(Ravel's POV)
"GO HARUUUU!" I covered my ears tightly as my Queen started cheering very loudly next to me. Onii-sama was busy commenting on the abilities of Namikaze's Boosted Gear, showing his usual confidence by explaining how he already figured out everything about the Sacred Gear's abilities.
"Buchou. I will finish it in 10 seconds." I was doubtful of the Welsh Dragon's claim. Onii-sama was the strongest person I knew. I doubt even Ruto could defeat him. I-I mean! Ruto was really really strong, but Onii-sama was much much stronger than normal Devils.
"… Haru?"
"You sure talk big for saying that you will finish it in 10 seconds. Then I will finish you off in 5 seconds. It won't be like last time, Rias' Pawn!" This was Onii-sama's declaration.
"Buchou! Please allow me to use Promotion here!"
Rias nodded at him. That was when Namikaze promoted to Queen. Ick! It's gross when someone like him becomes a Queen like Ruto!
"Buchou! I don't have a talent for swords like Yuuka! I'm not a genius like Akeno-san at using demonic power! I don't have a crazy strength like Koneko-chan, nor do I have a healing power like Asia! And I'm nowhere near as strong, skilled, or popular as Ruto, but still, I will become the Strongest Pawn!"
"Glow damn it! Over Boost!"
[Welsh Dragon Over Booster!]
The jewel in the gauntlet released a red light. The red light shinned throughout the entire hall. A deep crimson colored aura covered me.
Ruto crossed his arms next to me, staring expectantly. "Huh. The son of a bitch actually did it. He became even stronger than before." Ruto sounded truly impressed.
Namikaze's body was covered with a red armor. A plate-armor that had the motif of a dragon. The whole armor had a sharp shape. A gauntlet similar to the usual Boosted Gear appeared on the Dragon user's other arm as well. The jewel that was present appeared in both his arms, shoulders, knees and the middle of the torso. On the back there was something like a rocket booster propulsion.
"Armor!? You made the power of Sekiryuutei into a real form!?" Onii-sama sounded shocked. His comment was acute.
"This is the power of the Emperor of Dragons! Balance Breaker, Boosted Gear Scale-mail! If you want to stop me, ask Maou-sama! Apparently it's the 'Hated Forbidden Technique'!"
"Balance Breaker?" Ruto wondered before looking at me. Damn! Don't put me on the spot with those adorable eyes of yours! I… Er… I swallowed, remembering my previous lessons regarding Sacred Gears. "Er… W-Well, Balance Breaker… As the perverted Sekiryuutei said, it is something of a forbidden technique. The true power hidden within a Sacred Gear if you must. The true strength of Sacred Gears are said to possess the power to upset the balance of the world, hence the name 'Balance Breaker'."
"Such a power…" Ruto said in wonder. "... There's no way he got that for free… Haru… just what did you do?"
He spoke with such worry… I wish he would speak of me in such a way…
There was that empty feeling… Even now, when Ruto is standing next to me, he is probably thinking of her… Thinking of Leviathan-sama.
That pain in my heart existed for more than one reason.
I walked away.
"Oi, Ravel? You okay?" Ruto asked, a hint of worry in his voice (more of a casual, curious worried rather than a warm, loving worried).
I nodded, trying to ignore how cold I felt. "I'm just… There's something I want to do real quick." From what I last saw, Namikaze was releasing the power of the Sekiryuutei and Onii-sama was preparing to beat him down with his powerful flames. I walked a little bit away and slid to the ground, sitting against the wall and hugging my legs to my chest.
Tears began rolling down the sides of my face.
It's not fair… It's not fair… It's not fair…
I kept repeating those words in my head, but the more I thought about them, the more they left a bitter taste in my mouth. They sounded… wrong. Complaining about how Ruto loved someone else more than me… at first I was jealous, but now… after seeing so many new sides to him, drawn out by his former friends and loved ones…
"Ravel, what's wrong?"
I looked up, trying to wipe away my tears as I saw Isabela standing over me. Isabela was one of the few members of Onii-sama's Peerage that I truly approved of. The others were bitches (pardon my language) or pervy. Isabela was one of the few who was neither. Because of that, I allowed her to call my name without titles or honorifics when we were alone.
She seemed worried.
"Isabela…" I ended up having to wipe away more tears that appeared in the corners of my eyes. "... What am I?"
Onii-sama's Rook seemed confused by the question. "What do you mean?"
I sniffed, trying to maintain what little composure I had left. "... In the stories I always read and listened to when I was little… The hero always fought his hardest for his true love, regardless of the cost to himself, and to defeat the evil villain who kept them apart… I thought, that if I got Ruto as my servant, I would be the beautiful princess that Ruto, the knight, would swear his sword to… but maybe that's wrong…"
"Ravel…" Isabela sounded seriously worried now.
I stared at her, unable to suppress or hide the tears in my eyes. "... Am… Am I the villain…? Am I the cruel and/or jealous person who is destined to torture the hero by keeping him from his true love?... I want to be the one he loves… but he loves others instead…"
"I can't say." Isabela's answer was blunt. "I am not the best person to ask. But I will tell you why that is. A long time ago, I faced a dilemma somewhat similar to yours…There was a man I was deeply in love with. He was an older boy. He swore a lot, but he was truly a kind person. He was also a strong fighter. You wouldn't have recognized me back then. I was just one pathetic woman. Nobody but someone with a kind heart would think of being with me. This boy… he was not that someone. His heart belonged to another woman. When I confessed to him and learned this, I did not react as well as you would imagine." I stared in wonder at the story that Isabela was telling me. "I… I did something horrible to him and the woman he loved… Even to this day, I cannot forgive myself for what I did. Not just the action itself, but for hurting the one I loved most."
I covered my mouth, shocked at Isabela's words. She was always so friendly and close to Onii-sama that I surely assumed that they were lovers just like Onii-sama was with Yubelluna! But no… this person… I can't imagine that she possibly gave herself to a perv like Onii-sama! Onii-sama shows care for his servants (although he will use them to their fullest in non-lethal events such as Rating Games without mercy), but… I do not think he and Isabela have anything going for them.
"Ravel…" Isabela placed a hand on my head, a sad expression. She reached up and touched the half-mask on the side of her face. "That thing I did… my sin… It's the reason I wear this mask on my face. It's not some accessory or a fetish chosen by Riser-sama. It's a constant reminder of the horrible deed I committed. That is why I am not the best person to ask. Ravel…I know you deeply love Ruto… but I want you to follow your heart, not your selfish desires."
Isabela… I…
I stared at the neutral-faced Rook who looked as though she would accept any decision I made…
I know what I had to do.