Kaito leapt from the hilltop shrine, landing softly on the path below without a sound. The spiritual energy he had just absorbed still pulsed warmly within his newly formed dantian, a sensation of power his new body had never before experienced. Yet, beneath that pleasant feeling, his muscles screamed in protest. A full day of body refinement training combined with the intense concentration required to form his dantian overnight had pushed this mortal vessel nearly to its limit.
He walked towards his apartment, unhurried. The morning sun began to warm the air, and the city of Kuoh slowly stirred awake. His mind, however, was still busy processing his encounter with Akeno.
She's quite interesting, Kaito thought, recalling the black-haired girl. Her energy mixture is unique—devil, but there's something else. After observing her carefully with his spirit sense, Kaito discovered that Akeno wasn't a pure devil. There was dormant human spiritual energy within her body, as well as energy similar to Raynare's. Furthermore, he found the same chess piece he had seen in the strange creature he had defeated.
'Akeno doesn't seem to be corrupted by the chess piece. Is there a difference from the one I found yesterday?'
'Her spiritual energy is also quite strong for her age. Unfortunately, she seems to be holding herself back.'
And she was smart enough not to attack him outright. A small smile touched his lips. He appreciated the careful move of the girl. Most cultivators are very aggressive towards another unknown cultivator.
Upon arriving at his apartment, he didn't go straight in. Instead, he observed his surroundings with his slightly recovered spirit sense. Everything seemed normal. His barriers were still intact, with no new traps or surveillance. There was only one being with fallen angel energy inside—an energy signature he now knew very well.
He opened the door.
"I'm home," he said casually, taking off his dirty athletic shoes.
A figure bowing near the entrance greeted him. Raynare, in her black-and-white maid uniform, bowed her head deeply. Her face was slightly flushed, but there was determination in her eyes.
"Okaerinasaimase, Haruka-sama," her voice was clear, though slightly stammering. "Welcome home."
Kaito nodded, walking past her. "You look good. Did you prepare something?"
Raynare stood up, her hands folded neatly in front of her apron. "Yes. Food is ready on the table, Haruka-sama. And... I was forced to report to Azazel-sama about what happened because news of you was mentioned by my subordinate yesterday." She chose her words very carefully.
"Oh?" Kaito raised an eyebrow, walking to the dining table where a plate of Japanese breakfast—steamed rice, miso soup, egg dish, and several side dishes such as pickles (tsukemono), nori (seaweed)—was prepared. "And what was his response?"
"He was... shocked, Haruka-sama," Raynare admitted, following Kaito at a respectful distance. "He asked many questions I couldn't answer. In the end, he just said... 'Just follow that person and report if anything important happens'. He seems very interested in you, Master. I apologize for your existence being exposed."
"I can imagine," Kaito murmured as he began to eat. It tasted... quite good. Far better than cup ramen. "He didn't try to order you to attack me or free you from my contract?"
Raynare shook her head, her eyes wide. "N-No! Not at all! The contract on my neck... Azazel-sama called it a 'unique, complex magic formation he'd never seen before'. He said any brute force attempt to remove it could... sever the connection between my soul and body." Her voice trembled on the last part.
Kaito nodded, swallowing a mouthful of eggs. "He's right. It's not just a contract; it's a seal that fuses karma with the core of your soul. Trying to remove it by force is like uprooting a tree by its roots," he said in a flat tone.
"So as long as you still haven't paid the karma for killing me, it will bind your soul to mine."
"Well, to be more precise, this original body has a life expectancy of fifty-eight years (or more). Because you killed it at eighteen, you must pay forty years of your life."
Raynare shivered. "I... understand, Haruka-sama."
"Good. Now, sit down. I don't like being watched while I eat. Come, join me."
"S-Sit?" Raynare looked hesitant.
"In the chair. Next to me. Here," Kaito said, pointing with his fork.
Obediently, Raynare sat in a slightly distanced chair, her back straight and her hands folded on her lap. She was like a puppet being controlled.
Kaito sighed. "You don't need to be that tense. The contract requires you to obey my orders and serve as a maid, not become a zombie. Relax a little. Eat if you want."
"T-No, I'm fine, Haruka-sama," she answered quickly.
"Your choice," Kaito said, continuing his meal. Silence fell for a few moments, filled only by the sound of cutlery.
After finishing, Kaito sighed contentedly. "Delicious. You truly have a talent for this. I like it."
