Chapter XXIX
Sona was tempted to call her sister.
It would be so easy.
Just one message and Serafall Leviathan, one of the Four Satans, would come crashing through the walls of reality to handle her problems. And actually allow Sona to do what she wanted, instead of agonizing over whether she could afford to let the girl in front of her go. Because if she did, she would most likely make a beeline for Hyoudou's home.
And that could only spell disaster, therefore the temptation to pass a message along to her sister had to be ignored.
'If I did that… I wouldn't be able to look at myself in the mirror.'
Because Sona came to Kuoh for the sake of developing herself and her skills without having to rely on the Sitri Family or the Leviathan title, all for the sake of building up her own reputation.
If she gave up now, she had no future.
So it was time to take a stand.
"Before I do that, there's something I'd like to discuss."
The strange girl that a few moments ago emanated an even stranger aura stopped. Instead, turning to face her with a puzzled look. Given her… lackadaisical approach to their conversation, the devil figured she had to be upfront if she wanted to grab her attention. If Ena had, indeed, been sent by the Committee, that made her one of the parties interested in influencing the future of Kuoh through the Campione, the newly acknowledged authority of the land.
That made them enemies in a way.
"Ena doesn't see what there is to discuss. This was a courtesy call."
Sona nodded.
"Then won't you allow me the courtesy of hosting you? It would be rude to refuse our hospitality after showing up unannounced, wouldn't you say?"
The girl, Ena, sighed.
"I would rather not. Standing around talking is such a waste of time… but since it's early I guess Ena has the time."
Something about that girl unsettled Sona.
The way she moved, the way she spoke, that surety and confidence that shouldn't exist in someone so young as her, yet seemed to carry an unknown weight that pressed against Sona's senses like a tangible force. Even now, she seemed to have an ethereal feeling to her presence.
As if completely unbothered.
"I will order us some tea then."
Shrugging, the black haired girl took a seat, almost draping herself over the chair.
It reminded Sona of a cat, how she so casually lounged in what was, yes, a high backed, real leather, hand made specialty piece brought from home. But Sona had never actually had anyone look down on her so much as to so blatantly… laze about in it.
"Well, what do you wanna chat about?"
Tilting her head, half glaring through almost-innocent eyes, the Japanese girl continued to tickle something in the back of the Devil's mind.
Yet Sona steeled her nerves. Even if the past few weeks had made it all but clear that she lacked the abilities to stand on the same level as beings like Heretics and Campione, that wasn't any reason to feel intimidated by a human girl around her own age, no matter how eerie she felt.
"Your intentions, or, rather, what are the intentions of the Committee for Kuoh?"
"That's a rather bold question, wouldn't you think?"
"You came into this school and asked me to take you to your target. If anyone here is bold, then it would be you."
That got a lazy smile for the girl.
"Well, I guess you have a point. Nothing stopped you from lying though."
"Then why ask at all?"
Ena Seishuin rested her chin against the palm of her hand.
"It's normal to see your enemy face to face when you're about to declare war, right? Ena is not the type to go behind someone's back, so I thought I'd be upfront and tell you.
It's good manners."
Sona wanted to palm her face.
There was nothing well mannered about coming up to someone to say you were declaring war!
What's the deal with this girl? It was like she was living in her own little world.
"Mah, mah, you gotta understand it from Ena's point of view, you know? You Devils are beings of greed, so we, humans, have got to avoid being too greedy. Asking to win a battle before even starting it is too much! So Ena wanted to at least let you know you had already lost."
"That doesn't make sense." Sona was lying. She understood the threat instantly. "If you say it's too greedy to win before fighting, then why even bother starting the battle at all?"
The History Compilation Committee had been making overtures into Kuoh for weeks now, from the moment those two heretic gods showed up, the groups presence had been a near constant, even if they preferred to keep to themselves and only communicated with the Campione.
Obviously, they had been paving the way for this battle from the very start.
"There is a reason why it's you and not a member from the other japanese factions here. We both know that the Youkai and those old exorcist families wouldn't leave it to someone they have no control over."
Because both served under the gods of japan in one way or another despite being sworn enemies in the past.
"Ooh. Ena's impressed. You're really well informed… for an outsider, that is."
"Ah. I see. You're simply assuming a home field advantage."
"Ena does speak Japanese. You don't."
"Perhaps. But the speech of my sort is understandable to any ear. Can you say the same?"
"But it is not every ear that Ena will need to speak to."
