GREMORY MANSION – KUOH
Gasper remained seated near the window while keeping part of his consciousness connected to the swarm spread throughout Kuoh. The vision rapidly shifted between streets, buildings, and alleys of the city until finally finding two familiar presences walking toward Kuoh Academy.
'So it's them… Xenovia and Irina.'
The two wore exorcist uniforms without any concern about hiding their origins, advancing down the main street in broad daylight as if they didn't care who noticed their presence.
Gasper cut the connection with the bat right after, completely returning his attention to the room.
Rias immediately noticed the change in his expression.
"What did you see?"
Akeno also shifted her gaze toward him, clearly expecting a quick answer.
Gasper organized his response before speaking, avoiding acting like someone who already knew exactly who was coming.
"Two exorcists." He maintained a calm tone. "They're heading toward Kuoh Academy."
Rias slightly narrowed her eyes immediately.
"In broad daylight…" She slowly crossed her arms while organizing her thoughts. "Then they probably want to talk to me or Sona."
Akeno lost part of her smile upon hearing that.
"Exorcists showing up now doesn't feel like a coincidence."
"It isn't." Gasper answered without hesitation. "Especially with the disappearances happening at the same time."
The room fell silent for a few seconds while Rias quickly organized the possibilities in her mind.
"What are we going to do?" Gasper asked without taking his eyes off her.
"Sona is busy right now." Rias answered immediately, already making her decision. "So you and I are going to Kuoh Academy."
She partially turned toward Akeno right after.
"Akeno, notify the others and contact Sona." Her tone became firmer. "Then head to the school."
"Right, Rias." Akeno nodded without questioning.
Rias immediately turned her attention back to Gasper.
"Let's go, Gasper-kun."
She approached him without hesitation while demonic energy started gathering around their feet.
SHUUUN.
The Gremory House magic circle opened on the room's floor, spreading red light throughout the area before the space around them completely distorted.
__
OCCULT RESEARCH CLUB – KUOH ACADEMY
The teleport ended inside the club room a few seconds later.
SHHH.
The demonic energy slowly disappeared while the surroundings returned to normal.
Gasper immediately raised a hand to one of his eyes, partially activating the connection with the bats spread around the school while following the movements of the two exorcists approaching the main building.
Rias noticed the movement instantly.
"They already arrived?"
"They're close." Gasper kept his gaze focused on the shared perception. "They should reach the building in a few minutes."
Rias crossed her arms while walking toward the club room door.
"Then let's welcome them." Her tone remained firm. "The school is already closed."
Gasper immediately looked toward her.
"Wait here."
Rias slightly raised an eyebrow.
"Alone?"
"Yes." He answered without hesitation. "Let me understand first how they're going to act."
Without waiting for discussion, Gasper walked toward the club room window and immediately jumped.
His body fell several meters through the air before the transformation happened.
SHHHH.
Hundreds of bats exploded from his shadow mid-fall, forming a black swarm that crossed the sky of Kuoh Academy at absurd speed before condensing again near the ground.
Gasper landed already in human form on the other side of the courtyard, barely making any sound.
'From what I remember… one of them or maybe both hate devils.'
He adjusted his posture while walking toward the school's main gate.
'So it's better to avoid problems right from the start.'
The two exorcists appeared a few seconds later on the other side of the academy entrance.
Gasper partially opened the gate before either of them said anything.
"Come on." He maintained a calm tone while holding the entrance open. "I was expecting you."
The two exchanged a quick glance before crossing the gate.
The blonde was the first to open a friendlier smile.
"So you're a devil?" She brought her hands closer to her body while observing him curiously. "My name is Irina Shidou."
Gasper lightly nodded.
"Gasper Vladi." He answered without changing his tone. "Bishop of Rias Gremory."
The blue-haired girl observed him silently for a few more seconds before answering much more coldly.
"I see no point in introducing myself to a lower-class devil."
The atmosphere immediately became heavier.
Irina was clearly embarrassed by her friend's response.
"Xenovia!" She immediately turned toward her before looking back at Gasper. "Sorry… she's kind of difficult."
Xenovia showed no regret whatsoever.
"I'm merely speaking the truth."
Gasper completely ignored the provocation, maintaining a stable posture while starting to walk toward the school's main building.
'Yeah… definitely a difficult personality.'
Irina hurried two short steps to match his pace while discreetly pointing toward Xenovia behind her.
"But she's not a bad person!" Irina tried to fix the situation quickly. "She just takes her work very seriously."
"Irina." Xenovia maintained a firm tone behind them. "You talk too much."
Irina completely ignored the complaint.
"Her name is Xenovia."
Gasper merely nodded lightly while continuing to walk.
A few minutes later, the three arrived at the Occult Research Club.
KNOCK. KNOCK.
Gasper knocked twice on the door before Rias's voice came from the other side.
"You may enter."
He opened the door right after, entering first while Irina and Xenovia followed him silently.
Rias was already waiting seated on one of the main sofas in the club room, maintaining an elegant posture while carefully observing the two exorcists.
"Hello." She lightly crossed her legs before continuing. "I'm Rias Gremory. You may sit down."
Gasper walked toward one of the side sofas and sat alone while Irina and Xenovia occupied the sofa in front of him.
The room stayed silent for a few seconds.
Then Rias finally got straight to the point.
"Now tell me." Her gaze became more serious. "What does the Church want in my territory?"
Irina exchanged a quick glance with Xenovia before answering.
"Some Holy Swords were stolen recently."
Rias's expression immediately changed slightly.
"And we believe Fallen Angels are responsible." Irina continued without hiding her concern. "We received orders to investigate."
Gasper remained silent for a few seconds before finally joining the conversation.
"And the humans who were recently kidnapped?" He rested his arm on the sofa's backrest while observing the two. "You don't intend to do anything about that?"
Irina hesitated for a moment.
"That…"
"That is not our mission." Xenovia interrupted immediately, maintaining the same cold tone from the beginning. "We came after the Holy Swords."
Her gaze went directly toward Gasper.
"Besides, a devil should not involve himself in the Church's affairs."
The atmosphere became heavy once again.
Rias slightly narrowed her eyes upon hearing that, clearly bothered by her tone inside Gremory territory.
But Gasper remained completely calm.
"Humans are disappearing inside the city." He answered without changing his voice. "That automatically makes it my problem."
Xenovia held his gaze without backing down.
"And it still isn't the Church's responsibility."
Irina immediately realized the conversation was starting to head in a bad direction and tried to intervene before it worsened.
"Xenovia just means our orders are specific." She let out a small awkward laugh. "We can't simply act outside the mission without authorization."
Rias rested her face on her hand while observing the two.
"So you came to Kuoh, know Fallen Angels are active, and still intend to ignore the disappearances?"
Irina clearly became uncomfortable with the question.
But Xenovia answered without hesitation.
"If it becomes necessary to choose between civilians and the Holy Swords… our priority remains the Holy Swords."
Silence fell over the room right after the response.
And at that moment, Gasper perfectly understood that dealing with the Fallen Angels might be less troublesome than dealing with the Church itself.
Support here: patreon.com/22Mirko22
Thank you so much for reading - see you in the next chapter!