54 Devilish Deeds

A week's gone by since Misla began staying in Kuoh, and the number of Devils roaming around town has suspiciously multiplied several folds.

Obviously, I'm to blame. I didn't make Sona or Rias promise to keep what they learnt silent, and so inevitably it didn't take long for the knowledge to spread. From what my eyes tell me, the Sitri Hospital down in the Underworld began taking steps to follow the second and third step I told.

The problem lies in the first step. An artifact to completely separate a Devil's mind from their Demonic Energy. That just wasn't something that can be created at this point of time, which has only led to growing interest in me.

I don't mind having more Devils. The refugees are a little wary, but they're ultimately fine with it. Most of the Devils that have arrived here are mostly affiliated with the Sitri Family, and those that aren't are usually part of some noble family that's here to try and reincarnate me.

I've even heard that Ajuka Beelzebub himself plans to come here, though he's somewhat busy with something else at the moment.

Of course, not every Devil that's arrived is so civil. None of them act out publicly—putting themselves out while in the presence of the heirs of two of the most influential families is just stupid. But some have tried doing some more unsavory acts on their own, either to kidnap me or my family in some way.

Thankfully, I have a solution regarding both.

I have hardly any worries about my family. I gave my parents a vacation to Kyoto, with all their expenses paid for. They were more than happy, though they were confused on how I got it. "A present from a friend," was all I said, and they stared at each other for a good minute before they left it at that.

They left for Kyoto several days ago. I think mom's having fun dressing up with Yasaka at the moment.

My big sister still needs to remain in Kuoh, of course, but I don't worry either. After all, she has one of the strongest exorcists ever known guarding her at every moment. The church's been fairly quiet for the past month, and Dulio was more than happy to finally stay in Japan for once.

Funnily enough, he's disguised himself as another undergraduate student in Kuoh University, just so he has an excuse to protect my big sister at all times. I last heard they even went to the arcade together.

Which is good. My big sister needs a male friend for once. And more friends in general.

Ironic, considering what I'm like, but I think I have more friends than she does at this point.

Anyway, my family is safe. I don't need to worry about them. I don't need to worry about Akeno either; it isn't like many people actually know who she is. If they do try, well…they'll find their skulls melted through.

And those that come for my head for a change?

"M-Mercy!" The Devil beneath my knee cries out, blood spilling from his mouth as tears fall from his eyes. "P-Please! I'm sorry! I didn't mean to! I-"

I jam a rock straight into his throat. "Shut up." I say casually. "Can't any of you stay silent for once? I swear, I'm going to need to bring earmuffs the next time this happens."

The Devil continues to silently scream.

This Devil's story is no different to the many Devils who've gone for my head for the past week. Zaban Fluger is his name. The third son of a noble Devil family. He came here to try and reincarnate me. He was polite at first, and then tried killing me when I refused.

The result? Zaban was now pinned to the ground, each limb staked through by an oddly durable iron rod. My hand is stabbed through his chest, and through it I'm draining his Primal and Demonic Energy. He can surely feel this, and he's trying to free himself before he dies.

He doesn't succeed. He dies fifteen seconds after I shut him up.

It's only been a week. I've killed over sixty Devils in that time, and I have no doubt that there'll be more. Most of them come from a family of some kind, and their enmity against me will only grow, which means even more Devils will be coming for my head.

That sounds like a bad thing.

It isn't. Not in the slightest.

With how much work I have stacked on my back, I haven't had much time to train myself. I can only manage about an hour every day at best, and most of the time I don't even get that. If this continues, then I'll begin to stagnate, and that's not something I ever want.

So I came with a plan.

Demonic Energy. The lifeblood of a Devil's magic. Though their use is comparable to Mana, their makeup is closer to that of curses. A magic suited for those born from the dark.

But to me, that just means more power. My Primal Energy can purify Demonic Energy and convert it into more Primal Energy. It's similar to what it does with curses; it even gives me that same high feeling that I get from purifying the corruption of Ki.

And adding to all that is the Primal Energy contained in their bodies. After all, Primal Energy grows in tandem with one's age, and most Devils are decades older than I am.

It's the perfect cocktail for me to drink up. These Devils are just food to me. A stepping stone to get even more Primal Energy, and to break past even more 'thresholds'.

A little cruel, but they came for my head first. This is just retribution.

I stare at my bloodied hand. A Devil's blood is darker than that of a human's, but not so different that it looks strange. It's a little stickier as well, and a little thicker. It doesn't really mean anything in the grand scheme, but it's an interesting thing to note.

