In the end, we couldn’t retrieve the interior of the thing which produced the “Fake Phoenix Tears”. Looks like we have to get information from the magicians we caught.
……Unbelievable things certainly have occurred during Rias’s absence. And the things about the Vampires and the pact with magicians are still waiting for us……
So the Khaos Brigade will be standing in our way once again huh——.
I look up at the ceiling.
Shalba, Cao Cao……and this time its Lucifugus and the Dragon that was supposed to have been exterminated.
“Ise-sama……I have brought your tea.”
Ravel hands me a can of tea which seems to have been bought through a vending machine. Koneko-chan is also next to her.
I take it from her. Ravel and Koneko-chan sit next to me.
A moment of silence. A bit later, Ravel says.
“……I, won’t forgive them.”
She says it clearly. Ravel’s eyes are glowing so strongly that I can’t believe she was crying a moment ago when she saw the “factory” made by the magicians.
“I won’t forgive an act like that.”
Koneko-chan takes Ravel’s hand.
“……Me too. That’s why, be strong, Ravel.”
Koneko-chan says that while putting on a smile, and then leaves.
Ravel suddenly blushes.
“……Ise-sama, can I talk a bit about something which happened a long time ago?”
She then says it as if she has made up her mind.
“I had my heart shaking with excitement when my butler told me a story about heroes. I had my young heart filled with the dream of wanting to become a woman who can support such a hero. But as I gradually got older, I forgot about it without realising it……”
Ravel then looks straight at me.
“But that dream came back naturally. His master,—seeing Ise-sama who fought Raiser-onii-sama for the sake of the woman he likes, the dream that I had when I was young came back to me gradually……and when I realised it, I was researching every single piece of information about Ise-sama. You are very straight forward, curious about girls, and are very honest about your own desires. But you are passionate, very thoughtful of your comrades, and keep on walking forward to pursue your dream. That shine is something which isn’t present around me, in the upper echelons of society.”
I……was shining? Ravel continues.
“—I want to stand beside and watch over Ise-sama’s dream. That’s the dream I started to have from a single thought. My selfish illusion…… The reason why I came here is because of my own selfish thoughts…… But, I was really happy when I was appointed Ise-sama’s manager…… And I also hope that I can remain working beside you from now on as well……”
But I wasn’t able to protect this girl back at Kuou academy……
“……I wasn’t able to protect you at Kuou academy.”
I shake my fist with frustration. Ravel shakes her head.
“You did come to rescue me. Ise-sama, you came to rescue us, even going so far to fight that enormous Dragon. I am safe. I am alive. ––I believed in you.”
Ravel takes my hand, and shows me her bright smile.
“––I believed that my hero would come to rescue me. I was very happy. I just wanted to tell you this……”
……Ravel. You believed in me that much……
It makes me happy. Seriously. I’m starting to think how wonderful it will be if she continues to come with me. If she remains my manager, I can’t tell how helpful that will be.
I say this with a different attitude.
“––Ravel, I will get even stronger. ……Looks like my objective is getting bigger again. ––If it’s okay with you, will you continue to be my manager from now on as well?”
“I also have the ambition of wanting to stir up the heat with you as well!”
She really knows how to say it. That’s why she feels reliable, this small built Ojou-sama that is.
“Yeah, I got it. It will be helpful if you can support my brain, which is quite lacking. But first, we need to beat up those guys who made a fool out of the Phoenix! A “factory” like that isn’t allowed to exist!”