Under the cover of night, the massive crater on the outskirts of Kuoh Town still exuded an eerie presence, making it seem as though a meteorite had just crashed there moments ago.
"Zing—"
Without any prior warning, a sudden burst of light illuminated an open area outside the crater, dispelling part of the surrounding darkness.
The light rose from the ground, originating from an expanding magic circle. It was as though a mysterious gateway had appeared, allowing several figures to step through.
Moments later, the light faded, and the magic circle vanished. However, the figures remained, standing at the edge of the crater.
"This is…"
A young woman at the front furrowed her brows, her voice carrying a mix of surprise and uncertainty.
She was an exceptionally beautiful girl.
Her long, crimson-red hair flowed like a cascade of fire, its vibrant hue adding a dreamlike contrast to the desolate landscape, making the barren surroundings appear almost lively.
She wore a school uniform, her well-proportioned figure accentuated by her attire. Her fair, slender legs, revealed beneath her skirt, seemed to emit a faint glow, captivating any onlooker.
Her demeanor exuded elegance and nobility, carrying an air of confidence that hinted at her inner strength.
However, that confidence was immediately shaken upon seeing the enormous crater before her.
"President."
Standing beside the red-haired girl was another young woman, equally stunning in beauty and physique.
Her long, jet-black hair was tied into a single ponytail, cascading over one shoulder, embodying the grace of a Yamato Nadeshiko. She carried an air of gentleness, yet beneath it lay a quiet intensity.
Like the first girl, she also furrowed her brows, her expression solemn as she spoke.
"I don't sense any traces of Demonic Power, nor do I feel the presence of Light Power. This wasn't caused by a Devil, an Angel, or a Fallen Angel."
A single glance was all it took for the Yamato Nadeshiko to reach that conclusion.
"Not a Devil, Angel, or Fallen Angel?" The red-haired girl's frown deepened. "Could it have been the Church?"
The one to answer was not the black-haired girl but a young man standing behind them.
"No, this wasn't the work of the Church either."
The young man appeared slightly younger than the two girls, his tall and slender figure complemented by strikingly handsome features. He was undeniably a pretty boy.
"Whether it's the exorcists or the warriors of the Church, their power in battle is almost always Light Power bestowed by the Angels—unless, of course, they wield a Sacred Gear or possess some kind of Holy-attributed weapon."
His certainty in this statement revealed his considerable understanding of the Church.
"…Sacred Gear?"
The last of the group finally spoke.
She was a petite girl with delicate, slender limbs and short, silvery-white hair cut to shoulder length.
She was clearly younger than the other three, her doll-like face exuding an air of innocence. Yet despite her refined features, her expression remained emotionless, making her resemble a marionette or an automaton.
If Kirin Toudou were here, she might have suspected that this girl was her age.
Her voice was soft yet icy, her words concise and to the point, as though she had no intention of wasting any syllables.
"Hmm… could it have been the work of a Sacred Gear wielder?" The red-haired girl gazed into the crater and murmured, "There shouldn't be many Sacred Gears capable of this level of destruction, right?"
"Correct." The black-haired girl responded calmly. "This scale of destruction is comparable to that of an Ultimate-Class Devil. Any Sacred Gear capable of such devastation wouldn't be an obscure relic."
"The wielder is unlikely to be a resident of Kuoh Town—they're probably an outsider."
"Furthermore, there's a high possibility that this outsider isn't affiliated with Devils, Angels, or Fallen Angels."
Everyone present understood the implications of that statement.
"Someone like that actually entered Kuoh Town?"
The young man's expression hardened.
"Dangerous…"
The petite girl whispered softly.
"President." The black-haired girl turned to the red-haired one. "We should report this to the higher-ups. The Maou will likely take interest in this matter."
An unidentified powerhouse had entered Kuoh Town, someone who likely wielded power rivaling an Ultimate-Class Devil. To the gathered group, this was no trivial matter.
After all, Kuoh Town was their domain—their territory. If this unknown figure had come with hostile intentions, conflict was inevitable.
This was not something they could afford to ignore.
Ultimate-Class Devils were second only to the Maou in strength. If this individual truly held such power, none of them were capable of dealing with them alone.
As the leader of the group, Rias Gremory understood the gravity of the situation.
