Ch 82: We have a mission for you.

Asia was worried.

She had called the Church over a dozen times since the death of Kokabiel, wanting to speak to Sister Griselda or Cardinal-Priest Vasco Strada. But the answer had always been the same. They had yet to return from their mission. That was most unlike them to be late, and she could feel the stress in the voice of the people who had taken her calls.

And then there was this disastrous visit at Kuoh Academy. She could tell that Irina's heart had been broken at the sight of her childhood friend being so sinful. First the news about God, and then this. Asia's heart ached for the poor girl…

She decided that rather than worry alone in her bedroom for a call that might not come today, she should rather try to comfort Irina, and maybe pray for her.

But as if her thoughts had summoned her, there was a knock at the door, and Irina asked to enter.

Asia displayed a gentle smile as she opened the door, and saw that it wasn't just Irina. Xenovia and Kaede were also present.

"Please come in, all of you."

"Thank you, Asia." said Irina.

"Still no news?" asked Xenovia gently.

"No. I would have informed you if it was the case. Sister Griselda and Lord Strada are still missing." said Asia somberly.

"Asia, I am sorry, as I can see that the timing is bad, but, Kaede, Xenovia and I…" Irina took a deep breath.

"…We will leave the Inquisition."

Asia flinched and took the time to think before answering. "…As you said, the timing is bad. With Sister Griselda and Lord Strada missing, the Church would lose its five most talented warriors. Can you tell me why you wish to leave? I can understand Kaede, with your twin sister and your Master being here, but…"

"I wish to have Noah's babies." bluntly said Xenovia. "It is my dream to have at least three. I will raise them as strong warriors, and they will protect the innocent from Hollows and other threats."

"I see." nodded Asia, blushing. She turned her head toward Irina.

"…I never really intended to stay my whole life in the inquisition. With the news of God likely being… dead, I feel no particular desire to return to the Vatican. And Noah… I feel like he can make me forget about Issei. And he can give me the strength to protect innocent people. I also want to stay with Xenovia and Kaede."

Asia, remembering the fight against Kokabiel and his Cerberus, didn't feel like arguing. If she was honest to herself, there was a part of her that wanted to follow their example. Life in this house was very comfortable and the people living here were all friendly, despite some of them being devils. More importantly, Noah was doing God's work, even if he wasn't a believer, and supporting him from the side would not feel like a waste of her life. And he was so charming, so handsome...

Asia abruptly stopped her train of thoughts before it led her to a sinful direction and refocused on the present.

"I understand. Thank you for telling me, everyone. I will consult with the rest of the inquisition… Do you wish to witness their answer?"

"Yes, please." said Irina. Xenovia and Kaede nodded as well, and Asia gestured for them to sit on the bed. She then took her smartphone, activated its speaker mode, and called the Church.

"Father Greyjoy of the Inquisition, how may I be of service?"

"Hello again, Father Greyjoy, this is Sister Asia. I am sorry for bothering you again. Can I speak to the highest authority available, please?"

"Do you wish to speak to Father Clemens?"

"Yes, please." Father Clemens was the secretary of Vasco Strada, and took over most of the administrative duties of the Church's second in command. As long as Lord Strada was absent, the only person above him was the pope himself.

"Father Clemens." announced the clipped, no-nonsense voice of a man who had a hundred matters that needed dealing with yesterday.

"Hello, Father Clemens, this is Asia Argento, currently in Japan."

"Hello, Sister Asia. I will commend you and the apprentice-Inquisitors for your mission's success and for interacting smoothly with the local powers. Is there any issue?"

"…There are two issues, Father Clemens. Is this line secure? One of those matters is extremely sensitive."

"It is, you can speak freely."

Asia looked at her companion and took a deep breath.

"…Before he was killed, Kokabiel claimed that the Lord had… passed away, during the last major battle against the devils."

"…Who else heard this claim?" asked Father Clemens in a tone devoid of any emotion.

"Our team, the member of Rias Gremory's peerage, some of the Returnees, and Noah Enfield… Father, is that claim, accurate?"

"…It is. And that is too many people for the Church to confine and Rias Gremory's status is too high for us to even try to silence them. We can only pray that none of them will attempt to make this knowledge public. What is your other issue?"

Asia exchanged a glance with the girls and took a deep breath.

"For the reason mentioned above, and for some additional personal reasons, Irina, Xenovia and Kaede have chosen to leave the Inquisition and live permanently with Noah Enfield."

The girls heard a noise coming from the phone's speakers. It sounded like a pen snapping in half.

For a full thirty seconds, Asia and the girls waited with trepidation for the Father to start speaking again. Asia was checking her phone to be sure the call was still ongoing when he finally spoke.

"Sister Asia, I have an important mission for you. It has priority over anything else, including your own morals and ethics."

"Yes?" replied Asia, suddenly worried. Surely, he wasn't going to order her to use force or trickery to bring the girls back to the Vatican… was he?"

"The Inquisition needs for you to marry Noah Enfield."

Asia's jaw dropped to the floor as Kaede, Xenovia and Irina looked at each other with wide eyes and struggled hard not to make any noise.

"Huh, I beg your pardon, Father Clemens, but I think I suffered some auditory hallucination. Could you please repeat?"

"We want you to marry Noah Enfield. That is the mission. From the information we have gathered and your reports, he is too valuable not to bring into our influence, even if we have to use indirect means. Do whatever it takes to gain his favor, to guide his decisions to be more favorable to the Church. Try to have him convert to the Catholic faith if you can. And with him joining, hopefully, the lost lambs will also return to the fold. This will also be a bribe, for him to stay silent about Kokabiel's claims. Since you are a beautiful and capable young woman, I do not think he will reject you. I count on you to do your duty, Sister Asia."

"I-I understand, Father Clemens." said Asia with a low voice, still stunned by the ludicrous request, and blushing furiously.

"Very well, then. Good luck, sister Asia. We appreciate your sacrifice."

The priest ended the call the instant he finished talking.

And Kaede rolled her eyes, hard.

"Lost lambs, he called us, all while trying to use Asia like a sacrificial lamb. The nerve of him!"

Irina shrugged. "That's, a good outcome, right? He accepted our resignations, more or less, and we'll all stay together."

"Yes. But Asia will need to get used to the idea." nodded Xenovia, looking at the flustered young woman with compassion.

Kaede nodded and hugged Asia. "It's fine, Asia. Master is the best person you could have as a partner. He will treasure you, and you will love him. I'm not certain he will ever marry anyone, though."

"I…I need some time alone to think about it, please."

"We understand." said Kaede, smiling. "We'll leave you alone for a while. but if you need anything, even just a hug, we are there for you."

"Yes. Thank you, everyone."

Once the three girls left the room, Asia laid on the bed, her heart beating like mad, and her mind in chaos.