Chapter 86 - Born from Sin!

Chapter 86: Chapter 86 - Born from Sin!

(A/N: Initial goal: 500 Power Stones (Bonus Chapter)

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Listening to Echidna’s words about the nature of devils, Alear remained thoughtful for a few moments.

"I have a hypothesis about why devils were born from sin. After all, as far as I know, all of them have their origins linked, in one way or another, to Lucifer and Lilith..." He paused briefly, organizing his own thoughts. "I believe that the sinful nature of devils is a kind of divine punishment. Perhaps God punished our species in this way, making us always susceptible to sin and creatures who are sinful by nature..."

"Oh?" Echidna tilted her head slightly, and her smile grew a little wider. "So Alear-sama is a religious person?"

"That’s not what I said."

"But that’s exactly what it sounded like." She brought one hand to her chin, pretending to reflect deeply on the matter. "That’s a rather interesting discovery. I didn’t imagine that Alear-sama would be the type of person who attributes unknown phenomena to the will of a deity."

Alear narrowed his eyes slightly.

"You’re enjoying this, aren’t you?"

"Maybe a little." Echidna tilted her head slightly, as if willing to concede that point. "But no. Although it’s an excellent guess, I don’t believe that is the answer."

"Then what is it?"

"Well..." She set the teacup down on the saucer and delicately rested her chin on one hand. Her smile remained serene, but her black eyes acquired a deeper gleam, as if she were about to explain something she considered particularly interesting. "To understand the answer, we need to go back to the very beginning of everything. The reason is... ’humanity.’"

Alear frowned slightly.

"Humanity?"

"Yes." Echidna nodded slowly. "Human beings are quite interesting creatures. They are fragile, live short lives, and individually possess extremely limited capabilities. Even so, they are capable of creating things that far surpass the limits of their own bodies. They build cities, invent weapons, create religions, develop knowledge, and above all, give meaning to the things that exist around them..."

She raised the teacup and took a small sip before continuing, as if carefully organizing her own thoughts.

"You must have heard the story of Adam and Eve, right? The Garden of Eden, the serpent, and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. According to the story, the first humans lived in a paradise, without truly knowing suffering, shame, or evil. Then, the serpent offered Eve the fruit of the forbidden tree and promised that, by eating it, her eyes would be opened and she would become like God, knowing good and evil."

"And after Adam and Eve ate the fruit, they were expelled from paradise. Yes, I know that... that story is quite famous..."

"Yes, but let’s refresh our memory. Do you know what really changed after they ate the fruit? They came to know good and evil. They became aware of themselves, of their nakedness, of their mortality, and of the consequences of their own choices. In other words, they stopped being innocent creatures who simply existed in a paradise and became beings capable of understanding their own condition."

She paused briefly.

"And it was at that moment that humanity was truly born."

"Are you saying that humanity was born from sin just like us?"

"Not exactly." Echidna replied with a mysterious smile. "I’m saying that sin and humanity are deeply connected. After all, what is sin? Pride, envy, wrath, sloth, greed, gluttony, and lust... all of them are human desires. They are not external forces that simply invaded humanity. They were born from humanity’s own capacity to desire, compare, possess, hate, love, and choose..."

"An animal may kill out of hunger. A human may kill out of pride. An animal may take something because it needs to survive. A human may desire to possess something simply because another person possesses it. An animal may reproduce. A human may transform desire into obsession, pleasure, control, or lust. Humanity does not merely feel. It understands what it feels and then transforms those feelings into concepts."

"Looking at it from this perspective..." Alear murmured, beginning to understand the direction Echidna intended to take. His previously calm expression gradually became stranger, as if a particularly absurd possibility had just occurred to him.

Echidna noticed the change immediately. Her smile deepened, and a gleam of satisfaction appeared in her black eyes before she continued:

"It seems you are starting to get close to the answer."

She brought the teacup to her lips and took a small sip before proceeding, keeping her gaze fixed on Alear.

