[Miyu Side]
After school, the Occult Research Club—minus Issei (who had Grigori business)—met up with Rias-san, Akeno-san, and Xenovia-san. We were happily heading to the famous taiyaki shop in the next town, chatting about sweets. Plan: eat taiyaki, gossip, buy some for Issei, go home.
That was the plan—
Until we felt that pressure in a residential street.
Not pure killing intent, but definitely not friendly.
"…What is this feeling…? Durandal is reacting…?"
Xenovia-san's hands were shaking. Right hand trembling, left trying to hold it steady—left shaking too. Sweat rolled down her cheek. She looked completely rattled.
Alice-san narrowed her eyes in one direction.
"Pretty bold. Already finished a people-clearing barrier—well prepared."
At the end of her gaze stood a single old man in liturgical vestments.
Face: easily 80+ foreign grandpa.
Body: anything but elderly. Thick neck, barrel chest, arms like tree trunks, thighs thicker than most men's waists. Easily over two meters tall.
That grandpa blocked our path.
"Buongiorno, children of devils. I am Vasco Strada, come from the Vatican."
————!?
This grandpa is one of the coup masterminds!?
Everyone froze.
Then—silently, instantly—he vanished.
And reappeared right in front of us. He'd been far away; now I could touch him if I reached out.
Fast!
I barely tracked him with my eyes. Only Alice-san and I managed.
Yet even we couldn't react.
Even if we'd been on guard, if he'd had a weapon we'd have been cut.
Vasco Strada looked straight at Xenovia-san.
"Warrior Xenovia. I hear you became a devil."
"It… has been a while, Your Eminence Strada…"
Xenovia-san answered through cold sweat. The usually bold, manly Xenovia looked like speaking took everything she had.
Just from that movement, it's clear.
This is the former wielder of Durandal. Exactly—no, beyond—what Azazel-sensei described.
Insanely strong.
An eighty-plus-year-old human radiating this pressure?
If that wrinkled face was just special makeup hiding a scary middle-aged dude underneath, I might believe it more.
…Anyway, I need to call Issei.
I quietly deploy an invisible magic circle and contact him, voice masked so no one notices.
Grandpa's getting all the attention, but we're surrounded by dozens of presences…
Strada pulls an envelope from his robes.
"I came today to deliver this."
He offers it to Rias-san.
She takes it cautiously.
"This is…?"
"A challenge letter. We have come to throw down the gauntlet."
『————!?』
One of the ringleaders himself delivers it in person!?
How recklessly bold…
He has backup hidden, but showing up basically alone—was it to shock us, confidence he could handle us solo, or—
Rias-san's shoulders shake with anger.
"This is no joke! You know the current situation perfectly well—!"
Before she finishes, the old man points a finger, cutting her off.
"Maou's little sister—you are young. Far too young."
"!"
Alice-san steps forward, placing herself between Rias-san and the old man.
"Young, yes. Compared to you we're infants. Everyone here has lived barely over a decade; even I, the oldest, only twenty years. Mere chicks next to an octogenarian. But what Rias-san says is also true. Regardless of motives, right now all factions must stand united against Qlippoth—against Rizevim Livan Lucifer and the otherworld god Aššur. We must protect the powerless. Even a high-ranking Church official like you understands that, yes?"
We've actually experienced Rizevim's danger and Aššur's power—we probably understand better than anyone.
Vasco Strada nods.
"I have heard of them. The son of Lucifer, the god from another world."
"Meaning you fully understand the situation and still staged this coup and delivered this challenge?"
"Precisely."
He nods again—and just like when he approached, silently teleports far back in an instant.
What terrifying footwork.
He turns toward a certain direction.
"Now, Cardinal Legrenzi. The declaration is yours."
A small shadow appears.
A black-haired boy, maybe upper elementary school age, wearing liturgical vestments. Young face, but dignified.
The name Strada just spoke—I heard it recently.
"You're Theodora Legrenzi?"
"Indeed. I am Theodora Legrenzi."
Rias-san's question—answered with a nod.
So this child is the second ringleader, the mysterious Church No. 2!
We're stunned.
The boy cardinal speaks loudly, voice trembling with tension.
"I-I will protect the rights and mission of exorcists! Even if you are 'good' devils, evil devils and vampires still exist! We cannot accept having our duty to unilaterally judge evil stripped away! Even if our claims oppose the Lord or Great Angel Michael-sama—this alone… this alone we cannot accept!"
At his words, all the hidden presences reveal themselves—dozens of priests and warriors, hostility blazing, surrounding us.
Far more than expected.
Fighting here would be bad. They have a people-clearing barrier up, but this is a residential area. Collateral damage to civilians is inevitable.
And clearly Vasco Strada isn't someone you beat by holding back.
Xenovia draws Durandal from subspace and readies it.
"Xenovia-san, wait—!"
Alice-san tries to stop her, but Xenovia isn't listening.
Strada merely smiles at the holy sword pointed at him.
"Warrior Xenovia—have you mastered Durandal?"
"————Here I come!"
At his words, Xenovia charges with Durandal!
"As expected—actions over words. That is the mark of a Durandal wielder!"
"Don't egg her on in a residential area!"
Durandal is pure destruction.
Xenovia is swinging it full power right now.
We can't let that happen here!