I lean back and sigh. I…don't feel great, to put it lightly. I've absorbed a lot of Primal Energy in too little time, and I'm beginning to feel sick. It isn't as terrible as that ringing headache I got after fighting Kagutsuchi, but it's a similar feeling.

Still, I can't deny how much I'm gaining. My Primal Energy is intrinsically related to every part of my being, and having more means getting stronger in every avenue.

"You…!" I suddenly hear, and I lazily turn to see another Devil. He's older than the one I just killed, though he looks remarkably similar to him. "How dare you…! My brother-!"

"Ah." I grin. "Zestroa Fluger, is it?" I stand and mockingly bow. "Welcome to Kuoh. I hope you've enjoyed your-" I quickly tilt my head, and a blast of lightning flies past my shoulder. The road behind me explodes in brilliant blues and whites. "How rude."

"I will kill you!" He shouts, flying towards me as lightning surges around him.

I sigh. "Very well." I quickly pull out an 'Isolation' Ofuda. The sky above disappears, replaced by a black void. "Don't blame me for this."

In seconds, he's crossed the distance between us. The cloak of lightning has turned into a minor storm that swirls around him. The smell of ozone is overpowering here, and my skin tingles as tiny tendrils of electricity bounce across my skin.

Then, with a breath, I punch the Devil straight in the face.

The lightning storm abruptly stops, and Zestroa screams as he's launched back, crashing into the concrete. And I stand there, staring at the downed Devil as if I didn't just stop a lightning storm with a punch. "Y-You…" He slowly stands up, glaring at me all the while. "How are you uninjured!?"

"I don't know, buddy." I shrug. "My friend can shoot beams of plasma. Your lightning isn't all that much in comparison."

That only makes him angrier, and he roars as he flies into the air. Lightning begins cackling around him, and great winds swirl above. The black void is suddenly filled with dark clouds, ominously crackling with an incredible lightning storm.

I stare listlessly. "The gap between Ultimate Classes really is wide, huh." I say to myself, mentally comparing his strength to, say, Grayfia Lucifege. They just can't be compared. "Oh well."

I take one of the four iron rods stabbed into the corpse I've been standing by. I readjust my grip, and then I rear my arm back, aiming the rod straight for Zestroa's chest. Ki and Primal Energy swirl around the rod, forming a chaotic coat of greens and blues.

Then, the air shakes as I throw the rod with all my might. It blurs, its speed surpassing even the speed of sound, and it cuts straight through the storm brewing above my head. The clouds are dispersed in a single blast of wind, and it reveals Zestroa Fluger, choking on his own blood as the rod perfectly stabs through his heart.

He falls from the sky, and I slowly make my way to the dying Devil. "You know," I say, idly shaking some of the blood from my palm. "You really should know when something's off." I give his head a kick. "Devils keep disappearing in this town. You should've been wary from the start."

He weakly growls.

I shrug. He cries as I plunge my hand through his torso. And then he screams as I begin draining him of all his Primal and Demonic Energy. Excitement and manic thoughts begin swelling in my head, but I do my best to ignore them.

Just like his brother, Zestroa Fluger dies barely a minute later.

"Ugh." I wince. My stomach feels off, like I'm simultaneously hungry and full. "I feel terrible."

I quickly move to get rid of the two corpses. It's nothing too complicated; a single 'Fire' Ofuda for each corpse is enough to burn them to ash. The smell is as horrid as always, but I've grown used to it.

And just like that, two sons of the Fluger Family have disappeared. All in a single evening.

Honestly, I'm glad most of the Devils that have come here aren't part of the 72 Pillars. Not because I'm scared or anything, but mostly because I don't want to be labeled as someone who destroyed a Pillar of the Underworld. That's just messy.

I collapse the 'Isolation' barrier, and a few moments later I'm on my way back home. As I do, I use my eyes to see what's happening at the moment, and whether or not something interesting will happen in the next few days.

Not much is happening at the moment. My big sister's hanging out with Dulio; they're eating in one of the few fancy restaurants in town right now. My mom and dad are over there in Kyoto, and Akeno's is at home, finishing her homework for tomorrow.

And, of course, more Devils will approach me tomorrow. Some will do so peacefully, and others not.

All in all, nothing too overly interesting. Which is fine. Peace and tranquility is a finite resource in this world.

…

Ah. My thoughts are beginning to drift again. I should hurry home. I think I have some leftover curry from the day before.