Chapter 79

It's kind of hard to explain, but Dulio Gesualdo had always been one of those characters from the series that was sort of on the periphery for me.

Which, considering how strong he was in the source material, always felt weird, but it's true.

Beyond the Azazel Cup, the massive rating game tournament that included teams from all around the world, where he led his team against Issei's own, it never really felt like he had much focus specifically placed on him.

That, paired with the fact that my knowledge of said source material gets dimmer the closer to the end of novels it gets, and the fact that none of it even matters because I derailed it all some time ago, well…

It led to this odd feeling in the back of my head regarding the guy. Everything I knew about him basically boiled down to him being stupid kind and stupid strong in equal measure.

But…would it ultimately hold up? Was there something slightly different or off about him due to the changes in this world?

In the end, that odd feeling, those thoughts, was completely wiped away once I talked to the young man.

Instead, as I beamed us into my old home outside Kuoh, the golden light of my power fading to reveal us, to the shocked and flabbergasted expressions of the girls sitting around the living room.

Because of course they'd be up this early, while he wouldn't.

Thankfully, Irina and Xenovia were fully covered by their cloaks, and we didn't drop in during some classic stupid ecchi scene. Somehow.

Dulio's first act was to merely smile, one of those wide shit-eating grins that brothers usually get when they know their little siblings messed up somehow and are about to have a field day with them.

"Well now," Dulio began, crossing his arms as he looked down upon the four sitting around, "I heard you four have had quite the trip so far."

I smiled, as the four girls immediately bounced to their feet, all four shouting out some different variation of Dulio's name, from the more formal from Lint to the informal of Asia, that it turned into an incoherent word soup of sound.

Dulio smiled and took it all the same, unbothered even as they all got up and rushed right up to him.

Well, Asia specifically took it a step forward, slamming into and hugging the young man.

"Woah!" Dulio exclaimed, nearly falling over, before looking down at her fondly, and patting her on the head, "Well hello there to you too, Sister."

Asia looked up at him with this pouty look on her face.

Dulio blinked down at her.

"...What's that look for?" He asked, significantly more cautious than before.

Lint was the one to respond, crossing her arms with a smirk, "It means you're in big trouble, big brother."

"Yeah!" Irina shouted in agreement, with Xenovia nodding alongside her.

Dulio, suddenly, looked far less confident in general, as he gulped.

As the clamoring of the Church girls began around Dulio, I took this moment to bow out of the area with a smile of my own, partly to give the group a little privacy.

Partly to go find the clone I left here to continue the plan.

Luckily, that wasn't going to be too hard, as I could sense him fairly easily.

So I headed upstairs and found my clone staring blankly at…a bunch of laundry.

He turned to me as I approached, this dead look in his gaze.

"Please tell me you're back to relieve me of my suffering." He immediately asked, hope laced throughout his voice.

I snorted.

What is with my clones being drama queens half the time?

Regardless, I shook my head, and the clone slumped slightly in pure unfiltered agony.

Then, I began, "Nah, I need you to head back to Kyoto, get the wrapped-up fake from the girls, then head out and wait around where we found the original."

My clone stared back at me, his agonized gaze temporarily forgotten, replaced by an increasingly hardened one as realization dawned upon him.

He nodded, before stating, entirely seriously, "Basically the same as being freed from this place. I'll do it with haste!"

I let out a low, long sigh, as my clone bomb rushed toward the nearest window, and promptly flung himself out of it.

…I'm now both slightly curious, but also slightly terrified, about what those girls downstairs put him through to make him this much of a drama queen.

Not looking forward to going through those memories later.

Now then, with that getting set up, I head back downstairs.

"...out of my funds too, and I then ended up having to sleep under a bridge." Dulio had just finished explaining something with a weak smile on his face, though I clearly missed a good chunk of it.

…His funds too, huh? Guess he really couldn't afford a hotel last night.

Wait. 'too'? Did he also share a budget with them or something?

Shrugging off those thoughts, I walked past the group, not joining in, and into the kitchen.

I wanted something quick to drink, plus, the kitchen was close enough to the living room that I could listen in a bit and it wouldn't be weird.

