"?????!! Where are you?!"
"Over here. Hahaha."
In the mountains with clear, fresh air, a little brown-haired boy was desperately searching for someone, his eyes brimming with tears. A girl on a tree watched him with a pleased expression.
"W...w...w...w... ?????!!! Aaaaargh!! ?????!! Where are you!! Aaaaargh!!"
"...?-chan, you're such a crybaby."
When the boy finally burst into tears, the girl on the tree came down and stroked his head.
"Aaaaargh!! ??????!!"
"It's okay, ?-chan. I'm not going anywhere. I'll always be with you. I promise."
==============================================
"Get up! Get up! Ah, if you don't get up, my nuclear bomb will pierce your butt!"
Click.
Issei barely managed to turn off the alarm clock with his hand. Perhaps because of the damage from yesterday, he had no intention of getting up. To be honest, four years of peace had made his body quite sluggish, and he was feeling the electric shock damage from Akeno quite severely.
"Damn it... that ponytail girl..."
"Issei!! Issei!!"
'She really doesn't know how to hold back... The lightning damage must have messed with my head... making me have that dream...'
Bzzzt.
"It's a little better now, but..."
"Issei!! Are you going to get up or not?!"
The door slammed open, and his adoptive mother rushed in. She saw him, still lying in bed, and her face went pale, instantly sensing something was wrong. Forgetting herself, she used a name she shouldn't have.
"Master! What happened?! Are you alright?!"
"...Mother."
"Ah! My apologies... I mean... sorry, Issei. Is something wrong?"
"It's nothing. Hahaha. I'll get dressed and go now."
As his mother left, flustered, Issei began to change. But he felt... something was missing. He touched his neck.
"!! The pendant... No... Don't tell me...!"
----------
On the way to school
"Dammit..."
(Don't worry about it. A pendant won't be enough to reveal your identity.)
"That's not the problem! That was the most important thing I had! And now it's gone... Ah, dammit..."
(...Moving on. You seem to be healed.)
'Of course. Normally, a little lightning like that would heal in an hour if I used my magic. But her lightning... it was different.'
(What do you mean?)
'The quality of it... it was just a little... but it felt similar to one of the Fallen Angel leaders, Baraqiel... huh?'
Standing in front of Issei was a beautiful girl with long black hair, wearing a different school's uniform. When she saw him, she blushed and twisted her hands nervously.
"U-Um... you're Hyoudou Issei, right?"
"Huh? Yeah. why?"
"Please... Please go out with me!"
"No."
Issei's refusal was instant and cold. The girl, who had clearly expected a different answer, just stared, stunned. Before she could speak, Issei did.
"Stop the useless act. I know you're not human."
"W-What are you talking about? That's so mean, Hyoudou kun!"
"...Still playing dumb? Fallen Angel."
As soon as Issei finished speaking, a spear of light appeared in his hand, and he threw it at the girl who confessed to him. The female student jumped up to dodge it, and black wings sprouted from her back. The pouty expression on her face suddenly changed to a frightening glare as she stared at Issei.
"..... How did you know?"
".... Well.... Maybe this thing you were looking for told me?"
Issei said, tapping his left arm with his right hand, and the Fallen Angel in front of Issei looked quite surprised.
'Strange.... According to the information, this guy is the child of an ordinary human, his grades are average, and his friends are only full of H-related thoughts... Other than having a Sacred Gear, there's no information that he knows any Fallen Angels, devils, or angels.....'
The fallen angel (Raynare) snapped her fingers. Her hidden allies emerged, all holding light spears, and rushed Issei.
Issei just smiled.
He was a blur. He grabbed one fallen angel's arm, slammed his palm into their chin, and used their own light spear to block the others.
"I-Impossible!"
"I can see all your moves!"
Issei's fist struck one Fallen Angel's abdomen, and he jumped, rotated his body, and struck the head of the Fallen Angel who was aiming for his back with his ankle. And in his hands, he held the Lance of Light, and he threw it at the two fallen angels. The Lance of Light flew instantly and pierced the fallen angels' chests, and the fallen angels who were pierced in the chest disappeared without a trace.
"!!"
"N...no way!!"
"L...Lance of Light?!"
"What? You challenged me with this little skill? Come back when you've built up your skills a bit more."
'Str...strong!! What is this guy?! Only angels can use the Lance of Light!! But.... why is this guy doing it!!'
"Re...retreat!!"
The fallen angels fled in unison, and Issei just watched them run away, thinking there was no need to chase after them. At that time, Issei didn't know that letting them go would drastically change his destiny...
Occult Research Clubroom-
"Heh....."
Rias, sensing something, smiled with an amused expression.
"To think there was a heavenly being in this town.... I never expected it? No..... Angel.... Fallen Angel? I feel two auras at the same time..... Interesting. A child with the auras of both an Angel and a Fallen Angel..."
