The next morning, I was back in the ORC. The atmosphere felt serious than usual. Akeno poured tea in her usual graceful manner, but even she seemed to sense the tension. Asia sat quietly beside me, fiddling with the hem of her skirt, while Koneko leaned back in her chair, eyes half-lidded but still sharp.
Rias sat at her desk, hands folded, her crimson hair catching the light from the window. Her expression was calm, but there was a strain around her eyes.
"I couldn't find where Kiba is," she said finally.
Her voice was measured, but I could tell she was worried.
Well… damn. I knew where this road led. Kiba wasn't the type to sit still when his personal demons came knocking. And right now, those demons wore the faces of exorcists and holy swords. If I didn't move fast, he'd walk straight into his own death.
I leaned back in my seat, trying to keep my expression neutral. In my head, gears were already turning. I'd seen how this played out before—both in my memories of this world's events and from my own observations since arriving here.
If I remembered correctly, right now the threats were still manageable. Freed Sellzen was out there, cocky and dangerous but not untouchable. Then there was Valper Galilei—the old snake who was far more dangerous than he looked. Those two were the main players before things really went downhill.
And Freed… well, Freed had something I wanted.
The Fused Excalibur.
That sword wasn't just a dangerous weapon—it is something my mind is telling me to collect after seeing Excalibur from Xenovia and Irena. And in my book, taking something from a lunatic like him wasn't a crime. Hell, I'd be doing the world a favor. Besides, the thought of him showing up later, waving it around like a badge of honor, didn't sit right with me.
Funny thing was, I was actually sad that he got away the last time. But now, I am really glad that Freed got away previously; after all, he came back to me with such a gift.
But Kiba… Kiba wouldn't wait for plans. He'd charge in without thinking, all for the sake of his revenge.
But before I go after Kiba, I need to take care of few things.
•••
After leaving the ORC, I immediately sensed someone tailing me. The soft sound of footsteps, light and measured, was easy to pick up. I didn't even need to turn around to guess who it was.
"Koneko-chan," I called out over my shoulder, slowing my pace so she could catch up. "Care to explain why you're following me?"
She stepped up beside me, her usual calm expression in place, though her golden eyes were steady and unflinching. "Ise-senpai," she said in her quiet voice, "I'm coming with you to save Kiba-senpai."
Hearing that, I couldn't help but smile faintly. "Oh? And what makes you think I was going to do that?" My tone was deliberately casual, but we both knew I wasn't fooling anyone.
Koneko didn't even blink. "Because I know you would."
The way she said it—without hesitation, without the slightest hint of doubt—made me pause for a second. That kind of trust… it wasn't something you just shrugged off.
I let out a small sigh and reached up to rub the back of my neck. "You've been spending way too much time around me if you can read me that easily," I said, trying to keep things light.
Her gaze didn't waver. "It's not hard. You act like you don't care sometimes, but when it comes to people you've decided to protect, you can't walk away."
I didn't respond right away. Honestly, I didn't have to. She was right. Kiba might not always see me as a friend—hell, I don't think I consider him a friend, one for whom I would risk my life to save his sorry ass—but that didn't matter.
He was still part of the same peerage, still fighting for the same side. I wasn't about to let him throw his life away chasing revenge.
We walked in silence for a bit after that, the sound of our footsteps the only noise between us. The air felt heavier now, like the moment before a fight where everything is balanced on the edge.
Finally, I glanced at her and said, "Alright, you can come. But no running off on your own. We don't know exactly what we're walking into, and I'm not about to explain to Rias why her rook came back in pieces."
Koneko gave a small nod, like she'd already decided this was how it was going to go. "Understood."
I smirked faintly. "You know, for someone who's supposed to be the quiet type, you sure know how to corner a guy into doing exactly what you want."
She didn't answer—just kept walking beside me, her expression unreadable.
~~~
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