Time passed, and evening arrived.
After parting with Aine, Soyo Nagasaki lay on her bed, opening her phone.
She tapped her contacts, staring at the pinned chat, silent as always.
After a few seconds, she pulled a business card from her pocket.
[Gremory Agency: Fulfills all client wishes.]
Soyo hesitated, eyeing the card's text.
She didn't want to resort to extreme measures to find Shoko.
But days of waiting had worn her patience thin.
With a perfect opportunity now in hand, Soyo couldn't resist.
"Let's try it."
After staring at the card, Soyo dialed the number listed.
Beep! Beep! Beep!
As the dial tone sounded, Soyo took a deep breath, preparing her words.
But then, the card flew from her hand, transforming into a magic circle mid-air.
In Soyo's shocked gaze, a familiar figure appeared.
"Evening, Miss Soyo Nagasaki."
Roy greeted the girl. "Didn't expect to see you again so soon. You're more impatient than I thought."
"Mr. Roy, what's this? Are you some legendary magician?"
Snapping back, Soyo fired off questions.
"I do some magician side gigs, but my main job's being a devil."
Roy explained devil business basics.
Soyo's expression grew complicated.
She realized Aine's warnings were true.
She'd just misunderstood, thinking Aine was a dimwit.
"Soyo, what's your commission?"
Roy's voice broke her thoughts.
She hesitated, then answered, "I want to see someone."
"Who?"
"A friend from my middle school band, Shoko Toyokawa."
"Easy."
Roy's lips curled, as if expecting this. "That'll be one million yen. Pay up."
So expensive.
Soyo winced, pulling out most of her saved allowance from her wallet.
"Mr. Roy, when can I see Shoko?"
"Tomorrow evening."
"Huh? That fast?"
"Pay more, and it'll be faster."
"…I'll wait."
"Guess you're short on cash."
Roy chuckled, adding Soyo's contact info to his phone. "Sweet dreams, Miss Soyo."
Waving goodbye, he stepped into a teleportation circle.
A faint glow flashed, and he reappeared at home.
At that moment, a knock sounded.
"Talk about timing."
Sensing the aura outside, Roy raised an eyebrow. "Come in."
"Excuse me."
Shoko Toyokawa pushed the door open, her gaze locking onto the man in the chair.
"Roy, I need to talk."
"Funny, I've got something to tell you too."
"?"
"I got a commission about you."
"Commission?"
"Yup, from your old bandmate."
Roy briefly recounted his talk with Soyo.
Shoko frowned, silent for a moment before asking, "Can I not see her?"
"You sure? Just a quick chat could net you 500,000 yen."
"500,000?"
Shoko blinked.
Since joining Rias's household, she'd learned a bit about devil work.
But until now, she hadn't realized how much Roy and the others charged.
"Decided? Taking the job?"
Roy pressed, but Shoko shook her head after a pause.
"Sorry, I don't want to see her."
CRYCHIC was once Shoko's haven.
Meeting Soyo would dredge up memories of carefree days.
But reality was harsh—after her family's downfall, she couldn't go back.
Money mattered, but Shoko didn't want to stir old wounds or false hopes.
"Rare to see you resist cash's allure."
"That's a terrible way to put it."
"Just being honest."
Roy rubbed his chin thoughtfully. "If I up the reward to a million yen, would that change your mind?"
"It's not about money."
"Two million?"
"I said it's not about money."
"Ten million?"
"…"
"Guess the commission fee's too low."
Roy nodded, making a judgment.
"Ahem… Could I really get ten million?"
Shoko coughed awkwardly, asking softly, her confidence wavering.
"Your friend can't pay that, but I can."
Roy snapped his fingers.
Bang!
A row of heavy gold bars dropped onto the table.
"Take it. The extra's your bonus for the year."
"…"
Shoko didn't reach for it.
Staring at the gold for seconds, she looked at Roy, confused. "Why?"
"What?"
"Why go this far, even paying out of pocket, to make me see Soyo?"
"To help you untangle your heart."
Roy smiled. "They say money isn't everything, but without it, you're stuck."
"Complete this commission, earn the cash, and you'll ease some of your current struggles."
"Meeting Soyo in that state, you might find your true feelings—whether reconciling with the past or moving forward."
"But what's in it for you?"
Shoko still didn't get his motives.
His next words caught her off guard.
"To buy the rest of your life."
"Huh?"
"Shoko, I know you well."
Roy met her eyes, his tone calm. "After taking so much from me, you'll feel compelled to repay me."
"But you can't. You'll just owe me more and more."
"Take this money, and your life's basically mine."
"…"
Shoko fell silent.
Roy didn't rush her.
Grabbing 100 Tips for New Directors from a nearby shelf, he flipped through it leisurely.
After a while, Shoko's voice returned.
"Roy, I need money badly, so I won't refuse your help."
"I don't know what the future holds."
"But even if, like you say, I can't escape you, I'll accept it."
"Thank you for helping me now."
[Shoko Toyokawa has devoted herself to you. Entry You Are All My Wings amplified.]
Plan worked.
Hearing the notification, Roy's lips twitched upward.
Whether Shoko took the money didn't matter.
What mattered was showing his stance, striking at her weakest point to win her over.
This would boost his training efficiency further.
Glancing at the upgraded entry's effects, Roy sighed inwardly.
The devotion trigger was too strict.
He'd tried charming ordinary people with his looks, but none triggered it.
