Chapter 40 - DxD - Just want to survive

That match, brief yet dense, left something that could not simply be ignored by Himejima Akeno.

She stood slightly to the side of the field, her sacred umbrella leaning against the wooden wall of the hall. Her face remained calm, her trademark smile barely changing. Yet behind that gentle expression, her thoughts were moving far faster than the sword movements that had just stopped in the middle of the field.

Before today, her understanding of Jun had been fairly simple.

A mysterious young man, yes. Somewhat reserved, true. Possessing an aura that was… difficult to explain, perhaps.

But still—an ordinary human. At least, that was what she had believed until now.

She sensed no demonic aura from him. No Fallen Angel energy. No trace of dragon, holy power, or curse. Jun existed in the supernatural world like a layperson who had been dragged to its edges by chance—someone who knew more than he should, but did not truly belong within it.

Until just now.

Akeno had witnessed it herself: Xenovia Quarta—an elite of the Church, a former bearer of Excalibur, a swordswoman forged under the harsh doctrines of the Vatican—facing Jun head-on.

And losing.

Not losing due to carelessness or a moment of distraction, but losing in the literal sense.

Akeno's memory automatically drifted to a previous incident. When Xenovia fought Yuuto Kiba—a wielder of a demonic sword, a knight of Rias Gremory, and one of the finest swordsmen Akeno knew. That duel had been fierce, brutal, and had ended with Kiba's defeat. Magic sword clashed with Excalibur, and the result was clear: Xenovia stood above him.

That was not an insult to Kiba. It was simply fact.

Xenovia was a master swordsman.

And precisely because of that, what Akeno had just seen now felt… illogical.

Jun had not used a holy sword. He had not even displayed a single technique familiar from the supernatural world.

Yet every step he took felt precise.

Every swing seemed to be in harmony with something unseen.

And then—there was that scent.

Akeno frowned faintly.

The fragrance of plum blossoms.

Thin, soft, almost like a spring breeze that passed too quickly to be noticed. Not a real aroma coming from flowers around the shrine—because there were no blooming plum trees there at this time.

Yet Akeno felt it.

More than that, for a brief moment it was as if she saw petals drifting through the air, moving in rhythm with Jun's sword. Not an ordinary visual illusion. No magic had been activated. No incantation spoken.

But it was also… not mere imagination.

"..."

Akeno said nothing. She simply observed.

When the duel ended, she saw Jun move on reflex—reaching out to grab Xenovia's hand as she fell, before the woman's body truly touched the ground. His movement was natural, without hesitation, without condescension. As if it were the most natural thing in the world.

It was at that moment that Akeno realized something.

She no longer knew who Jun truly was.

"Jun…" she murmured softly, almost soundless. "Who are you, really?"

On the other side of the field, Irina Shidou stood stiff.

As a former ordinary human who had grown up within the Church, Irina possessed a more straightforward worldview. To her, the world was fairly clearly divided: humans, devils, angels, and so on. She was not accustomed to gray areas.

And what she had just witnessed clearly lay within that gray zone.

Xenovia—her friend, her partner, someone she considered far stronger than herself—had just been defeated by a young man who, in theory, should not have had any chance at all.

Irina stared at Jun with eyes filled with shock… and then admiration.

His sword technique was beautiful.

Like a dance. Like flowers falling in the wind.

And just like Akeno, she too had caught that faint scent of plum blossoms.

Irina swallowed.

She did not know what to think.

But one thing felt clear.

Jun was not an "ordinary human."

Whether he came from the supernatural world, or possessed a background entirely different from anything they knew—one thing was certain: he was hiding something.

And more worrying than that: he was hiding it extremely well.

Akeno finally smiled again, the same gentle smile she always wore.

But this time, there was a new distance formed behind it.

Not hostility, nor open suspicion.

But caution.

...

The watch on Jun's wrist vibrated softly as he glanced at it. The short hand had already passed the hour that would normally send a sane person home, not keep them in the backyard of a shrine.

"All right," he said with a small sigh, his tone casual as if the duel earlier had been nothing more than a light warm-up. "Looks like I should head home too."

Irina, who had been standing somewhat stiffly beside Xenovia, immediately stepped forward and bowed politely.

"Thank you very much," she said sincerely. "And… please forgive my friend's selfishness. We truly caused you trouble."

Jun chuckled softly, waving his hand as if it were no big deal at all.

"It's fine," he replied lightly. "People often misunderstand. They think I'm putting on a street performance, when I'm really just training."

Irina smiled in relief upon hearing that.

On the other side, Jun briefly glanced toward Akeno—who had been standing with a gentle smile ever since the duel ended, one that… for some reason felt difficult to explain. It was the same smile as always, but there was something behind her eyes. Something thinking far too deeply.

"Akeno?" Jun tilted his head. "Are you all right?"

Akeno gave a small start, then smiled wider—too quickly, too neatly.

"Ah, yes… of course," she replied. "I'm perfectly fine."

Jun nodded, though it was clear he was not entirely convinced.

"I'll repay you for this later," he said, gesturing around at the field and the time he had borrowed.

"There's no need, Jun-san," Akeno replied gently. "I also watched something very interesting today. To be honest… I'm impressed. Your sword style is not something I've ever seen before."

"Well," Jun smiled faintly and shrugged, "that's because it really is a special sword style."

He glanced at his watch once more, then took a step back.

"Anyway, I really should go now. See you again."

Without waiting for further replies, Jun turned and walked down the shrine's stone path. His steps were quick, almost hurried, as if he did not want to give anyone time to ask more questions.

Irina watched him until his back completely disappeared beyond the trees.

A few seconds passed.

And the air… changed.

Akeno's smile remained, but it now felt different. Sharper. More dangerous, even though it was still wrapped in her usual gentleness.

"Ara~" she said softly, turning toward Xenovia. "This is truly unexpected. I didn't think you could lose to an ordinary human."

Xenovia immediately frowned. Her shoulders tensed.

"Don't joke around, devil," she snapped. "You know very well that man is not an ordinary human."

"Oh?" Akeno tilted her head, her smile widening slightly. "Is that so~?"

Her tone was light, almost teasing—and that was precisely what made it irritating.

"Tch." Xenovia clenched her fist. "Don't make me angry. Or I really will cut you down right now."

Irina immediately panicked.

"X-Xenovia! Please calm down!" She stepped half a pace between them, even though she clearly knew it wouldn't help much if either of them truly intended to fight.

Akeno laughed softly, covering her mouth with a finger.

"Sorry, sorry~ I was only joking," she said sweetly. "But I do agree with you on one thing."

She turned her gaze toward the path where Jun had disappeared.

"That man… is clearly not an ordinary human."

Xenovia snorted softly, then turned her face away.

"Whether he's human or not," she said stiffly, "what's clear is this… his sword technique is real. It's not an illusion. Not magic."

Irina nodded slowly. "I felt it too. There's something… different."

Akeno closed her eyes for a moment, then opened them again with the gentle smile that had returned to its usual form.

'I have to know what is really going on,' Akeno thought, intending to send her familiar to tail Jun—something she had never considered before. But with the situation changing, she had to do it.

The night wind blew softly, carrying a faint lingering scent that, for some reason, still remained vividly in her mind.

Plum blossoms.