So, I got my glass of water, and as I drank it…

"Deserved." Lint replied to Dulio, prompting me to nearly spit everything out at how plainly she stated it.

There was a chorus of agreement from the other girls, sans Asia, who I'm guessing probably felt bad.

Dulio let out a slightly guilty chuckle, before agreeing, "Yeah, yeah…that's fair. I may have gone slightly overboard on my research in Tokyo."

"Ah~...Tokyo cuisine…" Irina, at least it sounded like it was her, swooned.

Only for a snort to ring out, likely from Xenovia, prompting her partner to snap out a hurried, "E-Even still…!"

I say that, because Xenovia speaks out after, simply stating, "Don't start, Irina. You don't have any room to talk there."

Without even being physically present in the room, I could feel the shift, as the focus drew toward the chestnut-haired girl.

"Oh?" Dulio hummed, clearly interested, but in such a manner that it was clear he already knew, "I knew I couldn't have spent it all…Sister Irina, what kind of massive purchase did you happen to make?"

"W-Well…uh…"

"Why don't you show him?" Xenovia interrupted her teammates stammering with ease, and I imagine Irina probably turned to glare or pout in betrayal right back.

After a beat, Irina suddenly exclaimed, "F-Fine!" Her words were quickly followed by the rapid patter of footsteps across the floor and up the stairs, along with the chuckles of those remaining in the living room.

It didn't take long for said footsteps to return, this time slightly slower, heavier.

She doesn't even say a word as I presume she shows the group.

Dulio snickers, loudly.

Prompting a chorus of ashamed whimpering from the chestnut-haired girl.

Until Dulio adds, "We should put that up on a wall in the Vatican somewhere…see how long it takes for people to realize that isn't the Lord."

Personally? I think that's a wonderful idea.

Unfortunately, before it can even be debated, Xenovia of all people shuts it down in a far more reserved, almost haunted voice.

"...Mother might actually kill you if she finds out that was your idea."

That one statement seemed to have shut down all talk of having any fun for that moment.

Dulio, even his voice quivering somewhat, clears his throat to clear the chill in the air.

"Alright, Sister…I think we've delayed enough, haven't we?" He asks, and I get the feeling the pointed glares have returned.

"You mean dallied," retorted Lint, sounding unimpressed, "and that was mostly you."

"...Fair." I could feel the wince in that single word from Dulio, "And I apologize for that, truly. I promise, once we all get back, I'll find a way to make up to you all, alright? In the meantime…" Dulio quickly added, likely to prevent the girls from making demands right this second.

His voice turned far more grave, and far more serious, as he merely stated, "We have a mission to finish."

That certainly seemed to get everyone serious as well.

"You girls don't need to worry about it though," Dulio continued, significantly more laid back, "I and a new friend of ours will handle it. Well, if he'll mind joining me."

…New friend?

Wait, is he talking about me?

Just like that? But I thought I'd have to…

That increasingly familiar feeling of guilt and dread curled up within me, prompting me to let out a shivering breath.

Lint slowly began to speak up, "...Sir-"

But then she suddenly stopped, due to what I presume is Dulio gesturing to her too.

"It's fine," he goes on, and the smile that I imagine plastered across his face as he says those two words hurt, especially as he follows it up with, "he's earned that much of our trust, no?"

A beat passes before Dulio additionally tacts on, rather childishly, "Also, Sister, didn't I ask you to call me-"

"I'm not calling you Big Brother. Earn it by being reliable." Lint threw back bluntly.

Dang. Even I winced at that, and I'm not even in the room with them!

Dulio let out a pained gasp, before sighing and soldering on despite the grievous wound done to him.

"One of these days," Dulio lamented, before abruptly calling out, "Noriaki! I have something to ask of you!"

Oh fuck he was talking about me.

I still the guilt and shame festering within, school my expression forcibly, and walk out into the living room casually, idly twirling my cup of water in my hand.

"You called? What, you guys done already?" I asked, feigning having heard anything with a tilt of my hand and confusion in my stare.

"Unfortunately, yes." Dulio sighs out, resolved, but clearly not enjoying the fact he can't lay around any longer on my couch.

