Meguna had already left the clubroom by the time Rias began explaining the details of devil society to Issei.
She taught him how devil contracts worked, how devils gained power from humans, and the many benefits of serving a high-class devil.
More importantly, she explained that if he grew strong enough in the future, he could eventually have his own peerage as well.
That single statement alone had filled Issei with overwhelming excitement. The idea of becoming powerful, surrounded by beautiful girls, and one day ruling over his own group sounded like a dream come true to him.
And so, not long after that conversation, Issei had already begun carrying out his duties as a devil servant.
Now, he was riding his bicycle through town while delivering flyers as part of one of his assigned jobs.
Despite the simplicity of the task, Issei looked unusually motivated. Ever since learning about the possibilities that came with being a devil, his enthusiasm had risen to an absurd level.
Even while pedaling through the streets, a huge grin remained plastered across his face.
However, amidst all that excitement, one particular thought slowly crept into his mind and began bothering him.
Meguna Fushi the guy who was supposedly just his classmate somehow turned out to be neither fully human nor a devil.
From what little Rias had told him, Meguna was incredibly strong, possessed a Sacred Gear just like him, and was someone Rias herself said will rely on whenever situations became dangerous or difficult as part of their agreement.
She also told Issei Meguna had been the one who saved him from the fallen angel Raynare.
Rias hadn't gone into much detail regarding her agreement with Meguna and gave little info on him as she herself didn't know much about him.
Still, from the way everyone in the Occult Research Club treated him, Issei could tell Meguna wasn't someone to be taken lightly.
Remembering the scene from that night when meguna saved him which he dismissed as dream, Issei gradually slowed down his bicycle.
His expression became slightly conflicted. "Fushi-san…" he muttered quietly to himself while gripping the handlebars tighter. "Even though you saved my life…"
A determined look suddenly appeared on his face. "I'm still not gonna let you have Buchou!" His competitive spirit instantly flared up again.
Standing up slightly on the pedals, Issei dramatically raised one fist into the air while shouting loudly into the open street.
"I'll be the one to take her virginity. And I'll become the Harem King!"
[Meguna: What tf are you talking about?(≖_≖)🤦]
----
Meguna was walking down the street with a sandwich in hand, casually eating it along the way with nothing particular on his mind.
The morning atmosphere around the town was lively. Students in school uniforms could be seen heading towards respective school while adults walked toward their workplaces, some carrying briefcases while others stopped by nearby stores before continuing on with their day.
With one hand in his pocket and the other holding his sandwich, he continued walking at a normal pace.
As he turned around a corner, he suddenly crashed into someone.The other person immediately lost balance and fell onto the ground from the impact. Meguna, however, didn't even budge.
The person who had run into him turned out to be a short blonde girl dressed in nun clothes.
Several small items she had been carrying scattered onto the pavement. "I-I'm sorry for the trouble," the blonde girl apologized quickly as she began picking up her belongings from the ground.
Meguna looked at her for a brief moment while taking another bite of his sandwich.
He silently watched her gather her things before simply walking past her without showing much interest.
"Hey, mister!" the girl suddenly called out from behind him.
Meguna slowed his steps slightly before turning his head just enough to glance back at her.
"Can you help me find the church?" she asked.
Meguna raised his hand slightly and pointed toward the direction where it was located.
"Just go straight," he said casually. "After passing through two junctions, take a left turn. Then keep going straight until you reach another junction and take a right. Walk straight from there and you'll reach the place."
The blonde girl carefully listened mentally noting them down. Once she understood, she gave a small smile. "Thanks, mister," she replied politely.
Meguna simply turned and continued walking while raising his hand in response.
----
At school, it was just the same old schedule once again. Not long after class had already started, the classroom door suddenly slid open.
Issei rushed inside completely out of breath.
The teacher immediately glared at him with visible annoyance. "Hyoudou, you're late" she said sharply.
Issei quickly raised his hands while trying to explain himself. "I-It was because I was helping a nun get to the church this morning!"
"I don't particularly care about your excuses," she replied before scolding him anyway.
Several students quietly laughed at Issei's miserable expression while he awkwardly returned to his seat.
Meguna barely reacted to the scene.
Resting his cheek against one hand, he simply continued staring outside the classroom window.
And so, the rest of the school day passed normally.
