As consciousness slowly returned to him, Leben found himself in a stark gray room. A mirror graced one wall, and a table stood before him, and his hands crossed and cuffed to the chair he is currently sitting on.
Leben, once adorned in heavenly garb befitting his status, begrudgingly surveyed his attire.
The elegant fabric, now tattered and frayed, bore testament to the fiery inferno that had reduced his once resplendent raiment to ash and cinder.
The sight of the ragged robe served as a stark reminder of his precipitous fall, and the gravity of the consequences that had befallen him.
His head ached from the lingering effects of unconsciousness as he surveyed his surroundings.
The door creaked open, revealing a stunningly gorgeous woman. Her long purple hair cascaded down her back, her eyes mirroring the clear blue skies.
She was wearing a formal outfit of black and white tuxedo, adorned with a skirt and pantyhose or a tight to what some calls it.
Leben's gaze locked with hers, but she seemed unfazed by his intense stare. She spoke, breaking the silence between them.
"Sexual Assault."
"What?"
"Staring at a woman like that too much can be considered sexual assault, you know that right?"
Leben was baffled by her words, unable to comprehend how something as simple as a stare could be perceived as such.
'This damned woman...'
Leben gritted his teeth in frustration, his thoughts consumed by anger. Yet, something about her voice stirred an unexpected feeling within him, even though she wasn't even trying to sound beautiful.
'Damn her.'
"So, I've received a report that you just emerged from nowhere and ruined the hard work of the farmers and their crops?"
Leben attempted to dismiss her accusations, insisting on innocence.
"Look, I did nothing wrong. It's just a misunderstanding. Let's just forget this whole thing happened."
Her determined expression remained unmoved, a stern resolve evident.
"Not so fast, troublemaker. You're still responsible for the damages caused to those farmers."
Anger coursed through Leben's veins, his frustration growing with each passing moment. How could a mere woman have so much control over the situation?
"What if I don't do something to pay for the damages, huh? What are you gonna do about it?"
The woman smirked, clearly amused.
"Oh, so you're homeless?"
"WHAT?! I could buy you as a slave you---"
Her smirk grew wider, as if she was enjoying this exchange.
"Oh, you're also delusional, great. I don't like this kind of criminals."
Leben's tone grew increasingly defensive, his words tinged with pride and anger.
"I'm NOT a criminal!"
The woman remembered that she should be doing what she was supposed to do, ask him what had happened.
Then, the woman's demeanor shifted from amusement to seriousness, her expression hardening. Her gaze fixed on him intently.
"Alright, I'm going to ask you a question now, and I expect you to answer."
She leaned forward slightly, her tone firm and focused.
"May I know where you came from, and how you managed to destroy those crops?"
Leben's gaze locked onto hers, his eyes filled with disdain.
"Why should I tell you?"
He replied, his tone sharp and defiant.
In response, the woman leaned even closer, her voice calm but her words filled with clarity.
"Because I sense something within you."
Leben's expression hardened as he asked,
"And what is it that you sense from me?"
Her response stunned him.
"An ominous evil aura, one of the seven deadly sins. A Sinner."
Leben's voice raised in protest, his words filled with defiance.
"No, that's impossible!"
He shook his head in vehement denial, refusing to accept what she had just said. He was a saint, a figure of righteousness and goodness.
"I am supposed to be the most angelic being in the entire universe!"
His pride flared, fueling his desire to defend his true identity. He refused to accept that a mere mortal woman could discern his nature better than he could.
The woman responded with a resolute tone.
"I belong to the E.D.M. An organization dedicated to eradicating devils and, in particular, sinners."
Devils. They served as the infernal minions dispatched by the fiery depths of Hell, their sinister purpose to wreak havoc upon Earth and its inhabitants.
Sinners. They were humans marked by malevolent intent, their powers gifted by the omnipotent Seven Lords of Hell.
The Seven Lords had each bestowed upon the Sinners a distinct and fearsome ability, designed to bring ruin upon the mortal realm: Gluttony, Envy, Sloth, Greed, Lust, Wrath, and Pride.
