Information.

Aoi got a call that afternoon. She was at Will’s apartment with the others, and when her phone rang everyone jumped from their seats.

“Who is it?” Reina asked.

“Johana,” Aoi said.

“But her on the speaker,” Cynthia said. “We’ll keep quiet and won’t interrupt, but we have to hear this too.”

Aoi nodded silently and picked up. “Hello?”

“Hey, I have news,” Johana said from the other side of the line.

“Good or bad?”

“Good and bad. I found William but they stole him from under my nose. That’s my fuck up. I’ll find him. I have a lead.”

Aoi’s heart seemed to rise and sink with every world. She breathed deep, forcing herself to keep calm. A cool head will get the job done quicker.

“Where are you right now?”

“At the same entrance William used. Had to come back out to call, obviously. Also, just to confirm, do you know an incubus and a succubus named Azazel and Ariana?”

“Yes, they live right outside the entrance under our building and guard it. They’re loyal to Will and Ishtar.”

“Okay, good. I left associates of the woman who kidnapped William and the princess with them. Helga Cooper. You remember her, right?”

Aoi’s fist clenched around her phone and she had to stop herself from accidentally breaking it. “I do. A mercenary in the underworld. Will theorized she’s possessed by a Spirit of Greed.”

“Azazel managed to drive a spear through her shoulder before she escaped, if it makes you feel any better. She used a Spell Crystal to open a portal, so she’s no longer here.”

Aoi clicked her tongue. Stupid girl, that Helga. **** a fellow member of the underworld? True, Will was barely even a member. He had gone to a single meeting, yet in that one meeting he forged connections and made deals. Messing with him was getting in the way of said deals. Things like her address should be, officially speaking, a secret, and normally people don’t divulge that sort of information. Unless, of course, the conditions are right.

“I need to make some calls,” Aoi said. “You do what you think it’s best, but if you find them, try and tell me first. I’ll do the same. If Will is right, there’s a chance we’re dealing with the spirit of a dragon.”

“Alright, I’ll try not to let the excitement get the better of me. I know not to deprive someone of payback.”

“Thank you. Fill me in on the details when we meet.”

“Sure. Ah, but speaking of details… The original mission was a success, unexpectedly. We found a mirrorkin. He’s currently sleeping and healing after an unforgettable moment with Ariana. She and Azazel will escort him back to their camp when he wakes up. Azazel wants to help, but if he comes to this world he’ll just turn into a spirit and lose himself.”

“I see… That’s good.” Aoi couldn’t bring herself to feel truly glad. What point was there in finding the mirrorkin to help with Ishtar’s body if neither she nor Will were here? “Alright, then. See you soon. Be careful.”

“Same to you.”

Aoi hung up and looked at the other girls. She saw Cynthia already taking out her own phone. “I’ll ask Belphegor for help. He should know something.”

“Don’t,” Aoi and Nanami said at the same time.

“At least, not yet…” Nanami added.

“What? Why?” Ruth asked. “Isn’t he some sort of all-powerful being? Why AREN’T we asking for his help.”

“Because he’s a demon,” Aoi said. “Not in the sense that he’s evil, but in the sense that he’s a literal demon. We’ve been lucky so far because we’ve been making deals regarding things HE wants, but when it comes to what WE want…”

“We could end up paying more than just money,” Nanami said, then smiled weakly. “And I don’t think Will would be happy to learn we’ve sold part of our freedom when he gets back…”

“Our freedom?” Anna asked, swallowing hard.

“Demons don’t just hand out favors,” Nanami explained. “It’s not uncommon to hear stories of demons taking away people’s freedom in exchange for favors. Taking something like that away, something so conceptual, gives them power. And a demon as powerful as Belphegor, one so keenly attuned to sloth, must’ve made quite a few deals in his time.”

“We’ve always had something he wants, which is why we’ve been able to deal with him,” Aoi said. “But if we go to him for favors…”

“So what!?” Amelia suddenly snapped. “Fine, I’ll go! I’ll make the deal with him! If he can help us get Will back, then I’ll pay whatever price he sets!”

“And you think Will will be happy when he comes back to see you’ve had your eyesight taken!?” Aoi snapped back. “Your sense of touch? Your ability to speak? Those are the kinds of freedoms we’re talking about. Your ability to taste sweets, your ability to walk, your ability to understand human speech. The more valuable something is to you, the more power it gives the demon.”

“...”

There was a collective shock, and it was understandable. They didn’t truly understand who Belphegor was, not in the way Aoi, Nanami, and likely Ishtar understood.

“Don’t worry, the reason I don’t want to go to Belphegor is because we’re not without other options,” Aoi assured them. “Amelia, Cynthia, you have the phone number of those men you met at the underground party, right?”

“Oh!” both women exclaimed.

“Call them. Tell them the source of the elixir has been compromised and that it is Helga Cooper’s doing. They will ask for something in return, but theirs are prices we CAN pay. We don’t need backup, just Helga’s location.”

“I’ll call John,” Cynthia said, looking at Amelia. “You call Paul.”

Before Amelia could answer, her own phone rang. She swallowed and looked at the others.

“It’s Paul.”