Chapter 7: The Lonely Girl at the Church

When we arrived in the City of Rome I booked us into a hotel for the day, put Valerie on the bed and fell asleep.

When I woke up I was greeted by the sight of a cute Dhampir standing over me staring at my face. I almost jumped out of the bed in shock but luckily I was able to compose myself and keep calm.

I asked her "How was your sleep, Valerie?" She continued to study me observing me as I got off the bed.

"It was one of the most pleasant sleep I have ever experienced in my life," she stated. I was unsurprised by this fact considering she had been sleeping in a dungeon her whole life. She then went back to her bed which was right next to mine.

"What do you plan to do with me now that you have freed me? I assume you wish for me to do something for you."

Well, she is more perceptive than I thought she was though I shouldn't be surprised It was hinted in canon that she was not only a broken doll and that she was perfectly aware of her situation. There were two ways I could go about answering her question. I could either tell her that it was indeed only for her Longinus or maybe the actual truth.

"While you having the Graal played a part in my decision, it was just a little part and it was mostly a spur of the moment decision. You know about the Fullmoon Village, right ?" She nodded and I could see a hint of disgust cross her face for a millisecond. "When I learned the truth about that place and that there was nothing I could do to help them, I was understandably angry, Very angry. I needed a way to lash out and what perfect target than the very perpetrator of this abomination. So I went and wreaked havoc in the castle and I asked had my doll take you away during the chaos as I thought I could at least save one person who needs saving."

Valerie was still looking at me with no expression on her face but I could see some emotions in her eyes.

"It's alright. You helped me, that's what matters." Valerie said and despite her monotone voice, I had the impression that she is trying to comfort me.

"I do need something from you though, could you tell me who your brother is working with and what they are planning?" From what I remember reading on the dxd wiki Marius was working for someone important to future events in the novel, but I can't remember his name or his plans which is concerning. I don't want to get any unpleasant surprises down the road which could potentially cost me my life or the lives of others.

"I am not sure who he is working with all I know is that they are devils," she replied Confirming my suspicions that she was unaware of who her brother was working for and what exactly his plans are. She then said, "I know he wanted my sacred for something particular, especially the ability to revive beings and alter a beings biology as he has had me revive the evil dragons, Apophis, Aži Dahāka and Grendel.

She then continued saying "He also had my Grail with the ability to affect and change other living beings extracted, meaning I can now only use those abilities on myself and not others, this also has caused extensive damage to my soul but he had someone patch it up so that I didn't die. While I won't die anymore, extensive use of my sacred gear is still causing me pain and from what I heard someone mention to him this could be fixed by acquiring a piece of the original grail."

Then the room fell silent as I thought, I dropped the questions and decided to order our food to the hotel room.

I then watch Valerie consume the food like a vacuum cleaner sucking up dirt. It was probably one of the weirdest things I've ever seen in my life.

After breakfast, I sat her down on a chair and explained to her my plan to enter the church as an exorcist and what I intend to do there. The only problem would be she is a dhampir and the church will be able to detect that from a mile away.

This made me go back to my dilemma. I needed to find a way to sneak a dhampir in the Vatican and make her join the Church while letting no one know that she is a dhampir and that she has the Graal.

I already know how to hide her Sacred Gear. Mephisto Pheles gave me a talisman that hides the presence of my Longinus tied to my soul. It's a masterpiece that he created himself and according to him, no one can detect the Sacred Gears unless they are a Great Seraph intimately familiar with the Sacred Gear system or if they are a god. He made it years ago for both Lavinia and Georg and it explains why no one knows that they have Longinus. Lavinia told me about it in her letters and I asked her to send me two of them so I could hide my True Longinus from the Church. One for me and the other in case I lost the first. I plan to give the second talisman to Valerie to hide the existence of her Sacred Gear but it leaves the matter of hiding her vampire heritage and more importantly how I could heal her mind and soul from the side-effects of the Graal.

I have a theory that could maybe allow Valerie to hide her race but I was uncertain if it would work. And for healing her I needed a certain person and it was the reason we were in Rome instead of going straight to the Vatican. But first I needed to know if my theory could work and Valerie was the only one who can tell me.

I coughed loudly and this stopped her from eating and turned to look at me with a blank face.