Alice-san starts running after her—
When a red magic circle unfolds right in front of her.
Red light flashes—and someone teleports in.
"Jeez, delivering a challenge in a place like this—"
"Issei!?"
"Eh? Alice—?"
THUD
[Miyu Side End]
"GWAAAAAAAAAAAH…"
"Khhhhhhhh…"
I'm rolling on the ground clutching the back of my head.
Alice is crouched, holding her forehead.
I rushed here after Miyu's report—only for Alice to crash into me the instant I arrived. My skull feels like it split open.
Half-crying, I yell at the also half-crying Alice.
"OWWW! That really hurts! Why'd you charge right there!?"
"Shut up! Why'd you teleport right in front of me!? My forehead is killing me!"
"I heard the coup leaders made contact! I panicked and came running!"
"You didn't need to appear right in my face!"
"The teleport flash is obvious!"
"No one can dodge at that exact timing! Let me punch you—just one! One punch and I'll forgive you!"
"Eh!? It's my fault!? It totally feels like it's my fault! Seriously!?"
"Just take the blame! You're the man here!"
"That's tyrannical—GYAAAAA! That's not a fist! Why're you readying your spear!? You're gonna stab me!? I thought it was a punch!"
"Asia-san can heal you later! Take thiiiiis!"
"NOOOOO! ASIA-SAAAAAN! SAVEEE MEEEE! HELP! HELP MEEEEE!"
I barely dodge Alice's spear and hide behind Asia!
Alice chases at full speed, white lightning crackling around her!
"I-Issei-san, this really isn't the time…"
Asia points nervously behind her, troubled expression.
There stands the giant grandpa—stopping Xenovia's full-power Durandal swing with a single fingertip.
"What the hell is that old man!? Xenovia! Why're you swinging that thing in the middle of town!?"
"I tried to stop her! You got in my way!"
"Sorry about that! But it was an accident!"
Alice and I run circles around Asia.
If she catches me I'm toast!
I desperately flee, still clutching my throbbing head.
Everyone else completely ignores our slapstick—like we're in a different show.
"Your Eminence! Pardon my insolence!"
Irina sprouts white angel wings and charges the giant grandpa, Hauteclere drawn!
Right before impact, a black-haired middle-aged priest in vestments steps in and blocks her strike bare-handed.
Irina freaks out.
"Teacher Cristaldi!"
Cristaldi!?
So the third ringleader—Ewald Cristaldi, former Excalibur wielder!
Meaning the grandpa stopping Durandal with his finger is the former Durandal owner, Vasco Strada!
Cristaldi repels Irina with a sword radiating holy waves.
"Do not narrow your vision, Warrior Irina."
Then Kiba dashes forward, holy-demonic sword ready!
"Former Excalibur wielder—let's see who's better!"
You too!?
Why does everyone start swinging in a residential neighborhood!?
Are you all idiots!?
I'm mad!
Kiba blitzes the Church warriors' teacher!
But the man dodges Kiba's lightning-fast strikes with pure body movement! Minimal motion—evading, parrying, flowing the blade aside!
Even without Balance Breaker, deflecting Kiba's swordsmanship that casually is impossible for a normal master.
Ewald Cristaldi is this strong!
"Holy-demonic sword. So you're the survivor of the Holy Sword Project. Nice waves. However—"
He brings his sword down hard!
Kiba is slammed into the pavement!
The shockwave craters the road!
"Gah…!"
"Don't lump me with trash like Freed."
Cristaldi sheathes his sword after a glance at the suffering Kiba.
That speed, that destructive power… is his sword somehow Excalibur-related…?
While that side freezes—
"Finishing move! …PAAAAAAAAANCH!"
"GUHBEH!? You couldn't think of a name so you just yelled it!?"
'Panch' is literally just punch!
It's basically a finishing move though!
It hurts like hell!
Damn, Alice punch never holds back!
"Seriously! Onii-chan! Alice-san! Over there is dead serious, here is total comedy collapse! Sit seiza right now!"
""Yes ma'am… sorry…"""
The idiot duo sit seiza on the asphalt in front of angry-puffed Miyu.
Knees hurt…
Wait, haven't we done this exact scene before…?
—Miyu's lecture begins.
"You both had bad timing, but you know what situation this is, right? At a time like—"
""Yes… yeah… sorry… really sorry…"""
A King and Queen getting scolded in unison by their Bishop.
No other peerage has this view.
I glance at Ravel—she's not even looking this way.
Yeah, fair…
Vasco Strada speaks to Rias.
"Princess Gremory, we did not come for war. We came with a final appeal. Understand that."
"…Then we should both lower our weapons."
Rias responds.
At that signal, the warriors withdraw, and our side stands down.
The former Durandal and Excalibur wielders turn away with the boy and their warriors.
"We shall meet again, young devils."
With those words, they vanish.
Left behind: Xenovia and Kiba trembling with frustration, Irina shoulders slumped in sorrow.
And—
"Uh… why did I even rush here again…?"
Got the report, teleported in panic—immediately headbutted Alice, got punched by Alice, then scolded by Miyu.
Completely ignored by everyone, zero tsukkomi.
"Please! Somebody acknowledge my sufferingggggggggggg!!"
My pathetic scream echoed into the sunset.
…Yeah, I went full comedy this time. (Well, usual.)
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