The Cloud-Raised Brave Man's Travels

"How...how did you become Jacob's sibling?"

"you guess?"

Koya answered her with the same answer that Xenovia gave to Rias. As for whether she could tell that this was Jacob's sibling, Koya didn't care. If she could see it, it would be fun, and if she couldn't, it would be to vent Asia's anger. Anyway, he wouldn't lose anything.

The battle was over. The two elites of the Holy See were like children in front of Koya, without any ability to resist. Koya had not even used the power of the Black Dragon except for the initial transformation to block the attack. Not to mention the divine domain, elements, and the Red Dragon Emperor's arm armor. If Koya had not retracted the Dragon Transformation when attacking Xenovia's lower abdomen, she would have been ripped open by now. The sharpness of the reverse scales is no joke.

"Is that so... Even saints have fallen into the devil's way? Lord, if you could only cast a glance at me for a moment, you would surely lament."

"Hey, hey, hey, stop talking nonsense. I have nothing to do with the Yahweh God of this world."

Koya ignored Xenovia and Irina who were lying on the ground with complicated expressions on their faces. He picked up Xenovia's big sword from the ground and observed it confidently.

Generally speaking... it was indeed somewhat similar to his Holy Sword of Salvation, but in terms of status? More intuitively speaking, the power was far inferior. This Holy Sword of Destruction would have to be a hundred times more powerful to be comparable to his own Holy Sword.

Grayfia's barrier dissipated, a look of disbelief plastered across her face. Unlike the younger generation, having personally experienced the ancient war, she knew the true perfection of Koya's Jacob Hand technique. But wasn't this skill only practiced by the archangels of Heaven? In other words, Jacob Hand techniques could actually be considered a status symbol, which sparked Grayfia's imagination.

Don't assume Koya's casual dismissal of the two men as insignificant. Jacob's Hands and Feet are a skill said to be so powerful that even a mortal could master them and even outmatch an archangel. Moses parted the sea with a single punch from Jacob's Hands and Feet. Even in Heaven, there are only a handful of beings who can wield Jacob's Hands and Feet with such mastery and skill.

"Asia, please treat these two former colleagues of yours."

"I...I know!"

Koya thrust his sword back into Xenovia's side and left. He simply wanted to teach the two a lesson on Asia's behalf. Having spent the past two days together, Koya knew that Asia was a very kind and compassionate girl. If she were in Orario, she would surely be a heartthrob among the gods, who loved such simple and kind girls the most. Koya naturally liked Asia as well and couldn't help but want to vent his anger on her behalf.

Koya and Asia passed each other, and as Koya walked towards Grayfia, he seemed to hear Asia's faint, mosquito-like voice - thank you.

Returning to Grayfia, Koneko pulled some dried fish from her pocket and handed them to Koya.

"Koya, thank you."

Chapter 213: High School DXD Fried Chicken Burger, Depravity Set

After helping Rias out, Koya and Grayfia left. Rias and her friends had classes in the afternoon, and Koya didn't want to disturb the students. After leaving the school gate, Koya and Grayfia returned to the shopping street, but this time they weren't just strolling around. It was almost half past twelve, and Koya and Grayfia hadn't even eaten lunch yet.

Walking down the street, Grayfia was still the same as before, following Koya step by step without any expression, always keeping in mind her identity as a maid. Although she was a little curious about where Koya's Jacob brothers learned these skills, as a maid she would not take the initiative to ask about any secrets of her master.

Koya and Grayfia had lunch at a family restaurant. The set meal of hamburgers, fried chicken, French fries and cola was not only popular with the children, but also with Koya, a grown-up. Grayfia, on the other hand, simply ordered a glass of lemonade and omelet rice. She didn't understand the purest joy that junk food can bring.

After lunch, Koya continued to stroll in the shopping street. Like in every world before, he planned to buy some special products to bring back to Hestia and the others. He also bought a lot of game cartridges and other things. After all, Aphrodite often complained to him that there were not many games in the game console he brought her.

"Uh - please show mercy to the lost lambs~~"

“Please have mercy on us on behalf of Heavenly Father—!”

Suddenly, two familiar voices reached Keya's ears. Two girls in black robes were praying on the side of the road, a stainless steel basin placed before them. Why was this scene so strange? Passersby looked at them with strange eyes.

"How could this be? Is this reality? Before I came here, the Vatican told me that this country was developing very well. Why is there no one willing to help us? That's why I hate countries without faith."

"Stop talking, Xenovia. We're broke, and all we can do is beg the pagans for mercy. Otherwise, we'll have nothing to eat. Aaah, we can't even afford a loaf of bread! And didn't you just throw that guy who was trying to help us into the alley?"

