After school, I headed to the ORC. I need Rias' help to move the research forward. After all, she is also being affected by the contract. When I arrived in the ORC, Akeno, Rias, and Koneko seemed uneasy. And Kiba is nowhere to be seen.
"What's wrong with you guys?" I asked.
"Kiba has been acting weird lately after he met with an ex-priest that was wielding a sword," Rias said. I already realised what was going on. I guess Valper Galilei was able to find a different person to wield the stolen Excalibur fragments.
"Aha? Does he have some sort of vendetta against the priest or something," I played dumb. I didn't want them to know I knew what was going on when I hadn't been told anything about it.
"Not the priest, but the sword," Rias said. She is genuinely concerned for Kiba. She then told me about Kiba's past, how Kiba was a survivor of the Holy Sword Project. And how Kiba has a desire to destroy the swords.
"For now, we are keeping an eye on him through our familiars. But I have a feeling that the more this goes on, the worst he will become, especially now that a fragment is here in Kuoh," Rias said. Then Sona and Tsubaki knocked and entered the room. Sona looked serious.
"Rias, would you please accompany me to my house? No one will be able to interfere there, and Ise, I'd like it if you come along as well," Sona said.
"This looks serious. But what do you need me for?" I asked.
"I'd like you to be a mediator between the two parties later. Since you aren't part of the Devil or the other party, I believe that you would be able to make an unbiased decision," Sona said. That makes sense. I'm guessing it had something to do with her talk with the church.
"That's not a problem. And if you want a private place to have a conversation, I can help with that. We don't have to go over your house," I said.
"But I wanted to…." Sona mumbled.
"What was that?" I asked. Even with enhanced hearing, I couldn't make out what she mumbled.
"I said I wanted to invite you to the sauna in my place!" Sona shouted. She became beet red.
"Why didn't you say so. But are you sure? Won't you be…I don't know, naked in the sauna?" I said.
"I-It's f-fine. I don't mind if you see," Sona said. This was probably the first time she would be inviting a guy to the sauna with her. She was beet red.
"Okay then, if you're sure," I said.
After that, we headed to Sona's place. When Serafall got wind of Sona going to the sauna with me, she decided to go as well. She said that she would not allow anyone to see her Sona naked besides her. I don't understand how her head works. If she didn't want me to see Sona naked, won't it be better to stop me from going to the sauna in the first place rather than join us?
Anyway, we are now in the sauna. Sona was utterly naked, and she was sitting next to me. Serafall wanted to sit beside her, but Sona told her to sit elsewhere. Serafall, Tsubaki and Rias decided to have towels around them. Akeno, on the other hand, didn't. And that's not all, she keeps giving me this seductive look here and there, but I can tell that she isn't serious. She was enjoying the teasing but was failing miserably. As for me, I have nothing to be ashamed of. Of course, I was butt naked.
"Now, onto the matter to why we are here," Sona said while scooting closer to me to the point that our body was touching.
"This morning, I was in contact with two affiliates of the church. They asked to talk to you, Rias," Sona said.
"Church affiliates wanting a meeting with a Devil? That's got to be a joke," Rias said.
"Whatever the case, if they want to meet, it can't be for anything good. So, how did you reply to them?" Rias added.
"I accepted. Tomorrow after school, they will visit the club room. However, there is something that worries me. These two affiliates had a Holy Sword with them. That's why I want Ise to be a mediator. Him not being a Devil or a Nun would help with the situation. Plus, if a fight was to break out, Ise could easily end it," Sona said. Rias and the others looked at Sona, understanding why she invited me.
"Are you okay with that, Ise? You don't have to agree if you don't want to," Sona said.
"No, I'll help. In one condition…." I whispered something in Sona's ear. I can see everyone in the sauna curious as to what it was that I told Sona. All they can see is Sona becoming beet red.
"Ahem! I'll accept," Sona said. Serafall was getting irritated. Not only did she not hear what I told Sona. Now, she didn't even know what Sona accepted.
After staying in the sauna for thirty minutes, we headed out. Sona and the other girls are sweating just like ordinary people. As for me, I didn't even break a sweat. That's because my scales are fire and heat resistant. We all got dressed. Then Rias and I headed to my house while Akeno headed to her place. Of course, I kissed Sona goodbye on the lips, which irritated Serafall even further.
When we arrived at the house, Grayfia greeted us and told me that we have two guests from the church. Grayfia then brought me to the living room, where my mom is talking to Irina and Xenovia. Now, you may be asking, 'Why didn't Xenovia and Irina attack Grayfia? Or Raynare?' The answer is simple. Inside the house, a magic signature isn't detectable. I set it this way for such a situation like right now.
"Ah! Ise! Welcome home!" Mom said.
"Long time no see, Issei!" Irina said with a wave of her hand.
"Same to you, Irina," I asked.
"I'm surprised that you remember her. She was such a tomboy back then. You used to think that she was a boy," Mom said.
"Ha-ha-ha! Yeah, I did," I said. I still have memories of the time I saw Irina as a guy. After all, I didn't call her Irina. I called her Shidou. Looking around, I could see Xenovia was eyeing Asia, but she had no idea who Raynare was.
We continued to talk until it was getting late, and Irina and Shidou had to leave. The whole time Xenovia was here. She was staring at Asia like how Aika stares at me. She doesn't hide it. Asia was uncomfortable, so we told her to head upstairs into the room. Xenovia started staring at me when Asia left, but I knew how to ignore people's stares, unlike Asia. I was used to it since I used to be one of the Perverted Trio.