Night had fallen by the time I returned to the Occult Research Club room.
The familiar scent of tea and incense lingered faintly in the air, but the atmosphere tonight was different—tense, heavy.
I stood in the middle of the room, head lowered, while Rias sat regally behind her desk, arms folded, her crimson hair flowing over her shoulders like silk. Her eyes, usually calm and composed, now gleamed with something sharper—fury barely restrained.
"Don't ever go near the Church again."
Her voice was calm… too calm. That made it worse.
I flinched slightly, unable to meet her piercing gaze. "I just—"
"That wasn't a suggestion, Issei," she interrupted, her voice colder than I'd ever heard it. "That was an order."
Her words hit like a slap.
I knew I had messed up. Even if I didn't fully understand all the nuances of Devil society yet, even I could feel how serious she was being.
"I didn't think it was a big deal," I said, trying to sound honest, not defensive. "I just helped a girl who tripped in the street. She said she was new in town, and I offered to show her the church. That's all."
"That girl is a nun," Rias replied sharply. "A servant of the Church. And you—" she leaned forward, eyes narrowing—"are a Devil."
She stood slowly, each step she took toward me echoing slightly in the room's silence. When she stopped in front of me, the intensity of her presence nearly made me take a step back.
"To us Devils," she began, "the Church is enemy territory. Just stepping into it is dangerous. It's not just political—it's spiritual. Being there could have provoked a direct response from Heaven."
Her voice trembled slightly—not with fear, but with restrained emotion.
"I could sense you the moment you crossed that barrier. I didn't say anything at first. I wanted to believe it was a mistake. But you stayed there for *minutes*, Issei."
I opened my mouth, then closed it again. I hadn't even considered that she could track me like that.
Or maybe because of pawn piece in me, she could sense if I crossed the enemy territory or something.
"Devils and the Church are natural enemies," she continued. "Your presence there could have been taken as a provocation. If the Angels decided to attack, a spear of light could have fallen on you at any moment—and no one would've questioned it."
I stayed silent, the weight of her words finally settling in. She wasn't just mad—she was *worried*. Furious, yes. But beneath that, I could sense genuine concern.
She turned away slightly, as if trying to compose herself. Her crimson hair shimmered in the dim candlelight.
"Don't get involved with people from the Church again," she said firmly. "Especially not the Exorcists. They're not like that girl. They're trained to eliminate Devils on sight. Their strength isn't just physical—it's backed by divine power. The prayers of the faithful strengthen them. And if one of them has a Sacred Gear…"
She paused, then looked over her shoulder at me.
"That would be the same as standing at the edge of death."
Normally, I should be fearful, as death is common fear for living beings but in my case, I don't feel anything about my death.
Even when Dohnaseek nearly killed me, I simply accepted it as the nature of life cycle.
"I understand," I said quietly.
"You avoided death once when I brought you back as my servant," Rias said, turning fully toward me again. "But Devils who are exorcised don't get a second chance. When we're purified by a blade or spear of light, we don't reincarnate. We don't get judged. We simply… cease."
Her eyes met mine, dead serious.
"Nothing. You become nothing. No pain. No afterlife. Just… gone."
Her words painted a kind of death more terrifying than anything I'd imagined. I'd seen violence. I'd felt fear. But the idea of *nothingness*—that was different. That wasn't just death. That was erasure.
I nodded again, more firmly this time. "I won't make that mistake again."
A moment of silence passed. Rias's expression softened—just slightly.
Then—
"Ara ara, is the lecture over?"
"Geh—!"
I jumped. Akeno had appeared behind me so silently that I hadn't even sensed her. She smiled as usual, a hand raised to her lips in mock surprise.
I turned around, heart still racing. "Can you *not* sneak up on people like that…?"
Akeno just giggled. "But it's so fun watching you react, Ise-kun."
Rias turned her attention toward her Queen, her irritation visibly fading into something more professional.
"Akeno, what's the situation?"
The cheerful expression on Akeno's face slowly faded, replaced by one of quiet seriousness.
"We've received a request," she said. "A direct order from the Arch Duke."
That immediately got Rias's attention. Even I could feel the change in atmosphere.
"A hunt?"
Akeno nodded, her long black hair swaying as she stepped forward. "Yes. A stray devil has appeared within the outskirts of Kuoh. It's already caused damage to several properties and drained spiritual energy from a few wandering spirits. If we leave it alone much longer, it might start attacking humans."
Rias's eyes darkened.
"Did they say how strong it is?"
"B-class, at most. Not much of a threat to us," Akeno said with a faint smirk. "But it'll be good for exercise. Maybe Ise-kun should come too."
"Huh? Me?"
Akeno leaned close to me, her voice playful again. "Don't tell me you're scared~?"
"No," I said. "I just… wasn't expecting a hunt tonight."
Maybe it is good opportunity to text my strength. After all, I was training with Kiba, unlike what the OC Issei did.
I am quite strong compared to my OG self.
"You're part of this peerage now, Issei," Rias said, her voice regaining its usual noble calm.
"That means you have responsibilities. Tonight will be your first field operation. Akeno and I will handle the threat if things get serious, but I want to see what you can do."
I nodded. "Right."
Akeno placed a hand gently on my shoulder. "You'll do fine. Just remember—stay close, and follow our lead. If you do well, you can sleep with me."
Rias turned toward the window, looking out into the night.
"Let's move."
~~~
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