Eventually, after school hours ended, Meguna made his way toward the Occult Research Club. Inside the clubroom, he calmly sat down on one of the couches before pouring himself a cup of tea.
Not long after, Issei arrived as well and sat across from him just as Meguna took a sip from his cup.
The atmosphere inside the room was quiet and relaxed. As Meguna slowly drank his tea, Issei suddenly spoke. "Fushi-san, don't you even have anything to do at all?"
"Nope" Meguna replied before taking another sip.
Issei stared at him for a moment with slight disbelief."Must be nice living without chores," he muttered enviously before suddenly leaning forward with enthusiasm. "Hey, how about you help me get stronger?"
Meguna lowered the cup slightly before replying. "Everyone has their own way of dealing with things."
Issei immediately slumped back against the couch with disappointment."You're really not much help," he sighed.
"I'm not here to be your coach or trainer, brat," Meguna replied calmly while taking another sip from his tea.
"Hey, who are you calling a brat?" Issei immediately stood up and retorted with slight annoyance. "We're basically the same age!"
Meguna didn't even bother looking at him.
His eyes remained fixed on the teacup in his hand as he calmly responded."You annoy me. That's why."
Issei slowly sat back down while muttering complaints under his breath. Not long after, his thoughts drifted back toward the scolding he had received from Rias earlier for going near the church, even if it had only been because he was helping his new friend Asia.
"Huh…" Issei muttered while leaning back against the couch. "So far all I've accomplished lately is getting scolded by both Buchou and you."
[Meguna: also the teacher]
"Ara ara, would you look at that," Akeno's amused voice suddenly echoed through the room. "It seems like you two are getting along rather well."
Issei jumped from surprise. Akeno had appeared directly behind the couch he was sitting on without him noticing at all.
Startled by her sudden appearance, Issei instinctively jumped toward the side of the couch. "A-Akeno-san?" Issei's voice came out startled.
"Seems like you're living in your own world of imagination," Meguna replied calmly.
Akeno lightly laughed at that before turning toward Issei with a gentle smile.
"Anyways, Issei, Kaichou is looking for you." Akeno informed.
Then the door to the clubroom opened, and Rias stepped inside. The moment she entered, her crimson eyes shifted toward Akeno, clearly surprised to still see her there at this hour.
"Akeno, I thought you already went back home," Rias said as she closed the door behind her and walked further into the room.
Akeno stood calmly near the couch, one hand resting lightly against her cheek while her usual graceful smile remained on her face. "There needs to be someone here to prepare tea for our guest, Fushi-san," she replied in a playful tone.
Meguna, who was seated comfortably on the couch with a cup of tea in hand, barely reacted to the comment. He simply took another slow sip as though the conversation had nothing to do with him.
Rias looked at Akeno for a brief moment with visible confusion. "...What?"
"Just kidding," Akeno said lightly before letting out a soft laugh. The playful atmosphere around her quickly faded, however, as her expression became more serious.
"The Archduke just sent us a message," Akeno informed her calmly.
"The Archduke?" Rias repeated, her expression sharpening almost instantly.
Akeno gave a small nod before continuing. "Apparently, a stray devil is currently on the loose somewhere within this town."
Rias's expression turned serious as she crossed her arms slightly.
"A stray devil?" Issei repeated in confusion, clearly unfamiliar with the term.
Rias shifted her attention toward him and began explaining. "Stray devils are reincarnated servants who end up killing or abandoning their masters. Once they sever that bond, they become uncontrolled beings that act however they please."
Her tone remained composed, though there was a noticeable edge of caution beneath it.
"Many of them eventually lose their sense of reason," she continued. "Some become violent, while others simply cause chaos without caring about the consequences. That's why they're considered dangerous."
"So they were servants like us?" Issei asked as he pointed toward himself, trying to fully process the explanation.
Rias nodded once. "Yes. They were once devils serving under another master, just like you are now."
Issei's expression stiffened slightly after hearing that. The idea that a devil servant could one day kill their own master clearly unsettled him.
Meanwhile, Meguna remained seated on the couch, completely unbothered by the discussion taking place around him.
Rias's gaze then shifted toward him.
"What about you, Fushi-san?" she asked. "Would you like to come watch the exorcism, or are you just going to go home?"
----
[A/N: Do give your thoughts. I feel a bit off about this one (wrote this because of large day gap to prepare for the next subject)]