[300 PS = 1 Chapter Bonus]
(The bonus chapter from last week will be released tonight.)
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As Koneko sniffed the air, she frowned slightly. Her ears perked up, and she opened her eyes with an expression that was more serious than excited.
"You smell... different," she said.
"Different how?" I feigned casualness.
"It's too clean for a Kasha. I've never met another of your kind, but when I was very young, I heard that Kashas had more... distinctively putrid smells. Like something burnt, but alive. You don't have that."
"That's interesting. It's the first time anyone's mentioned that to me," I muttered, with a hand on my chin.
"Maybe it's because of myths like that my mother chose to isolate us from other Youkais."
Kiba raised a hand. "Sorry, but what's a Kasha?"
Koneko turned to Kiba and explained, "Kashas are supernatural creatures who look after the souls of those killed in battle. They're like reapers or..."
"Charon," I added.
Koneko blinked, finally turning away. "Charon... That makes sense. Anyway, it's good to have another Youkai around."
She gave me a tight smile and, to my surprise, didn't press the issue further. Instead, she sat back down and grabbed another chip.
[Ding! The Master got a "Global Conviction (Now everyone thinks you're a Kasha)" Reward: 5 fusion points!]
Rias looked pleased at Koneko. "Well, that's not really important now. What matters is that Sona trusts you, Nishihara-kun. And, honestly, if Sona trusts you, so do I. Let's get down to business. Everyone, gather around."
She opened a map of Kuoh City on the table in the center of the room.
"We've received word of another Devil Rebel hiding nearby. He's caused trouble in other cities and now he's here. We need to find and neutralize him before he causes more harm."
I leaned over the table, focusing on a red circle drawn around one of Kuoh's industrial areas.
"Do we know why he rebelled?" I asked.
Rias shook her head. "Not yet, but that doesn't change how dangerous he is."
"That's music to my ears," I said as I looked at the red circle.
[Ding! The system has proposed the mission "Hunting Season!"]
1 - Team up with the Occult Research Club to locate and deal with the Devil Rebel. (Reward: 1 Fusion Point)
2 - Don't lift a finger to help the Occult Research Club locate him but defeat the Devil Rebel on your own. (Reward: 10 Fusion Points)
3 - Locate and kill the Devil Rebel faster than the Occult Research Club. (Reward: 25 Fusion Points)
Later that night, we found ourselves in a nearly deserted area of the city.
The night was eerily quiet, save for the distant hum of engines and the faint buzz of sodium vapor lamps.
We were in Kuoh's industrial district, surrounded by dozens of giant, abandoned warehouses. Inside the red circle marked on the map, the area was vast — too expansive to search for a single Devil Rebel without splitting up.
"I propose we split up into groups to cover more ground. These industrial areas are large, there are many rooms and even underground, and the Devil Rebel has probably put his hideout where he won't be seen once we enter a shed. Dividing forces will allow us to find him faster."
Kiba stroked his chin and nodded. "Splitting up is risky, but it makes sense. The less time he has to notice us and escape, the better."
Koneko and Akeno both nodded in agreement.
"It's a sound strategy. This way, we won't spend the entire night searching," Rias said.
"Hm… Koneko and Yuuto-kun, you'll form one pair. Nishihara-kun and I will be the other. Akeno will go solo."
"Wait, wouldn't it be safer for Akeno-san to have a partner? This could be dangerous," I interjected.
Rias's expression remained steady. "Akeno is strong enough to take care of herself." Rias said. "She has the experience and power to deal with this threat on her own, if need be. And since you're still new to this world, it's my duty to keep an eye on you. That's non-negotiable."
I tried to argue, but her resolute gaze made it clear there was no point. Though this complicated my mission to earn more Fusion Points, I had no choice but to agree.
"Understood."
Akeno headed west, Kiba and Koneko moved east, while Rias and I ventured north.
The industrial area of Kuoh was mostly abandoned, as the companies that once operated here had shut down for various reasons.
So, Rias and I walked through one of the empty warehouses, darkness enveloping the space.
At least in parts. In my right hand, I held a sphere of Stygian Flame that illuminated our surroundings and the path ahead.
I noticed Rias glancing at the flame several times until she couldn't contain her curiosity any longer.
"This flame..." she began. "How do you conjure it? I didn't see you use any magic circle. And the way it lights up the area in front of us more than behind—it almost seems alive."
I gazed at the flame for a moment before smiling. "You're not wrong. It responds to my emotions. Watch this."
The flame's light began to pulse, its intensity rising and falling as if disturbed by an unseen force.
Rias chuckled softly. "How did you do that?"
"I didn't do it — you did."
Rias looked at me with one eyebrow raised, confused. "What do you mean?"
"Looking at you made my heart race. That disrupted the fire's stability."
This time, both her eyebrows rose before she looked forward with a shy smile. "I didn't know that serious Nishihara-san I saw every day in class would be so gallant."
"What can I say? It's an instinct of mine that I usually hold in, but I can't resist being sincere when I'm around such a pretty girl."
Rias's cheeks turned a shade darker, but she didn't respond. The system, however, did.
[Ding! The Master got a "Genuine Shyness" with Rias Gremory. Reward: 10 fusion points!]
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