"We have a mission to get to…and I was wondering if you'd help us, or, well…me."

The girls all simultaneously eyed the older exorcist for his choice of words, prompting Dulio to turn to them and hold up his hands defensively as he swiftly explained, "I'm taking responsibility, alright? I'll take the mission from here, you girls head over to the church headquarters and settle down for a little while, while I finish everything up, alright?"

Irina and Xenovia seemed quick to accept after a moment with nods, Asia and Lint, not so much. Though they didn't voice anything either, with one simply pouting and the other giving a displeased stare.

As Dulio turned back to me, I spoke up.

"You know, I asked the girls what your group's mission was about, and I got the hint that it was…fairly important." I decided on those words, "Are you sure it's alright to just tell me? Not even just that, but get help from me even?"

To be perfectly honest, I'm not sure why I'm asking…any of this.

I should have just let him ask, and accepted.

Simple as.

Yet…

Dulio smiled, and it hurt way more than when I simply imagined it, "I'm choosing to believe in the goodness I see in front of me, and not the scornful utterances of the old men back home. So what if you are who you are? Those guys might care, but I don't."

Dulio puts a hand to his chest, "You choose to help, go above and beyond that, even, for people you didn't know, despite your rocky first meeting. I believe that warrants at a bare minimum some trust, no?"

…Hah.

Hold it together Nori, hold it together.

I wasn't prepared for it, the sheer kindness this guy radiates, but this time I am.

So I don't let the guilt and shame that attempts to claw its way out onto my face show, not even a fraction.

Instead, I rub the back of my head and look away slightly, and easily feign an emotion due to it being adjacent to shame, embarrassment.

I let out a soft chuckle, "Well when you put it like that…how could I refuse?"

Dulio's smile grew momentarily brighter before he pulled a serious mask over it, "Okay, so…this is going to sound unbelievable, and we don't really have a good explanation as to why this happened, so…I'll just come out and say it plainly."

I raise an eyebrow, and Dulio promptly does just as he says.

"The True Longinus is in Kyoto, its former user died there, yet it never returned to the Sacred Gear System. We are here to find it, and bring it back to the Church." Dulio relays succinctly, the girls around him nodding at his words.

I didn't need to fake the shock that bloomed across my face.

Until now, at this very moment, I had no real confirmation that the True Longinus is what they were after. Simply informed guesswork and assumptions.

But to finally hear the confirmation directly…

My jaw dropped, and I immediately asked the next logical question, "...How can you be sure?"

Dulio, to my astonishment, shrugged, "An Angel came down and told us."

…That's it?

How would Heaven have even found out!? Michael was never shown to have such power!

Unless he did, and such an odd case like the True Longinus not returning prompted him to act on it, but that just doesn't feel right.

…No, it wasn't Michael, was it? What with what's happening with His name, and now this…

But if it was Him, then how come it didn't just return to Him?

It's got His Dying Will in it, shouldn't he be able to return it whenever?

Except, when Cao Cao tried to use it…there wasn't a response, was there?

So, maybe the Will returned, but the spear didn't, and that caused it to break? Somehow?

Hnn. I don't know how Sacred Gears work, no point in flipping out over it.

"So, Noriaki," Dulio continues, pulling me from my thoughts, "would you happen to have heard of anything happening in this country over, let's say over the past couple weeks?"

I'd give thanks to Cao Cao for him and his Hero Faction for being relatively unknown, which means I can bullshit as much as I want here, but he doesn't deserve it, so I won't.

"Now that you mention it," I start, making a show of thinking by rubbing my chin, "a little ways back, there were a bunch of attacks made throughout the country. Kuoh was one place hit, Kyoto the other."

That seemed to pique everyone's interest, though before everyone could start asking questions at once, Dulio spoke first.

"I see. Locals?" He asked the logical assumption.

I snorted, and shook my head, "No, a whole swath of people barely out of high school who called themselves the 'Hero' Faction." I didn't even have to fake the disgust that twisted across my face as I said their name.

Dulio blinked at the sheer absurdity that just came out of my mouth, and repeated, "...barely out of high school?"

