Chapter 19: Hunger, Hobbies, and the Knight's Resolve
The abandoned church on the outskirts of Kuoh was less of a sanctuary and more of a ruin. Inside, a single rusted tub held the only luxury left to the Vatican's finest: a half-bath's worth of lukewarm water.
Irina: [Splashing water gloomily] "This is all your fault, Xenovia! If you hadn't spent our travel budget on those 'holy relics' at the border, we wouldn't be bathing in a haunted house!"
Xenovia: "Those weren't relics, they were essential tools! And you're the one who bought that suspicious photograph from the salesman at the station!"
Irina: [Holding up a framed, blurry photo] "He said a legendary warrior was sealed inside! It's an investment in our combat strength!"
Xenovia: "It's a picture of a man eating a sandwich, Irina. We have no food. My stomach is currently making sounds that I'm fairly certain are forbidden by the scripture."
Grumble.
Both girls slumped into the water, their stomachs harmonizing in a chorus of starvation. Pride was a great motivator, but it was a terrible meal.
The Recruitment Drive
Back in the city, I was leaning against a stone pillar near the school gates, watching Issei try to play the part of a diplomat. Saji, the Sona Sitri's Pawn, was looking at us with a mixture of pity and terror.
Saji: "Let me get this straight. You want me to help you track down a rogue Knight and a Holy Sword thief without telling the Student Council? Do you want me to get executed?"
Issei: "Come on, Saji! We're Pawns! We've got to stick together! Plus, Asia is worried, and you can't say no to her face, right?"
Saji: [Glancing at Asia, then back to Issei] "Your President might forgive a little 'unauthorized heroics,' but my President? Sona-sama is an expert in punishments that don't leave physical scars but stay in your nightmares forever. I'm out."
Motohama: [Stepping forward, my glasses catching the light] "Rias is going to punish me regardless of how this ends. But if the plot line diverts here—if Kiba actually falls—this whole territory goes up in smoke. You want to explain to Sona why the city was leveled because you were afraid of a lecture?"
Saji: "I... well..."
Koneko: [Appearing behind Saji like a ghost, holding a smartphone] "Saji-senpai. I have a recording of you talking about Sona-sama's 'hidden charms' in the clubroom. If you don't help, I hit 'send' to the Student Council group chat."
Saji: [Turning pale] "You... you're a devil, Koneko-chan! A literal devil!"
Koneko: "Yes. That is what it says on my ID card. Now, move."
The Secret Bath and the Starving Saints
While we were strong-arming Saji, the "Kings" were having their own summit. In the private Gremory baths, steam filled the air as Sona Sitri sat across from Rias.
Sona: "You're worrying too much, Rias. He is a Knight of the Gremory house. He will return."
Rias: [Sighing as she leaned back] "I know he will. But he's so impulsive. And Motohama... he went after him without my permission. He told me he'd 'handle it,' but if he gets hurt, I don't know who I'll be angrier at—Kiba or him."
Sona: "Your Pawn has a way of staying three steps ahead of the chaos. Trust him."
Outside, the "chaos" was currently being fed. We had stumbled upon Irina and Xenovia standing near a street vendor, looking like cloaked ghosts staring at a corn dog.
Motohama: "You two look like you're ready to start a Holy War over a bowl of ramen. Sit down. I'm buying."
Xenovia: [Trying to maintain her dignity while inhaling a bowl of beef] "We are only accepting this because a starving warrior cannot execute God's will properly."
Issei: "Look, we'll help you destroy the fragments. We don't want them in the city, you don't want them stolen. It's a win-win."
Xenovia: [Exchanging a look with Irina] "Our survival rate alone is barely 40%. Fine. We will use your strength for now. But once the swords are secure, we go back to being enemies."
The Knight's Fist Bump
We found Kiba in the park, his aura a jagged, dark mess. He tensed the moment he saw the Vatican duo, his hand hovering over a magic circle.
Kiba: "Why are they here, Motohama? Have you brought the Church to finish me off?"
Motohama: [Walking up to him, ignoring the killing intent] "They're here because they're hungry and they're tired of failing. They've agreed to help us destroy the fragments. No more 'Holy Sword' nonsense in this town."
Kiba: "Why would they agree to that? It's their pride!"
Xenovia: "Valper Galilei—the man who conducted the experiments you survived—was expelled from the Church. He is a heretic. We have no pride in his works. We want them erased as much as you do."
Kiba hesitated, his eyes darting between Issei's determined face, Koneko's stoic support, and my calm gaze.
Motohama: "We're doing this together, Kiba. If you try to carry this grudge alone, you'll just break. Fist bump the idiot Issei and let's get to work."
Issei: "Hey! Who are you calling an idiot?! But yeah, Kiba... just keep your cool. We've got your back."
Kiba slowly reached out, his knuckles meeting Issei's in a firm, silent pact. The tension didn't disappear, but it became a shared weight instead of a solitary one.
Motohama: "Good. Now, let's go find a heretic. I've got a feeling Rias is already counting the minutes until she can scold us."
Crom Cruach: [Inside Motohama's head] "A fist bump? How sentimental. But at least the sword-boy has stopped leaking 'victim energy.' It was starting to ruin my mood."
Next chapter covers the transition from the haunting echoes of the past to the brutal reality of the present. It captures the frantic energy of the raid on Valper's hideout and the terrifying aftermath of being caught by the "Kings." Enjoy your hints