The schoolyard fell silent. Only the wind chased the dust and a few stray feathers left over from the short but fierce clash. A heavy foreboding hung in the air. The holy swords, Durandal and Excalibur, had been returned to their owners, but their light was dimmed by a humiliating defeat at the hands of a power that defied explanation. Issei, badly wounded, had been carried off to the club to be healed. I was left alone with my thoughts and the echo of my recent conversation with Kiba, which seemed to have touched something deep within him.
A tense quiet hung in the Occult Research Club room. Asia, leaning over Issei in concentration, channeled the soft green glow of Twilight Healing into the wound in his side. The holy energy of Excalibur, which had been eating away at the demon's flesh, slowly retreated under the onslaught of her gift. Issei's body began to recover rapidly. He had already regained consciousness but was weak and silent, shaken by his swift defeat and by how easily I had intervened and resolved everything. He felt useless again.
Rias, Akeno, and Kiba stood nearby, discussing what had happened in hushed tones.
"They're gone," Rias stated, looking out the window at the darkening sky. Her voice was calm, but there were steel notes in it. "But I doubt they've left the city. Their mission isn't finished. And now they know about Jin."
"Xenovia Quarta and Irina Shidou..." Akeno thoughtfully tapped an elegant finger against her chin, her usual smile gone, replaced by seriousness. "Elite exorcists, sent for the stolen Excalibur fragments. Their appearance here is already a bad sign. And now they know about Jin… Ara-ara, this is getting more and more interesting, and dangerous."
"And that he can… interact with holy swords without harm to himself," Kiba added, his voice hollow, his gaze fixed on nothing. The conversation with me was clearly still bothering him. The idea that the Excaliburs, the symbols of his tragedy, could simply be "broken" was turning his world upside down. "They will report this. The Church won't let it go. Their faith in the sanctity of their relics has been shaken."
"Not just the Church," Rias sighed, running a hand through her hair. "Whoever is behind the theft of the Excaliburs… they know about Jin now, too. If the exorcists report back not just to the Vatican, but also run into the thieves…"
"Kokabiel," Akeno said quietly, and the room seemed to grow cold. The name of one of the leaders of the Fallen Angels, known for his cruelty and thirst for war, had been hanging in the air ever since this sword business began. "If this is his doing, then everything becomes much more dangerous. He could use this situation to provoke a conflict between us, the Church, and… Jin. He loves games like that."
Issei, hearing Kokabiel's name, clenched his fists. He remembered the stories about him.
"So… this is all because of some stolen swords?" he asked in a weak voice, trying to grasp the scale of it.
"Yes, Issei," Rias nodded, her gaze softening at his confusion. "Someone stole several Excalibur fragments from the Vatican. The Church sent Xenovia and Irina to retrieve or destroy them. And the trail led them here, to Kuoh. To our territory."
"But why would anyone steal Excaliburs?" Issei was baffled. "They're just swords… even if they are strong…"
"To start a war," Kiba answered darkly, his voice full of bitterness. "Excalibur isn't just a sword; it's a symbol. A powerful weapon, yes. But more importantly, it can be the reason for a conflict between the factions. In the hands of a skilled warrior or a madman, it can cause a lot of trouble. And if it's used as a pretext…"
"...Then Kokabiel gets what he so desperately wants," Akeno finished, her smile turning predatory. "Chaos and war. He dreams of seeing the blood of angels and demons spilled once again."
Silence fell in the room again. The situation was more complex and dangerous than it first appeared. The exorcists weren't just fanatics; they were operatives on a dangerous mission. And behind them loomed the shadow of a powerful and insane Fallen Angel. And now, I had been dragged into this tangle of intrigues. Not by my own choice, of course. But backing down wasn't my style once I was in.
...
Meanwhile, in a cheap hotel on the outskirts of Kuoh, Xenovia Quarta stood at the window, staring at the night city. Her face was tense, her fists clenched. Durandal lay on the bed—a mighty holy sword, but the memory of how easily it had been taken from her burned inside.
"Unforgivable," she muttered through gritted teeth. "To be disarmed like that… By that… Jin! What kind of power ignores the holy might of Durandal? It contradicts everything we know!"
Irina Shidou sat on a chair, her knees drawn to her chest. She had stopped crying, but her eyes were red and full of confusion.