The girls looked just as equally confused.

I nodded, "Yup. I helped the Youkai in the area of Kyoto take out the main threats, their leadership I'm fairly certain," I sigh, "two of them had Longinus, Annihilation Maker, and Dimension Lost. I'm pretty sure the user of Dimension Lost was their leader."

Now I'm just getting stares from everyone, especially the girls.

Xenovia, in particular, shivers, and mumbles something, with Irina giving the blue-haired girl a pointed look.

…Not sure what that was about. Maybe something about how lucky she is I didn't go all out against them?

Anyhow.

Cao Cao? I hope you're seeing this from whatever Hell you were thrust into, but you won't even be known for shit.

Get dunked on loser.

Eventually, after properly digesting such a bombshell, Dulio shook his head, and gave a sad sigh, "How…unfortunate. For such a large group of young people to be led so astray."

Asia moved, putting her hand on his shoulder in an attempt to comfort him.

I took this time to carry on, slightly somber myself now, "There wasn't a user of the True Longinus amongst them, however. And anyone who didn't die that night…well, they got taken by the Youkai, so…"

I'm going to leave it up to their imagination what happened to them.

Though judging by how much sadder Dulio and Asia became, and how much more angry the other church girls got, I think it's safe to assume they imagined just what I wanted them to.

Can't have them getting the idea that they could go interrogate those I left alive, after all.

That'd throw my entire story and plan here out the window.

Despite how much it pains me to do this.

Smashing the guilt down has become an activity I wish I wasn't getting so good at doing, but I was, and it was effective.

My face didn't even twitch as the others' expressions darkened.

Just a little more of this, Nori, come on.

"In any event," I proceed with a sigh, "that's all that's happened as of late, unless of course, something happened that even I'm unaware of. With that in mind, it'd probably be best to start looking around where the attacks happened…perhaps some random civilian got caught in the crossfire and just so happened to be the spear's holder?"

Dulio, finally, looked up and over at me, though his expression was still downcast, "...I suppose that's not impossible, but then again, if what you said is true, a gathering of so many Longinus…" he trails off, before shaking his head, and standing up.

"A better place to start than nowhere at all, Noriaki…although, don't take it the wrong way, but I hope what you're suggesting isn't the case."

I nod in complete understanding, "As do I."

I know no civilian or normal human got caught up in the bout, but it looks like I'm going to have to make him believe that's so as well.

I…don't think I can oversell just how much of a shit person I feel right now.

There's trolling, then there's…there's this. Manipulation, pretending, acting like someone or something I'm not.

It's disgusting.

I pull out my phone, and hold it up, shaking it, "Got a number I contact in case either one of us finds it?"

Dulio nods and pulls out his phone.

I'd make a joke about how his phone is an Apple but without the bite taken in the logo on the back, probably some sort of reference or joke to the Church, but I'm just…not feeling up to it.

I just can't wait to get to the easier, less shitty feeling part, where I can swing my sword mindlessly. Without a care, without a thought, given.

~ A New Sun ~

I got Dulio's number, and after he had a quick hushed chat with the girls about picking up…something, I don't know, I wasn't really paying attention, we all scattered to the wind.

I picked a random place in Kyoto away from the bridge where I fought the Hero Faction for Dulio to search.

He'll find nothing, of course, but that's the point.

I made a beeline toward the bridge and found my clone squatting under it with the wrapped-up fake spear.

The girls, as usual, did an impeccable job. The cloth was nice and smooth, yet thick, colored royal blue, and embroidered with seals, suppressing the divine energy it released to the point you'd have to be standing right in front of the thing to feel it.

As I stopped in front of my clone, he looked at me, his mouth opening, before he closed it, and grimaced.

I stared at him, "...what?"

He held out the prop, "It's starting to get to you, huh?"

Ah, once they were gone…my mask must have fallen off.

I grasped the prop with one hand, and freely admitted, "Yeah. Yeah, it kinda is."

My clone nodded sagely as if he understood, and I suppose to an extent he did. Kind of. He is me, just without the memories of the last twelve or so hours.

