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“Ancheng big brother!” Issei Hyoudou came rushing after Li Ancheng, who was already walking out of the school gate.
He reached him breathless, panting.
“Is there an emergency?
Do you…
do you need me to do anything?” “No need.
Go home and think carefully about whether you want to keep that power inside you.” Li Ancheng smiled, and his figure vanished on the spot.
Issei Hyoudou drew a slow breath.
He was a bit torn…
Even with that power, he could never be stronger than Ancheng big brother.
After turning it over and over in his head, he decided he’d wait and see what happened with Yuma once she turned back into a human.
If they really did end up getting married…
Whether he kept the power or not didn’t really seem to matter anymore.
…
The outskirts.
An abandoned church.
The air was thick with blood.
Asia stood frozen.
Every trace of color had drained from her face.
She stared at the demons on the ground, brutally tortured, and at the ordinary drifters barely clinging to breath.
“Father?” Her voice trembled.
She turned slowly toward Fried beside her.
“You…
you lied to me?
Didn’t you say…
there were people here who needed healing?” Asia’s heart wouldn’t settle.
Just today.
She had been training in the park when she casually healed a child who had scraped his knee.
This man, a priest who called himself Fried, had seen the whole thing.
He told her there were people in the outskirts who urgently needed help, and begged her to use her power.
She hadn’t suspected a thing.
She followed him straight to this abandoned church.
And the scene before her eyes shattered every last expectation she’d had.
The wounded covering the ground…
All tortured to this state by Fried’s own hands.
This…
How was this any different from those slave merchants last night?!
“Hahaha…” Fried threw his head back and laughed, the sound manic, bouncing off every wall of the church.
“When did I lie to you?
Don’t all these things need your Healing Power to fix them right now?!” Asia drew a sharp breath.
Her small frame shook uncontrollably.
She raised her voice.
“B-but you did this!
You’re the one who hurt them!” “If I didn’t…” Fried snapped his head toward her, eyes locking onto Asia.
“How would I know whether your Healing Power is of any use to Lady Raynare?” From the moment the Church cast him out, he had turned his back on God completely and pledged himself to the Fallen Angels, becoming one of Raynare’s own.
Capturing.
Detaining.
Interrogating targets who held Sacred Gears.
All his work.
And capturing Asia was an order that had come from Raynare herself.
This so-called test of her power was an excuse, start to finish.
He simply enjoyed the thrill of killing.
The pleasure of holding someone’s life in his hands.
“I don’t know any Raynare…” Asia’s face went white.
She backed away in terror, her emerald eyes full of refusal.
“I won’t heal them…
Even if I do, you’ll just keep hurting them…” Fried let out a cold snort and closed the distance in long strides.
“That is a Fallen Angel lord!
Doesn’t matter if you don’t know her.
Once you join us, you’ll find out soon enough!” “F-Fallen Angel?!” Asia’s eyes flew wide.
“Those are sinners who betrayed the Lord and were cast out!
I will never join you!” “You don’t get to choose!” A lewd grin curled across Fried’s face as he pressed forward, step by step.
“Lady Raynare never required you to be in one piece anyway.
Perfect.
I’ll enjoy myself a little first…” “I…
I…” Terror seized Asia’s whole body.
She squeezed her eyes shut and screamed, voice cracking with tears.
“I’m a member of the Demon Court!” “If you dare touch me, Mister Ancheng will make you pay for it!” “Demon Court?” Fried looked like he’d heard the funniest thing in his life.
He laughed until he had to tilt his head back.
“Sounds scary enough, but what kind of nonsense…” He never finished the sentence.
BOOM!
The explosion ripped through the air.
The abandoned church lurched violently.
Dust and debris rained down from above.
A crushing pressure, vast as a mountain range, slammed down without warning.
Fried’s body drove into the ground like he’d been spiked from above.
Every bone in his body felt like it had splintered.
“You have a problem with the name I chose?” A calm, unhurried voice.
Li Ancheng’s figure materialized in front of Asia in an instant, looking down at Fried from above.
Asia’s eyes snapped open.
Her pupils shook.
“M-Mister Ancheng…” “Don’t be afraid.” Li Ancheng glanced back at her with a quiet smile, his voice easy and warm.
