The stray devil shrieked as it lunged, claws outstretched. Its grotesque form—twisted between human and beast—was almost pathetic compared to what I'd faced before. Two years of constant missions had taught me how to read them instantly.
I sidestepped with minimal effort, my Sharingan tracking every movement before it happened. The devil's claw passed harmlessly beside my face.
"Weak," I muttered.
With a single kunai, I drove the blade between its ribs. It dissolved into black mist—another stray eliminated.
[Ding! Stray Devil Defeated]
Reward: 500 Ryo
Total Strays Eliminated: 147
I sighed, wiping the black residue from my hand. Another week, another dozen or so strays to handle. This had become routine. Necessary, but routine.
My phone buzzed. A text from an unknown number:
"Well done. Report to the Gremory Manor. Lord Sirzechs has a proposition for you. —Grayfia"
I pocketed the phone without responding. Summons from the higher devil administration weren't unusual anymore, but they always meant something more complex than stray cleanup. Still, the pay was good, and Sirzechs had never steered me wrong.
The cool night air filled my lungs as I leapt across the rooftops toward the suburban district where the Gremory estate stood. My body moved with practiced grace—faster than any normal teenager should be capable of. My Sharingan deactivated as I approached civilized areas. Too many questions if someone saw those eyes.
By the time I reached the manor gates, the sun was beginning to rise. The sky bled orange and pink.
Two years. It had been two years since that night with Ravel and Donshek.
Six Months Earlier — A Flashback
"Andrew!"
I turned to see Ravel sprinting toward me across the academy courtyard, her golden hair flowing behind her. Without hesitation, she threw her arms around me in a hug that nearly knocked the wind from my chest.
"You came back! I was starting to think you forgot about our summoning contract!"
I smiled softly, patting her head. Even though she was technically the same age as me in the supernatural world, her body had developed faster than mine—the perks of being a pure-blooded devil. To anyone watching, it probably looked strange.
"Promised I'd visit when I could, didn't I?"
She pulled back, grinning. "The servants are making tea. Come on!"
As she dragged me inside, I thought about how different my life had become. A year and a half ago, I was just trying to keep my head down and avoid canon. Now? Now I was actively embedded in the supernatural world. I had a job. Contacts. Allies.
And responsibilities.
Present Day — Gremory Manor
The servants bowed as I passed through the halls. I'd been here enough times that they recognized me now. No longer the mysterious kid who'd saved their mistress—just Andrew, the Hyoudou kid who took assignments from the Underworld.
Sirzechs sat in his study, papers scattered across an ornate desk. Despite his youthful appearance, there was an air of absolute authority about him. He was one of the Four Great Satans—a being of unfathomable power. The fact that he bothered to meet with me in person sometimes was surreal.
"Andrew. Right on time, as always," Sirzechs said, gesturing to a chair. "Please, sit."
I did, keeping my posture relaxed but respectful.
Sirzechs leaned back in his chair, steepling his fingers. "Your work these past two years has been… exemplary. One hundred forty-seven strays eliminated. Zero collateral damage in civilian areas. No complaints from any faction."
"It's just work," I said simply.
"Exactly." He smiled. "Which is why I have a new assignment for you. One that requires both discretion and capability."
He slid a file across the desk. I opened it to find briefings on several territories—some in Japan, some abroad. Each marked with locations of stray devil activity, fallen angel sightings, and what appeared to be rogue exorcist operations.
"The Underworld is… stretched thin," Sirzechs continued. "Devils are occupied with political machinations. Fallen Angels are becoming bolder. And exorcists…" He trailed off meaningfully. "Well, they're unpredictable as always. These territories need someone who can handle threats quietly and efficiently. Someone who doesn't have an obvious allegiance to any single faction."
I understood immediately. I was useful because I existed in the margins—not quite human, not quite devil, not quite angel. A neutral asset.
"You want me to be a troubleshooter," I said.
"I want you to be protection for those who can't protect themselves," Sirzechs corrected gently. "And in doing so, maintain stability. The stronger you become, Andrew, the more you can accomplish."
