Chapter 20: The Nun's Dragon
With the blonde nun
"You seem lost." A voice called out in English.
Asia Argento turned and was greeted by a girl. With blonde hair and green eyes much like her own hair and eyes. A part of her wondered if they were sisters but that was just wishful thinking. After all, there are plenty of blondes across the globe. Plus, the girl she's facing was just way too pretty to be her sister.
At least, that's what she thought. While technically true it didn't mean that her own beauty paled in comparison, the thought was much closer to self-depreciation. Although, that line of thought was closer to the fact that Asia had never thought about anything related to her appearance aside from brushing her hair correctly and keeping clean.
"Ah. I not sure… Umm…" She tried to speak in Japanese, forgetting that she could have tried English with someone so obviously foreign and so clearly spoke English. She probably had gotten too used to trying her broken Japanese.
"I can speak English if you prefer."
"Ah, yes. S-Sorry. I haven't had much time to learn the language of this country."
The blonde girl in the school uniform shakes her head.
"It is of no consequence. I, too, have recently started living in this nation. My name is…" The blonde girl pauses, her eyes widen and she glares in another direction.
Asia turns only to see a red blur in the direction. She had the feeling that the girl was communicating with something or talking to herself for a moment. But that can't be right.
"Arturia Pendragon."
The name struck her out of her thoughts. Pendragon? No way…
She gasped and was in awe. Of course, Asia wasn't the type to believe that this was some sick joke and considering the nature of her 'relocation' it was reasonably probable that the person she had met was part of the supernatural.
"As in, related to the holy sword user, Arthur Pendragon. That Pendragon?"
The girl eye brows twitched in annoyance for a moment.
"Close enough I suppose. It is rather strange for a… holy maiden to be all the way out in Japan. I wouldn't have thought that an ex-communicated nun would have the funds to travel all the way out here."
A part of Asia froze in fear and shock. The girl knows. The girl is related to Arthur Pendragon, possibly a member of the church, this is trouble. Part of Asia is expecting the worse, after all, the church and the people she worked with weren't at all kind to her since she healed that devil.
"There's no need to fear. I am not part of your… church. Nor do I desire to harm you. The reasons for our meeting was due to pure chance or if you prefer, divine providence."
Asia relaxes in relief. After all, Fallen angels and stray exorcists are enemies of the church as well, so running into a holy swordswoman from the church that knew of what she was getting into would have resulted in death.
She knew very well what would happen to enemies of the church, considering all the talk about annihilating every single devil and fallen angel. Granted, she still believed that the church was pacifistic and charitable. All the 'talk' was probably from one or two disgruntled priests with a terrible night.
So she rationalises…
"Oh! Whew! Uwah! I was so scared just now. I mean, not that you're scary Ms. Pendragon, not to say you're not fearsome but…"
Arturia chuckles lightly.
"Calm down young lady. I am not offended. But we are getting off topic, is there anything I can help you with. You seem particularly lost."
"Ah, oh yes. I was assigned to a church in this town… is the official story. But really, I have nowhere else to go and was approached by people from the Grigori. I was told to come here but I'm rather lost right now. Ehehe…"
"Hmm, I don't exactly know where the place is. But my friend who thinks he is being rather sneaky here has been a resident since he was born. I can see that he is eager to help."
"Eh?" Asia looks at where Arturia is glancing at. It was a handsome Asian man with brown hair and brown eyes. Asia had to turn her head upwards a bit because the man was really tall, handsome, muscular and handsome and…
"Hmm? She's frozen for some reason." The man noted.
Arturia rolls her eyes.
"Ah, s-sorry for staring. You're really… tall, yes, I mean, not a lot of Asian people are that tall. Ah, sorry. I didn't mean to sound racist but you're very big, not in the fat sort of way but…"
"It's fine." The man says with a gentle, if not, slightly sad smile while chuckling lightly.
"My name is Hyoudou Issei. Genius, Billionaire, Playboy, Philantrophist. Not so much on the playboy bit, but it's a pleasure to meet you."
Wah! There's someone really accomplished in front of me!
"My name is Asia Argento, it-it's a pleasure to meet you too."
He pouts a little. "Aww, she didn't get the reference."
"Did you seriously presume that a sheltered nun would have been taken out to watch a modern film by her minders?" Arturia rhetorically asked the man.
He grinned. "Well then, guess we know what movie we will be introducing to our new friend then."
Friend? Asia thought wistfully before she was snapped out of it by the man's next words.
"Shall we walk then, you want to get to the abandoned church correct?"
"Thank you so much!" Asia says happily. Trying to ignore and push down that small hope, after all, she never really had friends before… she doesn't need friend's right? A holy maiden shouldn't need friends. But the want…
"She completely ignored the fact that you were eavesdropping." Arturia remarked.
