Chapter 9 - Rias's Sincerity
Evan forcibly harnessed the power of light, resolving the repulsion between demonic power and light power.
Ki played a crucial role.
As the life energy permeating all beings, ki soothed the clash between the opposing forces, acting as a universal mediator.
Now, Evan could wield demonic power in his left hand and light power in his right.
He recalled Kiba Yuuto case, who fused holy and demonic forces together.
Evan aimed to achieve this fusion faster.
Fusion, across any worldview, promised immense power.
Evan drew out his demonic power, wrapping his left hand like silk threads.
The power of light in his right hand glowed pure gold.
He brought the forces together.
Boom!
They exploded on contact.
Though harmonized within his body via ki, the energies clashed externally, their natures incompatible.
Evan wasn't fazed.
If fusion were simple, others would've succeeded.
Even with the system, mastery required time.
'Even the sharpest minds need practice to perfect a skill.'
With night deepening, Evan bathed and went to bed.
The next day, Evan attended Kuoh Academy as usual.
The class didn't knew about last night's café incident.
In this composite world, mythological forces controlled events behind the scenes.
Ghouls were managed by secret government units like CCG investigators.
Major incidents were covered up as gas explosions or resolved via large-scale memory manipulation.
Evan glanced at Kirishima Touka's seat.
A model student with good grades, she wore glasses and sat upfront, chatting with friends.
Unlike Tokyo Ghoul's Touka, who gagged on human food, she ate cafeteria meals normally, a trait of this world's ghouls.
Evan puzzled over their biology.
Ghouls craved human RC cells, but why reject ordinary food's flavors and nutrients?
The composite world's ghouls, like Anteiku's, adapted differently.
Catching Evan's gaze, Touka paled, recalling last night's terror.
She clammed up, unnerving her friends.
"Touka, you okay?" a classmate asked.
"Why'd you go quiet? Feeling sick?"
"No… I'm fine," Touka stammered, unsettled by Evan's stare.
His quick glance away brought relief, but the psychological scar lingered.
"Touka, you were looking at Evan, weren't you?" her friend teased.
"Got a crush?"
"What? No way!" Touka protested, flustered.
Hiding from Evan was hard enough; the idea of liking him was absurd.
His presence behind her made her squirm.
"No need to deny it," her friend giggled.
"It's normal to like him—I do too. We're rivals now!"
"?!"
Meanwhile, the Aogiri Tree, a ghoul faction allied with fallen angels, reeled from last night's failure.
They'd expected their fallen angel-backed ghouls, armed with spears of light, to dominate Anteiku.
Yet, their operatives vanished, and the café operated as usual.
"What happened?" a white-haired man, Tatara, asked, his mask covering half his face.
"Even if Yoshimura Kuzen acted, our spears of light outmatch kagune."
"Could we have crossed the devils?" another ghoul speculated.
"Possible, but troublesome," Tatara said.
Recruiting Anteiku was a covert operation for a potential war.
Exposure would enrage their fallen angel patrons, who'd eliminate Aogiri first.
"Let's not panic," Tatara said, lowering his voice.
"If devils were involved, their tracking spells would've found us by now."
"For now, abandon this base and await the fallen angels' orders."
***
During lunch break, Rias's personal invitation to Evan sparked campus buzz.
As he left with her, hearts broke.
Eriri Sawamura, gripping her pen until her knuckles whitened, watched her childhood friend follow the school beauty without hesitation.
'Why?' she thought.
She'd known Evan first—chatting, outings, all before Rias.
Yet, here she was, left behind.
At the Occult Research Club, Evan guessed Rias's intent.
"My familiar investigated the café," Rias said, her expression serious.
"But I'd like your perspective, Evan."
"Here's tea," Akeno offered.
"Thanks," Evan said, accepting it.
"If you want my take, I don't know much."
"You're more familiar with their backgrounds."
"Fair enough," Rias said. "Then I'll be direct. Fallen angels are operating covertly in Kuoh Town, colluding with ghouls."
"I suspect something dire is brewing."
In DxD, Raynare targeted Issei Hyoudou's Sacred Gear.
She later abducted Asia Argento to steal her Sacred Gear, Twilight Healing.
Evan found their plan baffling.
Raynare could've chosen anywhere, yet picked devil territory, underestimating Rias, a high-class devil.
The world's logic seemed to hinge on such oversights.
"So?" Evan prompted.
"If trouble arises, I need your help," Rias said earnestly.
"I've already agreed to assist," Evan replied.
"No need to repeat it."
"This is different," Rias insisted.
"Fallen angels and devils are hostile."
"This is a racial conflict, and you're the only one I can ask."
Her sincerity surprised Evan.
For a minor skirmish, Rias's gravity seemed old-fashioned.
"Alright," he said.
Rias smiled.
"I'll compensate you separately."