Chapter 20: A Flick of the Finger, The Enemy Falls

It wasn't a fierce battle—far from it. One could even describe it as effortless.

Within seconds, the silver-haired, murderous priest's severed head landed unceremoniously at the feet of Fukuki.

Freed Sellzen.

At thirteen, he had passed the rigorous combat assessments to become an exorcist. Upon joining the Vatican's ranks, he quickly showcased extraordinary talent in combat, slaying devils and beasts that even veteran exorcists struggled against. By seventeen, he had earned a position in the Vatican's Papal Hall, becoming the youngest ace exorcist in the history of the organization.

There was no doubt—his dazzling resume proved him to be a combat genius.

However, Freed had one fatal flaw: a lack of faith and an insatiable craving for battle.

To eliminate powerful devil targets, he could kill injured or unfit comrades mid-mission without hesitation, labeling them as liabilities. He would complete missions alone, then shift all blame onto the deceased, claiming they had died in battle against the devil.

Naturally, such things never remain secret forever.

As Freed repeatedly "miraculously survived" missions alone, suspicion began to rise within the Vatican. After a thorough investigation, his crimes of ruthlessly murdering comrades were exposed.

Yet, leveraging his strength, Freed managed to escape the Vatican's pursuit, fleeing all the way to Japan and becoming a "Stray Exorcist."

------

Back to the present.

The flickering candlelight illuminated Freed's face one final time. It was frozen in an expression of utter terror, his gaping mouth seemingly locked mid-silent scream.

"Hah… that's that."

Fukuki exhaled softly and neatly arranged the confiscated items—a lightsaber-like weapon, a handgun, and Freed's head—on the dining table.

Though he had little faith in the Japanese police's investigative capabilities, these clues should at least prompt them to identify the victim's connection to the Vatican. Official channels could handle the rest.

As for the unfortunate homeowner who had been brutally murdered… it was regrettable. But the deceased had passed on, and all Fukuki could offer was a silent prayer of "Amida Buddha."

After tidying up the scene, Fukuki ensured there were no loose ends. Finally, he turned towards the doorway.

By now, the sky outside had fully darkened. The last traces of sunlight had slipped behind the horizon, shrouding Tokyo in its nightly gloom.

Asia still stood in the doorway. Her oversized nun's veil covered her head, rendering her expression obscure and unreadable.

Fukuki pulled out his phone, typing a message to a certain cat-eared girl waiting back at his home. After informing her he'd be back a little late, he looked up, shrugged, and said,

"Let's find somewhere else to talk, Asia."

"…"

Asia didn't respond. Her lips trembled slightly, as if trying to form words.

"I-I'm so… sor—"

Before she could finish, Asia turned decisively, wiping her tears with her sleeve. Then, like a frightened bird, she bolted into the darkness of the night.

"Uh…"

The sight left Fukuki momentarily speechless. His raised hand hung awkwardly midair, reminiscent of a certain internet-famous outstretched palm meme.

To be fair, his suggestion to change locations was reasonable, wasn't it? After all, he had just subjected her to a gruesome murder scene and a live execution of a homicidal Stray Exorcist.

After such an ordeal, was he supposed to casually pat her on the shoulder and say, "Come on, let's grab some barbecue"?

That'd be absurd! Of course, they needed to find a quieter place to talk things through.

But now, this…

Fukuki sighed, massaging his forehead in mild exasperation.

Forget it. To avoid any unnecessary accidents, I'd better follow her. She probably won't make it far with her stamina. Once she's exhausted and calmed down, I'll find a quiet spot to explain everything properly.

Just as the young man prepared to follow, a sharp sound cut through the air. A pure black feather fluttered down from the sky, catching his attention.

Then, a sultry female voice rang out:

"Oh my, running off like that won't do, Sister~"

Hmm?

Hearing the voice, Asia's body trembled violently, her steps coming to an abrupt halt.

Fukuki also looked up towards the source of the voice.

A slender, dark figure descended from the sky like a hunting falcon, piercing through the deep night with even darker hues. She landed gracefully beside Asia, extending a slim arm to block the girl's escape.

The figure was a strikingly beautiful woman, her curvaceous figure accentuated by long black hair cascading like a waterfall. Her scant, suggestive attire barely concealed what was necessary, evoking undeniable sensuality.

If not for the large black wings unfurled behind her, this could almost be considered a serendipitous encounter.

"Fallen angel?"

Fukuki immediately understood.

It wasn't difficult to figure out, given how both Rias and the murderous priest Freed had mentioned "fallen angels" earlier. Add to that her appearance, and even someone oblivious would connect the dots.

"Raynare... my lady..."

Asia, terrified of the fallen angel before her, froze completely, trembling like a frightened chick.

Raynare, the fallen angel, merely smiled faintly.

"So Freed's been taken care of, huh? No matter. We'll still protect you well, Asia. Come back to the church with us. There's still a ritual we need to complete~"

She then cast a disdainful glance at Fukuki, grabbed the trembling Asia, and with a powerful flap of her wings, ascended into the sky.

A teardrop, cool against the evening wind, gently fell as faint sobs reached the young man's ears.

"Help… help me…"

Fukuki didn't chase immediately. He watched as the fallen angel flew boldly towards the church in the night sky. Calmly, he pulled out his phone and called Rias.

"Hello? Rias? It's me. I've found the fallen angel."

At the same time, in the old school building of Kuoh Academy, Rias, lying on the reception room sofa, bolted upright upon receiving the call.

"What? You found the fallen angel? Where?"

"They're probably at the church near Kuoh Academy. I'm heading there now."

Fukuki's voice came through the phone, mixed with the sound of wind, confirming he was already en route.

Though Rias had been the one to order the investigation into the fallen angels, hearing that they had been found made her hesitate.

The church was the territory of the Holy Church—strictly off-limits to devils.

Under the divine barrier surrounding the church, weaker devils would be burned merely by approaching. While Rias, as a pureblood devil, could bypass such restrictions, stepping into church grounds would be interpreted as a unilateral declaration of war by the underworld against heaven—a move utterly forbidden in these delicate times.

"Those damned fallen angels, exploiting the fact that the barrier doesn't reject them…"

"Don't worry. Leave the barrier to me," Fukuki reassured her.

With those words, he ended the call, igniting golden spiritual energy as his entire being turned into a blazing streak of light shooting through the night sky.

From a great distance, he aimed a finger at the church.

In the next moment, the divine barrier surrounding the church shattered with a thunderous explosion.

"Trying to run away?"