[Issei POV]
It's late it night, and I'm on my bicycle heading towards a particular house.
Not a mansion or an apartment, but just an ordinary house.
It's my first time, so what shall I do?
Since the client isn't living alone, won't the client's family see me?
After all, I actually have to visit the house to make a contract. I was told before that ordinary human can't detect me, but does it apply to this situation as well?
I'm worried but I realise it when I'm about to push the bell.
The entrance door is open... Seriously, leaving the door open in the middle of the night?
HEARTBEAT
I suddenly felt uneasy. What is this? I have a really bad feeling.
But I'm already walking into house. I look inside from the entrance. There are no lights in the hallway. There is a staircase that led to the second floor, but there are no lights on. There is only one room at the end of the first floor with some lights on, and it's a faint light.
HEARTBEAT
I suddenly felt uneasy. What is this? I have a really bad feeling. But I was already walking into the house before I could give it some thought.
I took a peek inside from the entrance.
There were no lights in the hallway. There was a staircase that led to the second floor, but no lights on. There was only one room at the end of the first floor with some lights on, and it was a faint light.
"...Hello. I'm a Devil from the Gremory's household... Umm, is the client here?"
I asked quietly, but there was no reply.
It can't be helped, so I entered the room. It's a living room and there is a television, a sofa, a table, and such. It looked like an ordinary living room. I thought that. My breath stopped as my eyes glanced at the wall.
A wall. There was a corpse nailed to the wall. It's upside down... A human. It's a male. Was he the person who lives here? But why...?
The corpse has been cut viciously. Something that looked like a giblet was coming out from the wounds...
"Gough."
I vomited out everything inside my stomach on the spot. I didn't vomit when I saw that monster, but my body reacted to seeing this corpse. I couldn't endure looking at this corpse any more. It's obvious this murder was done in cold blood.
There was a puddle of blood on the floor from the drips of blood falling from the corpse. The wall was painted with the blood, in some kind of writing...
"W-What is this...?"
"It's written as "Punishment for those who did bad deeds!". I just borrowed the sentence from someone important."
Suddenly the voice of a young male came from behind me.
When I turn around, there was a man with white hair. He seemed to be a foreigner and he looked like he's still a teenager. He was dressed up like a priest. He was also a bishounen.
Seeing me, the priest made an evil smile.
"Hmm hmm. Well, well, if it isn't a Devil-kun!"
He seemed to be really happy.
Then, the thing that Buchou told me came back to my mind.
—Don't get involved with people from the Church. Especially the Exorcists. They are our biggest enemy. They can easily eliminate us because their powers are supported by the prayer of God.
Asia said the same thing when she told me about the three factions war. I thought it was chuuni back then, but now...
I looked at the priest. He even knew I'm a Devil, so was I in the worst possible situation? Again?
"I'm a priest~ A boy priest~ I cut down devil-like people~, and I laugh at them~ I cut the head of you Devils, and receive my meal~"
The priest started to sing that. Seriously, what the hell is wrong with this guy?
"My name is Freed Seelzen. I belong to a certain Exorcism organisation. Ah, just because I introduced myself doesn't mean you have to. I don't want to remember your name in my memory, so please don't. It's okay, since you are going to die soon. I will make sure of it. It might hurt at first, but later you will feel so good that you will cry. Now let's open the new door -ZE!"
I've never met someone like him in my life before. His words didn't make any sense. It was like he was insane.
So this guy was an Exorcist then? It looked like I've gotten myself into trouble. However, I still wanted to ask this person something that bothered me, so I forced my spit down my throat and asked.
"Hey, was it you? The one who killed this person?"
"Yes, yes. I killed him. Because~, he was a regular criminal who has been summoning Devils, so I had to kill him."
What kind of reasoning was that?!
"Huh? Are you shocked? Aren't you running away? That's weird? Really Weird. I mean humans who make a pact with Devils are scum. Scum indeed. Can't you understand that? No? Is that so? Well you are a scum Devil after all."
This guy was crazy, you couldn't have a proper conversation with him even if you wanted to. But I had to.
"How can a human kill another human, then!? Aren't you only supposed to kill Devils?"
"Haaaaa? What the fuck is that? A mere Devil like you is lecturing me? Hahaha. I will laugh at this. You probably could get a reward for being funny. Okay then, listen carefully you shitty Devil. Devils also use humans' greed to survive. Relying on a Devil proves that you are no longer a human. It's the end. That's why I killed him~. I make a living by killing Devils and those that are contracted to a Devil. That's my job."
"Even Devil's won't go this far!"
"Haa~~? What are you talking about? Devils are trash. Do you know they are a shitty existence? Do you know this is common sense? Didn't you know? Seriously, you should start your life back from a toddler. Wait, it's useless to tell this to a reincarnated Devil like you. More like, I have to kill you! Hahahaha. It's awesome, isn't it? It's the best, isn't it?"
