On the other side, at Kuoh Academy—
Rias was rushing toward the student council room.
Just moments ago, outside Kuoh Academy, a surge of pure-blood devil power had erupted.
After double-confirmation with her Queen, Akeno Himejima, they had already determined the nature and origin of this magic.
Now, she was going to inform another pure-blood devil who managed Kuoh Town alongside her.
"Bang!"
Without hesitation, she pushed open the redwood doors and strode toward Sona's desk.
"Sona, did you feel it? That aura that came from outside Kuoh Academy!" Rias said as she walked.
"Yes, Rias, I felt it too. Before you arrived, I had already gathered that student's information."
Sitting in the student council president's chair was a composed, glasses-wearing beauty. She calmly adjusted her glasses.
"Eh?"
Rias was momentarily stunned. As expected of Sona—always more thorough than her.
"You already investigated him? Well, what did you find? Anything unusual about that student?" Rias pressed.
Right in front of Rias, Sona began to read the data she had pulled from the council's archives.
"His name is Sai Akuto. Like us, he attends Kuoh Academy. His grades are excellent—nearly equal to the records I left in the lower years."
"As for his background, the data says his parents died early. Quite clean, actually. There's no way he could be tied to the Old Leviathan faction."
"In other words, he's most likely a half-devil who suddenly manifested a bloodline regression. Perhaps one of his ancestors had ties to the Leviathan line."
The records lay plain, and Sona could only make reasonable predictions from them.
"I see… so his bloodline awakening is just coincidence, not some scheme of the Old Maou faction." Rias finally let out a sigh of relief.
It was only natural that she and Sona were tense.
After all, both of them were the sisters of the current Maou, natural enemies of the ousted Old Maou.
Now things were clearer. Sai Akuto wasn't some spy from the Old Maou faction—just a half-devil who happened to awaken the Leviathan bloodline.
The one most relieved by this conclusion was Sona.
Because it was her sister who had seized the Leviathan throne from the previous Leviathan Maou!
If the Old Leviathan faction had any conspiracy, it would almost certainly target her!
Yet Sona's relief lasted only a few hours.
Hours later, reading the reply sent from the Underworld, she froze.
[Tomorrow, the Underworld High Council will conduct a bloodline test on Sai Akuto. The two pure-blood devils stationed in Kuoh Town are to bring him to the student council room at the appointed time.]
[After the test, if it is confirmed he possesses Leviathan blood and its purity exceeds 50%, the Underworld will arrange his marriage to the current Leviathan's sister—Sona Sitri.]
Alongside the message was a blank marriage contract. Sona's entire body went stiff.
Sona: WTF!?
She had only just gotten rid of her last fiancé, and now the Underworld was sending her another!?
And the worst part—this new fiancé was someone she herself had reported!
"No way… I have to find a solution."
Sona pressed her hands against the desk, her pale thighs crossing as she fell into deep thought.
Meanwhile—
Sai Akuto had also sensed he was being watched.
"Tch, I really lost control there. Got a bit too excited and let the Leviathan bloodline leak out."
Normally, awakening a bloodline wouldn't cause such an obvious fluctuation.
In fact, Yuma Amano hadn't been entirely wrong. When he kissed her, he hadn't exactly lost control, but he was rather excited.
"If I'm not mistaken, those eyes on me belong to the servants of Rias and Sona."
As he walked, he could still feel the hidden stares.
Only after moving a full kilometer away from the school did those gazes fade completely.
"Looks like Rias and Sona have already finished their initial probing."
"And of course they'd be suspicious—hell, even I think I'm suspicious."
"They'll almost certainly report me, and the current Four Maou will make something out of this Leviathan bloodline business."
"Either way, I'll have answers tomorrow."
"Hm?"
His thoughts were cut short by a sharp, scorching gaze.
Looking up—
Under the streetlight stood a strange man with white hair, wearing priest's garb, grinning wickedly.
His smirk carried a delinquent air, making one feel like punching him in the face.
"Hello, my name is Freed. I'm a priest conducting some… pleasant hunts in Kuoh Town."
Though he spoke politely, his face twisted into a feral grin.
As Freed introduced himself, a familiar chime rang in Akuto's head.
[Ding!]
[Congratulations, Host, you have triggered a plot mission—First Blood.]
[Mission Rank: Green]
[Mission Description: The white-haired priest is a man of "professional ethics." Upon sensing irregularities in his superior, he has decisively chosen to act. Unfortunately, no matter how shrewd a cannon fodder may be, he remains cannon fodder.]
[Mission Requirement: Kill the white-haired priest, Freed.]
"So this is just you hoping to impress your superiors, huh? Freed, you're a bit too free-spirited." Akuto frowned, quietly channeling his newly awakened Leviathan magic.
"No, no, no, young man, don't misunderstand—I'm not the type who likes sucking up to superiors." Freed waved his hand quickly.
"The reason I'll attack you isn't just because you're suspicious… it's also because I want to see if that arrogant fallen angel Raynare shows sorrow when you die."
Freed had been sharp enough to notice Raynare's unusual behavior.
She was even planning a second date with Sai Akuto—utterly out of character.
"The thought of a haughty fallen angel wavering for a man—it's just too delightful! Ahahahaha!!!"
"Bang!"
Halfway through his laugh, Freed suddenly drew his light gun and fired from the hip!
But—Akuto was already prepared.
[Boost!]
The Red Dragon Emperor's gauntlet instantly manifested!
The holy bullet struck the crimson-gold armor, dispersing harmlessly into light particles.
"Pretending to laugh while preparing a sneak attack? Freed, that's pretty low of you." Akuto said coldly.
From the very moment he saw Freed, he had been on guard. There was no way he would be caught off-guard so easily.
"Oho? So you've got some battle sense."
"All the better! A hunt without prey struggling just isn't fun!"
Freed licked his lips with a wild grin, raising both his exorcist's light gun and light sword, and lunged ferociously at Sai Akuto!
(End of Chapter)
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