Meanwhile, Asia was busy trying to ignore something totally different.
On the way we passed by a park.
"Uwaaaaaah!"
"Are you alright Yosh-kun?"
'Oh no, there's an injured boy there.' Sums up Asia's observation pretty well. What she needs and should do wasn't ever in doubt.
She knelt down and reached towards the injury right away. Ignoring the boy's mother for the moment.
"Are you okay? Boys shouldn't cry with a minor injury like this."
Patting his head gently. The boy wouldn't understand what she is saying.
Issei, seems to be translating her words, at least, that's what she believed from her limited knowledge of Japanese. How kind of him!
She manifests her Sacred Gear, silver rings on her fingers, Twilight Healing.
The power granted to her by God, a Sacred Gear, a rare and powerful healing Sacred Gear. A soft and gentle green light pulses from her hands towards the wound, the little scrape was healed up quickly.
"Here, your wounds are healed. The pain should be gone now."
Issei continues to translate what she had said. While she wasn't entirely sure about the translation, she herself, whole-heartedly believed that Issei was translating everything she had said accurately.
Such was her faith in her fellow men.
"I'm sorry, but I had to. Hehe." She giggled while sticking her tongue out. While gently patting the cute boy on his head.
The woman was in shock, ah yes, the typical response that Asia was used to dealing with. She had a sinking feeling this might not turn out well considering how different street healing was to the typical miracle rallies or specific healing sessions she had conducted under the 'guidance' of the church. Well, it was pretty obvious even to her that she was only given an illusion of 'choice' when it came to who she had healed. It was only the acts like these where she had real 'choice' over using her 'gift'.
Issei, the warm gentle looking man that he was started to look… cold. And was sharply saying something to the woman, the mother of the child.
After what seemed to be a one-sided debate or argument, the mother and child left mollified.
"They both thanked you at the end. I believed the young boy called you big sister there." Arturia said.
She smiled happily at that. Genuine gratitude, while she never asked for it she couldn't honestly say that she didn't indulge in it. After all, gratitude from people that didn't 'expect' healing was much better than the gratitude of those that 'expected' to be healed. The latter was much emptier to her, it was much… faker.
"Twilight Healing huh…" Issei says as a matter of fact.
"Yes, it's… it's the power to heal. A wonderful … gift that God gave me."
Why did she hesitate? She wondered. Was it truly a gift? No, she shouldn't think that way. If she does…
Before she knew it she had a sad expression despite her smile. It's times like these she can use the special technique of clergymen who avoided any of her more interesting questions… the secret church technique of 'Changing the Topic!'
Mentally patting herself on the back she went ahead and came up with something to ask. She wouldn't ask about how they knew about Twilight Healing since they already somehow seemed to know things about the church but…
"Um… what did you mother back then? It sounded like an argument."
Issei grimaced before answering. "Nothing much. Just explaining that you were a kind person that couldn't stand to see someone cry."
For some reason she felt that sentence applied to someone he knew.
"He also argued that magic can be any sufficiently advanced technology when the woman called your power 'freakish'. Of course, a bit of application of Issei's fame as a scientist and some pointed questions was more than enough to turn her around." Arturia explained in a slightly amused tone.
"Like I said, nothing too important. It wasn't much."
Asia thought he was rather humble for speaking up for her.
"The church is nearby although I have to warn you…" Issei moves closer to her and starte speaking softly.
"Two of the Fallen Angels there, Raynare and Kalawarner are either orchestrating or participating in a conspiracy to re-ignite a war between the Angels, Fallen Angels and Devils. The other two Fallen Angels, Mittelt and Dohnaseek are our friends and inside spies. There seems to be a plot incvolving your transfer to this town which is devil territory, so keep your guard up because it looks like you're involved in it."
Asia blinked as she processed those words. A… conspiracy? And she is part of it?
"You can trust Mittelt and Dohnaseek, the other two Fallen Angels are racists with too much superiority notions in their heads to be civil with humans. Also, there is a stray exorcist there with a rather… suspect history. I will be researching about him as soon as possible. In addition to that, there's something suspect about your ex-communication, which I will also be researching today."
"W-Why? Why would you go so far for me?" She said in part disbelief in the concern the man she just met was showing, partly in fear on all that is happening but also because she was touched as she could see the genuine worry on his face.
He puts his hands on her shoulder, as if to reassure her.
"Because you deserve it, Asia Argento. You are a wonderful person, don't let anyone tell you otherwise. It is so obvious, that you're a kind soul. I would have to be the world's biggest fool to think otherwise."
"…Hyoudou Issei has a skill in determining a person's true character. As such, it would be remiss of me to say that I do not believe the same about you." Arturia says gently as she started to wipe the tears that started to flow from her eyes without her realisation.