He reached over, and patted me on the shoulder, "We never were cut out to be super spies or something like…just don't overthink it, alright?"

And with that piece of advice, my clone poofed.

I didn't particularly feel like going over that clone's time babysitting, so instead, I floated over to one of the old wooden pillars, and leaned up against it with a deep sigh.

It was still early in the morning. Now, all I had to do was wait.

Prop in hand, I stared up at the bridge, mindlessly listening as more and more people, tourists and locals alike, crossed and chatted and laughed, as they crossed.

At some point, I found my eyes closing. Across the city, I could feel Dulio searching, yet he never came close enough to me where I felt the need to move and act my next tall tale.

But I didn't fall asleep, I felt the rising of the sun and the ease at which, at any moment, I could take its power into myself, yet held back by a mere bit of my will.

I knew exactly how long I was going to float under the bridge.

Fifteen minutes before noon struck, and my eyes opened.

It's time.

First things first though, I needed to make my incoming story look real.

So, I left the prop and my phone on one of the wooden beams connecting a couple of the pillars holding up the bridge…and jumped straight into the river below, right to the bottom.

I didn't need to do anything specific beyond get drenched, and with that easily accomplished, I swam back up and floated the rest of the way out.

With a light fire, I dried off my hands enough to pick up and use my phone, and promptly gave Dulio a call, casually blowing water out of my face as I did so.

It took only a few rings before he picked up.

"...Yes?"

"Hey." I looked down at the prop, my gut twisting, "I found it."

A moment passes, before he finally says, "...Send me your location, I'll be over soon."

"Right."

No more words need to be exchanged, so we hang up, and I text my location.

That done, I set down my phone, and flexed my holy spirit power, creating a simple barrier to make it so mundane people avoid the area…this is the one Kuroka taught me, I believe.

Of course, there's already a bunch of people walking around, so it takes a moment for them all to naturally walk out, and then for the barrier to keep any new people from coming in.

But once that was done, I was safely able to float onto the bridge properly and sit down with the prop.

With another flex of my power, the water clinging to my form and robes began to slowly evaporate.

…I'd set myself on fire, but while I am fireproof, my clothes? Not so much.

Also, trying to sell a story here, so…the slow method it is.

An aura of steam wafts off me as I stretch my body, preparing for what I know is about to come.

Dulio, of course, doesn't take long to show up, easily passing through the barrier I made as he is the exact opposite of its intended target. He's flying, likely utilizing his power over the winds granted by his gear to do so.

As he lands, that's confirmed, as a mild gust of wind hits me right as he touches down.

I deadpan at him as he approaches.

He smiles apologetically, "My bad." He looks over my steaming form, and I see the moment realization crosses his face, "Ah, here, allow me."

He waves his hand in my direction.

And all of a sudden, it felt like the winds reached out to hug me. Tight.

I blinked, as within the next moment, I was completely and utterly dry. Like I just got my entire body, clothes, and all, ironed.

I run a hand through my now dry and fluffy hair, brush my bangs out of my face, and snort.

"So jealous right now." I utter, in slight disbelief at how fast that was.

Is that what he did in his hole earlier?

Dulio sent me a cheeky smile as he caught my words, "Envy is a sin, Noriaki." He playfully chastised.

I snorted, "Talking sins to a pagan…cute."

For a moment, we both chuckle at each other.

Then, naturally, it all comes to an end, as his gaze falls to the wrapped-up prop.

His gaze hardens, and he tentatively steps toward it, asking, "Is that…?"

I nod, and pick the prop up, holding it horizontally in both my hands, "Yeah…I bought something to cover the thing up along the way in case I found it. Heard you Church types can go insane just looking at it, so…yeah."

Dulio nodded gratefully, "You heard right, then the seals?"

"To contain the holy power the thing was emitting." I huffed, annoyed, "The thing was far up the river from here, and stuck at the bottom. All the shrines around here masked it, which is why I think the Youkai haven't found it yet…at the same time," I allowed confusion to color my tone, "it was emitting a lot less power than I expected from the strongest Longinus."

Dulio blinked, also confused by my words, as he continued to approach tentatively.

