98 The Psycho Priest

Underworld, Satan Territory, Capital City, Lilith.

Shortly after Issei separated from Asia, Sirzechs was working on paperwork in his office. Then, Grayfia entered with news that would undoubtedly make him unhappy.

"The interrogation on the stray fallen angels has concluded, Lord Lucifer." Grayfia said as she took her position behind Sirzechs.

"*Sigh* It's been centuries and I'm still not used to that, Grayfia." Sirzechs said as he put down the document he just finished reading. "Anyway, what did you find out?"

"Like James said, it seems that a lot of promising young devils and half-devils had been sent to that facility over the years." Grayfia said without much change in her expression. However, her tone let anyone who could hear it know exactly how angry she was. "And the group of fallen angels was always made aware beforehand."

"*Sigh* Did they provide names?" Sirzechs said while rubbing his forehead. "Because if they didn't, our investigation is probably going to stall right here."

"Unfortunately, we weren't able to get any names from them." Grayfia said, frustration clear in her tone.

"*Sigh* Then there isn't much we can do." Sirzechs said as he picked up another document and began to read.

At his response, Grayfia could only look at Sirzechs with disappointment. Sirzechs, however, was unaware of his wife's feelings.

'Rias told me about the time James lost his temper and said that the Four Great Satans weren't worthy of their titles.' Grayfia thought to herself. 'Unfortunately, he's not far from the truth. Right now, most of them look like glorified figure heads.'

Unlike what most devils believe, the Four Great Satans are not the absolute rulers of devil society. Many of their policies never even see the light of day, as they must be screened and voted on by the council. The former Satans would have never abided by the council's decision like the current Satans do.

'If we want to do something about this, we'll need to gather some evidence.' Grayfia thought to herself while watching over Sirzechs so that he was unable to slack off with his duties. 'I guess I'll have to ask for their help again. *Sigh*'

===11 p.m.===

Human World, Japan, Kuoh.

At a location overlooking the abandoned church, Dante had been watching for any new movements from the fallen angels for the past few hours. Having switched shifts with Lady only two hours ago, Dante was already finding himself bored. Sitting with his back resting against Rebellion, which was impaled into the ground, Dante could not help but talk to himself a bit while maintaining one of his pistols.

"Damn, I hate stake out missions." Dante muttered to himself while reassembling his pistol. "I don't know how Lady does this without complaining."

As he finished the reassembly of the pistol, Dante noticed two people leaving the church.

"Hmm... Looks like a stray exorcist and... Oh, the little cutie that Issei met as well, if the physical description he gave us is correct." Dante said as he holstered the pistol on his waist. Then, he pulled Rebellion from the ground and placed it on his back. "I guess I should follow them."

While following Asia and the unknown stray exorcist, Dante contacted Lady and let her know that there was some movement. Requesting that she take over the stake out once more, Dante followed his two marks before ending the transmission with Lady.

Following the two from the church led Dante into a residential area of the town. As he followed, he began to feel a familiar aura coming from one of the houses.

"I guess one of the residents in that house is summoning a devil." Dante said while looking at the house he felt the magical signal from. "Hmm... that feels like the Gremory girl's pet cat."

As Dante considered who was being summoned, he noticed that the stray exorcist and the blonde girl were also making their way to the same house.

"Oh, this could be interesting." Dante said to himself as he narrowed the distance.

And narrowing the distance was a correct decision. Just after entering the house, the stray exorcist instructed Asia to set up a barrier around the house, one that would prevent devils from entering the premises via teleportation. Coincidentally, this barrier also somehow stopped magical communications from entering or exiting the barrier as well.

At that moment, Koneko was fulfilling her contract with a summoner. Wearing her school uniform, she was posing for a painting. Yes, she was summoned for no reason other than to be a model. However, at the moment the barrier was erected, Koneko went on high alert. Then her nose picked up the smell of blood, a lot of blood. Then, before her mind could process, Koneko's body reacted, and she moved to deflect the arm of a man who was attacking her summoner from behind with a sword made of light.

*Shing!*

Having positioned herself between the unsuspecting painter and the assailant, Koneko placed the back of one of her small fists against the attacker's forearm and redirected the attack to the side. The arrant attack completely missed the painter and split the table holding his art supplies in half. Now that she had the time to examine the assailant, Koneko saw that it was a white-haired, red-eyed man dressed in the robes of a priest.

"Oh, not bad little devil girl." The stray exorcist said with a manic smile on his face. "But like everyone else in this house, you and that filthy devil summoner are going to die."

Koneko could only frown at the insane glint in the stray exorcist's eyes. Then, she positioned herself protectively in front of the frightened artist.

"Did... Did... Did he just say we were going to die like everyone else in this house?" The painter asked as he grew pale after processing the stray exorcist's words.

"That's right~." The exorcist said in a sing song tone. "Those who associate with devils deserve nothing less than damnation."

"You bastard! You killed my wife and children." The painter shouted hysterically as he tried to rush toward the exorcist.

