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"Huff... Huff..."
In the outskirts of Kuoh Town, two figures dashed across the terrain—one chasing, one fleeing.
The one in front was a petite girl with shoulder-length silver hair and a face so perfect it looked like it belonged on a doll.
She was Koneko Toujou—one of Rias's servants.
Every step she took sliced through the air like a blade.
"Hey hey, little demon up ahead, you think you can get away from me, the great Freed?"
Behind her was a white-haired man in a priest's outfit, his face twisted into a crazed grin.
"So why don't you just be a good girl and drop dead already?"
Koneko glanced back and bit her lip slightly.
She'd come out here because there were a bunch of stray spirits causing trouble in the area.
But before she could even recover her spent magic from the fight, this lunatic showed up and started chasing her.
"You're an exorcist from the Church, right? Attacking me like this—does that mean the Church wants war?"
Even while running, her voice stayed cold and emotionless.
"So what if they do?" Freed replied, his grin spreading.
"I'm a stray exorcist, babe. I don't give a damn about orders. I see filthy demons like you, I kill 'em all."
His pace picked up, closing the gap between them fast.
"..."
Koneko didn't waste breath on more words. She just forced her lead-heavy legs to move.
Her magic reserves were nearly gone.
At this rate, it was only a matter of time before he caught up.
She'd already tried teleporting away, but Freed clearly had experience with demons—he never gave her the chance.
Calling for help by phone? Yeah right. No signal in this wasteland.
So all she could do was push herself, hoping to make it back to town.
But then—
Her step faltered. Her magic ran completely dry.
A wave of weakness washed over her like a crashing tide, and her speed dropped instantly.
"Ohhh~ Poor little demon can't run anymore, huh?"
Freed grinned wickedly, pulling out a sword hilt from inside his robes.
A second later—
Shing! A radiant blade of pure white light burst out from it, coating the air in holy energy.
"Am I really gonna die here?" Koneko thought, sensing the blade closing in behind her.
Flash!
Suddenly, a bolt of lightning flashed right in front of her eyes.
Boom!
Something solid crashed into her—and it was warm.
So familiar...
She blinked and looked up.
Red eyes stared back at her.
"Minato—watch out! It's a stray exorcist behind us!"
She barely got the words out before her strength completely gave out and she slumped against him.
"No wonder," Minato said, realization dawning.
He caught her with one arm and held her close so she wouldn't fall.
Koneko's cheeks turned a little red. "Put me down. You can't fight while carrying me."
"Don't worry. I've got this."
"..."
She blinked, confused.
Since when was Minato this confident?
"What the hell am I looking at? Another dirty demon?"
Freed's eyes widened as he stared at Minato, his expression twisted with a sick excitement.
"Oh yes, this must be a gift from the Lord—two evil beings in one day! Time to purge!"
And with that, Freed launched forward like a missile.
Buzz!
Light magic surged outward.
A bone-chilling aura filled the air as razor winds tore up the ground beneath them.
His radiant sword slashed downward, aiming right for Minato's head.
"Watch out!" Koneko cried, trying to throw up a shield—but the weakness hit her again.
All she could do was stare as the glowing blade closed in.
But the scene she expected didn't happen.
Clang!
A clear, ringing sound echoed out.
Minato had caught the sword.
The blade—coated in divine light—shook violently, but it couldn't even scratch his palm.
"What...?"
Koneko's eyes widened.
That was holy power—angelic energy.
It was supposed to be the bane of demons like them.
And Minato just... caught it?
"How's that possible?!"
Freed's twisted grin faltered, replaced by a look of pure shock.
"As I thought," Minato murmured, ignoring Freed.
"Even light magic can't hurt me anymore."
Though he was still technically a demon, his body had been changed by Origin Magic. The old weaknesses—like being vulnerable to holy power—were gone.
Now, light energy was just another type of magic to him.
"Damn it, what are you?"
Freed yanked and twisted the blade, trying to pull it free, but Minato didn't budge.
Sensing danger, Freed tried to retreat.
"Trying to run?" Minato said coldly, lifting his hand.
Buzz!
A magic circle bloomed high in the sky, thunder rumbling through the heavens.
The next moment—
A bolt of blue lightning suddenly crashed down from the sky, roaring with overwhelming, destructive force.
It looked like it could pierce through heaven and earth itself.
"What kind of magic is this?!"
Fried's body froze on the spot, every cell in his body trembling in fear.
He didn't even get the chance to react before the lightning completely swallowed him.
Crack! Boom!
The ground split and crumbled all around, turning the area into total chaos.
When the smoke finally cleared, all that was left was a massive crater—and a charred corpse.
"Wha…?"
Koneko Toujou, who always had a blank, expressionless face, was totally stunned.
Her eyes widened a little, filled with disbelief and shock.
That was Minato?
Why does he feel so different from what I remember?
That lightning magic… it seems even more powerful than what Sona-senpai can do.
But how's that even possible?
Sona uses high-tier magic—stuff that's said to have power on par with Demon Lords!
"Alright, enough overthinking."
Minato gently knocked on her head and gave a warm smile.
He could pretty much guess what she was thinking.
But if she knew he actually had an even stronger kind of magic—his Origin Magic—she'd probably be even more shocked.
"....."