- Long chap ✏ -
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After the fight with Cao Cao, the Gremory team had many injured people. Rias sent out Kiba to check the place's status and they discovered that there are Grim reapers everywhere.
The group moved to the middle of the hotel which is the 13th floor out of 60 floors in total. Le Fay covered the whole floor with sturdy barriers and it served as the group's base. She could have placed defensive barriers on the whole area but a single floor is the limit in exchange of having a certain amount of defence.The group had the injured people resting on separate rooms on the same floor.
Xenovia and Azazel are now completely healed. Kuroka has also been healed but she is resting on her room after getting drained from patrolling the area. Moreover, the cat woman was on the lookout to make sure nobody would be after Ophis so she has been alert the whole time. This resulted to her stamina and mind being drained more than usual.
Vali had his wounds healed but the dragon-slaying curse wasn't fully removed on his body. Le Fay tried using Dispell to remove the curse but Samael's curse was simply too powerful. All Vali could do at the moment is to wait for the curse to wear off naturally and endure the pain.
As for Erin, she was also healed but she still felt a headache after using her skill at Cao Cao. She is resting on her room at the meantime, as per the orders of Rias and Akeno. The 2 girls strictly ordered Erin to rest and recover her strength while they monitor the status of the enemies outside
"Nee-sama why..."
Next to a bed, Koneko is sitting on a chair while looking down
"Why? Why did you save me?!" She suddenly got up and shouted. "I was supposed to be like a tool to you. Right, Nee-sama?"
"I wonder.. I also don't quite understand-nyan."
"Please don't play with me! The time you left me behind.. Do you know how many horrible things the people around me said to me? Even during the party in the Underworld you tried to take me away by force."
Koneko, who usually didn't speak that much, was releasing all the things she had built up inside her. Kuroka only went silent and didn't respond to the question which made Koneko more upset
"I can't understand you Nee-sama!"
After saying that, Koneko leaves the room and a melancholic sigh escaped Kuroka's lips
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"I'm sorry Erin." Issei clenched his fists on his lap. "I wasn't able to help you and the others that much. If I didn't go unconsci-
"It's not your fault, Issei." replied the Goddess with a small smile. "Nobody predicted Cao Cao's overall motive and we didn't expect that his attack would render you unconscious. He must have seen you as a nuisance so he took you down early."
Erin patted the boy's shoulder
"Let's just think positively. It's good thing that you weren't able to suffer grave injuries."
"You're right. But still..." A glint ran through Issei's eyes and he spat Cao Cao's name with hate. "We'll get back at him somehow."
"Yes. We will." Erin gazed forward. "We will make sure that happens."
Issei bid goodbye to check on Asia. The blonde was temporarily resting on their room after being exhausted from healing the injured members
Silence filled the Goddess' room and she took this chance to gather her thoughts. The sound of the door being opened caught her attention and she blinked in surprise at the visitor
"Kuroka? What a surprise." Erin greeted as the girl took a seat beside her bed. "How kind of you to come and see me."
"Well, you did helped us back there by lending your shield, nyan."
"You don't have to do this, though. It's only natural that I save Koneko-chan so it was really no big deal."
Kuroka hummed in response and tilted her head to the side
"How are you feeling nyan?"
"I'm feeling better. This is not the first time I suffered an injury anyway. How about you?"
"I'm fully healed nyahaha." Kuroka grinned lightly before continuing. "Can I ask you something?"
Erin gazed at Kuroka after hearing this
"What is it?"
"During the battle, when Cao Cao acted weird. Was that your doing, nya?"
"You seem interested. May I know why?"
"I'm just curious-nyan." Kuroka shrugged as she leaned on the chair. "You don't have to worry. I'm not like Cao Cao who is going to gather data and use it against you."
Erin scoffed playfully before responding
"That was one of my skills. I can copy a power for a set amount of time."
Kuroka blinked in surprise and she listened with interest
"To do that, I have to observe how it is executed and have minimum contact with the person. Though I discovered another way, which is to temporarily possess the person's body."
"So you controlled Cao Cao's body back there, nya?"
"Yes. It can only last for a maximum of 5 seconds because it hugely drains my mind. I haven't successfully copied a power using that method so I opted to not use it unless I want to."
"Does it also apply to Sacred Gears?"
"I haven't tried it yet." The Goddess made a thinking expression. "If it is Sacred Gears, I think I would need something that could shapeshift so I can copy the Gear and its power. Most of the powers I copied doesn't rely on Sacred Gears, though."
"Interesting." Kuroka remarked as her tail wagged to the sides.
"Well, cats are curious, like they say." shrugged Erin as she observed Kuroka. Her thoughts drifted to the present situation the group is facing and the problem about Hades
"What's wrong, nyan?"
"Huh?"
"Your expression." Kuroka gazed at Erin curiously. "You seem troubled."
"It's nothing."
"You can tell me, nyan."
The Goddess gave Kuroka a skeptical stare.
"Not to be rude. But if there is, why would I tell you, Kuroka?" Erin wondered. "I mean, we're not really that close."
"I'm just offering in case you wanted to talk. Chill out, nyan."
"Hm. Okay. But if we're going to share thoughts right now." Erin sat up from her bed. "I would like to hear something about you too."
"Me?" Kuroka looked as if the Goddess was joking. "What about me?"
"I'll tell you what is troubling me if you answer my question in return."
