After the two girls had finished washing up and changed into nun habits from the chapel, the four of them once again sat down in the main hall.
Genova and Irina Shidou each held a cup of tea freshly brewed by Asia, looking absolutely blissful as they soaked up the warmth.
"Ahhh... I finally feel alive again. I thought I was going to freeze to death."
Irina squinted her eyes happily as she spoke. Genova, meanwhile, scowled again the moment she laid eyes on Yoru.
Seriously? It was just the color of your bra. Is that really something to hold such a grudge over?
Yoru scratched his nose with a wry smile, as an awkward silence settled over the four of them.
"So, what brings two Holy Sword wielders to our humble chapel at such a late hour?"
Eventually, it was Yoru who broke the silence. Hearing him speak, Genova could no longer hold back.
"Hmph! You're clearly a pawn of the Fallen Angels. You killed Father Freed and took over this nun—am I wrong?!"
Genova sneered as she pulled off the cloth covering the large object beside her, revealing a massive longsword—none other than Excalibur Destruction, one of the Excalibur fragments.
"Calm down, Genova! I told you, we haven't figured everything out yet!" Irina said anxiously as she drew her own Excalibur.
Hers was a ribbon-like object that transformed into a tachi in her hand—Excalibur Mimic, a Holy Sword that could freely alter its form.
"Oh? Do you have any proof that I killed Father Freed and 'took over' her?" Yoru said with a laugh, pulling Asia, who looked slightly guilty, into his arms.
This is no time for guilt, he thought. Just deny everything. No one else knows Freed is dead—only Asia and I. And she'd never tell.
"Stop pretending! If you're innocent, why are you here? Why is this nun so afraid of you? And how did you come into possession of an Excalibur?" Genova snapped coldly.
"I already told you—I don't know anything about this so-called Holy Sword. I found it. As for why Asia listens to me… it's because I'm her boyfriend."
Yoru said this confidently while hugging Asia closer. Her head dropped lower, her face turning crimson.
"Is that true, Sister Asia?"
Genova stared suspiciously at Yoru. Asia flinched, then raised her head nervously.
"Ah… y-yes… that's right, um…"
"Well, for now, I'll believe that you're not working with the Fallen Angels."
Asia's reaction was far too obvious—like a foolish girl completely smitten. Genova, though clearly displeased, begrudgingly rewrapped her Excalibur and sat down. Irina also let out a breath of relief and followed suit.
"Geez, I told you, Genova-chan, don't get so worked up all the time. Figure out the situation first before jumping to conclusions," Irina said cheerfully as she stowed her own Excalibur.
"Even so, I still want a clear explanation about how you got your hands on that Excalibur. It's crucial to our mission in this country," Genova continued calmly.
"Oh, that. One day, I saw a devil using this sword to kill a priest. So I killed the devil and took the sword."
Yoru said this with a thoughtful look on his face, as if he were recalling something.
"Oh, right—the priest might've been the very same Father Freed you mentioned."
"Are you kidding me?! There's no way a devil could even touch an Excalibur!" Genova shouted in disbelief. Irina looked equally shocked.
"Who says a devil can't touch an Excalibur? I'm a devil, you know," Yoru said with a sly smile.
"That joke isn't funny at all. There's no way you're a devil." Irina chuckled as she looked at the Holy Sword in his hand.
To devils, Excalibur was like a lethal poison. Just being near it could hurt them, let alone wield one.
"You don't believe me? Well, can't be helped then. Looks like I'll have to show you something more convincing."
Yoru shrugged, then unleashed an overwhelming wave of dark, malevolent power from within his body.
It was the power of Sin of This World. But for now, it served well enough as a stand-in for demonic energy.
All he needed was to convince the two girls that this Excalibur-wielding man was in fact an evil devil.
"Now do you believe me?"
Yoru smiled as the two girls instantly tensed up, their expressions turning serious.
Unbelievable as it seemed, the terrifying aura they felt could only belong to a devil. The truth was absurd: a devil, holding an Excalibur, sitting casually in front of them.
"Oh merciful Lord, what in heaven is going on? How can a devil remain unharmed by the Holy Sword's light?" Genova muttered.
"It must be because, even though he was turned into a devil, Mr. Yoru's sincere faith in the Lord remains intact. That's why the Excalibur doesn't harm him."
Irina spoke solemnly, hands clasped, eyes full of emotion.
"Oh Lord, You are truly merciful. Even if the body falls, as long as the heart and soul remain pure, one can still be Your believer."
Wait what? Why are you crying? And why are you so moved?
Yoru looked at the praying, tearful Irina in disbelief.
"I've decided! Mr. Yoru, it must be so painful for you—your devout faith imprisoned in a devil's body, crying out for salvation yet unable to find peace." Irina raised her Holy Sword as tears streamed down her face.
"Allow me—allow my Excalibur—to destroy that filthy body and grant you release!"
"Whoa, whoa, whoa! Are you nuts?!" Yoru blinked in shock, quickly grabbing Asia and dodging to the side. The bench they'd just been sitting on was instantly reduced to splinters by the sword's blade.
"Mr. Yoru, I know you're suffering. But don't worry, just one strike, and your pain will end," Irina sobbed as she pointed her sword at the twitching Yoru.
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