The priest pulled out a sword that had no blade, and a gun. A sound vibrated in the air. The sword that only has a handle turned into a thing like a beam saber.
"You kind of irritate me, so can I cut you? Can I shoot you? Is it OK? Okay then. Now I'm going to stab your heart with this blade of light, and I'm going to blow your head with this cool looking gun! Man, I'm seriously going to fall in love!"
The priest came running at me. He was swinging his light blade at my leg. I dodged, but I could feel an intense pain spreading through my leg. Was I hit?
Smoke came out through the priest's gun. Are? Was I shot?I didn't hear any gunshots. Then suddenly I felt another shot of pain on my leg again.
"Guaaaah!"
I fell on my knees while moaning. This time, I was shot on my left calf! It hurts!
"How is it!? The special bullet made for the Exorcists, the bullet of light! And it doesn't make any sound. Since its bullet of light. This situation turns both of us on, doesn't it?"
So this was the pain of light? It was like my flesh was being burned alive just by being in contact with the light... The pain could spread from the place where you were hit through the entire body.
"Die, die, Devil! Die Devil! Turn to dust and disappear! This is all for my entertainment"
My life flashed before my eyes. The priest was about to finish me off.
"Please stop!"
Then there is a voice of a woman I am familiar with. The priest froze his posture to where he was about to attack me, and looked towards the direction where the voice came from.
I also looked to the same direction.
There was no doubt about it. Asia... the girl I loved. I haven't seen her in a couple of days. I didn't stop seeing her after immediately I became a Devil, but I decided it would be best if I could avoid her. I didn't want to stop seeing her. I just wanted to see her as less as possible.
It was because I understood I was a Devil now. She lost her place in the Church because of a Devil. I didn't want to hurt her.
But what is she doing here?
She is on the Church's side, you idiot, what is she doing here? Damn it. Not like this...
"Well if it isn't my assistant, Asia-chan. What happened? Did you finish putting the barrier?"
"! N-Noooooooo!"
Asia screamed after seeing the corpse that is nailed to the wall.
"Thank you for the adorable scream! Oh yeah, this is your first time seeing a corpse like this, isn't it, Asia-chan? Then look carefully. We have the humans that are entranced by a Devil die like this."
"...N-No..."
She then looked at us and got shocked to see me.
"...Father Freed...that person...is my friend..."
Asia looked at me directly.
"Person? No, no. This shit here is a Devil. Wait, you're friends with a Devil? Wow. Now this is a big surprise. Is it the forbidden love between a Devil and a Sister? Seriously? Are you serious?"
"—! Ise-san is a...Devil...?"
She asked this question, shocked, and I felt a pang in my heart. It was like I betrayed her.
...That's why I didn't want her to know. It could have been fine if things were to stay like this.
I caught her glance. Asia's eyes were so full of sorrow. I felt my own starting to tear up. Before I knew it, I was crying.
"...I didn't want to deceive you. It's just... I became a Devil before I knew it. And I was afraid to tell you. Cause you told me it was because of a Devil that you were excommunicated... I'm sorry."
"Ahahahaha. How tragic! So this really is forbidden love? Are you kidding me? This is way too funny, hahaha!"
Asia didn't answer. I heard Freed's roar instead and knew I probably wasn't going to survive.
"Ahaha! Devils and humans can never coexist! Especially humans from the Church and the Devils are the biggest enemies! Also, we are a group of heretics that was deserted by God. Asia-tan and I are humans that can't survive without the support of Fallen Angels-sama."
Wait, they work with the Fallen Angels? Not god?
"Well now, leaving that aside, I need to kill this trash here or else I can't finish my job, so here I come. Are you ready?"
The priest thrust his sword toward me again.
I couldn't move my body. The pain in my legs was keeping me in place. Looks like there's no way out. I closed my eyes. I waited for the end.
But it wouldn't come. I don't know for how long I waited. It just wouldn't come.
I opened my eyes. Asia... she stood in front of me with her arms spread as if she is protecting me. The priest put on a stern look when he saw this.
"...Hey, hey. Are you serious? Asia-tan, do you know what you are doing?"
"...I do. Father Freed, I beg you. Please forgive this person. Please let him go."
I became speechless after hearing her. Asia was... protecting me?
"I can't stand it any more... You can't kill people just because they are entranced to a Devil and you also can't kill Devils. It's wrong!"
"Haaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah!? Don't talk shit, bitch! You also learned that Devils are trash at the Church! Seriously, is there something wrong with your brain!?"
Freed now had an anguished expression.
"There are good people, even among Devils!"
"There aren't, idiooooooot!"
