It's a damn shame I had to refuse Rias's invite back to the ongoing celebrations temporarily.
It's not like it's that huge a deal or anything, if what she told me is correct, the party is going to last for something like a whole week.
So, it isn't like I'm going to miss much at all.
No, the reason it's a shame is that we were kind of hitting it off there in a way that didn't make me want to spank her over the couch, and it had to be interrupted to have a potentially very long and boring talk with the girls.
Not sure where it was ultimately going, there, with Rias, but surely it was going to be better than having to wrangle in a bunch of school girls who would definitely jump face-first into danger if the situation called for it.
I'll get back to Rias when I can.
But this chat with the club girls? Can't really wait. That, and it's imperative I make damn sure they don't jump into something.
Again. And I mean the situation and myself, warning them once more.
This is especially true for Zekka, considering who's stuffed in her Sacred Gear. I would be shocked if he wasn't pretty important in some way or form.
Which is why, with a sigh, I appear in front of the club dojo building.
Everyone's inside, good, that means I won't have to find everyone. It's fairly late out, so I almost thought a few of them would have left by now.
My hand slides open the door, and-
"Glitter! Dark Draconic Laser!" Lilibette poses at the far side of the dojo, a peace sign over her eyepatch.
"Ahah! Great, Lili-chan! You nailed it! Again, again!" Right at her side, Avi clapped and hyped her up at the same time.
I blinked before adding my own two cents with a thumbs up, "And you didn't blow a hole through the dojo, thank you for that."
Avi jumped, almost like a shocked cat, whirling toward me, "Weh!? Oh, Sensei!"
Lili, though, nodded curtly at my words, "But of course, a proper knight knows how to respect the sanctity of property."
"Come here, come here!" The shrimp interjects, waving me over rapidly, "Lili-chan made a new technique!"
I chuckled a little bit before walking in and closing the door behind me. Why not hear them out, eh? Be mean otherwise, plus, the whole purpose of this club is the pursuit of the strength of its members.
Which, now that I'm really thinking about it, hasn't really been the case thus far.
Alright, yeah, I'm curious.
I cross my arms as I approach, "Oh yeah? Whatcha got then?"
It's a laser beam from her eye, isn't it?
Avi throws her arms out toward Lili, as though presenting her, "She can fire a beam from her eye!"
Heh. Called it.
Lili herself, however, almost waved off Avi's words, "For a knight, being able to fire off a laser beam or two is a given."
I couldn't help but raise my eyebrow at that.
At first, I wanted to say something, but really thinking about it.
I don't think I've ever actually seen other actual knights before, at all. Sword, armor, but all supernatural and such.
Considering the Pendragon Family exists into the modern age, I have to wonder if other big names exist out there, too.
Galahad, Lancelot, the works. That's either a disaster and someone else's mess to clean up halfway across the world right now, or I just gave Murphy ideas.
Please do, Murphy. A Lancelot descendant might be a good challenge.
Instead of continuing to delve too deep into that train of thought, I give the two girls a nod, "Well, if it works, it works. Good going, girls!"
This causes both girls to straighten up, chuckling with pride.
While they were doing that, I took the moment to use my senses to find Zekka and Schwe, as they weren't actually in the dojo area proper, even though I could feel them inside the building.
With a touch of focus, I locked onto their precise location.
Ah, the adjacent rooms. I think that's the changing area, although I've never had to use or go in there.
Right, I was about to tell Avi to go grab the two, my phone went off, causing me to stop.
Ah, now that's not something I can ignore.
I pull the vibranting device from my robe with a quirked eyebrow and a sad sigh.
See, originally, I had the perfect ringtone for her, but then she found out about it and made me change it. Convinced me with the saddest and most embarrassed puppy doll eyes I think I've ever seen.
Now it just vibrates all boringly. Hmph!
I give the two girls a look to shush them as I look at the caller ID.
Rose.
The phone is at my ear in a heartbeat, "Yello?"
"Nori! Yo…why do you keep saying yellow instead of hello?" Rose begins, only to immediately get distracted.
My cackling immediately brings her back, however, as she sighs, and continues, "Not this time, you. As I was saying, I felt you get back home, but you left again before I could talk to you." Ah, professional Rose, must be important.
"Did something come up?" I naturally ask, much to the two girls in front of me intrigue.
A pause on Rose's end before she eventually answers, "In a way, yes, although it's nothing bad! It's just…" she takes a moment to sigh, "while you're out, can you pick up Schwertleite? It's probably best we do all this in person."
Huh. Okay, then? Is something going on in the north, all of a sudden?
"Do you need her right now, then?" I follow up with.
I can almost feel the slight anxiety radiating off Rose, "...sooner would be better, yes please."
"Gotchya." My answer was immediate, "Thankfully, I'm in the area. We'll be back soon, alright?"
The next sigh Rose lets out carries far more relief, yet still has an edge to it, "Good, thank you…darling."
Those last words were said far slower, not like an afterthought, but as though she was trying it out, getting used to it a bit still.
