…But, if I continue the way I am, I cannot return to the Games. …I’m sorry for saying all this because of my own selfishness, but for someone like you who has such reverence and faith in the Underworld, I want to lend you a helping hand.”
Roygun-san knelt down in front of me again, and earnestly pleaded. “Hyoudou Issei-sama, in exchange, I will dedicate all of myself to you. Even if I have lost the abilities of the [King] piece, the techniques of many good players still remain with me — therefore, can you please consider this seriously?”
……. …The scene before my eyes was too sudden, and I couldn’t utter a word. …At that time, I recalled what Ravel had said to my last spring. —Even if it doesn’t feel like reality, there will be many kinds of people who appear before your eyes, Ise-sama. —You may feel the sense of being a high-class Devil from such situations. —You will most likely become the most anticipated High-class Devil rookie in the whole Underworld. …Bova had appeared, Nakiri had also sought me out, and Bina-shi came on her own…on top of that, the strongest female player of the Rating Games had also come before me…! …To be honest, the feeling was incredibly unreal. Even the person who said that to me in the past, Ravel, also seemed too shocked to reply because of Roygun-san’s response. The former second ranker of the Rating Games had made an unexpected appearance, and her wish made us feel both astonished and troubled. The heat of this final summer break of my high school life seemed like it would far exceed last year’s—. Indeed, a feast never cooled down, it would only continue grow more lively. On the other hand, at that time—. Rias Gremory visited a certain remote farm somewhere in Italy. On the farm — working in the grape field was a man around two metres tall with a sturdy body who was dressed in work clothes. Despite the young appearance of his body, he was actually an eighty-seven year old man. The old man — after Vasco Strada noticed Rias Gremory, a smile emerged on his face. “Good day, Your Eminence Vasco Strada.”
“Well well…if it isn’t the Gremory Princess. Have you been well lately?”
Strada welcomed Rias into his secluded home, and they began a tea party on the balcony. After the two of them sat down, Strada raised the teapot so that he could pour a cup of black tea for Rias. Although Strada had poured a cup for Rias, Rias cut straight to the point of what she was after. “I didn’t come here to drink tea today.”
Strada placed his hand on the table as he showed a gentle smile. “Oh.”
Rias asked directly
“—Have you heard of the Rating Game World Tournament, Your Eminence?”
Strada lifted his head as he looked up at the sky. “Fufufu, I don’t suppose you have any idea about the number of guests I’ve already had, Princess…”
“It seems as though you declined all of those offers, Your Eminence. Considering your own skills, I’m sure you can imagine the temptations.”
Strada’s wish was to spend his remaining day’s peacefully here as a human. This was something that Rias also knew. So Strada in turn asked Rias
“Since you especially came all the way here despite knowing this old man’s reasons…I presume that you have some way to persuade this me? I’m not as young as the Sekiryuutei boy. This old man has devoted his entire life to God, and he also understands that his mission is over. The Evil Dragon War was my final battle.”
Perhaps that was what Strada believed. But Rias thought
Is this what His Eminence truly thinks? Does he truly not have any nostalgia? —Can the Evil Dragon War truly be regarded as the final battle of his life? He had gone through the battle of the Church warriors, a fight against Arthur Pendragon, and the Evil Dragon War that had occurred not too long ago. Rias had already become quite deeply fascinated by Vasco Strada’s ‘sword’. Rias said
“—In the prime of Your Eminence, you were able to totally defeat Fallen Angel cadres, and also ultimate-class Devils. Even the Maous were fearful of your sword.”
Legends about Vasco Strada could always be heard of in the Underworld. Some had called him
[The Church’s Device of Violence]
Others had said that he was
[The Violence of Heaven]
Others had said that he was
[The Vatican’s Evil Killer]
Others had said that he was
[Mr. Durandal]
And some had called him
[The True Devil]
The Devils who had survived despite seeing the appearance of him in battle all felt immense fear at the time, and they trembled as they said this
—I never want to see that man again. The Devils felt fear from the bottom of their hearts when they saw the young Vasco Strada. The Devils called him a ‘Devil’. Indeed, they called him a ‘Devil’—. But, that ‘Devil’ was about to become a piece of history. He wanted his life to end here. He hoped for it to end this way. Rias earnestly thought
—Is this not too pitiful? Strada sipped the cup of black tea as he said
“You wish to hear the heroic tales of battle of my younger days huh…but that doesn’t seem to be the case. Well, Princess. The Maou’s little sister. What do you want to ask me? What do you want to say to me?”
Rias — solemnly said
“—My [Knight] Kiba Yuuto, the present wielder of Durandal Xenovia, the wielder of Hauteclere Irina, Cao Cao who is regarded as a peerless genius, and the wielder of the Holy King Sword Collbrande Arthur Pendragon. After you became an executive of the Vatican, many talented people have appeared—. When Your Eminence was young, you regarded battle more highly than anything else, I’m sure this is what Vasco Strada believes.”
Rias stood up, and she grew more passionate the more she spoke
“—As a warrior, and as a swordsman, you should do your utmost to fight against them!”
Rias’ passion-filled words poured out, and even the volume of her voice rose. After Strada heard Rias’ speech, he fell into silence. He calmly looked up at the sky. Rias quietly waited for his answer. Strada picked up his straw hat from the table and put it on, and only spoke after covering the top half of his face. “…Princess of the Devils. What I’m about to say may be taboo for a believer of the Church. But, please regard them as the words that are left deep in the heart of a former swordsman as you listen to them.”
After a brief pause, Strada, the man known as the [Violence of Heaven], said
“—If I was born sixty years, no, fifty years later, then I would be able to enjoy this era in which so many strong people have gathered. …It would be a lie to say that I don’t have any regrets. When I crossed blades with Arthur Pendragon — I wanted to cut him down because my heart was filled with a passion that swirled, and it could have been ignited if only I had been born even just thirty years later.”
After finally hearing his true words, Rias relaxed as she whispered the temptations of a Devil to Strada. “If I said that I could rejuvenate Your Emimence’s youth, what would you do?