"The so-called ’nature of devils’ perhaps exists precisely because humanity created the concept of sin. Think about it. Before the existence of human beings, there were already animals capable of feeling fear, hunger, anger, and desire. However, they did not possess the same capacity to transform those sensations into abstract concepts. A wolf does not think: ’I am committing an act of wrath.’ An animal does not feel guilt for desiring something that belongs to another. It simply acts according to its instincts."

"But human beings are different. They do not merely feel. They observe their own feelings, give them names, and decide what is right or wrong. Humanity looked at the desires and impulses that existed within itself and transformed them into concepts. Pride, envy, wrath, sloth, greed, gluttony, and lust... The so-called capital sins are not forces that simply appeared out of nowhere. They are, to a large extent, the way humanity chose to define and classify the darkest and most unpleasant parts of its own nature."

While Alear remained silent, Echidna placed the teacup back on the saucer. Only then did she continue her explanation, maintaining that serene and enigmatic smile.

"But here is where the interesting part comes in. As I said before, human beings have the capacity to assign meaning to things. Humanity created these concepts and, at some point, they found a way to exist on their own. Perhaps it was God’s will. Perhaps it was the collective will of humanity itself. The important thing is that humanity’s belief truly ended up giving rise to something. The ’Witch Factor,’ or ’Factor of Sin,’ as God called it, was created from human nature itself. And, in a way, it ended up becoming the antithesis of its creator."

Her smile became slightly deeper.

"It’s ironic, don’t you think? God’s greatest creation, the one he was most proud of, ended up giving rise to something that directly opposed him. Human beings were created in his image, but at the same time, they were precisely the ones who created something that represented everything that was the opposite of God."

Echidna brought the teacup to her lips again, taking a small sip before continuing.

"It was then that God revealed himself to humanity and began to build human belief in him. At the same time, he made sins be seen as something belonging to the Devil. Pride, envy, wrath, greed, gluttony, lust... everything that existed within the human heart came to be associated with an external entity, a figure that represented evil and that should be feared."

She set the teacup down on the saucer.

"And as that belief spread, the ’Witch Factor’ ended up becoming linked to the fate of devils. Humanity believed that sin belonged to devils... and, at some point, that belief became reality. And that is how devils ended up becoming the personification of sin."

Alear remained strangely silent for a few moments, reflecting on everything Echidna had just explained.

The more he thought about it, the more he had the impression that this world had managed to blend the fundamental concepts of different universes in a surprisingly coherent way. First, there was the Divine Realm and the Ten Gods from Shinmai Maou no Testament. Then, the Biblical God and all the cosmology associated with him, as presented in High School DxD. Now, even the "Witch Factor" from Re:Zero − Starting Life in Another World seemed to have found a place within this reality.

It was almost ironic.

In the original Re:Zero world, the Witch Factors were linked to Od Laguna and represented a force capable of opposing the order she established. In this world, however, the same concept seemed to have assumed a different function, becoming the antithesis of the Biblical God and being directly related to the origin of devils...

But there was something that was bothering him. Although Echidna had already explained that the Witch Factors had become linked to the fate of devils, how exactly had the process happened? He asked:

"If that’s the case... how did devils end up becoming the very personification of sin?"

"Well, the Witch Factors naturally exude what is called Witch Miasma."

Upon hearing that term, Alear narrowed his eyes slightly.

"Witch Miasma?"

Echidna nodded.

"Every bearer of a Witch Factor exudes miasma. It is a kind of contaminated mana, imbued with the concepts of the Factor itself. In small amounts, its effects may be almost imperceptible. However, when accumulated in high density, it is capable of corrupting minds, altering living beings, and even contaminating the environment around it."

She paused briefly before continuing.

"Lucifer, Lilith, and their first descendants were exposed to this miasma for an extremely long period. Honestly, I don’t know the details of that story, but little by little, that influence stopped affecting only their minds and began to alter their very essence."

"So the race of devils..."

"...was born from that transformation." Echidna completed calmly. "The miasma imbued with the concepts of sin fused with them. From that moment on, their descendants began to be born naturally carrying that influence. What started as contamination ended up being incorporated into the race itself, becoming a hereditary characteristic."

Alear remained silent for a few moments. The more he reflected on that explanation, the more a new doubt arose.

