Inside the Occult Research Club's clubroom, time flowed slowly amid focused recovery and silent waiting.
The morning light grew warmer and brighter, casting colorful shadows across the floor through the stained glass. It dispelled the lingering chill and murderous intent from the previous night, bringing a fragile sense of peace and tranquility.
Rias Gremory, Kiba Yuuto, and Akeno Himejima sat with their eyes closed, adjusting their breathing as they absorbed the medicinal power to repair their injuries and replenish their depleted demonic power.
Koneko Toujou quietly guarded the area near the door, maintaining vigilance. Her amber eyes occasionally swept across the room, eventually settling on the long sofa in the center.
Everyone's heart was focused on one place.
Asia Argento was not immersed in deep recovery like the others. After taking the gentle nourishing potion Akeno had given her, her physical discomfort had greatly eased, but the turmoil in her heart refused to settle.
Wrapped in a soft blanket, she curled up on the sofa, her gaze unable to leave the unconscious figure on the opposite sofa—Shin.
His condition had stabilized under the effect of the Gremory Family's top-tier potions. He was no longer in immediate mortal danger, but he remained deeply asleep, his face pale and his breathing weak, like a fragile glass doll. The "Tear of the Goddess of Life" still emitted a gentle green light over his heart, continuously nourishing his depleted Origin.
Asia watched him quietly, taking in his handsome yet bloodless profile, his slightly furrowed brow, and the subtle tremble of his eyelashes from weakness. Her heart was filled with complex, unspeakable emotions—gratitude, guilt, worry, sadness—all intertwining and leaving her restless.
It was him who, at the final moment, had used a nearly self-destructive method to shatter the shackles tormenting her, completely freeing her from endless pain and despair. Yet because of it, he had fallen into this deep coma, hovering between life and death.
This debt of gratitude felt impossibly heavy.
She possessed the power to heal others, yet she was powerless to help her severely injured savior right now. That helplessness caused her immense pain.
However, beneath those heavy emotions, a more subtle, indescribable feeling was quietly growing in her heart.
She cautiously, almost holding her breath, slowly approached the sofa where Shin lay. Her movements were light, afraid of disturbing him or attracting the attention of the others.
She gently knelt on the carpet beside the sofa, folded her hands on the edge, and rested her chin lightly on the back of them, gazing at him from up close.
Up close, she could more clearly sense the extremely faint yet uniquely distinct energy emanating from him. It was completely different from any energy she was familiar with.
President Rias's demonic power—powerful, scorching, carrying the noble aura of destruction and regeneration.
Senior Akeno's demonic power—profound and shifting, containing the dual characteristics of thunder and depravity. Senior Kiba's Holy Sword power—holy and sharp, possessing a natural restraint against darkness.
Senior Koneko's demonic qi—quiet and reserved, yet containing explosive power. Even Raynare's foul Fallen Angel light power had been filled with aggression, corrosion, and destruction.
What emanated from Shin, however, was a kind of indescribable peace and tranquility. That qi was extremely faint, like a flickering candle in the wind, yet unbelievably pure.
It was not intensely exclusive or desirous of purification like Holy Light, nor lively and vibrant like natural magical power. It felt more like a settled, reserved "stillness" that coexisted harmoniously with its surroundings.
Like an ancient pool in the deep mountains—profound and clear, reflecting all things without disturbing them. Or like the thin mist in a morning forest—soft and ethereal, nurturing life without revealing its form.
This peaceful qi held an indescribable attraction and soothing power for Asia, who had just broken free from dark confinement and immense suffering.
Her heartstrings, taut from fear and sorrow, slowly relaxed under the enveloping presence of this faint yet persistent energy.
Her breathing stabilized, and the terrifying memory fragments in her mind seemed to disperse for a moment.
A nameless sense of security and closeness, rising from the depths of her soul, spontaneously arose.
She didn't understand why this was happening. She had never encountered this type of power before, yet it could so naturally soothe her wounded spirit.
Her azure eyes gazed unblinkingly at Shin, at his face that still carried a hint of resilient sharpness even in unconsciousness.
She couldn't help recalling their brief encounter in the academy corridor yesterday.
At that time, he had also carried this quiet and gentle aura, giving her a friendly smile. That smile had briefly warmed her when she was constantly terrified.
