After Cosmo invited Zeina to "read a book," the cleanup became simple.
All the toys were identified and could no longer disguise themselves. Governments around the world moved quickly, rounding up anything that could only repeat "Halloween." Because those things possessed dark regeneration, they were all burned to ensure they stayed dead.
Even so, the Darkness Devil was a Primal Fear. Its power was beyond reason.
After living through that incident, Cael became far more careful. He even considered that the ashes of those toys might revive if left in darkness.
Within three days, Cael forced every major government into an agreement. He gathered all the ashes and sealed them inside a section of the Klein Cage, locking them away in its endless space.
That solution left no room for error.
The Santa Claus crisis was finally over.
Japan alone lost over ten million people. Other countries combined suffered over a hundred thousand more.
Still, life did not stop. Reconstruction began immediately.
By the time Cael finished dealing with everything, a week had passed since the Darkness Devil incident.
He opened the Klein Cage and brought a guest room from Makima's apartment into its inner space.
He remembered clearly.
Back when he rescued Alexei and Sofia from the Soviet Union, Fami had teased him, saying she wanted to "train" with him here.
Now, the room was decorated exactly to her taste. Food filled every surface, from Eastern dishes to Western desserts, nothing missing.
"Fami," Cael called softly, sitting alone at the table.
He felt uneasy. For some reason, he was worried she would not show up.
Since returning from Hell, Fami, who usually loved watching chaos unfold, had avoided him completely.
Funny how that worked.
Before, Cael could not stand being around her. That tilted head alone gave him a headache.
Now, after only a few days, it felt like he had been waiting forever.
A faint sound cut through the silence.
A pale purple figure appeared across from him.
"I'm here."
Same tone. Same presence.
She grabbed a slice of pizza and started eating without hesitation.
Cael let out a quiet breath.
"Take your time. It's all yours."
He rested his chin on his hand, watching crumbs gather at the corner of her lips.
He did not bring up anything complicated. No labels. No questions about what they were to each other.
Too tiring.
Right now, she was just a girl who liked good food.
Fami let out a small burp, tilting her head.
"Cael, do you know what else the eternal space can do, besides locking things away?"
Cael tapped the table lightly, then reached over and wiped her mouth.
"Let me guess. Infinite food? No matter how much you eat, more shows up when you open the door."
A faint smile touched her lips.
"You're getting sharp."
She paused, then spoke calmly.
"I am Metis, the Death Devil."
"Oh."
Cael picked up a piece of matcha cake and took a bite.
"I killed the Falling Devil. I can wipe out humanity if I want," she continued.
"Mm."
He nodded, still eating.
Metis raised an eyebrow.
"You don't want to kill me?"
Cael shook his head.
"Not really."
He reached out and gently touched her cheek.
"What I care about is whether you'll show up to the wedding during Qixi Festival. Not as some toy, but as my wife."
Metis held his hand, a faint curve forming on her lips.
"You're starting to feel less human."
"Maybe."
Cael moved closer, sitting beside her.
"You could destroy humanity, but you haven't. So tell me everything."
For some reason, his attitude eased her.
"I want to stop the Nostradamus Prophecy."
"Then we'll stop it."
He intertwined his fingers with hers without hesitation.
Metis stared at him.
"You believe me? You don't think I'm the cause?"
"I believe the you sitting here right now."
She looked at him for a moment, then continued.
"The prophecy will likely come true. Many will die. Humanity might nearly disappear. But it won't be because I choose it.
I am not the king of terror."
"I get it. You're the blade, not the one holding it."
Metis nodded slightly.
"When the prophecy happens, humanity's fear of death will peak. My power will surge to its highest point.
At that stage, anything I do will trigger death itself. Humanity will collapse.
Killing me won't help. A new Death Devil will appear, and she might not care about humans at all.
Everything I've done, every disaster, every loss of life, it was to dull humanity's fear of death.
If they fear it less, my power weakens. That's the only chance they have."
Cael went quiet.
Then he laughed under his breath, rubbing his face.
"Damn. Didn't expect you to care this much."
"So," he said, looking at her again, "do you want to kill me?"
Metis hesitated.
After a long pause, she shook her head.
"I don't. Controlling you would help, but… I'd rather risk humanity than kill my husband."
Cael let out a slow breath.
"Yeah, I like you more every time you talk."
Then something clicked in his mind.
"Alright. I've got a better plan."
Metis blinked.
"What?"
"Let's have kids. A lot of them."
She froze.
"…What?"
Cael leaned forward, completely serious.
"You like humanity, right? Then we don't let it disappear.
I can use Primal Fear, Proliferation. If you're carrying our child, your Death Authority should weaken."
Metis processed that.
Then she looked at him with clear shock.
"…That actually makes sense."
A faint red tint appeared on her face.
"…Alright."
Cael smiled, leaning in and kissing her.
He guided her down onto the tatami, slow and steady.
Time passed quietly as the mood deepened.
Metis's face grew warmer, a trace of uncertainty in her voice.
"Can a Death Devil even have children?"
Cael gave a confident grin.
"This is the Klein Cage. Time isn't a problem."
He brushed her hair aside.
"If we keep at it, we'll make it work."
Metis nodded softly.
"…Then we'll go at it for life."