"You say that. But I can tell that you've come here with many assumptions. Assumptions with which you created a plan, or at least a mockup of the battlefield. And it would be unsporting if I allowed you to persist in such delusions."
"Oh? Now Ena must be taken aback at the rudeness."
Sona allowed herself to smile.
"No, of course not."
"It's simply being sporting, then?"
The devil acknowledged the human's words.
"Precisely as you say, Ms. Ena."
"Ena is glad she's not the one doing the talking then." Leaning back, Sona's mind swirled with possibilities as she pieced together the possible meanings of the cryptic statement. Though she may not be as powerful as she'd like, a battle of wits was well within her strike zone.
"Not a woman of words?"
Her opponent shrugged, her lazy smile not once disappearing.
"I like action. Had it been possible Ena would have preferred a straightforward competition with everyone else. Fighting things out takes less time and we could settle this without all the chitchat."
She was oddly upfront about her intentions. Most importantly, she managed to glean an important piece of information.
"You weren't the only one they sent, were you?"
"It's only right, no? We knew from the start that there were two devil heiresses in town and that you were most likely sticking around. So it isn't surprising that the higher ups decided to match the wager. A King's bloodline, while not as immediately valuable as a hero's, still comes with its perks."
That meant there was another unknown variable in town. Someone who, unlike this upfront girl, didn't feel like meeting with Sona face to face.
"But still, to think that both of the heiresses ended up lusting after Japan's newest champion. Though it is perhaps simply that you and your dear friend were already… planning a way to stay together?"
Sona blinked, processed those words, blushed at the implication of it, and frowned.
"I believe that you-"
*Knock, knock, knock*
"Um, President? There was no one outside, are you ok?"
She froze, suddenly casting her senses about when she realized Issei, the Campione they just happened to be discussing, had arrived without so much as a hint of warning. Because of course he would just appear when she least needed him to. That was just her luck.
"Ena is finished, Ms. President."
Slightly incredulous, Sona could only blink when the girl rose.
"The King will reveal himself. Of that there is no doubt."
Issei Hyoudou, the Campione, merely gave the girl a confused look and a short bow.
"Sorry for interrupting."
"No worries." The exorcist bowed back. "Ena needs to get to the front office and pick up her information packet anyways. My apologies for not being able to talk."
Rubbing the back of his head, the young man stepped out of the way and shut the door behind the crazy lady who was here for his… head.
Giving the Devil enough time to open her mouth, shut it, and sigh.
"Hello, Issei, how can I help you?"
"Well, I just wanted to check in with you before class started. I'm not sure what all needed to be done to get Kuoh back to normal and I wanted to know if I could help. That and I figured it would be polite to ask your permission for Yinghua to attend Kuoh. After passing the entrance exam, of course!"
Narrowing her eyes, she considered the young man before her for a long moment. He seemed suddenly shy, shuffling a little in place as he held a transfer request and a parental informational packet. In every way, the Demon King seemed the image of simplicity. As if he was pretending to be a normal, average, if, ahem, eager young man.
And then dismissed the notion immediately.
"That's the Chinese Campione's subordinate, yes?"
Standing at attention, he gave a sharp nod.
"He's staying at my house right now and I wanted to make sure he got to be at least a little normal. Figured it would also mean my parents didn't get in trouble for housing a delinquent or something like that."
Her eyes actually softened and a sudden weight pressed down on her at the same time.
"Sure, Issei." She chuckled a little when he slumped in relief. "I will ensure that his admission is smooth, as I have little doubt in his ability to pass the exam. Have you heard of his reputation?"
"Afraid not." The Campione shook his head. "We've spoken a bit, but mostly he just seems to be… tense, I think? I dunno. Maybe I'm looking too much into it."
"The Treasure of the Lu is considered to be comparable to, hmm, Miyamoto Musashi for the Japanese or about on the level of Oda Nobunaga. You could say that he is a prodigy, born with a once in a century talent, refined into a once in a millennium warrior. And he isn't even fourteen yet."
That actually caused the teenager to narrow his eyes.
"So that guy is the sort to be born with everyone expecting the world of him? No one seeing past his pedigree and just treating him as some sort of tool or weapon?"
A cautious nod from the Devil.
"Then he's staying with me until I can have a talk with that crazy, I mean, a talk with my 'big sister' about treating him better. She seemed to be a bit punchy, but maybe I can talk her into letting him play some soccer or maybe some baseball."
