The afternoon sun hung low over Kuoh as Ethan wandered through the shopping district, several paper bags hanging from one arm. After spending the past week repairing the abandoned church, he had finally replaced the few clothes he had arrived in this world with. Modern prices still felt outrageous, but wearing the same outfit every day had started drawing more attention than he preferred.
He glanced into one of the bags.
"Four shirts, two pairs of jeans..." he muttered, checking the receipt. "And somehow I still need a blazer."
"Mr. Ethan?"
He turned to find Rias Gremory walking toward him. She wore a simple crimson dress instead of her usual school uniform, drawing curious glances from passing pedestrians.
"What a coincidence," Ethan said.
"I was actually looking for you," Rias replied with a faint smile. She reached into a small pouch and produced a silver bracelet engraved with intricate magical runes.
"Sona asked me to give you this."
Ethan accepted it and turned it over in his hands.
"It doesn't look impressive."
Rias smiled.
"It isn't meant to be."
She pointed toward the runes.
"It contains a concealment enchantment. It won't make you invisible or completely hide your powers, but it will suppress your presence whenever you're using your magic. Ordinary people should instinctively overlook anything unusual about you unless you do something... dramatic."
He immediately slipped the bracelet onto his wrist. A faint wave of magic spread across his body before quietly fading away.
"That's actually useful."
"I thought you might appreciate getting this quickly"
"I do."
Rias looked relieved.
"There's one more thing. At some point, I'd like to take you to the Familiar Forest."
Ethan looked at her curiously.
"What's there?"
"It's where devils form contracts with Familiars," Rias explained. "They're magical creatures that can deliver messages, gather information, and assist their owners in various ways. Since you'll probably be staying in Kuoh for a while, having one would be quite useful."
She smiled faintly.
"There's no hurry, though. We can go sometime next week if you're free."
"Works for me," Ethan replied with a shrug. ".
Having a extra magical pet is always greatl"
As they stood in comfortable silence for a few moments. Rias glanced at the sky before looking back at him.
"It's nearly dinner time. If you aren't busy... would you mind joining me?"
Ethan looked at the shopping bags in his hands and shrugged.
"I was going to eat anyway."
A small smile appeared on Rias's face.
"Then allow me to treat you."
The restaurant Rias chose was surprisingly modest and quiet. Soft music played in the background while the evening crowd slowly arrived. Compared to the extravagant places Ethan had imagined a noble devil might choose, this felt refreshingly ordinary.
"I expected you'd pick somewhere more expensive," he admitted after they sat down.
Rias smiled.
"I wanted somewhere quiet."
Once their meals arrived, the conversation remained light.
Rias explained more about how the bracelet would help reduce unnecessary attention and reminded him that it wasn't permission to transform in public.
He changed the subject.
"The church should be finished soon."
"Asia looked very happy when I visited."
"She's just happy whenever someone visits," Ethan replied.
Rias chuckled softly.
"It really is strange. I've never seen someone from a church welcome a devil so warmly."
"That's why she got kicked out," Ethan replied.
Their conversation drifted naturally from one topic to another. Neither noticed how quickly the evening passed.
When they finally paid the bill and stepped outside, the shopping district had become lively beneath the colorful evening lights.
As they walked, Rias slowed to a stop near a small arcade.
Her eyes settled on a decorative photo stand meant for couples.
She stared at it quietly, a thoughtful expression crossing her face.
This might be one of the last peaceful evenings she could enjoy before everything else caught up with her.
"Would you mind taking one picture?" she asked.
Ethan followed her gaze and shrugged.
"It's just a picture."
They stepped behind the board while a nearby passerby kindly agreed to take the photograph.
"Ready?" the stranger asked.
The camera flashed.
"Thank you," Rias said politely.
She carefully placed the photo inside her bag.
Ethan barely gave it another glance.
"Well... I'll see you next time."
"See you next time," Rias repeated with a small smile.
He waved casually, climbed onto his scooter, and disappeared into the evening traffic.
Rias remained standing there for a few moments, quietly looking at the photograph in her hands before slipping it back into her bag and making her way toward the Occult Research Club.
Neither of them noticed the young man dressed in black watching from across the street.