A beeping noise came from somewhere. Issei presses some buttons on his… phone?
"I'll be leaving you in the care of Mittelt and Dohnaseek once we reach the church. I will see you soon. Arturia, I need to go now, make sure she reaches there safely. We don't want to tip off Raynare and her cohorts for now." And as he said that, he disappeared with a crack.
With Issei
'She has a natural affinity for Dragons, so much so that she has a skill called "Treasured by Dragon's".' I said to Arturia in my mind the moment I saw her.
'So that's why the two of us…' Arturia relayed her thoughts.
'I suppose so.' Afterwhich I relayed the important points of her history and reason for being here. As well as telling Arturia to tell Asia her real name.
I couldn't help myself from personally watching over her in my civilian identity, so I quickly blurred and transformed back using the usual techniques.
The woman was being a total bitch, she reminds me of a more reasonable 'Dursley'…
Unfortunately our time was cut short by an emergency in France. Solved that easily.
Fortunately, that put me in a convenient place for me to infiltrate the Vatican.
[Presence Concealment], [Hades Cap of Invisibility], some more abuses of [Rule Breaker], [kaleidoscope] and [ID Create] essentially allowed me to get through the place easily.
[Legilimency] was a , no pun intended, a 'god-send' in allowing me to find the information I wanted. After using [Structural Grasp] on a lot of relcs, items, documents and weapons, I had also spammed [Observe] on literally everything and everyone.
My heart stopped for a moment when I saw my childhood friend, Irina Shidou. She had grown a lot… in many ways.
Stop that Issei! Stop licking your lips!
Unfortunately this was not the time for a meeting. I left immediately, worked on some of my Seigi no Mikata business.
After which I entered my 10:1 time ration ID and started to process the stuff I memorised.
I wanted to kill Freed Zelzen extremely badly.
But also… there was something worrying about Asia's excommunication. Because there was reports about other 'Holy Maidens' being excommunicated after 'consorting' with a devil that matches the description of the devil that Asia had healed.
And then I started reading the notes by some top exorcists about it… Fuck!
With Asia
If Asia had to describe Raynare and Kalawarner… she would say nothing.
Because if she doesn't have anything kind to say then she shouldn't say it at all. That's something she has learned albeit, never really internalised. Still, it was a good rule of thumb. And one even she found hard pressed to follow.
"Sorry you have to deal with them. But hey! We're meeting up with Issei-kun today! Aahhh!" The blonde petite Fallen Angel says to Asia while obviously fawning over her new friend. For some reason Asia was… annoyed about it. Very slightly, slightly enough that she hid it.
"Eh, Dohnaseek, you coming?"
"…No. I think there's a devil I need to hunt." Dohnaseek says rather darkly. He's been in a rather serious mood since this morning when he had gotten a rather large file from Issei. He had explained that Asia would be told about what Issei had found out, but only later in the day.
"You don't sound like you're aiming for a stray."
"No… but there's a right bastard out there that needs to be put down. Unfortunately, there are political consequences for killing a devil like him. So I suppose I will get to exercise my new power against him… and hurt him real good."
Asia didn't really know what was going on. But whoever this devil was must probably be scum of the earth considering that Dohnaseek was rather indifferent to most stray devils that did horrible things.
It made Asia shiver a bit on whatever devil that Issei had researched on and had apparently, passed the responsibility to handle said devil to Dohnaseek.
"Well then, let's go!" And thus Asia was dragged into the middle of a big city by her new… friend?
"Old man! Look! It's Big Sister Asia and the Little Sister Mittelt!" A red haired boy called out while dragging along the black suited man she met yesterday.
"Who are you calling little, you squirt!" Mittelt protested and started pulling the cheek of the boy.
"You're tiny for your age, so you're little!" The boy retaliated with the same childish 'attack'.
Asia couldn't help but giggle.
"Now, now Shirou. That's enough. Be a gentleman and introduce yourself." Hyoudou Issei says gently as he pulled the now named Shirou and Mittelt apart.
Mittelt stuck out her tongue childishly at Shirou at that. Shirou had responded the same way but didn't say anything.
"I'm Shirou, Shirou Hyoudou Emiya. It's a little weird having two last names, but my old man said that Emiya came with a theme song! So yeah, it's a pleasure to meet you!" The boy cheerfully stated.
Asia couldn't help but fine the boy really cute. But she was slightly unsettled by the boys eyes… it was as if something was missing. She shook her head and refocussed.
"It's a pleasure to meet you to. I'm Asia Argento. As for my last name, 'Argento' can mean Silver. I'm afraid I don't really know what a theme song is. Although I think I would like one." Asia responds as she stuck out her tongue in a joking manner, much like everyone else seems to be doing.
The other three gave a short laugh at that.
