[Ikki POV]
The morning after we defeated the stray devil, I was out for my usual run and stretching routine in the park near my house when I felt two familiar presences approaching.
"Issei, next we'll do stretches and push-ups here in the park. Once we're done, we'll run back to your house."
"Y-Yes, ma'am!"
I knew it, it was those two. So this is the park they've been using for morning training, huh?
"Huh!? Ikki! You've been training too!?"
"Oh, good morning, Ikki. You're up early, are you training as well?"
The two of them noticed me and called out.
"Yes, I used to do all my training after school, but since I joined the Occult Research Club, I've switched to mornings. Can't exactly work out in the clubroom, after all."
I had been doing light stuff in the mornings, mostly stretching and meditation, but I couldn't afford to hold back anymore.
After I explained, Rias-senpai gave me a surprising offer.
"I see. Well then, since we're all here, how about we train together?"
"Yes, please!"
Training with people you're comfortable with is always more fun than doing it alone.
====================
Some time later…
"...Ikki, are you sure you're human? How the hell do you have more stamina than me, and I'm a devil now!"
Issei looked at me like I was some kind of alien.
I mean, devils are supposed to have massively improved physical abilities, so I guess it's a shock when they get outclassed.
"Well, I've been exercising since before I even started elementary school. Devil or not, I'm not about to lose to someone who's only been working out seriously for a few minutes."
Even if devils have better base stats, it'd be soul-crushing to get overtaken that easily! I've been training for over a decade!
"Whoa, seriously!? That explains why you were hard to hang out with after school, it was because of your training, huh…"
"...Yeah, sorry I blew you off all the time."
"No, no! I wasn't blaming you!"
"Issei! We can't let this stand! Looks like we'll have to push the schedule and go even harder!"
Whoa! Rias-senpai is fired up!
"P-Please have mercy..."
And so, Issei drooped his shoulders in defeat. Well... hang in there, buddy.
====================
[Issei's POV]
Ughhh… these past few days of morning training have been brutal! What's with this whole "sprint-jog combo"? Apparently it's called HIIT, High-Intensity Interval Training or something, and the moment Rias-senpai heard about Ikki's routine, she decided we were doing that too. Now we run to and from the park using that method. I'm dying here! I completely underestimated how intense it is!
And Ikki's been doing twenty kilometers of that every day, plus other exercises?! There's no way he's human. I mean, I'm not either anymore, technically…
As for Asia, we're close to confirming that the fallen angels were acting independently. Once that's certain, we'll be allowed to take them down without issue, since they're causing trouble in Kuoh Town, which is under Rias-senpai's jurisdiction. Asia… when the time comes, I will save you!
On the devil job front? Still no progress. I haven't even managed a single contract yet. Yesterday, all I did was watch an anime called Milky with someone who called himself "Mil-tan" and claimed to be some kind of apocalyptic warlord...
And tonight, though Ikki the human has already gone home, it looks like Koneko-chan accidentally double-booked herself again, and I got assigned one of her requests. This time for sure, I'm gonna meet Rias-senpai's expectations!
====================
The scheduled time arrived, and I teleported via magic circle… but oddly enough, I ended up right in front of a house. For a second I thought I botched the teleport, but checking the nameplate confirmed it was the client's place. A little strange, but no big deal. I pressed the doorbell.
"Hellooo~! I'm a devil from the Gremory household here for your request~!"
No answer… I waited, but nothing. As I reached for the door,
Click
"Whoa, it's unlocked! That's not safe…"
Couldn't just leave now, so I called out a quick "Pardon the intrusion~" and stepped inside.
All the rooms seemed dark, except for one at the end of the hallway, where candlelight flickered faintly.
"Setting the mood, huh…"
I chuckled awkwardly and stepped into the room, calling out again, "Hello~! Devil from House Gremory, at your service, "
Then my foot landed in something slimy.
"Wha—what the hell?!"
Even in the dark, my devil-enhanced vision let me see clearly: a large puddle of red liquid spreading across the floor.
Following it back to the source, I saw a man nailed to the wall in the shape of a cross, his body slashed open, torn to shreds.
And carved into his back… was a message written in deep, bloody cuts.
"Urk!"
The sheer brutality of it hit me like a gut punch. I nearly lost it. If I'd eaten dinner before this, I definitely would've hurled…
"Wh-What the hell is this!?"
As I stood frozen, a cheerful voice called out from behind me.
"I borrowed a line from a holy lady, 'Naughty kids get punished!'"
A white-haired man stood up from the sofa and turned toward me with an infuriatingly smug expression.
"Well, well, if it isn't a little devil boy. I'm Freed Sellzen, a humble foot soldier from an exorcist organization~!"
An exorcist!? Now that I looked closely, yeah, he was wearing a priest's outfit… but still,
"You did this?! Not even devils do something this sick!"
I shouted, but this "Freed" guy didn't even flinch.
"Eh, he was summoning devils on the regular. Total sinner. So I killed him. Problem solved!"
Nope. No way. I hate this guy. Everything about him screams irredeemable.
"And since you're a devil too, I'm gonna stick this awesome sword through your heart and blow your brains out with this sexy gun! Let's do this, Killer Shot: Headshot of Looove~!"
Crap! This guy was pulling out weapons and spouting complete nonsense. Every alarm in my head was going off.
"Boosted Gear! Boosted Gauntlet, activate!"
[Boost!!]
"Oho!? Gonna resist, are ya? I love when they fight back!"
He lunged with his sword, screaming like a maniac. I barely dodged.
"Bang bang~!"
But he predicted my movement, and his bullet slammed into my leg!
"Gah! What the hell!? It's burning!"
A searing pain spread outward, getting worse by the second.
"Handcrafted exorcist ammo! My burning passion, did you feel it~?"
Even his gun was made of light!? Rias-senpai told me that light is poison to devils… but this is insane!
[Boost!!]
…Wait. My leg still hurts, but the burning's not as bad.
'Of course. Light is poison to devils, but the stronger a devil's power, the greater their resistance. Still, the wound won't heal, your best bet is to run, or stall for time so I can build more power.'
Ddraig's voice echoed in my mind from within the gauntlet.
Got it. But looking at this lunatic, there's no way he'll let me just walk away.
"Then I've got no choice but to fight!"
[Boost!!]
Okay, pain's less intense now, if I keep boosting, I might,
"Aaaaaaahhhhhh!!"
"Huh!?"
"What the, !?"
A scream rang out, and both Freed and I turned toward the source.
There, standing in horror, staring at the mutilated body… was Asia.
What the hell is she doing here!?
"Oho~? Assistant Asia-chan. Done setting up the barrier?"
Assistant!? Asia's working with them!? No way! But why!?
"F-Father Freed… what is this…?"
"Oh dear, is this your first time seeing a corpse like this? We punish those who consort with devils. It's our sacred duty~!"
"S-Such a thing…!"
Tears welled up in her eyes as she choked out the words, then her gaze shifted to me.
"I-Issei-san…?"
"…Asia…"
She looked at me like I was something unimaginable.
I never wanted our reunion to be like this...
=============
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