"I'm sure that you know that Marius and his backers will hunt you down, right ?" She nodded and answered. "Yes, my brother needs me for his plan."

"Yes, these people are powerful and they want you at all cost for their plans and The Graals cannot fall into the wrong hands. This is why I have a proposition for you," She looked at me curiously. "To keep you safe, I need you to become an exorcist alongside me. It will be the perfect smokescreen to hide you. The vampires and devils wouldn't dare to come near the Vatican and they will never think that you, a dhampir, became an exorcist. I also know of a way to hide your Sacred Gear and your race. Of course, that plan will not work if you do not play along and you are perfectly in your right to refuse. I'll find another place to hide you and you are not obligated to stay with us. So my question is, will you join me Valerie Tepes ?" I asked her seriously. I know that we were the ones who helped her but she still had no obligation to follow us and I wanted her to know that she can leave to strike out on her own if she wanted. I did not want to pressure her in any way and I wanted my companions to join me willingly.

She thought for a bit and answered. " I will follow your lead…Master." Wait for what.

"Why are you calling me Master ?" I cried out with an embarrassed look. I could see the other customers looking at me strangely because of my shout.

She looked at me as if I was the one lacking any kind of common sense. "You asked me to join and serve you…so that makes you my Master."

"I didn't-"

"But I have one condition." I blinked

"What's the condition?"

"There is a little boy that I consider my brother called Gasper if you help me reunite with him I will follow you to the ends of the earth," she said and for the first time, there were some emotions in her voice.

I nodded. "I can, but it will have to wait."

"Why?"

"From what I know, your brother was reincarnated by a devil but not any devil. He was turned into a devil by the little sister of the Crimson Satan."

"Your brother must be in the underworld protected by Lucifer's peerage. I cannot take you there now but there is nothing to worry about. Your brother is safe and you will just have to wait a few years to finally see him." I said.

Valerie nodded knowing that it was futile to try to go to the underworld to take Gasper away from one of the most protected places in the supernatural world, that place being the Gremory territory.

"I understand, Master."

"Now that this is settled, there is another matter that we need to discuss but first take this," I gave her the talisman of Mephisto to hide the presence of her Sacred Gear. "No one will be able to detect the Sephiroth Graal with this talisman." Now we needed to talk about the way we are going to hide her dhampir traits so she could become an exorcist with me. I

I explained to her that she was going to have to use the grails power to turn herself human and she merely looked at me blankly. I thought it was a bust but then she closed her eyes and I felt something change in her body.

"Done." She replied simply while showing her teeth. I could see that she had no canines anymore and her eyes turned from pink-red to bright pink.

"What !? J-Just like that !" I said, shocked that it was so simple.

"It wasn't that difficult. I already had human blood in me to create a link. Removing weaknesses is more draining." she said with the same monotone voice and startled me from my thoughts.

"We need to find girl who may be able to help you with that problem with your soul."

The reason we came all this way to Rome instead of going straight to the Vatican was not only because I needed to find a way to make her come with me to the Church without anyone finding out that she is a dhampir but also because there was someone in that city that may be capable to heal Valerie. That person being of course Asia Argento. I asked a favour from my friend Georg and Grauzeberer to find her location and he needed only minutes to find her place of residence. Turns out that the Holy Maiden is fairly famous in the supernatural world though it wasn't that surprising. Holy maidens are more often than not, propaganda tools used by the Church. They parade them around to attract more followers.

From what I heard she was living in a small church in the outskirts of Rome, the Church of St-Martha if I am not mistaken. I know that nothing was said that Asia is capable to heal the mind of Valerie. After all Twilight Healing might the second strongest healing sacred gear after Sephiroth Graal but in canon, it was only capable to heal physical wounds Valerie's wounds are in the mind and soul. A side effect of overusing the Graal and losing one of them. However, it was still worth a shot.

"Let's go, we have a holy maiden to find."

We immediately went to the outskirts of Rome in the direction of the Church Asia Argento resides. Valerie was starting to get more paler as we traveled to the church and I was worried that changing her race had a greater effect on her soul than I thought.