Although they had no idea which faction this powerful individual belonged to, whoever it was, they had the potential to be an enemy.
Angels and Fallen Angels were out of the question—both had been locked in conflict with Devils for thousands of years. If they encountered such an opponent, the encounter would likely turn into a life-or-death struggle.
If the individual was a Devil, then entering another noble Devil's domain without permission was just as problematic.
Every Devil knew that Kuoh Town belonged to Rias Gremory, the current heir of the Gremory Clan.
To enter a noble's territory unannounced was no friendly visit—it was a challenge. A provocation.
"President."
The black-haired girl called out again, her tone carrying added urgency.
"Phew…"
Rias Gremory exhaled softly, regaining her composure.
"Akeno, report this to the Gremory Clan." She gave her instructions decisively. "Until we receive orders from home, send out the Familiars to investigate all recent arrivals in Kuoh Town—anyone suspicious."
"Yes, President."
Akeno Himejima nodded immediately.
"Yuuto, Koneko."
Rias turned to the other two.
"Yes, President."
"…President."
Yuuto Kiba and Koneko Toujou responded at once.
"Limit nighttime activity for now. Try to return home before dark," Rias ordered solemnly. "If anything unusual happens, do not act alone—inform me immediately. Understood?"
"Understood!"
Both of them agreed without hesitation.
Just as Rias was about to speak again, Akeno suddenly noticed something.
"President!" Akeno pointed at the ground. "Look there—footprints."
Everyone's expression shifted as they immediately turned to look.
Sure enough, faint footprints trailed across the ground.
They weren't particularly visible, easily overlooked in the darkness—even in daylight, they wouldn't be easy to spot.
But none of the four present were ordinary humans. Even in total darkness, their vision was as clear as daylight, making the footprints impossible to miss.
"Could these belong to the one responsible?"
Yuuto speculated.
"Human scent."
Koneko's small nose twitched as she made her assessment.
"A human?" Akeno mused. "Then it really could be a Sacred Gear wielder."
Of course, that was merely speculation. More investigation was needed to confirm anything.
"Akeno, make an imprint of the footprints and collect the scent. Have the Familiars track it." Rias issued orders decisively. "Also, notify Sona—make sure she doesn't accidentally walk into trouble."
The others nodded in agreement and promptly began their work.
Rias turned back to the crater, staring at it in silence for a long while before murmuring to herself.
"Let's hope this doesn't turn into a disaster…"
Meanwhile, in a shadowed corner of Kuoh Town, Siegfried held up a small magic circle in his palm.
"…That's the situation. The target hasn't agreed to our invitation yet, so I withdrew for now. I'll continue observing from the shadows."
His words elicited a response from the magic circle.
"So that's how it played out…"
The voice belonged to a young man, slightly distorted through the transmission.
"He didn't use his Sacred Gear… That was unexpected. We had hoped to use this as an opportunity to see what kind of Sacred Gear he wields."
The voice chuckled before continuing.
"But the fact that he's developed Touki—now that's an interesting surprise. Looks like we need to reassess his potential. If possible, let's recruit him."
"Is it okay?" Siegfried asked. "He seems to know a lot about us—far more than he should. That shouldn't be possible."
"You suspect he may have already been recruited by another faction?" The young man on the other end of the magic circle immediately grasped Siegfried's meaning. "It's not out of the question, but mere suspicion isn't enough reason for us to give up on him."
"Alright, then let's follow your plan and continue observing him."
"You should stay there for now. Find a chance to test him again—see if you can force him to use his Sacred Gear and uncover his true capabilities."
"Understood." Siegfried nodded. "I'll remain here for the time being."
"Be careful," the young man warned. "That place is under the jurisdiction of Rias Gremory, the current heiress of the Gremory Clan. She may only be an Upper-Class Devil, but she has a terrifying older brother backing her."
"I know." Siegfried shrugged. "I'm not reckless enough to make a move without thinking."
With that, the conversation ended, and the magic circle in Siegfried's palm disappeared.
Only then did Siegfried look up at the sky, a faint smile tugging at his lips as he muttered to himself.
"A fellow runaway from the Church… Let's see what choice you'll make—one that benefits both sides, hopefully."
"Kaiser…"
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