"Xenovia… he… he didn't kill us," she said quietly. "And Issei… we hurt him so badly… He's my childhood friend, Xenovia! And we almost…"
"He's a demon, Irina!" Xenovia spun around, her voice sharp, but with a note of weariness. "Issei Hyoudou chose the side of darkness when he became Gremory's servant. It is our duty to fight those like him! And this Jin… he is a problem of a different kind. His power is an anomaly."
"But… he stopped us," Irina countered, her voice trembling. "If it weren't for him, we… would we have killed Issei? Is that right? Is that what God would want?"
"God gave us strength and the holy swords to eradicate evil!" Xenovia slammed her fist on the windowsill. "And this Jin… he mocks our power! He took the Lord's weapons with his bare hands! It's blasphemy! We must report this immediately! The Church must know about this threat! Perhaps he's a new kind of demon? Or some unknown creature?"
"But our mission… the Excaliburs…" Irina whispered, looking fearfully at her determined friend. "Kokabiel is still out there somewhere…"
"The mission continues!" Xenovia snapped, her gaze hardening once more. She picked up Durandal, its familiar weight calming her slightly. "We will find those cursed fragments. We will complete our orders. As for this Jin… we will avoid him. He is not our target. Our targets are the Excaliburs and those who stole them. Focus, Irina! We are warriors of the Church! Our duty comes before all else! Don't let doubt and fear lead you astray!"
Irina looked at Xenovia. Her friend was as steadfast as ever, loyal to her duty. And although fear and doubt were still warring in Irina's heart, she knew she wouldn't leave Xenovia alone.
"Yes, Xenovia," she replied quietly, straightening up. "You're right. We must complete our mission. No matter what."
...
I returned to my mansion. The quiet and cool after the day's events felt deafening. The conversation with Kiba had left a strange aftertaste. His pain was real, and my words seemed to have changed something in him. Giving him hope that the symbol of his suffering could be destroyed… Maybe it was cruel. Or maybe it was necessary. Digging into others' emotional trauma wasn't my thing. But watching someone break under the weight of their past… it sparked a dull irritation. Weakness—that's what pissed me off more than anything.
I was much more preoccupied with the bigger picture. The stolen Excaliburs. The exorcists on a mission. Kokabiel, pulling the strings from the shadows. And me, having accidentally stumbled right into the center of this hornet's nest. It definitely wouldn't be boring. But I didn't want the extra trouble either.
I walked into the study—spacious, with a massive desk and still-empty bookshelves—and sat in the chair. Kuro, my long-eared familiar, immediately hopped onto the desk, settling on a stack of papers (the same invitations from the clans I still hadn't thrown out) and watched me intently with his ruby-red eyes.
"What's up, long-ears? You smell trouble too?" I smirked, scratching him behind the ears. The tip of his ear immediately turned pink with pleasure.
I took out the pass-crystal Sirzechs had given me. Free access to the Underworld… Maybe I should use it? Not for social calls, of course. But to gather information. To learn more about this Kokabiel, about the Old Satan Faction, about the political climate. Knowledge is power. Or, at least, a way to avoid unnecessary trouble and prepare for an interesting fight.
But before I could fully consider the idea, the communicator Sona had given me for Student Council business vibrated on the desk. Her name flashed on the screen. I answered reluctantly.
"Izayoi-san," Sona's voice was calm as always, but held notes of urgency. "We have a problem. A serious one."
"What now?" I asked wearily. Exorcists again?
"Information just came in. Kokabiel. He's not hiding anymore. He has arrived in Kuoh. In person. And he is heading… for the Academy. It seems he has decided to make his move."
I sat up straight. Kokabiel. Here. Now. This was interesting. It looked like the main villain was deciding to take the stage.
"Got it," I answered curtly. "I'll be there."
I ended the communication. The lull had ended faster than I expected. Looks like the show is just getting started.
Kuro raised his head on the desk, his ears turning an anxious crimson. He had sensed the approaching threat too.
"Let's go, long-ears," I said, standing up. The corners of my mouth twitched in an anticipatory smirk. "Looks like we're in for an interesting night."
Time to stretch my legs again. And to see if this Kokabiel was as terrifying as they claimed.