“Welcome back.”

“I got some juice.”

“Juice?”

“Yes.”

“Oh, you didn’t need to spend your money like that.”

“Give me!”

Lia accepted one of the cups with glee. The other two cups I passed to grandma and grandoa.

“Where did you go?”

“I went to meet with a few friends.”

“Big bro had friends?”

What do you mean I have friends?

I gave Lia a look with a raised brow. Xe’s shoulders rose up and down in quick succession, taking quick sips of the drink, purposely feigning ignorance.

I refreshed myself in the washroom before sinking myself onto a bean bag.

I will admit. I feel grateful for the invite. I normally don’t ever involve myself with outside activities back when I was Shin. Being told that I’m useful and recognized as a part of a fleet, I suppose this is the camaraderie Cain talked about.

It forces people to connect with each other. Especially in this age where people just spend their time browsing the internet using their glasses.

There’s still a lot about this angel-demon war world that I still don’t know about.

Anyhow, regarding their suggestion to choose a side, I’ll probably ignore it for now.

Demons have their perspective and prejudices against angels. The same is true for the converse. I can’t jump off the fence just yet.

I still owe Cain for my life.

“Randell, any messages?”

[Yes. You have a message from your aether.]

[“Avner, I accidentally left one of my certificate documents back at home. Could you help find it and send me a copy? It’s the file on table in the bedroom.”]

Attached alongside the message was an image of my parent’s room. A circle was drawn just in front of the half-body mirror on the table.

I’m not sure if xe needs it desperately. Nevertheless, I’ll go grab it now.

[“I’ll go get it now. Hold on.”]

“Grandma, grandoa, I need to go out again. My aether left something at home, xe told me to pick it up.”

“Is it?”

“Stay safe.”

Lia was busy with hirs new game so xe decided to opt out this time around. I left after double checking that I had all the supplies on me. I’ve made it a point to make sure I bring my inhaler and tools every time I go out.

Prochock station.

Though I often refer to it as an ELRT station, most people just call it the train station. Either way, it’s the same thing.

Caution is advised for angels or demons using the train. Lucifer warned me that many deaths happen here.

I made sure to take note of my surroundings before deciding to close my eyes in the coach.

Then it sort of hit me. As a frigate, I’m not able to see submarine class angels or mines.

Whatever.

If I do somehow fall into a predicament. I'll have no choice but to chop off the angel’s head with a condensed moon arc. My biggest fear isn’t getting killed, it’s being the killer.

I felt the carriage sway a little. That’s unusual, it shouldn’t have swayed or was that just me?

Something tapped on my forehead.

I opened my eyes.

A fairy sized succubus that looked like xe was suffocating.

“What?”

{ALLOW ONBOARD PUREBORN DEMON?}

Allow pureborn?

The succubus waved hirs hands in desperation.

Yes.

The succubus blew out the air in its tiny mouth and began to breathe in a desperate manner.

A pureborn demon? This succubus?

Red hair, devil wings and even the signature tail. Though I wouldn’t say they were typical clothes that match this era, xe wasn’t wearing risque clothes at least. The design looked like something straight out of The Three Kingdoms.

“Who are you?”

“I-I’m Lucis of Hades. Thank you for accepting me.”

The small succubus bowed hirs head.

“My previous ship was killed. My father forced me into a pod to save my life, but himself was kidnapped. I don’t know a lot about the mortal sea. He said that you would know so please, I want to know if there's a way to save my father?”

You’re joking.

“You’re a pureborn demon? Hold on a moment.”

[“Lucifer, I found a pureborn demon. Xe said xe’s previous ship had been killed and hirs father had been kidnapped. In this situation, what should I do?”]

“I’m sorry. You’ve probably got on the wrong ship. I’m actually a fledgling, so I don’t know a lot of the world either. I can refer you to someone else if that’s alright with you?”

“Ah.. my apologies. That would be preferable.”

[Avner, who are you talking to?]

“Someone. I’m still sane, don’t worry.”

“Who are you talking to?”

“My AI,” I said.

[Let me guess. Avner is talking to an imaginary AI.]

The file glared at me.

“What’s an AI?” Lucia tilted hir head.

I held my head.

“Randell, can you enter sleep mode for 20 minutes.”

[Entering sleep mode. I’m concerned about your mental health!]

With a sigh I continued, “Sorry. What an AI is. It's artificial intelligence. A companion, something like that.”

“Is it something I can’t see?”

“If you had these glasses then you would be able to see them,” I pointed to my own.

And speaking of glasses, they make the perfect excuse for talking to this succubus. People would think that I’m simply chatting with someone.

“What are.. no, nevermind. May I know the name of who saved me?”

The way xe talks is a little weird.

“It happened on a whim. Nice to meet you, I’m Avner Cross.”

Lucia blinked.

I found it hard to believe that pureborns look like this. I imagined pureborn demons as normal humans in hiding. Who knew they were this small.

It’s as if they’re the humans, and I’m the ship.

No, rather, that’s exactly what it is. The analogy of the mortal sea starts to make more sense now.

“Could I borrow the cabin?”

“Cabin?”

“Just.. my apologies.”

The succubus disappeared into a puff of light.

I almost tilted my head in puzzlement.

‘I’m still here. Borrow me the washroom.’

Huh?

What?

I hadn’t had the time to process what xe meant as I was about to arrive at the target station– Tameo Station.

I got off the train without encountering any angels.

“Lucia?”

Xe’s not responding.

“Lucia, are you there?”

Did something happen?

“Lucia are you..”

‘Don’t disturb me!’

…

No. What kind of lunacy is this? Is this really the novel I know?

Novelle. You and I have a lot we need to talk about when we meet.