At Rias's words, Akeno, who was preparing tea, wore an unpleasant expression. She poured the tea for Rias and quietly stepped outside. Then, she took out the pendant she had found earlier and gazed at it.
"....."
============
Inside the School
As soon as he arrived at school, Issei quickly scanned the area around the school gate, trying not to let the other students notice, but his pendant was nowhere to be seen.
'Hah....'
(..... Is that pendant really something to worry about?)
"..... It's a pendant I've had since I was a kid. Of course it feels empty now that it's gone. And...."
(And?)
"No... it's nothing. More importantly, I'm worried about using my power..... Well, I guess it'll work out somehow...."
"ISSEIIIIIIIIII!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"
"Huh?"
A kick flew from quite far behind, accompanied by a voice filled with immense resentment, and Issei easily dodged it by moving his head to the side. The person who kicked him was Matsuda, Issei's friend, a sports prodigy but with zero popularity, and bald. Following him, Motohama grabbed Issei's collar, tears streaming down his face.
"Issei!! You bastard!!"
"Why are you guys too energetic for the morning?"
"Why!! Why are we watching the same erotic DVDs and anime!! Why is only you getting confessions from girls!!"
"I saw it all yesterday!! You getting confessed to by a girl!!"
"That day, we saw that and went to Motohama's house and watched all the erotic DVDs he had!!"
".....That's not something to brag about? ...Besides, didn't you guys run away crying as soon as you saw the scene where I got confessed to?"
Issei thinks they're pathetic. As soon as they heard his words, Matsuda and Motohama, enraged, grabbed his collar and shook him.
"You bastard!! Getting all cocky because you got confessed to by a girl!!"
"We can too!! If we just put our minds to it.... Guk..."
".....Why are you crying again over there?"
""Shut up!! All popular guys should die!!""
Issei sighed as he watched Matsuda and Motohama run into the classroom crying. Meanwhile, there was a woman watching Issei from afar. The woman watching Issei gripped what she was holding in her hand tighter and looked at Issei.
"..."
=======================
"Damn it!! Damn it!!"
Meanwhile, the fallen angel Raynare, who had been thoroughly defeated by Issei, couldn't hide her anger. He was too strong. Moreover, judging from the fact that he used the Lance of Light, not just an ordinary human, he must be someone from the fallen angels or angels. But there was no such information. Moreover, he didn't even use Sacred Gear, but he was no match for him.
"What the hell is that guy's identity!!"
"If he was on the Fallen Angel side, I would have definitely seen someone that strong at least once, but I've never seen a guy like that."
"Then he must be from Heaven. But that's strange.... I've never heard any information about someone that strong from Heaven coming down to the human world....."
"That's not what's important right now!! If this continues, we'll never receive love from Lord Azazel and Lord Shemhazai!! We'll be stuck as extras forever!! We have to think of something. A way... to kill him...."
Raynare gritted her teeth, bit her thumb, and fidgeted, then a good idea seemed to come to her mind, and a smile spread across her lips. ================================================
"Huuuaaaam.... Sleepy."
After all the classes were over, Issei stretched out wide. And the girl named Murayama, approaching him, put her hands on her hips and thrust her face, with a fierce expression, towards Issei.
"Hyoudou!!"
"What? Why are you suddenly shouting right in front of me....."
"You know.... Don't you know what you did wrong? Or are you pretending not to know?"
"??"
Crack.
"Have you forgotten what you did at lunch yesterday!!"
As soon as she finished speaking, Murayama's wooden sword flew towards Issei's head, and Issei grabbed the wooden sword with both hands.
"Oooooh!!"
"Real-world two-handed sword grip!!"
"I've never seen it before!!"
"What are you doing?" - Issei
"I've been putting up with it until now, and the others are also putting up with it, but... I can't forgive you today!! You shameless pervert!!"
Issei dodges Murayama's wooden sword by lightly moving his neck. Issei dodged the attack, grabbed his bag, and jumped out the window. While most people would be horrified by a jump from the second floor, his classmates were used to Issei's antics and didn't react with shock.
"Ugh... I'll get you next time!!! Hyoudou!!!"
=================================================
"Huuuuum..... I'm sleepy."
Issei had already walked far enough that the school was no longer in sight. Then his phone rang. He turned it on and saw a message from his mother saying she expected him home late and to eat dinner out. Issei sighed, stopped heading home, and turned towards the city.
"What should I eat for dinner tonight...?"
"May I help you?"
"Huh?"
A woman suddenly appeared in front of him, offering him an old piece of paper with a strange magic square drawn on it. Issei instinctively took it.
'.....I just took it without thinking..... grant my wish? These days, devils are just handing these things out? Besides... that's the Grimoire family crest!'