Otherwise, he wouldn't have circled back to Shoko.
"By the way, Roy," Shoko said, blushing as she recalled her purpose after stating her stance.
She quickly explained Xenovia and Irina's situation.
"I already know."
"Don't worry, they're not lying," Roy nodded. "They're here on a special mission and will meet us tomorrow."
"Good."
Shoko exhaled, relieved.
She'd feared Irina and Xenovia were trouble, targeting Roy's group.
If all was well, she could relax.
Click!
The door opened.
Rias, in just a bathrobe, walked in. "Shoko, you're here."
She greeted, then noticed the gold bars on the table. "What's this?"
"Charity fund."
Roy kept it brief.
"That's blunt."
Having reviewed Shoko's file after their date, Rias got it instantly.
Seeing Shoko's faint blush and lack of resistance, Rias swallowed her follow-up.
Meeting Roy's gaze, she looked at Shoko thoughtfully. "Shoko, staying over tonight?"
"Huh?"
"I don't mind," Rias said, hugging Roy's arm with a suggestive smile.
Shoko's brain short-circuited.
"I… I've got stuff to do. I'll go!"
Stammering, she bolted from the room.
"Needs more training," Rias shrugged, glancing at a corner. "Coming out yet?"
"Ugh, caught by Prez again."
The air shimmered, and Koneko appeared, in just her underwear.
"Your Senjutsu's still rough. When Roy plays with you, I never notice," Rias said.
"Huh? How'd you know?"
"Guessed."
Koneko: "…"
Crap, I spilled.
"Looks like you need work beyond Senjutsu," Roy said, unfazed, shaking his head.
Silently maxing his gravity bracelet, he pulled Rias for tonight's training.
The night was tender, candlelight flickering with endless affection.
Time flew, and the next day arrived.
After classes, Roy and the others gathered at the Occult Research Club.
Half an hour later, Xenovia Quarta and Irina Shidou entered through the main door.
Instantly, Yuuto Kiba's eyes blazed with hatred, his aura surging.
Facing Yuuto's palpable hostility, Xenovia and Irina matched it, releasing their own auras.
Their energies clashed mid-air, Yuuto's momentum faltering.
But then, a terrifying aura erupted from Roy.
Like a cataclysmic wave, it obliterated the Church duo's presence in an instant.
"Wanna fight? Say it. I don't mind a couple more bodies."
His oppressive voice echoed through the clubroom.
"…You're the rumored Red Dragon Emperor Roy, aren't you? I heard about you at the Church," Xenovia said, narrowing her eyes. "As expected, a dangerous one."
"Not convinced yet?"
Roy stood from the sofa, drawing his demon sword.
"Huh? Wait! Hold on!"
Irina jumped between them. "Xenovia! We're here to negotiate, not fight! Cool it!"
"He's the one who needs to cool it," Xenovia scoffed.
"You're sharper than I thought. They're provoking us, giving us a taste of their strength."
"Didn't expect you to catch on."
Roy raised an eyebrow, dropping the act. "Draw your weapons. Let's see what Church holy sword wielders can do."
"Hmph, as you wish."
Xenovia opened her cloth bag, pulling out a longsword.
"Ugh, how'd it come to this?"
Irina sighed, retrieving a rope from her pocket.
The rope shimmered, morphing into a katana in her hands.
"Mr. Roy, you sure about this? We're pretty strong."
"I just hope you last ten seconds."
Roy taunted, unfazed.
Even the milder Irina fell silent, assuming an attack stance.
The fiery Xenovia didn't hold back, charging forward.
Her Destruction holy sword activated, its radiant blade slashing down.
To most devils, this was a lethal strike, but Roy didn't budge.
[Boost!]
Red light flared from his gauntlet. After the first power surge, Roy swung his sword.
Their blades clashed, and Xenovia felt a massive force, her body tilting back.
In that split second, Roy kicked without mercy.
Boom!
Xenovia flew back, crashing through the wall and vanishing.
At the same time, Irina struck from a blind spot.
Her katana shimmered, extending into a spear aimed at Roy.
"Too slow."
Roy sidestepped, grabbed the spear, and yanked Irina toward him.
Before she could react, he seized her head and slammed it down.
Boom!
[Congratulations on defeating Irina Shidou. Obtained Blue entry 'Holy Sword Factor.']
"Irina!"
Xenovia, rushing back, lost it, opening her subspace.
Holy flames poured out as she drew another sword.
"That's… Durandal?!" Rias gasped.
The legendary holy sword was infamous among devils.
Even on first sight, Rias recognized it.
"You're an Excalibur user, aren't you? Why another holy sword?"
"You got it backward."
"I'm Durandal's wielder. Excalibur's just a side gig."
Xenovia's aura surged as she charged Roy.
But Roy's gauntlet flashed red again.
"Not bad, you lasted ten seconds."
Facing the nearing Durandal, Roy, now twice as strong, activated Gram.
Demonic energy rivaling Durandal's erupted from Gram as Roy slashed.
Boom!
Like a replay, Xenovia was blasted back again.
This time, Roy didn't stay put.
Stepping forward, he followed her into the woods outside the old schoolhouse.
A chilling glint flashed, Gram's demonic edge pressing against Xenovia's throat before she could react.
"Convinced now?"
Roy's voice rang out.
Xenovia paused, dropping her weapon, giving up.
"You win."
[Congratulations on defeating Xenovia Quarta. Obtained Red entry 'Holy Sword Wielder.']
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