Among the group stood Sona Shitori and Tsubaki Shinra from the Student Council. Opposite them were Rias Gremory, Koneko-chan, and other members of the Occult Research Club. Everyone's gaze turned toward the church, where a massive hole yawned at the entrance of the towering building. The interior was shrouded in darkness, and a sharp stench of blood drifted outward."Let's go and take a look," Rias and Sona said simultaneously after exchanging a glance.
Their footsteps echoed as they drew closer.
Still, no sound came from within.
If there had been a fight, where was the noise of battle?
Behind their silence, each person harbored a chilling thought—
This was the stronghold of fallen angels.
Had they all been wiped out?
The signs of battle were unmistakable.
Akeno had once mentioned that several mid-class-level fallen angels resided here.
Which meant their leader had to be at least high-class devil level.
Rias would never have ventured here alone.
That's why she had requested Sona's help.
Quickening her pace, Rias stepped inside the church.
"Hiss!"
She sucked in a sharp breath.
The floor was awash with blood and strewn with severed limbs.
"Who got here before us?" she murmured, forcing herself to stay calm.
Sona and the others soon followed.
They stood frozen, stunned by the carnage.
Sona strode over to Rias.
"Let's check further in," she said softly, eyeing a side door.
Inside, the destruction continued.
It was no different from what they'd just seen.
"...Dohnaseek," Sona muttered.
The once-proud fallen angel's head lay twisted and crushed, as though it had been kicked like a ball.
Despite the damage, Sona recognized him.
He'd once been praised by Azazel himself and granted an artificial Sacred Gear,
It was why his face remained in her memory.
"It seems we won't need to take action after all," Rias said, hand to her chin, eyes narrowing.
"I don't know who in Kuoh Town could have this power."
"I just hope they're not an enemy," Sona replied, scanning the wreckage.
Tsubaki's measured steps approached from behind.
"President, I've examined the area. All signs point to a single individual, likely capable of large-scale magic."
"Large-scale magic?" Sona echoed, frowning.
Yet many of the bodies showed evidence of close-quarters combat.
There were no traces of magic explosions or spells.
"That's odd," she said. "You're saying one person used powerful magic and fought this well in melee?"
She turned to Rias for her thoughts.
"No," Rias said flatly.
A person who excelled in magic usually sacrificed physical prowess.
Likewise, melee experts lacked the versatility and range of a magician.
"It must have been two people," Tsubaki concluded, adjusting her glasses.
"There's no way to confirm without a witness. Tsubaki, please handle cleanup. This kind of scene has no place in the human world."
Once she'd given the order, Sona turned back to Rias.
"As for Xi Ye, the person you asked me to investigate, I looked into him. According to his landlord, he spends most of his time working or playing games. Nothing unusual."
She paused before adding, "But the records only go back one year. There's no trace of him before that. Still, I don't think you need to worry."
"There's no way someone would pretend to get close to Koneko for a year just to plot something. You're probably overthinking it. He might just be an ordinary guy."
"I see."
Sona's words ran counter to Rias's gut feeling.
"An ordinary person..."
Yet the unease in Rias's chest remained. Was it just paranoia?
"Thank you," she said quietly, nodding in appreciation.
"Well, let's see how the cleanup's going."
Sona gave her a polite excuse to leave, allowing Rias a moment of privacy.
Now alone, Rias quickly composed herself.
With a flick of her wrist, magical energy gathered in her palm.
She began tidying the scene with practiced efficiency.
"The threat of Raynare is over," Sona had said before leaving. "All that's left is to slowly uncover whoever did this."
"That's all we can do," Rias had agreed.
Everyone soon dispersed.
Koneko walked home alone.
Her expression was clouded with concern.
It wasn't too late, she checked the time on her phone.
Maybe Xi Ye was still awake.
She typed a message.
"Xi Ye~ I'm in a bad mood."
At that moment, Xi Ye was still celebrating his earlier victory.
He glanced at his phone and quickly replied.
"Koneko-chan, what's wrong?"
He was confused.
The fallen angels they'd planned to confront were already taken care of. Why was she still upset?
"Besides Akeno-senpai, I have a real sister."
Out of habit, Xi Ye typed back:
"Then you can introduce me to her!"
But he instantly regretted it.
Wasn't her sister Kuroka?
That dangerous nekomata was as wild as she was deadly, arguably more unpredictable than Akeno.
A stray devil with a thorny attitude and a dark past.
"She's... formidable."
Koneko had brought her up because the bloodshed at the church reminded her of the day Kuroka lost control.
The day she killed their original master.
"Yeah, I'd like to meet her then."
Xi Ye grinned, knowing that Koneko would never make that introduction.
He was just teasing.
"Anyway… I just can't see you right now."
Suddenly, a wave of anxiety washed over Koneko.
What if her connection to Xi Ye put him in danger?
What if Kuroka ever found out about him?
Would she try to harm him?