49 A Favor

Dulio can speak English.

That is, perhaps, the greatest skill he has. His standing is one thing, his Sacred Gear is another, but speaking another language aside from his main tongue?

Amazing. Life-changing. Why?

Because that means he can converse with Akeno without using some sort of magic, and that means I don't need to constantly watch out for damage control. Dulio has a third foodie he can talk to, and Akeno can happily talk with someone without needing to consult me at every moment.

Finally. Peace. At least, for the time being.

It's a couple hours past noon right now, and Dulio's touring us around Rome. I don't need his help per se, but it was kind of him to offer, and I see no reason to refuse. And besides, the man clearly knows where the best restaurants are, and I'm more than happy to let him lead us along.

Honestly, I think I'm just happy to have someone lead me along for once. Being the leader of my own plans is nice and all, but it's also quite tiring.

Well, that aside,

I have to say, Rome is beautiful. I'm not that much of a history nut, but even I can appreciate some of the incredible things the people of the past built with none of the conveniences of the modern age. There were some insanely talented people from those old days. I wonder how far they could've gotten if they know what we know now?

It's an interesting thought, to be sure.

Our bucket list is far from being finished, but I doubt it'll be. Meeting Dulio has quelled some of our wanderlust, and now both Akeno and I are content with following the man around, seeing the sights we nearly glossed over and enjoying food personally recommended by Dulio himself.

It's quite nice. It's a little slower than I'm used to, but it's not bad.

I don't think I would want to live here for all my life. Japan has its own problems, certainly, but I still prefer it compared to here. The air is cleaner, there aren't as many cars in Kuoh, and there aren't as many people. And it's not like I can abandon Kuoh now that I'm its shadow mayor; that'd just be lazy.

But…I am tempted. Maybe I'll buy a semi-permanent lodging here, just in case I need some place where I can relax.

Actually, yeah. I'll probably do that. Not in Rome obviously, but somewhere close-

"Issei?"

I blink. We've stopped walking, and Akeno and Dulio are staring at me. I blink again. Did I space out for that long? Did…I feel that relaxed to drop my guard?

Huh. Interesting.

"Sorry. I got lost in thought." I say, smiling apologetically. "I was just considering whether or not I should buy a house here." I wink. "You know, as a summer home or something."

Akeno blinks, and then smiles. "That's a good idea actually."

"Right?" My smile falls. "But it'll probably take a while." I sigh. "There'll be a bunch of stuff we'll need to do, and it won't be easy for some foreigner to buy a house around here." I shrug. "Most of the area around here is already owned by some very rich people."

Dulio hums. "An issue indeed." He rubs his chin for a good moment, before his eyes light up. "Ah! Why not buy some land?"

I stare. "That…just shifts the problem."

He opens his mouth, and then closes it with a defeated sigh. "That's true."

Akeno giggles. "Well, we don't have to own a house or something. We can just fly here anytime we want."

I smile. "That works." She's not wrong. We do have a private jet, after all.

The rest of the day is spent walking around. I try my best to not let my thoughts run amok for once, to force myself to just enjoy the moment. It doesn't always work—I still space out from time to time—but I have Akeno and Dulio to pull me back when I start to float away.

The afternoon soon fades into the evenings. And the evening turns to night. A large dinner is eaten, and all three of us splurge with abandon as we enjoy the delicacies prepared by some of the finest chefs in the world.

Although, as nice as this all is, I don't think I can do this very often. I'm just…not comfortable, I suppose. The food tastes great, and the atmosphere is spectacular, but nothing beats the comfy warmth of a home-cooked meal.

Eventually, midnight comes. We head to the hotel I'd booked a couple days ago, and obviously, we head for the uppermost floor.

In truth, I didn't really plan on staying here. We knew from the get-go that we'll be hopping from city to city. There would be no guarantee that we'd actually settle down and sleep. But just in case, I rented the highest floor of over twenty different hotels, just in case we happen to slow down at some point.

…It cost quite the amount, but I'm glad I did that.

Akeno goes to our room, and immediately drops onto the bed and falls asleep. I'm not surprised in the slightest. We've been moving non-stop for quite a while now, and she hasn't had a chance to fully rest. I let her rest in peace.

Instead, Dulio and I head to another room. He immediately goes off to check the fridge for more wine, while I head out onto the balcony.

A bated breath leaves my lips as I look down. The city below looks like a canvas of stars, of bright lights painted across dark streets and concrete buildings. Everything looks so puny from up here. The people we walked by are nearly invisible to the mundane eye.

I smile. There's probably a lesson in there somewhere.

I hear the door behind me slide open, and I hear Dulio's footsteps. But I don't turn around to meet him. Not yet.

"It's a nice night, isn't it?" I begin, idly watching the moving cars below. "I'm glad it hasn't rained yet. Would've been a terrible way to end this trip of mine." I chuckle. "Well, I suppose I have you to thank for that, don't I?"

Finally, I turn around. Dulio's still smiling, but it's a little bit more polite than the smiles he had just moments ago. "I did little, Sir Hyoudou." He closes his eyes. "It wouldn't do for someone like you to leave my homeland in such dour conditions."

I smile wryly. "You sound weird when you're being polite."

He chuckles weakly. "Ah, Griselda said the same…" He coughs into his fist. "Still, I mean what I said. You are, perhaps, one of the most important guests to have arrived in recent times."

