Chapter 251: When I Get Serious, Even I Get Scared
The legally-loli sitting on the park bench stuck out her soft pink tongue and lightly licked her lollipop, savoring the sweetness that melted across her tongue. A small sigh escaped her lips as satisfaction spread across her petite face, her long lashes fluttering slightly. Then she closed her eyes and pressed one delicate finger to the space between her brows, the gesture as calm and practiced as a ritual she'd done a thousand times.
When she opened her eyes again, the world before her had already transformed entirely...
Her ability could more accurately be called the "Light of Life."
When activated, the entire world revealed a new layer unseen to ordinary eyes — every living being, no matter how small, shimmered with the glow of existence. The faint pulse of the planet itself seemed to hum faintly in the background.
Non-living objects such as statues, benches, stones, and even the pavement beneath her feet were dull and lifeless, completely void of color. Only living creatures pulsed with light — the brighter the glow, the stronger the life force they possessed.
Even more fascinating was that every form of life shone with its own distinct hue. Grass, flowers, and trees radiated a faint, gentle green. Humans and most animals emitted a white or silver light, steady and constant. Some malevolent creatures and demons burned crimson, their energy flickering like dancing fire.
Now, before Ai Igarashi's widened eyes, unfolded a dazzling panorama of light and color.
The cicadas clinging to the trees were like tiny grains of glowing rice. Pigeons pecking at breadcrumbs on the ground flickered like small, fluttering sparks the size of soybeans. And all around, ordinary people walking across the square glowed softly, the light concentrated at their hearts — table‑tennis‑ball‑sized orbs floating rhythmically with each heartbeat.
Ai blinked in fascination, her violet eyes reflecting hundreds of faint glimmers. But when her gaze drifted toward one particular figure — Raphiel — her pupils dilated.
Because in her sight, the silver‑haired girl with the shamelessly large chest radiated a light so pure, so blindingly white, that it nearly burned through Ai's vision.
"...What?" she muttered dumbly.
Her small face twisted in disbelief. "Wait, wasn't she supposed to be that weak, manipulative type? What kind of joke is this? She's absurdly strong!"
Since the day she gained this power, Ai had seen all kinds of beings — monsters, mages, saints, and madmen — but never, not once, had she seen a life light this brilliant. Even the twisted freaks within the Truth Society paled in comparison. This kind of divine radiance... it could rival the mythical great demons themselves.
Could it be that this busty girl was actually one of those legendary high‑class demons in disguise?
Her little mouth hung open, and she looked as though someone had just told her the sky was falling. For a moment she sat frozen, clutching her teddy bear tightly. After a few seconds of processing, she shook her head violently to compose herself and turned her gaze toward the boy walking beside Raphiel.
"Eh? That guy looks... totally normal?" she mumbled.
Her brows furrowed. "Don't tell me that idiot back at headquarters fed me bad info again?"
Then, after a few seconds, her expression shifted. "Wait... no. Something's off."
Her tone grew uncertain. "Why... does he have no light?"
She blinked rapidly. In her eyes, every person glowed — even the weakest insect carried some faint spark of life. But this boy... Kouya looked exactly the same, utterly normal to the naked eye, yet in the world of light, there was nothing. No glow, no pulse, not even the tiniest shimmer of existence.
"Ha?!" Her soft voice rose an octave. "This has never happened before!"
Confusion spread through her chest. For the first time, Ai's ability failed to give her any information at all.
At that exact moment, Kouya paused mid‑step. His expression remained as unreadable as ever, but one eyebrow lifted slightly. Then, as if aware of being observed, he turned his head.
Their gazes met.
Time seemed to stop.
His calm, steady eyes met hers across the square — and in that instant, Ai's mind exploded with a soundless shockwave.
It felt like lightning struck her brain. Her breathing halted; her vision blurred. Her entire body locked up, unable to move or even think.
Because in that moment, she finally saw something emanating from him.
But it wasn't light.
It was darkness — pure, endless, devouring darkness. A black hole that consumed the world around it, swallowing everything — even the lights of those nearby seemed to dim, bending toward him like gravity pulling all existence into oblivion.
Her heart skipped a beat. A chill crawled down her spine so violently it made her grip her teddy tighter.
One glance. That was all it took to wipe her thoughts clean.
When Kouya turned away and disappeared into the distance, time gradually began to move again. Ai collapsed back onto the bench, her knees weak. Sweat soaked her collar, her hair sticking to her cheeks. Her breathing came out in ragged gasps as her wide eyes reflected only disbelief and fear.
"Oh my gods..." she whispered hoarsely. "What the hell did I just see?"
A black hole? That wasn't even possible! Was that guy even human? How could something like that walk around pretending to be normal?!
Her mind spun, filled with pure panic.
"That was terrifying... terrifying..." she panted, patting her flat chest with trembling fingers. "I need tea. Strong tea. Maybe with sweets. Lots of sweets!"
Her legs wobbled as she stood, nearly tripping over her own shoes as she scurried away from the plaza.
...
Watching the small, panicked figure vanish around the corner, Raphiel tilted her head, her silver hair glimmering under the streetlight. "Kouya, do you know her?" she asked casually, though her eyes gleamed with faint amusement.
