142.
Issei's date was set, and he started grooming himself using the knowledge he'd cultivated so far. From his outfit to the date course, checking each one might be excessive, but it also showed how serious he was.
"I'm off!"
I lightly waved my hand at his energetic departure.
143.
And then my little brother returned, having become a devil.
144.
...My body froze for a moment.
What on earth happened?
Issei, who had just woken up, seemed unable to comprehend the situation and asked me if I knew about Yuuma. His near-panic was obvious to anyone, so I told him to calm down and asked what had happened.
Regaining his composure at my words, Issei talked about being on a date with a woman named Yuuma Amano, and how at the end, Yuuma suddenly produced something like black wings and punched a hole through his stomach.
Hearing that, I could guess who the opponent was.
A fallen angel.
145.
But questions remained.
Setting aside why a fallen angel would kill Issei, why did Issei, killed by a fallen angel, return as a devil? It was fortunate he returned alive, but I still couldn't understand the cause and effect.
Can a human become a devil to begin with?
If I had reincarnation-level power, it might not be impossible, but conversely, that means it's nearly impossible without such a convenient ability.
Issei seemed to think it was a bad dream or a mistake, but it was absolutely not a dream.
146.
Information about the woman named Yuuma Amano completely disappeared from the school.
It seems she completely erased her traces.
As if she had finished her business.
I felt terrible. Because it became clear that fallen angel's goal was to kill Issei.
Issei was left only with confusion about the existence named Yuuma Amano, whom no one but me remembered.
Now, what should I do about this? Starting with Issei becoming a devil, this is an incredibly troublesome situation.
147.
"You, a stray?"
"St-, stray?"
"Then is the human next to you something like the stray's contractor? Well, think of it as bad luck."
A fallen angel appeared and began threatening Issei. Naturally, Issei, who didn't understand the situation, was flustered but seemed to instinctively sense things weren't good, showing signs of wanting to retreat. But as if not letting him go, the fallen angel created a light spear and charged, and I entered combat for the first time in a very long time in this life.
"Kuh-hek?!"
I erased the light spear with my dream power and immediately rushed in to punch him in the chest.
I've really weakened a lot. In the past, I didn't need to block or dodge such attacks, and just thinking about attacking was enough.
I don't think I can muster even one percent of my prime power.
"Br-, brother?!"
When I defeated the fallen angel, Issei grew even more flustered. Well, to Issei, who until recently was ordinary, this must seem like pure fantasy. And soon after, devils revealed themselves.
Enemies?
As I took my stance, the devils, who had been slightly surprised, lightly raised their hands as if they had no intention to fight.
"We don't want to fight, Hyodo-kun. Rather, we want to talk, so would it be okay if we send a guide tomorrow?"
Hearing that, I looked at them indifferently and asked. Given the circumstances, it seemed these people were involved in Issei becoming a devil.
"Did you turn Issei into a devil?"
"Yes."
"What were you thinking, making him a devil?"
I put more strength into my hand. If they had ill intentions, I planned to kill these devils right here. Even though my power has greatly weakened, if I somehow draw out everything to the bottom, I can kill that much.
As for Issei, it might take some time, but I should be able to turn him back into a human.
"Hmm, don't misunderstand. I saved him."
"Saved him?"
"He was killed by a fallen angel, and his wish to live called me. I saved him to fulfill his wish, and that meant reviving him as a devil, but isn't that better than dying?"
Indeed, Issei said that woman pierced his stomach...
Given the circumstances, it doesn't seem like a lie.
After a brief silence, I relaxed my stance. They don't seem like enemies for now, and I should hear them out.
Seeing my demeanor, the devil spoke.
"Then I'll send a guide to school tomorrow."
148.
A guide came and we went to the Occult Research Club.
Wait, I thought this before, but why are devils into the occult?
Isn't that hobby weird?
Entering the Occult Research Club room with Issei, the devils welcomed us.
"We welcome you. As devils."
149.
The devils explained the basic opposing factions and why Issei was killed. Fallen angels basically engage in something called Sacred Gear hunting, and it seems they speculated Issei had that Sacred Gear.
Isn't that a bit different?
During my time as Great Red, I saw quite a few fallen angels killing humans just because they were bored. Basically, being fallen angels, many have broken personalities.
More than that, have I weakened to the point where I can't even recognize the Sacred Gear inside Issei, weakened as I am?
How much have I really weakened?
"How did you make Issei into a devil?"
"Ren-kun, you seem to know about the supernatural world, but you don't know?"
Rias, who seemed puzzled, spoke slowly.
Evil Pieces.
A legendary item created by one of the current Satans, Ajuka Beelzebub. Apparently, it's an item that reincarnates other species into devils. The Beelzebub I know didn't have that name? It seems many things have happened in devil society while I was dead.
More than that, it's unpleasant.
Considering that the cult I operated (if it still exists) was originally formed when those caught up in the tyranny of devils, fallen angels, all sorts of monsters, and gods began to rely on us, it's extremely unpleasant.
Even thinking normally, my brother died once.
Glancing at Issei's expression, it's gloomy.
Well, to put it bluntly, it means only he was serious.
To that fallen angel, Issei was literally just a toy to play with.
It was the worst possible experience for a man.
150.
"Thank you for saving Issei."
Well, either way, I'm grateful they revived Issei.
If I forced a revival, it might be possible, but with my power weakened now, I'm not sure it would definitely work, and if too much time passed after death, I couldn't guarantee it with my current power. So I think I should be thankful for this part.
At my words, Rias said it was nothing and moved on.
Come to think of it, should I call her the original Gremory by Rias's standards?
I've never met her, but I think I heard before that among the other 72 Pillars, she had a fairly good personality.
A small silver lining in the misfortune?
151.
It seemed they wanted to check the Sacred Gear Issei possessed.
Then Issei shouted "Boosted Gear" and a red gauntlet appeared on his left hand.
At its appearance, Rias was surprised.
"Boosted Gear.... One of the thirteen Longinus."
"I-, is that good?"
"It's a weapon that theoretically can destroy gods and Satans."
There's a God-Destroying Tool like that? It wasn't among the Longinus I knew, so it seems to be a Longinus created after my death.
"A Sacred Gear that seals the souls of the Two Heavenly Dragons, who were killed by the Ouroboros Dragon in the past."
....Huh? Did something I can't ignore just get mentioned?
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