I was sitting in the main living room with our Church guests, discussing the logistics of tracking down the stolen Excalibur fragments. Father Dante had unfolded one of my company's newer products - a portable projection scroll that displayed detailed maps and intelligence data in three-dimensional holographic detail.
"Based on the pattern of thefts," Father Dante was saying, manipulating the holographic display to highlight various locations around Kuoh, "I think we can narrow down his base of operations to somewhere in the industrial district. Lots of abandoned warehouses, minimal civilian presence..."
The device projected glowing markers across a detailed map of the city, each one representing a potential hiding spot or point of interest. Xenovia watched the display with interest while cleaning her sword, occasionally pointing out tactical considerations for different locations.
Irina was examining some of the intelligence reports I'd provided alongside the holographic data, her usual energetic demeanor replaced by focused concentration.
"These projection scrolls are incredibly useful," Father Dante commented, zooming in on a particular warehouse complex. "Much more efficient than paper maps. Your company's innovations continue to impress."
"Technology should serve a practical purpose," I replied. "Especially when dealing with situations that could affect civilian populations."
The conversation was interrupted by the sound of the front door opening, followed by familiar voices echoing through the mansion's entrance hall.
"Leon-san, we're here!" Asia's cheerful voice called out.
"Yeah, and I'm ready to get tortu-stronger!" Issei added, though his tone carried the usual mix of determination and apprehension that came with facing one of my training sessions.
As they made our way toward the entrance hall, I could hear Issei and Asia still chatting.
"I wonder what kind of training Leon has planned today," Asia was saying. "Yesterday's practice was quite challenging."
"Tell me about it," Issei groaned.
When they reached the entrance hall, the reunion was immediate and dramatic.
"Issei?!" Irina's voice rang out, her eyes going wide with shock and delight.
Issei looked up, blinking in confusion at the group of Church representatives. His gaze settled on Irina, and for a moment he just stared.
"Do I... know you?" he asked hesitantly.
Irina's face fell slightly. "It's me! Irina! We used to play together when we were kids, remember? You, me, and... and..." Her expression grew sad. "And Issei-kun, you really don't remember?"
Recognition finally dawned on Issei's face, his eyes widening. "Wait... Irina? But you're... you're a girl!"
"I was always a girl!" she protested, though she was smiling now. "You just thought I was a boy because I had short hair and played with swords!"
"Holy crap, it really is you!" Issei's face broke into a genuine grin. "I can't believe it! What are you doing here? Are you visiting Japan?"
"It's... complicated," Irina said, glancing at Father Dante. "We're here on Church business."
Meanwhile, Xenovia had been staring at Asia with a growing frown. There was something familiar about the blonde nun that she couldn't quite place.
"Have we met before?" Xenovia asked directly.
Asia looked up nervously. "I... I don't think so. Though you do look familiar..."
"Asia Argento," Xenovia said suddenly, recognition clicking into place. Her expression grew more serious. "You're the Saint who was exiled from the Church."
The temperature in the room seemed to drop several degrees. Asia's face went pale, while Issei immediately stepped protectively closer to her.
"Yeah, so what if she is?" Issei said defensively. "Asia didn't do anything wrong!"
Xenovia studied Asia for a long moment, her expression unreadable. "I've heard the stories. A nun who healed a devil and was cast out for it."
Asia looked down at her hands. "I... I couldn't just let someone die, even if they were supposed to be my enemy. I know the Church sees it as betrayal, but..."
"I don't discriminate against you for it," Xenovia said finally, though her tone remained formal. "Your actions were... understandable, from a certain perspective. However, I also can't condone them."
The awkward tension was broken by Irina's continued excitement over seeing her childhood friend.
"But Issei-kun, what are you doing here? Are you visiting Leon-san for some reason?" she asked curiously.
"I'm training here," Issei replied. "Leon's been teaching me how to get stronger."
"Training?" Irina's eyebrows shot up. "Then that means you know about the supernatural world now?"
"Yeah," Issei said, rubbing the back of his head. "Found out a few weeks ago. It's been... a lot to process."
"How did you get involved?" Father Dante asked, interest overriding social pleasantries.
Before Issei could answer, the familiar weight of the Boosted Gear materialized around his left arm. The red gauntlet gleamed in the afternoon light, its green gems pulsing with draconic energy.
