After defeating the Stray Devil, Roy bolted from the woods at top speed.
"No one should find me here, right?" Roy panted, his heart pounding loudly in the quiet night.
The rapid beat wasn't just from the intense sprint but also from the adrenaline of killing anything for the first time.
The Stray Devil, though monstrous, retained human-like traits.
Most people struggled to kill even chickens or ducks, let alone humanoid creatures.
Even trained fighters often faced physical or psychological backlash after their first kill.
Yet Roy felt nothing out of the ordinary.
"I guess I'm cut out for this life," Roy chuckled to himself.
Far from feeling unease, he was slightly exhilarated.
In a world teeming with danger, a quick adaptation was a blessing.
To cover his tracks, Roy changed his route several times, ensuring no traces remained before stepping back onto the road.
He glanced at the task rewards.
"Decent, but not great," he muttered.
Compared to points earned by interacting with characters, the reward for slaying a Stray Devil paled in comparison.
The former was far easier and more lucrative than this task.
Shaking his head, Roy closed the system interface.
All he wanted now was to return to Kuoh Town, grab a hearty meal, recharge, and crash on hotel's plush bed.
No lights were on; instead, candles cast a retro glow, giving the room a gloomy ambiance straight out of a movie.
All members of the Occult Research Club were gathered.
Rias sat at her desk, engrossed in a document adorned with a magic red pattern.
"President, is this a special mission?" Koneko asked, perched on the sofa.
She licked a popsicle with her usual blank expression, her senses picking as she glanced at Rias.
She looked up from the document to address Koneko's question.
"It seems a disobedient troublemaker has wandered into Kuoh Town."
"A troublemaker?" Koneko tilted her head, quickly grasping the implication.
"Exactly," Rias confirmed with a nod.
"It fled its master and has been wreaking havoc in the human world."
"Apparently, it stumbled into my territory to evade pursuit."
"President, is our mission tonight to hunt this Stray Devil?" Kiba asked.
"That's right," Rias said.
"We can't let such a thing run rampant in my jurisdiction."
"It's a stain on our reputation."
"So, we'll need to put in some effort tonight, everyone."
"This Stray might keep us busy until dawn," Rias added with a smile.
"These summer vacation days have been nothing but client tasks. I'm getting rusty," Koneko said, her eyes glinting with interest despite her stoic face.
"Those clients are so fragile—they can't even handle a mild electric shock. It's no fun," Akeno chimmed in.
"Akeno, tone it down. I've had plenty of complaints about you," Rias said, rubbing her forehead with a sigh.
"But I get glowing reviews too, Rias," Akeno replied, her smile unshaken.
"Even so, too many complaints could affect your evaluation," Rias pointed out, exasperated but fond.
"Oh, well, what can I do?" Akeno said lightly, still smiling.
"Sometimes I just can't hold back."
"Just… try to be more careful," Rias sighed.
Though her friend exuded Yamato Nadeshiko grace, her sadistic streak, paired with character, was a lethal combination.
"Got it," Akeno agreed breezily.
"By the way, Akeno, have you tried to track it down?" Rias asked, steering the conversation back to their mission.
Akeno raised her hand, summoning a magic circle.
A small familiar appeared, whispered something in her ear, and vanished back into the circle.
"Sorry, Rias, no trace of it yet," Akeno said, stroking her familiar gently.
"Really? Even you couldn't find it?" Rias's eyes sparked with intrigue rather than disappointment.
"It must be skilled at hiding."
"No wonder it evaded its master and made it to my territory," Rias mused.
Ordinary Stray Devils posed no challenge, but one this elusive piqued her interest, promising a chance to prove her strength to the underworld.