Inside the Windowless Building, time seemed to stand still.

Rei Ao stood before Aleister's life-support apparatus, lightly tapping a finger on the glass surface. A playful smile curled at the corners of his mouth, and his eyes glimmered with a star-like brilliance—the eyes of a Magic God that far exceeded human comprehension.

"You know, Aleister," Rei Ao said, his voice resonating like an echo from the depths of the cosmos, "Your painstakingly designed plan is just a child's sandcastle on the beach to me."

In the life-support device, Aleister's eyes went wide. That perpetually emotionless face now showed rare terror. He opened his mouth, but no sound came. Rei Ao had already taken away his ability to speak.

"Don't be hasty—we've got all the time in the world," Rei Ao said, snapping his fingers.

Instantly, Aleister's life-support apparatus disintegrated into dust, vanishing into the air. He didn't fall, however, because an invisible force held him aloft.

Rei Ao tapped lightly at the empty air.

"You toyed with so many lives. Now it's your turn to experience what it's like to be a plaything."

At that moment, Aleister's pupils lost focus—his consciousness was dragged into an infinite loop world of Rei Ao's making.

There, he would relive all the pain he had inflicted on others: the despair of death, the rage of espers treated like chess pieces, the cries of sacrificed innocents.

Each time he died, his memories would reset, so he could never acclimate to the pain—always suffering raw terror anew.

"After ten thousand cycles, maybe you'll grasp the weight of a life," Rei Ao said softly.

[Such a cruel punishment.]

A calm voice echoed from the shadows. Aiwass emerged from the darkness, its pure white figure stark against the surroundings. Rei Ao had not bothered to restrain it. The angel's face showed no sympathy for Aleister's plight—only pure curiosity about Rei Ao.

"I thought you might step in to stop me," Rei Ao remarked, turning to face Aiwass with his hands in his pockets, as relaxed as if strolling through a park.

[I have no reason to interfere,] Aiwass replied flatly, its voice as emotionless as synthesized speech.

[I'm more interested in you—the one who ascended from mortal to Magic God in an instant.]

[It defies all known laws.]

Rei Ao chuckled.

"'Laws'? Those are just limits weaklings impose upon themselves."

Aiwass tilted its head, a strangely human gesture at odds with its inhuman aura.

[You've retained your human memories and emotions. That's… unusual. Most Magic Gods discard their humanity as a petty burden.]

"Too bad for them—I happen to like human nature. No humanity means no enjoyment."

Strolling over to the room's central console, Rei Ao waved a hand, causing every monitor to light up at once, each displaying live feeds from across Academy City.

"For example, I'm very amused by this theme park Aleister built with such dedication."

"You plan to take over Crowley's city?"

"Maybe," Rei Ao answered casually.

"Depends on my mood."

Aiwass was silent for a moment.

[What do you think of humanity now?] it suddenly asked—a rather philosophical question. Rei Ao raised an eyebrow, intrigued by the abrupt inquiry.

"Ants? Toys? Or… who I used to be?"

He admitted with a wry smile, "Honestly, I'm still figuring that out. Ascending to a Magic God for a second does leave some mark on one's thoughts, but there's one thing I do know:

"I'd say my behavior is still firmly in the realm of 'human,' not 'Magic God.'"

[I've observed humanity for ages as an angel,]

Aiwass said, its usual emotionlessness tinged by an odd confusion.

[Yet I can't fully comprehend human behavior—especially emotions, that irrational drive.]

Rei Ao was about to reply when he sensed something. A playful smile curved his lips.

"Looks like we've got a visitor."

At the Windowless Building's entrance, space rippled, and a red-haired girl materialized mid-run. Musujime Awaki clutched the wall, gasping for breath, sweat beading her forehead.

"Damn it… why is my teleport so unstable…?"

she muttered, straightening to look around—then froze at the sight before her.

It defied everything she understood. Her boss, General Superintendent Aleister, knelt limply on the ground, eyes vacant.

A golden figure hovered in midair, watching her impassively. And, most striking of all, a black-clad young man stood at the console. When he turned to her, Awaki felt an overwhelming sense of pressure—like the entire universe was crushing her shoulders.

"I… I'm in the wrong place," she stammered, attempting to use her power to flee. But her ability failed entirely.

"!!!"

Fear swept over her. Her legs began to tremble.

"Musujime Awaki, right?"

Rei Ao's voice was eerily gentle.

"'Guidepost'—and yet you lost your way at your own doorstep? How amusing."

Awaki's eyes widened. He knows who I am! Rei Ao strode casually toward her, each step pounding like a hammer against her heart.

By the time he stood before her, she realized just how tall he was, forcing her to tilt her head up to see his face—a face almost too handsome to be real, radiating an indescribable allure.

"Are you afraid?"

Rei Ao lifted a hand to her cheek, touching it as if she were a fragile treasure.

"No need to be—I find you very interesting."

Awaki wanted to pull away but found her body immobile. His fingertips slid along her jawline—an icy-heat that made her shiver all over.

"You're trembling," he murmured.

"How cute."

Aiwass floated a bit closer, seeming curious to observe this scene at close range.

[This is human 'sexual attraction'? You desire her?]

Rei Ao flicked Aiwass at a glance.

"You talk too much. Why are you still here?"

[For a Magic God to keep human biological urges… it's contradictory.]

Aiwass droned on, [In theory, a Magic God should transcend such base impulses.]

"Shut up."

Rei Ao waved a hand, irritated.

"If you're so interested in humanity, how about experiencing it yourself?"

A bolt of golden energy shot from Rei Ao's hand toward Aiwass. The angel watched in shock as its body started to shift. Its golden wings faded, the halo evaporating into the air. Seconds later, standing in its place was a woman with long hair—identical to Aleister's late wife.

~~~

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