“W-Why were you in that cardboard box…”
She had just regained consciousness, so her movement wasn’t very good, which is why I asked her. I was worried about Valerie, but she replied back with a smile
“I was imitating Gasper. Gasper only needs to get into a cardboard box to calm down, so I also wanted to try it.”
…I-I see. Just what kind of cultural knowledge did she learn after awakening to Japanese culture for the first time! No, it can’t be certain that Valerie asked Gasper about this herself. “…Ah, whatever. So, how is your body?”
I sighed as I asked her. Valerie monotonously replied to me with a lazy tone
“It’s okay, thanks to the care. Thanks to transportation magic circles, I can come over to your house for a bit. Today, I came over together with Gasper.”
Also, it would be quite strenuous for her if she came directly over by walking. Getting around using transportation magic circles was somewhat better. Speaking of which, Gya-suke also came over. “Gasper is currently together with Koneko-san preparing notes for Ravel-san. I didn’t want to disturb them so I came out to visit here.”
Valerie said. So Gasper was actually with Koneko-chan writing notes for Ravel-san who was absent from school… He really was a good kohai who did things for the sake of his friends. Suddenly, Valerie stared in a certain direction of the corridor, with her head turned sideways as she said
“Come to think of it, I can’t hear the voices of ‘everyone’…. It’s really strange.”
—Hm….‘Everyone’ referred to the side effect that came with the Holy Grail that dwelled within her. She could see the people wandering about in the otherworld. She was even able to communicate with them. Sensei originally said that this was impossible. And if she continued to do so, her mind would be damaged. When we saw Valerie before, because she had too much contact with people from the other side, it had caused her mind to become damaged. But the current Valerie no longer used the Holy Grail which dwelled within her body, and she also had a necklace which was made from the real Holy Grail, so she looked much better than she did when we saw her in Romania. I didn’t want to pursue the topic further, so I changed the topic as I asked her with a smile
“If there’s anything inconvenient for you in your everyday life, just say so, and everyone will help you.”
“…Eh, if you say so.”
Valerie raised a finger and pressed it against her chin as she began thinking—. “There doesn’t seem to be anything. —If I’m able to be together with Gasper, then I won’t be lonely.”
…I see, as long as she has Gya-suke she won’t be lonely. Those two people were finally able to live together in peace. It wasn’t easy for her to awaken from her deep sleep, so it simply wouldn’t do if they didn’t live together happily. Valerie placed both her hands together as if praying and said to me
“Also, for everyone to stay by my side, I’m really happy, it’s almost as if it’s a dream…”
To say that, it made me really happy. Precisely because we had gone to the country of the Tepes’ faction to fight before. Yeah, it wouldn’t do if we didn’t spend each day happily together with Valerie! We also hoped for a friendly and peaceful life— Suddenly, the thought of Ravel’s unknown safety flashed across my mind again. I felt a bit lonely. Noticing this, Valerie said to me
“Ravel Phoenix-san”
Valerie looked up at the ceiling and continued
“Ravel-san and her onii-sama Raiser-san, probably, are still alive. I think you will meet them again soon.”
Where did she see that, and how did she notice it? Valerie seemed to have felt something as she said that. “…Why do you think so?”
Valerie, having heard my question, made a puzzled expression. “…Although I can’t really find the words to say it, I just know…”
…I see, if someone else said that, there wouldn’t be much credibility, but since it was Valerie who had the Holy Grail that her life depended on within her body, it was a lot more credible. “Thank you. How should I say it, I feel like you’ve saved me a little.”
I thanked Valerie. To be honest, I was still worried. But these words of Valerie gave me the feeling of being saved. Valerie continued to smile. “In fact…I should be the one thanking you. —For Gasper and me to be together again, I’m really grateful, thank you.”
Valerie Tepes showed me a bright smile. “Ah — Valerie! This is where you were! You can’t run out of Koneko-chan’s room! Your body hasn’t fully recovered!”
Frantically running down the stairs was Gasper. From the looks of it, when he noticed that Valerie had disappeared from the room he anxiously went to search for her. For Gasper, as long as it had something to do with Valerie, he would become panic-stricken, he didn’t have the temperament of a boy at all. “It’s not a good time to move around, you need to stay close to me.”
“Ufufu, Gasper is really strict.”
Look at that. Gasper was quite reliable. After getting a girl that they need to protect, boys will continue to grow stronger. Looking at these two, my heart felt like it was healed. Then, as Valerie said, her prediction came true. At noon the next day— The members of [DxD] were urgently called to the clubroom of the Occult Research Club. Azazel-sensei looked at all of us as he said
“There is definite news.”
“Well, well then, sensei!” I stepped forward to ask, and sensei replied
“—Both Raiser Phoenix and Ravel are safe. They also have no serious issues.”
—What …I was speechless. Silently, tears flowed out from my eyes. The uneasiness in my heart had finally settled down. My mood finally lightened up. Looking around, my nakama who were also worried about Ravel sighed, feeling at ease. “Koneko-chan, Ravel, she’s safe! That’s wonderful!”
“Mn! That’s great! Gya-kun! Thank goodness! —It really had us worried to death, baka Ravel! Big idiot…!”
Koneko-chan and Gasper who were together with her in first year both cried. After waiting for us to settle down a bit, sensei added
“The one who ensured their safety was — Maou Ajuka Beelzebub.”
It’s just been one thing after the other. That night— After hearing Azazel-sensei’s report, the members of [DxD] dispersed first. The day after tomorrow, in order to bring back the siblings Raiser and Ravel Phoenix, they would meet the previously mentioned Maou Ajuka Beelzebub first. After bathing in the large underground bath with Asia, Rias began talking as they walked back up the stairs. “It really is great that Ravel-san and Raiser-san are safe.”
Asia felt at ease as she placed her hand over her chest. Asia, who was worried not just about Ravel, but Raiser as well, said that for Rias, she was a cute imouto. Rias smiled as she replied
“Eh, it truly is good. Although I really trust onii-sama and Azazel, I still felt that something may have happened to them, but my fears actually turned out to be false.”
Yes, if by chance that it was true…. There was no such thing as certainty in this world. Rias also understood this principle.