Dinner ended. Everyone who sat at the dinner table, which meant Gabriel-san, Asia-san, Shitori-kaichou, Serafall-san, Raynare-san, Koneko-chan, Kunou, Kuroka, Ophis, and I, began to talk about Asia-san's situation.
Shitori-kaichou let Asia-san speak for herself, with her providing Kunou and me translations. From what I can gather, Asia-san was a former devout nun from Italy. She was revered as the Holy Maiden by the people and church because of her healing ability. However, she was branded as a heretic and witch because she healed an injured Devil.
As an Angel, Gabriel-san actually knew of her and expressed her apologies to Asia-san for the treatment from the church, and offered to let Asia-san stay in an apartment room for free. After that one problem solved, it was time to solve the other one.
"Let's move to the next matter," I started. "Raynare-san, has your leader told anything about other Fallen Angel coming to this town?"
Raynare-san frowned, "No, Azazel-sama hasn't. He implied that the only Grigori operative sent here is me."
"So can we assume that this is a serious matter? I know not about the state of the Fallen Angel but, how big is the chance that this is not coming from the leader himself, but someone else?" Shitori-kaichou put out her thoughts.
"It's possible, yes. However, the question remains. Why was Asia-chan sent here? What will the Fallen Angels get with her being here?" Serafall-san was unusually in a serious mode. Even just from this glimpse, I could see how she got her position as a leader.
"Maybe an operation? Asia can heal, after all. Fallen Angels have no actual healing power besides our natural regeneration. Maybe she is a backup or something?"
"An unsanctioned operation in this town? If it comes to that, is there something unusual happen lately that can get the attention of the Fallen Angels?" Just like Serafall-san, Gabriel-san also lost her airheaded aura and replaced it with full seriousness. However, unlike Serafall-san, I've seen her with this kind of expression multiple times.
I was about to say something when Kunou yawned. I looked at the clock and finally realized how late it was.
"I will tuck Kunou in," Ophis stated. She took Kunou's hand and led her to my bed.
After that, we continued our conversation. "If this is unsanctioned in the first place, why don't we try talking to them? We find them and then let Raynare-san talk to them. Surely you know everyone in your organization?" I asked Raynare-san.
"Not everyone. We are a prideful bunch. Most of us had our own group of friends that we talk usually. However, I do not deny that maybe I can know who it is," Raynare-san answered.
"It's so like you, Ise-kun, to solve a problem through peaceful talk," Gabriel-san smiled at me. Well, if I let everyone became a violent bunch then surely no matter how much the apartment building was fortified even by magic, it would crumble before dusk.
But I didn't say it. I just scratched my cheek with a smile plastered on my face. No need to make them angry.
"I'll check the church later tonight. In the meantime, I will try to contact Azazel-sama about another operative here."
"Thank you, Raynare-san."
"No need. If whoever ordered Asia-san to come here really exist and not some higher-ups mistakes, then I'll subdue them and present them to Azazel-sama. Maybe that way I can the promotion I want, ehehehehe," Raynare smirked evilly at no one in particular. If I didn't know it, I would assume she was an evil girl.
"I want to go with Raynare-san but when I consider everything, I think it would be better if she goes alone," Gabriel-san said to all of us.
"Yep. It would be fine if it's other angels, but when you consider Gabby-chan's status, it would be seen as an aggressive move," Serafall-san nodded.
"Meanwhile, we Devils cannot go near the church. It's a shame. I would very much like to meet with those Fallen Angels," Shitori-kaichou seemed protective of Asia-san. I would too if I get to know her. Sadly we had this thing called language barrier that separated us. I hoped that I can know her well eventually.
"I do not mind."
Everyone turned their attention to the one who had just said that. It was Ophis. She had finished tucking Kunou to bed and offered her service.
"Err..." Raynare-san looked a little terrified of Ophis. I guessed I teased her too far? I should apologize to her later. For now, lets' tease her even more.
"That's a great idea, Ophis-chan. With you there, I won't have to worry about the meeting turning into fights. You can just blast them all if they misbehave," I exaggerated slightly what Ophis can do.
Ophis nodded stoically, and it made Raynare froze. It seemed like she caught on what I implied to her. Heh.
"Ise. For that, I want Kobe Beef."
...
...
This was karma, wasn't it? Because I was making fun of Raynare-san, this happened, isn't it?
Goodbye, my savings, you will be missed.