I hum. "And why's that?"

"Issei Hyoudou. The Heir of the Youkais of Japan. Owner of Kuoh Town." He smiles. "The host of the younger siblings of two Satans." I smile. He's done his homework, it seems. "You are, perhaps, the most important figure in all of Japan."

"And? At this time, I'm nothing more than a visitor." I tilt my head. "There's no reason for one of the Vatican's most prized exorcists to come and greet me personally."

He grimaces at that. "Ah, that…" He laughs warily. "I hadn't planned on that, really. I just happen to frequent that bakery, that's all."

I laugh. Funnily enough, that's actually true. "So?" I ask. "What do you want?"

He goes silent at that. His smile completely falls away, and he stares at me with wary consideration. I already have an idea on what he's going to ask—I activated my eyes minutes before—but I want to hear it from his own mouth.

He takes a breath. "Sir Hyoudou. I have a favor I must ask for."

I smile. "Go on."

He closes his eyes. "I will not lie and claim that the church is perfect." He shakes his head. "Far from it. The church is an institution run by men, and these human hands of ours are not meant to be perfect." He smiles blandly. "Darkness lurks in my home. Hurtful truths are hidden. Lies are spoken as fact."

I nod. "Like your god's demise, I assume."

He blinks. "You…know?"

I grin. "I have my sources." I say simply. After all, I can't just say that his god's eyes are now mine, can I? That'd be awfully rude. "So, what's this favor of yours?"

He coughs. "I…request asylum. For my fellow brothers and sisters."

"Oh?"

He sighs. "You've said so yourself. God has passed. The clergy has done all they can to keep that fact hidden, but many have begun losing faith, and many more will follow." For a moment, a hateful scowl comes onto his face. "Those that search for the truth are rewarded with exile. They paint them as pagans and throw them out like they mean nothing."

I take a moment to study his expression. That anger-, no, that rage. It's an odd look for the usually bright man to have.

But it speaks of his kindness. Of his belief.

Such adamant confidence in his own justice; I can't say I dislike it.

"So," I begin. "If I'm not wrong, you wish for me to open my doors to those that have been exiled by the clergy? To give them homes and safety?"

He nods. "Yes. That's exactly what I mean."

"Interesting." I say, trying my hardest not to grin. There's a lot of potential in his favor. Too much, really. "And what can you pay in return?"

Immediately, with conviction he says, "My allegiance."

My self-control nearly breaks, but I manage to keep my expression neutral. "Oh? You'd so readily abandon your own comrades?"

And at that, Dulio snaps.

"What comrades!?" He shouts. "What comrade throws out one another for wanting to learn!? What comrade willingly tortures one another in the name of appointment!?" He growls. "Pagans they call those poor folk. Death is the sentence for knowledge."

I remain silent all the while. The 'Silence' Ofuda I silently stuck onto the back of my leg is glowing with Primal Energy.

"Saint Peter denied the Lord three times, and still He gave him His love." He whispers. "They crucified the Lord on the Cross, and he defied Death itself and saved mankind from Sin." He grit his teeth. "All he asks in return is for us to do the same as he did. To live and love and forgive. And we pay Him back with lies and blood."

He looks at me, and the smile he gives is sad and broken. "I can no longer have faith in the brothers I once grew up with."

I hum. "So why trust me?"

He takes a deep breath. "May I be truthful, sir?"

I nod. "Go ahead."

"When I was young, I was inspired by the tales of the bible." He begins with a nostalgic smile. "When the clergy found me, I was eager. When I saved those in need, I felt assured." He sighs. "I felt…safe. Like the Lord Himself had kept me safe. As if He shadows my every step, guiding my hand whenever I am in need."

"But recently, that feeling has faded." His smile falls. "The place I called home—I've learnt that it's much darker than I first thought. The brothers and sisters I loved turn a blind eye to the lessons they themselves preach to the young." He closes his eyes. "And that assurance that had led me for so long has disappeared."

He looks at me, and he smiles tiredly. "It's a terrible thing, to love something for so long that you eventually realize that it isn't what you once thought it was."

I close my eyes. That's true. Painfully true. It's a lesson you learn eventually. Love can do many things, but love fades in time, and in its wake you see the imperfections of the thing you once held so dear. It's a crushing feeling, and not everyone can move on from it.

"But then I met you." At that, his bright smile returns. "Perhaps I am going insane, but from you I feel that same assurance." He laughs awkwardly. "This is very unlike me, but…it feels like you're someone I can dedicate my life to."

I say nothing to that. I know why he feels that. These eyes of mine, they once belonged to the Christian God. His personality may still be locked away, but it seems that what little there is has resonated with the man before me.

…It feels a little cheap to be getting the man's trust so easily, but I'll take it.

"I am glad you think so." I say evenly. "So, how long must you remain here?"

He smiles. "Four years. I will remain in my homeland for four years to help those who are exiled to reach you." His smile turns a little vicious after that. "And if nothing changes in the clergy, then I too will leave."

Finally, I let a satisfied smile lift my lips. "That is more than acceptable." I clap my hands and grin. "Very well then. You have my word. Any refugee the Church exiles, you are to bring them to Kuoh. I will house them then." I extend my hand forward. "Does that work?"

He smiles. "Yes sir."

He shakes my hand, and our deal is sealed.