Kuoh Town's Kitten - Chapter 20

"Dumped? Do you know they've all been sent to hell? Not even Raynare or that guy Dohnaseek remains."

Xi Ye's expression was solemn. The white-haired exorcist Freed had to die, and Xi Ye wanted to expose their true intentions through his mouth.

He wanted Asia to understand the ugliness behind these people fully.

"..."

Freed, who had been brimming with confidence, suddenly froze.

"Raynare is dead? What trash."

"You know quite a bit."

The corners of Xi Ye's mouth twitched as he turned to face Freed.

"I also know you'll be joining them soon."

"Heh... hehehe, you almost made me believe that. What an overconfident guy." Freed's expression twisted with a sinister grin. "I haven't done this in a while. I've almost forgotten the taste of blood."

"No!"

Asia cried out from behind Xi Ye.

"That's exciting."

"Turn on Mage Mode."

"Activate the 'Domination' theme."

"Connect to the 'Gluttony' library in the Power Library!"

"—Power Word!"

With the rapid-fire commands, Xi Ye transformed. Magical attire covered him; his black hair turned white, and glowing circles of light formed around his hands.

An enchantment formed, sealing the room off from the outside world.

"This..."

Behind him, Asia stepped back in shock, overwhelmed by the magical surge.

She stared at Xi Ye's transformed appearance, dazed and unable to calm herself.

"Hmm, it smells like a devil... but where are the bat wings? Show me the highlights!"

Freed assumed Xi Ye was a devil and raised his light sword.

"My sword is starving."

As an exorcist, Freed rivaled Raynare in strength. With his light sword—a weapon made to slay devils—and various spells, he was a real threat.

"Hey, Freed, take a good look. I'm not a devil.

I'm a Demon King."

Xi Ye smirked. Boosted by Power Word, he dashed forward and struck.

Boom!

Freed was launched across the room, slamming into the earthen wall.

Xi Ye hadn't even used his full strength. The blow, amplified by magic, inflicted magical and physical damage.

Freed was in bad shape.

Unlike the fallen angels with their special bodies, he was just a human with enhanced strength. His eyes went wide in stunned confusion.

Cough, cough!

After a moment of retching, Freed came back to his senses.

"Damn devil—go to hell!"

He pulled out a gun—a sacred weapon used only by senior exorcists, designed for hunting devils.

Bang!

A glowing bullet shot from the barrel, speeding toward Xi Ye.

Hiss!

Xi Ye neutralized the magic effortlessly with his mental control.

"What..."

Asia, who had been trembling, watched in shock as the bullet dissolved harmlessly. She relaxed slightly.

She knew better than anyone: Freed's weapons were terrifyingly effective against devils.

If even they didn't work…

"Impossible... Impossible..."

Freed kept firing, pulling the trigger again and again. The gun roared—but every shot failed.

Xi Ye clenched his fists and walked toward him.

"Tell me, Freed. Why did you bring Asia here? What did Raynare want?"

Freed glanced back, seeing the sealed barrier. There was no way out.

After a brief moment of hesitation, he grinned again, regaining his mad composure.

"Tch... Isn't it obvious? We wanted her Sacred Gear—'Twilight Healing.' You should've known that already. Hehehe..."

"Is that so?"

Xi Ye looked at Asia.

Tears still shimmered on her cheeks as she stood frozen, clearly shaken by what Freed revealed.

It hadn't been to help others... but to harvest her power?

Xi Ye narrowed his eyes and turned back to Freed.

"Then what happens to her after the Sacred Gear is removed?"

"Death, of course... hehehe..."

Freed laughed like a wolf, covering his face.

But his laughter stopped abruptly.

Xi Ye's fist had pierced his heart.

Freed froze, stunned.

A small trickle of blood ran down Xi Ye's arm and fell silently to the floor.

Behind them, Asia stood wide-eyed and still.

For the first time, she felt no sorrow over someone's death.

She just didn't understand... why would a priest deceive her?

Was it all because of the Sacred Gear—Twilight Healing—that the church had branded her a witch?

After a long silence, Asia collapsed to the floor, hugging her knees, trembling.

Meanwhile, Xi Ye cleaned Freed's body and washed the blood from his hands.

Only then did he approach the girl.

"It's over now. The fallen angels were just using you. You've seen the truth for yourself."

He knelt beside her, patting her hood softly.

"Asia, you still have me. This is your home now."

"Waa~~"

Her sobs burst forth, louder than ever before. It was the first time Asia had cried so openly.

And Xi Ye stayed with her, silently.

Sometimes, the catalyst for someone's growth... is another person.

But the rest—they must face alone.

Night fell. Silence followed.

Eventually, Asia lifted her head.

She wiped the tears from her face.

"Mr. Xi Ye... thank you."

The girl gave Xi Ye a sincere smile.

And Xi Ye knew—she had truly emerged from her confusion.

He checked his phone.

"Mr. Xi Ye, please bring Asia to school tomorrow.

Rias, the head of our Occult Research Club, wants to meet her.

– Koneko"