"S-Sure, Ophis-chan, ahaha," I answered with an awkward laugh. "Oh look at the time, it's this late, huh? Well, I'm off to sleep, thank you for your hospitality, see you tomorrow."
I rushed to my bed and cried.
Moneeeeeeeeeeyyyyyyyyyyy!
For Raynare, meeting the Ouroboros Dragon was a terrifying experience, if not for the human Hyoudou Issei, who seemed to have tamed her. She was just a nobody in the big scale, and yet here she was, together with the dragon herself in front of the abandoned church.
She had contacted Azazel-sama, and just as she suspected, she was the only Grigori operatives in this town. Then Azazel inquired about her progress in the Serene apartment and she gave him the full report and by the full report, it meant every detail from her rise from bed early in the morning to her descend into bed at the end of the day.
Beside her, Ophis the Ouroboros Dragon was silent. Ophis had been silent ever since they left the apartment, and she was too terrified of her power to try starting a conversation with the dragon in little girl form.
Raynare entered the church, with Ophis following after her. Inside, she was greeted with three Fallen Angels familiar to her and one human in priest garb that she didn't know.
"Hey hey, who is this beauty?" the priest spoke when he saw her. Great. This one was a fake priest.
"Raynare? What are you doing here?"
The one who asked was Mittelt, a Fallen Angel she knew well. They weren't close but they certainly can be considered as friends.
"I should be the one asking you, Mittelt, Kalawarner, Dohnaseek. What are you doing here?" Raynare asked them back.
The three Fallen Angels looked at each other in confusion. "We're here on a mission from the higher-ups."
"Are you sure? Because I've just contacted Azazel-sama and he said the only operatives in this town is me."
Now the three looked even more confused. "But we clearly got our order from the higher-ups!" Kalawarner exclaimed.
Dohnaseek sighed. "I guess my suspicions are true. The order didn't come directly as it usually did, instead it was delivered via letter. However, the letter we got had Azazel-sama's stamp on it so we carried the mission as usual."
Raynare gasped in realization. "Then someone in Grigori stole Azazel-sama's stamp?!"
Mittelt twitched her eyes. "Seriously, Raynare. We're talking about a possible treachery and your attention is on the stamp itself?"
Dohnaseek shook his head. "It is possible for someone to create a duplicate of Azazel-sama's stamp. It has to be someone close to him so whoever they are pretty much high in the hierarchy."
Kalawarner sighed. "We're fucked, aren't we? If we do this, we're gonna be chased out for treachery. If we ditch this, then whoever wanted us to do this mission would target us."
Silence fell to the room.
"What is your mission, anyway?" Raynare asked them.
"We are to wait for the former Holy Maiden and extract her Sacred Gear."
Aw shit, Raynare thought. They definitely could not finish the mission. Not after Gabriel-sama offered her place for Asia. But as Kalawarner said, if they didn't finish it, then whoever the traitor was, they would certainly hunt her friends.
"Speaking of which, Raynare, what is your mission here? And who is the little girl behind you?" Dohnaseek asked her.
Wait! That's it!
"My mission here is to represent the Fallen Angels in a peace project in the form of an apartment complex. If you come with us, maybe the landlady can set a place for you there."
The three Fallen Angels look intrigued. "Who is the landlady?"
Raynare just smiled. "That's a surprise. Come on, follow me."
"Hold on hold on. So you mean to abandon this? To hell with that! I was promised a fight or a woman in this mission and I got neither!" Suddenly the fake priest threw a tantrum.
"Isn't that how life is? You want something but you don't get anything," Raynare retorted with a little laugh. She didn't snort. A woman never snort.
"You're lucky you're beautiful, lady, or else I'll shut that mouth with my-"
He didn't get to finish what he wanted to say because suddenly everyone froze in terror. The source of that terrifying feeling was the girl behind Raynare.
She was right! Dragons were scary!
"Too loud. I hate noisy people. Begone noise."
All the pressure coming from Ophis and it was directed at everyone. Was this... was this why that Hyoudou Issei always told everyone to not bother Ophis at night? Scary!
The fake priest ran away in silence. He probably too terrified to have the last word.
"I am sleepy. Raynare, let's go," Ophis started walking towards the exit.
"R-Right! Come on, guys," still terrified, Raynare followed Ophis' words, with her fellow Fallen Angels behind her. It would be bad if they somehow incur the Dragon's wrath.
