I came because there’s something I want to give you.”
Saying that, Irina’s dad takes out a large suitcase which was positioned next to the bed. He urges Irina to open it. What lies under the suitcase is——
“This is—”
Irina takes out what was inside. It’s……a single sword which is giving out a quiet wave of holy aura. Irina’s dad then says. “The wielder of Durandal, the paladin Roland. The sword wield by Olivier who was Roland’s childhood friend as well as his best friend—— Hauteclere.”
——The holy sword Hauteclere! The sword which belonged to the best friend of Durandal’s wielder! For some reason I sense some kind of fate due to Xenovia and Irina’s relationship! Irina’s dad continues. “The sword which is said to be only touchable by those with pure hearts. The trait of it is to purify even those that are cut by it. From the results of its trait, it was determined that Irina-chan is most qualified for it. Of course it has to do with your particles being enhanced by turning into an Angel. The researchers also said it activated because you have been a long partner to Xenovia-san who holds Durandal.”
Having him say that, Irina and Xenovia looked at each other. Irina having become capable of touching that sword implies that she has attained the factor to wield it. Irina’s dad then says. “……Irina. Please stop Yaegaki-kun with this sword.”
Having received the holy sword, Irina nods with determined eyes. “Papa……thank you! I will stop that person!”
Irina’s dad finally shows his smile. After having several more discussions with him, all of us leave the room since we have seen him and finished informing our report to him
Then Irina’s dad says it to me. “……I’m sorry but can Ise-kun stay? There’s something I need to speak to him about.”
Having him say that, I look at Rias to get her approval and remained in the room. The room where there’s only the two of us. Irina’s dad speaks after a pause. “……Ise-kun, Irina-chan won’t be able to live like a normal girl due to her trait after becoming an Angel. On top of that she’s the Ace of Michael-sama. She won’t be able to become a normal girl again.”
……Irina doesn’t show it, but an Ace of Michael-san is an amazing role. It may be a heavy burden for Irina who is only seventeen years old. Irina’s dad smiles after saying the harsh reality. “—But she was given an exception. She was allowed to act like a girl only in front of you.”
Irina’s dad takes my hand and begs. “Ise-kun, I beg you, please take care of Irina. That girl……has been raised while being exposed to the thoughts of the Church……since she was young. There are many things she doesn’t know as a girl. I want you to make her feel it. If it’s you and Irina, I believe you two will get along while surpassing the ideology and your standings.”
“Uncle……”
Irina’s dad has an endless amount of tear drops pouring from his eyes. “……Why couldn’t I say something so simple like that to Yaegaki-kun and her…… Even if it was against our teaching…… Why couldn’t I……do anything……”
I put my hands over his hand. I then tell Irina’s dad. “Uncle, I…… Whoever Irina may be, I think of her as my important childhood friend……and as an important girl. So I will continue to smile together with Irina.”
Countless numbers of tear drops fall from Irina’s dad’s eyes. “……Thank you…… Thank you……”
Yeah, even if I may be a Devil and Irina may be a Angel, I will definitely continue to smile together with her. “Ise-kun, can I have a second?”
When I exited the room I took a break at the resting room of First Heaven when Irina came to ask for me. At the rooftop of a tall building. You can examine the scenery of First Heaven from there. Seriously, even if this place may be the frontline base of the Angels, there are many buildings just like the city of the human’s world and the Underworld. There’s floating buildings up in the sky. Even if I may be wearing an artificial halo, it makes me wonder if even I can become an Angel and have such illusion. Well, being an Angel won’t suit someone lewd like me. Irina asks me while I lean against the handrail. “Hey, Ise-kun. Do you remember what I talked to you about recently? About how I started to understand Rias-san more.”
“Yeah, the story where the two of you started getting along by talking about my childhood, right?”
“Ever since I returned to that town, not only did I get along with Rias-san and Xenovia who was my former comrade, I also started to get along with Asia-san, Akeno-san, Koneko-chan, Kiba-kun, Gasper-kun, Rossweisse-san, Ravel-san, Kiryuu-san, and everyone else at school. Yes, I even got along with the Dragon God Ophis-san.”
Yup, Irina certainly does open up with different sorts of people so quickly. She even talked to that unapproachable Arthur of the Vali team in a carefree attitude. I think that’s also a different kind of talent. “I know. Irina, you sure do get along with different kinds of people without distinguishing them. Even I want to learn how to naturally approach people like you.”
But Irina puts on a gloomy face. “……To be honest I’m full of worries inside me where I go, “Can I get along with this person?”, you know? But I’m Michael-sama’s Ace. I need to be able to confront others without distinguishing them. I……need to make Michael-sama’s compassion into real form as possible.”
To personify as Michael-san’s Ace, huh. “……But there’s one thing I've come to question. If I had remained in that town together with Xenovia back then, would I have become a Devil……and would I be different from now. I start to wonder if I could have got along with the ORC members even more.”
……A possible future like that may have been possible. “Ise-kun is a Devil and I’m an Angel. Until recently both of us were humans. But we are different kinds now.”
I was actually a human till April and Irina was also a human till summer. ……We are different kinds, huh. I think Irina is concerned about the tragedy that happened in the past at Kuou town. The happening between different kinds——. She may have compared that with herself, an Angel, and me, a Devil. “Yeah, but even so. Even if you are an Angel, I don’t care. It doesn’t change the fact that you are my childhood friend and there’s no way the fact of you being my classmate at Kuou academy will change either.”
I said that to Irina directly to her face. Since I learned about that incident I wanted to say this to her no matter what——. “—There’s no such thing as a forbidden thing between me and you. No, even if it was forbidden, I’m still your childhood friend. If you are in danger I will definitely save you.”
Irina turns red and becomes happy hearing that. But she suddenly looks down. “……If both Rias-san and I get in danger, who will you save?”
“I will save both. That’s why I’m desperately trying to get stronger.”
I answer right away. Of course. I will save both Rias and Irina. Of course I will. They are both important to me—. It doesn’t matter whether I’m a Devil or she’s an Angel. Irina’s voice starts shaking. “……That was unfair of me.