Akemi Miyano: I Want to Be a Devil Too

Dusk fell.

"Shiho really is working hard. She's even left her master by the wayside."

Despite his words, a smile curved Lind's lips.

No master would dislike a Familiar who worked hard to grow stronger.

He walked out of Kuoh Academy, but instead of going home, he waited quietly.

"There he is."

Lind's eyes flickered as he watched a figure carrying a schoolbag.

That was his target, Issei Hyoudou.

He harbored nothing but ill will toward this so-called protagonist.

And the Red Dragon Emperor's Gauntlet interested him even more.

Lind moved his fingers, and the light of a Magic Circle flashed and vanished.

Meanwhile.

On his way home, Issei Hyoudou somehow found himself lost.

"What's going on? Why isn't there anyone around?"

Looking at the silent streets around him, Issei Hyoudou felt a chill creep into his heart.

He began running.

Suddenly.

An elegantly dressed young man appeared ahead of him.

"Hello, I think I..."

Before he could finish, a wave of freezing air swept over him.

The next instant.

Issei Hyoudou had turned into an ice sculpture.

"I'll keep him frozen for now and figure out how to extract the Red Dragon Emperor's Gauntlet later."

Lind stepped forward, a dark red Magic Circle flashing over his hand.

Issei Hyoudou vanished completely.

"Hmm?"

Just as Lind was about to leave, his expression shifted slightly.

"The presence of light?"

As a Demon, Lind was exceptionally sensitive to the power of light.

Even without extending his senses, he could detect it keenly.

"But this Light Power doesn't disgust me anymore?"

"Could that also have something to do with awakening my progenitor devil bloodline?"

Muttering to himself, Lind decided to stay.

Before long.

A white-haired man wearing a priest's coat appeared before him.

"Well, well, what do we have here? A little Demon who's lost his way."

A twisted smile spread across Freed's face, and a pungent stench of blood emanated from his entire body.

"A Lost Exorcist, huh."

Lind looked at him with some disappointment.

He had thought it would be a Fallen Angel.

He remembered that they seemed to possess a method for extracting Sacred Gears from people's bodies.

"Hahaha! That's right! I'm a Lost Exorcist!"

Freed laughed maniacally, the murderous intent in his eyes almost tangible.

"Those bastards abandoned God long ago. Only I'm worthy of serving Him."

"A filthy Demon like you appearing before me is a gift from God."

Lind's expression remained indifferent as he listened to Freed.

He walked forward as casually as if he were strolling through a garden.

If he hadn't wanted to test his suspicions, he would have killed the man already.

"Oh my, oh my, you're actually coming closer? Shouldn't a mere Demon like you be trembling at the sight of me?"

Freed's expression turned vicious. "It's all those bastards' fault."

"They've left Demons like you with no sense of fear."

The instant he finished speaking, the priest pulled an object from inside his coat.

It was a sword hilt with no blade whatsoever.

Hum!

The Light Power spread.

A brilliant blade of light extended from the hilt.

"Demon, I'll make you pay for your sins right now! Die!"

With a roar, Freed shot forward like lightning and slashed his sword down at Lind.

Clang!

The sword of light struck as though it had hit a piece of tempered steel.

Freed's eyes widened as he realized in horror that his strike had only cut through the other man's clothes.

What was more.

This Demon hadn't even used any demonic power.

How was that possible?

Although he was a Lost Exorcist, the Light Power he wielded was genuine.

It was the bane of all Demons.

Why?

Why was it completely useless against the Demon before him?

"Looks like I was right. I'm no longer afraid of light."

After assessing the situation, Lind murmured to himself.

Freed hadn't pierced his defenses.

That wasn't just because of the enormous gap in their strength.

It was also because he had awakened his progenitor devil bloodline.

His innate vulnerability to Light Power had vanished entirely.

"Damn it, this Demon isn't right."

Freed gritted his teeth and tried to retreat.

Boom.

Before he could move, however, a fist slammed into his chest.

Through sheer physical force alone, Freed's chest caved in instantly, and his body flew sideways like a cannonball.

He had barely let out a scream before his entire body burst like a watermelon.

Lind withdrew his hand, his expression utterly calm, as though he had crushed an ant.

With a light wave of his hand, he used magic to clean up the scene, then vanished.

The night deepened.

The bright moon hung high.

Shiho Miyano dragged her leaden body along the road home.

"Training really is exhausting."

"But it's all worth it."

She murmured to herself, a smile curving her lips.

Seeing the astonishment on Rias's and the others' faces had given her such a sense of accomplishment.

Most importantly...

She had learned a Super-Tier Magic spell called Lightning Strike.

Shiho Miyano gazed at the starry sky, feeling utterly peaceful and serene.

Once upon a time.

She wouldn't have dared imagine this feeling, even in her dreams.

And Lind had given her all of it.

"Come to think of it, I've run out of demonic power again."

As though she had remembered something, Shiho Miyano's cheeks flushed bright red.

Ten minutes later.

Shiho Miyano spotted a familiar figure outside the villa.

"This is definitely the right address."

Akemi Miyano looked at the villa, her brows knitting slightly.

She had also heard that the organization's research facility here had been destroyed.

She had assumed her little sister would be under close surveillance.

But judging by what she saw.

That didn't seem to be the case.

Recalling how hesitant Shiho Miyano had sounded over the phone, she grew worried.

"You're here, sis."

Just then, Shiho Miyano appeared before her with a radiant smile. "Why are you standing out here? Come inside."

Akemi Miyano: "..."

What on earth? Since when did her little sister smile like that?

Chapter 10: Akemi Miyano: I Want to Be a Devil Too

Creak—

The villa's front door opened.

"Pretty nice place, isn't it, sis?"

Shiho Miyano pulled Akemi Miyano inside.

Akemi Miyano put on slippers and surveyed her surroundings, looking thoughtful.

There really wasn't anyone from the organization here?

Lind's eyes flickered slightly as he looked at Akemi Miyano.

"So, you must be Shiho's older sister. Do you happen to have a boyfriend?"