Thomas's world narrowed to a single focal point: the small figure across the street. Koneko Toujou. The post-acquisition calm of his powers evaporated instantly, replaced by cold, sharp adrenaline. This was a mistake. A foolish, rookie mistake. In his exhilaration to gain new power, he had been careless, setting up a new lair right in the patrol territory of one of the strongest predators in the city.
His mind raced. He could feel Koneko's aura with his new Spiritual Sense. Her aura was dense, calm, and alert. Like a cat that had heard a mouse behind a wall; she might not know exactly what it was, but she knew something was there that shouldn't be. Thomas could also feel his own aura, and Chisato's now bound to him, surely glowing like beacons in the night to a trained devil's senses.
Direct confrontation was suicide. Blatant escape would be confirmation. He had to vanish. Disappear like a ghost.
"Get dressed," Thomas whispered, his voice urgent. Chisato, still dazed from the mixture of orgasm and mental subjugation, jolted and immediately obeyed. Her hands trembled as she pulled her dress back on, her large eyes fixed on her master, seeking guidance and reassurance. "We're leaving now. Don't make a sound."
Thomas quickly dressed himself. He glanced at the window again. Koneko was still there, unmoving. Watching. Waiting. The front door was not an option. He needed another way out.
He turned to Chisato, looking deep into her eyes. "Listen to me. Forget this address. You were never here. You met me in the park this afternoon, and you agreed to come with me to a safe place. That's all you remember. Understand?"
"Yes, My Lord," Chisato replied, her eyes glazing over slightly as her short-term memory was effortlessly rewritten.
Thomas wasted no time. He scooped Chisato into his arms, her body almost weightless thanks to his newfound strength. He moved to the window at the back of the apartment, which overlooked a narrow, dark alley. The apartment was on the third floor. A dangerous jump for an ordinary human, but not for him.
He opened the window silently. The cold night air rushed in. With Chisato clinging tightly to his neck, Thomas leaped.
He didn't just fall. He used his Physical Enhancement to push himself away from the wall, controlling his trajectory. As he neared the ground, he braced his legs, letting the combination of his strength and Regeneration absorb most of the impact. He landed on the cracked asphalt with a barely audible thud, like a large cat. His knees bent slightly, then he straightened immediately.
He didn't stop to check. He ran straight, down the dark alley, then turned onto another street, moving quickly away from the now compromised apartment. He kept monitoring with his Spiritual Sense. He could feel Koneko's aura still static in place for a few more minutes. Then, it moved, sweeping the area once more, before finally moving away, its trail cooling. He had escaped. For now.
Hours later, Thomas was in an anonymous business hotel room on the other side of town, paid for in cash for one night. Chisato, utterly exhausted physically and emotionally, was fast asleep in the bed.
Thomas sat in a chair by the window, gazing at the flickering city lights, but his mind was elsewhere. He replayed his mistake. Arrogance. He had been so confident in his growing power that he had forgotten the first rule of the hunt: know your territory. He had underestimated how seriously these devils guarded their domain.
This was a valuable lesson. He identified his most crucial weaknesses. First, he had no control over his aura. He couldn't conceal his presence or the presence of his servants. Every time he subjugated a new target, it was like setting off fireworks in the spiritual world, inviting unwanted attention. He had to find an ability to suppress or disguise auras. That was now his top priority.
Second, his intelligence was lacking. Viser and Seris were useful for the wild underworld, but they knew nothing about the daily lives and exact locations of the student council and Occult Research Club members. He couldn't make a mistake like this again.
Yet, amidst his analysis of failure, there was a glimmer of success. Spiritual Sense. The ability that got him into trouble was also the tool that saved him. Without it, he would never have known Koneko was there. He would have walked out the front door and straight into her. This ability, though low-level, was an invaluable reconnaissance and early warning tool.
A new plan began to form in his mind, born from failure. His aggressive hunting plan had to be paused for a while. He had attracted too much attention. Now was the time for a strategic retreat.
His focus would return one hundred percent to his "Hill-sensei" persona. He would no longer just use the school as an observation post. He would make it his main stage. He would become the best teacher they'd ever had. He would gain their trust, become a confidant, a mentor. He would make himself so indispensable in their normal lives that they would never suspect the monster lurking beneath.
He looked at the sleeping Chisato. He had gained the power he desired, but at the cost of his anonymity. The game had just become much harder, and the stakes much higher. He could no longer rely solely on strength. He had to be smarter. More patient.