"How do you identify demon worshippers?"
The pink-haired, red-eyed girl blinked her dewy eyes, looking curiously at Luo Shu, who leaned against the alley wall:
"Why suddenly ask me this, Shu-kun?"
"Didn't I just say?"
Leaning against the wall, Luo Shu looked up at Kisara before him and tentatively said:
"Demons have already infiltrated Akihabara Town. To prevent their plans from affecting the garrison, I intend to strike first and eliminate them all."
At this, Luo Shu let out a cold laugh:
"No matter what shitty schemes those lurking in the shadows have, if we kill all their underlings, they won't be able to cause any trouble."
"I see..."
Kisara pondered this for a moment, then replied with a slightly troubled expression:
"But... I don't know how to identify demon worshippers either..."
"Those who worship demons are practically indistinguishable from regular people unless they've been granted demonic power. I don't know any method to pick them out from the crowd."
Having said that, she suddenly realised that if she couldn't help, Luo Shu might turn to another Familia instead. Hastily, she added:
"However, if it's just tracking down demons, I can definitely do that."
"Only demons?" Luo Shu wasn't surprised by this. "Makes sense. Since you can leave a scent on me that repels demons, it's only natural you'd detect other demons by their smell."
At the mention of the 'scent that repels demons', Kisara tensed up.
She stole a guilty glance at Luo Shu, carefully studying his expression. Seeing no anger, she relaxed slightly, thinking to herself: 'Who was the one who told Shu-kun about this?'
Kisara was certain the scent she'd left on Luo Shu was subtle enough to go unnoticed.
Moreover, low to mid-level demons would flee in fear upon catching a whiff, while higher-ranking demons, though unafraid, would still avoid approaching him.
Surely no high-ranking demon would endure the stench just to get close to Shu-kun and reveal the truth to him... Right? Wait—Ania-san?
In an instant, Kisara thought of the female demon who had recently become Luo Shu's Familia—the one who manipulated luck.
The culprit has been found.
"Kisara! Kisara~?"
Snapping out of her daze, Kisara instantly plastered a sweet smile on her face and chirped:
"Yes, Shu-kun? What is it?"
Luo Shu didn't comment on her momentary distraction and simply said:
"Come with me. We're sweeping Akihabara Town for all unregistered demons."
"Any demon not recorded at the town's entry checkpoint—regardless of which organisation they belong to—will be dealt with."
"What about the followers we can't identify?" Kisara asked, puzzled.
Luo Shu shrugged indifferently:
"If we can't pick them out, let the task force handle the investigation. We can't take on everything ourselves, can we?"
"Oh!" Kisara nodded in realisation—then suddenly realised something else.
It was late at night, and Luo Shu was taking her on a demon-hunting spree across Akihabara Town.
After the search—can't go home—staying at a hotel—a single room with a double bed?
In a flash, Kisara rushed over and looped her arm through Luo Shu's, eyes sparkling as she declared:
"Let's set off right away!"
Luo Shu gave her a puzzled look at her sudden eagerness, but decided not to dampen her enthusiasm:
"Then let's go!"
...
1 a.m.
BOOM!!
Bluish-white lightning flashed in the distance, its dazzling radiance illuminating the night sky for an instant before vanishing completely the next moment.
By the roadside, Tomoki Asuka leaned against a police car, taking a drag from his cigarette:
"Here we go again?"
"Really going overboard this time..."
"Madman, absolute madman!!"
The petite white-haired Succubus stomped her feet in fury:
"Not even bothering to talk, just barging in and attacking people on sight, killing anyone who resists – is that guy insane?"
"Or did he get addicted to killing after exterminating that Ghoul and came out today specifically looking for fun?"
"What a lunatic."
Watching Maria Naruse stomp her feet so hard she left several dents in the asphalt, Tomoki Asuka chuckled:
"Don't be so angry, Naruse-san. At least you managed to save quite a few of your kin."
With that, he gave the petite Pureblood Succubus a teasing look:
"But to actually protect those unregistered Succubi from Director Luo's hands... seems you and the Director are quite close, eh?!"
Hearing this, Maria Naruse couldn't help rolling her eyes:
"Stop talking nonsense, you damn hound!"
"That guy and I are just business partners, nothing more!!"
Maria Naruse rebutted while giving another furious stomp:
"Damn it, he beat up Mana and Luni so badly. How am I supposed to explain this to the clan?"
To this, Tomoki Asuka whistled:
"Just business partners? I thought you knew each other more... intimately."
His eyes practically spelt out disbelief.
A Pureblood Succubus cooperating with the SDS Director? Cooperating to make babies?
If it were normal cooperation, would he go easy on unregistered Succubi entering the country?
As if stung by his gaze, Maria Naruse's eyes reddened with anger as she cursed under her breath:
"Who'd have anything to do with a guy who kills demons for fun?!!"
'My first time is still intact, damn it...'
Just as Maria Naruse was about to unleash a tirade, a whooshing sound cut through the air.
With a soft thud.
Maria Naruse turned to glance at the nearby utility pole that had been struck.
There, she saw a charred black figure with dark ram horns collapsed beside the pole.
"Pureblood..."
Maria Naruse gasped at the sight of the ram-headed demon.
With a Pureblood demon's innate talents, reaching Hero Rank was practically guaranteed.
Yet even so, it had been taken down in a single encounter.
"Monster."
Maria Naruse clicked her tongue. Then, she heard steady footsteps approaching.
Turning her head, she narrowed her eyes at the pristine figure emerging from the alley under moonlight. All the accusations she'd prepared instantly died in her throat.
Right then, Luo Shu emerged from the alley with Kisara clinging to his arm, smiling at the pair:
"Good evening, you two~"