The Knight Goddess 2: Prophecy

Chapter 161: Faint hope

While returning to the main floor, Issei passed by someone he knew

"Yo, Issei."

"Saji. What brings you here?"

"Well, Kaichou came to see how Rias-senpai is doing so I came to escort her. We met with people from the house of Phenex on our way."

The two started walking and continued their talk

"Issei. I'm planning to participate in this case. I'm going to protect the civilians living in town." Saji says with resolved eyes. "Youths with power are being summoned. So it is no doubt that our group will soon be dispatched."

"We are also planning to join with you afterwards." replied Issei and Saji held a face of concern.

"Are Rias-senpai and the others able to fight?"

"We have to fight. All the Devils that have powers are summoned to it. We are Devils who have powers... so we have to do it." Issei shook away his worries. "We are still mourning about Erin's death... but even so, we must go and fight."

"Yeah. You are right."

Saji puts on a smile but his expression eventually turned serious

"Do you know who killed Erin-san?"

"I do, but he's no longer in this world. He must have been defeated by Erin. Yes, there is no way Erin couldn't finish off Shalba."

Issei stopped his voice from cracking

"Even if she received the poison of Samael, she definitely must have eliminated Shalba. I believe in that without the slightest of doubts. The Erin I know won't get defeated that easily."

Saji's eyes began to get glossy and he replied

"Yeah. Striking back when getting hit. There is no way she would lose. She died after winning, right? There's no way she lost, right?"

Saji had tears flowing out of his eyes and he lowered his head to compose himself

"Erin-san is a good person. I just find it hard to understand on why of all people, she was the one who had to die.. She doesn't deserve this.. she doesn't deserve dying after all the help she gave. It should have been those enemies who died."

Issei was also shedding tears by now. He clenched his fist and raised it on the air

"The guy who killed Erin is already gone. Then we just have to beat the Khaos-Brigade, which was the group that the guy who killed her belonged to."

"Erin-san was one of my inspirations. I won't forgive those guys who took her away and killed her! I will burn all of them with the flame of Vritra!"

Saji is emitting an intense aura from his body. He is keeping down his power which seems like it will explode any moment

"My flame is a cursed black flame that won't disappear even if I die. I will take down their lives even at the cost of my own!"

"We will be troubled if you die, Saji."

The two turned around and saw Sona approaching them

"Saji. I understand if you get emotional but we will be troubled if you die. If you are going to show your rage, show it by burning your opponents while you stay alive."

Saji wiped his tears with his sleeve and nods at the words. Sona then looks at Issei

"We will pardon ourselves here. We were given an order from Serafall Leviathan to go to the capital of Maou territory, Lilith, to protect the city and evacuate any civilians we see."