Meeting old friends
The two childhood friends froze in awkward silence, not knowing what to say.
It seemed that the years of carefree friendship were somewhere in the distant past. How to maintain normal communication after the two girls became kind of irreconcilable enemies?
Irina had absorbed her dislike of Ada practically from her mother's milk. She could be cheerful and cheerful in everyday life, but when it came to duty, the attitude had to change.
Irina began to shake her head quickly from side to side, chasing away such thoughts. Ichika was as "alive" as she had been as a child. Maybe being a demon hadn't changed her nature that much.
«Uh," Irina stammered in embarrassment. - Ichika, are you... happy?
Izaya and even Zenovia stood tactfully aside and did not disturb the long-awaited meeting. After Emeric's hasty departure, the whole group headed straight for the exit before Ichika caught up with them.
«I...
Was she happy? It couldn't be said that her life had been terrible before this. Sure, she had her problems like any teenage girl, but when you looked at the big picture, she didn't need anything. There weren't that many girlfriends, but Ichika didn't need that many. Despite her swaggering nature, she had never been a party girl. Just limited herself to gigabytes of porn on her computer ... That's something you better not tell anyone!
In general, there were no disadvantages of becoming a demon. In fact, there were only pluses! For one thing, she had friends, much to the delight of her parents. Valerie didn't quite fit that description, but at least she deserved the term "worst enemy". Ichika had a purpose in life, well, not exactly a purpose, but some rudimentary course of action. But most importantly, in her opinion, she finally had a potential love interest!
Her high school romantic comedy took on shades of fantasy, but cheating didn't!
«I'm doing fine," Ichika smiled so infectiously that Irina immediately followed her. - How about you? Would you like to join me?
Irina opened her eyes slightly in surprise, but then laughed immediately. She laughed with her cheerful, cheerful laugh, which seemed to bring them back to their childhood. Yes, Irina remained the same ray of joy she remembered her to be....
«Oh, Ichika," she brushed a tear from the corner of her eye. - Thank you, but no, I've devoted myself to serving God!
The sudden migraine that came after the "forbidden" word reminded Ichika that an exorcist with years of habits stood before her.
«Oh, sorry... - Irina noticed her reaction. Then, apparently remembering that she was now serving a noble demon, she decided to ask a question. - Your, uh. king isn't doing anything to you, uh. you know. "thing" with you, right?
It was clear that such topics put Irina in a rather embarrassed mood. Being a nun had left its mark.
«If only... - Ichika breathed sadly.
Irina didn't expect such an answer, so she perplexedly asked again:
«What?
«I say," Ichika repeated louder. - It's a shame the President hasn't done 'that thing' to me yet.
«It was the first time I heard it! - Irina exploded, but then calmed down and inhaled. - It's all clear with you, sinful soul....
«Thank you," Ichika even pouted.
«It was not a compliment! - Irina couldn't stand it again.
Now Irina realized who Ichika had grown into. No, actually, even in her childhood, she was not too modest, but the transition age put everything in its place. God save this sinful soul!
But deep down, Irina was still glad that Ichika hadn't changed much. She was glad that Ichika hadn't changed so much, because becoming a demon didn't affect her that much, but it was better not to say it out loud. You could become a heretic.
Zenovia and Izayah called out to their friend after a while.
«Irina," Zenovia gave Ichika a rather neutral nod. - We need to find a place to sleep, and then start an in-depth investigation.
This is where Izaya had already joined in:
«There's a lot of data," he nodded. - We'll probably have a lot of work to do in the next few days, so it's best to get a good rest before we do....
«Where will you be staying? - Ichika asked the question, remembering that their old house Shido had sold long ago. - A hotel? Is that... safe?
Irina whistled and looked away in a very unnatural way, while Zenovia and Izaya just sighed doomedly. Ichika even wondered if it could be more obvious that you were in some kind of trouble.
«You see, Ichika," Irina chose her words awkwardly. - We kind of have... - She looked at her companions. - No money...?
«What? Ichika raised her eyebrows. - Your superiors didn't give you money for the operation...?