Fortunately, no setbacks impeded us on our way to the Church. I seemed to attract troubles like a magnet lately and I was afraid that something outrageous would appear along the way We came into the view of a small clearing. We could see a small church with a field of flowers surrounding the building. More surprising was the small blonde-haired girl who seemed to be between 11 and 12 years old tending to the flowers. There was also a nun who seemed to look over her and who immediately went on guard seeing us.

The little girl, who could only be Asia Argento, was humming a little tune and looked up, finally realising our presence. She was looking at us curiously and with eyes full of innocence not in the least on guard around us. We must have been an odd sight. A young man wearing strange Chinese clothes and a young woman resting on his back with a blank look on her face.

"Hello," I said with a warm smile trying to put her at ease.

"H-Hello." The young girl answered shyly and I could see the other nun coming near us at a fast pace.

"Asia, is it ?" she nodded shuffling on her feet. "Well Asia, my companion needs your help. She is very sick, you see and only you can help her." I said slowly and Asia looked at Valerie.

"The hours for healing is over. You must come back tomorrow if you want the Holy Maiden to cure your companion." The other nun said curtly and looked at me suspiciously.

I looked at the nun's harsh gaze. Her reaction was not very surprising, even I admit that we looked somewhat fishy but I couldn't let her interfere in this. So I ignored her and looked at Asia.

She was still looking at Valerie. She must have never seen such a thing. Even I found Valerie's trance-like state disconcerting.

"What happened to your friend ?" Asia said with a small voice.

"Her soul has been damaged and while it's not life threatening it is affecting her mind and I believe that only you can help her."

"The Holy Maiden cannot cure the sickness of the mind. Please leave." The nun said harshly but I continued to ignore her which seemed to anger her further. I had no reason to antagonise her but she rubbed me the wrong way since I've seen her. The way she was referring to Asia as if she was not even a person was rather telling too.

"I-I will help her," The young girl answered with determination and the nun looked at her in shock. "I've never tried to cure the sickness of the mind. I'll never know if it is possible if I do not try."

"But Holy Maide-" Having enough of her screeching, I then sneakily hypnotised the nun and indicated for her to leave us.

"It's alright, sister. I can do it."

"Very well Holy Maiden. I will wait for you inside." The nun said with a monotone voice and left us alone.

I always found the use of mind magic distasteful but I needed to be alone with Asia. No one should know about Valerie so I had to make all bothersome people leave us alone before we came here. "Anyway, I remembered that we didn't introduce ourselves. I am Cao Cao, the woman on my back is Valerie." I introduce Valerie to her who currently had a blank face and her eyes were closed looking like she was half dead even though from my check she was perfectly fine and was physically alright.

"N-Nice to meet you, I am Asia Argento."

"It's a pleasure, little Asia," I said with a smile.

We then went to a room where she usually sees her patient. I put Valerie on one of the beds available and a green glow enveloped Asia's ring.

"H-How do you think I should do this ?" She said seeming uncertain. I couldn't blame her, it was a new territory both for her for me.

"You know what your Sacred Gear is right ?" She looked at me, surprised at my knowledge of the supernatural.

"Yes, it is a gift given to me by God. The Twilight Healing is capable of healing any wound."

"What do you think of when you are healing your patient and using your Sacred Gear ?" I asked.

Asia seemed to hesitate for a moment but answered with conviction nonetheless.

"I-I just want them to be healthy. To go back to how they were before they were hurt."

I nodded at what she said. "Then do you think that she is healthy despite her having no injuries?" I said pointing at Valerie's blank face.

"N-No, of course not. She is in pain even if she has no wounds on her body." She answered immediately. "Yes, exactly. I do not know if you are capable of healing all mental sickness but Valerie's sickness is special. You could say that she has a scar on both her mind and soul. If you think of her wound as a scar that you cannot see then you might be able to seal the wound." She nodded at what I said as if she realised something. It was a theory of mine. Twilight Healing is capable of healing any physical wounds but it is incapable of regrowing limbs, healing exhaustion, sickness and curing mental disabilities. However, all of these wounds were natural. Valerie's state is not natural in any way and is not a true mental sickness but a side-effect of the missing Graal so I thought if Asia was seeing Valerie's problem in such a way it would be possible to heal her. Of course, I do not believe that it will cure her completely but it will give me more time until I find a permanent solution.

