"Again… no, their real target was Mio all along."
At first, Takumi was puzzled by Raynare's arrival. But the moment he saw her fix her gaze directly on Mio, everything became clear. From start to finish, Raynare and the other Fallen Angels had been hunting Mio. Issei Hyoudou was only caught up in the mess.
The question was—how did they know Mio had come to Kuoh? The fact they pursued even after Donaseek's death meant they were certain she was here.
"A traitor?"
Takumi's eyes flicked briefly toward the trembling Maria Naruse. Then he looked away, with no intention of digging deeper. Whether or not there was an inside informant didn't matter to him.
By his side, however, Mio's face burned with fury. "Fallen Angel or demon, I won't forgive you! I'll avenge my father and mother!"
The death of her foster parents was a thorn in her heart. Compared to the biological parents she never met, they were the most important family she had—and she would never forgive the enemies who killed them.
Crimson flames of aura surged around her body. In truth, those low-level cursed spirits earlier hadn't been beyond her ability; she had only been too panicked to act. Now, fully unleashing her power, her aura climbed to the level of an Intermediate Demon.
"Takumi, get back. This isn't a fight you can meddle in."
She shoved him behind her, exchanging a glance with Maria. Seeing the two lowly demons daring to resist made Raynare's smile curl in disdain.
"So Donaseek was killed by you two? Don't think I'm as easy to deal with as that fool!"
Among Mid-rank Fallen Angels, differences in power could be like heaven and earth—and she was one of the strongest.
"I don't care what you're saying. I'll kill you a hundred times over!"
With Maria's guidance, Mio had learned to wield magic. She raised her hand, condensing a ball of blazing crimson mana. With a sweep, the fireball shot upward, streaking toward Raynare.
Whoosh!
A blinding light spear rained down, piercing straight through the crimson orb and shattering it. As Mio stared in shock, Raynare sneered cruelly.
"Really now? You think parlor tricks like that can hurt me?"
With a casual wave, she called down torrents of light spears like a storm.
Swish, swish, swish!!
Faced with the onslaught, Mio and Maria grimly raised a barrier of magic. But under the dense barrage, they had no room to fight back.
"Mio-sama, we can't hold out like this! Can you buy me some time?"
"I'll try, Maria!"
Mio gritted her teeth, forcing her magic to flare. Scarlet flames enveloped the barrier, strengthening it. With the defense in place, Maria spread her demon wings and darted from the side. Unlike Mio, she wasn't skilled in offensive magic. Her strongest weapon, aside from her succubus dream-magic, was her own physical strength.
"Stupid Fallen Angel, get down here!"
Maria leapt, fist raised high to smash down.
But Raynare already had another spear of light at the ready. "Fool!" she spat, sweeping it sideways.
Even with a sidestep, Maria was struck hard, tumbling like a bird with broken wings.
Watching her fall, Raynare lifted her spear once more. "You're not my target, succubus, but anyone in my way dies!"
She hurled it, aimed straight for Maria's heart.
But before it struck, a crimson gauntlet-clad hand thrust forward, catching the blazing spear.
"Boosted!"
Maria clearly heard the resounding hum. The hand clenched, crushing the spear to shards.
In the stunned eyes of demon and Fallen Angel alike, Takumi finally stepped forward. "Tch… looks like you really underestimated me."
His power had doubled again and again, breaking through to the realm of a High-Rank Demon. His gaze turned sharp as he fixed on Raynare above.
Boom
The ground erupted as he launched skyward, closing the distance in a single breath.
"So fast!" Shock flickered in Raynare's eyes as she hastily summoned a radiant shield.
But as it formed, Takumi's fist crashed down.
"Collapse Fist: Penetration!"
Power condensed to a point, then burst outward. His fist tore through the shield, slamming into Raynare herself.
Her leather coat and undergarments ripped under the impact, her smooth pale abdomen bared. His punch sank into her stomach, leaving a deep imprint, shockwaves rippling through her entire body.
"Ghhk!"
She gasped in pain, plummeting like a meteor before smashing into the asphalt below.
Takumi landed right after, seizing her throat with one hand and dragging the half-conscious Raynare upright.
When he returned carrying her limp form, Mio and Maria were frozen in disbelief. The Fallen Angel who could have easily killed them… defeated by Takumi in a single move.
He tossed her aside like trash, calm eyes meeting theirs. "Go home."
The weight of his voice and the oppressive aura silenced them completely. Heads lowered, they picked up the shopping bags and quietly followed.
"Another demon… and that man. The Boosted Gear… this is interesting."
From a rooftop above, a tall, voluptuous red-haired woman observed, blue eyes gleaming as she watched it all unfold.
Not long after, Takumi led the group of four to his detached house.
Click.
He flipped on the lights and casually flung Raynare's unconscious body onto the living room floor before dropping onto the sofa.
Mio and Maria stood before him like chastised children, heads bowed. Maria peeked up nervously. "Y-you weren't actually affected by my memory magic… were you?"
"What do you think? That little trick of yours only works on ordinary people."
"…"
His blunt words silenced her instantly.
Mio's heart filled with questions, but before she could ask, Takumi cut her off.
"You want to know why I pretended not to notice, right? Easy. Two little sisters moving in with me, free of charge—why would I refuse that kind of life? Too bad I didn't even get to enjoy it before you ruined the mood by spelling it out."
He clicked his tongue, clearly irritated. The sweet taste of "normie life" had barely begun, only to be interrupted. His mood soured. Now, all that frustration would be taken out on Raynare—interest and compensation alike.
...
If we reach 100 Power Stones this week, I'll release a mass drop of 10 chapters as a thank-you for your amazing support!