According to the demon, the ranks of angels were divided as follows.
The First through Third Ranks were called high-grade angels.
These corresponded respectively to Seraphim, Cherubim, and Thrones.
The Fourth through Sixth Ranks were mid-grade angels.
These, too, corresponded respectively to Dominions, Virtues, and Powers.
Lastly, the Seventh through Ninth Ranks were low-grade angels.
In order, they were Principalities, Archangels, and Angels.
After hearing that explanation, a question suddenly occurred to me, so I asked.
“…Are archangels really that low in rank? From what I’ve heard, quite a few famous angels were archangels.”
“Ranks can be held concurrently. Even if you’re promoted, you don’t lose your previous rank.”
So, to explain it roughly… it seemed similar to British peerage titles.
Even there, being raised in rank didn’t mean the titles beneath it disappeared.
There was a reason a high-ranking noble’s full name could go something like so-and-so, Baron, Viscount, and Duke.
“As I explained before, if the caliber of the soul is experience points, then one’s realm—in other words, rank—is level.”
“So what I have to do is build up the caliber of my soul and attain a higher rank?”
“Well, that’s about right.”
It was more intuitive than I’d expected.
The realm system was also divided into nine stages, so it made my heart race a little, as if I’d become a mage who handled circles.
“Ah, before that. What exactly is good about being promoted to a higher rank?”
From what I’d heard before, it opened up the authority to handle divine power better… but that was too vague.
Would I become able to use things like spells or magic?
“Well, you’ll be able to learn things like sacred arts.”
Whoa, so that really was true.
But as if that wasn’t the end of it, the demon shook her head and said,
“But sacred arts and the like are only side benefits. To begin with, the very existence of an angel is close to a sacred art. However…”
“…However?”
“If you become an archangel, you can receive one Authority.”
Authority, huh.
Just hearing the word made my chest swell.
The name itself sounded powerful.
But before that, there was one thing I had to ask.
“When you say I can receive one Authority…”
“It’s entirely up to the one giving it. Until you’re promoted to archangel, you won’t know what they’ll give you.”
In other words, it was a complete random box.
You wouldn’t know what would come out until you opened it.
‘Hmm, for some reason this reminds me of a meme I saw a long time ago.’
It was about a Chinese kid spinning a roulette wheel with his finger.
…Wait, they wouldn’t give me something weird just because I thought that, would they?
“So you’re saying there’s no way to know what Authority I’ll receive?”
“You can make a rough prediction. The Authorities that archangels have received up to now have fallen into certain categories.”
The demon held up three fingers and continued her explanation.
“First. The Judgment category. As the name suggests, it specializes in attack. Michael belonged to this one.”
“Oh, Michael.”
“…If you don’t know who that is, you can just let it pass.”
…I at least knew the name Michael.
Of course, I didn’t know exactly what he did, and that was about the extent of my knowledge, but still.
“Next is the Protection category. It specializes in protecting allies. The representative angel is Rafaella.”
“Hmm, protection…”
“…Is there some problem?”
“No… not exactly. It’s just, how should I put it, I feel like I won’t need it? Healing and mental protection are already possible for me…”
Thinking about it, most of the powers I could borrow and use through divine power seemed to fall into this category.
My healing ability went without saying, since I’d been using it from the beginning, and now I could even use mental protection on the other team members.
“Well, it’s true that the Protection category’s Authorities don’t stand out much. But if you see them firsthand, you’ll find they’re on a different level.”
The demon explained it that way.
Well, since they were called Authorities, it seemed they could exert powers far beyond what I could display. Though it was hard to imagine.
“…And lastly. The Revelation category. You could say it’s the most Authority-like Authority. The representative angel is Gabriella.”
“Gabriella. I think I’ve heard the name before.”
“Mm-hmm, is that so? Have you?”
The demon asked that with a subtle air.
It seemed like she was hoping more words would come out of my mouth, so I continued.
“She’s the angel who made the Annunciation, right?”
“That’s right. Gabriel told Mary that Jesus would be born.”
“And usually, I think she’s called Gabriel rather than Gabriella…”
“In the past, yes. But now she’s Gabriella.”
The demon nodded as she said that.
She looked at me with satisfied eyes, then continued her explanation.
“At any rate, the Authorities of the Revelation category are the most powerful compared to the other categories. You can peer into the future, and you can guide fate.”