I instantly grew a grin that stretched from ear to ear, as I responded, "Looovvveee you~!"
"WEH!?" A squeak, a stumble, rolling noises, followed by a louder thump, and all of a sudden, the call ends.
Heh. All in a day's work.
I slide my phone back into my ribs, and before either of the girls could say anything, I simply stated to them, "I'm kidnapping Schwe."
Avi snorted and damn near broke down cackling, while Lili merely raised her exposed eyebrow, clearly curious, but not yet enough to outright ask why.
She knows she'll probably learn why soon enough, I'm guessing.
That done, I turn, leaving the two girls there, and head straight to the changing room door.
To be perfectly honest, I could just make Avi do it, but eh, Avi won't make them pick up the pace as much as me showing up will.
So, with that said, I swing open the door.
["C-Can't, b-breathe…!"]
Huh. Okay then.
I don't really know what I was expecting, but it wasn't Zekka and Schwe standing there, both in their underwear, with the former glaring down at her cleavage as she tightened the wrap around her chest so much that the golden light coming from it was flickering and dulling.
Schwe, meanwhile, was watching all of this, worried and concerned, away from the girl.
["Z-Zekka, f-forgive-"] Tensei choked out, seeming legitimately like he was being suffocated to death.
"Yo. Schwe." I call out, deciding I would really rather be here for as small an amount of time as possible.
"EEP!" Zekka, startled, pulled the wrap completely taut.
["GACK!"] The light from her breasts faded slowly with one last gasp from Tensei.
As for Schwe herself, she was also startled, turning and looking my way.
She blushed, and instantly went to cover up, "Eh? What are you doing in here!?"
I rolled my eyes, "Your Valkyrie armor is no less revealing considering how skin tight most of it is, don't start." Somehow, that only made her flush harder.
I continue regardless, "Rose called. We're going home for something, which sounded important. Get your stuff, I'm not sure how long we'll be, alright?"
I don't wait for a reply; instead, I step back and close the door right back up.
Almost immediately after, I hear something hitting the ground.
Zekka would be my bet.
Thankfully, it doesn't take long for a fully dressed Schwe to step out, throwing a glare my way with a slight blush.
"Hmph, and you called me a voyeur…" she huffs out, slamming the door behind her.
I raise an eyebrow, "Didn't know you were into Zekka like that, but hey, who am I to judge?"
The silver-haired girl nearly stumbles as she does a double-take at my words, her glaring trying, and absolutely failing, to burn a hole through my smirk.
Oh yeah, and before I go, might as well warn everyone, sans Zekka, who is still on the floor in the changing room, about what's up!
That should only take a minute, then we'll be off!
~ A New Sun ~
Tonight, it feels like it's going to be full of surprises.
After finally getting home, Rose immediately handed what looked almost like a poster of some kind over to Schwe, who took it and stared at it.
I don't think I've ever seen a person's expression blanken and eyes go hazy faster than before.
Not from any magic, anyway. That was sheer and utter apathy, causing that, it looked like.
Unfortunately, I couldn't read the poster, as the entire thing was written in Norse runes, so I had to turn to Rose…
"A festival?" I had to ask again, simply for clarification.
Rose nodded, with no small amount of anxiety, "A Norse-style festival specifically, yes."
I furrow my brow between the two former Valkyrie, "I'm not sure I follow? How does this involve Schwe over here? And why do you seem so nervous about the whole thing?"
Rose lets out a sigh, giving a glance toward the girl, who doesn't seem to be reading the thing at all, before looking back at me, "It's personal, for her, alright? It wouldn't be right for me to tell you…"
Oh, really?
"Fair enough in that respect." I nod, accepting that, "Then what's got you so nervous?"
Rose smiled for a second before a full-on troubled look washed over her expression, and she finally began to explain, "This festival, right here? It was supposed to be months ago, but Odin got it pushed back. From what I've heard, he wanted to include some…ah, well, stuff from the alliance with the Shinto?"
I can't be certain why, but my eyebrow twitched at that.
"What kind of stuff?" I simply had to ask.
A bead of sweat went down the side of Rose's face, "Ah, well, it's a music festival specifically, so he was trying to have…well, um…"
An uneasy silence stretched out as Rose paused, trying to compose herself.
"...geisha." Rose eventually eeked out, extremely softly.
You know what?
If for nothing else, I want to show up to this purely to beat his ass black and blue.
Clearly, that old man could use another week or a few hanging from that fucking tree!
"B-But!" Rose quickly interjected, "Lady Freya was able to stop him from going that far!" She went on to explain, "Now, there's a bit more Japanese influence in the festival itself, but the music is purely Norse, or well, rock."
My brain stalled for a second there.
I'm sorry, she didn't say just rock, right?
Is, is this supposed to be some sort of pun on Ragnarok?
If so, I hate it, and I'm legitimately considering declaring war on the Norse.
Also, Lady Freya, huh? Guess there are still some deities Rose still respects there.
