"I'm hurt, Griselda. We've been together this long, and you still won't believe in me."
"I do believe in you. It's just that someone on Kokabiel's level being dealt with so easily goes beyond what I imagined."
Griselda took a deep breath.
"It seems Lady Gabriel was right. You really do have extraordinary potential. If you were willing to join our Church…"
"No thanks. I've already gotten used to my current free and easy lifestyle."
Rod yawned.
If a mission had value, he would choose to do it. If it didn't, he could just as easily ignore it.
He had seen perfectly well how Xenovia and Irina were treated.
The Church sent them to investigate a major case like the theft of the Holy Swords, yet all it provided was enough operational funding to barely cover food, clothing, shelter, and travel. If they wanted more, they got nothing but empty promises and manipulation.
The Church in High School DxD might indeed count as an orthodox and righteous faction, but whether it was their full-member or the way they brainwashed people, it all made Rod feel deeply awkward.
If you died in service and ascended to Heaven, chances were you'd still end up working in the heavenly realm.
That was more capitalist than capitalists.
"I knew you'd say that. Still, Xenovia and Irina are in your hands now. I can't contact them, and they still don't know what happened. Even though you're not part of the Church, if those two do anything out of line, I'm giving you the authority to discipline them."
After hanging up, Rod was just about to call the two girls when Akeno Himejima's number lit up his screen first.
"Mr. Rod! Do you happen to know two girls named Xenovia and Irina Shidou?"
"Hm? What happened to them?"
"They suddenly came to our school and told Rias why they were here. They said they're investigating the Holy Swords their Church lost, and they also warned us not to interfere in their investigation. While we were talking, the twintailed girl accidentally mentioned your name, so I thought maybe you knew them."
Akeno wasn't surprised that Rod knew people from the Church.
As a mercenary, it was only natural for him to know more people after traveling all over the world.
The real issue was that those two Holy Sword wielders had shown obvious hostility because they were dealing with devils. Akeno was worried a conflict might break out, so she made up an excuse and slipped away partway through the exchange.
After hearing that, Rod roughly understood what was going on.
In the original story, Xenovia and Irina had also come to Kuoh Town and gone straight to Rias first, informing her of their purpose and warning her not to involve herself in the conflict between the Church and the Fallen Angels.
The only difference was that, later on, the two of them overestimated themselves and ran off to challenge Kokabiel. If Kokabiel hadn't been such a theatrical villain with too much nonsense to say and a very strange way of thinking, they would have died long ago.
If he had been even a little more depraved, their corpses might not have been left intact either.
Thinking about it that way, Kokabiel hadn't actually killed a single major character during the Kuoh Town incident.
Rod, on the other hand, had killed him the moment they met.
Looked at this way, Rod was the one who seemed more like a true villain.
"Hand your phone to them. I'll talk."
"Alright."
Akeno didn't question it.
She pushed open the clubroom door and, under the surprised gazes of everyone present, held her phone out to Xenovia.
"Hmph. I won't take anything from a devil."
Xenovia's expression was full of disdain.
If their superiors hadn't repeatedly warned them not to provoke unnecessary conflict with devils, they never would have endured this long, speaking to them politely.
"Don't get the wrong idea, Holy Sword wielder. Mr. Rod wants to speak to you personally."
Akeno's expression turned equally cold in the face of such blatant hostility.
"Rod?"
Hearing that familiar name, Irina and Xenovia exchanged glances, both looking confused.
How did they know Rod?
Even so, Xenovia still took the phone, her tone frosty.
"Hello?"
"I knew it would be the two of you. Griselda already called me. She told me to keep an eye on you."
The two girls had been prepared for a mere namesake.
But the moment they heard the familiar voice, both of them changed expressions.
Xenovia's cold face instantly turned to surprise.
"Huh? Rod, it really is you?!"
"If it's not me, who else would it be? Griselda already explained the situation. Come over now. I'm staying at number XXX."
"Alright. Once we finish handling things here, we'll head over and meet up with you."
Xenovia responded.
"Now. Immediately. At once."
Rod's voice turned flat.
Xenovia frowned in confusion and was just about to ask why when Rod pulled out his ultimate move.
"Not that I really want to get involved, but I promised Griselda I'd look after the two of you. Besides, she also gave me the authority to discipline you if necessary."
"And I'm sure you don't want me reporting back to Griselda, do you?"
The moment Xenovia heard that, her body stiffened.
Her beautiful face filled with indignation.
"Rod, I never thought you were this kind of man?!"
What Xenovia feared most in life was Griselda's anger.
To her, Griselda was not just a teacher, but a figure like an elder sister.
"So, are you coming or not? My phone is already hovering over Griselda's contact."
"Damn it! I'm coming! I'll be there right away!"
Xenovia practically groaned.
Men who ran and tattled were the worst!
"Let's go, Irina!"
"Eh? O-okay."
Irina hurriedly stood up, then waved toward Rias and the others.
"Then we'll be seeing you again. But I still hope you won't interfere in the matter between us and the Fallen Angels. Otherwise, it'll put us in a very difficult position."
Rias gave no clear response.
"Wait!"
At that moment, Kiba Yuuto, who had been standing behind Rias with a grim expression the whole time, suddenly spoke up, stopping them from leaving.
The usual gentleness had disappeared from his face. In its place was thick killing intent.
"Holy Sword wielders, do you dare spar with me?"
"Hm? Should I take that as a challenge? A mere devil daring to speak to us like that. Gremory, it seems your education is lacking."
Xenovia's expression darkened.
Rias also turned toward the agitated Kiba Yuuto, her voice turning cold.
"Kiba, stand down. This is not the time to act recklessly."
"But…"
"Mr. Rod is our friend."
"I… I understand."
The moment he heard that name, Kiba took a deep breath and slowly closed his eyes.
The killing intent around him gradually faded.
Xenovia gave the group a surprised look.
It seemed Rod had quite a good relationship with the local devils.
In any case, they had plenty of questions that needed answers from him.
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