"Just for curiosity, who's this old man?" Asia asked innocently.
"Ah, that would be my dad. I'm adopted, but it didn't really feel right calling him dad, father, or big brother. So I settled for calling him old man!" He says cheekily with a single eye closed.
Issei groaned.
…. Wait a minute!
"Issei! You're married?" Asia all but blurted out. After all, the young man seemed really young to have a kid this old. Completely ignoring the adopted bit.
"Wait what! No! I'm single. Technically I wanted to adopt him as a brother but no… he wanted me to be the father. And well, even though this body hasn't even reached 20 yet I'm already called an old man." Issei sighs.
"Hmm… personally I think there's a rather strong appeal for the single father type." Mittelt says as she wraps her arms around one of Issei's free arms.
"Not in front of the children Mittelt. We can 'play couple' again at another time."
"I'm fifteen!" Asia suddenly protested for a reason she did not know why while pouting cutely.
After that, the day was spent having fun and trying out new foods.
Asia was introduced to Western fast foods and also Yakiniku in a high class Japanese restaurant. The rather diverse group went to the arcade. Issei and Mittelt competed on the Dance games. Asia, Shirou and Mittelt had a lot of fun on the motorcycle racing simulator, in which there was a rather realistic model of a Harley Davidson used to simulate the game. Issei had used his 'secret skills' to win whatever prizes they wanted from the crane games. Which resulted in Asia getting a Pikachu doll. A yellow mouse Pokemon doll that is the face of the game, essentially. Mittelt herself went for quantity over quality. Shirou went for the practical prize of a PS Vita. Issei made sure to 'lose' a few times to not draw the wrath of the clerks.
The group also went to a batting cage, in which Mittelt realised that throwing light spears didn't really help when the spears were weightless, she took a while to adjust. Shirou, overall was really good at hitting the balls… but for some reason a few of the balls ended up being sliced in half somehow. Which resulted in Issei paying for damages, not like he minded since he has so much money he considers this as 'giving back' to the economy. Asia didn't do too well, but the encouragement from everyone else was worth every bit of it to her.
Issei knocked his perfectly, as in, the boring kind of perfectly.
After that was a quick trip to a large comic and games shop. In which Issei bought a lot of things. Asia had wanted to go into the corner where Issei was picking up some games but was rebuffed by a store clerk saying that the section was for those above the age of 18.
Shirou was blushing red and was grumbling something about 'adult magic spells'.
They soon found themselves entering a large mansion after Issei had shown Mittelt and Asia a piece of paper with an address on it.
There was a pink haired beauty sitting in the living room of the mansion, sipping tea gracefully.
"Okita-san, we're home." Shirou says.
"We're back with guests Okita." Issei added.
"Eh? Guests? Ah right, you did say we would have guests. Oh my, their all girls as well, and so soon…"
"Okita… One might think you're suggestion something…" Issei deadpanned.
"Eheheh! Sorry, this Okita-san just can't help it!"
Arturia entered the house later… grumbling darkly about eviscerating a 'Perverted Duo' for ogling at the track team so blatantly.
Asia would then truly see Issei use his magic for the first time. Well, aside from the teleporting magic the previous day.
Some latin words later and she found that the food that Issei had cooked had multiplied just like how her lord and saviour had multiplied the bread and fish. The enlarging was a bit different. But after seeing Arturia 'defeating' hunger… she could see why that was necessary.
"So, Asia, did you have fun today?" Issei asked.
Asia didn't even need a second to answer that question. She had smiled brightly, nodded enthusiastically and said "Yes!"
"I'm glad you did. I'm glad you did." Issei's smile seemed to dim when he said it the second time.
"What's wrong?" Asia asked immediately. Part of her was worried due to her insecurities… she wanted desperately to hope that this was not a one time thing.
"Nothing's wrong with you." He answered as if he knew what she was thinking.
"I hope that we can have this much fun for many days to come." Again, it was as if he knew what she was thinking.
"Now that we're done with dinner… I'm afraid my… research yesterday was rather depressing. Not to say it was not fruitful but…" He took out copies of files, all identical from a golden portal and passed them around.
Asia started to read them, wondering why she was reading up on other Holy Maidens. Until she realised that these were reports dated in the past, and that these were about Holy Maidens excommunicated for 'consorting' with devils… all with the same description of the devil she had healed.
She knew then what it was implied. The reports and comments being written, plus confirmed by senior cardinal priests like Vasco Strada, cardinal deacons like Ewald Cristaldi and cardinal bishops like Teodoro Legrenzi solidified the validity of the reports.