"T-That's what I thought until recently… But Ise-san is a good person. He's my friend. That fact doesn't change even after I found out that he is a Devil! Killing someone is unforgivable! This kind of act! God won't allow such acts!"
She saw the corpse, and she found out that I'm a Devil, so she should be shocked. But Asia isn't backing down to speak her beliefs to the priest. I was moved. This girl is amazing.
BAKI!
"Kyaa!"
The bastard priest hit Asia to the side with his gun. She fell to the ground.
"Asia!"
I went to Asia's side. I caught her in my arms, then gently placed her on the ground.
I took up a fighting pose. I'm not going to let the girl I care about be mistreated by this trash priest.
"Eh? Eh? Seriously? Seriously? You are going to fight me? You will die, you know? You will die with a lot of pain? I have no intention of killing you painlessly, okay? Now then. Let's see if I can make a new record for the smallest minced-meat!"
I prepared to charge ahead. But then...
the floor started glowing in a blue and white colour.
"What is this?"
The priest became suspicious when the floor glowed. The blue light started to form a shape. A magic-circle. A magic circle I have seen before.
The magic-circle of the Gremory household!
My comrades appeared from the shining magic circle.
"Hyoudou-kun, we came to rescue you."
"I thought I had a knack for getting in trouble, but you're on a different level. Glad to see priests are the same hypocrites though"
Kiba smiles at me, while Kokonoe shrugs his shoulders nonchalantly.
"Ara ara. This is awful."
"…Priest."
Akeno-san and Koneko-chan!
Yens, my comrades. They came to rescue me! I'm so moved that I feel like crying! Great! Something like this actually happens!?
"Hyahou! Here's a present for a group of Devils!"
The priest starts slashing his sword. The sound of the metal echoes through the room. Kiba blocks the priest's attack with his sword.
"I'm sorry. He's one of us! We can't let you lay a finger on him!"
"Oh, oh! A mere Devil being concerned about their comrade? What are you guys? Devil Squadron, the Devil Rangers? That's nice. I can feel the heat. I'm getting turned on! So how is it? Are you the one sticking it in, and is he the one bending? So are you guys in that sort of relationship?
"That Power Rangers reference was lamer than your whole existence, if thatwas even possible. Also, I thought the Church was anti LGBT"
This conversation stopped making any sense.
"…What a vulgar mouth. It's hard to believe you are a priest… Oh, that's why you are a "Stray Exorcist", right?"
"Yeah, yeah! I'm vulgar! Sorry about that! That's because I strayed away! I was kicked out! That's why, screw the Vatican! I'm all right as long as I get to cut Devils whenever I feel like it!"
"So not even Vatican needed canon fodder like you.."
While all of this was happening, I rushed to Asia's side.
"Are you alright?"
I stretched my hand to help her up. She took it.
"Yes, I'm fine..."
"I'm sorry. I hope you'll forgive me one day"
"Ise-san..."
She didn't know what to say anymore. This was awkward.
She noticed the wound on my feet and I saw a green light glowing out of her hands. Was she healing me?...
"Stay still", she told me.
"O-okay.."
I was blushing despite the situation. I'm not used to girls being in such a close proximity to me.
"Second time I heal a Devil, huh?"
She gave a bitter, self depreciating laugh. I couldn't say anything to that. I kept my mouth shut.
The pain I was feeling in my legs was starting to subdue. I looked down to see the wound slowly closing.
Meanwhile, my comrades were still engaging Freed.
"You are the type that is the most hard to deal with. Someone who feels like they are living by cutting Devils…the one who causes the most harm to us."
"Haaaaah!? You know, I don't want to be told off by a Devil? I'm trying to live now just like other people! I'm not in a position where pests like you can talk down to me!"
"Even Devils have rules."
Akeno-san was smiling, but her eyes were serious. She was showing a sign of will to fight and hostility towards Freed.
"Nice. I like those passionate eyes. Onee-san, you are the best. I can feel your urge of wanting to kill me. Is this love? No. I think it's a killing intent! Superb! This is great! I love the feeling of intending to kill and getting intended to kill!"
"Then disappear."
Buchou suddenly appears next to me. She looked confused by the sight in front of her eyes— a Sister healing a Devil.
She recovered in time to speak to me.
"Ise, I'm sorry. I never expected that a Stray Exorcist will visit this client's house."
She apologized to me, then narrowed her eyes as she saw the wounds Asia was healing.
"...Ise. Did you get wounded?"
"Ah, sorry... I was shot..."
I try to deceive her by laughing.
Ah, looks like she will yell at me afterwards. Sorry for being weak, Buchou. But Buchou didn't say anything to me and gives a cold expression to the priest.
"Looks like you have been looking after my cute servant?"