He reached into his desk and pulled out a small red card with golden lettering.
"This grants you access to safe houses, resources, and contacts across multiple territories. Use it wisely."
I took the card, feeling the faint pulse of demonic magic thrumming through it. This was a significant escalation.
"There's one more thing," Sirzechs said, his tone becoming almost casual. "Your older brother, Issei. He's in his second year now at Kuoh Academy."
I stiffened. Issei. I hadn't seen him in two years. While I'd been training overseas and taking supernatural assignments, he'd been living a normal life back in Japan.
"What about him?" I asked carefully.
"He's recently become part of my sister's peerage," Sirzechs said, studying my reaction. "Reincarnated as a devil about six months ago. He has the Boosted Gear—quite the acquisition for Rias."
My mind reeled. Six months? That meant Issei had been living as a devil for half a year, and I'd had no idea. I'd been so focused on my missions, on building my reputation in the supernatural world, that I'd completely missed my own brother's awakening.
"I… didn't know," I admitted.
"No, you wouldn't have," Sirzechs said smoothly. "You've been overseas. The news only recently reached me that you had returned to Japan. Before that, I assumed you knew."
I processed this. Two years of separation. Two years of Issei being pulled into the supernatural world while I was gone. And now I was back, and he was already a devil serving under Rias Gremory.
"How much does he know about me?" I asked.
"Nothing," Sirzechs replied. "As far as your brother knows, his little brother has simply been studying abroad. He has no idea about your supernatural activities, your connections, or your position."
"And you want me to keep it that way," I said, understanding the implication.
"I want you to watch over him," Sirzechs said, standing. "Now that you've returned and enrolled at Kuoh Academy, you're in a unique position. Issei is still adjusting to his new life. There are… complications in the supernatural world right now. Enemies who might use him as leverage, rivals to my sister's peerage. I need someone I trust to ensure he survives the experience."
"You want me to be his bodyguard," I said.
"I want you to be his brother," Sirzechs corrected gently. "And in doing so, keep him alive. Can you do that without letting him know the full extent of what you do?"
I nodded slowly. Two years. I'd missed two years of my brother's life. And now I was being asked to protect him from the shadows—the supernatural world he was already knee-deep in, completely unaware that his little brother was far more dangerous than he could possibly imagine.
"Understood," I replied quietly.
As I left the study, my mind was already spinning. Issei was a devil now. My big brother had been dragged into the very world I'd been operating in for years, and I'd missed it entirely. And somehow, I had to be there to protect him without revealing anything.
This was going to be more complicated than I'd ever imagined.
[System Notification]
New Main Quest Unlocked: Guardian of the Innocents
Objective: Protect Issei Hyoudou from supernatural threats while maintaining secrecy
Reward: ???
I dismissed the notification and headed to class.
This was going to be complicated.
Kuoh Academy Classroom — First Period
The classroom buzzed with the usual first-day energy. New students nervously fidgeting with their uniforms, old students gossiping about their summer break, teachers preparing roll calls. I sat near the back, my mask pulled up slightly, trying not to stand out more than necessary.
"Andrew Hyoudou?"
I raised my hand at the homeroom teacher's call. A few students glanced back at me—curious about the quiet kid in the back. I didn't make eye contact, just kept my gaze forward.
"Ah, you're just transferring back after studying overseas," the teacher said, checking his clipboard. "Welcome back to Kuoh."
I nodded silently. The attention faded as quickly as it came.
By lunch, I found myself sitting alone on the school roof—a habit from my year here before. The view of the city was peaceful, and the isolation gave me time to think. Two years. It felt surreal being back, knowing what I knew now about Issei, about the supernatural world thrumming beneath the surface of this ordinary school.
The roof door creaked open.
I tensed, hand instinctively moving toward the kunai concealed in my sleeve before I relaxed. It was just Ravel.
"Thought I'd find you here," she said, settling down beside me with her bento box. "You always liked the quiet spots."
"Some things don't change," I replied, opening my own lunch.