Issei had memorized the crests of pure devils when he was active in the Heavenly Realm, so he recognized it immediately. But now, whether it was an angel, a fallen angel, or a devil, it didn't matter to him. He figured that if someone else picked it up, they'd definitely summon a devil to make a contract, so he thought it was better to keep it himself. Issei put the old paper in his pocket.
"Speaking of which, I guess I'll go get a hamburger for dinner..... but it doesn't seem like the right time."
Issei sensed the killing intent around him and started walking towards a place he knew people didn't usually go on cold days. The place Issei was heading to was a park on the outskirts of town... The sun was already setting, and the moment the fountain in the park stopped and then spurted water again, fallen angels with black wings appeared around Issei.
"Really... are you challenging us again after seeing the difference in power?"
"Hee hee hee hee hee... It's a bit different from last time."
"Kkkkkkkkk"
"Kikikikikikik"
"???"
Unlike before, the Fallen Angels were laughing eerily. Raynare, who seemed to be their leader, signaled a few of them, and the Fallen Angels threw something in front of Issei. Seeing what they threw, his expression began to distort.
"Matsuda!! Motohama!!"
"Issei!!"
"Who are these guys!!"
"You bastards!!"
"Tsk.... Don't move!! If you move from there, your precious friends' heads might just fly off."
As soon as Raynare finished speaking, the Fallen Angels pointed spears of light at Matsuda's and Motohama's necks. It was close enough that the slightest movement would bury the spears in their throats.... No matter how strong Issei was, he couldn't move recklessly when people's... when his best friends' lives were on the line.
"..... You guys are really annoying."
"Annoying? Hmph.... That's not something a monster like you should say, Hyoudou Issei. If you had simply followed our opinions, we wouldn't have done this..."
As Raynare finished speaking, two light spears she created pierced both of Issei's thighs and pinned him to the ground. But it didn't end there. Other Fallen Angels rushed Issei and began stabbing his arms with light spears. The sound of light spears piercing flesh was heard, but Issei didn't scream once, just endured and ground his teeth.
Grind!
"Issei!!"-Matsuda, Motohama
Judging that Issei's arms were pinned by the light spears and couldn't move, Raynare walked haughtily toward Issei.
"I could kill you right here... but your power is too much of a waste..... I'll make one last offer. Won't you come to our side? With your skills, you could easily become an executive...."
"Joining you guys, who can't even earn the trust of Azazel or Shemhazai and have to resort to killing unrelated civilians to steal their Sacred Gears? I'd rather die. Get lost."
Issei's words must have hit a nerve. Raynare's expression twisted horribly, and in an instant, her spear of light pierced Issei's abdomen. Blood dripped from Raynare's light spear onto the ground, one drop at a time. His abdomen pierced, Issei coughed up a large amount of blood. Raynare twisted the light spear deeper once before pulling it out, and the blood from Issei's abdomen soaked his clothes.
"Cough"
"Issei!!"-Matsuda, Motohama
"Insolent brat.... Who do you think you're... A filthy human like you!!"
'Now!!'
Issei, on his knees, instantly created light spears in both hands. He threw them at the faces of the Fallen Angels holding Motohama and Matsuda. The Fallen Angels, who had been relaxed seeing Issei's severe injuries, couldn't dodge the light spears aimed at their faces in a surprise attack. Their hands went limp, and they collapsed. Raynare, caught off guard, was shocked. Hearing the Fallen Angels collapse behind her, she momentarily turned around. Issei didn't miss the opening and created a sword of light, stabbing her in the abdomen.
As she was about to fall forward, Issei's shin struck her face. Raynare flew backward and crashed into the fountain. Issei ran in front of his friends, glaring at the Fallen Angels. He asked his friends behind him, breathing heavily.
"Hah... hah.... You okay?"
"I.... Issei!! Your blood!!"
"Haha.... Don't worry, I won't die easily. I was strong enough to be called a monster, you know."
(Don't joke!! That wound to your abdomen is fatal!!)
'The wound in my abdomen.... Ddraig's right, it's fatal. But I don't have the luxury to heal it here. And the recovery is incredibly slow. Damn it.... Did they put poison on those light spears?'
"Raynare!!"
"What are you doing!! Hurry up and kill that bastard!!"
Issei's vision was starting to blur. Raynare, kneeling as she pulled the light spear from her own abdomen, yelled at her comrades to finish Issei. The Fallen Angels, thinking this was their only chance to take him down, all charged Issei without a word. He was injured by the hostage situation, and the hostages were still behind him.
As the Fallen Angels charged, Issei tried to use the Red Dragon Emperor's power, but it was a power he hadn't used in a long time, and there was a risk of the flames spreading. It didn't matter if the Fallen Angels in front of him got hurt or died, but his friends behind him could be killed by the Red Dragon Emperor's power. It could also attract other Angels, Fallen Angels, or Devils. So, instead of bringing out the Red Dragon Emperor, he created spears and swords of light and blocked all the Fallen Angels' attacks. What was more frightening was that he was simultaneously attacking and defending, taking down three or four Fallen Angels in an instant with his light spears and swords.
