Chapter 262 Tears and Bonds

“Asia… do you remember me?”

“Y-Yes… we spoke once… briefly…”

“Indeed. You were a truly devout believer—now, take this.”

From his robes, he produced a bundle of envelopes.

Asia accepted them, clearly confused as to their contents.

“Um… what are these?”

“These are letters of gratitude. Written by those you healed. Even after you were expelled from the Church, they continued to arrive.”

Asia froze, unable to even speak from shock.

“If you would, please read them… and reply. Many only learned later of your expulsion and have been worried about you. I have already made arrangements with the Church, so… I ask that you answer them.”

“Yes!”

“…When I heard of your expulsion, I attempted to secretly arrange a place to protect you. But I was too late. I am sorry.”

Strada took her hand and bowed his head.

At that moment, Asia could no longer hold back her tears.

Clutching the letters to her chest, droplets fell one after another onto the ground.

After gently patting her head with his large hand, Strada turned to the next person who had entered the field—Azazel.

“Former Governor of the Fallen Angels… it seems you have successfully smoked out the traitors among us.”

“…What do you mean?”

Issei, unable to follow, asked for clarification.

Azazel answered.

“I told you earlier, Rizevim was behind the coup, right? That means someone on the Church’s side was helping him. And sure enough, members of Qliphoth showed up in this specialized field. Someone sold them the entry formula for this space. Once you know that, you can set a trap and catch them.”

“…Didn’t you go beyond a trap and set up a whole ambush, Ikki?”

“Isn’t that just how he always is?”

“…True.”

Hey, could you not immediately agree like that!?

“Former Governor, I have something else to give you. Consider it an apology for this incident.”

Just as I was about to tear up from Issei’s misplaced trust, Strada took out a small vial.

Inside were fragments resembling pieces of pottery, yet they radiated an incredibly dense holy aura.

Azazel’s eyes widened as he stared at it.

“…I see. So it really is this.”

Strada nodded.

“In case the worst should come… I thought you might need it.”

“Sensei, what is that?”

“This… is a fragment of the Holy Grail. A genuine one.”

Everyone present stared at the vial in shock.

Even without being researchers, the value of a fragment of the legendary Holy Grail was obvious.

Once Azazel stored it away, Strada turned to Yuuto.

“Knight of Rias Gremory… I hear you were once called Isaiah in the Church facility?”

“H-How do you know that…?”

“In those harsh experiments, some disappeared along the way, did they not? But not all died. One survived. Does the name Tosca mean anything to you?”

Yuuto nodded frantically.

One survivor. A name.

That was more than enough to understand.

Strada shifted his gaze—and from behind the Church members, a girl stepped forward.

She looked around twelve or thirteen, with white hair tied in braids.

She stared straight at Yuuto.

Then, in a trembling voice, she spoke his old name.

“…Isaiah?”

“…Tosca… is that really you?”

His voice was dry, his body trembling.

He still can’t fully accept what he’s seeing…

Yuuto slowly approached her.

When he reached her, she stood on her toes and gently placed her hand on his cheek.

“Isaiah… you’ve grown so much. I’m still the same as before…”

Feeling the warmth of her touch—

Yuuto finally broke.

Tears streamed down his face as he pulled her into an embrace.

“It’s okay… none of that matters… Tosca is alive… that alone… that’s all that matters…”

“…Yeah. I’m happy you’re alive too, Isaiah.”

Tears gathered in her eyes as she returned the embrace.

Just like with Asia earlier—

Everyone around us was quietly crying.

Me? Yeah… I’m crying too.

I’m the type who tears up at emotional scenes in movies… no way I’m holding it in here.

“You may take her with you.”

Strada spoke calmly.

“The Church has been shaken by this incident. Though we have severed ties with Qliphoth, many still harbor hostility toward devils and fallen angels. If she remains within the Church, there may be those who would study her—or use her as leverage against you.”

That made sense.

Especially if her Sacred Gear could simulate something like cold sleep—

there would be no shortage of people who’d want it.

“Um! I—!”

Yuuto tried to express his gratitude, but—

Strada raised his hand and stopped him.

“Do not forgive me—nor the Church. Young Knight. Should you do so, your blade will dull. It is in the boundary between light and darkness that your true strength lies.”

He stepped onto a teleportation circle and raised his hand.

“Farewell… young ones of the future.”

And with that—

he vanished into the light.

=======

A couple of days after the battle with the Church’s coup faction—

After school, in the clubroom—

In one corner, Yuuto and Irina were deep in serious discussion.

The reason was simple.

Tosca, whom we had met the other day, was now living in this town.

More precisely, she had moved into the apartment Yuuto and Gasper shared.

Naturally, there were many arrangements to make with the Church.

Tosca had been raised as a devout believer.

It wasn’t realistic to suddenly cut her off from church life, prayers, gatherings, Mass—

Not to mention…

She still barely understood Japanese.

And there were many differences between her old life and this one.

Right now, she needs support. Adjustment.

Compared to Asia or Xenovia—

They had been expelled from the Church, so they didn’t need to worry about that side anymore.

And after reincarnating as devils, language wasn’t an issue.

Tosca had it much harder.

…Yeah, definitely tougher conditions.

While I was busy mentally escaping reality—

The person sitting across from me, slightly taller than usual…

…finally snapped.

“WHY!?”

“Why is Ikki the one who got smaller!?”

He pointed directly at—

…me.

Sitting comfortably on Kuroka’s lap.

“Hey, hey, calm down, Issei.”

“HOW CAN I CALM DOWN!? And why are Kiba and Irina just continuing their conversation like nothing’s wrong!? Ikki is MINI now! That’s not normal!!”

Well, to be fair—

Yuuto and Irina had already seen this transformation during the previous battle.

It wasn’t surprising to them anymore.

As Issei shouted, the ones currently fussing over me—

Kuroka, along with Koneko and Ravel sitting beside her—

voiced their complaints.

“Hey now, don’t shout so loudly in front of a child, nya.”

“Issei-senpai, pointing at others is not proper behavior. Please refrain, it sets a bad example.”