"Diodara Astaroth…" Asia said the name with a touch of fear, her hands shaking, partly in fear of the devil. But also, because the church had knew about this happening, again and again. But still excommunicated her… the answer was clear, despite the obvious plot, they still could not see past someone even being in contact with devils unless it was at the end of a weapon blessed with light. Her excommunication had nothing to do with her power, with her gift! It was all about rules… nothing to do about her being a so called 'witch', it was politics. One excommunication in order to appease the majority of the members who knew no more than the bare minimum of what was happening.
"The man's a piece of work all right. It seems that Freed had participated in one or two of his plots and knew about it." Issei says.
"Wait, you mean, that obvious rape happy psychopath! How did you find out?" Mittelt asked.
"[Kage Bunshin no Jutsu]"Issei says while performing a strange handsign. A copy of him forms from a cloud of smoke.
"I had to train all night to make this technique viable… a clone with all my abilities and the ability to transfer memories upon its end of existence. I had one watching the church and saw Freed stalking a man that picked up a devil summoning leaflet. I went in to save the man and his family, just in time too."
"You took care of the bad guy right? Made sure he was arrested or killed?" Shirou asked.
Asia was slightly disturbed when he so casually talked about killing.
"Shirou… men get arrested. Dogs get put down." Issei answered plainly.
With Issei (Clone) flashback
Despite my limited existence and limited chakra I was barely weakened by it at all. Thing is… Chakra was foreign to my body and so would not result in death once it wore out. It still would result in a clone dispelling, but the thing is… clones still have HP and MP regen.
Overpowered, I know. But hey, I could easily convert my HP and MP to Chakra when I needed to. My END was weaker as a clone, but mattered little with my speed and the ability to alter my defences.
As such…
"Why won't you die!" The white-haired mass rapist and murderer yelled as he repeatedly slashed and emptied his weapons against me in futility.
I wouldn't let him escape. One [Observe] was enough to decide that this… thing, could not be considered a 'man'. [Legilimency] helped me suss out church secrets as well as various individuals… this Diodora Astaroth was a real piece of work.
NTR is a trash fetish. And that devil was lower than trash.
Good thing I sicced the now 6 winged Dohnaseek on him.
Ah, the bastard dared to try to beg and appeal to my humanity. That would have worked if he wasn't so obviously unrepentant.
"Listen here Freed. Criminals…no, only men have the luxury of being put through the judicial system and imprisoned. Sometimes executed… but that's neither here nor there. You… do not have the luxury. You see Freed…"
I made a couple of dramatic pauses and gestured as I menacingly applied my [Mana Aura] with my [Gravity] FF spell.
"Men get arrested… DOGS GET PUT DOWN!" I bellowed under the field of silence I set up earlier.
Projected a common meat cleaver and brutalised his head by chopping through it. Over and over, again and again.
Mostly because of the things I saw in his mind… a part of me died that moment. Oh, but I took satisfaction from it… wherever his victims ended up, be it heaven, hell, purgatory or whatever 'pure world' out there may rest a little better now that this fucker has left this Earth!
With Issei
I regaled a slightly more censored version of my tale. Granted, I didn't leave out any words… but I think my tone had communicated how serious of an offence I took by the man's sheer existence.
"… Do you find me evil, Asia? I'm a killer, you know. In fact, I kill all the time." I summoned a remote to my hand, activating the TV, flipping to a news channel that showed another clone of mine in another part of the world having finished destroying a drug ring. The news caster reported the maiming of a handful of people and the deaths of two others. Along with the hospitalisation of dozens more.
"Perhaps you've heard of me, I'm also known as Archer." Another thing on my list of things I don't want to do that I have found out recently… I wouldn't want to lie to a friend whenever it became relevant.
With Asia
What is Issei doing? Is he… trying to get me to hate him?
But she couldn't to such a thing. No, she knew that even killers could be nice people. After all, exorcists like Dulio, who is a really good person, kill people that threaten the church outside of devils. And even then, from what she had seen of Mittlet and Dohnaseek… just because someone is from a faction that is an 'enemy' of the church doesn't mean they are evil.
She heard of Archer… in whispered tones. There was some discontentment when Archer had leaked the files of a corrupt priest… but he was in the right to do so. It was justice. From what she had learned in her short period of freedom when she travelled here… from the airport and other places. It was clear that Archer had rarely killed people; people in general believed that he only killed truly irredeemable people, not that Asia believed that there wasn't anyone that could not be saved by God's loved. But still, Archer the vigilante… the hero, had reunited families, saved people, and perhaps even discreetly used magic to heal people. He struck fear into the hearts of criminals. He also gives hope.
"Issei, you've said that I'm a wonderful person. I can only say the same words back at you. Issei, you're a kind man, you didn't have to help me when there are so many people out there to help. You didn't need to spend time with me… you didn't need to become my friend. But you did so… because you knew. You knew I wanted a friend didn't you, you always seem to know things. And when you said you could read other's minds… "
Asia shaked her head and smiled.