A faint blush appeared on Raynare pale cheeks. "Thank you, Haruka-sama."
"Now, it's time to train," Kaito said, standing up. "You will observe. I need to test this body's limits so I can break through my cultivation, and having someone who can help me if I pass out—however unlikely—is a prudent step."
"I should be able to pass two stages of body refinement in my current condition."
Raynare nodded quickly. "As you command."
Kaito walked to the center of the somewhat cramped living room. He didn't need much space for his basic training. He stretched out his arms, and several formation circles appeared around him—increase gravity for weight, Rapid Regen for recovery, and a new formation that continuously pumped pure spiritual energy from his dantian into his muscles and meridians.
"Starting with Foundation Strengthening," he muttered to himself.
Crack!
Instantly, Kaito collapsed to the floor, his knees nearly buckling. His breath came in ragged gasps. His weight was now equivalent to five times his body weight. Sweat immediately soaked his clothes.
"Haruka-sama!" Raynare shouted, reflexively stepping forward.
"Don't... interfere!" Kaito hissed through gritted teeth. He forced himself to stand, his muscles trembling wildly. The pain was immense, as if every muscle fiber was being torn apart and immediately stitched back together by the regenerative energy. It was a relentless cycle of destruction and creation.
He began performing basic stances—slow punches, kicks, horse stances. Every movement felt like moving through the bottom of a deep lake. His breathing followed a specific rhythm, channeling spiritual energy throughout his body.
Raynare could only watch with a mixture of horror and awe. She could feel the tremendous energy swirling in the room—energy that imposed its own laws upon the man's body.
After ten minutes, Kaito yelled, "Qi Channel Opening!"
Thud! He fell to his knees again, letting out a grunt of pain. Blood began to trickle from his nose once more, a sign that his body was beginning to be overwhelmed by the combined soul and physical pressure.
"Haruka-sama, you're covered in blood! This is too dangerous!" Raynare protested, her voice filled with genuine panic. Her death was tied to this man's safety.
"It's... nothing!" he snapped. He forced himself back to his feet, continuing his stances. His vision began to blur, but the determination in his eyes burned fiercely. He had endured far greater pain in his previous cultivation tribulations. This was nothing.
He endured for another twenty terrible minutes before finally collapsing, his body shaking uncontrollably on the floor. The formations around him flickered and died.
Raynare immediately knelt beside him. "Haruka-sama!"
"Ha... ha... enough," he gasped. "Please... get a towel and water."
Quickly, Raynare fetched a towel and a glass of water. With trembling hands, Kaito drank and wiped the blood and sweat from his face.
"Progress... good," he chuckled weakly, lying on the floor. "This body... adapts faster than I thought."
Raynare could only look at him, not knowing what to say. The madness and discipline she had witnessed made her, a cruel fallen angel, feel genuine terror.
After a few minutes, Kaito sat up. "I will meditate to harmonize all my cultivation paths for now. You can rest, Raynare. Do what you normally do. Report to me if anything urgent comes up."
He then sat cross-legged, closed his eyes, and entered a meditative state. His breathing became deep and regular, the chaotic remnants of spiritual energy calming and circulating harmoniously within his meridians, healing the body that had just advanced a stage in body cultivation.
Raynare sat on the sofa, watching the man who now looked so peaceful, a stark contrast to the scene of self-torture he had performed minutes earlier. Her mind was in turmoil. Who exactly was Kaito Haruka? What was his goal? And most importantly, what would happen to her—to Grigori, to Kuoh—with his presence?
She pulled out her communicator, her fingers dancing over it. She wanted to report in more detail to Azazel, but fear of the seal on her neck stopped her. For the first time in her life, Raynare felt truly trapped, watched by someone whose power she couldn't comprehend.
And in the corner of her mind, a small question kept nagging: He praised my cooking. It was the first genuine compliment she had received... in who knows how long.
She shook her head, trying to dismiss the thought. She had to remain vigilant. She was a prisoner, not a real maid. That's what she had to remember.
But as she watched Kaito meditating, his face serene and softly glowing with spiritual energy, Raynare couldn't suppress her growing curiosity—and, though she wouldn't admit it, a small sense of awe—for the strange man who was now her master.
[At the same time, at Kuoh Academy - Occult Research Club]
The atmosphere in the luxurious clubroom was quiet. Rias Gremory sat behind her desk, staring at her computer screen. Her lips were pursed in frustration. She had made no progress in her search. She was now trying to console herself by watching anime.
