Chapter 18 - Lucky Day
The Three Factions War and the Devil Civil War had caused immense upheaval among Devils.
In such chaos, it wasn't unthinkable for a clan's bloodline to be lost in the human world.
Such cases had occurred before.
"I'm not sure," Rias admitted, her tone tinged with frustration.
Everyone understood why.
The marriage contract with the Phenex Clan was a heavy burden on Rias's heart.
"Rias, should we report this?" Akeno asked.
A potential Phenex was significant news, and informing the clan could earn their favor.
"Not yet," Rias replied.
"We don't know if this person is tied to the Phenex Clan."
"I'd rather avoid contact with them for now. If they're not involved, it'll just stir up trouble."
"Besides, this is an unknown individual in my territory."
"I haven't identified them yet. Why should I let the Phenex Clan meddle?"
Rias added, her voice laced with resentment toward the mysterious figure.
This stranger had not only appeared in her domain without permission but also stolen her prey after a night-long hunt—and might even be linked to the Phenex Clan.
Each point felt like a deliberate provocation, fueling Rias's ire.
"Rias, have you noticed?" Akeno said, inspecting the Stray Devil's corpse and the surroundings with a smile.
"The way this was handled screams complete beginner."
"Exactly. They didn't even dispose of the corpse—just left it here," Kiba agreed.
A monstrous remains, if found by humans, could make headlines by morning.
Despite myths and the presence of mystical, the supernatural world remained hidden, shielded from ordinary human awareness.
"Maybe they're just taunting me," Rias muttered, her resentment deepening.
Akeno gave a helpless smile, recognizing that Rias's mood was soured by the Phenex connection.
While Rias's theory wasn't impossible, it seemed unlikely.
"President, Shiro and I will track down this suspicious person," Koneko promised.
"Thanks, Koneko," Rias said, softening her restless mood with a smile.
"Since someone else dealt with the Stray, let's call it a night."
Rias raised her hand, and demonic power surged, enveloping the Stray Devil's corpse.
Moments later, the massive remains dissolved into nothingness.
After erasing the surrounding burn marks with demonic power, Rias used teleportation magic, returning to ORC.
***
Roy was unaware that his handiwork had sparked a flurry of speculation among Rias and her peerage.
At that moment, he was fast asleep on the plush hotel bed.
The next morning, Roy woke refreshed, washed up, and sat down to enjoy the hotel's breakfast.
Ring!
His phone chimed with a message notification.
Roy opened it to look at the home address of Issei.
Yesterday, he'd not only arranged to find a house but also hired someone to locate Issei's address.
With Issei's full name, school, and age, the search was swift.
"Let's check out Issei's house today," Roy decided, finishing the last bite of breakfast and wiping his lips.
Issei was the protagonist.
If Kiba was worth 50,000 Dimensional Points, Issei had to offer more—conservatively, over 100,000.
After leaving the hotel, Roy took a taxi to the neighborhood near Issei's home.
"No one else around. Has Issei not been targeted yet?" Roy wondered, posing as a casual passerby while observing the area.
Issei's house looked unremarkable, with no signs of fallen angels or Devils.
"Good news," Roy murmured.
It meant fewer obstacles if he made a move—no sudden interruptions.
Of course, his investigative skills might have missed hidden fallen angels or Devils lurking nearby.
To them, he was just a human.
"I'll scope things out first. If it comes to it, I'll find a way inside," Roy decided, choosing to linger outside.
He wasn't certain if the area was under surveillance, and breaking in could complicate things.
With plenty of time, he saw no need to rush.
"I'm heading out!" a voice called.
A boy in a T-shirt emerged from the house— Issei.
"Issei, take the extra money Mom gave you and come straight back after shopping."
"No buying those dirty magazines again!" Issei's mother's voice echoed from inside.
"Got it, Mom, quit nagging!" Issei replied, his face flushing.
He glanced around nervously, relaxing only when he saw no one nearby.
If anyone had overheard, he'd have died of embarrassment.
Grumbling about his mother's lecture, Issei headed toward the nearest supermarket.
"Lucky day," Roy said with a smile.
Issei leaving alone was exactly what he'd hoped for.