Chapter 14 - Priest

Even though I had helped fight the rebel devil, that didn't relieve me of my current responsibilities. I still needed a client to sign the contract for me, and this time I had to do it alone, which meant I was on my own. To make matters worse, I knew what was waiting for me at the next address.

The next thing I knew, I was at the door of the address Rias had given me.

As I expected, the door was ajar and there was a strange aura in the air. Nevertheless, I took my first step into the house. The only thing I had to protect me was the already activated Boosted Gear in my left hand.

The inside of the house was dark, but there was a faint glow coming from one door leading to the main corridor of the house.

In a situation like this, someone would normally introduce themselves or try to call the owner, but of course, I wouldn't do anything stupid like that.

Soon I reached the room where the light was surprisingly from candles. It was a normal living room. There was a television, a sofa, a table, and so on. Everything seemed to be in the right place, except for the body nailed to the wall.

I instinctively widened my eyes in horror. It was a morbid scene. The man had both arms outstretched and his hands were nailed to the wall.

It wasn't the first time I'd seen a dead man or so much blood. In the ruins of my world, I sometimes came across the nests of monsters, and there was much worse.

However, the one who had created the scene before my eyes wasn't a monster, or rather, he was, but he was disguised behind a human shell. Like any strange killer, he had left a message on the wall written in his victim's blood.

"Punishment for those who have done evil deeds," a young man's voice said from my left. "I just borrowed that phrase from the prayer of an important person."

When I turned around, I saw a man with white hair. He seemed to be a foreigner and about the age of a young adult. He was dressed in long robes like an 11th century vampire hunter. In fact, he was a despicable priest who had an evil smile like this.

"Hmmm! Well, if it isn't a little devil!" He continued. "Was it attracted by the smell of the victim's blood?"

I didn't have much time to talk against someone who was clearly stronger than me. To defeat him, I had to surprise him.

"I am a priest♪ I am the cure...!"

The aura of madness emanating from this priest was irritating.

"Fuck it, I'll do it!" I said aloud, and my tone seemed to surprise the priest.

Freed Zelzan was his name, and he began to laugh. A loud, maniacal laugh that echoed through every inch of the living room. He moved one of his hands with surprising agility, a white blur against the dark surroundings, and pulled out a large pistol. I knew he wouldn't shoot at first, so my instinct was to use Boosted Gear for the first time.

"{Boost!}" The dragon's voice echoed in my mind, increasing my strength.

The smile faded from Freed's face when he saw the Boosted Gear on my mother, and I launched myself at him.

"So you have Sacred Gear?!"

My right fist tried to hit him, but he deflected it easily. Still, I used the momentum to turn my body and try to land a side kick in his direction.

Freed's crazy eyes widened, and he dodged again.

"Interesting, very interesting! Let's see what you can do, little devil!"

Then he drew his Light Sword, and I saw my chances of defeating him without a scratch diminish considerably.

"{Boost!}" The dragon's voice rang out again, filling me with a new wave of power.

My next attack was different. I used the power of the Boosted Gear to increase my speed, making my movements more erratic and difficult to predict. Then, as I approached, I fainted a direct hit, but changed direction at the last second and grabbed his arm.

I caught him off guard.

Freed frowned as he was grabbed, and his smile vanished momentarily.

I seized the opportunity and spun him around, using the extra strength to throw him against the wall with all my might.

Freed crashed into the wall, spitting blood from the shock.

"You're stronger than I thought," he muttered, slowly getting to his feet as he wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth. "But this won't be enough."

Then he lunged forward with his sword, slashing without any refined technique or handling. To me, who grew up training at the Compulsory Education Academy, he looked like a child playing with a sharp object, and that filled me with confidence.

I stepped back, dodging his blows, and that annoyed him.

"Are you kidding me?" Freed growled. He didn't look like the patient type.

When his blade moved in a downward arc, I saw my chance. With superhuman speed, I lowered my torso and struck with a left to his stomach.

I don't know if the blow was stronger because it was just boosted, but the blow threw Freed backward and he fell to his knees again.

