"Stay away from the church."
Later that night, Issei was back in the clubroom, being firmly lectured by Rias and Akeno. Akeno's expression was harsher than Issei had ever seen it.
"Issei‑kun… the church is enemy territory for us devils. Just stepping in causes trouble between heaven and us. They let the nun go this time, but the angels are always watching."
"Akeno is right," Rias added. "And you must not get involved with church affiliates. Exorcists are especially our enemies. The blessing they carry from God is enough to annihilate us. If an exorcist has a Sacred Gear, even more so. That's practically a death sentence."
"…Sorry to interrupt your song, but all I did was give directions."
"Huh?"
"President, senpai… you've got it wrong. I never went near the church. I just pointed the way to a nun. That's all..."
"..."
"..."
"…Sorry. I let it get to me. In any case, be careful from now on."
"Yeah, yeah."
"Answer once!"
"Yeah, yeah. Understood, President Gremory."
Issei shrugged off her warning and turned to leave, but Akeno whispered something to Rias, and Rias's face hardened.
"Issei. Wait."
"??"
====
Stray devil… they are who betray or kill their master, or abandon their master's side, are called stray devils.
"So… this stray devil is supposed to be here?" Issei scratched his head, annoyed, and stared at the abandoned building in front of him. Rias nodded.
"That's right. To flee into my territory… that's quite a bold stray," Rias said.
Can't they just send me alone? I don't like running around in a group… and what are we doing in the middle of the night? -Issei
"…The smell of blood." Koneko muttered quietly and covered her nose with her sleeve. Issei smelled it too, but he was used to it. With an indifferent expression, he pushed open the ruined building's door.
"Hold on, Issei!"
"Let's wrap this up quickly."
As Issei walked in, Rias, Akeno, Koneko, and Kiba followed. A low female voice echoed as if from deep underground.
"I smell something that doesn't taste good. But I also smell something delicious. Sweet? Bitter?"
"Stray devil Baise, we've come to eliminate you," Rias said without flinching. A strange laugh echoed, and the owner of the voice emerged from the darkness: a woman, naked from the waist up, floating in mid‑air. Then a heavy thud followed, and a massive beastly body appeared beneath her. She held spear‑like weapons in both hands, and her lower body had four thick legs with sharp claws. She stood at least five meters tall. Issei scowled. Rias stepped forward.
"To flee your master and rampage for your own desires is a sin worthy of death. In the name of Gremory, I will erase you from this world!"
"How dare youuuu!! Little wretches! I'll bathe your body in blood like your red hair!!"
Even faced with the roaring beast, Rias smirked.
"The weaker they are, the more they spout grand lines. Yuuto!"
"Yes president!" At Rias's command, Yuuto vanished. An instant later, the monster's arms and weapons were severed from her torso, blood spraying.
"Yuuto's role is Knight. His specialty is speed. Combine that with master‑level swordsmanship, and he's become the fastest Knight," Rias explained calmly.
Under the screaming monster, tiny Koneko approached.
"Next is Koneko. She's my Rook. Her specialty is…" The monster tried to stomp her, but her leg rose slowly as Koneko remained unscathed.
"The Rook's specialty is simple: incredible strength and formidable defense. Stomping on her won't knock her down." Koneko lifted the monster's leg, jumped up, and drove her fist into its belly. With a dull thud, the huge beast flew backward. Knowing the Knight and Rook's specialties, Issei wasn't surprised… until she stepped forward.
"Ara ara, what should I do?" Akeno chuckled and walked toward the collapsed monster, raising her hand. Lightning flashed from the sky and struck the beast.
"Kragagagagaga!!"
"Ara!, you're still moving? Looks like you can endure a bit longer."
Another flash.
"Gyaaaaa!!"
Another flash.
"Gyaaaaaaaa!!"
…
Akeno's face as she summoned lightning was cold and twisted with a smile that sent chills down his spine. Issei, who had been silent, pointed at her with a trembling hand. Rias explained matter‑of‑factly.
"Akeno is a mage. Her specialty is elemental magic - lightning, ice, fire. She uses magic to control natural phenomena. And her personality… she's the ultimate S."
That's beyond S!
(…She's scary enough to call SS!)
"Normally she's gentle, but once the fighting starts, she won't loosen her grip until she calms down, even if the opponent admits defeat," Rias went on.
"That's twisted. More twisted than me."
"Oh? Issei, are you scared? Don't be. Akeno is very kind to allies."
"No… 'don't be' doesn't cut it. Her smile is terrifying."
"Don't worry. She says you're adorable and wants to eat you up. Try acting spoiled sometime. I'm sure she'll wrap you in her arms."
"Uh, did you just say something strange? Something very concerning?"
"Ufufufufu. How long can you withstand my lightning? Don't die yet, my dear monster. My master will finish you off~!"
Seriously, stupid devil lady. Do you think I can act spoiled after seeing this? You're telling me to act spoiled after watching that?
(The way she's laughing out loud… she really is terrifying.)
I thought she was the most normal one… guess I was wrong.
(Me too. The fact that she wants to "eat" you is wrong.)
Ahh…
Akeno continued her lightning attack for several minutes. When she finally seemed satisfied, she blushed and smiled. Rias nodded quietly.
"Any last words?" she asked. The monster, exhausted from Akeno's torment, screamed.
"Kill me! I don't want her to torture me anymore!!!"
"…"
"Very well. Then disappear…." Rias started, but Issei stepped in front of her with his hand out.
"Issei?"
"Akeno‑senpai, President… please let me finish her off."
Rias hesitated at Issei's serious expression, then nodded.
"Alright."
"No! We can't leave him alone. I want to…" Akeno insisted, which surprised Rias. After several attempts, Rias persuaded her, and finally Akeno nodded. Rias led Akeno, Yuuto, and Koneko outside. Issei approached the nearly dead woman.
"…Hey."
"…What…?"
"Why did you… leave your master? If you hadn't, this wouldn't be happening now."
The woman laughed bitterly.
"Pfft… Puahahahaha! Unbelievable! You're the first one to ask that question."
"Enough. Answer me. Why did you…"
"My master tried to rape me."
"…"
"I died in a car accident. My master brought me back to life. But that was the beginning of hell… My master wanted me not as a servant, but as his personal plaything. Just before he could steal my purity, I ran away."
"…"
"I turned into this monster after escaping… but I don't regret it. I kept my precious innocence."
"…"
"Are you satisfied? Come on, kill me."
A crimson Boosted Gear formed on Issei's left arm, and a pink sphere of magic formed in his hand. The woman looked at him, prepared for death, then laughed again.
"Puahahaha! Hey… are you crying?"
"No… it's just been a while since I've killed someone… killing one of my own kind isn't something I'm used to. I'll get used to it. I don't pity you. You've killed too many humans. No matter what pain you've suffered, that's something someone who was once human should never have done."
"Puwahahaha! Acting all tsun-tsun after I watched you kill that Fallen Angel without even hesitating... What a cute junior devil. Kid, let me ask one last thing before I go. What's your name?"
"Hyoudou Issei."
"I see… Hyoudou Issei. You're lucky. You became a servant of the Gremory family, who love their servants without reservation and treat them with care. Hahaha… goodbye, Hyoudou Issei."
As the magic sphere touched her, the woman vanished. A painful memory flashed through Issei's mind. He stared into space and muttered:
"…In the end, we're just disposable pieces. Your master and mine aren't so different."