"I-I think that I know what to do." She said resolutely and her hands started to glow green.

She touched Valerie's forehead and her hands glowed even brighter finally, I could see Valerie becoming more awake due to her eyes opening fully again.

"M-Master…where are we ?" she said slurred.

"Somewhere safe, do not worry. It's good to have you back Valerie." She nodded with a ghost of a smile. "You should thank this young girl. Her name is Asia Argento and she is the one who healed you."

"Thank you, Asia," Valerie said with the same monotone voice I was becoming used to.

"You do not have to thank me, Miss Valerie. I was just doing my duty to God." Asia said with a blush but looked despondent in the next moment. "And I do not believe that I healed you completely." I looked at her in askance.

"I-I-I do not know how to explain but it's like I put stitches or bandages on the wound and after a certain time the wound would reopen itself." She explained sadly while looking down on her feet. "Yes, I can still feel the scar on my soul and it is not fully closed," Valerie confirmed what Asia was saying.

As I thought it couldn't be that easy but I kinda expected it.

"It's okay Asia. You did the best you could." I said warmly while patting her in the head. She looked up at her smile with small tears in her eyes. "We'll just have to come back when it happens again. Maybe prolonged exposition to your Sacred Gear is the solution."

"I-I-I-" she stuttered while touching my hand on top of her head.

It wasn't that great of a setback though I will have to change my plan a little. I'll have to stay here for a week and come to the church every day to see if prolonged exposition is really the solution and if I need more than a week, I'll just have to come by here with Valerie to see Asia from time to time after I join the Church. It's not a big deal.

"Anyway, I would like to invite you for ice cream as a thank you. What do you say, Asia ?" I offered her with a smile.

"Huh ?" She looked up at me in confusion. "B-But I'm not allowed to leave the church."

"Don't worry about it. We're just gonna see the sight for a few hours and eat ice cream. I'll leave a word to your matron if you wish." I offered her my hand. "So you in ?"

I always liked Asia Argento. She was honest and one of the only people I've seen who was truly good at heart and I was grateful for what she did for Valerie. I know that the church did not let her out much, so I thought that it would be a good idea to show her the outside world as a thank you. And seeing her bright and innocent smile, I know I made the right choice.

She immediately latched on my hand and answered cheerfully.

"Yes !"

The week flew by quickly. I went to see Asia every day for Valerie's treatment and she never went in her trance state ever since. She does not speak in broken speech anymore but she is still not capable of showing her emotions which seemed to sadden Asia as the two of them grew closer. Valerie seemed to find Asia endearing, not like I can blame I was pretty fond of the girl too, and Asia wanted to cure Valerie of her affliction but I wagered that it could only be solved by giving her back the missing piece of her Sacred Gear.

After the treatment, we would all take the young girl to see the sights of Rome. Turns out that she never visited the city even if she lived here her whole life. It seemed the church wished to keep her safe and never let her get out once in her life. The only place she truly went to outside of her church was the Vatican and she only went there to be paraded around, to show the miracles of God.

Asia was truly enjoying herself. She was like a child in a candy store or more accurately a child who is looking at the wonder of the world for the first time and I was happy that she was coming out of her shell. She was too sheltered in my opinion and needed to go out and have fun as any child should. Of course, the pastor and the nuns tried to forbid her from seeing me. The pastor, especially, seemed to be a pretty displeasing person. He was even worse than the nun and was looking at Asia like she was nothing more than a tool for God. He was always preaching that the Holy Maiden should always tend to her patients, that it was her duty to God. He tried to corner me a few times but I would always have to use my magic to keep him and the nuns away so that Asia can enjoy herself in peace. I was starting to think that that fanatic priest was the one who excommunicated Asia in canon.

Anyway, it was the last day before I went to the Vatican and we were all making our way to Asia's church while eating ice cream. I was looking at Asia fondly while she was enjoying her treat and holding my hand.

I know that involving myself with Asia may change canon irrevocably. After all, in a few years, she is going to be excommunicated and she would later become a devil. However, the fact that I became friends with this brave little girl changed everything. I was going to join the Church and I was close to Asia now so I would never let her fall victim to the Church and Diodora Astaroth's machinations. It was as simple as that. The moment that slimy snake show himself around her, I will make sure to beat him to death and make him pay for everything he has done. And if Asia is still excommunicated after this then I will simply welcome her in my group rather than let her go to Grigori to be used by Raynare or to let her become a devil's slave.