Kuroka thought for a moment then shrugs.
"Sounds fair. You go first, nya."
Erin's expression slightly turned serious
"It's just.. I feel bad about what is happening right now. I feel like part of this is my fault."
"Why do you feel that way?"
"Hades.. you already know that I'm half-deity, right? He's a relative of mine and he harbors hatred towards devils and fallen angels for reasons I do not know. To tell you the truth, he actually persuaded me to quit being a devil."
"Nya?" Kuroka looked suprise at the words
"He asked me to leave the group and obviously, I protested. I should have known that something like this will happen and he is plotting a dangerous plan." Erin sighed in frustration.
"There's also the thought that maybe, if I left the group and followed him, could we have prevented this problem from occuring? But then again, I'm sure that even if I followed him, he will still continue whatever twisted plans he has."
The Goddess took a harsh intake of breath
"And then there's this nagging feeling of betrayal. I know I shouldn't feel this way but I can't help it. That's why, I'm mad at myself for having these feelings while also being mad at Hades for his stupid plans."
"That is a complicated feeling you have there, nyan." Kuroka teasingly said and the Goddess rolled her eyes playfully. "But I don't think you should blame yourself."
"Anyways." Erin shifted the conversation. "About my question."
"You get over your feelings quickly, nyan." Kuroka chuckled
"Well yes because right now, I only want to be comforted by my girlfriends." Erin retorted. "Besides, even if I get emotional, I have a feeling that you'll just laugh it off and comfort me in a playful manner."
"Ouch. But you're right about that." winked Kuroka playfully
"So about my question.. what happened at your previous master's place, Kuroka?"
Hearing those words, Kuroka stopped smiling and turned serious as well
"Nothing. I just killed him because he was a detestable bastard-nyan."
"You know.. I learned about Koneko-chan's past and the part where you killed your master just because you wanted to. I believed it at first but eventually, I started having doubts." Erin gave Kuroka a firm stare.
"When you rushed to save Koneko-chan earlier, that only confirms my doubts. So Kuroka... when you killed your master, the reason wasn't really because you drowned in power, was it?"
"Our previous master.. He became a nuisance because he took too much interest in our powers. Putting me aside, if that detestable bastard were to ask Shirone to use senjutsu, she would have used it without hesitation and her powers would have gone berserk. She is an honest girl after all."
Kuroka's eyes held kindness at the thought of Koneko
"Anyways, he was focused on increasing the ability of his servants and he made us go through things forcefully. Having his servants go through that is one thing, but he also tried to forcefully strengthen his servants' family."
"Then that means.. you saved Koneko-chan from him?" Erin said in realization. "And the reason you tried to take her away from us is so she could get away from Power.. It's because I'm the Blue Dragon Empress who attracts powers..."
The Goddess went silent for a moment until Kuroka continued talking
"I like fooling around, you know? I also like using my powers. I also love entertaining things. I am a stray cat after all-nyan. It's better to wander around how I feel like with comrades I can relate to. But Shirone is different. She suits being a house cat. That's why, Blue Empress-chan."
Kuroka faces Erin with serious eyes
"I don't care even if you become a mass of powers, but I want you to become an idiotically honest Heavenly-Dragon just like Vali. If that happens, that girl will also become idiotically happy."
"I see.. it can't be helped since you're a bad cat of the Vali team. I can tell that you love doing things you feel like doing. But for you to request this thing.."
Erin smiled bitterly and teased Kuroka
"You're more clumsy than me."
"I don't want to hear that from a power idiot like you-nyan." Kuroka made a weird face and looked to the side.
"Even if I look like this, I am a Wizard-type that consumed 2 Bishop pieces you know? Well, this discussion is over. I'm going to sleep-nyan."
"Kuroka." Erin's teasing expression softened. "Are you planning to tell Koneko-chan the truth?"
"..............................."
"I wonder, nyan.." replied the woman with a faraway look
"I see.. I understand." Erin nodded to herself. "After hearing your story and request, I can say that you really have the heart of a naughty child. But I also realized that this isn't your only side, Kuroka."
The Goddess smiled faintly as she met Kuroka's stare
"You still care for Koneko-chan like before. And even if you are branded as a terrorist, I don't think you're a bad person at all, Kuroka." The cat woman's eyes slightly widened at the words.
"I just hope that Koneko-chan notice your silent efforts even without you telling her. And even if the Underworld sees you as an evil being, just know that I think otherwise."
".............................."
"Yeah." Erin cleared her throat to change the atmosphere. "So like that, I- Wha!"
Kuroka leaned forward and was quick to steal a kiss at the Goddess
*(CHU!)*
"W-What the." Erin covered her mouth in shock and looked accusingly at Kuroka. "Why did you do that?!"
"It's a payback for the kiss you stole back then, nya~ " Kuroka playfully said as she licked her lips. "Are you sure you don't want to accept the offer of baby making with me right now? I'm always down for it as long as you reserve a slot for me, nyan."
"Rias and Akeno will kill us if they saw that." Erin sighed as she ignored the woman's words.
"But going back, get some rest, Kuroka. You've been patrolling the hotel so you need to reserve your energy."
"Hai hai." Kuroka stood up and headed to the door
"Thank you, Blue Empress-chan......"
Erin looked up after hearing that but Kuroka already left the room. With a shrug, the Goddess thought that she was just hearing things.
- End of Chapter -