The denouement?
Ichika began to wake up from her deep slumber. It felt as if she had slept for hundreds of years, and now she would have to get used to life all over again. Her body moved with great reluctance, and her mind could not yet fully comprehend where she was.
Her heavy eyelids struggled to open. It was as if sand had been poured on top of it, as if concrete had been poured on top of it, so hard was it for her to do this simple action.
«An unfamiliar ceiling... - It came out of her almost unconsciously.
«Come on, Japanese soul," A familiar voice with soothing notes came in response to her retort. - Use all the stamped phrases in a situation like this....
She managed to turn her head in the direction of the voice.
As she expected, Emeric was sitting on a chair beside her bed, looking at his smartphone. A second later, the President's eyes met hers. In response, Ichika only pulled the blanket higher so that only the top of her face was visible.
«And I... - Her mind was reluctant to give a full rundown of recent events. All she could remember was the exorcist's sword through her belly. Stop! Her belly?!
She instantly threw the blanket to the floor and stared at her completely whole belly. She instantly threw the blanket off the floor and stared at her completely whole belly! Though she thought it was the last day of her life!
«Do you remember what happened? - After watching her operations with interest, Emeric asked.
«I... - Ichika awkwardly met his gaze. - I don't remember anything at all... - She admitted embarrassedly.
Emeric only nodded at such a thing. He thought for a few seconds and then began to speak:
«When you were wounded, you... - Emeric paused and looked at me with a slightly already sad look. - You awakened your inner power and turned into a huge red dragon!
«What?! - Ichika yelled back.
«It was scary," Emeric shook his head. - You, like an anime character, couldn't think straight and started destroying everyone around you.....
«That's terrible!
«Yes," Emeric confirmed. - But I was able to get through to your sleeping mind.... I stood in the way of your rage, and you just froze. The true power of love brought you back to me.....
Ichika blushed touchingly and looked away. It was a pity that she couldn't remember anything, but it should add up to a lot of points in the President's eyes.
«Of course, our city's gone to shit.
«What the hell?! - All fantasy slipped out of her head, and she turned in his direction.
«The casualties are in the hundreds of thousands...
«I didn't mean to! - Ichika yelled back.
«And you're now the number one criminal in the whole world....
«AAH!
Oh, my God! Oh, my God! Oh, my God! Oh, my God! Even the repeated pain in her temples couldn't bring her to her senses! She'd unconsciously killed a bunch of people! Weeping for her carefree future as part of the President's harem.....
«Or you just, like a total wuss, got hit by a holy sword and we were able to pump you up....
Ichika instantly stopped her roaring, comprehending what Emeric had said.
«So a bunch of innocents didn't get hurt?! - Ichika yelled at him for saying that.
«Unless it's your guts," Emeric shrugged sternly. - A logical outcome, I think.... - Emeric set his phone aside and met her gaze with a serious look that knocked out all past anger for once. It was the first time he'd looked at her like that, and it was suggestive. She couldn't even squeak, it was so pressuring. - You ignored my intentions of non-interference in the Church and Grigori's squabbles.....
«I," she found the strength to object. - I just wanted to help my friend ...
«Your friend isn't doing her fucking homework, she's on a mission for one of the strongest factions in the world! - He instantly cut off all her objections. - You're not just a schoolgirl anymore either! Actions have consequences Ichika, and your injuries are the easiest outcome! Don't look away! - He added as she tried to hide. She had to obey. - There are games going on here, the outcome of which could affect the entire world! If I don't want to help the "good, good" exorcists, then so be it!
Out of shame for what she had done, Ichika was unable to maintain eye contact despite Emeric's orders.
In response, he only moved closer and took hold of her chin, turning her toward him.
«What were you thinking when you went to fight an unknown enemy? - Quietly, Emeric began to question her motives. - Did success go to your head? Did you feel immortal?! - Again he raised his voice. In the next moment, he put his hand on her stomach, lifting her t-shirt. - Right there! - He shook the hand he was holding her chin with, pointing to the site of the mutilation. - There was a huge fucking hole! Which was smoking from the concentration of holy energy! You were literally one step away from death! You were lucky twice! The first was that that fucking renegade didn't cut you in half, and the second was that I, as a wand, almost out of my ass, pulled out a way to "sanitize" your wound! That's the kind of thing that usually makes demons die! This was supposed to be the end of the Red Dragon saga! Your tombstone would say, "Died by an accidental exorcist. In short, by stupidity." Do you understand me, Ichika?!
Tears began to sting my eyes. Any objections were drowned out by the incipient sobs.
«Я... - Ichika was only able to say one word. - I'm sorry.
And then there was only sobbing as Ichika fully realized how close to the edge she had come.
On a similar one, Emeric could only quell the raging anger. Ichika's crying really threw off the rhythm of accusations on his part. Apparently, it was one of his weaknesses.
Emeric sighed tiredly and cradled the sobbing Ichika, who continued to apologize with unintelligible babble. In response, he only stroked his pawn's head. Some fervor immediately vanished from his intentions, but it was an incident he hadn't forgotten. He would get even in the future, but Ichika needed to be taught at least a minimum of subordination.
«You're- - She looked up at him after she had calmed down. - You're not going to kick me out of the entourage...?
