The entire peerage, save for Rias, gasped in unison.
No one could believe that the stunningly beautiful and feminine Irina before them was the same person as the boyish-looking child in the picture Kazuki had once shown them.
It was as if they were two entirely different people.
After Kazuki explained their history together, the group seemed to finally accept the revelation, though Yumi's sharp glare only intensified.
With everyone settled, Irina finally composed herself, her expression shifting to one of professionalism as she prepared to discuss the true reason for her visit.
"Ahem. My apologies for the earlier disturbance. Let's move on to the main issue," Irina said, her voice steady and resolute.
She then explained the shocking reason for her arrival in the town.
The Holy Sword Excalibur, long divided and safeguarded by the Catholic, Protestant, and Orthodox churches, had been stolen and smuggled into Kuoh Town.
The original Excalibur had been shattered during an ancient war, and the fragments had been reforged into seven separate holy swords through alchemy.
Of the seven, one had been lost during the war, while the remaining six were divided among the three factions, with each faction guarding two swords.
Now, one sword from each of the Catholic and Protestant factions had been stolen. Irina had been dispatched by the Protestants, wielding one of their remaining holy swords, while Xenovia had been sent by the Catholics. The Orthodox Church had opted to fortify their position, safeguarding their last sword in case of an emergency.
The culprits were identified as members of the fallen angel organization Grigori, known as the Watchers of the Children of God.
To make matters worse, Kokabiel, one of the group's high-ranking leaders and a figure mentioned in the Bible itself, was personally involved.
A dark cloud hung over the room as the gravity of the situation became clear. If someone as dangerous as Kokabiel was scheming in their town, it was a catastrophe waiting to unfold.
After hearing the details, Kazuki assumed Irina and Xenovia sought their help in locating Kokabiel. But to his surprise, their request was quite the opposite.
Xenovia bluntly stated that the church wanted the devils to stay out of the conflict entirely.
It wasn't a negotiation; it was a declaration. And as expected, Rias wasn't having any of it.
"You're essentially saying, 'We're going to have a battle in your territory, but you're not allowed to interfere,'" Rias snapped, her voice sharp with indignation.
"There's no way I can accept that."
The church's demand seemed to stem from a concern that Rias might ally with the fallen angels, a possibility they aimed to prevent by issuing this ultimatum.
Rias, offended at the implication, swore on her honor as a pure-blooded devil that she would never collaborate with the fallen. Satisfied with that assurance, Xenovia and Irina prepared to leave, but not before another confrontation erupted.
As they exited, Xenovia spotted Asia and coldly referred to her as a "witch."
The insult ignited Issei's fury.
"You dare insult Asia like that? I don't care if it's the church or God himself—you've made an enemy out of me!" he shouted, his voice dripping with rage.
Even Yumi, who had been teetering on the edge of her patience, joined Issei's declaration, her hostility palpable.
The tense situation seemed ready to explode until Xenovia surprisingly intervened.
She proposed resolving the matter with a private duel, bypassing any church oversight.
The challenge was quickly accepted, and preparations were made. The schoolyard was enclosed in a barrier, and the duels began: Issei versus Irina and Yumi vs Xenovia.
The first match was… chaotic, to say the least.
Issei, fueled by his usual perverted motivations, attempted to use his Dress Break ability to strip Irina.
His movements were sharper and more precise than ever, but Irina deftly evaded his attacks. Unfortunately, Issei's technique misfired, targeting Asia and Koneko instead.
Their clothes were blasted off, and Koneko's resulting iron-fisted retaliation left Issei incapacitated.
Irina delivered the final blow with her holy sword, defeating Issei decisively.
The second duel between Yumi and Xenovia was an intense clash of power.
Yumi's Sword Birth ability created a variety of demonic swords, but Xenovia's Excalibur Destruction overwhelmed her with sheer destructive force.
In the end, Yumi fell to Xenovia's might.
With the duels concluded, Irina and Xenovia departed. Irina hesitated as if she wanted to say something but ultimately left without a word.
Yumi, however, made her intentions clear.
"I'm leaving Rias's peerage," she announced, her voice resolute.
Rias pleaded with her to reconsider, but Yumi's desire for revenge against the holy swords burned brighter than ever after her defeat.
Ignoring Rias's protests, Yumi left the scene, her parting words echoing in Kazuki's mind.
"I survived thanks to my comrades. That's why I must avenge them… no matter what."
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