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A few days had passed since the encounter with Diodora Astaroth, and on the surface, life had returned to normal. However, that sense of normalcy was fragile and somewhat deceptive.
Gilgamesh had become more attentive to everything around him. It wasn't something obvious, nor did he openly act differently, but his awareness had sharpened significantly. Every unfamiliar presence, every subtle fluctuation in the surroundings—nothing escaped him now.
That caution was justified.
Diodora had not stopped.
If anything, his persistence had only become more apparent.
Gifts began arriving regularly. At first, they were simple—flowers, neatly arranged and delivered with care. Then came jewelry, delicate accessories, and even silver crosses, clearly crafted by skilled hands. Each item was expensive, thoughtful, and completely unwanted.
Inside the house, only Asia Argento and Valerie were present at the moment. The others had gone out to purchase supplies—food, clothing, and other necessities for Asia.
Enkidu, Gilgamesh, and Sebas were handling that task, while Mordred remained in the dungeon, training to recover her battle rhythm after the internal damage caused by Bararaq Saiqa.
Asia herself had begun training as well. Her Sacred Gear was improving rapidly, pushing her closer to Balance Breaker. She had also started learning how to heal from a distance, something that significantly increased her usefulness in battle.
Additionally, Gilgamesh had taught her a unique form of magic—Reverse.
It was a strange and dangerous spell that inverted effects. Fire became ice, holy energy turned demonic, and healing could be transformed into damage. For someone like Asia, whose nature was inherently gentle, this ability was both powerful and unsettling.
At the moment, however, she was simply helping Valerie prepare a meal. The atmosphere inside the house was calm, almost peaceful, with the quiet sounds of cooking filling the room.
That peace did not last.
Valerie suddenly stopped what she was doing. Her expression changed instantly, the softness in her eyes disappearing as tension replaced it.
She had felt it.
Something had entered the barrier placed by Sebas.
A presence that did not belong.
A knock followed shortly after.
Two precise taps on the door.
"Asia," Valerie said, her voice calm but firm, "hide and call Mordred."
Asia hesitated for only a moment before nodding and quickly moving away. She trusted Valerie completely and did not question her judgment.
Valerie walked toward the door, her expression shifting again. By the time she reached it, her face had returned to that of a harmless, innocent girl.
She opened the door.
A middle-aged man stood there, dressed in priestly garments that were noticeably clean and well-kept. His appearance was calm, almost gentle, but something about him felt wrong.
"Can I help you, Oji-san?" Valerie asked with a sweet smile.
The man returned the smile, looking down at her kindly.
For a brief moment, it almost seemed genuine.
"Vampire," he said calmly. "Drop the act and step aside before I cut you."
The change in Valerie was immediate. Her smile disappeared, replaced by a cold, sharp expression.
"And what do you want, Father?" she asked, her voice carrying clear hostility. "Did you come to kill me?"
"Oh no," the priest replied. "I'm here for Asia Argento. Hand her over, and I will leave without harming you."
Valerie blinked before letting out a short, mocking laugh.
"You exiled her… and now you want her back?" she said. "That's convenient."
"This is none of your concern," the priest answered, his hand resting on the sword at his side. "Step aside."
Valerie's gaze shifted briefly to the weapon. Its design was unusual, but the holy energy it emitted was unmistakable. Combined with the man's presence, it made her extremely cautious.
"I won't let you take her," Valerie said firmly. "What do you want with her? Answer me first."
"The Church has reconsidered her value," the priest replied. "Now move."
Valerie's expression hardened further.
"You threw her away like she was nothing, and now you want her back like a tool," she said. "She's not going anywhere."
The priest closed his eyes briefly, as if disappointed by her refusal.
When he opened them again, his demeanor had changed.
His hand moved to his sword, and in the next instant, his entire presence shifted. His speed increased dramatically, his body blurring as he launched forward.
Valerie reacted purely on instinct. Energy gathered in her hand and detonated, forcing her body backward just in time. The blade missed her chest but tore through her clothes, leaving a sharp sting across her skin.
The priest showed a brief flicker of surprise, but it vanished almost immediately as he pressed forward again with even greater speed.
Valerie was thrown back into the room, crashing into furniture. Ignoring the pain, she forced herself to move again, barely dodging the next strike as it cut into the floor.
She created two blood spears and launched them toward him, but he sliced through them effortlessly, shattering them without slowing down.
He advanced again.
Faster.
Too fast.
Valerie could see him clearly. She could follow his movements, anticipate his direction—but her body could not keep up.
She had already experienced this gap during training.
There were levels to power.
And this man stood far above her.
Her breathing steadied.
Her thoughts calmed.
Acceptance settled in.
'So this is how it ends…'
She closed her eyes.
'Gilgamesh… thank you…'
"Valerie-chan!"
Asia's voice rang out.
A sharp metallic clash followed immediately after.
Valerie's eyes snapped open.
In front of her stood Mordred, her sword Clarent intercepting the priest's blade with perfect timing.
The priest's expression shifted, genuine surprise appearing on his face for the first time.
"I didn't expect an exorcist to make it this far into devil territory," Mordred said, a grin forming on her lips.
There was excitement in her eyes now.
The priest was forced back slightly by the impact, but before he could fully regain his balance, Mordred stepped forward and swung her sword again without hesitation.
The air shifted instantly.
The real battle had begun.