Chapter 12

After hearing Roxanne's words, Issei nodded absentmindedly, still doubting how much her advice could help with Kiba's situation. But then Roxanne said something that made him sit up straight, suddenly taking her more seriously.

"Issei, when someone is consumed by revenge, their mind often can't tell friend from foe. They can end up taking out their anger on the wrong things, and when they finally get their revenge, they can lose their sense of purpose. But that's what friends are for. Friends can give silent support and stand by them, helping them find their way back. Even if what you do seems small, it might be the key that frees him from his hatred."

Issei listened carefully, surprised by how profound her words were. He nodded thoughtfully, but inside, a curious thought nagged at him. *Why does this advice sound like it's coming from personal experience?*

Before he could dwell on it further, Roxanne's demeanor shifted completely. The serious, almost melancholic atmosphere that had surrounded her moments ago vanished, replaced by her usual bright and bubbly self. With a wide smile, she added, "That's what I saw in a movie!" She threw a thumbs up, looking completely proud of herself.

Issei nearly fell off his chair, stumbling at the sudden change in tone. He stared at her, speechless. *How does someone switch moods so quickly?* he wondered, bewildered.

But despite her casual dismissal, something inside Issei told him that her advice wasn't just from a movie. There was truth in her words, and even if she tried to play it off, Issei felt like he had just glimpsed a side of Roxanne she didn't often show. He decided to keep the advice close, knowing deep down that it was more valuable than she let on.

~~~~~Time skip at end of the school ~~~~

Issei walked toward the Occult Research Club (ORC) room, his mind still replaying Roxanne's advice. He had decided that the first step to helping Kiba would be to ask Rias for permission to aid in his search for the missing holy swords. He knocked at the door and heard Rias' voice respond, "Come in."

Entering, he saw Rias seated at her desk, sorting through paperwork with Akeno by her side. Koneko, as usual, was relaxing on the sofa, eating sweets. Rias glanced up from her work and greeted him, "Issei, are you here for your devil duties? If so, you'll have to wait a little. I'm finishing up some paperwork."

Issei shook his head. "No, Rias. I came to ask for permission to help Kiba search for the missing holy swords."

Rias paused, her expression one of surprise. "You do remember that we agreed not to interfere in that matter with the Church, right?"

Issei nodded. "I know, but this isn't about the Church mission. Kiba's got so much hatred toward the holy swords, and I can feel it too. I just want to help him, to make sure he doesn't do something he'll regret."

Rias sighed, clearly torn. "Issei, do you remember when I mentioned that Kiba has a history with holy swords?"

Issei nodded again, prompting her to continue.

"Kiba was an orphan raised by the Church. During his time there, they conducted an experiment to create more holy sword wielders. It was called the 'Holy Sword Project,' and it involved torturing and experimenting on orphans like Kiba. The children who couldn't survive the experiment were poisoned and killed to cover it up. Kiba only survived because the other children helped him escape, but he lost everything he held dear. When I found him, he was barely alive."

Rias' tone softened with a deep sadness as she added, "To this day, Kiba seeks revenge on the holy swords that destroyed his life. That's why this matter is delicate. We can't intervene recklessly. If you do find him, tell him to come back."

Issei nodded, though, in his heart, he had already made up his mind to help Kiba, even if it meant going against Rias' orders. He just needed to figure out how.

After leaving the ORC building, Issei was unaware of a hidden presence watching from the shadows of the nearby trees. A fox, with eyes glowing with mischief, observed the exchange. It stretched lazily, a smirk forming on its face. "Looks like my watch wasn't wasted. Since Roxanne tends to keep this pervert in high regard, this little tidbit should earn me a nice reward from her."

And with that, the fox faded into the atmosphere, vanishing without a trace, leaving the scene as though it had never been there.

Roxanne sat comfortably in her room, focused on her video game. The clicking sounds of the controller filled the air as she immersed herself in the virtual world. Then, a soft voice interrupted her concentration:

" Sweetie, you've been playing video games for hours. Maybe it's time to take a break and clear your head."

If anyone else had heard a voice coming from their cross-shaped necklace, they might have panicked. But Roxanne, used to such things, casually responded, "Mom, I'm just waiting for Kurumi to report back with her findings. Besides, I'm not just wasting time—I'm making money playing this game."

The necklace in question wasn't just any piece of jewelry. It housed the soul of the previous Angel of Death, Azrael—Roxanne's mother. After years of refining her control over soul manipulation, Roxanne had painstakingly healed Azrael's damaged soul, reviving her within the Sacred Gear she now carried. It had taken two years of relentless effort, and though most of the hard work had been handled by her companion Ciel, the strain on Roxanne had been immense. But it was worth it, not only because she got her mother back, but also because the experience had expanded her understanding of souls and death to a near incomprehensible level.

She could now claim with confidence that her knowledge surpassed even the capabilities of the legendary Sacred Gear, Sephiroth Graal, which could supposedly bring back life itself. When Azrael had first awakened, she had been confused but overjoyed, crying tears of happiness as she reunited with her daughter. The two had spent hours catching up, sharing stories about their lives. Roxanne had been especially surprised by Azrael's description of Lucifer.

Apparently, the Lord of Hell had been a surprisingly decent family man. His arrogance, so notorious in the eyes of others, was a façade—one he wore due to the constant praise and ego-stroking he'd endured in Heaven. He had trouble communicating genuinely, often saying things that came off as condescending or haughty when, in reality, it was simply a defense mechanism. He only let down his guard when he was with his family, where he acted... well, normal.

Azrael chuckled softly as she reminisced, telling Roxanne, "I found it endearing. No one really understood Lucifer's true nature except for two people—me and Father."

Roxanne's controller nearly slipped from her hand as she processed that last sentence. "Wait, wait—Father? You mean God knew that Lucifer wasn't actually trying to overthrow him?"

Azrael fell silent for a moment, her tone turning somber. "Yes. Father could see through souls, just like I can. He knew Lucifer's intentions were never to kill him or truly rebel against his will."

Roxanne frowned, her mind swirling with confusion. "Then... why did he banish him? Why did he cast out his own son if he knew Lucifer wasn't really a threat?"

Azrael hesitated again before finally responding, her words making Roxanne freeze.

"Because sweetie... it wasn't about power. It was about balance. Father's decisions, however harsh, were always for maintaining order in the universe. Lucifer's pride and his inability to properly express himself were dangerous, not because he was evil, but because they could cause chaos."

Roxanne's eyes widened as she sat back in her chair, her mind racing. "So, in a way... he was banished because of a misunderstanding?"

Azrael sighed. "It was more complicated than that. Father didn't want to banish Lucifer, but he had no choice if he wanted to preserve the delicate balance of Heaven, Hell, and the mortal world."

Roxanne stared blankly at the screen in front of her, the game forgotten. The revelation about her father, Lucifer, and the true reasons behind his fall left her speechless. The history she had known, the stories she'd been told, suddenly felt... incomplete.

Before she could dwell further on this heavy revelation, a familiar presence made itself known. Kurumi, her trusted familiar and the fox who had been spying on Issei earlier, appeared out of thin air, landing gracefully on the floor with a sly grin. "Roxanne, I've got some interesting news about that perverted dragon boy of yours."

Roxanne blinked, still processing her mother's words, but forced herself to focus. "Oh? What did you find out?"

Kurumi sat down elegantly, her tail swishing behind her. "Let's just say he's got a little holy sword problem on his hands... and he might need your help sooner than he thinks."

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