On the western side of the resort's undeveloped area, Sakurajima Mai and Toujou Koneko were investigating together.
The area was a typical village, with most buildings being one to three stories high.
Due to the residents having moved out long ago, weeds grew rampant on both sides of the road.
Some walls had also been eroded by wind and rain, becoming dilapidated;
The courtyards enclosed by steel fences were the same, permeated with a smell of rust and damp grass.
From time to time, rustling sounds came from the corners.
The moment the two young women looked over, birds and wild cats darted out from the corners, eventually disappearing from their sight.
Sakurajima Mai, observing her surroundings carefully, glanced at the petite young woman beside her out of the corner of her eye.
Toujou Koneko… is a Devil.
So, what kind of power does she possess?
Sakurajima Mai was a little curious, but still asked another question.
"Toujou-san, what exactly are the Stray Devils mentioned in the chat group before? Are they traitors to the Devil world?"
"If I were to explain it briefly, yes, they can be seen as traitors."
Toujou Koneko nodded.
But she quickly provided a more detailed explanation.
Stray Devils—servants of titled Devils who betray or kill their masters, thus becoming masterless Devils.
Such incidents are rare but have always existed.
Once they are discovered, their former masters, or other Devils, must execute them.
This is the rule of the Devils, to ensure the stability of the Devil world.
Moreover, it's not just them; other factions also view Stray Devils as dangerous elements, so whether it's Angels or Fallen Angels, they will kill them upon discovery.
"Some Devils choose to betray, some pursue power, and thus engage in extreme actions, such as using humans as sacrifices."
"That's indeed quite dangerous. But before I met Bai Li-kun, I didn't know any of this. I only encountered wandering evil spirits on the streets."
"How did you meet Bai Li-kun?"
"You could call it an accident… At the time, I was in trouble, gradually being forgotten by others, as if I didn't exist."
Didn't exist?
Toujou Koneko didn't quite understand that statement.
"Anyway, I just happened to run into Bai Li-kun, and he also changed my life, granting me a very special power."
"Granting power… that sounds a lot like Lady Rias. After being transformed into a Devil by her, one's power increases."
"The Evil Pieces Lady Rias mentioned earlier?"
"Exactly."
After Toujou Koneko finished speaking, she suddenly looked to her right.
Sakurajima Mai noticed this and also looked in that direction.
There was only one house there.
It looked very dilapidated.
The walls had collapsed, and the front door was destroyed.
Presumably, after the original residents moved out, this area became a frequent target for thieves.
"Toujou-san…?"
"There's a presence there."
"Is there?"
Is this a Devil's keen senses?
Sakurajima Mai, in any case, felt no abnormality.
"Be careful."
"Alright, I can use my ability at any time. Let's go investigate over there now. I trust Toujou Koneko's senses."
Hearing Sakurajima Mai say this, Toujou Koneko immediately walked over.
The girls stepped over the collapsed courtyard wall and arrived at the entrance.
A breeze blew at that moment, carrying with it a foul, nose-wrinkling stench.
Sakurajima Mai didn't know what the smell was, only that it was disgusting.
Toujou Koneko, who was leading the way, looked serious and began searching for the source of the scent.
"Speaking of which… since these Stray Devils have already been discovered, why don't they run away? Aren't they worried about powerful devils, like Miss Rias, coming after them?"
"They usually run away, but the client said they're still here, which means there's something they're unwilling to abandon."
"That makes sense. There must be a conspiracy."
After Sakurajima Mai finished speaking, she fell silent.
The girls searched the house but found nothing.
The former bedrooms and busy kitchen were now overgrown with weeds.
Just as Sakurajima Mai was about to suggest leaving, she suddenly noticed something to her left.
There was a fallen cabinet there, with marks of friction on its surface.
It could have been an animal, or the wind and rain.
But the mark looked exactly like a human hand.
"Toujou Koneko…"
Sakurajima Mai, lowering her voice, pointed at the cabinet, prompting Koneko to investigate with her.
Koneko looked over and also noticed the strange peculiarity.
It had most likely been moved frequently.
This was also why there were no weeds nearby.
Given that, only one possibility remained.
There was something underneath.
"A basement, perhaps?"
Sakurajima Mai thought of this.
"Yes…"
Toujou Koneko nodded.
"Let's contact Akeno and the others."
After confirming the true source of the scent, Toujou Koneko decided to team up with the other group.
— — — —
— — — —
Meanwhile, Himejima Akeno and Asia were investigating the east side of the undeveloped area.
According to the client's description, Stray Devils were lurking somewhere.
If they weren't eliminated, the development here would remain stalled.
Himejima Akeno narrowed her eyes, trying to sense any abnormalities.
However, she had found nothing so far.
"Miss Himejima, are you very good at fighting?"
Asia asked softly at this moment.
"Fighting… I think I'm quite good, actually. Why do you ask?"
"Because I'm not good at it. If I'm with Mai-elder sister, I can basically only provide healing support."
"That's your strength too, and you said that you can heal anyone, whether human, angel, or devil. That's a very special power; if you weren't Bai Li-kun's person, Rias and I would both want to invite you to our group/flirt with you and cause a stir."
"I'm not that amazing, it's all thanks to Mr. Bai Li…"
Asia quickly denied it.
She was able to live until now and experience things she had never experienced, all because Bai Li was by her side.
"Meeting Mr. Bai Li is the luckiest thing that ever happened to me…"
"Oh my, do you like him that much?"
"Yes, yes!"
Asia did not prevaricate at this moment, giving an affirmative answer.
Himejima Akeno was about to expand on this topic when she was interrupted by a message from the chat group.
Just now, the team of Toujou Koneko X Sakurajima Mai had discovered the hiding place of the Stray Devils!