Her voice is low and sounds scary. Wow, Buchou is pissed. Am I the reason?
"Yes, yes. I have been playing around with it. I was planning to cut his body all over but I was interrupted and it finished as a dream.
"So Ise-san already has someone..."
While that exchange happened between Bouchou and the insane priest, Asia whispered that with a low voice.
I don't know what you're talking about...
While I thought that, a section of the furniture behind the priest was blown away. It's Buchou. She shot out a ball of demonic-power.
"I make sure I never forgive those who harm my servants. I especially can't forgive a lowlife like you damaging my personal possessions."
"So that confirms it, we're just personal possessions, huh?..."
Kokonoe muttered something like that while watching the scene unfold. He was as useless in battle as me.
"Buchou, there seems to be few Fallen Angels heading to this house. At this rate we will be at a disadvantage."
Seemed like Akeno-san detected something and informs us. The Fallen Angels were approaching? Those guys with black wings?
Buchou gave another stare at the priest.
"...Akeno, we will return to our headquarters once we retrieve Ise. Prepare for teleportation."
"Yes."
Akeno-san started to cast a spell as soon as Buchou urges her to. Teleport? Are we running away?
"Oh boy, and I was looking forward to getting a rematch with that crow..."
I ignored Kokonoe's nonsense to look at Asia.
"Buchou! We have to take her as well!"
"It's impossible. Only Devils can use the magic-circle to transport. Also, this magic-circle can only teleport me and my servants."
N-No... My eyes and Asia's eyes met. She just smiles at me.
"Asia!"
"Ise-san, let's meet again."
That was the last words we exchanged at this place.
Next moment, Akeno-san finished casting the spell, and the magic-circle on the floor starts to glow blue again.
"Like I will let you escape!"
The priest came slashing at us, but Koneko-chan threw the sofa against him. By the time the priest smacked away the sofa with his sword, we were already teleported to the club room.
"Haa…"
Noon.
I've skipped school today, and I was currently sitting on a bench in a children's park while making a sigh. Even with Asia's healing, the wounds I received from the priest on my leg yesterday haven't completely healed.
According to Buchou, "The Fallen Angel who gave its power to that priest must have a dense power of light", so it seems like they will be troublesome for us Devils since light is poisonous to us. With this leg, I can't do the Devils' job for a while, so I was told to take a break by Buchou.
I kept thinking of Asia. I'm so weak I can't even save the girl I like... Imagining her with that priest and the Fallen Angels was enough to make my blood boil... I knew her well enough to know that she wouldn't like to work with that psycho priest... But I can't do things on my own, it will cause a lot of trouble to Buchou and the others.
I was torn between the desire to save her and my obligation to Buchou. I had to get stronger... Only then I could save her..
With this new goal in mind, I made my way out of the park... but then I saw someone I knew. She also locked eyes with me. We were starting at each other.
"...Asia?"
"...Ise-san?"
We sat by a bech in the park. The silence between us was awkward. I wanted to say something, but I couldn't.
I mustered up my courage.
"I'm sorry I didn't tell you... about me being as Devil."
SLAP! The moment I said that, Asia slapped my left cheek. I looked at her to see that there was tears pouring ouf of her eyes.
"I wouldn't have hated you if you just told me, you know... I can't hate you."
"It's just... look, I didn't deceive you. Back when we met, I was still human. But then, a Fallen Angel came to kill me and then Buchou brought me back as a Devil."
Asia looked confused.
"A Fallen Angel?..."
"Yes. Your healing power... it's a Sacred Gear, right?"
"Yes..."
"Truth is, I'm also a Sacred Gear user"
"Ise-san is?..."
I summoned my Sacred Gear and showed it to her.
"Apparently, Fallen Angels judged me an enemy so they sent someone to kill me..."
Asia was shocked by this. She hummed in thought.
"So that's why Ise-san is a Devil..."
"Yeah. Sorry to hold the truth from you."
"I was just so worried... I thought you hated me, because you seemed to be avoiding me lately."
Yeah, I actually was...
"I thought you'd hate me if you knew I was a Devil..."
Then, Asia did something I didn't expect. She wrapped me in a hug.
"I told you I couldn't hate you. You're my friend, Ise-san"
Her words moved me to tears. I was this close to crying. For a while, we just stayed like this. Then I asked her.
"What are you doing here?"
Asia made a bitter smile.
"I ran away. I don't want to return to people who kill other people... Also, these people did things to me... horrible things..."
I don't want to hear it anymore. I could already tell. A crazy idea came to me.
I might probably get in trouble with Buchou and the others. And I don't know how my parents were going to react... But none of that even mattered.
"Asia..."
"Yes?"
"Come live at my place!"
I saw her blushing profusely while making a shocked face.
"Eh?"