Fate DxD

Chapter 84

As I move discreetly around the sports field to join Kiba, an announcement motivates me.

[Riser Phoenix-sama's three [Pawns] retire.]

A most welcome announcement, if it's three [Pawns], it can only be Kiba. So with that, they're down to nine members, including Riser. And we're down to five members, with Koneko defeated. The situation isn't hopeless yet.

That's it, I see Kiba, hiding among the bushes, watching the sports field. I approach, making more noise, to alert him to my presence. He turns suddenly, his hand ready to draw, but calms down when he sees me, smiling.

"Good work, Emiya-kun." He said.

"...I'm sorry, Kiba-san, I failed Koneko..." I mumble a few words.

"...I heard yes, She must have a lot of regrets. I never really knew what she was thinking. But she was really motivated for this match. She worked hard when we set the traps in the forest." Kiba explains.

"..." I clench my fists, unable to stop myself from feeling responsible for this.

"But it's not your fault Emiya-kun, far from it, okay? Let's do our best, for her sake, okay?" Kiba encourages me.

"...Let's win." I refocus, ready for battle.

"Of course, Emiya-kun." Kiba extends his fists toward me.

We hit our knuckles together. The only two boys in the occult research club, both sword fighters, I can't help but bring out my competitive side, the same goes for Kiba, which will bring out the best in us. And then, as Usui says so well, "You've got to look cool in front of the girls when you're fighting".

"I imagine it was you who took care of the three [Pawns]." I ask.

"Yeah." Kiba nodded. "The clubroom located on the sports field is an important location. So it's natural that there's a good number of enemies there. I somehow managed to lure the [Pawns] who were keeping their eyes here and take them down. But the person in charge of this position is rather calm and didn't respond at all to my provocations. I'd even say she used the [Pawns] to see my attacks. It seems that Riser likes to fight by sacrificing his servants. It's something he's only able to do thanks to his immortality and his total number of servants." Kiba smiled, but his eyes were stern. "There's only one [Knight], one [Rook] and one [Bishop] left."

"...It's a good defense." I whisper.

"Well... it just goes to show how important this position is, especially now that the gym is gone, they've beefed up the defense here." Kiba adds.

The two roads that were seen as passages to the bases, the road from the gymnasium and the road from the sports field. Rias decided to destroy one of the passages, forcing them to carefully guard the sports field. And then, thanks to our success, we forced their [Queen] to come to the front line. It looks like this fight is going to be a lot more intense than it was in the gym. I clench my fists, getting ready to bring my A-game.

"Are you nervous?" Kiba asks me with a smile.

"Of course I am. I may have a bit of experience, but every confrontation remains a challenge, and we're not just talking about a fight like this, we're fighting for the future of the President..."

"...Look." Kiba extends his hand toward me, shaking. "I'm the same as you. Just like you, I have experience in combat, but this is the first time I've taken part in a Rating Game. A serious fight between Devils. But if this match is special, that doesn't change the fact that it's a serious fight. We'll be involved in many conflicts, whether against humans, demons or other creatures, and especially Devils, whether we like it or not. But this is our first game. We can't show them so much as an opening in our guard. This is a game where we have to give our all as Rias' servants. It's something that will be important now and even for the future. I'm delighted and also scared. I don't want to forget the feeling of my trembling hand. This feeling of being nervous, this intense atmosphere, I want to feel it all and turn it into my experience. Let's become stronger together, Emiya-kun."