We ate in comfortable silence for a moment before Ravel spoke again.
"Your brother is… very interested in me," she said, a hint of amusement in her voice.
I didn't respond immediately. Of course she'd noticed Issei's pathetic staring.
"Issei's always been like that," I finally said. "Loud, shameless, doesn't think before he acts."
"He seems nice enough," Ravel said carefully. "Rias speaks highly of him. Says he has great potential."
That was an understatement. The Boosted Gear was one of the most powerful Sacred Gears in existence. Issei's potential was practically limitless—if he survived long enough to unlock it.
"Does he know you're connected to me?" I asked.
"No. I made sure not to mention it," Ravel said. "As far as he knows, I'm just a transfer student. Though he's been trying to figure out who I am all morning."
I almost smiled at that. Issei probably thought he was being smooth too.
"Keep it that way for now," I said. "I'd rather not explain the whole situation to him just yet."
Ravel studied me for a moment, her golden eyes thoughtful. "You're worried about him."
It wasn't a question.
"He's my brother," I said simply. "And he has no idea what he's gotten himself into."
"Rias will protect him," Ravel assured me. "She takes care of her peerage."
I hoped she was right. But I'd spent two years in the supernatural world now. I knew how quickly things could go wrong, how many enemies existed in the shadows. Rias was powerful, but she wasn't omniscient. And Issei, for all his newfound power, was still fundamentally inexperienced.
The bell rang, signaling the end of lunch.
"We should head back," Ravel said, standing and dusting off her skirt.
As we walked down the stairs, I caught sight of Issei again in the hallway below, surrounded by his friends. He was animated, laughing about something, completely oblivious to the supernatural politics happening around him. Completely unaware that his little brother was watching him, evaluating threats, measuring distances.
This was the reality now. I was back, and whether I liked it or not, I was invested in keeping my brother alive.
After School — Training Ground
I'd found a secluded area outside the city during my first year at Kuoh—a abandoned warehouse district near the old industrial section. Perfect for training without interference.
I moved through the motions of my taijutsu forms, pushing my chakra through my body in controlled patterns. Two years overseas had allowed me to refine my techniques significantly. My speed was now firmly in the Jonin range, my strength enough to shake the concrete beneath my feet.
But I could feel something shifting inside me. Something tied to my Sharingan, something deeper.
[Ding! Warning: Chakra Instability Detected]
[Recommendation: Meditate and stabilize your core]
I stopped mid-form, breathing heavily. The system was right—there was something off about my energy levels. Two years of constant missions, constant pushing, constant growth without proper recovery. It was catching up with me.
I sat cross-legged on the warehouse floor, closing my eyes. My Sharingan manifested in the darkness of my mind, the two tomoe spinning slowly. But there was something else there now, something I'd felt hint at ever since the time skip began.
A third tomoe, barely visible, trying to form.
I pushed deeper into meditation, letting the chakra flow naturally. The third tomoe burned as it tried to manifest, fighting against the limitations of my current power level. Theoretically, I shouldn't be able to awaken it without experiencing significant emotional trauma or breaking through a mental barrier.
But I'd already experienced trauma. I'd already broken through barriers. The question was whether I was ready for what came next.
A sound outside the warehouse pulled me from meditation.
Footsteps. Multiple sets, approaching with purpose.
I stood smoothly, hand on a kunai, Sharingan activating. Through the warehouse windows, I could see three figures in the darkness. Fallen Angels, judging by the faint light signatures.
[Ding! Stray Fallen Angels Detected]
Recommendation: Eliminate or repel threat
I smiled coldly beneath my mask.
Seems my first day back at Kuoh wasn't going to be as quiet as I'd hoped.
The warehouse door exploded inward.
"Well, well," one of the Fallen Angels called out, light spear forming in his hand. "Look what we found. A cute little Shinobi training alone. How perfect."
I didn't respond. I just activated my Sharingan fully, the red eyes glowing in the darkness, and waited for them to make the first move.
They did.
And it was over in seconds.