly believe what was happening. Kokabiel didn’t blame him. The human magician wasn’t done, however, eyes locked on the ex-leader of the Hero Faction. “How’ve you been?” he asked, almost casually.

“Imagining sticking my spear right through you,” the hero answered boldly… or foolishly, in Kokabiel’s opinion. However, he noticed that Davis smiled at that, as if he was pleased with that answer. He’d have understood amusement, or annoyance, or some other reaction, but that one struck him as odd.

“Wanna give that a try?” Davis asked and Kokabiel could feel how everyone froze at those words, turning to look at the man. The human in question however, simply stepped closer to Cao Cao’s cell and now everyone in those dungeons rushed forward to watch. “Go for it, hero,” the man said mockingly, waving his hand and Kokabiel felt some of the spells around the place pull back. If he had to guess, those were the ones preventing Cao Cao from using his Sacred Gear, but why-?

Before he could even wonder, the hero had already summoned True Longinus and lunged forward.

“Slow,” Davis said, dodging to the side. “And sloppy,” he added for good measure, taking a hold of the spear’s shaft. “Thanks for being so eager though,” the man commented.

“What are you-?” Cao Cao asked before letting out a sound that was somewhere between a whimper and an exclamation as the spear was torn from his hands. However, that was nothing compared to the sound that followed after that, when they all watched the spear remain in Davis’ hand, without disappearing or in any way answering to Cao Cao’s likely orders.

The sound the Hero Faction’s ex-leader made a moment later was definitely a whimper and it was then Kokabiel realized that True Longinus wasn’t coming back to the hero. Instead, it was staying with Davis. That was something that only Incinerate Anthem was supposed to do, but that was far from the part that shocked Kokabiel the most.

No, that part was the knowledge of what True Longinus contained, what it represented.

‘The Dying Will of our Father,’ his mind told him, reminding him of Azazel’s words from a lifetime ago and Kokabiel stared at the spear and the man now holding it. ‘The Will of God chose Joshua Davis.’

[} Chapter End {]

Hey guys! How’s it going?

Things seem to be escalating really quickly as of late and I don’t know how to feel about that. Something like this True Longinus idea has been in my mind for way too long, probably even since before Cao Cao appeared in this fic. Yet, I always thought it was one of those ideas that wouldn’t get anywhere and that’d be that. Somehow though, the idea pulled a Kokabiel and not only did it survive, but it also managed to come out on top.

Continuing on that topic though, I feel like the scene is a little… underwhelming, but it’s how it came out for me. Maybe it’s because it’s from an outsider PoV? I feel like Joshua’s would have been even worse and Cao Cao… the same, really, if for different reasons.

Oh well, I hope you guys enjoyed the chapter.

Discord Link: discord.gg/UTDransjJZ

Random Question: Do you guys participate in lotteries and such? I usually don’t, never won anything, really, so I’m not that tempted. Still, my brothers and I have been getting the same numbers for regular lottery together for a while. I also got convinced to buy numbers for a lottery organized in favor of a children’s hospital a few hours ago (hence the question). Guy was really good at selling it to me, I guess.

… And it’s a children’s hospital, come on.

My fics should give away that I have a soft spot for children.

See you.