Smiling, shaking her head, the heiress in her was terrified at the ramifications of what that meant. But the person in her couldn't help but appreciate the Insanity of this particular God Slayer. He was going to recklessly stomp over the politics of whole continents, make demands of century old warriors, brush off foreign invasions, and all to put a young man in a school so he could be "normal" for a little while.
"It will probably cause a little trouble. But you have my word you have my backing on this."
"Really? Thank you, President! Ah, is there anything I can do to help? Maybe give some marble to the school's art club? Uh, what, um, do you guys actually need?"
"Hmm." Shuffling some of her paperwork around, Sona considered that idea for a moment or two. "Perhaps. It depends, are you free in the evenings? If so, there might be an agreement we can come to."
Responding with a vigorous nod, the Campione stepped forwards in eagerness.
"Great! I'll see you tonight, then. Where do you want to meet?"
Sona twitched.
That wording felt a bit… off, and for the life of her she couldn't shake the most ominous feeling that she might have played herself.
"Ok class! I want everyone to give a hearty welcome to the new assistant physical education teacher! Touma Amakasu will be helping to get everyone in shape."
The middle aged woman who'd been Kuoh's gym teacher was attractive enough, Issei could admit, even if she was rather… severe. Never mind the fact that if she caught them starting she would most certainly make them run laps. And while those didn't bother Issei as much anymore, he didn't wanna put the whole class through that.
Mrs. Ryuuchi didn't play around.
"So make sure to welcome him with Kuoh Academy spirit."
But standing next to the ninja made her look like a straight up drill sergeant!
"Nice to meet everyone."
When Amakasu bowed his head in greeting, the class did so as well, greeting him in turn. But it highlighted the differences between the two instructors to an almost comical degree.
Both wore the standard sports uniform, disappointingly unisex, but no-one in Japan actually used bloomers anymore. A tradition that Matsuda and Motohama had both agreed was terribly sad to have lost. But that meant the nearly hundred and ninety centimeter tall lady, with the piercing grey eyes, visibly muscled arms, legs that looked like they could shatter cinderblocks, and a nose for trouble filled out the red and white shorts, white T-shirt, and headband, complete with the Kuoh coat of arms, of course, like it was a size too small!
"It's a pleasure to be able to serve as an educator once more. I only hope I can measure up to everyone's expectations."
Despite knowing the guy was actually rather intense, doubly so according to Smith, he was shorter than the woman he stood next to, even if not by much, and the sports uniform hung off his frame like it was a size too big.
His hair was tied back, but still seemed limp. Uncared for, if clean, while the signs of a recent shave made him seem almost sloppy.
In other words, Issei was looking at a man who was probably the second most dangerous person in the room. And when Matsuda whispered to him….
"Man. That guy looks like a middle schooler could kick his ass."
Issei couldn't bring himself to do more than shrug.
"Well, he's a teacher, so it's not like he's going to be fighting students, right?"
"Hmm. For some reason he seems suspicious."
Motohama was about to elaborate when the gym teacher snapped out an order.
"All right people! Enough chit chat. You've got physical exams coming up soon and the class succeeds together, or fails together. So we need to get your rope climb scores up. We'll be working on that today, along with standard warmups."
And that was that.
Even a Campione wasn't foolish enough to challenge a gym teacher with a passion.
So that meant he got to spend the next fifteen minutes going through light stretches and doing the ten minute warmup jog. Not enough to knock the wind out of you, even before he changed, but it was a good start. Heck, he'd not once match Matsuda, usually sticking around the middle of the pack. Now….
"Issei, you bastard! How'd you beat me!"
His friend had him in a headlock because the Campione had blown him out of the water.
"Oi, oi, oi, let me go or I'll flip yah!"
Struggling for a brief moment, the two boys ended up getting separated by the simple fact that, well, their third friend had seen an opportunity. And tugged a rope behind them. Leaving them sprawled out on top of each other, in front of a bunch of girls, and in a not so pleasant position.
There were a few pointed giggles and one girl even whispered to her friend that it was a rather bold love confession.
"Noooo!" The Demon King cried out! "That's horrible! How can you say such a thing!"
"Weren't you the one mumbling about girls love being a natural expression of earnest friendship the other day?" Murayama, one of the kendo club members called out.
"Yes! It is!" Issei emphatically nodded his head, scrambling to his feet. "People should express themselves in beautiful ways! Especially pretty women! But, uh, I think that was actually him?"
Jerking a thumb at Matsuda, the photographer simply grinned.
