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Chapter 133. The Demon Who Sees The Future

"I never imagined that my Grimoire would possess such a well-defined personality."

"Really? I've been watching you closely all this time, Jeremiah."

"Then you should've spoken to me earlier... Michael, I feel like you and I would get along."

Honestly, even from my perspective, it seems like the two would hit it off. Not just because of their similar personalities, but their ways of life are alike as well. Whether people’s Grimoires shaped their traits or their traits led to the growth of such Grimoires, I don't know which came first. Either way, it seems that users and their Grimoires resemble each other in the end.

Both Michael and Jeremiah seem like the type to prioritize the greater good. In other words, they're the kind of people who would sacrifice the few to save the many. I don't think that's a bad thing. In fact, for someone like Jeremiah, a duke, or Michael, the leader of the Celestial Order, it's probably the right decision. Still, they both seem to regret the people they couldn't save because of those choices. In Michael's case, there's even the precedent of Cladius being unleashed because of it, which only makes it worse.

"Michael seems genuinely regretful about his past, so why was Gabriel so sharp-tongued?"

"Gabriel's always been like that. She may appear calm and rational at first glance, but at her core, she's a very passionate person. Even I find that aspect of her a bit intimidating."

Hmm... A calm exterior with a fiery core—that kind of personality reminds me of rivers, given her affinity for water. Like how a river can rage uncontrollably after heavy rain.

"Isn't Hilalda similar in some ways?"

"If you said that to her face, you'd get punched."

"Ha ha, of course, I wouldn't say that to her directly."

It's exactly that kind of comment, though.

"Well then... While I'd love to chat more about your soul and other things, let's prioritize the main topic for now."

"The main topic?"

If I can hear about Cladius, I'll be satisfied.

As I tilted my head, Michael gave me a wry smile.

"There are many things we should discuss, don't you think? For example... the remaining seven Celestials, or why they're gathering in this era in the first place."

"Do you know? Gabriel said it was just a coincidence."

"It's no coincidence. At the very least, I deliberately brought my soul to this era. It was prophesied thousands of years ago that when Cladius appeared, individuals with extraordinary souls would be born."

Extraordinary souls... When he looks at me like that, does he mean me? But if it was prophesied, who made the prophecy?

"Are you curious about who foresaw the future?"

"Of course. If someone has that ability, it’s a miracle."

"They're someone quite close to you... the one who gave us the prophecy."

The one who gave the prophecy is close to me?

I don't recall anyone near me owning such a Grimoire. The people usually around me are Jeremiah, Elixira, Princess Elissa, Ivy, Ash, Nina, and Hilarda.

"The one who left us the prophecy was Astaroth. A demon with the power to see the future."

"Astaroth!?"

Astaroth—the progenitor of the Gels Clan, as Lucifer described. So when she said "someone near me", he meant Vanessa!?

"Having a Gels Clan demon near you may be fate... or perhaps Astaroth's will guiding events."

"Wait, why would a demon like Astaroth leave a prophecy for the Celestials in the first place? Isn't that odd?"

"Not at all. Among both Celestials and demons, there are good and bad individuals. It’s just that simple. Astaroth, with her future vision, sought paths where Celestials, demons, and humans could survive."

Paths for Celestials, demons, and humans to coexist... If she truly saw the future, did Astaroth foresee a time when Celestials and demons would nearly perish and humans would dominate?

"She often spoke of the future and the order of the world. She likely cared for her kind, the demons, but prioritized the world's order above all."

"Prioritizing the greater good and sacrificing the few, then."

"Exactly... I supported her ideals. While most of the other seven Celestials avoided dealing with her, I believe Raphael, Raguel, and Ramiel would have agreed with her."

"What about Uriel, Gabriel, and Sariel?"

Michael hesitated for a moment, then spoke with a wry smile.

"Uriel firmly believed that demons must be eradicated, so he wouldn’t have supported her. Gabriel, as you’ve met, is rather stubborn, right?"

"That’s true."

"And Sariel... He loved the Celestials—our kind—more than anyone, so he probably would’ve opposed her. He would have argued for finding a way to ensure the Celestials’ survival."

Uriel, the warrior. Gabriel, the passionate one. Sariel, the compassionate protector. Michael is the leader, and from what I’ve heard, Raphael is the neutral party.

"What kind of people were Raguel and Ramiel?"

"Raguel was... difficult, I’d say. But he leaned toward the idea that if the world stabilized, it would be fine for the Celestials to perish. Ramiel, on the other hand... well, free-spirited is the best way to put it."

"Sounds like Liester-san."

"Exactly."

The word "free-spirited" fits Liester-san perfectly. Jeremiah seemed to understand as well. And Michael, who must have seen Liester Noble through Jeremiah, nodded with a smile.

"Indeed, Liester Noble’s free-spirited nature reminds me of Ramiel. Maybe Grimoires really do resemble their users."

"Isn’t it the other way around?"

"Perhaps it’s because we choose compatible individuals. That part, no one knows."

It’s a curious thought.