"If it really happened like that... then why doesn’t anyone talk about the Witch Miasma or the Witch Factors themselves anymore?"

Echidna smiled, as if she had already expected that question.

"Do you remember when I said that the Witch Factors became intertwined with devils? I was speaking in the literal sense. While the Witch Miasma gave rise to the race of devils, the Factors themselves continued to seek compatible hosts throughout the millennia. Whenever they found someone capable of bearing them, they granted an Authority and transformed that person into a Witch. That is precisely why I call them Witch Factors. As far as I know, all their natural hosts were women, although that seems to have been merely a historical coincidence."

"Authority...?" Alear repeated quietly. It was exactly as he had imagined earlier. Apparently, in this world, the Witch Factors continued to grant an Authority to their hosts, just as in the original Re:Zero story.

"In simple terms, an Authority grants its bearer the right to directly interfere with reality. They are derived from the Witch Factors. Those who possess a Factor can also share a small part of it with other people, creating individuals known as Apostles... but that is not important at the moment." Echidna paused briefly before continuing: "The point is that almost no one knows about the existence of the Factors because that knowledge was deliberately hidden by the Witches themselves throughout the millennia. In addition, even when one of them carried a Factor, she was capable of completely controlling the Witch Miasma she exuded. For that reason, practically no one came into contact with it again."

She then added calmly:

"In fact, the miasma itself no longer poses a danger to current devils. After all, their nature has already been shaped by the Witch Factors themselves. In a sense, both share the same origin..."

Alear let out a light sigh and massaged his own temple.

"...I see."

He remained silent for a brief moment before looking at her again.

"I have to admit that all of this is extremely interesting. In fact, you managed to surprise me more than once during this conversation." A small smile appeared on his lips. "But, without realizing it, we completely strayed from the main topic. You still haven’t answered why you accepted joining my nobility."

Echidna simply smiled.

"Actually, Alear-sama... I was precisely answering your question."

"Hm?"

"It was necessary to explain all of this first. Otherwise, the real reason wouldn’t make sense. As I just explained, the Witch Factors seek compatible hosts throughout history. Well... I was one of those people."

Alear’s eyes narrowed discreetly.

"You mean..."

Echidna nodded.

"That’s right. Due to certain circumstances, I absorbed the [Witch Factor of Greed]. That is how I became the Witch of Greed. Naturally, upon becoming the host of the Factor, I also awakened an ’Authority.’ After all, each Factor grants its bearer its own manifestation of its concept. Although all bearers share the same Factor, the awakened Authority varies according to the soul, personality, and desires of the one who receives it. In other words, there are no two Authorities exactly alike, even when they belong to the same sin..."

She brought the teacup to her lips and took a small sip before continuing.

"In my case, I awakened a variation of the Authority of Greed, capable of scrutinizing the knowledge of the world, contemplating the past, present, and future. It was thanks to it that I discovered the truth about the Witch Factors and many other secrets that have already been lost to history."

She paused briefly, keeping her gaze fixed on Alear.

"And it was also because of this Authority that I reached you. Among all the people I have ever observed, you are the only one whose past, present, and future remain completely hidden from me. My Authority simply cannot reach you, as if your existence were outside of everything it is capable of comprehending."

A discreet smile appeared on her lips.

"For someone like me, whose entire life has been dedicated to the pursuit of knowledge, this is irresistible. You are the greatest mystery I have ever encountered. The less I can understand your existence, the more it awakens my curiosity. The unknown that surrounds you fascinates me far more than any truth I might discover about the rest of the world."

Alear remained silent for a few moments after hearing those words. A slight smile appeared on his lips.

"If I didn’t know you, I could easily interpret this as a declaration of love..."

"A declaration of love?" Echidna blinked, her white cheeks acquiring a slightly reddish tone.

"You just said that you abandoned everything to follow me because I am the greatest mystery of your life, that no other person awakens so much of your interest, and that you wish to remain by my side to understand me." Alear rested his face on one hand. "I’ve never heard such a beautiful declaration of love..."

For a brief moment, Echidna remained silent.

"...You’re right."

She brought one hand to her chin, seriously reflecting on her own words.

