And, as usual, I have no clue if this thing's undercooked or burnt to a crisp straight from the author's kitchen.
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(Kael Rukmono - Afternoon, October 22, 2011)
I honestly don't know where it all went sideways.
One moment, I was a guy living a relatively "quiet" life, next I'm sitting in the living room with Lucifer, the Morning Star, the first Fallen recorded in the Bible.
Well, one version of "her", anyway.
Specifically, the version from Helltaker, a reality where the Prince of Lies can be swayed into a domestic life simply because a man woke up with a singular, insane dream and a world-class recipe for chocolate pancake.
I blame the Gacha. It's the only logical culprit. The system didn't just give me a familiar, it bypassed the entire "Nine Circle of Hell" Dante Fanfic and dropped the CEO herself into my suburban mansion.
However, the "logic" of a harem-building puzzle game doesn't change the cold, hard reality of the Nasuverse.
In this world, the name "Lucifer" carries enough conceptual weight to trigger a Disaster.
I have a sinking feeling that Sister Alma is currently somewhere in the city, her Black Keys twitching instinctively, ready to kick down my front door.
Summoning a High-Tier Daemon is a one-way ticket to get an Exorcist visit. Summoning the CEO of them? That's how you get the Holy Church to authorize a localized crusade.
I looked at the silver-haired woman currently critiquing the upholstery of my sofa with an air of royal disdain.
"So," I began, breaking the silence as I saw her was currently sampling a chocolate pancake prepared by Shizu.
"I think it's for the best that we get to know each other... even though, technically you probably already know me...."
Lucifer paused, mid-bite.
From the subtle satisfied curve of her lips, she was clearly enjoying it.
"Kael Rukmono. Twenty years old," she began, her voice smooth and dangerous. "Full unofficial name: Mikael Rukmono Daal Oemar. You lived a fairly mundane life. Graduated with a bachelor's in Information Technology."
She turned her crimson gaze toward me, her eyes reflecting a terrifying depth of knowledge that made my [Library Mind] feel like was being read like a cheap tabloid.
"What is there left to guess about someone so... 'normal' for their age?" She leaned in, a sharp, knowing smirk playing on her lips. "Or, rather, someone who works so very hard to look that way?"
She took another delicate bite of the pancake,"You know, I'm actually quite surprised that someone could summon me, But I'm even more surprised that the summoner possesses such a... messed-up soul."
I froze. "Uh... excuse me?"
"Your soul, Kael," she purred, leaning back on the sofa.
"How should I put it? It's a mosaic. Various disparate parts of the same entity, fractured and stitched back together, yet somehow still functioning as a cohesive whole. It's like watching a shattered mirror try to convince everyone it's a window."
I don't know how to respond to that.The [Library Mind] searched for a retort, but came up with an error.
"I believe I know quite enough about you," she said, her eyes locking onto mine. "Now, I think it's time for you to speak. Convince me, Kael... Why should I take an interest in a normal IT graduate who dabbles in Glintstone Sorcery and somehow manages to create a flawless homunculus on his first attempt?"
I took a breath and leaned forward. I guess this is what they call make a Deal with the Devil
"Well, first of all," I started, "since you arrived, I'm sure you've felt it. That sensation of being watched? If so, I can take a pretty good guess at who is observing us from the 'Outside'."
I glanced out the window
"And secondly... I should warn you. This world has about a hundred different ways to try and 'delete' you. Since you are 'Lucifer,' the Holy Church would be more than happy to make you their first successful banishment 'Great Daemon Lucifer' in a century. We're both in the crosshairs now."
I leaned closer, my voice dropping. "I summoned you because I got lucky, ridiculously lucky. I wanted to get acquainted, maybe make one or two things work. You want an interest? I'm offering you a front-row seat to the most chaotic story in human history."
Lucifer laughed softly.
"My," she said, her smile widening. "You certainly know how to appeal to a woman's professional interests, Mikael."
"Either that," I added calmly, "or I keep you in the Familiar Dimension and pretend I didn't just summon Helel into the physical world but I'm sure Lucifer will get bored living there."
"Pretty bold. I can see how this is going," she said, finishing the last piece of her chocolate pancake and setting the plate down. "I guess we can start our business like this. How about it?" She extended her hand .
"Yeah. Welcome to the group led by the Fake NEET," I said, shaking her hand
But Lucifer's crimson eyes didn't stay on mine for long. Her head tilted toward the living room doorway, her expression shifting to a sharp, curious intensity.
"My," she hummed, her voice dripping with intrigue. "It seems your 'child' has opinions on our conversation."
I turned my head. Shizu Delta, ever the silent guardian, had already sensed the presence. With a blurred movement, the battle maid was at the door.
She looked down at the small gap between the door and the wall.
"Aisling," Shizu said softly, her voice unusually warm for a combat automaton. "It is impolite to eavesdrop on Master's business. You should be resting."