The club door opened. "Ara, ara, Rias. I thought you were still seriously looking for clues about that strange energy," greeted Akeno Himejima in her characteristic sing-song voice. She had already changed into her school uniform.
Rias lifted her head, her face slightly sullen. "Akeno. No new developments. The energy signal just vanished and left no trace."
Akeno closed the door softly and walked over to Rias's desk. Her sweet smile didn't fade, but her eyes were sharper than usual. "About that, Rias... I might have some information about it."
Rias jolted upright. Her sharp green eyes stared at Akeno. "What? Why didn't you say so earlier? What did you find?"
Akeno played with her hair ribbon a little. "I met someone very... interesting, last night and this morning. At the shrine."
"At the shrine? You met someone?" Rias asked, confused. The shrine was Akeno's private place, not a spot for social gatherings.
"Yes. His name is Kaito Haruka," Akeno said, watching Rias's every reaction. "A young man. He was... 'training', as he called it, in the shrine's garden. The energy he emitted was very unique, Rias. At first I thought he was from the Heaven Faction because his energy looked like holy power, but it's actually different."
Rias listened intently, all her frustration forgotten. "Kaito Haruka? Never heard that name. Is he human? Or something else?"
"He calls himself a 'cultivator', a term I'm not familiar with," Akeno answered. "But certainly, he has the power to see me clearly even through the shrine's walls. He said he could see my 'spiritual form'." Akeno's face flushed slightly as she said it.
Rias chuckled. "So he's a peeping tom?"
"And why did you let him see you, do you have an exhibitionism hobby?"
"That's more your thing, isn't it? Ahem... that's not what I meant," Akeno replied quickly. "But it shows a very high level of perception. And, Rias..." Akeno dropped the bombshell. "He claims he was attacked and killed by a Fallen Angel two nights ago at the city border."
Bang! Rias stood up so fast that her butt pushed her chair over backwards.
"WHAT?!" she yelled. "a Fallen Angel? In my territory?"
"Wait, If he was killed, how is he still alive ?"
"Yes. He wouldn't explain how he came back to life, only saying that 'it's been handled'," Akeno continued, her voice low and serious. "He was incredibly calm when he said it, Rias. Like he was talking about the weather. And the energy I felt from him... it was at least stronger than your spiritual power."
Rias paced around the room. Her mind was racing. "Kaito Haruka... The energy explosion... A Fallen Angel... It's all connected. He must be the one, Akeno! He's probably the one who caused the energy explosion and the one who erased that Stray Devil!"
"Most likely, Rias," Akeno agreed. "But he didn't seem hostile towards us. In fact, he was quite polite. He asked for permission to train at the shrine again tonight."
Rias stopped pacing and looked at Akeno. "Did you give him permission?"
"Ara, of course." Akeno smiled sweetly. "I said I wanted to introduce him to someone."
"WHAT?!" Rias nearly choked.
"Calm down, Rias," Akeno tried to soothe her. "I haven't revealed our identities yet. I just said I wanted to introduce him to you because you've been searching since yesterday. He agreed to come later this afternoon."
Rias stared at Akeno in disbelief, then finally sat on the edge of the desk, heaving a long sigh. "Akeno... that's so risky. We know nothing about him!"
"Exactly, Rias," Akeno said, soft but persuasive. "He's already in our territory. He's already interacted with me. Rather than spying on him and provoking a reaction we don't want, it's better to confront him directly in a controlled manner. We can assess for ourselves who he is and what his intentions are."
Rias looked at Akeno for a long moment, then finally sighed again, this time more resignedly. "Alright. You're right. It is the logical step, actually. It's just..." She frowned. "... many turmoil happen in our territory lately"
"Ara, don't worry, Rias," Akeno said, her smile shining again. "I'll be there too. And we can have Kiba-kun prepared, just in case."
"Who knows, maybe he could even become a powerful ally."
Rias nodded slowly, her mind already formulating a strategy. "What time is he coming?"
"He said around 5 PM, after his physical training."
"5 PM," Rias repeated, her eyes shining with new determination. "Fine. We will welcome our mysterious guest, Kaito Haruka. Prepare everything, Akeno. And... don't tell the others yet, including Sona. I want to see him for myself before introducing him to anyone else."
"As you command, Rias" Akeno answered with a slight bow, a satisfied smile hidden on her lips. Her mission had borne fruit, she can finally rest after this meeting. Now, they only had to wait.