The Cosmos' Journey (Obey Me! x OC)

Chapter 59: The Line Between Truth and Falsehood

Lucifer eyed them. "Belphie's part of our family. Yes, he is family. That's why I locked him away."

Ivy and her sisters were surprised. The worst family had ever done to Ivy was give her PTSD and physically scar her for life. The worst family had ever done to Avalon was give her second hand trauma. The worst family had done to Maria was nothing physical, but it taught her that drugs and alcohol could kill after her mother became lost in it. Beel glared at him. "If he were really family to you, you never would've done something like that to him!"

Mammon eyed the two. "Hey, whoa..."

Asmo gave his younger brother a look of sympathy. "Okay, try to calm down, Beel."

Beel glared at them. "How can you guys be so calm about this?! Lucifer lied to us, you know?!"

Levi gave him a leveled stare. "Right, and we're mad about that too. That's why we're all here. To talk about it."

Satan sighed, exasperation leaking through. "You're too upset right now, Beel. We'll never get anywhere if we're lashing out at each other."

Beel hmphed. Ivy got annoyed. "Beel, look at me."

Beel turned to face her. Ivy sighed. "I know how you feel, Beel. And I get it. There are times when I've had family problems caused by the oldest member of the household. Heck, I still have familial issues. But what matters is the present and not the past."

Beel smiled at her. "Ivy... Thanks."

Satan was glad everything was peaceful again. "Okay then, now that we've calmed down, why don't we let Ivy take over from here? You came back here because there's something you'd like to ask Lucifer, right?"

Ivy nodded before turning to the eldest brother. "I want to know how all this started."

Lucifer hummed. "... It began with Diavolo's plan for an exchange program between the Devildom, the Celestial Realm, and the human world. That's what triggered the chain of events that led to today."

-Flashback-

Diavolo looked at all of them. "... So, with all that in mind, I'd like to propose that we create a student exchange program. It would be an experiment, an attempt at opening the door to a new age."

Belphie blinked in surprise. "Wait just a second! What're you talking about?! The whole idea of having an exchange with humans is insane! We can't do this. Absolutely not!"

Lucifer recalled the event. "From the very beginning, Belphie was opposed to Diavolo's proposal."

Diavolo hummed. "Belphegor, I understand that this must make you anxious, but I'd like you to listen to what I'm saying. Having a student exchange will help the Devildom to grow and develop. And it certainly won't cause any harm. I wouldn't allow such a thing to happen."

Belphie glared at him. "Just coming into contact with humans itself is causing harm!"

"Times have changed, Belphegor. The universe is made up of more than just the Devildom. We exist by maintaining a state of balance between each of our worlds. There are some humans who are starting to wake up to this fact as well. It may seem like we're rejecting our history by acknowledging and accepting each other, and building relationships. But we'll never get anywhere if we're too afraid to move forward. What we need now is to take the first step into the future."

"Don't think you can fool me with that talk!"

-End of Flashback-

Asmo hummed. "Ah... right. I remember what happened."

Satan pursed his lips. "Everyone besides Belphie agreed with Diavolo."

Levi nodded. "Right, yeah. The majority of us were in favor of having the exchange program, so the plan was approved, right?"

Beel became silent. Mammon blinked in surprise. "Okay, so like, are you sayin' that you locked Belphie up 'cause he was opposed to Diavolo's idea?"

Asmo frowned at that. "Wait a minute, really? I mean, that's kind of awful, don't you think?"

Ivy frowned. There must have been more to the story. Lucifer confirmed that thought. "You haven't heard the whole story yet. That night, Belphie showed up at my room alone..."

-Another Flashback-

Belphie glared at his older brother. "I don't understand it, and I definitely won't accept it!"

Lucifer gave the youngest brother an exasperated look. "No matter how many times you say it, it's a waste of breath."

"Well, it's not a waste of breath to me! Lucifer, you have to be able to do something, right?! Talk to Lord Diavolo and find a way to convince him! Tell him to kill this exchange program thing. Tell him that he needs to rethink things!"

Lucifer was silent for a while as he stared at him. Belphie continued. "Are you that afraid of Lord Diavolo? Is that it?! Does the idea of disagreeing with him scare you that much?!"

Lucifer pursed his lips. "Let me make one thing clear... What Diavolo wants, I want."

"Oh, come on... Come on! What happened to your ability to think for yourself, Lucifer?! Are you really nothing more than Diavolo's puppet now? Have you fallen that far?!"

"Belphegor, no matter what you say, it won't change anything. When a motion is passed by the student council officers, that's it. It can't be undone. I have nothing else to say to you on the matter."

"Maybe not, but I've got more to say to you! I'm begging you, Lucifer! You're the only one with the ability to persuade Diavolo."

"I've got no intention of trying to persuade him of anything. Because the fact is that I agree with his plan for the exchange program."

Belphie was shocked at his words. He then spoke again. "... Have you forgotten about Lilith? Have you forgotten about our sis--"

Lucifer narrowed his eyes at him. "What does she have to do with any of this?"

"What do you mean?! It was because of the humans, remember?! They were responsible for... For what happened to her..."

"It's time you forgot about that."

"!!! Forget about it? You're telling me to FORGET about it...? Does that mean you've forgotten, then? You've forgotten about Lilith?"

Silence. Belphie clenched his fists. "It's unforgivable... That you would just FORGET about her... It's absolutely unforgivable! I refuse to stand by and let this happen! I refuse to allow an exchange with humans to go forward! Humans... they should be wiped from existence!"

Lucifer glared at him. "Stop right there, Belphegor. Not another word, or you'll be guilty of treason against Diavolo."

"That's right! That's exactly what this is! I'm standing up in defiance against Diavolo! If you can't do it, then I will. I'll wipe out every last human, and kill Diavolo as well...! And if you stand in my way, I'll kill you too!"

The two then turned into their true forms. Belphie gasped when Lucifer transformed into his true form. Lucifer narrowed his eyes. "Enough, Belphie. Do you seriously mean to attack me? What would be the purpose of us fighting? What good would come of it?"

Belphie was struggling against magic binds. "Let go of me...! Hey...!"

"I won't allow you to stand in Diavolo's way. You may be my brother, but that's a bridge too far, and now you will pay the price. From this moment forward, I'll be keeping you prisoner here. And you'll remain that way until you manage to calm down and reform your way of thinking."

"...! Why... gr... why would you do this, Lucifer...?! Is Diavolo more important than all of us now... more important than your brothers...?!"

Silence. Belphie gave him an outraged look. "Answer me!"

Lucifer looked him dead cold in the eyes. "... Yes."

"!!! Why...?! Why would you...?! ...!"

Belphie then let out a yell.