You may say that it will derail canon completely if I do not let her join the Gremory peerage. And trust me I know how important Asia's role was in the peerage. But I do not give a flying fuck about canon or the Gremory. You think that I will let Asia go through everything she went through before she became a devil simply because it is convenient for plot progression and to keep close to canon. That's ridiculous. Canon was dead the moment I was born. After all, I was to be a major antagonist in the future and yet here I am walking a completely different path. It is the same for Valerie and now Asia. It's unrealistic to think that canon will continue its course. My meta-knowledge is still useful but I can't rely on it to predict the all events of canon as I only had knowledge of the anime series and the Slashdog lightnovel.

"Ne, Mr Cao Cao," The voice of Asia startled me from my thoughts. I looked down to see her looking at me sadly. "You're going to leave tomorrow with Miss Valerie?" She said looking down on her feet.

"Yeah, but it's not like we will not see each other anymore. I told you that I was going to become an exorcist and that I would come to see you from time to time for Valerie's treatment." I replied trying to cheer her up.

We talked a lot about Asia and me. I told her many things about myself. Like the fact that I was the disciple of Sun Wukong and that I lived on his mountain for years. Asia seemed to find it fascinating that I was trained by the legendary monkey Youkai and would always have a good laugh when I told her about all the pranks Bikou and I pulled. I even let her climb on my magic cloud and she had the fun of her life let me tell you. I then told her about my wish of becoming an exorcist to protect people like her and Valerie and she looked at me with stars in her eyes, claiming that I was like these heroes from the stories which was embarrassing by the way. I didn't tell her about my ambition to create a faction because she was too young to comprehend such things but at the end of my stories, she was looking at me with admiration and proclaimed that I was her new hero. So I could understand her reaction to my leaving her. She was just a young girl whose only wish is to have family and friends. Moreover, for her, I was like a new story full of adventures. Someone who broke her monotone life and showed her a whole new world.

"I-I will still miss you, all of you." The healer said and she looked up trying to gather her courage to ask Valerie and me something. "C-Can you become my friend ?"

I blinked and stared at her then I smiled at her warmly.

"Asia, aren't we already friends ?"

"R-Really !" she cried out in surprise.

"Of course we are and Valerie is your friend too, right Valerie?" I said looking at Valerie still eating her ice cream. Valerie stared in my direction and looked at me as if I asked a stupid question.

"Of course, Asia is my friend, Master." The dhampir said with the same detached voice.

Asia was visibly vibrating in happiness but I wasn't finished.

"You are like the little sister I always wished to have."

Asia looked up at me with tears in her eyes and she launched herself at me and hugged me tightly.

"T-Thank you, b-big brother and Valerie," she said crying her eyes out in happiness.

I simply smiled down at her and stroked and blond hair gently.

We then made our way to the church in a good mood with Asia clutching my hand and smiling happily.

We came up to the small clearing and I felt something was wrong. Valerie seemed to have noticed if the sharpening of their eyes was any indication. I felt an enormous presence with my mana sense, the person waiting for us was definitely notone of the priests or nuns of the church. I've never sensed such a powerful aura around anyone except my Shifu before. I clutched Asia's hand tightly and walked slowly to the clearing preparing myself to fight as I actived my touki, manifested a light sword and began enhancing my body using my magic.

Looking at the person waiting for us, I froze because I felt that I knew that man. I could see that it was a muscular old man wearing priest clothes.

"Father Strada !" Asia cried out happily and ran toward him. I froze a second time at the name used by Asia and I felt chills go down my spine.

"Asia dear, how are you?" The strongest man in the world said gently while hugging her but he didn't leave his gaze from my form for a second.

While Asia babbling happily, I finally realised who was in front of me.

Vasco Strada, The Violence of Heaven, The Vatican's Evil Killer himself.

The man who reached the Apex of Humanity.

And if his cold gaze directed toward me was any indication, he didn't seem to be happy.

Shit I'm fucked aren't I.