Chương 110: Chapter 106- Touji’s Hope

"Tomorrow then, friend?" A silence fell between them, and Igor returned a grin.

"Tomorrow…" Their eyes met. Maybe befriending a devil wouldn't be so bad.

"... friend."... … |DxD| - Chapter 106- Touji's Hope …... The fifteenth hour came and the sun hung high in the skies. It cast its light upon neat rows of trees lining the road. This was a quiet part of Kuoh where modest and affluent homes came together. At a 'T' intersection, Igor stood with his back against a utility pole. His eyes were closed in waiting, and that made him particularly conspicuous.

"Look at those arms. Imagine them lifting you up."

"No way, Saki. Don't say such things!" The whispers of two girls entered his ears. They were on the other side of the road carrying their backpacks. They were from a high school in the area and had just gotten back.

"Just talk to him. Don't be shy~."

"Why don't YOU talk to him, Saki? Don't you have a thing for—""Ssh! He's looking at us." Igor was… helpless. These sort of reactions were becoming a norm from the opposite gender. He wasn't enthused, but he wouldn't deny it gave him a boost in confidence to know he was appealing. He waited further and left them to their world. To his left was a short road leading up a hill where the church was built. Only one man walked the path and that man was Touji with a briefcase in hand.

He drew closer and Igor finally stood up properly.

"Igor."

"Uncle." Igor responded with a nod. Touji looked at the blonde, then the girls, then at the blonde again. He chuckled and shook his head.

"Enjoy this phase while it lasts, Igor." He walked past and Igor followed behind.

"I don't understand what you mean, uncle. I'm an innocent man."

"An innocent man can be deemed a criminal because of his treasures. And you happen to possess their desires between your legs." The tale has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation. Igor paused out of sheer surprise, both at Touji's words and that the man could say such things. And Touji was not done yet.

"Be careful not to plant wantonly. Kuoh has enough blondes as it is."

"..." Igor stopped and blinked several times in sheer surprise. Miki's influence was very present in Touji.

"I did not expect that uncle, a member of the church, would speak like this."

"It comes with the privilege of being high ranking. Anyway, I'm sure you didn't come to find an old man like me for a casual chat." Igor smiled politely.

"What if I was?"

"Then we can chat. For instance, why do you always wear sandals?" Igor chuckled. In the time chamber, he always trained barefooted. It had been that way since he was five.

"I don't like having my feet enclosed. It's either this or nothing at all."

"Oh? Well, to each their own. How is Shuri by the way? It has been a while since we've seen her."

"You'll meet her at the park today."

"Along with your entourage I presume?"

"I…" His throat locked and Touji chuckled with a faint teasing glint in his eye.

"I wonder which family's daughter you'll charm today, King of Kuoh." Igor winced at the title. It was foisted on him three weeks ago and it had become very popular.

"No one. But there is another issue, uncle." Igor straightened himself. Gone was his jovialness.

"I told Uncle Gorou and his wife about the supernatural world because I've identified Issei to either be the wielder of the Boosted Gear or Divine Dividing."

"..." Touji stopped and looked ahead without a change in expression. He neither blinked or flinched. The seconds passed like this until he pushed his glasses up.

"You are terrible at lead-ups, Igor." He continued walking. Igor's one sentence had so much in it that it raised dozens of questions. It was a good way to paralyse someone.

"How much have you told them?"

"Snippets. I limited it to magic being real."

"A good mercy, one I wish you extended to myself. Anything else he asked?"

"He asked if you were a magician as well. I told him no."

"I see…" Touji caught on.

"And I have to explain that exorcists and magicians are not the same?"

"... yes, uncle." If technicalities were discussed, he didn't lie. Gorou just didn't ask the question correctly. Touji pinched the space between his brows. Talking to his friend of many years about a world hidden from him would be very difficult.

"Let's move on from Gorou. Explain the matter about Issei to me." This time, Igor had no scruples and replied honestly.

"I have the ability to sense the soul of a person. Issei has a powerful dragon soul conjoined to his. After repeated verification, I concluded Issei could be either dragon emperor."

"Well…" Touji shook his head in mild disbelief.

"... those are some means, Igor. Those are really some means."

"Sorry, uncle. I can't speak about certain things."

"No. I understand, Igor. It's…just a bit hard to swallow. Who knew our little town would host a Longinus? It's hard to not be…"

"Tempted?" Igor offered with a smile. Touji smiled as well, but didn't deny it.

"It's not the word I was looking for, but recruiting the White or Red Dragon Emperor would be a fantastic thing to put on my list of achievements. But something tells me you want to contest that."

"I do, uncle. I want to let the children grow up without being pulled into factional struggles."

"The children…" Touji slowed and fell into contemplation. He was in the upper ranks of the church, and knew exactly how far the rot spread. It was why he left the core and returned to Japan, so his family could grow without that filth.

"Alright, Igor. Before I acknowledge anything, what is your intent behind all of this? Are you not part of the Shinto?"

"No." Igor shook his head.

"Aunty left me the freedom to choose. With my strength now, I have the right to choose or remain neutral. I hope for the children to have the same freedom as well." He continued.

"If I can at least get Issei to high-class before he turns twenty, then it'll give him an umbrella of choice."

"That won't be enough. That's a Longinus." Touji cut in cruelly.

"If you want Issei to really have that choice, he'll need to be Ultimate-Class to be comfortable." Igor brightened.

"Uncle. Do you mean…?"

"Your hope has given me a new perspective, Igor. I want to see it happen." Touji turned to face him.

"So yes. I not only agree, but I'll help as well. Otherwise only God knows what you'll teach the children."

END