Dxd: A demon Among Devils
Chapter 74: [74]:Issei’s enthusiasm

Chapter 74: [74]:Issei’s enthusiasm

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He thought of pretending they didn’t exist but deemed that it would be too childish. Which left him only one other option. He sighed, picked up the sheaf of papers he used to jot down orders and made his way slowly towards their table.

He decided against asking how they found out he worked here. From the way one of them was already beaming at him, he figured he knew the answer anyways. So he settled for another question instead.

"Why are you here?"

In response, the boy grinned to his compatriots.

"I told you he would be here," Issei triumphantly said and then turned to him, his face serious, "Lower your voice, Arisato-san, we’re on a secret mission."

He looked at the smiling face of Asia, then at the equally serious Koneko, at the rather sheepish Kiba, and finally at the two figures clad in white cloaks that made them stick out like sore thumbs among the shop’s remaining patrons. He looked back to Issei who had lost some of his initial bluster and raised an eyebrow.

"It might not be a secret anymore," the boy admitted.

His lips twitched. He was about to make a comment about that when one of the figures, the one with short blue hair, cut him off.

"The Archdemon," her eyes travelled up and down his frame, "the one that supposedly holds Belial inside of him, the one that we were all warned about... works at a café...." she shook her head slowly, "I was expecting something more... menacing."

Her companion, the more kindly looking one, smiled.

"Even Archdemons have to eat, I suppose," she nodded to him, "I am sorry for my friend’s bluntness. It’s just that the reports we were given suggested things about you that I see now were not accurate at all. I am Irina, by the way, a childhood friend of Issei’s."

"Arisato-san would never do those sorts of things," Asia said, and then leaned closer to Issei for support when all eyes turned to her, "He is a very kind Archdemon."

He noticed that the girl who had just introduced herself seemed faintly disturbed by the two’s closeness. Perhaps not just friends.

"I have never heard of Archdemons being kind to anyone," the one with blue hair muttered, then sighed and looked at him, "I am Xenovia, and for the record, I am still uncomfortable about all of this."

"If you are uncomfortable about all this," Kiba replied briskly, "you should not have asked for our help."

"We did not have a choice," the girl stated coldly, "Only Irina and I have been sent to retrieve the swords, and we are too few in number should things go wrong."

He did not quite understand what they meant, but could guess from what they had said.

"Is this about the Excaliburs?"

"Yes," Irina nodded, "We believe whoever has stolen the Excaliburs means to start a war between the Three Factions. The Church has sent us to recover them."

He frowned.

"And they sent only the two of you?"

"What Irina meant by war is a restart of hostilities," Xenovia responded. The curtness in her tone was almost insulting, "The Three Factions are technically still at war, but there has been no great battle between them for many, many years, just a few minor skirmishes that were quickly resolved by the leaders of those responsible. That is why it is only the two of us. A more significant force sent by the Church can be construed as a military buildup in devil territory, and that is a threat the Underworld will have to respond to with forces of their own. We wish very much to avoid that. A repeat of the Great War is the last thing anybody wants."

"Even now, it might be too late," Irina muttered, "When we left, the more fervent factions of the Church were already up in arms about the theft. They were very much in favor of sending an army of exorcists to take the Excaliburs back. Fortunately, cooler heads prevailed and that course of action was abandoned."

"All of this for swords?"

Xenovia glared at him.

"Those swords were once the holiest blade in existence. They were shattered long ago, but even the pieces are deadly weapons in their own right. They hold a great deal of meaning to us. I do not expect a devil like you to understand."

He smiled. Such willful ignorance was to be savored. By then, Issei had already half-risen from his seat to defend him. Irina defused the situation by placing a hand on the devil’s shoulder. Asia frowned at their interaction and scooted closer to the boy when he sat back down.

"I apologize for Xenovia. She as well as I are under a great deal of stress at the moment."

The blue-haired girl looked like she was about to argue, then sighed in defeat. Her face softened.

"Forgive me."

The apology was sincere. He nodded in acceptance. Irina seized the moment to speak again.

"We came here today to ask for your help in retrieving the Excaliburs."

He gave her a bemused look.

"Those swords have nothing to do with me."

"You are right," Irina replied without breaking stride, "But if those swords remain stolen they will have a lot of things to do with you."

He frowned. Xenovia saw his expression and chuckled darkly.

"If stealing the Excaliburs by themselves won’t start a war, then what better way is there than using them to kill the Devil Faction’s newest celebrity?"

His frown grew.

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