"Hmph, that scoundrel obviously has bad intentions. But how did he know we were 'God's Maidens'? Anyway, it's all because of that weird painting you bought. I'm sure you got scammed."

Xenovia pointed at a poorly drawn painting. "Well, even Shiina Mashiro's random doodles are a hundred times better looking than this!" She missed Mashiro a little, though. She might as well go visit them in Doomsday World when she has time.

"What are you talking about! This painting is of a saint! That's what the exhibition staff said too!"

"Do you recognize who the painting is of? I have no idea."

The saint in the painting is blurry, with only a halo behind him and baby angels surrounding him. However, this painting does not show any divinity at all, but instead makes people feel a little speechless... Is this just the inferior work of an inferior painter?

"... maybe, St.... Peter?"

"You must be kidding. St. Peter doesn't look like that."

"No, it looks like this! I just recognize it!"

"Ahh, why is my partner such a person... Lord, is this also a test?"

"Wait, don't hold your head in regret, okay? Once you become depressed, you'll always be depressed."

"Stop it! That's why Protestants are pagans! Their values are different from our Catholic Church! You should respect the saints more!"

"What?! The only problem is Catholics who are bound by outdated rules!"

"What did you say, damned pagan!"

"How about it, pagan!"

At the end of the argument, the two people's faces were very close and they started to quarrel... Koya and Grayfia were standing in front of them without attracting their attention, and Koya did not remind them. She watched with interest what kind of "dirty" words the two beautiful girls of the Holy See could blurt out during the quarrel. However, as of now, "pagan" is already the most offensive word these two girls can think of.

Gu～～～～～～～

The sound of the stomach growling was so loud that it even reached the ears of Koya and others who were observing the situation from a distance.

Their stomachs growled and they collapsed to the ground, no longer having the energy to argue. They lacked the same drive they had just had when they swung their swords at Koya on the playground.

"... Let's find a way to fill our stomachs first. Otherwise, there's no way we can get the King's Sword back."

"...That's right. So, should we go and threaten the pagans for money? If they're pagans, I think God will forgive us."

"You want to raid the temple? Or steal the so-called coin box? Forget it. Better to perform swordplay on the streets. It's an international entertainment that's used in every country."

"Good idea! I should be able to earn some money by performing fruit-cutting with the Sword of Kings!"

"But there's no fruit. I have no choice but to chop down the painting."

"No! You can't do this!"

These two were truly unreliable, Koya silently concluded. But he still asked Grayfia for a few bills and placed them in the stainless steel basin in front of them.

"We are not beggars. This basin can only hold food. Eh? Why are you here?"

Irina saw the money in the stainless steel basin in front of her and quickly took it out to give it to the donor, then she saw Koya's face.

"Let's go... I'll take you to get something to eat. By the way, my name is Koya Constantine, and the one next to me is Grayfia."

Ten minutes later, in the family restaurant that Koya and Grayfia had just visited, Irina and Xenovia were munching on fried chicken burgers. Koya was very satisfied with this. It seemed that they were two girls who knew how to enjoy life... Wait, will believers become corrupt if they indulge in enjoyment?

"Delicious! I didn't expect hamburgers and fried chicken to be so delicious!"

"Hmm! When I was in the Vatican, I had bread and steak every day. I never thought that combining them would taste so delicious!"

Xenovia and Irina wolfed down their fast food at the family restaurant. Their eating style was as reckless as those dwarf adventurers from Orario, or rather, starving ghosts reincarnated. How long had it been since they'd eaten?

Just now, they had immediately accepted Koya's invitation, but before arriving at the family restaurant, they kept muttering things like, "We sold our souls to the devil," and "This is also to fulfill our beliefs." In a sense, their beliefs are quite flexible.

"Phew—I feel much better. I was unexpectedly saved by you devils. I think the end of the world is approaching."

This is what Xenovia said.

"I'm treating you to a meal, and you're still saying things like that? Do you want to eat for free or stay here and wash the dishes?"

"sorry!"

"Phew—thanks for the treat. Oh, Lord. Please bless these kind-hearted demons."

Irina made the sign of the cross on her chest, and Grayfia beside Koya couldn't help but frown. For the devil, the attacks of the church members had special attacks. Even though Irina's strength was far inferior to Grayfia's, she still felt like being pricked by a needle when she was prayed to out of the blue.

"Ah, sorry. I crossed myself accidentally."

Irina looked at Grayfia apologetically, and at the same time looked at Koya with some surprise, and asked in a strange way.

"You're not a devil?"

"When did I ever say I was a demon?"

"Then why are you helping that [Witch] fight us?"

"If you say the word witch again, I'll beat you again. This time, Asia won't be there to heal you."

