3rd Person POV
"You haven't found anyone yet?" Kokabiel said, amusingly. While Freed was such a loss, he hoped Valper would at least find someone.
"Y–Yes bu–but I'm working on it!" Valper was reduced to a stuttering mess in front of Kokabiel. "Please give me more time!"
"How long must I wait? These hands of mine are longing for the bloodshed. Curse that Azazel, preferring peace over the joy of killing and beauty of war."
"I... I have an idea."
"This is your last chance, Valper. Prove to me that I was not wrong in helping you. Or would you like for me to start the bloodshed with you."
"I won't fail you, Kokabiel-sama!"
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Kazumi POV
"So, what's the plan?" I asked, while sitting on one of the good chairs. Fortunately, there were some chairs that weren't destroyed during the Fallen Angel's occupation of the church.
Plus, today I'm not with them as Kazumi, Rias's strongest pawn but as Kazumi, the Fallen Angel.
"We'll search the east side while you search the west side."
"Alright." With Freed out of the picture, Valper won't be appearing without any bodyguard. I doubt Kokabiel would even do so.
~°~°~°~
After a sweep of the city, I found nothing. Returning to the church, I waited for Xenovia and Irina to arrive.
And I didn't wait for long as I heard footsteps but it didn't sound like someone was walking and... It was just one person.
"Xenovia? Where's Irina?"
"...She disappeared." With a sad expression, she answered.
"What do you mean disappeared?"
"We were just together but when I looked back she was gone." I could feel her apologetic tone.
What could have happened to her?
"Okay just take a rest for now. I'll see what I can do." I might have to ask Rias and her familiars.
~°~°~°~
"So, what are you doing here, Kazumi?" With a stern expression, she asked.
"I need your help."
"No. We have a non-intervention pledge between the two of us, we can't just interfere because you said so. Unless?" Rias said while side eyeing me. Is she expecting compensation? Well that's fine. I'll humor her a bit.
"...What do you want?" I asked. But Rias just replied with a shrewd smile.
"Anything?"
"Anything. As long as it's within my ability."
"You better remember that. So, what do you want me to do?" With a triumphant smile, she asked me.
"I want to use your familiars to look for Irina."
"The chestnut haired girl?" Rias closed her eyes, thinking about the appearance of Irina.
"Yeah. Is there a problem?"
"I wouldn't call it a problem exactly. You remember that I had my familiars look for your family? They found three families with triplets and are yet to find anyone with silver hair. Do you want me to look for Irina instead?"
"Yes, right now her life is in danger." I answered. My family can wait, and we're not even sure which of them are my family.
"Okay, let me focus."
While Rias was looking for Irina, I felt a tug on my clothes.
"...Sorry." Xenovia apologized. She was still blaming herself for the disappearance of her partner. She's blaming so much that she forgot that she was getting a devil's help and the non-intervention pledge.
"Don't sweat it. Irina is my childhood friend and... Touji-Oji-san would kill me if he heard I didn't protect Irina." He'd probably go back here in Kuou to hunt me down.
"...Thank you..." Still, for her to be this disheartened. She really cared for Irina even though she did buy a fake painting and they almost starved to death.
"No problem." A second later, I felt my phone buzz. It was Azazel who was calling me.
"Excuse me for a second, I'll take this call." I got out of the club room and answered.
- Yo, Kazumi. Can I summon you later -
"Sorry, Azazel. I'm a bit busy." If I wasn't so busy, I would have completed his contract today and I'll finally complete the side quest I was given. The system update I was promised is just one quest away.
Now that I think of it, wasn't the update taking longer than it should?
- That's a shame. Well if you're busy we can't do anything about it. I'll summon you in the future. -
"Thanks," I was about to end the call when suddenly I heard a familiar voice. It's been a while since I heard her.
- Papa! I'm here! Who are you talking to? -
- It's Kazumi. -
- Ka... KAZUMI?! He didn't hear me right? -
"No I didn't." I answered unconsciously.
- NOOOOO!!! -
- It's okay Vali-chan, I already gave him my blessings. -
- You did? Yay! -
I chuckled to myself. Thinking about what happened to her childhood. I'm happy that she could act like one right now. Though I guess she only acts like that in front of her father and close friends.
Though I'm sure, she would love to meet Akeno.
"Well I'm looking forward to seeing you again, Vali."
- If you want, you could use my magic circle and summon him. -
- I'm looking forward to seeing you too! -
"Should I bring Itsuki?" While they're not exactly best friends, Itsuki is the only one who could share her burden of wielding one of the heavenly dragons.
- ...just the two of us? -
I heard her mutter those words. Just the two of us, huh?
"What's that? I couldn't hear you."
- Nothing! You could! -
Though her words sound enthusiastic, I heard her loud and clear earlier. If she wants just us to meet, then I'll honor that request.
"Okay, so just the two of us then."
- R–Really? -
"Yeah. It's a date then?"
- Yes! -
In the corner of my eye, I saw Xenovia beckoning me inside.
"I'll see you later, bye." After I heard her reply, I ended the phone call and headed inside.
There, Rias and her peerage, Yuuma, Itsuki, Asia, and Xenovia were waiting for me.
"Akeno," She commanded.
"Yes, Buchou. We have found her location, it's a place where Darling frequents the most. A place he's familiar with."
"The park huh?" I said. Akeno did followed me there after all. But couldn't she have kept that to herself?
"Yes, and her condition doesn't look great. That's why I have called for Asia and the rest."
"Good," I then turned to Itsuki. "We're fighting a Cadre level and a leader of the fallen angels, can you protect Asia and the rest?"
Itsuki and Rias were tying for the second strongest, after me of course.
"Can I also fight him? Look at what he did to Irina!" Itsuki was pissed off. Understandable, I was too.
"Okay. Xenovia? Could you protect them, Please?"
"Understood." She looked at Asia and then nodded. Xenovia wasn't as hostile as she was with her like the original. Asia never became a devil and kept her faith maybe that's why.
"Alright, let's rescue Irina!"
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1,160 Words
Author's Words:
And done. 5 chapters completed.
Today's January 25th of 2026, my last update was on January 25th of 2025.
Since I'm on a spree lately, I may post Chapter 25 soon.
That's all!