"I'm glad that you can. Because I'm sure that you've used that power for good, because I know that you've used it to make me happy. To give me this day, one of the happiest days of my life! So don't say anything like that, please… I could hate some of the things you do, but I can never hate the considerate and caring man that did it. I could never hate a friend!"
Asia found herself shouting the next bit. Before recoiling at what she said, insecurity making her question her declaration.
"We are friends… right?"
"Absolutely!" Issei stood up and responded back with a determined look in his eyes.
And in literally a second later, Issei was already next to her. Hugging her.
"We talked together, we played together, we ate together, and we barged our way into each other's businesses and spilled our secrets to one another. If those actions aren't included in the definitions of friends then I will just have to take over the world to change that definition in all the dictionaries." He said slowly, gently without lacking any determination.
Asia couldn't help but agree, and hugged him back. Crying while smiling.
"I think, that if someone would take over the world, then I would like that someone to be you Issei." She said while giggling a little in between the sobs.
"If he took over the world then I fear for the modesty of women under his new laws." Arturia quipped.
"Not like it would be a bad thing." Mittelt said.
"Um, am I missing something?" Asia asked.
Issei blanched. "Oh, please no…"
"No mercy for Master!" Okita-san said.
"Eh? Master? Asia was getting more confused by the second.
After some embarrassing stories by Arturia about Issei loudly proclaiming himself to be a Harem King in his past year, much to everyone's amusement. Asia herself shared about her past. How she was discarded, raised in a church with other orphans, healing a wounded puppy, healed believers of the church. She was happy to heal, but lonely. She had no real friends, people were nice to her, more due to what she can do rather than who she was. And then she met a wounded devil, the part which everyone knows, after which she was accused for being a 'witch' for being able to heal devils. She was abandoned by the church soon after being seen as a heretic, no one was willing to defend her, no one truly cared about her.
"But now you do have people that care about you." Issei says as he summons and hands her the Pikachu doll.
"You can live her from now on. You can even live with my parents. Heck, if not enough people in this world will care for you then I will take you across the infinite number of dimensions out there until you find a place you like. And that's a promise."
"…Thank you! Thank you Issei! Thank you everyone…"
Asia slept peacefully that night once Issei had regaled on how he took on "In a dishonourable fashion" (Arturia added) multiple servants in the Holy Grail War and fought Azazel. It was reassuring that she wouldn't have to worry about whatever plot Raynare cooked up with someone like Issei at her side.
Her next day was peacefully spent in the mansion… at least until the evening where she saw a wounded cat outside the street.
She didn't realise that Raynare had gotten desperate and somehow roughly tracked her to the area. She didn't think that they were so cruel as to injure various animals and leave them bleeding across the streets just to get her attention. So when she was snatched up the moment she left the boundary fields of the mansions her first thought was how ironic that healing wounded animals seem to get her the most attention all the time.
With Dohnaseek
It was pretty difficult to alternate between hunting a specific devil scum and keep an eye on Raynare's plans.
It got difficult the next day when Raynare got all desperate about Asia's and Mittelt's disappearance. And then the plot came out to use forbidden technology to extract Asia's Sacred Gear, he only managed a quick message before Raynare's plan had worked and he felt the teleportation magic. Unfortunately, or fortunately, this was when Diodora Astaroth, aka. NTR Nun Fetishist Bastard No.1 decided to pop up, as if he was waiting for this. Yeah, sucker's bet on his 'master plan', and that did not include crashing a plane with no survivors.
"Well, well, well. Filthy devil scum illegally entering another devil's territory." Dohnaseek scowled as he descended on the man who thought he was being sneaky by hiding under devil magic right next to a church.
The devil glared with disdain before paling a lot when he spotted his six wings. He put up a rather pathetic attempt to keep his façade of bravado and superiority.
"W-What's it you, filthy crow! Between the both of us your presence here is much more unwelcome."
"Oh? That might be true. But it doesn't change the fact that I will not give you the luxury of knowing my name while I know yours. And it especially does not change the fact that neither of us will be officially accusing anyone of anything. But most importantly… one thing remains constant. I'm just gonna hurt you really, really, BAD!"
The thing about being weak is that you have to find other ways to be strong. Such is the case with most humans. Which is something Dohnaseek empathises with considering that drug abuse caused him to effectively be 'capped' at 'weak' since the end of the great war.
One thing that encouraged him was human entertainment. A specific one was American comic books. Most Fallen Angels would not be caught dead watching cartoons… but that was one character that has always encouraged him when he became depressed about his situation. And that was Batman, because he was 'weak' and yet fought alongside the 'strong'.