Though she hadn't revealed her true form, Raphiel had easily sensed someone probing with spiritual power earlier. Compared to the dragons she'd once faced, this was child's play — she wasn't even alarmed. Instead, her expression was bright, playful, almost pleased.
Kouya's gaze lingered on the corner where Ai had vanished before he answered in a quiet tone, "No. Don't know her."
Whoever she was, whatever her goal — as long as she didn't cross the line, he had no reason to care.
Raphiel, however, wasn't finished. "Then why are you still standing here?" Kouya asked, his tone dry.
Raphiel pressed her hands together piously. "Because I must protect Kouya's chastity!" she declared solemnly.
Kouya's expression darkened instantly.
"Oops, wrong reason," Raphiel said with a wink, sticking out her tongue. "I meant to say — I have to protect Kouya's safety!"
Her tone brightened again, cheerful as ever. "Don't worry, I'll take full responsibility!" she said, puffing out her chest like a proud hero.
Kouya groaned. "Responsibility for what, exactly?"
"Well, that girl just now was probably a companion of that runaway onmyoji from the other day, right?" Raphiel replied matter‑of‑factly. "If I hadn't asked you for help back then, they wouldn't have targeted you now. So technically, this is my fault. And obviously, I have to make up for it."
Her angelic smile deepened with mischief. "So... I'll just move into your place and keep watch over you. You know, protect your safety!"
Kouya stared at her blankly. Who the hell needed her protection? He could flatten her ten times over with one hand.
"No. Get out," he said flatly.
"Waa~!" Raphiel let out a high‑pitched whine, clutching her hands dramatically to her chest. "Kouya's so cruel! So heartless!"
Kouya's expression stayed firm. "If you don't leave now, I'll show you what real cruelty looks like."
"Eep! I'm going!" Raphiel instantly dropped the act, gave a bright laugh, and waved over her shoulder as she walked away. "See you tomorrow, Kouya~!"
...
Back home, Kouya sat cross‑legged at his table, eating his bento while thinking about new methods to discipline the useless angel next door.
In truth, Gabriel's routine was the most predictable in existence. On days without class, she'd stay cooped up in her room, glued to her screen from dawn till dusk. Unless absolutely necessary, she wouldn't even step outside.
After club activities, she'd walk straight home, not stopping even to admire a sunset. Maybe she'd grab a bento from the convenience store on the way, and that was the full extent of her social life.
Outdoor adventures? Dining out? Shopping trips? Forget it.
She lived the life of a true hermit gamer.
If enlightenment required isolation, she was a sage by now.
Come to think of it, if Gabriel hadn't randomly decided to do something out of character lately — going to amusement parks, watching movies — she and Kouya would probably still be nothing more than neighbors exchanging polite nods.
Finishing the last bite of rice, Kouya set down his chopsticks when a sharp notification sound pinged from his computer.
The sender? The useless angel herself.
"Hey! Log in already! Hurry, hurry, start the match!"
Kouya's reply was simple: "Mm."
Cutting off her snacks wouldn't teach her a lesson. She could survive without sugar, unfortunately.
Cutting off her internet, though... tempting. But then she'd just run over, hijack his Wi‑Fi, and probably take over his whole setup. Or worse, crash Rikka's place and freeload there.
No, that plan was too risky.
Next door, in Gabriel's dimly lit room, the curtains were drawn tight. The only illumination came from the pale glow of her laptop screen reflecting in her golden eyes.
"Ding dong!"
The game's alert tone chimed.
"Your friend invites you to join the game."
Gabriel, half‑reclined on her chair, lazily sipping soda through a straw, clicked "Accept" without thinking.
Then she realized the game mode wasn't their usual ranked queue. It was a 1v1 duel.
"Eh? He clicked the wrong one, right? Why a duel mode?"
Before she could even question it, a line of text popped up in chat from Kouya.
"If you can kill me once, I'll buy you any in‑game item. No matter the price."
"Really?!" Gabriel nearly choked on her drink.
Her eyes sparkled. The girl in her contacts list who usually topped up her funds only did so during events — and now, hearing such a deal, her mind exploded with greed. Gacha was addictive; once you saw that shiny new skin and couldn't afford it, it felt like insects crawling under your skin.
"If I kill you once, you'll buy me an item? Anything I want?" she shouted through voice chat, excitement bursting from her tone.
"That's right," Kouya replied evenly.
"No takebacks! If you cheat, you're dead meat!" Gabriel leaned forward, suddenly serious, fingers poised over the keyboard. Her sleepy eyes sharpened with predatory focus as she guided her character out of the fountain.
"Hmph! That guy might be strong sometimes, pulling pentakills and all, but that's just because I've been holding back," she muttered, cracking her knuckles.
A bright grin curved across her face.
"When I get serious, killing him once will be child's play... after all, I'm Heaven's top graduate. When I get serious..." She chuckled lowly, eyes glinting. "Even I get scared."
Behind her, faint rays of golden light flared, the sacred energy swirling like fire as her battle spirit skyrocketed. Her aura blazed through the dim room, her focus absolute as the screen's glow reflected in her shining eyes — and the battle began.
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