«We did, and quite a lot," Izaya scratched his eyebrow tiredly. - But we had to give that money away because of dire necessity...
«Necessity? - Ichika questioned incredulously. - Something secret? - She didn't fully understand the context of the situation.
«You see," Irina sighed sadly. - My grandmother hit someone with her car, so we had to pay compensation immediately....
«That's terrible! - Hyodo woke up. - Is your grandmother all right?!
«Thank goodness for that....
Ichika tried with all her might to suppress a crinkle. Something bad had happened to her friend's relative, no need to escalate with her reaction.
«I didn't even know there were cars in Heaven," Zenovia looked up at the sky thoughtfully.
«So do I," Izaiah nodded. - And apparently a working judicial system, maybe even one of the Archangels overseeing the execution of justice.....
There was something very, very wrong in their dialog. It was as if they'd walked through her mind with a piece of sharp stone, so suspicious was it.
«Stop," Ichika raised her hand, trying to comprehend their dialog. - Your grandmother hit someone in Heaven...?
«Yes," Irina confirmed sadly. - It's been fifteen years since she gave her soul to God. Can you imagine how surprised I was when I got the call that she had hit someone?
«And," Ichika continued, gathering her thoughts together. - Who exactly called you...?
«I'm not sure, some man," she shook her head negatively. - But if he was able to call directly from 'over there', it's probably someone complicated! Maybe even some kind of Apostle!
«Maybe the Apostle Peter himself!" added Zenovia spiritedly, while Izaya even straightened up somehow, taking hold of the cross.
Ichika began to lose patience with the sheer absurdity of what was happening. She calmed her inner hurricane as quickly as possible and continued her questioning.
«And what did he tell you to do? - Impatiently she asked her question. - Where to send the money...?
«This holy man was so kind that he agreed to settle the whole matter with money," Irina even folded her hands in front of her, praying for the welfare of this "unknown" man. - First he asked how much money we had, and then he said that this was the amount we needed! We converted the money into bitcoins and then sent it to his e-wallet. Even though the commission took the lion's share, this holy man said he forgave our grandmother! Can you imagine how lucky we are?! God's will be done! Amen!
«Amen! - Zenovia and Izaiah instantly joined their friend and began to pray intensely.
«You've been scammed like the last of the suckers! - Ichika exploded with indignation. - Have you given all your brainpower to prayer?! - The pain of their constant references to God and their appalling ignorance just made her furious. - It's a money-making scheme as old as time!
«What are you talking about?! - Zenovia stepped forward. - Do you have any idea how difficult it was to call from Heaven?!
«I guess that's what they needed your bitcoins for! The holy video cards are broken because of the humidity in Heaven! I can literally see Mother Teresa sadly stopping her mining and turning all her attention to the NFT! - Ichika didn't stay in debt. - This is why connectivity costs so much money! Crazy roaming most likely! Heavenly long distance fucking communications!
«It can't be," Izaya shook his head in denial. - Such cases are not uncommon in our community. Our exorcists often get calls from long-dead relatives.....
«Ah," Ichika deflated somehow. Maybe she was the one who was wrong? - And what are they asking for...?
«Mostly bitcoins," Izaya shrugged. - There are even lotteries from Heaven that require a transaction fee. But because of some problems, the money from the lotteries never comes.... Relatives in trouble who also need money..... Even the Heavenly Bank, which I didn't know existed either, is calling and asking for data because demons from Hell want to steal our money....
With each example given, Izaya's voice faded more and more. Her gaze began to take on a lost hue, and her hands trembled inexorably. It seemed that someone was beginning to realize that something was amiss....
«Is that what... - Izaya met her dead stare. - All lies...?
«Your empty-headed, ignorant minds have been picked up by some scammers! Sucking all the money out of your naive wallets! - Ichika began to painfully massage the bridge of her nose. - You're like a bunch of savages who've just been let loose! You're like children!
Zenovia asked her in the same lost tone:
«Can we ask them for our money back...?
«So they gave them back to you!
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