"!! Wh... what!! That guy.... He's... he's really a monster?!!"
"Hah.... hah..."
Eight Fallen Angels simultaneously struck down at him with their light spears, but Issei blocked them all with a light spear held in one hand. They tried to overpower him with sheer force to kill him, but their spears wouldn't budge.
'What? This power....'
'I'm pushing with all my strength... but my arm won't move!!'
'He's blocking with just strength!! What... what a terrifying guy!!'
"Hah.... hah.... Uraaaaaaah!!"
With a powerful kick, the Fallen Angels' hands holding the light spears were instantly forced upward. Issei, who had been on one knee, stood up, spun, and cut all of them in two with his light sword.
"Uwaaak!!"
One by one, the Fallen Angels fell.... Facing Issei, who their comrades couldn't even touch, the Fallen Angels began to back away. The dozens of members had been reduced to just 12, and they were paralyzed by fear.
"Hah.... hah...."
"Wh..... what... is... this?..... How.... how... can he... fight... like that?! I can't believe it!!"
"R... Raynare...."
"What are you doing!!! That guy can't move right now!! If you can't fight him up close, throw from a distance!! Hurry up and finish him!!"
At those words, they all distanced themselves from Issei and threw their light spears. Issei began to block and deflect their attacks with his sword and spear. However, there was a limit to blocking. One pierced Issei's shoulder. Issei flinched. Another pierced his other shoulder. Once he was pierced, light spears embedded themselves in Issei's chest, abdomen, legs, and arms. Finally, the light spear Raynare threw pierced Issei's neck.
'Thud!'
"Ah..... ah..."
"Issei!!!"-Matsuda, Motohama
"Ha.... Hahahahahahahaha!! Serves you right!! You're finally dead!! Hahahahahaha!! You should have just died quietly, causing all this trouble."
Raynare began to laugh hysterically. Then, deciding she had to kill Matsuda and Motohama, a light spear formed in her hand.
"Goodbye. Cockroaches."
Just before she threw the spear, her body froze. It wasn't because of any magic or power. It was pure bloodlust.... A terrifying bloodlust emanating from Issei, so strong it froze her body.
That wasn't all. Issei's left arm suddenly glowed, a "BOOST" sound was heard, and flames suddenly erupted from the bodies of the Fallen Angels next to her, incinerating them.
"What?!! What's going...."
"..."
"Ah.... ah...."
If you touch my friends, I'll kill you... Issei was on the verge of death, but his bloodlust instantly turned the Fallen Angels' fear into terror. Raynare and her companions, completely terrified, spread their wings and fled without looking back. Issei's friends were choking and foaming at the mouth, suffocated by his bloodlust. Once the Fallen Angels disappeared, Issei stopped emitting the bloodlust. The light spears piercing his body hit the ground, holding him in a sitting position. His heavy body slumped.... His senses gradually faded..... His eyelids grew heavy.... And his old memories passed by like a film projector..... It was only a few seconds, but it felt long to Issei.
(You idiot!!! Why did you only use it now!!)
'Who knows..... Maybe I wanted to die.....'
(!! Cheon, you....)
'Ah..... I couldn't kill Raynare... but I guess it doesn't matter..... Unlike that time, I protected my friends....'
Issei looked back and forth at the unconscious Matsuda and Motohama. They were perverts, but they were precious friends..... Issei thought he had no regrets, but then, something flashed in his mind.
[Cheon!! Don't go!!]
'....Who?'
As the voice of a crying girl echoed in his vision, Issei's eyes, which had almost lost consciousness, twitched once. Just then, the paper with the magic circle in his pocket began to glow. And in front of Issei, a magic circle was drawn, and someone appeared.
'So red..... Red... The hair color symbolizing Gremory.... Now that I'm dying.... I'm seeing all sorts of things.'
"You're the one who called me."
'..... What?'
"I'd like to say you're already dead, but... this is amazing?! You're pierced all over by light spears.... even with a light spear in your neck, you're still alive.... Heh.... How very interesting."
An amused chuckle reached Issei's ears. Issei, who was about to lose consciousness, tried desperately to hold on. He squeezed out all his strength and slowly raised his head.
"!! Amazing!! You can still move?!"
'It's.... not... an... illusion....'
"It's too much of a waste for you to die now.... If you're going to die anyway, I'll save you."
'St...op..... I... don't... want... to... become... a devil. Just.... let... me... die... here. I'm.....'
Issei wanted to say that, but with his throat pierced, his voice couldn't reach her. The red-haired woman in front of him looked at the dying Issei and said with a smile.
"Your new life.... Live it for me."