A gadget, or skill, can be used to bridge the gap. The grappling gun and other gadgets that helped Batman moved quickly was something that occasionally took up Dohnaseek's imagination. It wouldn't really be useful in a fight against the supernatural when you're a Fallen Angel, but the general principles were useful.
The idea of pulling yourself away or to the enemy quickly was one that had merit. It was only now that he accomplished the idea or using 'light' strings that 'tugged' at an empty 'space' in order to pull his body towards a certain area. Strings that were small enough, yet manifested quickly and silently to not be noticed. Which was what he used to essentially triple his considerable speed and stuck two light spears into the bastard's body.
He couldn't kill him, not yet at least. Killing disgusting scum like him would require a more 'delicate' and 'prepared' approach that would expose all his crimes. But making devils suffer was a Fallen Angel's specialty considering that they have to be creative with their post-fall weaker light constructs. Their light wouldn't kill a high- tier devil instantly or main them just by entering their system, but it would hurt… a lot.
"AHHHHH!HIIII!" Seriously, who the fuck actually screams like that! What a pussy!
He even bloody teleported the fuck out near instantly from that.
Man, that was retarded and anti-climatic.
Better go foil Raynare's plans… and then an explosion of power came from underneath the church.
… I think the situation is resolved.
With Issei
She stepped outside, and then she was gone. Mittelt summed it up in a few words in her text message, I got Dohnaseek's message, I was across the globe right now. Apparating would take too much mana. So I used the [Kaleidoscope], going to one of the Naruto-verses, setting the time dilation to 50, entering an ID with a further ratio of 10. I recharged my mana, stored some into jewels, and used the [Kaleidoscope] again, to teleport straight back to the church in my home dimension.
It took less than a second to clear the ground floor, another second to bring myself underground. Another second to incapacitate all the stray exorcist with a [Gravity] powered [Mana Aura]. Asia seemed to have been immediately strapped to that… device. I threw a [Rule Breaker] at it, did not give any chances, cut off the limbs of the two Fallen Angels there. Knocked them up with [Stupefy], several of them just to be safe.
I wanted to kill them, but it was Azazel's job to deal with them, and he's lost enough comrades already. Plus, I wasn't a craze murderer. Just because I didn't like someone doesn't mean I should just kill them and be done with it. Granted, I did so with the Servants, but that was more for practicality and the fact that the Grail War was a bust anyways.
Fuck… FUCKFUCKFUCK!
I fucked up, the process being interrupted still had damaged her soul. As in, it tore it apart, just being on it for a few seconds have torn her soul in half. The process was to first tear the soul and then extract the gear. Fuck, I couldn't make it in time!
I never had to 'fix' a soul. So far all I've been doing is manifesting it with the [Heaven's Feel].
I took Asia off the device and laid her down on the ground.
"Asia, stay with me. Please…"
I immediately started the [Heaven's Feel] Process, getting out the [Caster Class Card], the only way I knew to 'fix' the soul was reincarnation… of a sorts. Perhaps the [Evil Piece] would have worked, but I wouldn't condemn Asia soul to non-existence if she dies as a devil without giving her a choice.
"Issei… you came for me."
"Of course I did, silly. You're my friend. I'm sorry for taking so long, but I'll make it better, I promise…"
Fuck! Fuck! Fuck! It's as if I need to stuff two souls into one container, not trained for this, not trained for this, it can't fit like this, the amount to reincarnate somehow was already considerable even before I got Prana but this is just insane! I channelled 3000 Prana into this and I've only barely fitted the two torn soul bits together by around… 10%.
I can't keep this up, if I could leave the ritual and abuse time dilation I could but that would disrupt everything. It's only by utilising [Multi-cast] and [360 No Scope Casting] that I am able to even cast multiple healing and reviving spells on Asia while keeping this ritual up.
"You gave me… the best day of my life. You, Arturia, Mittelt, Okita… and your cute cheeky son… Shirou."
"Asia, please no, stop raising these death flags." My mana was draining, I was gulping down mana pots while recharging mana with jewels. The constant process of fixing up a soul was too many costly, if my magical output was simply larger…
"You use… a lot of weird words. I wish… I had the chance… to learn them. To enjoy this country… it's culture… the food, and the people."
"Asia…"
More output, I knew what I had to do. [Avalon] isolates it… but the cause is worth the dangers that comes with it.
I extract [Avalon] and put it in my inventory. Putting it into Asia would just fuck things up more in such a delicate process that I'm about to brute force.
"I wanted to meet… your friends… and your parents."
I poured a vial of the [Elixir of Life] into her mouth. Anything to make her last even longer.
I should have prioritised the danger to Asia instead of going across the globe handling every single thing I can get my hands on.
I kept making mistakes doing what I thought was right.
And as I tried to fix them, I ended up lost, unsure if I made things better or worse.
