DxD: Ascension - Redux

Chapter 56: Metatron's Retribution

i am locked tf in this week. enjoy! <3

Irina marveled at Universal as the team entered CityWalk, Dulio having paid their admission. "It's even more amazing in person!"
Zach smiled, watching Irina's excitement. "Alright, let's keep our focus. Metatron said he hears the sounds of joy and amusement or something along those lines, so he's probably in one of the theme parks. CityWalk is cool, but it's mostly shops and restaurants. I'm thinking the big man is somewhere where there's actual rides."
Dulio nodded. "My thoughts exactly. I'm assuming you know which way to the parks?"
"Yeah. Studios first, like we planned. C'mon." Zach took the lead, directing the team to the entrance to Universal Studios.

As soon as they crossed the threshold, the group suddenly felt an intense holy power almost weighing them down. "What the hell?" Zach's eyes darted around, hunting for the perpetrator.
"Seems like our friend is here after all," Arthur said.
"Must be," Dulio agreed. "We should split up. Cover more ground."
"Sounds good to me. I'll take Irina. Arthur, you go with Dulio," Zach suggested. "Try not to make a scene if you don't have to. And if you find our steel friend, tell us. Obviously. And if we find him, we'll call."
"He's platinum and gold, but I get what you mean," Dulio corrected. "Happy hunting, you two." He went off to begin the search, Arthur right behind him.
Zach breathed a sigh of relief. "Thank the gods that worked."
"What worked?" Irina asked. "Wait, was that holy aura you?"
"Uh, no? Since when am I holy?"
"Then what are you talking about?"
"Finally got the blonde boytoys to go away."
"Why would- oh. You're planning on shirking the mission to have fun, aren't you?"
"Duh," Zach confirmed. "Dulio and Arthur can handle Metatron, I'm sure of it. So we can be normal for a little while."
"Zach..." Irina put her hands on her hips. "You know we have a responsibility to get this done. Lady Gabriel ordered us to actually do it, Dulio was just supposed to watch us, not, like, do it for us."
"We will! Just... later. C'mon, we're at Universal! We have to do at least a few rides," Zach pleaded.
Irina sighed. "Okay. Gabriel's gonna be sooo mad if she finds out, though."
"The leaders love us, we can win them over."
"Alright, which ride first?"
"Wanna start at the front and make our way back, or the other way around?"
"Well, we're here. What's nearby?"
"Rip Ride Rockit, my favorite ride in the park. Let's go!" Zach took Irina's hand and led her to a huge red and yellow roller coaster with a long line already, though the park had just opened.

Meanwhile...

"Thank the gods that worked," Dulio said with a sigh of relief once they'd separated from the teens, walking in the opposite direction.
"What worked?" Arthur asked.
"That holy aura you all felt? It was my doing," Dulio admitted.
Arthur raised an eyebrow. "And what was the point of that, exactly?"
"To make the situation seem more dire and try to lead someone to suggest splitting up." Dulio stretched, yawning. "Zach and Irina can surely handle just finding Metatron, and they'll call for us if they're attacked or otherwise need our help. But in the meantime, it seems we're free to do as we please."
Arthur sighed. "Is ignoring your duties to Heaven truly a good idea?"
"I'm not completely ignoring my mission. If we find Metatron while exploring the park, that's great. And besides, the kids need time to be kids. Especially Praktum right now. To go through such an ordeal just a few days ago, only to be thrown back into another mission right away... it's simply unfair."
"And it gives Irina a chance to get his affection, like we talked about in the car," Arthur noted. "Clever."
"Why, thank you. There's a third benefit, though: I'm free to sample the cuisine of the park. I've never tried theme park food, and I'm especially curious about those monstrous turkey legs."
"You truly love to eat, don't you?"
"Yes, but it's not exclusively for my benefit. As you may know, the Church has an entire organization dedicated to caring for children who have been displaced for one reason or another. I travel the world sampling food because I enjoy it, yes, but also to find things to bring back for the children to try. The way their eyes light up when they taste something they love, the smiles on their faces when they share with each other... it is the reason I continue to fight."
"You are truly admirable, Dulio."
Dulio smiled wistfully. "I wish I could agree. I did not become an exorcist of my own accord, Arthur. I didn't join this fight for some grandiose mission. I was raised as a child soldier by the Church. I don't have parents- or at least, I don't know them. I was a homeless child, never eating enough on the rare occasion that I ate at all. I loved spending time in the snow despite the cold because I could eat it to fill my stomach- if only for a little while. One day, Church operatives found me in the Alps after I accidentally caused a blizzard. Their leader decided to take me in, and the Church became my home. They discovered my Sacred Gear when I was in their care, and I have been their tool ever since. To be frank, I don't care for war. I don't care for combat. Unlike you and Zach, I find no enjoyment in battling others. The only reason I continue to fight is because I want to create a world where children can smile freely. One where they never have to go hungry or be afraid. With God dead, His will has been left open to interpretation, but I imagine that kind of world is one He would have wanted. And I'll do anything to create that world."
Arthur chuckled. "That sounds like a grandiose mission if I've ever heard one."
"I suppose you have a point." Dulio eyed a food cart as he continued, "Well, you know my story now. What about you, Arthur? Why do you fight?"
"Primarily for selfish reasons, unlike yourself. I stole Caliburn and my piece of Excalibur from my family and abandoned them to test my might and that of my swords against powerful foes. Le Fay followed me because she wanted to make sure I was safe. That is why I joined the Khaos Brigade. Originally, I was a part of Cao Cao's Hero Faction. But Vali approached me during that time, and I soon left Cao Cao to join his team."
"I find it hard to believe that a man like you would abandon your family just to fight strong enemies," Dulio mused. "What about the rest of the story?"
Arthur smiled, giving Dulio as much of an answer as he could without words. "You're perceptive. Almost as perceptive as Zach. He guessed at my reasoning without me having to tell him a thing. But you're right, there was another reason that I chose to leave my family. There was a woman."
"There's always a woman, isn't there?"
"Hm, I suppose. This particular woman's name is Elaine. She's a servant for my family, as well as my sister's former magic teacher. We fell in love. However, our difference in status- and me being a candidate for various arrangements- meant that we could never be together. If our relationship were to be discovered, she would lose her position and be thrown out. Knowing she had nowhere else to go, I chose to abandon my family... and abandon Elaine. I thought it better for her to have a stable job and place to call home, but resent me, than to love me and lose everything."
"Do you still believe that?" Dulio asked.
"I don't know," Arthur admitted. "I miss her with all my heart, but if I were to reach out, I'm not sure she'd want anything to do with me. We left the Pendragon family quite some time ago. But we're supposed to be enjoying ourselves today, no? Why waste time talking about our pasts?"
"I actually quite like talking to you. But yes, you're right."
"Then why don't we get you that turkey leg you were talking about?"