That same afternoon.
As dusk settled in.
"Shiho's really throwing herself into it—leaving even her master in the dust."
Kaiser grumbled, but a faint smile played at the corners of his mouth.
No master would ever complain about a servant so determined to grow stronger.
He left Kuoh Academy, not heading home, but waiting quietly instead.
"There he is."
Kaiser's eyes glinted as he spotted a figure with a backpack slung over one shoulder.
His target: Issei Hyoudou.
Toward this so-called protagonist, Kaiser harbored nothing but malice.
Not to mention the Boosted Gear—the Red Dragon Emperor's Gauntlet—that intrigued him greatly.
Kaiser flexed his fingers, and a magic circle flickered briefly before vanishing.
At the same moment...
Issei, on his way home, inexplicably lost his bearings.
"What's going on? Why is there no one around?"
The unnaturally silent streets sent a chill down his spine.
He broke into a run.
Suddenly, a refined-looking young man appeared ahead.
"Excuse me, I seem to be—"
His words cut off as an icy wave slammed into him.
In the next instant, Issei was frozen solid, encased in a block of ice.
"I'll keep you on ice for now. Later, I'll figure out how to extract the Boosted Gear."
Kaiser approached, a dark crimson magic circle flashing across his palm.
Issei's figure vanished completely.
"Hm?"
Just as Kaiser prepared to leave, his expression shifted slightly.
"The aura of holy light?"
As a devil, Kaiser was acutely sensitive to holy power.
He could detect it sharply even without extending his senses.
"But... this holy energy doesn't repulse me anymore?"
"Could it be tied to awakening my Progenitor Devil bloodline?"
He murmured to himself, deciding to linger.
Soon enough, a white-haired man in priestly robes appeared before him.
"Well, well—what do we have here? A lost little devil."
Freed Sellzen's face twisted into a warped grin, his body reeking of fresh blood.
"A stray exorcist."
Kaiser eyed him with faint disappointment.
He'd hoped for a fallen angel.
He recalled that this one possessed the technique to extract Sacred Gears from humans.
"Hah hah hah— that's right! I'm a stray exorcist!"
Freed cackled madly, murderous intent radiating like a tangible force.
"Those idiots abandoned God long ago. Only I am worthy of serving Him."
"For a filthy devil like you to appear before me—it's a gift from the Lord himself."
Kaiser's expression remained indifferent as he listened.
He advanced leisurely, as if strolling through a garden.
If not for wanting to test his theory, he would have ended this nuisance already.
"Oh ho? Coming right to me? Shouldn't a mere devil be trembling in fear?"
Freed's features contorted further. "It's all those fools' fault."
"They let scum like you forget what true fear is."
As he spoke, the priest drew an object from his robes.
It was a hilt with no blade.
Hum!
Holy power surged.
A brilliant sword of light extended from the grip.
"Devil—time to atone for your sins. Die!"
With a roar, Freed shot forward like lightning, slashing down at Kaiser.
Clang!
The holy sword struck as if against tempered steel.
Freed's eyes bulged in horror—he'd only torn the devil's clothing.
This devil hadn't even used demonic power.
Impossible.
He might be a stray, but he wielded genuine holy light.
The natural bane of all devils.
Why...
Did it have no effect on this one?
"My guess was right. Holy light doesn't threaten me anymore."
Kaiser assessed himself quietly.
Freed hadn't pierced his defenses—not just because of the vast gap in strength.
His awakened Progenitor Devil bloodline had erased that innate vulnerability.
Holy power's restraining effect was gone entirely.
"Damn it—this devil's wrong."
Freed gnashed his teeth, attempting to retreat.
Boom.
Before he could move, a fist slammed into his chest.
Pure physical force caved in his torso, hurling him sideways like a cannonball.
A single scream escaped before his body burst apart like an overripe melon.
Kaiser withdrew his hand, calm as if he'd merely squashed an insect.
With a casual wave, he used magic to cleanse the scene, then vanished.
...
Night deepened.
The moon hung high and bright.
Shiho trudged home, her body heavy as if filled with lead.
"Training is exhausting."
"But it's all worth it."
She whispered to herself, a smile curving her lips.
Seeing the shock on Rias and the others' faces had been incredibly satisfying.
Most importantly...
She'd learned an advanced spell called Thunder Strike.
Gazing at the starry sky, Shiho felt a profound peace.
Once upon a time, this sense of calm had been unthinkable—even in dreams.
And it was all thanks to Kaiser.
"That said... my demonic power's drained again."
A thought struck her, and her cheeks flushed crimson.
Ten minutes later...
She spotted a familiar figure in front of the villa.
"The address is definitely here."
Akemi Miyano frowned at the grand house.
She'd heard about the organization's research facility in the area being wiped out.
She'd assumed her sister would be under heavy surveillance.
But this...
Didn't seem to fit.
Recalling Shiho's hesitant tone on the phone, worry crept in.
"Sis—you made it."
Shiho appeared then, beaming brightly. "What are you doing standing out here? Come inside!"
Akemi: "..."
What the hell?
Since when did her little sister smile like that?
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