Chapter 12: Have Ghouls and Fallen Angels Cooperated?
After several hours had passed, Renga finished his daily training. After taking a bath with Esther, he went to bed and fell asleep.
The next morning.
Renga woke up to Esther's morning kiss.
"You're getting more skilled at this, Esther."
Renga picked her up, a faint smile on his face.
At first, Esther had been completely clueless, like a blank slate.
But later, she somehow learned these things and would do them every morning.
"As long as Renga likes it."
Though her face showed no expression, Esther was very happy inside.
"Then I'd like it even more if you took off your stockings."
Renga teased.
Immediately, he saw Esther's expressionless face shift from emotionless to shy.
Curling up her legs and arms, her cheeks flushed as she whispered, "So perverted... The stockings... can't be taken off."
"Hahaha..."
"..."
After that, it was the usual routine of going to school.
Today, Rias didn't seek him out, but Koneko chatted with him a bit.
After returning yesterday, she couldn't wait to watch the 2077 spin-off anime and had already finished half of it.
"The later parts are even better. I think you'll like them."
Renga smiled slightly.
Just thinking about what expression Koneko would make when she saw the final episode made him want to laugh.
But... he had to hold it in.
Later, Renga occasionally glanced at Eriri, and the half-European girl would turn her head away as if sulking.
Renga could easily guess it was because of what happened at noon yesterday.
But he didn't pay it much mind.
Eriri's temperament was such that she'd get over it on her own in a few days.
Another day passed.
After having dinner with Esther, Renga prepared to go out to buy groceries for the next few days.
So after leaving home, he rode a motorcycle and sped off into the distance.
Buying groceries didn't take long, but on the way back, Renga suddenly sensed something and took a different route.
Meanwhile.
In the rainy night city, at a café somewhere in the suburbs, an unusual gathering was taking place.
The antique café, which should have been open until late at night, had a "Closed" sign hanging on it.
But faint light seeped through the curtained glass windows.
Inside the café, two groups of people stood facing each other in the open space.
The once tidy café now had chairs, tables, and supplies scattered across the floor, creating a chaotic scene.
The atmosphere was tense as a drawn sword.
A tall blond man extended scale-like ukaku from his back, while another figure beside him was fully cloaked in a black robe, wearing a white mask with a snarling grin. Two more figures in blue robes with X-patterned masks stood nearby.
Facing them were several individuals wearing café uniforms.
"I've already said this isn't a request but a demand. You must join our organization," sneered the blond man nicknamed Gecko.
"Impossible! Don't even think about it!" Touka Kirishima watched the group warily.
After school, she had come to work at the café as usual.
This place, called Anteiku, was actually a gathering spot for ghouls who could consume normal human food.
They stayed away from conflicts, simply wanting to live ordinary lives in this world.
But this peace didn't last long. Tonight, Touka encountered ghouls who still fed on human flesh.
Originally, they had maintained a policy of non-interference.
Unexpectedly, this situation had erupted.
The moment these people entered, they bluntly demanded they join their organization.
"We're not like you. Get out of here before this escalates!" Touka showed no kindness toward those who disrupted their peaceful lives.
"That won't do. Like I said, you have no room for negotiation. Agree quickly if you want to live."
As he spoke, Gecko used his kagune to sweep the clutter off the counter.
"Bastard!"
Touka and two others gritted their teeth.
One heavyset man roared angrily, his kagune tearing through his back clothing as he launched a fierce attack.
His momentum was incredibly swift, not inferior to Gecko's, and judging by the shape and color of his kagune, he might even be stronger.
However, just then, the two black-robed figures behind Gecko suddenly threw open their cloaks, revealing sword-like objects resembling lightsabers.
Seeing this, the heavyset man's expression changed dramatically. In that moment of hesitation, Gecko struck him away with his ukaku.
Even so, Touka and the others showed expressions of utter disbelief upon seeing what their opponents held.
"Those things..."
"Haven't seen them before? This is power granted to us by the Fallen Angels."
"You're actually cooperating with the Fallen Angels?"
Hearing this, the shock on Touka and the others' faces far exceeded their previous astonishment.