"And if you ever want your pictures taken while expressing friendship, I-"
Katase, vice captain of the same club as her friend Murayama, interjected.
"Die in a fire, pervert!"
Wounded, the pair decided to pick up a laughing Motohama by the ankles when he tripped trying to run away, and were about to start spinning him around by his feet when they were finally stopped.
"Hah. Youngsters sure are energetic, aren't they, Mrs. Ryuuchi?" Amakasu had suddenly appeared, rope in hand, and gave the young men an eye smile. "I think these three have volunteered to go first."
Visibly unimpressed with their display, Issei couldn't help but wilt a little under the teacher's glare. He wasn't ashamed of defending beautiful things… but, well, she looked at him as if he were a particularly dim squirrel beating itself over the head with an acorn it couldn't bite into.
"Yes. I do think so."
"No worries then! We've already got things set up."
Tossing the spare length of material to the side, Issei watched in awe as Amakasu grabbed onto one of the ropes… and then just freakin' launched himself up it with his arms alone!
"Now, I don't think everyone needs to do that by the end of the semester. But I'll try and demonstrate a few other techniques, ok?"
Holding on with his thighs and feet, their new teacher leaned back, hanging half upside down, and waved at them. Then, he pointed straight at the trio, his glasses somehow remaining perfectly in place, and then at the rope.
"As for you three, do your best! If you need help, I'll be happy to offer it."
Letting himself go, the salaryman managed a mid air backflip, landed on his feet, did a backwards shoulder roll to bleed off momentum, and then popped up in less time than it took for the girls in class to scream.
"For now, let's get started everyone!"
And that was that.
Issei really did need to focus. Sure, he couldn't get tired, but, well, he hadn't actually done much rope climbing before. So even if he was physically able to do it, well….
"Ah!"
He slipped, about half way up, tried to grab the rope, would have scraped his hands if he was still squishy, and ended up hitting the mat flat on his back.
"Well done Issei! You spread out the impact across your body. That's a good instinct you've got." Amakasu praised him from where he was helping one of the female students climb better.
'Hmm. That's odd.'
Sure, Mrs. Ryuuchi was helping out people here and there, but Amakasu was everywhere.
Someone started to slip? He called out a warning.
Someone actually fell? The man caught two different students at once!
And when you started to give out near the top? A small word of encouragement, or a pointed look that silenced the other boys from razzing each other too much.
Sure, it wasn't very… teachery, but it was teacher-like.
Enough that the Campione wondered if the member of the HCC had trained others before. That would explain why he was so well suited for this particular role. And it also made him feel a little….
'Jealous. Hmm.'
It was strange, but, well, everyone was looking at the man with a good bit of wonder.
Was he the ninja that Smith told him about?
After all, that packet of papers was waiting for him… but since he'd gone to speak with Sona that morning, he hadn't had time to read them yet.
'Maybe that's what I'll do tonight, when I get home. Before homework, of course, since the briefing packet is so important.'
"Honorable Brother says what?"
"School. Tommorow. Test. It's already the third time you've asked me this."
"I… fail to see the purpose, Big Brother."
Yinghua was a dutiful apprentice and son.
He understood early on that it was his honor and duty to learn at the feet of Luo Hao, the master cultivator and god slayer, who had in the past taken his ancestors under her wing and allowed them to flourish. Specifically under the condition that a scion of the Lu family would join her once every generation and carry on the training that was left unfinished by the previous apprentice.
As a teen, Yinghua could say with pride he had already overtaken the skills of his predecessor, and yet his skills and accomplishments had only ever served to drive his master to impose greater demands and tribulations on him.
That was normal.
The life Yinghua had grown into from the moment he could walk and speak, he had been handed over as a ward to Luo Hao in accordance to custom, and indeed had excelled in his role as apprentice and attendant.
Now things were different.
They, himself, his Elder Brother, a pair of Devils, including a She Devil, and even some normal humans - though those had gone their own way by now - had "walked home".
Despite being capable of various forms of teleportation and flight, they had opted for a stroll, perhaps to discuss business or further arrangements as he had first expected. But in the end the group spent most of them discussing popular forms of media, homework, which was apparently schoolwork done at home.
Why that was not called schoolwork, too, he did not know. But mostly chalked it up to an issue of translations.
That he was capable of stomaching the presence of those who reminded him of her Eminence was a testament to the virtues he'd cultivated over his short life, after all. Which meant he was that much more confused when Luo Hao's brother, Wakoku's demon king, had declared he needed further instruction.
