By the time they left the mansion, the streetlights were on, shops closing, people heading home. To anyone watching, the group looked odd. Half in academy uniforms, half in casual clothing.
Especially Tiche. She led at the front in her usual assassin garb, standing out even among the mix. To anyone else, she might look like a cosplayer leading a pack of students.
Kiba walked just behind her. Outwardly calm, but Sam knew better. At dinner, the second Freed's name came up, Kiba went cold, then hot. Anger flared, and now it simmered, controlled but obvious.
Koneko followed, arms crossed, silent. No snacks. No comment. Just focus.
Asia stayed close at Sam's side, nervous but steady. She wasn't in uniform either. Sam had picked out clothes that worked—simple, practical, nothing that got in the way.
Empath made it clear—her dread hadn't gone since that night. Freed had tried to take her once. She hadn't seen him, only heard his voice. No memory, just the fear that lingered. Even so, her trust in Sam outweighed it.
Sam kept himself between her and Rias. He wore what he always did: jacket, black shirt, jeans, dog tags. Practical. Normal.
He glanced at the devils in their uniforms and frowned inwardly. Their combat gear is school uniforms? Makes no sense. The explanation followed quick enough: Probably magic. I'll ask later.
Rias walked steady in the middle-back. Akeno at her shoulder, faint smile like she was entertained.
Sam leaned her way, voice low. "Kiba's oddly enthusiastic about this. Anything I should know?"
Rias didn't break stride. "It isn't my story to tell. If you want to know, wait until he's ready to speak."
Empath confirmed it—she was holding something back. Guarded, but respectful.
Sam nodded once. So she knows, but won't say. Not hers to share. Still means Kiba's carrying something heavy.
The group moved in silence, steady under Tiche's lead.
The church sat at the edge of town, abandoned or not, still intact. Weathered glass, a crooked cross, but the frame held. Too well-kept to be empty, too run-down to be welcoming.
Sam didn't like it. Empty buildings stayed that way. This one hadn't.
As the group silently made their way to the perimeter, they slowed and looked through the trees to take stock of the building itself from a front view.
Kiba shifted first. He leaned forward like he meant to rush the doors. Sam caught his shoulder before he could move. Firm, steady.
The anger that flared up was enough for Sam to notice. He met it calmly, steady, ready if it broke. Then it cooled, locked back under control.
Asia jolted at the motion, dread spiking before easing when she saw Sam holding him back. Rias's eyes narrowed but she stayed quiet. Akeno's brows lifted, amusement clear. Koneko didn't move. Tiche gave the faintest nod.
Rias finally spoke, calm and dripping with pride from her upbringing. "We cover the grounds. My peerage takes the lead. Your group follows." She locked eyes with Sam as she said it.
Sam held up a hand to cut her off. "Isn't he a rogue exorcist from the Church? He's literally trained to fight devils—and that's what you are. Send in the people who aren't going to be countered by his training." He motioned to himself and Tiche.
Kiba's jaw clenched. "I need to fight Freed."
The calm anger flared hot again, and Sam felt it sharp through Empath. He met Kiba's look, steady. "You don't need to do anything. What you want is to fight Freed. I don't know your issue with him, but we have to do this smart. And that's not what the group needs."
That landed. Kiba's anger sagged into frustration.
Tiche's voice followed, even and calm. "One could slip in. The group can't—especially since we don't know their full capabilities inside the building."
Sam spoke up again, drawing everyone's attention. "Then this is the plan. Tiche and I will go first. She's the main scout. I'll assist—pretty sure I'm the only one here with any real stealth training. When the fighting starts, everyone pushes in.
"Rias, you'll stay with Asia. She's our support, our healer. Someone needs to guard her."
Rias's pride flickered, but she gave a short nod. "That sounds like a fine plan. But when the signal comes, I take the lead."
Sam met her eyes, steady. "If that's what you need."
Kiba nodded, jaw still tight, eyes fixed on the building. Focused.
Akeno tilted her head at Sam, a faint smirk playing as she watched him take the lead.
Koneko stepped closer, tugged lightly at his sleeve. "Be careful." Her voice was flat, stoic as always, no change in her expression—just letting him know.
Asia's fear hadn't gone. If anything, worry deepened now that Sam was about to go in, even with Tiche. But her trust in him—and in Tiche—didn't waver.
Tiche herself stayed silent, approval clear, already starting her approach. She slipped forward, nearly vanishing from sight within a few steps.
Sam let out a slow breath. Glad they listened. He followed after her, doing his best to match her movements toward the church.
The system message pinged into view the moment Sam stepped past the tree line.
[System Notice]
Quest Activated
Objective(s):
• Subdue all enemies within the church
• Optional: ???