“I told you.
No one can hurt you anymore.” “Uu…” Asia’s eyes went red instantly.
Tears spilled down her cheeks.
She rushed forward and threw herself into his arms, wrapping tight around his waist.
“Mister Ancheng…
I was so scared…
I finally have a home, I…
I’m sorry.
I made you worry…” “You…” A tide of pure terror crashed through Fried’s chest.
What kind of monster was this?
He hadn’t even touched him.
Just stood there.
And Fried’s entire body had locked up, not a single finger obeying him.
Li Ancheng raised a hand and gently patted Asia on the back, then gave a soft snap of his fingers.
BANG!
Fried didn’t even manage a scream.
He simply burst into a cloud of blood mist and vanished into the air.
Asia’s body gave a small shudder.
She understood exactly what had just happened.
But this was Mister Ancheng.
Venting anger on her behalf.
Even though…
She hadn’t actually been hurt at all.
The old her would have foolishly pleaded for Mister Ancheng to let Fried go.
But now, something shifted inside her.
A strange warmth she couldn’t quite name, quietly settling at the bottom of her heart.
“Mister Ancheng…” Asia looked up at him.
“Those living beings…
Asia wants to heal them.
Is that okay?” Li Ancheng smiled softly, raised a hand to wipe the tear tracks from the corners of her eyes, then gave a gentle wave.
A warm, soothing energy drifted out like a fine rain, settling over every injured body in the room.
“Take another look.” Asia turned her head, puzzled.
The next second she went completely still, struck speechless by what Li Ancheng had done.
Just one casual wave of his hand.
Those ragged, brutal wounds sealed shut in an instant, without a trace remaining.
Even severed limbs grew back, whole and real, as if they had never been gone.
“That’s…
that’s incredible…” The words fell from her lips before she even realized she’d spoken.
“Alright.
Time to take you home.” Li Ancheng waved his hand once more, erasing those moments from the memories of every living being in the room.
He wrapped an arm around Asia, and they were gone.
Not long after they left, black feathers drifted down through the empty church.
Amano Yuma stepped out from among them.
She frowned, scanning the space around her.
“Fried…
is actually dead?” The words trailed off.
The frown eased.
A slow smile crossed her face.
“That nun actually carries a Sacred Gear with power like that?
She might be worth my personal attention after all.” Meanwhile.
Back at the villa.
Everyone was gathered around the table in the living room.
Li Ancheng was locked in a staring contest with Beta.
Had to admit…
Beta really was the most voluptuous of the Seven Shadows.
“You’re Lord Ancheng?” Beta stood up and leaned in close, blinking up at him, azure eyes bright and sparkling.
“Right?!” Li Ancheng nodded.
“Is there a problem?” Beta looked ready to burst.
“You’re so handsome!
You’re exactly like the male lead in my novels!” “Beta.” Alpha’s cool voice cut through.
“Mind how you speak to big brother…” “It’s fine.” Li Ancheng laughed and waved it off.
His hand landed naturally on top of Beta’s head, ruffling her hair.
“Beta is very cute.” The touch sent Beta over the moon completely.
She narrowed her eyes and leaned into it.
Her smile curved until her eyes were nothing but happy crescents.
“Lord Ancheng!
My power was bestowed by you!
Beta will write an exclusive biography dedicated entirely to you!” A faint ripple crossed the cool depths of Alpha’s eyes.
Her elf sister was a little too unrestrained.
Worth a reminder.
She looked at Li Ancheng.
“Big brother, leave the Fallen Angel matter to me.” Li Ancheng nodded.
“That female Fallen Angel you fought before…” “Alpha knows.” Alpha nodded, a light smile on her lips.
“I’ll spare her life when the time comes.
She is that human’s reward, after all.” Beta settled back into her seat, glanced over at Asia, and tilted her head.
“What about me?
The Fallen Angels messed with my lifesaver.” Alpha’s smile stayed easy.
“You know the slave merchant group’s affairs better than I do.
So you look into which sisters are qualified to enter the Demon Court.” ➤ Next: Akeno Near Death — Is the Demon Court the Last Hope?