Yinghua had steeled himself, expecting new trials and demands from the otherwise placid young king.
What he did not expect, however, was to be signed up for standard education.
What purpose could it serve?
In fact, he was so distracted he only noticed the Devil and the She Devil turning to leave when their bodies moved.
An incredible distraction for one who ought to have read their plans in the air currents!
But this Yinghua was forced to admit, if only to himself, he was truly confounded. Obviously no mystical knowledge could be gained, and the physical side left much to be desired if the class he'd watched earlier was anything to go by. Rather, to him they looked like fun games for children.
"Well, it's school. And you're not supposed to be walking around when we're in class. You might get in trouble."
Was this some sort of measure to restrain his movements during the day?
Did the Campione not trust him out of his sight yet?
"I assure you, I will be staying out of sight. A cover up wasn't needed." If it was truly necessary, Yinghua would just avoid being out and about during the day and instead remain active at night. There would be no issue so long as he put together a few familiars to rouse him from sleep in case he was needed.
"Why would I want that? Nah, you and Koneko were doing great earlier. You should go see your friends when you can. Like Koneko."
Yinghua wrinkled his nose in distaste at the mention of the devil girl.
Or he would have if he wasn't in the company of a Campione. Such might be seen as disrespectful, after all. Instead he kept pace with the older boy as they walked back to his home. A simple, short walk away, it nonetheless gave him the ability to accompany his honorable brother as an assistant should.
"Oh, speaking of." Suddenly checking his pockets, Yinghua could only watch in confusion as his Older Brother pulled out a wad of paper bills. "Amakasu included this in my briefing packet. So I, um, well, I don't know what you need, but if you want anything, you can buy it!"
Looking at the… money, Yinghua slowly reached out a hand and took it.
"I dunno how much you actually need, but that's my dad's annual salary in cash. So, um, if you need a house or something just ask!"
"Would you prefer that I secure my own domicile?"
"No!" The Campione waved his hands around. "We have plenty of room at home, ah, dang. That wasn't what I was trying to say. Hmm. How about this? Are you comfortable sleeping where you are, little buddy?"
A nod.
"It is most excellent, yes." A third bedroom on the top floor of the Hyoudou residence, across from the Campione's own place of rest. While they shared a restroom, it was hardly anything comparable to what Elder Sister had preferred. On either end of the extremes. "I do not wish to relocate, unless you require additional space."
For some reason, Wakoku's governor blushed at that, suddenly nervous.
"Well, ahem, you see, there's… no. You're too young for me to even consider admitting that. Yes."
"As you say, Elder Brother."
"Man." For some reason, and Yinghua had gladly accepted that it was the way of Kings to simply be a little different from normal folk, he suddenly appeared wistful. "That's why you've gotta go to school. If you don't, you'll look back on this time of your life and wonder why you spent it all cultivating, you know?"
"But… is that not our purpose? To serve as tools and governors of the lands of men? The Lu dynasty has served the Qing since they began, even fighting in wars that threatened to overturn them, and served the Ming before them. Elder Sister may trace her lineage back to the time of the Xuanzong Emperor, while even in your land all peoples are of relation to your Emperor and, through His holy blood, the Divine Radiance of the Sun."
Issei looked at him with what might have been pity, though Yinghua had never seen such an expression before, and simply leaned over and put him in a headlock.
"Tell you what buddy. You go to school, it'll make me happy. How does that sound?"
Despite not really hurting, it was strange that the Campione was grinding his knuckles against the top of his head, so, squirming free, the teenager complied.
"This Yinghua would be delighted to do so."
The rest of their trip home was spent in companionable silence. Sometimes Yinghua would make a comment, other times big brother would ask his opinion about something or another, usually about the physical features of his fellow students. A waste of time, truly.
None of those vipers would ever see this King's shadow if Yinghua had his say.
Far too alike to their master for his tastes, the women of the Five Mountain's Cult were as dedicated to training and combat as the founder, however, because their sect was led by a matriarch, they believed only one of them would be chosen to inherit the seat of leader. Many would go as far as to believe Yinghua himself was some sort of prize being dangled by Luo Hao to tempt her students.
A stupid idea if there was ever one.
As if Luo Hao would ever abdicate control of their group or care about such things as training successors.
The Five Mountains Cult was to Luo Hao as the fingers were to a person's hand. A mere extension, useful for manipulating tools and the world around oneself, yet miniscule when compared to the entirety of the body.
"So they won't try to get you in trouble for staying?"