And now, he had ended up like this because of her…
A strong desire to confess surged into Asia's heart without warning. She had too much fear, too much grievance, and too much gratitude she needed to express.
And this sleeping savior before her—who gave her such an immense sense of security—seemed like the only person who could listen.
She cautiously glanced around again. Confirming that the President and the seniors were all immersed in recovery and that Koneko's gaze was fixed on the window, she took a deep breath, lowered her voice to a near-silent whisper like a sleep-talker, and began a sporadic confession meant only for the unconscious Shin.
"Shin… Classmate Shin…"
Her voice was as faint as a mosquito's buzz, carrying a timid tremble.
"C-can you hear me? Although… although you might not be able to hear…"
She paused, organizing her thoughts as moisture welled up in her azure eyes.
"Thank you… truly… thank you very, very much…" Her voice choked. "If it weren't for you… I might… might have already…" She couldn't finish the terrifying thought and only shook her head forcefully.
"That necklace… it hurt so much… it really hurt…"
Her voice filled with lingering fear and grievance, as if she had finally found an outlet. "The darkness… kept clinging to me… I was so scared… Struggling was useless… I felt like I was about to be devoured…"
Tears silently streamed down her cheeks, dropping onto the soft fabric of the sofa.
"But… finally… I saw… such warm… such dazzling light…" Her voice suddenly carried a hint of yearning and excitement. "It was you… wasn't it? You saved me… and broke that terrifying thing…"
She looked at Shin, eyes filled with pure gratitude. "You must be… very powerful, right? Although… although the President and the others say your power is different from ours… but… but I think… your power… is so gentle…"
She tilted her head slightly, feeling that wisp of peaceful qi, and her voice grew even softer. "Being near you… feels very secure… very comfortable… It's like… being surrounded by spring water warmed by the sun…"
"Those terrible memories from before… seem to have faded a little…"
She spoke ramblingly, pouring out the fear, grievance, gratitude, and that nameless sense of closeness without reservation. She didn't know if Shin could hear her. She just needed to say it—to the person who had given her new life and peace.
"…So, please, you must get better…"
Finally, her tone became incredibly serious and earnest. Her hands unconsciously gripped the edge of the sofa as if making the most important wish. "I will definitely… definitely work hard to use my power well… to help everyone… and to help you… to repay your kindness… so… please… don't let anything happen… wake up quickly…"
Her confession was faint and sporadic, yet filled with the most sincere emotion.
In the quiet clubroom, a strange yet heartwarming scene formed: the holy maiden knelt beside the unconscious youth, softly speaking words of gratitude and prayer, while the faint, peaceful Dao Rhyme surrounding the youth seemed to subtly circulate in response to her pure power of will, becoming even more tranquil.
After an unknown amount of time, exhaustion washed over Asia. The physical and mental trauma from last night combined with today's emotional fluctuations had consumed much of her energy.
She stopped speaking and remained quietly kneeling there, silently guarding him. Unknowingly, she too fell into a deep sleep, tear tracks still visible on her cheeks, but the corner of her mouth held a small arc of security and anticipation.
The sunlight inside the clubroom was perfect.
The severely injured Eastern Daoist and the rescued holy maiden—one slept deeply to repair under the effect of medicine, the other slept peacefully after emotional release.
Between them, an unspoken bond seemed to be quietly forming, based on the purest gratitude and the resonance of their unique qi.
Rias slightly opened her eyes at some point, looking at the two sleeping near the sofa. A complex yet soft light flashed in her crimson eyes before she closed them again, the corner of her mouth curling up in a barely noticeable arc.
Perhaps Asia's purest healing power, derived from her Sacred Gear, and Shin's peaceful and natural Dao Rhyme inherently possessed some unknown, complementary compatibility.
Who could say what the future held?
...
📢 Author's Note
The full completed version of High School DxD: The Quiet Immortal Who Guides Devils (Part 1) is now available on Patreon!
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✅ Part 1 Complete — 116 Chapters
🔥 I also have additional **18+ fanfics** available for readers who enjoy exclusive mature stories. 😉
1. Dragon Ball: Oolong's Sex Adventure
2. Elements of Lust – ATLA & Korra Mixed Smut
3. Doraemon: Filtering with Nobi Tamako
4. The Naive Me Who Became Someone's Everyday Secret
5. High School DxD: Rias Gremory, the Phenex Bride
6. Versatile Mage: Awakening the Succubus System
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