Compared to the simple-minded Xenovia, Irina was indeed more thoughtful.
What Vitan exposed was precisely the truth she had been unwilling to face ever since leaving the Church.
"You don't need to concern yourself with that."
After a long silence, Irina ultimately acknowledged Vitan's statement, just as Xenovia had.
But her gloomy expression made it obvious that this acceptance came with deep reluctance.
"In any case, since we've chosen to come here, that means we're not without our own methods. As for the devils, we hope you can remain as observers for now, to avoid stirring up even greater turmoil."
Irina stood up and gave a shallow bow toward Rias, Sona, and Vitan.
"I understand. We can stay out of it for now. But if we're attacked, don't blame us for breaking the agreement."
After a few seconds of silence, Rias finally nodded in agreement.
Just as the Church duo had described, she didn't want to become the trigger that would spark a war among the three factions.
Xenovia stood up along with Irina, but her gaze remained fixed on Vitan, who was still seated on the sofa.
She couldn't help it.
Ever since Vitan had caught her attention, her instincts as a warrior had been screaming at her non-stop.
This man is dangerous…
"I haven't asked your name yet, sir."
Locking eyes with Vitan, Xenovia once again unleashed her aura and let it sweep toward him.
He remained completely unaffected.
Vitan looked as though he were basking in a warm spring breeze, a faint smile still lingering on his face.
"No need to rush about learning my name. Once you're beaten to a pulp by Kokabiel, you'll naturally come to know who I am. Don't worry. When the time comes, I'll kindly spare your lives."
Draining the red wine in his glass in one gulp, Vitan's humiliating words made Xenovia's face flush red in an instant.
"Is that so? Then I hope you're not just bluffing."
She forced herself to suppress the impulse to draw her sword and strike. Though she rose later than Irina, Xenovia calmly put on her pure white robe again and walked straight out the door.
Watching her companion's retreating figure, Irina let out a small sigh.
Then, she turned her gaze toward Asia, her probing eyes making Asia shrink back like a frightened ostrich.
"If I'm not mistaken, this young lady is Saint Asia Argento, correct? Why would someone like you, who left the Church, choose to degrade herself by joining the devils?"
Irina had been bothered by this matter ever since she entered the room.
As the Church's most powerful healer, Asia had an enormous reputation even among the Church's combat personnel.
Because of that, most of the combatants had more or less seen Asia's true appearance.
This sudden, yet not unexpected accusation caused Asia's face to turn pale instantly.
Although she had already joined the devils and interacted with them daily, knowing that the devils around her were good people...
No matter what, she could not erase the fact that she had turned her back on the teachings of the Lord.
This was the thorn in her heart—something she had always tried to forget.
Gently pulling Asia into his arms, Vitan cradled her like a frightened bunny, softly patting her back.
"Why must joining the devils be labeled as 'degradation'? I'd say, the Church, which cast Asia out without understanding the truth and sent two young girls to act as disposable pawns…
Hardly seems any more noble than the devils."
Vitan's words hit right at the heart of the matter.
Irina was left speechless, unable to form a rebuttal. Her dry lips parted slightly before curling into a powerless smile.
However, a few seconds later, the flames of faith reignited in the girl's eyes.
"Perhaps you're right. Maybe the Church truly has fallen into corruption. But I believe that the angels and the Lord who dwell in Heaven will eventually see the Church's current flaws and pass judgment upon it. We faithful followers need only believe in the Lord—and wait for Him."
Leaving those words behind, Irina refrained from speaking further, put her white Church robe back on, and left the Occult Research Club room.
"I'll take my leave as well. I need to inform Tsubaki and the others."
Shortly after Irina left, Sona also took her leave.
Unlike Rias, who had come with her entire peerage, Sona had attended the meeting alone this time. And now that the attacker had been identified as Kokabiel, she needed to report this to her elder sister as soon as possible.
"What's wrong, Asia? Still thinking about what that young lady said?"
The small nun in his arms clearly hadn't recovered from the earlier exchange, silently shedding tears against his chest.
"Mr. Vitan, do you think the Lord will really forgive me?"
Gone was her usual cheerful optimism—Asia now looked up at him with tearful eyes and sorrow.
"Of course. The Lord is said to have a heart vast enough to bestow love upon all races equally. A tiny matter like this—He surely wouldn't mind."
Asia's nature allowed her to stay optimistic in the face of suffering or unjust criticism.
But her strength was also her weakness. For someone like Asia, the only thing that could truly break her spirit was having her faith questioned or feeling abandoned by the Lord.
"Yes… the Lord will definitely forgive me."
Making the sign of the cross over her chest, Asia dropped to her knees and began to pray sincerely.
"Ah… ouch…"
She had forgotten once again that she was now a devil, and no longer qualified to offer prayers to the system.
But to Vitan, such a small matter wasn't worth fussing over.
The real moment Asia would need comfort would come when the news broke that God was already dead—a revelation that could completely shatter the hearts and minds of believers like her.
Still, by that time, Rias's peerage would likely be complete.
"Well then, Miss Ravel, why are you here?"
Vitan turned to the adorable girl with golden twin-drill curls, a look of genuine curiosity on his face.
Just as he asked the question, Rias and Akeno both wore ambiguous expressions on their faces.
"Eh!? I, um…"