He appreciated the concern, unneeded as it might have been.
"It will prove no issue. If they wish to take umbrage with this Lu Yinghua, they may do so at their own peril. That is the way of our sect."
The young king looked at him perplexed, attempting to decipher the meaning of his words. As prone to attracting trouble as Big Brother seemed to be, his heart appeared far gentler than most.
"What about your family?"
"What about them? I do not believe any of my relatives surpass me in martial skill if that is your worry."
The last he'd seen of them was when his cousins thought they could usurp his place as her Eminence's apprentice. A delusion which he swiftly disabused them of before sending the duo back home. Much as he had done his uncle the year prior.
"That's… not what I meant. Don't you miss them?"
Miss them? Did he?
It was hard to miss near strangers who only showed up when they wanted to test how much stronger you'd grown. They weren't keen on having him around otherwise so he never wondered whether he wanted to be around them. But that apparently was just how things were between them and Her Eminence.
In many ways, Big Brother's household felt more like a family.
Mr. Gorou was playful and exuberant at times. He worried but showed it in a way that didn't feel overbearing. Mrs. Miki, on the other hand, was unlike any woman he had spent any measure of time around for as long as he could remember. Stern at times, but unbothered and carefree in a way that reminded him of a bird untethered to the ground.
'Her anger should not be provoked.' He'd decided as he moved in, endeavoring to make himself useful around the house.
She appreciated it, and Yinghua felt compelled to continue doing so.
Their family was a gentle one. How did it give rise to a god slayer? He had yet to figure out.
"Man, I thought those cultivator fantasy novels were bunk for being so grim but you guys really weren't lying about-"
He stopped, bumping into the Campione.
"You okay there?"
"Big Brother… I sense an unknown at the house."
Immediately, the young man went from carefree to concerned. Body tensing as every inch of the god slayer reacted to the idea of a fight. Untrained as he may have been, the martial artist felt the boundless well of Ki within Wakoku's campione swell and churn angrily as the stormy sea.
Swiftly, the duo made their way back to the Hyoudou residence, Yinghua's mind locked onto the presence he felt as they neared their destination.
"Mom? Are you home?"
Yinghua followed at the young king's back, unwilling to let him suffer an ambush should that be this stranger's intent. The duo walked in warily, calmly, though he was sure that if roused to anger, the entire house would be consumed in a storm of stone, terror, and poison.
Very few things could threaten a Campione.
Their families? That was something else altogether and as the duo pushed inside, neither even stopping to take their shoes off, Yinghua prayed this wasn't some sort of harebrained scheme.
"In the living room, honey!"
The younger boy sighed in relief at the tone.
"Something happen? I saw an extra pair of shoes at the door!"
There was a moment of silence.
"We have a guest, could you come over and see them before you go to your room?"
"By your side, Elder Brother."
Issei gave a slow nod, swallowed, and pushed ahead.
And then stopped suddenly.
"Oi! Aren't you guys, wait, hmm. Why are you familiar!"
"Issei! That's no way to talk to a guest!"
Yinghua was proven right about avoiding the wrath of Mrs. Miki, as she immediately cowed a Campione with little more than a glare and a twist of his ear - truly her technique must be impeccable if it was able to surpass a God Slayer's durability so easily!
But that gave him plenty of time to take in the Viper sitting calmly at the Hyoudou's coffee table, sipping on tea quite gently, while carefully perched on the edge of his seat on the sofa.
'Brown hair, ah, in the style called "twin tails", European. Purple eyes indicate non standard human. Mild holy aura. Member of the Bronze Cross? No. Not… arrogant enough. Catholic Church? White robe with green stripes indicate lay initiate of monastic knights. Possibly. Membership is… indiscrete. Definite familiarity with Elder Brother. And another aura outside.' He did not look away, nor did the pleasant smile on his face change at all. 'Possible ambush? No. Neither is strong enough. I could kill her before she activated her weapon. Unless I am missing something - ah!'
Far more intriguing, however, was the package sitting next to her.
Because that screamed of divine magic.
'Wait. No. Overthinking this. The Viper kills with a sudden bite, not a rushing strike.'
The young woman waved them in with a smile that radiated cheer and confidence. Big Brother, for his part, looked stumped. As if he couldn't tell whether he recognized her or not.
"Hello young man! My name is Irina Shidou. It's a pleasure to meet you. And hello there, Issei! It's been a long while, huh?"
Yinghua shuffled back, on guard.
Nothing good ever came when women smiled at him.