"Speaking of…" Rose turned to Schwe, who hadn't moved a bit since she received the poster, which has practically been since we got here, "You're not apart of Vanadis or Valhalla anymore, Schwertleite," she begins, causing the girl to flinch a tad, "so she technically has no right to ask this of you, but she wishes to regardless."
Oho? Backstory? Also, Vanadis?
"Lady Freya has personally invited you to perform at the festival, and-"
Schwe suddenly drops the poster and looks up at Rose with a stretched, thin smile, "I refuse." With that, she turns and starts walking away.
The hell?
Before I could beat the brat's ass black and blue for disrespecting Rose like that, Rose herself steps forward, "She also wanted you to know!" Rose adds, stressing louder, "Her condition is getting worse! You don't have much time left!"
That halted Schwe in her tracks completely.
"Yet despite that," and somehow, Rose wasn't even done, "she's apparently still participating in the festival regardless!"
"...that, Regin, is…?" Schwe finally had something to say, slowly and muttered as it was said as she turned and looked back toward Rose.
For a moment, she simply stares at Rose, her expression oddly vacant and hidden.
This time, much clearer, more firmly, she responds, "If she's going to participate, I'd need a band." She shrugs, "Not much I can do, otherwise."
Rose looked like she was about to respond, but to be perfectly honest, at this point?
I could see what was happening here.
"I'm sure if you ask the club, they'd love to help you." I step in, stating the obvious.
Rose looks at me, wide-eyed, for a second before nodding in appreciation, while Schwe nearly flinches back.
"W-Well," she stumbled over her words as she looked away, "I wouldn't want to bother them, all for me, that'd be-"
"Oh, quit the excuses already." I cut her off with a wave of my hand, causing her to freeze at being so blatantly called out. "Look, I don't know what your deal is with this person, the relation, whatever, but considering how lazy I know you are, to see you putting so much effort into trying to avoid something is hilarious." I chuckle, "Rose is gonna talk your ear off about this afterward, I bet."
Next to me, Rose giggled, before quickly cutting herself off and masking it with professional composure.
Schwe, meanwhile, deadpanned at me, "Okay, and?" She said, "You're right, you don't know. It's none of your business, leave it like that."
"And just let you walk straight into making a mistake over feelings?" I deadpanned right back, "Seriously. Get a grip. I'm not dumb, Schwe. 'Her condition it's getting worse, you don't have much time left'- come on. Whoever this person is, it's clear she's dying."
I watch Schwe as she twitches a bit at the last word, as though she was faked out being struck.
"Now, whatever the case may be, clearly they were important enough to you, in some manner, for this to be brought to your attention specifically," I continue, stepping right up to her, causing her to perk up, "so, here's what you can do. You either suck up whatever teen drama is going on inside and go see her at this festival. Or," I stop right before her, and lean down so we're closer to eye level, "you don't. She dies. Whatever this is? Remains unresolved, and you carry that with you for the rest of your long life." I tilt my head, "Which will it be, Schwe?"
Like a deer caught in headlights, the girl stares straight back into my eyes.
Schwe gulps and takes a quick breath, her nose, "I…I'll…" she finally manages to pry her gaze away, with gritted teeth, "I will see what I can do, alright?"
That's better than nothing, I suppose.
To my side, Rose comes up and holds out the dropped poster to Schwe.
Slowly, and with slightly trembling hands, she reaches out and takes it, before practically running away as fast as she can.
As soon as she's out of sight, I let out a sigh, and Rose slaps my shoulder playfully.
"That was a bit harsh, you know, d-darling…" She attempts to chastise me with a small blush swiftly forming.
I rub the bridge between my eyes and give her a small nod for once, agreeing with her.
"But, when it comes to situations like that, you can't afford to sugarcoat anything." At that, Rose's blush mostly clears, as she grimaces, and eventually nods in agreement.
Clearly, she knows way more, likely having been told by Schwe herself.
Man, what a cluster fuck.
I guess I should probably go, considering the likelihood of something happening at this festival is not zero.
As usual, when it comes to these types of events, really.
On the flip side, I've never been to a Norse festival before, and who knows? Maybe I'll see Vali again out there.
Last I saw him after all, I had left him with the Norse. Who knows really what he's been up to since.
But, before all that.
I reach over and wrap an arm around Rose's waist, pulling her against my side.
"E-Eh!?" She squeaks, her blush returning with full force as she grips onto my robe, "D-Darling! Nori!?"
"How long until the festival begins in earnest, hmm?" I ask, curious, and somewhat hopeful.
"A-Ah, well," Rose fumbles through her thought, "two weeks from now, I believe? A bit after New Year's, I know for sure."
Ah! Plenty of time to go to the celebration in the Underworld for Rias, and have a break right after! Excellent!
Before then, though~!
Rose gulps, looking at me with an increasingly flushed face as she chuckles nervously.
Yeah, she knows she's just too cute not to jump right now, huh?
My poor little Rose, beyond that, I also have a few things to ask her about this festival and such!
But, those can wait a second, or more, eheh!