At her hidden desperate hope, Emeric only sighed.
«No," he stroked her head again. - I told you, you're my headache now....
Ichika stifled a squeal of joy. It wasn't so bad after all, though the guilt hadn't gone anywhere.
But if the President is so "warmongering", we need to take advantage of the situation!
«President... - She whispered to him. - Do you remember how you promised that, well...? - She looked at him as sweetly as she could. - That you'd "reward" me?
Emeric hovered for a second, realizing what she was getting at. He smiled as gallantly as possible and replied:
«Ooh," he stretched out with a hint. - 'Of course, my sweet Ichika...' - Emeric squeezed her cheek gently.
«Y-yes...
In the next second, he squeezed her cheek with incredible force. He squeezed it so hard that Ichika immediately squealed in pain.
«Yaaaaaah! - Ichika tried with all her might to unhook Emerick's hand from her head, but he wouldn't budge. - WRONG! It hurts!
«How about that... - With sadistic pleasure, he said in return. He did not loosen his painful grip. - You wanted me to "reward" you, didn't you? I'm "rewarding" you! Fucking enjoy it!
«I was wrong! - Ichika shouted back. - I get it! I get it! Just let go! YOU MFE FEFAS FYOKU OFORFEF!
«Noooo... - He grinned at her with anticipation. - You must have decided that you deserve to be "rewarded" for all your actions, if you thought it was appropriate to ask for it now! Rewarded, check!
«BOFNO!
«I still have one more vial of Phoenix Tears! Like I said, enjoy the fuck out of it! The heroine who saved the world, yeah! You're my little overcompensator!
«A-A-A-A!
*****
«Still... - Izaya stared at the things on his desk in shock. He still couldn't believe that Emeric had pulled it off so easily. - You're amazing, Mr. Gremory.
To such a thing, Emeric only shrugged his shoulders. In fact, this task was so simple and trivial that a whole bunch of suspicions had been attacking his mind for a long time now. It can't just end like this!
Izaya de Guisor gently began to probe all the stolen Excaliburs, thus confirming their authenticity.
Four swords. Four Excalibur.
Speed. Increased the speed of its wielder many times over. This was how Freed was able to hurt Ichika, she just couldn't react.
Transparency. Gave its possessor the ability to "disappear" from all spectrums of perception.
A nightmare. He could cast illusions on his enemies.
Blessing. It had a more "sacred" aura than the others. It is said that if you pray along with it, you can further boost the power of the sword.
Adding Irina's and Zenovia's swords, Excalibur of Destruction and Mimicry, it was the first time in hundreds of years since the re-forging of the broken fragments of the original that they had come together. Unless, of course, you count the long-lost Excalibur of the Ruler.
The original Excalibur was not because of its "incredible power", but because of its absolute versatility. It had all these original abilities, and in different bundles could fit absolutely any style of combat, and even change it.
Emerick would be interested to see the original Excalibur in action.
«You know what to say, don't you? - Emeric turned to Izaia with a hint.
«Of course," the exorcist only smiled. - I'll tell it like it is. It was only thanks to your help that we were able to retrieve the lost fragments....
Emeric raised his hand, thinking hard. Izaya obediently stopped his version.
«You do know that our factions are moving towards rapprochement..., right?...? - When Emeric received a nod, he continued. - Then let's average in the version about "joint action", especially it won't be a big lie. Allegedly, we joined forces and were able to recover the lost fragments. And we, that is, the side of demons, were so kind and kind that they did not even steal these fragments, and voluntarily handed them over to you....
There were, of course, a few non-ideal moments.....
«About Cockabiel and his planned capture by Azazel," Emeric could see how Izaya wasn't surprised by that. So that was known to the Church as well. - Anyway, it's not your problem anymore, we'll be the ones with the headache. The main thing," Emeric looked into the blond man's eyes. - Deliver these swords to the Vatican, safe and sound!
«Aye!" Izaya stretched out as usual. It didn't bother him that the demon was giving him orders, because they were acting for the same purpose. The exorcist could see for himself the power of this young demon. As they say, in a quiet pool....
«Well," Emeric muttered as he watched Izaya pack his swords. - Where did you disappear to, Cockabiel...?
It was the absence of this troublemaker that told me that things were far from over. It can't just be that he was scared or late. Which means there's a catch...
The key is to understand exactly what it is.
*****
«I can't believe it ended so easily... - Irina shook her head in amazement as she watched their important burden.
«How's Ichika doing? - Zenovia had really changed during this trip, since she was starting to worry about a historical enemy. But the common fighting made them, if not close friends, then strong comrades for sure.
«I'm almost back to normal! - Irina said excitedly. - Perhaps we'll meet again!
That's where Izaya, who had finished talking to his superiors on the phone, stepped in.
«That's just fine... - Izaya faltered slightly, but continued when they noticed his incomprehensible grimaces. - Excuse me...
Irina tilted her head perplexedly.
«For what?
«For this...
Izaiah lightning struck two of his comrades in the head, thus completely knocking out the unprepared girls. Zenovia and Irina were very relaxed when they found themselves in their "camp" and had not expected such actions from a close friend.
That's why Izaya's betrayal went down like a charm.
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