The enemies had scattered, leaving Aine and Tomori unconscious. Only Ritsuki and Nero remained in the open, but Ritsuki didn't lower her weapon. She fixed a wary glare on Nero and demanded, "Just who the hell are you?"
Her stance was clear: Thanks for saving Tomori, but that's one thing. Trusting a masked stranger with no identity? That's another.
"Samael," Nero replied without missing a beat, reusing the "borrowed" name. Stolen? Not quite. When the real Samael faded, Nero was there, inheriting the lion's share of its legacy. Now, claiming the title of "Angel of Trials" under that name raised no eyebrows.
But a name alone wasn't much of an introduction, so Nero continued, "You don't need to know me. I'm just here because the stench of demons drew me to this city."
That was her true goal—to hunt down the source of the sinful demonic aura lurking in the city. From what she'd seen, the culprit was likely tied to one of the two factions, and whoever it was, they were playing it careful.
Nero couldn't afford to tip her hand. She had to play her moves lightly, adding weight to the scales bit by bit, forcing the enemy to reveal themselves.
"This isn't your fight," Ritsuki shot back, her tone sharp. "This is our city. We'll protect it."
This kid had a real talent for pissing people off. Nero shook her head, smirking inwardly.
"Protect?" She dropped any pretense of politeness. With a scoff, she said, "You don't even know where your enemies are, who they are, or what kind of power they've got. Big talk for someone so clueless."
Before Ritsuki could snap back, Nero barreled on, "Let's cut the crap, missy—you're weak. Pathetically weak. Hearing you talk about protecting this city? Makes me wanna laugh my ass off."
"You—!" Ritsuki's face flushed, her eyes blazing as she raised her bow. But Nero was faster. Her Yamato blade tore through space, stopping inches from Ritsuki's throat.
"Don't move," Nero said with a cold grin. "My hand might slip."
The icy touch of the blade froze Ritsuki in place, her body rigid, her breath caught.
"I thought that dual-wielding punk showed some promise, but looks like I misjudged you lot," Nero said, half-taunting, half-sincere. She sheathed Yamato, snapped her fingers to wake Aine and Tomori, and stepped back.
"Dual-wielding… you mean Soyo?" Ritsuki muttered, clutching her throat as she exhaled. She didn't dare provoke Nero again, keeping her words to a whisper.
Aine, still groggy, caught the name "Soyo" as she came to. Her eyes snapped open. "Soyo?"
"Sounds like you all know each other," Nero said, feigning ignorance. She slashed the air with Yamato, tipping her hat in a mock bow. "Guess I won't interrupt your little reunion. See ya."
She shot Aine a sly, half-smirk. "Looks like we'll be seeing each other again, kid."
With that, she sliced open a rift and stepped through, vanishing with a swagger.
But Nero didn't go far. She had a show to watch. Yamato's rift only took her to a nearby rooftop, where she perched, her gaze locked on the scene below.
Tomori was fully awake now. The first sound she heard was a familiar voice calling, "Tomori?"
She looked up to see Ritsuki, her old demon-hunting teammate, standing nearby.
No. I can't.
I'll get her killed.
The thoughts raced through Tomori's mind. Barely on her feet, she turned and bolted.
"Wait, Tomori!" Ritsuki called after her. "Don't go! I need to—"
Tomori didn't stop. She ran as if she hadn't heard a thing, as if she could outrun her past.
"Ah…" Aine let out a small sound. Tomori's sudden flight didn't surprise her—she'd acted the same way with Aine and Nero. But this time, fresh from unconsciousness, Tomori had overlooked something.
Aine bent down and picked up a notebook with a photo on the cover.
"Wait, that's Tomori's…" Ritsuki realized, striding toward Aine with a commanding tone. "Hand it over."
Aine bristled at the attitude. "Uh, excuse me? Don't you think a 'please' would be nice first?"
"It's my friend's," Ritsuki said, unyielding. "It's got nothing to do with you."
"Nothing to do with me? Little Tomori's my friend too!"
Up on the rooftop, Nero nearly laughed out loud. Less than two hours ago, Aine was calling her "Tak松-san." Now, without a single word exchanged, she was casually tossing out "Little Tomori"? That shamelessness? Nero had to tip her hat.
Tomori leaving the notebook behind was no surprise to Nero—it's why she hadn't swiped it herself, despite its potential as a clue. If things played out as expected, Aine, Ritsuki, and Soyo would take the notebook to Hanezawa Café to dig into it. Nero could easily eavesdrop and learn its secrets then.
"Huh?" Ritsuki's voice dripped with skepticism. "Friend?"
"Yeah, friend!" Aine snapped. "Tomori and I are in the same class, and I know Soyo too—"
"You know both Tomori and Soyo?"
Even Ritsuki wasn't that dense. She froze for a moment before letting out an even louder, "No way! Are you seriously—?"
"Calling me 'you' like that? Rude much?" Aine pulled up her contact list, enunciating each word. "I'm a demon hunter too!"
Well, minus the official contract.