Now I finally experienced it, a checkpoint in the road to save as many people as I can, that checkpoint is a cliff where one can lose what you didn't realise was so important to you.
How did you worm your way into my heart, Asia? Why am I crying for you just as much as I would cry my closest friends.
Because we both do what we think is right regardless of everyone else. In that sense, we are both selfless yet selfish.
Ah, what a strange stray thought to come into my head at a time like this.
I feel like my path is dissolving into darkness, this sense of… helplessness, of hopelessness.
But my body remains, my will remains.
If I could make a wish now, I would have wished I was stronger, so that I could have prevented this. If I just reacted a few seconds faster, made the better choices… if I had more power in this world that I would not have to worry about petty things like political consequences getting in the way of putting down threats to the people I care about. This never would have happened!
… Ah, how conceited I am to think this way… but still, this is my wish.
[Boost!]
*Ping* You have gained a skill through a special action!
Twice Critical? – Passive/Active – Lvl.? – HP cost: ?
Description: Really?
A red Gauntlet emerges in my left arm. Power surges, a general 25% increase in STR, END, AGI and MAG. Not enough, temporary is fine, but it's not enough.
I know who and what you really are. Don't hide right now.
Answer this single wish of mine and give me power!
[Dragon Booster!]
[Boost!]
*Ping* You have updated a skill through a special action!
Boosted Gear – Passive/Active – Lvl.50 – HP cost: Varies
Description: One of the Longinus series Sacred Gear. Contains the soul and spirit of the Welsh Dragon Ddraig, one of the two titled Heavenly Dragons. Increases STR, END, AGI and MAG by 25% X 2n-1, where 'n' is the number of charges. Charges increase every ten seconds and can be released for an exponential and explosive boosts that lasts for one instance or ten seconds.
Grants [Dragon's Aura], Dragonic traits, [Red Dragon Emperor] title
The jewel in the Gauntlet shines brightly, the Gauntlet changes, becomes more… Dragonic.
'Took you long enough to ask, my host. Funny thing about that [Avalon] thing is that the energy it gives felt so good that I just drank a lot of it till I was half-asleep most of the time.'
I acknowledge the voice.
Good to hear from you, Y Ddraig Goch, the Welsh Dragon. We can chat later, boosting my output is fine, but if it was more focused…
[Boost!]
'Ha! You're more than ready for even the Balance Breaker ability. Go wild!'
Boosted Gear: [Transfer] ability unlocked!
Thank you Ddraig, oh, and I prefer to think of our relationships as partners from now on. After all, it's not like I will use your power willy-nilly.
[Boost!]
"Issei…"
"Asia… we are going to have lots of fun okay. I even have devil friends, they aren't terrible people. Heck, they even resemble anime characters."
[Boost!]
"So you're going to live with all of us, your new friends. And this time, I won't fail you again."
"Issei, you never failed me. And I've… always believed in you."
[Boost!]
6 Boosts, 250% increase in four of my stats. The Boosted Gear is said to double power, what a person tends to forget is that power is relative. The power of an incoming fist is determined by angle, speed and strength, plus other extraneous factors like the toughness of the fist. But the thing about the transfer function is that it transfer all the unused stats and 'power' in terms of the multiplication factor into whatever is meant to be used in an additive manner. So this is for you Asia, 1000% of my MAG stats, more than enough pure power to surpass Azazel in one go.
[Transfer!]
And that burst of power forced the torn pieces of the soul together into the class card while melding into her old body. And with the drops of the [Elixir of Life] already in her, she was better than okay.
"Enervate." I used the spell to wake her up. And then splashing some water with [Aquamenti].
"Eep!"
"Wake up sleepyhead. I'm sure you prefer your sinfully soft bed back home than the cold hard floor of a desecrated church basement."
"Mouuu! That was mean, Issei." She pouted adorably at me.
"Just making sure you weren't dehydrated."
"Really."
"No."
She started batting her fists playfully on my chest before settling into a hug.
"And also, that bed was heavenly, not sinful!"
"Oh? Perhaps I should try it out one day when I have time to sleep."
"Issei… friends take care of each other's health right."
"Look here Asia, I suffer no negative debuffs from not sleeping so it would be inefficient for me to…"
Sometimes I cursed the fact that I could read every thought from her undefended mind.
"…Once in a while, on special occasions."
"Yay!" Asia cheered.
"Ahem!" We both turned to find that the two Saber classed Servants, Mittelt, Dohnaseek and even Shirou were waiting out there.
… They could have said something.
Or rather, I should have noticed.
I just found out that [Detect Intent] is vulnerable to romantic comedy skits.
… Well, maybe cross out the romantic bit. At least, for now.
Better round up everyone and toss them at Azazel. Might as well abuse the [Kaleidoscope] to track him and drop everyone on him.
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