The door creaked open.
A pair of wide, crystalline eyes with those strange yellow pupils peered through the shadows of the hallway. Aisling stood there, wrapped in an oversized hoodie, looking like a lost spirit that had wandered
Her gaze darted between me and the silver-haired woman sitting on my sofa. She looked terrified, yet strangely drawn to the radiating aura coming from Lucifer.
"Dad...?" Aisling whispered,I immediately stepped toward her.
"Hey. It's getting late," I said gently. "Why don't you head back to your room? I'll tuck you in later."
She hesitated then pointed toward Lucifer.
"She smells like old smoke… and grapes."
Lucifer's smile softened into appreciation.
She leaned back, crossing her legs with a rustle of her tuxedo trousers. "Old smoke and grapes? Such a poetic description of sulfur and vintage wine. You've certainly given her a refined set of senses, Kael."
Aisling took a cautious step closer to Lucifer which I also followed.
"Are you… a star too?" she asked softly, "But you're… dark."
Her head tilted, "A star that fell?"
The room went deathly silent
Lucifer stared at the girl for a long heartbeat. Then, to my absolute shock, the Queen of Hell let out a genuine small laugh.
"A star that fell," Lucifer repeated, her red eyes shimmering. "How quaint. Usually, mortals use words like 'traitor' or 'adversary.' But you... you see the physics of it, don't you, little spark?"
She reached out a hand as inviting the girl closer. "Come here, Aisling. Let me see 'you' for myself."
Aisling looked at me for permission. I nodded slowly, though my [Library Mind] was screaming about the sheer absurdity of the situation. I was letting my "newborn" daughter bond with the Devil who likes chocolate pancakes.
"My, you look like a blank canvas whose center is already beautifully filled, but whose edges still have room for... more," Lucifer mused, stroking Aisling's moon-white hair.
"Well," GLaDOS's voice crackled through my phone, breaking the tension. "The 'Family' portrait is now complete. We have a NEET, a Maid, a Demon, and a Battery. If this were a sitcom, I would have already cancelled it for being too unrealistic."
"I think it's cute!" TB chimed in. "Look, they have the same hair color!"
Uh… TB I think I know what you're thinking
"Alright," Lucifer reminded the room, though she didn't pull her hand away as Aisling curiously touched the tip of one of her white horns. "I suppose I can play the role of 'Caretaker' for the time being. It might be... amusing."
I rubbed my temples. October was only half over, and I was already wondering if Egypt was sturdy enough to survive my family vacation.
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(Late Night)
After a brief tour of the mansion,and also after taking Asling to her room since she would fall asleep quickly if she followed me around the Mansion
I directed Lucifer to one of the suites.
"I hope this room is satisfactory, Lucifer."
"It will suffice. For now," she replied. "Do try not to wake me before nine tomorrow, Kael. Even the Morning Star requires her beauty sleep if she's expected to manage this... collection of misfits you call a family."
"Sure. Goodnight, Luci."
I closed the door and let out a long breath. I headed to Aisling's room to check on her one last time before bed.
My mind was still reeling from the conversation with Lucifer.
"shattered mirror trying to convince everyone it's a window huh....." I'll think about that another time
Near the door, Shizu was standing guard.
"How is she?"
"She is fast asleep," Shizu replied with a nod.
I pushed the door open with just a crack. As Shizu said, Aisling was soundly asleep. I gently closed the door
I turned to Shizu and patted her head. "Thank you for the pancakes, Shizu. It made things much easier with Lucifer."
"That is no problem, Master."
After I felt satisfied enough with stroking Shizu's head, I also said good night to Shizu before she returned to her room.
Of course I went straight to my room and lay down on my bed
"Great," I muttered, closing my eyes. "So, just a normal Tuesday."
"At least we now have Lucifer on our side." Reply TB
"I'm just not sure if a 'Get Out of Hell' card covers associating with the Satan herself," I grumbled.
The room was finally quiet, the only sound being the faint hum of the mansion's cooling systems and the distant rustle of the autumn wind against the glass. I lay there, staring at the ceiling
"Shikikan?" TB's voice was soft, barely a whisper from the speakers of my Omni Phone on the nightstand. "Are you... are you still thinking about what she said? About your soul?"
I didn't answer immediately. I could feel [Library Mind] trying to archive the comment, to tuck it away into a folder labeled 'Philosophical Crisis - Deal With Later,' but the imagery stuck.
A shattered mirror.
"I don't know TB, I don't know."I finally muttered, pulling the duvet up to my chin.
"That's a problem for Tomorrow-Kael," I grumbled, closing my eyes.
"Goodnight, Shikikan," TB chirped.
"Don't let the demonic bedbugs bite," GLaDOS added.
I didn't even have the energy to retort. I just let the darkness take me, hoping that for once, my dreams would just be about normal, boring IT spreadsheets instead of falling stars and ancient oceans.
"Good Night you two"