Editing Shinmai Maou no Keiyakusha:Volume 9 Chapter 1 (section)

===Part 5===

Heavy silence settled in the car as they passed some houses. Yuki spoke up softly, over the sound of the whirring engine, to break the silence.

“…Basara.”

Basara looked up to look at Yuki, only to have his breath caught in his throat. For right in front of him, towards the left side of the road, lay a building he was very familiar with. His childhood home. The Toujou household. And on the other side of the fence, the Nonaka household. Basara desperately tried to hold back the emotions that were bubbling within him. After all, he didn’t come here to reminisce. Of course, he will forever shoulder the sins that he committed that day 5 years ago, but for now, there were other things that he had to do. Because Basara now had things that he must protect.

“I know it’s been a long trip from Tokyo, and I’d more than want you to take a rest, but with unexpected guests and everything, time is really of the essence. So, I’m sorry but I’ll have to take you to the elders right now.”

Shuuya spoke apologetically, and the usually aloof Takigawa responded in a rather mature manner.

“Oh, don’t worry about it. We’re fine.”

But something seemed a bit off for Basara.

“Um, may I ask a question?”

“Of course.”

“You just said ‘unexpected guests’, am I to assume that there are guests other than Takigawa here today?”

Shuuya didn’t respond to Basara’s question, and in fact, you could see the nervous look in his eyes from the rearview mirror.

 

“Hey, if you need to speak about something I shouldn’t be listening to, do you want me to cover my ears or something?”

Takigawa suggested in a joking manner, but Basara was once again the serious one here.

“Uncle Shuuya, if it’s about Takigawa, don’t worry. He is someone we can definitely trust. And if something was to happen, I’ll personally take responsibility.”

“Hey…”

Takigawa gave a slight retort but he knew what Basara meant. If Takigawa was to leak whatever Shuuya had to say, there will be consequences if the information went to the wrong people. Even though Takigawa was one of the few demon friends that he had, he was Basara’s responsibility the moment he decided to tag along to visit the village. So it will be on him to make sure Takigawa didn’t misbehave.

“The Vatican notified us that they are sending a Hearing Officer. The officer will be arriving tomorrow.”

“T-The Vatican…!?”

Basara was at a loss for words. For this was the topic he was just talking to Takigawa before in regards to other Hero Clans around the world. The Hero Clan in the United States have found their way in the upper echelons of the intelligence agencies and the military of the US government. The Heroes in Europe, on the other hand, were able to move around their base of operations for centuries, under the guise of ‘religion’. Currently they occupied the Vatican and had an influential grip over the aristocrats and the ruling elites throughout Europe. The European branch of the Hero Clan had the longest history, and you could even say that they acted as the headquarters and governing body of all Hero Clans. And the Hearing Officer that Shuuya referred to, wasn’t some priest to give a sermon. They were the handpicked elites chosen from the best Heroes in the European branch, to handle special missions like combat against high ranking demons and to dispel any quarrels and infighting in the Hero community. But as elites, they weren’t just sent off to any random mission, but only those of the utmost importance.

“Correct me if I’m wrong but…was it perhaps the Vatican who summoned me this time and not the village?”

What Takigawa said before was starting to make sense. It wasn’t surprising that the village would want to make a move on them before Basara and co become an even bigger threat to the village. But Basara did not, even for a moment, expect that the Vatican would involve themselves. Of course, Basara now had something that he needed to protect, even to the point of taking on the Vatican. But Yuki and Kurumi could not just follow Basara’s path. They had to think about the trouble that they would bring to their parents. Even the meeting this time wasn’t just for Basara to introduce himself to the elders, but for him to argue for the Nonaka sisters to continue living with him.

“Oh no, it was very much the elders who summoned you. The Vatican just decided to interfere in the last minute. It took the elders completely by surprise as well. That’s why nerves are high. It’s not always that we have a Hearing Officer pay us a visit after all.”

“I see…”

Basara considered what Shuuya just said and came to the conclusion that things weren’t at their lowest point, but it still wasn’t looking that great. Currently he didn’t know if the Vatican was going to butt heads with Basara and co, or if they were going to quarrel with the Village. Regardless, it probably wasn’t something that would sort itself out with just a friendly conversation. It also now made sense as to why Shuuya was chosen to escort Basara and the others. Usually, as Yuki and Kurumi’s father, and someone who was close to Basara, he would not be a suitable choice to escort them. In fact, it would have probably been better to have somebody else, somebody who wouldn’t disclose any information to them. But the elders had to have their ‘insurance’ in this situation. By having Shuuya speak to Basra about the Vatican, Basara will be entering the talks without being surprised and would be able to act in a clear-headed manner in case something was to happen. And the confusion that will occur with the sudden interference by the Vatican might play to Basara’s hand when negotiating with the elders. The fact that the village already planned to invite Basara before the Vatican interfered also proved that the village may have some certain issues and conditions that they did not want the Vatican to change or to know about. So Basara was not about to let go of such an opportunity.

“Thanks for everything ojisan.”

Basara gave his thanks and looked ahead at the large manor. The building that would host the swordless duel that was about to take place. The manor of the elders.

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