After the meeting with the vampires, Rias-senpai, Akeno-senpai, and Azazel-sensei said they needed a quick strategy session, so the rest of us returned ahead of them to our respective homes or bases.
It was already late at night, and with morning practice tomorrow, we really should be sleeping. But, unsurprisingly, everyone was still curious about the vampires and the contents of the meeting, so we ended up talking a bit more.
"Man, those guys really rubbed me the wrong way, nya~," Kuroka said, tail swishing irritably.
"This was my first time meeting a pure-blooded vampire," Rossweisse added. "But their self-centered attitude—acting like only their interests matter—was difficult to stomach. And to think they expect to sit at the negotiation table like that? Ridiculous."
"Honestly, I'd like to secretly rescue Gasper's childhood friend myself… Though that's probably impossible."
"If we go with Shirone's idea, we'd need the help of Nurarihyon. I've never met him, but Kuroka, don't you have some connections?"
"No way, no way! I can't ask him for a favor like that—I totally owe him, and he terrifies me, nya!"
Yeah, that figures. We don't have any leverage on him, and I doubt we could borrow someone like the leader of a major faction just like that. You'd probably need to take down at least ten Tsuchigumo to even get close to that kind of favor. Not everyone is as easygoing and helpful as Azazel-sensei... then again, his mobility is kinda unreal.
"Still~ it was pretty satisfying seeing Ikki land a blow on those guys before they left," Kuroka said with a mischievous grin. "He came back looking so pale—I had to try so hard not to laugh."
"That might've felt good at the moment," I replied, "but let's be honest, it was more of a petty jab than anything strategic. We don't even know where the vampires' territory is, so infiltration or sabotage isn't an option."
"Politics are really complicated," Rossweisse sighed. "You have to factor in not only practicality but also the personal feelings and histories of entire races."
"True. Ideally, we'd negotiate based purely on logic, but that's never how it works."
Yeah. A selfless politician who separates public duty from private interest is basically ultra-rare. Even if one existed, a lone voice in a sea of selfish agendas isn't likely to be heard.
Even I, with minimal political involvement, find this stuff exhausting.
"Well, Azazel-sensei did say he'll try to push the vampires for some concessions to help Gasper," I said. "And really, the best thing we can do right now is train and get stronger. Then, when we're called in, we go in under the guise of 'support' and just sweep in to grab Gasper's childhood friend. That'd be the best-case scenario."
"Exactly~! Since Azazel's taking care of all the political headaches, I'm just gonna switch off my brain now, nya~."
Kuroka buried her face in her pillow, causing the two junior members to shoot her unimpressed glares.
"Honestly, you're so smart, Kuroka-san, but you're always so lazy!"
"You're totally like Xenovia-senpai, Kuroka-nee-sama."
That was a subtle dig if I've ever heard one. Sorry, Xenovia.
And with that, we decided to wrap up the conversation and get some sleep.
After watching the three of them fall asleep, I slipped into my usual nightly training—Ittou Shura—and drifted off.
=======
A few days had passed since the vampire meeting, and today was the day Rias-senpai and her group would depart for the vampire territory. Apparently, they'd need to go through multiple transfers—teleportation, passenger planes, even car rides—just to reach the place.
While the vampires do have direct routes they themselves use, outsiders aren't allowed to take them. It's a security measure to prevent their homeland's location from being discovered—a prime example of their reclusive nature.
It's hard to blame them, considering how many enemies vampires tend to make. Still, after seeing how arrogant our negotiating partners were, I'm not exactly eager to defend them.
Meanwhile, it seems like Ravel has been testing some sort of new magic technique. She wouldn't share the details, saying it's still in development, but she did say, "It was inspired by Ikki-sama's fighting style." Not that that tells me much… Surely she's not planning some kind of self-destruct missile charge or anything.
As we relaxed after dinner, a communication spell came through to Shirone.
"Ikki-senpai, Rias is departing now. Apparently the weather in Romania cleared up temporarily."
Hearing that, we all headed straight to the teleportation room in Issei's house.
When we arrived, Rias-senpai was embracing Gasper tightly.
"It'll be alright, Gasper. I'll protect you. I'll also speak directly with the Vladi family and get the full story. You get yourself ready to move when the time comes, okay? If this Valerie girl is someone important to you, then I want to help her too."
Her devotion to her servant was touching—exactly the kind of affection she's known for.
Just beside them, Issei pressed his fist against Yuuto's chest.
"Take care of Rias for me."
"Of course," Yuuto replied. A true bro moment.
If someone with a certain... questionable taste was in the room, they'd be drooling right about now.
Yuuto then turned to me.
"Hey, Ikki. Thanks for seeing us off."
"Naturally. Oh, by the way—you're guarding Rias, right? You should take the Jackal with you."
"The Jackal? Oh, you mean that gun? Hahaha. I'm a swordsman, remember? I don't need a firearm."
Tch. I was hoping he'd gear up, considering they're heading into vampire central.
"These vampires are supposedly even more resilient now. Just slashing them with a holy sword might not be enough. Mind if I give you a little tactical advice?"
"Tactical advice?"
Yuuto tilted his head in curiosity. I figured I'd share a strategy vicious enough to turn even the toughest vampires to dust.
"Remember when you fought Siegfried, wearing that Dragon Knight armor?"
"Yeah. What about it?"
Back then, Yuuto created a fake version of himself using magic, while the real him, wearing armor, ambushed Siegfried and landed a solid hit. Pretty clever.
"So here's the idea—what if you modified your knights' attributes? Instead of just changing the holy swords they wield, try changing them. Give them fire or lightning properties. Then trap your enemy in that armor and unleash an area-of-effect holy barrage. Total containment, no escape."
"A... torture-device strategy?"
"Think of it like a holy Iron Maiden. Call it Iron Dragon Princess Jeanne, if you want. Sounds suitably dramatic, right?"
I was thinking of Jeanne d'Arc Alter from Fate, but even the Hero Faction's Jeanne used draconic power, so it fits.
Once a vampire's sealed in and roasted with holy flames, even turning to mist might not save them.
"...You really don't hold back, do you? I never thought my knights would be used as medieval torture tools. And it's probably effective too, which makes it worse."
"...Yeah, I'm never fighting against Ikki in a real battle. No thanks."
They both looked slightly horrified. But if things get serious, Yuuto's the kind of guy who'd use the strategy anyway.
"Take care of your servants, Akeno."
"Of course."
"And keep your guard up about the rogue magician. That includes you, Ravel."
"Yes, understood!"
"Oh, and Asia, Ophis—make sure to do a few trial runs of the thing. Ophis, keep an eye on Asia."
"Y-Yes! It's embarrassing, but I'll do my best!"
"Mn. I'll watch over Asia closely."
"Alright then—we're off."
"If anything happens, call me. I'll come to you, no matter what!"
After a round of goodbyes and last-minute reminders, Rias and her group teleported away, bound for Romania.
========
A few more days passed. Today, during P.E. class, we had a dodgeball match—it was one of those casual break-time activities they throw in now and then. The match was in its final stages, with just Ikki and Issei left on our team, and Matsuda and Motohama left on the opposing side.
"Prepare yourself, IKKIIIII!!" Motohama roared. "It's bad enough that you're surrounded by Kuroka-san, but now you've got Shirone-chan, Lady Phenex—this is where I end you, you harem-sucking monster!!"
Fueled entirely by personal resentment, Motohama made a dramatic dive and hurled the ball at Ikki with all his might.
"Too slow, Motohama! Third Secret Sword—!"
Ikki spun midair, caught the ball from behind, and instantly hurled it back at Motohama with zero loss of momentum—