Madness: DxD

Crowned by Choice

Legend: You're late.

She kept you waiting. You should make her apologize. I would.

The door creaks open. Kuroka steps in, tail flicking, ears twitching. She's trying to look casual and failing badly. Her eyes immediately scan the room.

Kuroka: Wow... you really redecorated this place. Very minimalist. Very "don't touch anything or you'll die screaming."

She's scared. Fear makes people obedient.

Legend: That's the theme. Encourages honesty.

Liar. You like control.

She laughs nervously, then straightens up and bows mockingly.

Kuroka: So... Lord Hellfighter? King Hellfighter? Boss-from-the-bottomless-pit Hellfighter?

Legend: Hellfighter works. Titles are for people who want to be remembered fondly.

Titles rot. Power doesn't. You learned that faster than they ever could.

I gesture to the chair across from me. It looks uncomfortable on purpose. Kuroka sits anyway, tail curling around one leg.

Kuroka: You sent for me. That usually means either good news or a very sharp ending.

Legend: I already did my sharp ending. Today's paperwork.

Kuroka: ...That's not ominous at all.

I pulled out a thin folder from the desk and slid it across to her. The Chaos Brigade insignia is stamped on the front, crossed out violently in red ink.

Legend: Chaos Brigade is dismantled. Leadership eliminated. Assets seized, burned, or screaming somewhere.

Kuroka opens the folder, flipping pages fast. Her ears slowly rise. Her grin grows feral.

Kuroka: No way. No way, no way—wait—this says Ophis is—

Legend: Dead.

Say it again. I like how it sounds when you end gods.

She freezes. Then she laughs. Loud. Unrestrained. She slams the folder shut and jumps to her feet.

Kuroka: Is that why Valia told me to leave? You killed Ophis?! The Infinite Dragon God? The walking apocalypse noodle?!

Legend: She stopped being infinite when she annoyed me.

Kuroka stares. Then she claps her hands together, tail lashing wildly.

Kuroka: Oh, this is beautiful. This is art. This is—oh, my gods, I can finally sleep with both my eyes closed!

Legend: Don't get sloppy. Old habits keep you alive. New rulers just change the equation.

She grins, eyes shining.

Kuroka: You promised me a pardon.

Promises are chains. She doesn't see them yet.

Legend: I did.

I reach into a drawer and pull out a single sheet of paper, already signed in black and red ink.

Legend: Full pardon. All charges wiped. No pursuit from devils, angels, or whatever's left of Chaos. You're free.

Kuroka picks it up slowly, like it might vanish. She reads it twice. Then a third time.

Kuroka: ...You actually keep your word.

For now. People mistake consistency with kindness.