Each of the Seven Sin's had their own devastating and malevolent power that they used to sow discord upon the mortal realm.
The woman spoke with determination.
"The E.D.M, or Exorcist Devil Management, as the name suggests, focuses on the eradication of devils. However, our scope of responsibilities extends beyond exorcism. We also assist in managing criminal matters and addressing a wide range of issues affecting our society. It may be labor-intensive, but the satisfaction of helping people makes it an immensely rewarding endeavor."
Leben scoffed at her words, dismissing her explanation.
"Helping people? That sounds annoying and ridiculously idealistic."
"You may believe it to be vexatious, but I assure you---"
Her speech was abruptly interrupted as the ground beneath them started to tremble intensely, a tremor surpassing the bounds of a natural earthquake.
This was no random occurrence; it was deliberately instigated by a being with malevolent intent.
The woman's expression turned grave as the man, Narbe, struggled to catch his breath and relay the dire news.
"Narbe, what happened?!"
The woman swiftly moved to assist him, concern etched across her features.
Narbe, still trembling, managed to speak through ragged breaths.
"Captain Seele... Our camp is under attack! The devils are here, and they're decimating our allies!"
It seems that the woman's name is Seele... What? She's a captain?
"Hey, at least let me out of these damn cuffs, you lunatic woman!"
Seele had vanished, leaving Leben handcuffed and seething in frustration. His attention shifted to Narbe, who seemed to be battling a panic attack.
Tch!
Leben scoffed in disdain, his gaze tinged with scorn for Narbe's apparent cowardice.
"Oi! Let me out, you cowardly fool."
Leben's demand rang through the room, his words directed towards Narbe. As expected, Narbe declined, further angering Leben.
"Tch! You look strong and menacing, yet you're trembling in fear. Pathetic. You're letting the woman rush into battle while you hide here, trembling like a leaf."
Narbe stood up, his fear momentarily overshadowed by anger at Leben's audacity. He approached Leben, his body still trembling slightly.
"What do you know of the torment I've endured, you lunatic!"
"What do I know? I know you're a damn coward. So, let me out."
Leben's derision was palpable, the words spitting out like poison.
"You're supposed to be the one with those scars, yet where's your courage? You tremble in fear, like a pathetic puppy that got kicked."
Despite Leben's provocations, Narbe made a deliberate effort to maintain control over his emotions. With a steely determination, he met Leben's gaze, the flames of courage igniting in his eyes.
"Have you heard it before? That you're a true jerk?"
Leben's grin widened, his smirk carrying a malicious edge. He reveled in the knowledge that he had pushed Narbe to the brink of action.
"Oh, I've heard it countless times. It's like a compliment to me, Narbe."
His tone dripped with disdain, his delivery of Narbe's name dripping like a curse.
"They can call me whatever they want. I don't care. I'm above their insignificant opinions. But you, you're the real coward here. Hiding, trembling in fear, while others fight and face the true danger."
It was clear that Leben's words were aimed at exacerbating the situation, stirring up the already present tension.
"Humans really are weak, aren't they?"
Leben continued to provoke Narbe, his words laced with provocation.
"And you're no exception. You're a human too, after all. You think you can do better, huh?!"
Leben didn't seem to register the underlying insult of being called human, instead focusing on the perceived challenge.
"Oh, I'm better, alright. Better than any human. No doubt about it."
He then leaned forward towards Leben and uncuffed him with a key entrusted to him by Seele.
"There---"
Thud!
After he unlocked the handcuffs, Leben struck him with a precise attack to his neck, causing him to collapse to the ground in a thud. The impact rendered him instantly unconscious, his eyes wide open but vacant.
Leben stood up and examined Narbe's clothes, admiring the sophisticated black and white tuxedo.
'This isn't really my style, but it's definitely an upgrade from this tattered robe.'
He kneeled down, removing the tuxedo from Narbe's unconscious form and putting it on himself. Once he was clad in the new clothes, he tossed the ragged robe disdainfully onto Narbe's body.