He lowered the binoculars in his hands, his expression darkening.
"So that's the reason..."
His gaze lingered on the direction Ethan had disappeared.
To him, the dinner, the walk, and the couple's photograph explained everything.
His expression hardened as he activated a communication.
"Gather the others."
A voice answered almost immediately.
"What's the situation?"
"There's someone who is getting to close to Lady Rias."
A brief silence followed.
"Understood."
The communication ended..
Moments later, several shadows quietly disappeared into the night.
The following morning, sunlight streamed through the stained-glass windows of the old church.
After nearly a week of hard work, the building finally looked like a proper place of worship again. Freshly polished wooden pews lined the hall, the cracked stone floor had been restored, and colorful rays of light filled the sanctuary.
Near the entrance, Ethan swept away the last traces of dust.
"...Finally."
He rested the broom against his shoulder and looked around with satisfaction.
"Now all I have to do is stop people from blowing holes in it."
From deeper inside the church, Asia's cheerful voice called out.
"Ethan, could you move those flowers a little closer to the altar?"
"Sure."
He picked up the vase and carried it forward.
Just then, the heavy wooden doors creaked open.
A woman in her late twenties stepped inside, wearing a modest white dress that did very little to hide her generous figure. She paused near the entrance, quietly taking in the restored church before her gaze settled on Ethan.
A gentle smile spread across her face.
"Good morning, Father."
Ethan's eyes instinctively drifted downward.
With a body like that... "Daddy" would've been a much better title.
Especially in bed.
He silently cleared his throat, keeping every one of those thoughts to himself.
"Morning."
Completely unaware of what had just gone through Ethan's mind, Asia walked over happily.
"Welcome!"
The woman smiled.
"I heard the church had reopened, so I wanted to come and pray."
"We're happy to have you," Asia said, guiding her toward one of the front pews before returning to arrange the flowers around the altar.
For the first time since arriving in Kuoh, the old church truly felt alive.
The woman clasped her hands together and lowered her head in quiet prayer.
A peaceful silence settled over the sanctuary.
It lasted less than a minute.
BOOM!
A deafening explosion tore through the roof.
Stone, timber, and shattered stained glass rained down.
"Ethan!" Asia cried out in shock.
Hellfire erupted instantly.
flames swallowed Ethan's body as flesh gave way to blazing bone.
A heavy chain shot upward like a living serpent, smashing apart the largest pieces of falling debris before they could strike Asia or the praying woman.
The remaining fragments bounced harmlessly across the floor.
Dust filled the air.
Standing protectively between the civilians and the ruined ceiling, the Ghost Rider slowly raised his burning skull.
Several figures dressed in black descended through the opening.
They offered no introductions.
The instant their feet touched the ground, they attacked.
One rushed forward with a blazing sword.
Another launched several crimson spheres of demonic power.
The Ghost Rider remained still for a heartbeat before a chain lashed out with terrifying speed.
CRACK!
The first attacker was sent crashing through the nearest wall.
Without even looking, Ethan caught the incoming blasts in one hand and crushed them beneath hellfire.
The resulting explosion shook the church once more.
As if that wasn't enough, another section of the damaged roof gave way.
Broken beams and chunks of stone crashed onto one of the newly repaired pews, reducing it to splinters.
Ethan's burning gaze slowly swept across the sanctuary before he let out a long, exasperated sigh.
"...Seriously?"
"This place was just repaired yesterday, and the first thing people do is blow a hole through the roof," he muttered.
"At this rate, I might have to start budgeting for a new roof every week."
Autho note : seconds Even if you don't want to support me through a donation, my Patreon still has plenty of content for free members. New stories and free chapters are added regularly, and there's already a large library of content to enjoy.
If you decide to become a member, you'll get access to 80+ chapters across multiple stories, including advanced chapters and free content. That's an estimate—I honestly haven't kept track of the exact total anymore—but with series like Taking the Battleship in Another World, Lingerie Shop, blessed one, New Evil, Ghost Rider, and others, there's already plenty to read. If you did decide to subscribe.
https://www.patreon.com/Silvervir?utm_campaign=creatorshare_creator