Please call me Valerie.”
“Yes, you should do as she asked, Ise.”
Rias also says that. If the person herself and Rias are allowing it, then I will. “Yes, I understand, Valerie.”
“Ufufu, thank you.”
Except, her expression……her smile had shadows in them where she looks empty and it is painful to look at. So much that I can guess what kind of environment she has been living in—. Valerie asks Koneko-chan. “Toujou Koneko-san, you know many delicious sweets, correct? What kind of sweets are there in Japan?”
“Well, the ones I like are—”
Then our discussion which isn’t that important begins. The daily lifestyle where nothing happens to us is something new and interesting for Valerie, so she asks us many questions due to the interest she has at places we never expected. “I see. The reason why Gasper dresses like a girl is because I played with him by making him wear it when we were little. He was against it in the beginning, but he suddenly started wearing them on his own……ufufu♪”
“G-Geez! Valerie, you can’t tell them that!”
“Oh yes, did you fix your habit where you can’t go to sleep without holding a doll?”
“T-That……”
“Ufufu, I guess not. That's just like Gasper.”
Both of their behaviours are something which puts us at peace. Gasper is also talking without holding back and they seem natural. “How lucky. I also want to eat cakes in Japan. I’m sure they have a sacred taste in them. I prefer sweets over blood. Human blood must taste thicker, ufufu.”
Even though she has an atmosphere like she’s distant from the outside world, she is showing a similar response to a normal girl. However—at times she talks to places where there is no one present. “———Yes. ……———I know. ———However, that is……”
……She must be talking to the dead who aren’t visible to our eyes through the power of her Holy Grail. Koneko-chan whispers to me. “……There is a negative spiral of ki in the direction Valerie-san is talking towards. You won’t be able to see them with your eyes but even I can sense it due to its presence.”
So Koneko-chan became capable of sensing the presence of the unknown through the use of senjutsu. It’s amazing for her to grasp hold of the dead that were drawn by the power of the Holy Grail. While I become amazed at Koneko-chan’s growth, Valerie suddenly looks up the ceiling. She mutters with a sad face. “……So Gasper has seen the sun before.”
“Yup. Since I have the power of a day-walker……but the same applies to you as well, Valerie.”
She makes a faint smile at Gasper’s words. “You’re right. But I…..won’t be allowed to go out of here…… Even once will be fine, I want to drink tea with Gasper under the sun. Picnic is a very fun leisure, correct?”
……She has never gone out before huh. If I remember correctly, she has been imprisoned here since her birth. I’m sure she has been confined even more after her Holy Grail’s power awakened. Even if living under the sun is nothing impressive to us, it must be something unusual for her. Rias makes a smile after hearing that and makes a suggestion. “If that’s the case, let’s have one together. Let’s go to the Japanese resorts with the members of the Occult Research Club and you, Valerie.”
To Rias’s suggestion, light returns to Valerie's eyes. “Oh my, that will be wonderful. Having a picnic under the sun with everyone seems really fun.”
So this person can also make a wonderful smile like this as well huh. ……Yeah, she’s right. Rias is right! I got up from my chair energetically! “Yeah, let’s go around the good places of Japan with everyone else! Gya-suke, you also know many good locations in Japan as well, right? You just have to show them to Valerie!”
Gasper makes a bright expression and nods his head many times to my words. “Y-Yes! He’s right, Valerie! Let’s go to Japan together with me! It might be difficult since you just became a Queen……but once this entire ruckus settles down, you might get some free time! No, I’ll come to get you! Japan is filled with many kind people, there are lots of delicious foods, and the four seasons of Japan are always fascinating!”
I say it to Gasper with a teasing expression since Gasper is being more spirited than usual. “Hahaha, that’s quite the enthusiasm coming from the shut-in Gasper.”
“G-Geez! Ise-senpai! P-Please don’t tease me~! I-I am suggesting this to Valerie really seriously here~!”
“That’s right, Senpai. Gya-kun is asking for a date for the first time in his life. So teasing him is not allowed.”
Oh my, even Koneko-chan says that! “Ufufu.”
Rias also laughs as if she’s finding it amusing. That’s right, we just have to take her out of here somehow. She must be imprisoned by the Holy Grail. Even so—she still has the personality of a normal girl just like this! So we simply need to have fun together and she will eventually have her mental state back to normal—. While we are having our discussion with so much joy, a different voice comes and interrupts all of that. “I wonder what all of you are so excited about.”
The one who enters the garden is—Marius Tepes. He walks towards us while putting on a fake smile. It amazes me because he seems like he’s built from a mass of evil intention that is wearing some clothing. That instant, lights disappear from Valerie’s eyes. Valerie then answers him with an unnatural smile. “Marius-oniisama. I was just talking to Gasper and Rias-sama.”
Marius greets us once again. “Hello there. Sorry for my intrusion. Since I heard Valerie is meeting the guests, I thought I should show myself as well. Am I a bother?”
……He asks that to us on purpose. I’m sure he is thinking that we are planning on doing something, so he came to check upon us. Even Rias who had her usual smile until now responds with a sour look. “No, you are not. I also caused a lot of trouble to you before due to my servant [Knight].”
Rias apologises for Xenovia’s actions once again. Marius makes a bitter smile. “No no, there are things those from the lower class can’t come to understand when they come into this world.”
He just shrugs his shoulder and didn’t make that much of a deal out of it. “E-Excuse me!”
“What is it, Gasper Vladi?”
Gasper doesn’t even back down and ask him very forwardly. “……Can you please release Valerie? I will do anything if it is something I can do. So please! Please don’t make Valerie suffer any more than this……”
……Well said. Lately, Gasper’s growth towards becoming a man is remarkable. He may become a nice guy with the most manliness among the Gremory boys in the future. ……Well, I can’t really imagine that happening. Marius who was asked that starts to think while putting his hand under his chin. “…………”
He then answers like this as he smiles. “Very well. I will release her.”
……That’s an unexpected answer! No, but……is this a……
Marius continues. “Except, please give me some time. The political power just changed so having Valerie who just reigned as a Queen stepping down right away won’t look well. If you give us a bit of time, then I’ll hand Valerie to all of you.”
Marius says it to Valerie.