—Had she predicted everything to this point?
Xenovia… was in serious condition. She had received double the power of Durandal and Ascalon.
If Shinra-senpai’s Sacred Gear was a type that countered holy attacks perfectly, it would be an instant retire for us. If it was handled poorly, Xenovia could have died.
With these injuries, her withdrawal from the battlefield won’t be long now. She’ll completely retire with the next attack.
Buchou was the one who had the “Phoenix Tears”. We couldn’t use healing techniques here either.
Xenovia grasped my hand as I treated her and spoke.
“…Abandon me, Kiba. I’ll disappear from this place anyway when I retire soon because of these injuries.”
But I took my hand away from hers and continued treating her.
“Yeah, I know that. But, you know, I promised that I wouldn’t abandon an ally so easily.”
“…How soft. You’re just like Ise.”
I gave a smile at those words.
“That makes me happy. Because part of me also thinks that I’d like to become like him.”
That’s right, I wanted a spirit that would never give up like Ise-kun. He was amazing.
Even though he knows that he’s weak, he still confronts the enemy. He belittles himself, but in fact, he understands himself more than anyone else and works hard.
Most likely, I wouldn’t be a match for him anymore in terms of simply physical strength. His efforts and guts entered into the territory of deserving admiration. Advancing step by step with effort, his progress was nobler than anyone else.
“Become like Ise? You mean become a pervert?”
“That is Ise-kun’s thing. —I want to obtain his guts and willpower.”
At those words, Xenovia let out a strained laugh.
“…That doesn’t suit you best, though.”
I also thought that.
“True. But, as long as I can move even a single finger, I won’t fall!”
“…I see. Are you telling someone like me to move since I can still move a single finger? What a cruel guy.”
“If I fall down, I’ll do what I have to do, even if I can move only a single millimetre or inch. Because otherwise—the regret of not doing anything would be so painful that I’d die!”
[Sona Sitri-sama’s first “Pawn”, retired.]
An announcement. It seemed that someone had taken out one of the opponents. We also had to hold on.
The sound on the enemies’ footsteps approached.
—Xenovia.
You’ll retire from here soon. But before that, I think that I’ll show it to you. I appeared in front of the three opponents.
“Have you resolved yourself?”
Preparing to use her naginata, Shinra-senpai approached.
A small tear in space appeared behind me. Xenovia was making it form. It couldn’t be seen like this, as it was in the enemies’ blind spot. Then, Durandal’s aura flowed into me.
Now then, Xenovia. I’ll show it to you.
This technique created by you and me, Rias Gremory’s two [Knights]!
Zazazazan!
Holy demonic swords sprang up everywhere within this parking lot. The holy demonic aura that covered them might have been little. But, if Durandal’s aura is also added to them, it’s another story entirely.
“—Durandal Birth!”
That attack pierced through Yura-san and Meguri-san. Just as they began to shine, they disappeared from this place.
Two down. Shinra-senpai—seemed to have escaped and left the parking lot.
In my arms, Xenovia’s body began to shine.
“Kiba. That was a nice attack.”
Her expression was covered with a smile as she was disappearing from here. So I also smiled and saw her off.
“Yeah, when you and I work together again, we can make more holy swords bloom.”
Her weight had disappeared and then she herself disappeared as well.
Pariiiiiiin.
After making a short-lived noise, the holy swords that had bloomed all over the place crumbled and dissolved into nothingness.