Reward(s):
• Silver Skill Ticket (main)
• ??? (optional — depends on completion)
Just a quest. The System didn't usually hand those out without a tag. Suspicious, but Sam didn't have time to dwell. He dismissed it with a swipe, more concerned with the church than what the System had to say.
By the time he looked away, Tiche was gone. A shadow, vanished. Sam sighed, blaming the System, and moved on, instincts guiding his path forward.
He kept his steps careful. Not perfect, not invisible, but quiet enough to trail her without drawing attention.
Through a cracked window, he caught movement. Wrong for an abandoned church. Three figures.
Empath hit first. Painfully familiar. The sharp fixation, lighter than usual but still Yuma. The curious affection of Aoi. The restless energy that was Minami.
Their faces meant nothing. But the emotions lined up too neatly. The three girls who had circled him for weeks weren't just students. They had motives. Even if their sincerity had started to show lately.
Sam drew a deep breath as the exoskeleton shifted on. Armor locked into place across chest, arms, legs. The helmet framed his face but left it bare—enough to guard, enough to make sure they saw him.
He straightened, shoulders set, eyes hard. The System's lessons over intimidation clear: posture, presence, the kind of weight in a stare that made people hesitate.
Complicated. Now that I know who the Fallen are, I should at least try to talk to them. It just couldn't be simple, could it?
As Sam pushed the church door, it creaked open—not slow, but steady, purposeful. He stepped through without hesitation, the sound echoing off the walls as he marched in. His eyes locked onto the three women, and when he spoke, his voice carried deeper, harsher than usual, the tone echoing in the hollow space.
"Hello, Yuma. Hello, Aoi. Hello, Minami."
He let the names sit, heavy in the silence, long enough to make them stew. Then he finished, sharp emphasis cutting the air:
"Strange seeing you three looking so different."
The last word, different, hit all three women as they tensed.
Miltelt looked nervous, maybe even scared. Kalawarner's intrigue showed, but she was tense too—Sam wasn't supposed to appear this early in their game. Raynare stiffened for a moment, then smiled.
It was Miltelt who broke first, her voice unsteady, nervous energy spilling out as she stammered, "H-How did you know?"
Sam's eyes never left them. "You wear your emotions on your sleeves. Not that hard to put it together."
Kalawarner's lips curved. "I knew you were impressive, Sam. Didn't realize you were this impressive."
Raynare stepped forward, smirk pulling sharp. "And now I want you even more."
Sam's voice stayed flat. "Cute. Yuma — very cute. Here's the deal: you showed a sliver of sincerity, fine. You're still Fallen who attacked me before. One warning: back down now, or find out how much I've changed since the last time."
Raynare tilted her head, voice lilting, half-mock, half-tease. "Oh? What gives you the confidence you can take on three of us now? Is it because you're not alone? Or did you really think you could handle us all by yourself?"
Sam didn't answer at first. He kept his gaze steady on all three, unmoved by her tone. When he spoke, his voice was cold, dominant. "Even if I was alone, I'd be enough. I've gotten stronger since the last time. And you three don't strike me as all that strong."
Kalawarner's tone cooled. "That only happened because Dohnaseek was arrogant. We're not him."
Miltelt's voice shook, but she stepped aside. "I don't want to fight him."
Even Sam's brow lifted at that. Didn't expect anyone to take him up on the offer.
Both Raynare and Kalawarner turned to look at Miltelt as she moved, and Miltelt just gave a small shrug under their eyes.
"Then make it easy," Sam said flatly. "Just hand over Freed — the exorcist."
Raynare glanced back, irritation spiking, then snapped her eyes to Sam. "So you really did come here for Freed, not us?"
"That's right," Sam said. "I'm here for the rogue exorcist this time. Even though you're not supposed to be here either. I came for him."
Raynare's smirk widened. "And you have the authority to speak for devils now?"
Sam shrugged. "No. But I know the one who does. She's a friend. And a Fallen Angel walking devil territory without permission? That's the kind of thing that starts wars."
Raynare stepped closer, voice low and mocking. "Then let's make it simple, handsome. You beat us in a challenge, we leave. And we hand you Freed. Lose, and you're mine."
"No deal."
Her irritation bled through, sharp enough for Empath to sting. "So you want to fight?"
"No," Sam said. "I want the terms fair. You don't push me into a lopsided bargain."
Kalawarner's eyes lit at that, cheeks warming. Miltelt stayed silent, watching like prey.
Raynare's grin tightened, teeth showing. "Fine. Lose, and you owe each of us a favor. We get permission to be here, and you get to refuse if we cross a line."
Sam tilted his head, amused. "That works."
Raynare smirked as she laced the tease into her challenge. "Then the challenge: see if you can take all three of us at once."
Sam's expression didn't change, only the faintest flicker of really? crossing his face. His voice stayed steady. "Fine. But first, you show me Freed. And I make sure my friends are notified—because Freed's on some shit lists."