The demon added that explanation in a tone that carried a strange sense of pride.
Compared to how she hadn’t explained the Authorities of the other categories in much detail, this was relatively thorough.
I wondered why, then suddenly had a question and asked.
“Now that I think about it, you said you were the one who brought information from the future, didn’t you?”
“That’s right. I peered into the future.”
The demon said that in a voice without the slightest rise or fall.
I mulled over those words and sank into thought.
Judging from everything that had happened so far, the demon seemed to be closely related to the Revelation category’s Authorities.
One of the Revelation category’s Authorities was peering into the future, and the demon could do that as well.
There was also the way she showed a faint, peculiar pride, and how she knew more detail about it than the other categories’ Authorities…
‘Did she receive a Revelation Authority back when she was an angel?’
It seemed possible to guess roughly along those lines.
“Well, that’s enough explanation about Authorities. Now we need to raise your rank, don’t we? After all, these are Authorities you can only receive once you’ve become an archangel.”
“That’s true.”
Until now, we’d only been talking about the Authorities I might receive.
It felt a bit like being told the odds before opening a random box.
“But don’t I need to fill the caliber of my soul first in order to be promoted?”
“Of course you do. But do you think I called you here at this point for no reason? You’ve already attained enough caliber to become an archangel.”
Oh, that was welcome news.
But when on earth had I built up the caliber of my soul?
When I voiced that question, the demon graciously explained.
“That would be when you entered the blackout zone. Just as you said last time, the blackout zones and their creations. Simply facing those things will naturally build up the caliber of your soul.”
“…That was something I said to Captain Kim.”
“Reports like that naturally make their way to the higher-ups.”
Well, that wasn’t wrong either.
What I’d said to Captain Kim back then had essentially been for the sake of persuading the people above.
Besides… hearing that it had built up while I was inside the blackout zone reminded me of one more thing.
‘…The being I faced when I purified the incubator.’
After facing that being, I felt as though something spiritual within me had risen by a stage.
After that, I no longer fainted easily even after purification.
I hadn’t known it at the time, but now I knew that had been the caliber of my soul growing.
‘…Well, after going through all that, it should be enough to level up.’
If it hadn’t been enough, I would have felt wronged instead.
After all the hell I’d gone through inside the blackout zone.
“So what do I have to do to be promoted? If I’m still an ordinary angel despite having attained enough caliber, then there must be some special condition.”
“…There is. The one who made you an angel has to call you again. That’s the condition.”
I frowned at the rather vague explanation.
“So you’re saying I can only be promoted if that side calls me? I don’t have to perform some sort of ritual?”
“It’s a terribly passive and frustrating system, isn’t it?”
“Then what am I supposed to do? Is there really nothing I can do?”
At my question, the demon smiled with a meaningful expression.
“Of course. There is something you can do.”
That bright yellow gaze curved like a crescent moon.
It was an expression I’d seen many times before, but this time, the ominous feeling was on a different level.
Should I say it was like the face of a mischievous brat full of pranks…
“Bear with it for a bit. It won’t take long.”
Bear with it? Bear with what?
The question that flashed through my mind was answered in an instant.
Demonic energy spread from the demon’s body.
In the blink of an eye, the inside of the container went pitch-black. It was a power on a completely different axis from the blackout zone. Even the light of the halo couldn’t drive away that darkness.
The halo merely floated above my head, shining brightly and nothing more.
‘…What is this? What is she trying to…’
I had a bad feeling. At that ominous sensation, I moved my hand to my waist, but there was no way my pistol would be there.
I had entered after disarming myself of most of my weapons.
If I had no means to protect myself, I had to run immediately.
Having judged that, I was just about to rise from my seat.
[Stop.]
From within the darkness, something in human form rose to its feet.
I couldn’t see it clearly, but its outline was unmistakably feminine.
For a moment, I wondered what it was, but soon its bright yellow eyes gleamed. Thanks to that, I was certain it was the demon.
The bright yellow gaze turned toward the sky as she spoke.
[Three. I’ll count to three, and you’d better take measures before then. If you don’t do anything…]
The demon recited in a playful voice.
[I’m going to corrupt him.]
After saying that, the demon counted.
Three, two.
And just before she counted the final one.
My consciousness floated up somewhere.