I said to Ravel and — Bina-shi
“I also have a new possibility for myself, something that I may have grasped in the match just then.”
“…Could it be [Dragon Deification]?”
Ravel asked me, and I answered her directly
“—There is something in that direction, but there’s also something else. [AxA] — I will show you in this tournament. I was finally able to grasp it, and the hint was — in the bath.”
My words caused Ravel and Bina-shi to become speechless…. I can still continue to become stronger, and them — I want to fight against them. After we finished watching the game, I — Kiba Yuuto and all members of the Rias Gremory team fell into silence due to the defeat of Ise-kun’s team. Rias-neesan’s expression also seemed to show that she was lost for words. Rudiger Rosenkreutz-shi narrowed his eyes and spoke on his own
“I see, Nakiri Ouryuu and Xenovia Quarta’s ultimate techniques, Bova Tannin and Shidou Irina’s growth, and the strengthening of the Karnstein family’s daughter as well as Asia Argento who almost lacked defence—”
Rudiger-shi smiled in a self-critical manner. “For someone slightly clever like me, it was a very effective move. Hyoudou Issei has truly met a very good group of friends.”
Rias-neesan shook her head. “No, your tactics have caused Ise and the others to be defeated. …Rudiger Rosenkreutz-sama, your ability has made me realise that.”
Rias-neesan extended her hand out. “Well, to each their own. He is truly a wonderful companion. He is sure to become a strong foundation for the future of the Gremory House.”
Rudiger-shi shook Rias-neesan’s hand as he spoke. “Ise has stated that you are one of his goals. I’m sure this will leave a deep impression in his mind.”
After Rudiger-shi heard that, he answered with
“It is an honour.”
And then stood up. As he prepared to leave, he looked at me and asked
“I’ll ask again, not to Princess Rias, but to the holy-demonic sword boy there. After watching that game, what are your thoughts?”
—Hmm. …My impression of the match. He was asking about what I felt about that game. “…Fighting, in a Rating Game, it’s a collision of your own and your opponent’s ‘heart’…that’s all I can say, and it would be nice if it was that simple.”
Rudiger-shi looked back towards the large display, and shown on that was the image of Ravel-san’s face which appeared to maintain a strong resolve as she exited the venue. “If you told Ravel Phoenix that she lost simply because her ‘heart’ was lacking, I wonder if that would be enough to console her…. That game just now, it would be so easy if you had to sum it up just in terms of ‘heart’.”
His eyes seemed to be filled with a complex emotion that couldn’t be expressed in words—. Rias-neesan said
“I hope that we’ll be able to accept your teachings next time in another place outside of the tournament. Ise certainly has his own reasons for admiring you.”
After Rudiger-shi finished his preparations to leave, he gave a slight smile. “You flatter me too much, Princess Rias. —I, all I want to do is to make Dulio Gesualdo win because my son believed in him.”
After saying that, Rudiger-shi walked towards the doorway. Before he stepped through the door, he looked back and said just one last thing. “All members of the Gremory team, if we meet on the tournament stage, then I shall give you much guidance then. Well then, I shall excuse myself.”
…Hailed as the [Upsetting Sorcerer], he didn’t speak much about his personal circumstances. However, his team had demonstrated that outcome. But, that outcome — for us in the future, as well as for Ise-kun and the others in the future, it was a tremendous gain. After the game ended, the members of the [Sekiryuutei of Blazing Truth] all gathered in the waiting room as they reflected on the tournament and discussed issues for the future. After that, everyone went to take a break. After coming out from the waiting room and heading over to the vending machine in the corridor to buy a drink (it was in fact to be alone), Nakiri Ouryuu saw the silhouette of a certain person. On the other side of the corridor was — a girl in her teens with beautiful and sleek long silver hair. The girl’s face was like a work of art. It was neat and incredibly pretty. It was almost as if her two deep red pupils were able to illuminate an abyss as they reflected Nakiri Ouryuu within them. Her face was almost like an artwork, but it couldn’t hold her smile. “Good work, Ouryuu.”
“Millarca, aren’t you worried about coming out during the day? —Ah right, this is the Underworld.”
The girl before his eyes was a pure-blooded Vampire — Millarca Vordenburg. She didn’t have to worry about sunlight because she was in the Underworld, and that was why she didn’t have to wear as many layers of clothing as before. “Mmm, the Underworld sure is a nice place. I don’t have to wear a scarf or sunglasses.”
Her art-like face spoke with an unimaginably cute voice. After Nakiri Ouryuu pressed a button on the vending machine to purchase his sports drink, he walked down the corridor together with Millarca. “—Well, is there anything you want to say?”
Millarca wanted to ask Nakiri Ouryuu about his feelings after the match. “Yeah, to reflect a bit—”
Just as he was about to speak, somewhere in the depths of the corridor up ahead, a voice was heard. It was the voice of a crying woman. The two of them hid around the corner, with Nakiri Ouryuu on top and Millarca below as they quietly poked their heads out to take a look. In front of them were — Hyoudou Issei and Ravel Phoenix. Ravel Phoenix…tears endlessly overflowed from her eyes, and it looked like she had already been crying for a long time. (…*sob* *hick*, Ise-sama…I…even though I was there…)
Hyoudou Issei gently embraced her, and he pat her head as he said
(If I didn’t have Ravel, the match would’ve been much worse. We still have opportunities. I, we’ll become stronger together.) Ravel Phoenix buried her head into Hyoudou Issei’s chest. (…Yes.) After answering with that, she continued to whimper against Hyoudou Issei’s chest. …After losing, the princess-sama who was the same age as him had appeared rather strong-hearted whilst in the waiting room. Regardless of whether it was in her ordinary school life, or as the Sekiryuutei’s manager, she never showed any weakness. She always guided the members of the team as well as the [King] that she adored. Nakiri Ouryuu felt that it would be insensitive to continue spying on them, so he pulled on Millarca’s hand to leave. “…”
Seeing the silent Nakiri Ouryuu, Millarca said
“…In front of her comrades, she won’t show any regret, Ravel-san that is.”
“…Hyoudou-senpai, he also treasures Phoenix very much.”
Precisely because of that, he took Ravel Phoenix to a place away from everyone else so that he could listen to her heartfelt emotions. He must have noticed that his own manager was forcing herself. —He is a good person. He looks after his own peerage well. Nakiri Ouryuu thought of the senior that he respected and revealed a smile.