Xenovia and Irina exchanged a glance and silently avoided the question of Asia. Instead, they began to inquire about Koya's situation indirectly.

"So why are you with Rias Gremory if you're not a demon? Are you her suitor?"

"I'm just a friend. I came here to help her with a small favor. Now I'm staying here because the favor hasn't been fully completed yet."

"Then--can you help us!"

Xenovia asked Koya for help without hesitation. Irina, who was standing beside her, looked confused. How did Xenovia suddenly bring the topic to this?

"Wait a minute, Xenovia. Is this okay? Even though he's not a demon, he still hangs out with demons."

Irina objected, but her focus was a bit strange. Why was it premised on Koya's agreement to their request? They had just been at war with Koya not long ago, so how could they be so sure that he would put aside his past grudges and help them?

"Irina, honestly, it's too difficult for the two of us to retrieve the three holy swords and fight Kokabil."

"I know this, but!"

"Our most basic mission is to destroy the three King's Swords and escape back to headquarters. Our King's Sword is among them, so it's better to destroy it ourselves than to let it be stolen. Furthermore, even with this last resort, the chance of completing the mission and returning safely is only 30%."

"Didn't we realize that a 30% chance was high, and that's why we came to this country?"

"Yes. The people above simply told us to carry out the mission. This is tantamount to self-sacrifice."

"It's a wish-fulfillment for us believers, isn't it?"

"I've had a change of heart. My faith is very resilient and always takes action in the best possible way."

"You! I've always felt that there was something wrong with your beliefs!"

"I don't deny it. But I believe that successfully completing the mission and returning safely is true faith. Only by returning alive can we continue to fight for the Lord in the future - isn't that right?"

“…That’s true, but…”

"Besides, we're not borrowing the power of the devil. Koya is Jacob's brother, and perhaps has a close relationship with our saint. As believers, is there anything wrong with us seeking help from the saint's friends?"

Xenovia looked at Koya, who in turn looked back at her with interest. Initially, what had happened in the activity room had made Koya think that this girl with blue hair with green highlights was a completely inflexible, stubborn person, the most troublesome fanatic in the church. But now it seemed that Xenovia's faith was quite flexible. So why had she deliberately provoked Asia in the activity room?

"What you did in the activity room before was deliberately intended to draw me out?"

"Yes, before we set off, the priest showed me a video specially released by the Phoenix Family. He said that you might be the key to Irina and I's survival."

"Then why are you still provoking me in the activity room?"

"First, to confirm your strength. Because of Irina and I's identities, you won't kill us, so confirming your true strength is necessary. Second, to observe your character. If you attack us for Asia, then..."

"What a plan."

"Wait, wait—what are you talking about? I'm the only one who doesn't know what's going on! Xenovia, what exactly did your church show you?"

I didn't expect it... Irina, who seems smart and outgoing in the duo, is the one who knows nothing, while Xenovia, who looks reckless and stubborn with a greatsword, is the one who controls the overall situation. Perhaps the saying "don't judge a book by its cover" is used to describe these two people.

"Then give me a reason to help you."

"Irina and I will be yours after we complete our mission."

"What does your church mean?"

"Yes. The Church cannot tolerate the ignorance of a Demon King-level or even Celestial Dragon-level dragon who possesses a Divine Slayer. Therefore, Irina and I, in addition to completing our mission to destroy the King's Sword, also have the mission of approaching you. After all, we are the only two who can legitimately approach you."

After Xenovia finished speaking, she started to eat her burger again, while Irina on the side took out her cell phone with a look of doubt in her life. It seemed that she wanted to confirm with her church whether what Xenovia said was true. Although she and Xenovia were from different churches, they were both members of the Holy See. Why did Xenovia know the whole picture of the mission, while she was foolishly deceived into becoming someone else's wife?

"You're quite honest. I'll help you, but you don't need to stay with me. You and this Irina can go back to where you came from after the mission is completed."

"Really?"

"real."

"You're so weird. Do you look down on Irina and me? Although it might sound a bit boastful, the Vatican did allow us to approach you because we're both beautiful. Aren't you a dragon?"

"What's wrong with me being a dragon?"

"Dragons are inherently lustful."

"Are you full? If you are, get out of my sight."

Koya no longer wanted to continue to tangle with Xenovia. This woman was too troublesome, and the kind of trouble that made people unable to resist. If possible, Koya even wanted to take back the words he had just agreed to help them and just wanted to stay away from this girl.

"We have no place to live... and I still know that we have enough food every day."

"So you're relying on me?"

"Yes—and Irina!"

"..."

Chapter 214: High School DXD: Holy Sword Factor