Circling around Koneko, the painter ran toward the exorcist with rage burning in his eyes. However, before he could swing his fist, he felt something cold pressed against his forehead. When he calmed down and looked more closely, he noticed a gun in the outstretched hand of the man who murdered his family. And that gun was the cold metal pressed against his forehead. After coming to this realization, the painter began to shudder in fear.

"You shouldn't be so angry or scared." the exorcist said while maintaining his manic smile. "I'll be sending you to meet them in hell, after all."

Just before the exorcist could pull the trigger, Koneko arrived next to the painter and swept his legs out from under him. With his balance lost, the painter fell to the floor and the exorcist finally pulled the trigger.

*Bang!*

From the pistol a bullet emitting holy light was fired and left a hole in the wall the size of a doorknocker. The sword and pistol equipped by the stray exorcist are standard exorcism gear that the priests of the church and stray exorcists use when hunting supernatural beings. As exorcists primarily hunt dangerous devils, the holy light elements that make up the blade of their swords and emit from the bullets fired from their pistols are perfect weapons against them.

"Oh, you're even better than I thought." The exorcist said while his smile began to transform into a frown. "But you're starting to get annoying. Why don't you just die?"

Then, the exorcist began to fire on Koneko. Unfortunately, she was unable to simply dodge the gunfire. Unable to leave the painter unprotected, she carried him with her. This, of course, made counterattacking much more difficult.

"Kya~~~!"

Just as the exorcist was about to corner Koneko and the painter she was protecting; the scream of a girl could be heard from another room.

"*Sigh* That damn girl is so annoying." The exorcist muttered to himself while scratching the side of his head with his pistol.

"Father... Father Freed!" the girl, Asia, shouted as she ran into the room. "What happened to those people in the..."

"I punished those heathens." the exorcist, Freed, said with a manic smile returning to his face. "All those who would dare to collude with devils deserve damnation."

"How could you just... kill them?" Asia questioned tearfully.

"You devil sympathizing little bitch!" Freed said as he rushed toward Asia and used the barrel of his gun to strike her across the face. "You're here to assist me. What makes you think you have the right to question my decisions? If those fallen angels didn't need you alive, I would punish you with these heathens and that devil."

As he spoke, Freed raised Asia off the ground, pulling her up by the hair. With this action, the pain Asia felt was evident. Then, using his pistol, Freed began to caress Asia all over. And with lust in his eyes, Freed spoke once again.

"Then again, those fallen angels never said I couldn't have some fun with you, though." Freed said while chuckling creepily.

"Actually, I'd suggest you let her go, if you like having both hands attached, that is."

*Bang!*

Following the newcomer's warning, a gunshot was heard and the gun in Freed's hand was shot out of his grasp. Then, Freed quickly jumped away from Asia as a large western sword was swung from above. Following the blade of the greatsword that was now impaled into the floor, Freed saw that it led to the hand of a tall white-haired- blue-eyed man.

"Damn bitch!" Freed shouted angrily at Asia. "Can't you even put up a barrier correctly? How did another devil get in here?""

"Wow, it looks like someone needs some anger management therapy." Dante said nonchalantly. "You're just as much to blame for this one as she is."

"What? She's the one who put up the fucking barrier, you fucking moron!" Freed shouted angrily and thrashed his light sword around like an angry child. "How could any of this be my fucking fault?"

"Well, if I hadn't been following the two of you since you left the church you might be right." Dante said while scratching the side of his head. "And since I slipped into the house at the same time you two did, the barrier couldn't stop me."

Hearing that, not only Freed but Asia was also shocked. Then, in a high-pitched tone, Freed shouted once again.

"Someone! Help!" Freed shouted while wrapping his arms around himself protectively. "A perverted stalker has been following me."

After hearing Freed's outburst, everyone in the room, except Asia, deadpanned. Asia on the other hand was still in shock from all the events of the evening. Just as everyone was caught slightly off guard by Freed's shouting, however, Freed took advantage of their slight lulls in concentration and dropped a flash grenade, which caused everyone to cover their eyes, reflexively. When they regained their vision, the psychotic former priest was gone.

"Damn, that bastard got away." Dante said while placing Rebellion on his back. "Hey, Kitty Cat, can you contact your [King] and let her know what happened here?"

"Don't call me that." Koneko said as she turned her head away.

"Huh, but James calls you that all the time." Dante said with confusion.

"You aren't James-Nii." Koneko said matter of factly.

Dante paused briefly at the blunt response. Shrugging it off, Dante turned to Asia who was still in shock. Then, he spoke to the nun.

"Hey, girl, do you think you could lower this barrier?" Dante asked. "We need to do something about the mess that psychopath made."

Nodding mechanically in response, Asia completed Dante's request. Shortly afterward, Koneko contacted Rias while Dante Contacted James to make their reports. Eventually, Akeno and Tsubaki arrived to take care of the follow up. After erasing the painter's memories of the evening and planting false ones pertaining to his family's murder, the four devils and the nun left the house. Then, they called the authorities and brought Asia with them to the residential area where James, Rias, and Sona lived.