[84] : Rias—"You're Quite Concerned About Your Childhood Friend, Hmm?"

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At long last, an actual outsider arrived, effectively pacifying the lively chaos that had overtaken the Occult Research Clubroom.

Inside the lounge, everyone's identities were quickly clarified under Bokue's straightforward introduction.

"So that's how it is. You're Busujima-san, the one who previously handled the liaison between Bokue and the Jujutsu Association."

Rias, sitting gracefully alone on one side of the sofa, offered a polite smile toward the elegant purple-haired swordwoman seated opposite her.

Saeko Busujima returned the smile graciously.

"Indeed. To be honest, I'm rather surprised. Initially, I thought those rumors were just exaggerated talk—but it seems they're true after all."

"Rumors?"

"Well… rumors about how Gremory-san is currently dating Bokue-kun. I didn't bother investigating the details, but I've been hearing similar chatter every day at school."

"Oh, those rumors…"

Rias nodded knowingly, her eyes shifting gently aside.

In truth, she was fully aware of those circulating whispers. Rumors such as how Bokue practically monopolized her and Akeno inside the Occult Research Clubroom. Yet, she had never seriously considered refuting them.

After all, how would she even clarify such matters? By admitting outright that those weren't rumors but genuine facts?

…There really was no need for that.

"By the way, Busujima-senpai, how come you're free to visit now? No sword club activities today?"

Bokue lazily leaned back against the armrest of the sofa, a hint of curiosity sparkling in his gaze.

"No," Saeko replied gently. "I already requested leave today. Actually, I came here today because I had something important to discuss."

"Oh?" Bokue raised one brow curiously.

"It's regarding yesterday evening…"

Taking about two minutes, Saeko briefly recounted how she'd encountered the stitched-up priest on her way home, as well as how Irina and Xenovia had intervened and driven him away.

By the time she finished, both of Bokue's eyebrows had risen with mild surprise.

Silver hair, priestly attire, perpetually sticking out his tongue like a deranged psychopath—why did this description sound so familiar?

Wasn't that the priest he had literally decapitated before? He'd even tossed away the head as far as he remembered. Did someone seriously stitch him back together like some Frankenstein's monster and equip him with a brand-new weapon?

"Ah… I see. So that's why…"

Bokue muttered quietly, nodding to himself as if suddenly enlightened.

But his words didn't escape Rias's sharp hearing. She immediately turned to him, narrowing her eyes.

"Hmm? What was that 'so that's why'?"

"Oh, it's nothing."

"Tell me~," Rias insisted gently, eyes narrowing even further.

Unable to resist that pressing gaze, Bokue sighed softly, reluctantly explaining:

"Yesterday, after Irina left, I left a small mark of spiritual energy on her. It allows me to sense her location and her spiritual state at all times. That way, if she ever gets into trouble or starts fighting, I can detect it immediately."

"And last night, I briefly sensed her energy fluctuating—she definitely engaged in combat for a moment. But since it ended quickly, I assumed it was nothing serious and let it go. I didn't expect it was actually this serious, let alone that Busujima-senpai would get dragged into it too."

"Ohhh~?"

Rias deliberately prolonged her tone, her smile turning sly and meaningful.

"And here I thought you weren't interested in meddling—but looks like you're still quite concerned about your childhood friend, aren't you?"

"Well… it's not like I could just completely ignore her."

Bokue shrugged helplessly.

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The scene shifts as evening fell.

On a small hillside not far south from Kuoh Academy, Irina—dressed in her white church robes—was wandering the small forested path alone. Her cute little fangs peeked out occasionally as she muttered complaints to herself.

"Jeez, seriously… Where the heck are they hiding? I've been looking all day long and haven't found even a shadow yet. At this rate, I'll never finish this mission! I wonder if Xenovia has had any better luck…"

Whoosh!

Suddenly, a gust of wind blew past, making the treetops rustle unnaturally. Something didn't feel right.

The sunlight filtering through the trees briefly darkened, as though a large bird had blocked out the sun for a moment.

Realizing something was amiss, Irina quickly lifted her gaze upward.

Directly overhead, just five or six meters above, a figure wielding a huge sword was already plunging down toward her—once again copying Guts' iconic "Lion's Blade" spinning slash.

"Gotcha now!"

"Dream on!"

Both their voices overlapped. As the mad stitched-up priest roared and swung down his giant lightning-shaped sword, Irina swiftly jumped backward, instantly pulling a seemingly decorative lace ribbon from her arm, which rapidly transformed into a several-meters-long flexible blade—a whip-like sword striking straight at the enemy.

"Ya-hooo! A Holy sword after all!"

Frankenstein'd Freed excitedly shouted and laughed maniacally, gripping his massive blade and swinging it rapidly left and right, blocking every attack from Irina's nearly impenetrable offensive with surprising ease.

"What!?" Irina was genuinely startled.

As someone who had regularly sparred with Xenovia—another Holy sword-user in the Vatican—she knew very well how difficult it was to wield such a massive sword. This enemy was swinging his absurdly large weapon as if it weighed nothing!

Did this guy get his hands on some legendary stamina boost?

Before her internal complaint had fully formed, Freed accelerated again, his tongue hanging out grotesquely as he continued to laugh maniacally:

"So this holy sword has shape-shifting abilities, huh? Nice! Hurry up and die, so your sword becomes mine—Ahahaha!"

Her seemingly flawless defense was shattered instantly. Freed easily breached her defensive perimeter, swinging his enormous sword down straight toward her.

Unable to dodge in time, Irina quickly shifted her sword to block, gripping both ends desperately like a whip.

Weapons clashed fiercely; holy blade collided with holy blade.

Clang!

Freed's heavy strike dragged harshly against Irina's flexible blade, showering bright sparks everywhere.

The tremendous force hurled Irina backward. Freed didn't even wait for her to land, swiftly leaping after her with his sword raised for a devastating overhead swing.

Without a doubt, if this strike landed, Irina would become more pieces than person.

No way…! Is this it…?

Irina's eyes widened, her pupils contracting in shock as death loomed large.

In slow motion, the fatal blade's edge rapidly filled her vision. She had no means left to stop it.

At that moment—just as the chill of death seemed certain—a firm, comforting presence caught her from behind. Strong arms encircled her protectively, and a sturdy hand effortlessly reached past her shoulder, barehanded intercepting the massive sword coming straight down toward her.

A calm, lazy voice softly resonated above her head, casually breaking the tension:

"Looks like my precaution wasn't in vain after all, huh?"

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