188.
With Issei in the middle, Rias and Asia fight.
From a distance, you might call it a comedy? But for those involved, it seems to be an extremely serious matter. It's a scene men would envy, but it seems Issei is seriously troubled by it too.
Well, Rias is Issei's President and King whom he must serve, and anyway holds many complex feelings, and Asia seems to regard him as a little brother to protect, so he doesn't seem to have any hasty thoughts in that direction.
Judging by other behaviors he occasionally shows, that's probably not all of it....
What should be done about this?
Should I look for a psychological counselor or something?
But what kind of advice should I give to a kid with trauma from being killed by his first girlfriend?
On the contrary, considering he still gets this close despite being killed by his first girlfriend, Issei is amazing in his own way.
189.
Lately, Kiba's condition has been strange.
There was a day when the Occult Research Club members gathered at our house for a meeting, and seeing a childhood photo of Issei triggered something when he saw a holy sword. Is that it? Bad memories, or trauma, or a desire for revenge?
When I asked Rias, it seems Kiba was formerly affiliated with the Church, and after various events, was discarded.
...What have you been doing, God of the Bible.
Aren't you managing your underlings properly?
I thought you were at least a proper god, but I'm a little disappointed.
190.
A desire for revenge, huh.
Frankly, this isn't something for others to comment on. Understanding and empathy are different to begin with, and even going through the same process can lead to different answers. Even during my time as Great Red, there were many frictions between non-humans and humans, and many who burned with a desire for revenge.
I don't really want to say this, but the thirst for revenge is also a kind of dream.
Dreams aren't always beautiful things.
It leaves a slightly bitter taste.
191.
Worried, I approached Kiba.
Outwardly, he puts on a perfect princely smile and builds an iron wall.
It's severe.
Spouting righteous arguments or other words won't change someone like that.
I asked if he would abandon everyone and be destroyed, then.
At those words, he paused for a moment, so it seems he hasn't completely hardened his heart yet. Taking revenge is his freedom, but that also means giving up everything else. Until the flame called revenge is completely extinguished.
I, at least, cannot deny that revenge.
Because that too is at least Kiba's right and one of his dreams.
Even if it's a sad dream, it is also one kind of conclusion.
I won't tell him to forgive the Church guys, but I said there are other paths and left. Until the very end, Kiba wore a complicated expression.
I'll punch you once later, God of the Bible.
192.
A guy named Freed Sellzen revealed himself.
I hear he came wielding something called Excalibur. Holy swords are lethal weapons against devils. But wait, isn't this the territory of a Satan's little sister? Why do so many incidents and accidents happen here?
Ah, perhaps it's *because* it's the territory of a Satan's little sister.
Sometimes being a named figure can hold you back.
As Kiba's expression grew even colder and he tried to move alone, Issei threw a punch at Kiba.
Hey?!
193.
Everyone was surprised by Issei's sudden action, but even Kiba, who got hit, seemed dazed.
"Don't be ridiculous! What 'others'?! What 'different people'?! We're all part of the same Gremory peerage! Even if the time we've spent together is short, aren't we friends and comrades?!"
"...."
"And what if you die while getting revenge?! What about your friends who risked their lives to save you!"
"....!"
"Cut it out! Don't run away by dying! No matter how hard and painful it is, live! Struggle to live! If you keep living, good things will somehow happen!"
At Issei's words, everyone present looked on with wide eyes.
Hmm, righteous words. Very righteous words.
He's my brother, but he's surprisingly good with words.
194.
Irina came.
195.
I thought this before too, but Irina also doesn't seem to be on the ordinary human side. When she suddenly came to the house holding a holy sword, it was a bit absurd, and later when Issei came in, they both seemed flustered.
It seems they noticed each other's holy sword and devil status.
"A lie?! That crossdresser grew up like this?! This is a scam!"
"Who's a crossdresser?! I was clearly a girl!!!"
"If you have a conscience, put your hand on your chest and say that, you violent woman!"
Ah, so that's what it was?
More than that, Issei, isn't your evaluation of Irina too harsh when you even shed a few tears when she moved away?
196.
Irina went 'hmph, hmph,' proudly showing off her body grown into a proper lady. Issei still looked at her with disbelief. Well, in the past, she was at a level where you could call her a pretty boy as a joke.
Now she's grown into a proper lady.
I feel a bit sentimental.
When I looked at her with a grandfatherly smile, she scolded me, saying I looked just like an old man.
Shortly after, Rias arrived and the conversation was settled for the moment.
197.
It seems Excalibur was stolen from the Church.
Ah, so the Excalibur that Freed what's-his-name was using was that one?
More than that, the Church seems surprisingly lax. To have such an important item stolen so easily. It's a scene unimaginable in the past. Has the Church grown complacent over time?
Well, it seems a lot has changed since my time, judging from Asia being branded a witch.
In the past, they weren't that inflexible, I think.
When Asia was called a witch, an angry argument broke out with Issei.
Did she come here to negotiate? Or to fight?
Soon they agreed and started a 2 vs. 2 fight....
"My Excalibur?!"
"Huh, what? Why is this so flimsy?"
"Issei, you idiot?!"
The Excalibur Irina was holding broke from an angry Issei's Boosted Gear attack.
It broke so easily that even Issei seemed bewildered.
No, common sense says that a God-Destroying Tool is superior to an Excalibur that's already broken into seven pieces, right? And he was angry and boosted a lot before attacking, so isn't that outcome natural?