Mission: 033 Deception

Mission: Deception

"Kyrie..."

Nero looked at her sworn sister, whose face had changed drastically, panic and disbelief written all over it, and called her name helplessly in a voice like a dream murmur.

Just like in the game, Agnus had brought Kyrie before her at the worst possible moment, letting her witness with her own eyes the most terrible scene of siblings turned demons slaughtering each other.

Before coming here, she had already prepared herself mentally in every way she could, but when things truly developed toward the worst-case scenario she had expected, Nero still inevitably sank into Negative Emotions.

Among them was anger at the actions of Agnus and the Pope, disappointment at Credo's stubborn refusal to see reason, and frustration at her own terrible luck. But most of all, sure enough, it was regret and heartache over making Kyrie worry because of her.

"You mean Nero looks like this because—"

"Nero hasn't been possessed by a demon, Agnus."

Credo cut off Kyrie's words, slowly landing with heavy breaths as he changed back into human form. He approached Agnus with furious steps and said in a suppressed voice, "Now, get away from her!"

"Perhaps you've misunderstood something?" Agnus smiled, speaking with a revolting, condescending smile. "This is His Majesty the Pope's decree."

"What did you say?!"

Agnus's hand climbed onto Kyrie's shoulder and pulled her behind him. "I said, this is the Pope's decree. All of it."

Watching Credo draw closer and closer, Agnus raised his voice:

"D-don't forget your mission, Captain of the Knights."

Credo's steps came to an abrupt halt, as if he had slammed into an invisible wall.

Just as Agnus said, Credo had come here bearing a mission, a mission issued by the Pope.

The Pope's mission. What a weighty name.

That name meant he had to personally kill Nero, kill this person as close to him as a true sibling.

Yes, just as Agnus said. Credo should not have gone easy.

But Credo lifted his head and refuted him sharply, "That's because you deceived the Pope..."

"Deceived? I never told His Majesty the Pope a s-single false word."

Agnus reached behind him, caught a flying Sword Wing, and pointed it at Credo. "On the contrary, you..."

His hand slowly moved, landing on Nero not far away, who had already withdrawn Yamato and turned back into a blonde. "You're the one who's been deceived, aren't you? By a demon."

Nero did not explain. She knew that any extra explanation now would only stir the already chaotic situation even further, exactly as Agnus wanted. So she only said softly, "Is Credo supposed to believe someone holding a hostage in his hands?"

"A hostage?"

Faced with Nero's question, Agnus smiled faintly. "If you insist on thinking that way, then it's not n-not impossible."

"Agnus, don't you dare!"

Yet even with Credo so furious, Agnus still placed the sword in front of Kyrie. "Then, demon over there, are you going to surrender?"

Kyrie let out a short cry of alarm.

Nero's answer was to draw a Whip Sword from her coat and snap it open with a crack.

"I thought as much." Agnus's gaze immediately shifted to the gnashing Credo. "Or perhaps, My Lord Captain of the Knights, you can properly complete your mission?"

Credo had his back to Nero, and the hand holding his sword trembled nonstop.

Seeing him like this, Agnus let out a derisive "heh." "Forget it. His Majesty the Pope didn't really have high hopes for you anyway."

In an instant, a beam of white light descended, forcing everyone to cover their eyes.

"Wha—?!"

By the time the light faded, Agnus had already transformed into a demon again, holding the unconscious Kyrie in his hand.

He looked down at the silent Nero and the enraged Credo and said unhurriedly, "My apologies. This, too, is His Majesty the Pope's order."

"The Pope? How could he!"

Agnus ignored Credo, who had been betrayed by his ideals and plunged into deep self-doubt, and continued, "If you want her safe, then bring the bound and captured Nero to the Place of Descent.

"Use whatever method you like."

He flew into the sky, turned, and disappeared behind the building.

He was finally gone.

Nero sighed inwardly. Having an important hostage in the enemy's hands from beginning to end—this feeling of being at someone else's mercy was truly awful.

Watching Agnus leave, Credo spat out a heartfelt "Damn it!" Then he took two steps forward, about to transform and chase after him.

But Nero grabbed his wrist. "Credo, calm down."

"How am I supposed to calm down?!"

Credo, still in the grip of anger, roared the question back and tried to break free from Nero's hand. "I have to go find the Pope and ask him face-to-face!

"Let go! Don't force me to attack!"

Of course Nero could not let go. Up until now, everything along the way had unfolded according to the worst-case scenario Nero had imagined. If this kept developing, it would only lead to the same ending as in the game.

Credo would die.

For Nero, the only good news right now was that she still had hope of changing the future. No matter how terrible things were at present, they were at least still within her plans. But if she let Credo leave like this, losing this one and only chance to communicate with him, she would never be able to interfere in Credo's fate again.

"I can't let you chase after him like this," Nero said stubbornly. "Being impulsive won't change anything, Credo!"

"Let go!"

Amid golden radiance, Credo transformed into Demon Form again, shaking Nero off as he rose into the air, intending to head for headquarters.

But before he had flown even two meters, pain shot through his leg, and he stopped where he was. Credo looked back and found that the Whip Sword in Nero's hand had wrapped around one of his legs.

"...Is that so."

At last, the rage in his heart completely burned through the last of Credo's reason, and right in front of him happened to be a target on which he could vent his fury.

Credo gripped his longsword tightly and said coldly, "Nero, you brought this on yourself."

Light flashed, and Credo turned back, lunging at Nero and slashing down with his sword.

Nero let go, withdrew Echidna, equipped Gilgamesh once more, and took Credo's slash head-on.

That was right. Just like that.

Nero gritted her teeth, forced back step after step by Credo in his towering rage.

She had to keep Credo pinned down here, then try talking to him once he had calmed a little. As long as she could convince Credo here and keep him away from this place for the time being—

Credo could be saved.

So Nero did not use the power of Impact Steel to knock Credo away, nor did she give him any chance to open up distance.

At the same time, Nero made up her mind.

Even if she had to beat Credo into severe injury here, she absolutely could not let him go see the Pope.

Only, even she herself did not notice that this seemed to differ, ever so slightly, from what she had originally intended.