Chapter 14: A Quiet Storm

Chapter 14: A Quiet Storm

The streets of Kuoh Town were unusually quiet as Tadashi walked home, the night air cool against his skin. The silence felt strange after the brutal events that had unfolded earlier, but Tadashi had grown accustomed to the contrast. The world didn't shift immediately after someone died—not even when that someone was Issei Hyoudou.

Issei's body now lay cold in the park where Tadashi had torn out his heart. The idiot never saw it coming. To the outside world, Issei's death would seem random and inexplicable, but to Tadashi, it was personal. Issei represented everything he hated—stupidity, naivety, and a wasted opportunity. Tadashi had despised him since the moment he stepped into this world, watching Issei fumble his way through life, blind to the danger and power surrounding him.

That weakness had to be purged.

Tadashi's expression remained neutral as he approached his home, his thoughts sharp. He didn't regret what he had done. Issei had never deserved to be the one chosen by fate, and Tadashi had simply corrected the course. There was no guilt in his heart, only satisfaction.

Once inside, Tadashi opened the Chat Group interface, seeing the 1800 points he had earned from the Attack on Titan mission still available. He scanned through the Shop, eyes flicking over various items and techniques from across the multiverse. He wasn't in the mood for anything too dramatic—just something that would quietly push his power to the next level.

[Shop Interface]

Low-Level Cultivation Pill – 500 points

Body Strengthening Elixir – 800 points

Mystic Eyes of Death Perception (Temporary Activation, 24 hours) – 1600 points

 Refinement Array – 1200 points

Senzu Beans (3-pack) – 500 points

Tadashi's gaze landed on the Low-Level Cultivation Pill. It wasn't flashy, but it would work. His cultivation had been progressing smoothly, but he was always looking for ways to push it further. The pill would allow him to refine his Qi faster and keep him ahead of any threats that might emerge.

Without hesitation, he purchased it.

[Ding! You have purchased the Low-Level Cultivation Pill for 500 points.]

Tadashi retrieved the pill and swallowed it without a second thought, feeling the immediate warmth of Qi spreading through his body. The effect was subtle but undeniable. His cultivation deepened, his energy flowing more efficiently through his meridians. It wasn't a dramatic leap, but it was enough to keep him sharp for what was coming next.

As the power of the pill settled, Tadashi leaned back and let his thoughts drift toward Kuoh Academy. There was no reason for anyone to suspect him of anything—at least, not yet. Rias Gremory was likely still unaware of Issei's death. She had sensed something powerful within him, of course—a Sacred Gear that had been dormant, waiting to awaken. But she wouldn't be able to detect the boy's absence immediately.

No, Rias was too distracted by her problems. The weight of her engagement to Riser Phenex was hanging over her, and Tadashi knew it. She had been resisting the arranged marriage for months, trying to find a way out. But Rias wasn't in control of her destiny—not fully.

That was the difference between them.

Tadashi controlled his fate, bending it to his will. That was why Issei had to die. The idiot hadn't understood the weight of what he had been given. He had wasted his chance at power, and Tadashi had taken it upon himself to remove him from the equation.

As Tadashi stood and moved to the window, looking out over the quiet town, he allowed himself a brief smile. Issei's death was just the beginning. The ripples from that act would spread soon enough, but for now, there was nothing to do but wait and let the events unfold naturally.

In the Occult Research Club room at Kuoh Academy, Rias Gremory sat at her desk, her fingers absentmindedly tracing the edge of a teacup as her thoughts wandered. Her mind was not on the tasks at hand but on the burden that had been weighing on her for months.

Her engagement to Riser Phenex.

The very idea of it made her stomach twist. The engagement had been arranged by her family, but Rias had no intention of accepting it. Riser was arrogant, self-serving, and saw her as nothing more than a prize—a piece in his game of power. The thought of being tied to someone like him for eternity filled her with resentment.

But she couldn't refuse outright. The Phenex family was powerful, and breaking the engagement wasn't a simple matter. Her older brother, Sirzechs, had tried to give her time to find a solution, but time was running out. Soon, Riser would come for her, demanding that she fulfill her role as his bride.

A knock at the door pulled her from her thoughts, and Akeno Himejima entered, her usual serene smile in place. "Rias, you seem troubled tonight. Is something bothering you?"

Rias sighed softly, her crimson hair catching the dim light as she looked up at her friend. "It's the same thing, Akeno. My engagement. I can't stop thinking about it."

Akeno set a cup of tea down in front of Rias, her movements graceful and calming. "I understand. But we'll find a way out of it. You always find a way."

Rias smiled faintly, grateful for Akeno's reassurance, though the weight of the situation still pressed down on her. "I hope so. I can't let that engagement dictate the rest of my life. I won't."

Her thoughts briefly shifted to Issei Hyoudou. She had sensed something within him—a Sacred Gear that had yet to awaken. She had planned to keep an eye on him, perhaps even bring him into her peerage when the time was right. For now, though, there was no urgency. Issei was still just an ordinary student.

Her focus remained on her engagement and the ever-growing pressure from her family. Time was running out, and she needed a way to break free from the chains that were tightening around her.