He gasped, trying to catch his breath, but I wasn't going to give him time. I lunged forward with my right hand outstretched and grabbed his throat.

Surprisingly, I could hit him. I could kill him right there. But I'd never killed a human before, and as despicable as Freed was to me, I wouldn't lose the most human part of me to him.

My heart was pounding uncontrollably, and adrenaline was coursing through my veins. So I made my decision and instead of killing him, I attacked myself.

Yes, you read that correctly. I attacked myself. I drove the claws of the Boosted Gear into my stomach. But don't worry, I wasn't crazy. There was a reason for it.

[HP: 60/100]

The pain was terrible. I pulled the claws out of my skin and dropped to my knees. My vision blurred, and when I looked at my left hand.

The wound wasn't very deep, but I'd used enough force to draw a lot of blood.

Freed slowly stood up after I released him, laughing hysterically. He rubbed his neck, still feeling the pressure of my hand holding him, but his evil grin was back.

"You still can't control it, can you? This devilic power... it seems this thing is more in control than you are!" he sneered.

He thought I was out of control. It was a logical thing to think, perhaps, which was surprising for an empty head like his.

All would have been lost for me if it wasn't for a scream that echoed through the room.

Freed, and I looked back and saw a girl in long clothes like a nun.

"Oh, if it isn't Asia... You who broke through the barrier?"

Her eyes were glued to the corpse nailed to the wall. She mumbled something, confused, while still staring at the corpse in shock.

"Ah, yes! You're a beginner! This is our job! We kill humans who have gone over to the side of the devils."

"Not this one..." She said and then turned to me, finally seeing me.

"Leo?"

"Asia?"

"Oh, you two know each other? Sorry, Asia, but a devil and a human can't live together." Freed announced, whispering something in her ear as he looked at me. "Well, shall we finish the job now? Even if it's not done, there you go!" He raised his gun, ready to put a bullet in my head.

Asia ran as fast as she could and stood between me and Freed, opening her arms to show that she would protect me.

"Father Freed, I beg you, please forgive him! Even though he is a devil, Leo is a good person!"

"That's enough, Asia." I said and started to stand up. "Now that you know the truth about the Church, there's no need for all this."

She turned to me with eyes full of worry, confusion, and fear. It was clear that she wasn't used to it all, used to seeing this kind of violence, and Freed's presence and manner only added to her fear. But there was something in the way she looked at me that gave me the strength to respond. I didn't want to see her go through what she had gone through with Issei when Freed fought against him, nor did I want to see her killed.

With great effort, I got to my feet. My body protested with a wave of pain, but I ignored it.

"{Boost!}"

The last boost made a red aura appear around me like a burning flame.

Freed took a step back, and it was clear that he had realized the situation had never been in his favor.

"Do you really think you can defeat me, devil?" He snarled, pointing his sword. "No matter how much power you have, you're still a monster."

Freed then raised his sword to attack.

Asia was still standing between us. Her eyes widened in fear. She wouldn't have time to react before the blade came down.

"No!" I shouted, moving with superhuman speed. In an instant, I was in front of Asia, my body blocking the path of the sword. I felt the blade cut through my arms, which I used to form an X to protect her.

"Leo!" she cried, tears streaming down her face. "You're hurt!"

"Don't worry about me," I replied through clenched teeth. "I won't let him hurt you, and neither will Rias."

Just then, Freed's time ran out, and as I stood in front of Rias, I saw a magic circle appear behind me with a crimson glow. From this magic circle emerged Kiba, Koneko, Akeno and finally Rias Gremory.

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NEXT CHAPTERS:

Chapter 21 - Women's Bathroom Cabin (R-18)

Chapter 20 - Women's Bathroom

Chapter 19 - Sona Sitri Finally Shows Up

Chapter 18 - Romance in the Park

Chapter 17 - System Features

Chapter 16.5 - Bonus Chapter

Chapter 16 - My Angel and My Demon

Chapter 15 - Rescuing a Saint