The Cosmos' Journey (Obey Me! x OC)

Chapter 21:Making Up is Hard to Do

Ivy ventured into the attic again. The mysterious man, who she knew very well about, blinked upon noticing her. "... Ah, it's you. So, how did it go? I trust you haven't forgotten what I've told you? Have you managed to gain Beelzebub's trust somewhat?"

Ivy took a deep breath and went for it. "Are you Belphegor?"

"Aww, so you've already figured me out, have you? Well, you're no fun at all. That's right. I'm Belphegor, Avatar of Sloth. And I'm the seventh demon living here in this building."

"Why did you lie to me?"

"Why did I lie to you...? Ah, you must be referring to how I pretended to be human. It wasn't so much that I lied to you, more that I was teasing you. Though I figured it wouldn't be long before you figured out the truth either way. Humans really are a stupid, foolish lot. Did Beel actually tell you about me? Well, that alone suggests that he trusts you. He and my other brothers all believe that I was forced to go to the human world as an exchange student, don't they? I'd love to see the looks on their faces if they found out that Lucifer was actually keeping me up here in this filthy attic. Heh heh... But now you know the truth, don't you?"

Ivy hummed in response. Belphie just eyed her. "I lied to you, sure. But Lucifer did lock me up here. That's the truth."

Ivy turned her right eye on him. "Why don't you get your brothers to help you?"

"If that were possible, I would've done it a long time ago. Think about it. If my other brothers learned of my current situation, what do you think they'd do?"

"You tell me."

"I'm sure they'd fly into a fit of rage and confront Lucifer about it. And if that happened, it wouldn't be any ordinary family squabble. No, it might very well devolve into a war that would envelop the entire Devildom. If worst came to worst, even the human world wouldn't be spared its effects. I'd like to find a peaceful resolution for all of this. For Lucifer, for the Devildom, and for the human world as well."

Ivy stayed quiet, turning away from him. Empty promises, she was trying to convince herself. Belphie continued. "Personally, I'd like to have a proper, face-to-face talk with Lucifer. Sure, we may have had a falling out, but really, it was only a little misunderstanding. If I could just talk with him, he'd realize that was the case. I need to find some way to get out of here, find Lucifer, and have a talk with him. That's all I want."

Lies, Ivy told herself. Belphie focused on her. "And that's the truth. You understand, right?"

Ivy stared at the ground. "You might still be lying to me."

"Well, I suppose I can't blame you for not trusting me... You're the only person I can count on to help me now. If you reconsider and decide you want to help, come back here. I'll be waiting for you."

Ivy only left.

-The Next Morning-

Ivy noticed Beel and Lucifer talking in the planetarium. Ivy was then pressured into eavesdropping by Leo. Ivy crouched in the shadows, using the predatory grace Leo had taught her to, staying silent. She then heard Beel. "I haven't heard anything from Belphie up in the human world."

Lucifer hummed. "He's probably been busy. The life of an exchange student is a busy one."

"Belphie was against the whole idea of the exchange program from the start. I know he didn't want to go to the human world of all places."

"No, I don't imagine he did."

"Come on, Lucifer. You have to forgive Belphie. If you insist on sending an exchange student to the human world, I'll go instead. So could you let Belphie come back here to the Devildom?"