He reached for the cloth, and I uttered a quiet, "Careful," in concern, to which Dulio simply smiled at me.

"I just need to see. I've never seen the True Longinus in person before, but there's been plenty of depictions of the spear," he grasped the loose piece of cloth covering the spearhead, "I'll be quick, alright?"

Tentative myself, I nodded.

And Dulio pulled the cloth back.

The effect was immediate, the holy power the bundle I held in my grasp spiked greatly, though not to an overwhelming degree.

At the moment the cloth was pulled open, Dulio's eyes scanned the head of the spear, darting from top to bottom.

Before, just as quickly as he pulled it open, and much to my relief, he covered it back up, and the holy power receded.

"Yes…I can't believe it, but…it looks exactly like the depictions…!" Dulio began, awestruck, with a twinge of sadness mixed in there.

My grip on the prop tightened as my chest began to physically hurt.

"We must store this somewhere safely so that I can bring it back to the Vatican," Dulio suddenly began, "before any other god around here takes notice…Oh! Right, Noriaki, my friend, I can't thank you for…all of this."

He places his hands on the prop, and smiles at me, sincerely.

…Why do you have to make this so damn difficult?

"Actually, I…" I begin, slowly, dread preemptively building within me with every word before I even speak it, "I have a better idea, if you'll hear me out."

"...Huh?" Dulio utters, bewildered, as I take a step back, pulling the prop softly from his grasp.

"...We could destroy it." I barely manage the words out through gritted teeth.

"I…what?" Dulio still looked completely bewildered, but I could see as the gears slowly began to twist in his head with my words.

"Now, I know how that may sound!" I start, "But let's be real here…do you trust the old guys back at the Vatican to not use this thing for…specific purposes."

I didn't need to state specifics, what else would the deity-killing spear be used for?

"I…" Dulio seemed at a loss for words, "Noriaki, I can assure you, the Vatican isn't looking to start a fight with anyone right now….!"

I raised an eyebrow, "Are you sure about that, Dulio? Really?"

At my questioning gaze, I think the most terrifying thing is he didn't look so sure himself.

"Even so…destroying a holy relic, if word of that got around, that they even could be destroyed…" Dulio shook his head, and hardened his expression, "I'm sorry, Noriaki, but no." He gently, yet firmly, grasped the shaft of the prop, "I…can't allow that."

I looked at him, well and truly looked at him, and finally let the pain and the guilt I've been holding in for so long in front of him show.

The worst part? I know he's going to see it and get the wrong idea, and thus my manipulation further proceeds…and thus only serves to make me feel worse.

"Then I'm sorry as well," I utter, pained, "but I can't just hand over the ultimate weapon against my kind, my mother's kind, just like that…despite how good of a person you are, the Vatican isn't made up of only you, is it?"

"No…No, unfortunately, it's not."

I take it back.

The worst part is that he doesn't even look particularly angry.

Just sad and remorseful.

Above us, the sky began to darken, a distant rumble growling out from the quickly growing turbulent heavens.

As the shadows they cast fall over us, my growing aura illuminates and halts the expanding darkness.

"We don't have to do this." Dulio tries, forlorn.

"...The gods are watching." I simply state, resolute.

Dulio merely sighs.

"Then just know, Noriaki, that it was an honor to meet you." He smiles, one last legitimate time, "And I thank you for everything, one last time. When you wake up after this…we will be gone."

I didn't even get a chance to retort.

"Goodbye."

As all of a sudden, my head rang as the world shook, and I found myself soaring through the air, the ground and sky seeming to spin and blur together until they meddled into one.

The next time I felt something was when I impacted the water like a cannonball, skipping across its surface several times like a hard-thrown rock.

As I finally gained my barring, my body settled down into the waves, and the world stopped spinning…all I saw was water.

Water, in all directions.

His first attack…sent me straight out into the sea.

From Kyoto.

The only reason I'm likely still conscious is because of my healing abilities, if not for them…no, even with them, even with him holding back, I don't know what hit me, but another one of those would…

I looked off in the direction of Kyoto, as I sensed him incoming, fast.

It's now or never.

I raised my head, looking up into the sun.

And let it all in.