"That's... that's a Sacred Gear,"
The effect on the three Church representatives was immediate and dramatic. Father Dante nearly knocked over the projection scroll device in his shock. Irina's mouth fell open in astonishment. Even Xenovia's composed expression cracked, her eyes widening as she stared at the gauntlet.
"That's the Boosted Gear?!" Father Dante repeated weakly, clearly knowing the Longinus appearance.
"As in one of the Thirteen Longinus?!" Irina and Xenovia breathed.
"Yeah," Issei said, looking down at the gauntlet with a mixture of pride and uncertainty. "Still getting used to having it, honestly."
"This explains so much," Father Dante said, finally recovering his composure and steadying the projection device. "Leon, you've been training the Red Dragon Emperor?"
"Among other things," I replied calmly. "Issei needed proper guidance to use his abilities safely."
"If you're training with Leon-san, then you must be getting involved in some serious supernatural business," she said worriedly. "Issei-kun, are you sure you know what you're getting into?"
Before Issei could answer, Asia spoke up quietly. "He's very brave. He's always trying to protect people, even when it puts him in danger."
Irina smiled gently. "I know… Typical Issei."
"Well," Father Dante said finally, gesturing to the still-active holographic map, "this certainly was interesting."
"The Sekiryuutei. I never thought I'd see it in person."
"Issei," I said. "Why don't you head to the training room and start warming up? Begin with the breathing exercises we practiced yesterday, then move on to basic mana circulation."
"Right," Issei nodded, though he kept glancing back at Irina with that expression of someone still trying to believe what they were seeing. "Come on, Asia-chan."
As the two of them headed deeper into the mansion, I turned back to the Church representatives and the holographic display. "Now, where were we?"
We spent the next twenty minutes going through potential hideouts, establishing search patterns, and discussing the tactical considerations of confronting Valper and his potential allies.
"So we're agreed," I concluded.
"Understood," Xenovia said, finally sheathing her cleaned sword. "Though if Loki is truly involved, we may need to adjust our approach significantly."
"We'll cross that bridge when we come to it," Father Dante replied, rolling up the projection scroll. "For now, we focus on finding Valper."
Before I could bid them farewell, Father Dante looked thoughtful. "Actually, Leon, would it be possible for us to observe the training session you mentioned?"
Xenovia looked up with interest. "I would also be interested in seeing how the Red Dragon Emperor trains. Combat experience with Longinus wielders is... rare, and it could provide valuable insight for our own missions."
"And I want to catch up with Issei-kun more!" Irina added with her characteristic enthusiasm. "Plus, I've never seen a Longinus in actual use during training before."
I considered their request. There were certainly benefits to having them observe - and potentially participate in - the training.
Church exorcists, especially ones at their level, had extensive combat experience and training methodologies that could provide valuable insight.
More importantly, they could serve as proper sparring partners for Issei.
That was actually a significant problem I'd been grappling with. Issei's current power level, while growing steadily thanks to the Body of the Everflame cultivation, was still far below mine. The gap was so vast that any direct sparring was essentially useless - I had to hold back so much that it defeated the purpose of combat training.
But Irina and Xenovia, while certainly stronger than Issei in his current state, were much closer to his level. Experienced enough to push him without overwhelming him completely. Skilled enough to teach him real combat principles through actual fighting rather than theoretical instruction.
More importantly, Issei needed realistic goals to strive toward. Right now, I was so far beyond his current capabilities that I might as well have been a mythical figure. When he looked at me during training, I could see the mixture of awe and despair in his eyes - the sense that he was trying to reach something impossibly distant.
But Church exorcists like Xenovia and Irina? They were powerful, certainly. Strong enough to be genuinely impressive to someone at Issei's level. Yet they were also attainable goals - examples of what dedicated training and experience could achieve within the realm of possibility.
Seeing their strength firsthand would give Issei something concrete to aim for. A benchmark that seemed challenging but not insurmountable.
That kind of realistic goal-setting was crucial for maintaining motivation during the long, difficult process of cultivation and combat training.
"No problem," I said finally, nodding to all three of them. "In fact, your presence might be beneficial. Issei needs combat experience."
I found myself looking forward to seeing how this would play out.
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