"Perhaps I was a bit hasty. I apologize."

Alear raised an eyebrow.

"You’re being milder than I expected..."

"I apologize when I believe I have made a mistake." Echidna replied with absolute naturalness. "I would like to make it clear that I am not as insensitive a woman as I may seem. And, as you yourself observed... it really does sound like a declaration of love."

"Hmmmm..."

"...?"

She tilted her head slightly upon noticing that Alear continued staring silently at her face.

"Is there a problem? You’re staring at me."

"Aaah... I’m just looking at your hair, your eyes, your nose, your mouth..."

"..."

"..."

"Hm." Echidna frowned discreetly. "Although everything you said is completely obvious, for some reason that sounded strangely offensive to me."

Seeing her make that rare expression of displeasure, Alear raised one hand in surrender.

"I wasn’t thinking anything offensive. It’s just that you are the first Witch I’ve had contact with. I was just imagining that, for someone with the reputation of being a witch, you don’t seem the least bit scary to me."

"Hihi... that’s a rather unusual impression, isn’t it?"

An amused smile appeared on Echidna’s lips upon hearing Alear’s comment. After delicately setting the teacup down on the table, she crossed her long legs and began absentmindedly playing with a lock of her white hair.

"But, considering everything we’ve already talked about, maybe I should feel a little offended. After all, I am a Witch. Shouldn’t you be trembling in fear just from sitting in front of me?"

"Do you want me to start trembling?"

"No." Echidna replied immediately, before tilting her head slightly. "That would be quite inconvenient. I prefer it when you behave naturally..."

Alear observed Echidna for a few seconds before letting out a small sigh.

"Even if I tried, I think it would be difficult for me to change my somewhat pragmatic behavior."

"Really?"

"Yes." He leaned back in his chair and crossed his arms. "I’m not the type of person who starts acting differently just because I discovered that someone by my side is a Witch. In the end, you continue being you. Besides, now I finally understand the reason why you wanted to join my nobility, so I’m satisfied. However, there is still something I haven’t fully understood."

"Hm?"

"That part about the characteristic of the Astaroth Family." He narrowed his eyes slightly. "You mentioned that earlier, but I still don’t understand what the connection is with everything we talked about. What exactly does the characteristic of my family have to do with you becoming the Witch of Greed?"

Echidna smiled, as if she had already expected that question.

"It’s simple, Alear-sama."

She brought one hand to her chin, organizing her thoughts before answering.

"It was precisely because of the characteristic of the Astaroth Family, the [Superior Demonic Intellect], that I developed an almost insatiable thirst for knowledge and a curiosity that could hardly be satisfied. The desire to understand the world around me, to unravel its secrets, and to reach truths that others would not even be capable of perceiving has always been present in me. And it was exactly for that reason that I possessed the perfect compatibility for the [Witch Factor of Greed] and became the Witch of Greed. I mentioned this earlier because I knew you would be curious and ask me precisely now..."

Alear smiled slightly upon hearing the explanation, finally understanding the complete picture.

The two continued talking for several minutes, delving deeper into various subjects.

The afternoon in the garden continued peacefully, with the forgotten tea cooling on the table while the conversation flowed naturally between intellectual curiosity and subtle exchanges of ideas.

After almost an hour of conversation, the two finally had to interrupt the discussion, as a new guest had just arrived...

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(A/N: I have to admit that I’m quite proud of this Chapter. I really liked how I managed to connect elements from three different universes: High School DxD, Re:Zero − Starting Life in Another World, and The Testament of Sister New Devil.

The idea of connecting the Divine Realm and the Ten Gods from The Testament of Sister New Devil, the cosmology of the Biblical God from High School DxD, and the Witch Factors from Re:Zero, making all of them exist within the same mythology and have a coherent relationship with one another, was something I genuinely enjoyed developing.

Rather than simply putting several different universes together and saying that they all exist in the same world, I wanted to try to create an explanation for how these elements could coexist. The idea that the Witch Factors were born from human nature itself, eventually became the antithesis of the Biblical God, and later influenced the origin of devils was something I found particularly interesting.

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