Stray Devils.
As the name suggests, these were devils who had abandoned their masters—rogue beings no longer bound by the rules of their kind, running wild in the human world.
In the Underworld, every High-Class Devil was granted a set of Evil Pieces, giving them the right to recruit servants. But because of that, the quality of those servants varied wildly. No one could guarantee that among their servants wouldn't be a few reckless or dangerous ones.
Especially those who were reincarnated from other races—humans, magicians, or even fallen warriors. Gaining demonic power often twisted their personalities. Some were already scum before reincarnation; power merely stripped away the last of their restraint, turning them into monsters worse than devils themselves.
Most Stray Devils were like that—rebels who refused to obey, grew dissatisfied with control, or became consumed by greed and ambition. In the end, they betrayed their masters, sometimes even killing them, and fled into the human world as fugitives.
Simply put, Stray Devils were the underworld's wanted criminals—dangerous individuals to be hunted down.
"One of those dangerous criminals is actually here?"
Late at night, on the outskirts of the city, Yukino stood beside Leo in an unfinished entertainment complex. She frowned slightly as she asked the question.
Tonight, Yukino wasn't wearing her usual Sobu High uniform. Instead, she had on a practical outfit—an unadorned checkered shirt, cropped jeans, and her long straight hair tied into twin ponytails. The change made her look less cold, more alive.
"If Sona's intel is right, this is the place."
Leo answered casually, hands stuffed in his pockets.
He wasn't in uniform either—black shirt, black slacks, and a dark jacket. His whole aura had shifted. Gone was the sunny, easygoing student; what stood before her now was a young man cloaked in the quiet confidence of the night, like an assassin who'd shed his mask.
"They say this one's particularly cruel. Even before reincarnating, he was a murderer with plenty of blood on his hands. Becoming a devil just made him snap completely. Not long ago, while his master was away, he slaughtered his fellow servants and escaped. His master was furious—put out a bounty and declared a public manhunt for the traitor."
Leo's tone was calm, but the content made Yukino knit her brows.
"What was his master thinking? Why would anyone turn someone like that into a servant?"
Recruiting such a maniac—it was practically asking to be killed. She couldn't wrap her head around it.
"You're being too naïve." Leo chuckled, tapping her forehead lightly. "You think all devils are like me? Righteous, handsome, sunshine incarnate?"
He smirked. "Some devils are far worse than anything you've read about. They don't care how many people their target has killed. To them, humans are just lesser beings. If someone stands out among the masses by being ruthless enough to survive, they don't see a killer—they see potential."
"So they reincarnate them. Sometimes for talent, sometimes for amusement. They never stop to consider the consequences."
Leo's voice carried open disdain. "When those servants eventually turn on them… they only have themselves to blame."
"Of course, not every Stray Devil is evil," he added with a yawn. "Some rebel because they're unhappy. Maybe they were forced into reincarnation. Maybe they can't accept what they've become. Or maybe they just got tired of being abused and finally snapped."
"If that's the case, they're usually captured rather than killed—brought back for punishment or re-education."
"But this one," Leo's eyes narrowed slightly, "isn't that kind. He's pure scum. His master isn't exactly a saint either, so the job is simple—exterminate, no need for survivors."
"When it comes to Stray Devils, the Underworld doesn't look the other way. They're always hunted—either through bounties or by assigning devils in the human world to deal with them. Angels and fallen angels see them the same way—unstable threats to the balance. Anyone who finds one kills it, no questions asked."
He lifted his gaze toward the looming shadow of the building ahead, his lips curling faintly.
"And the Church has its own version—Stray Exorcists. They were once holy men sworn to God, but some lost themselves. They started killing devils for sport, or became fanatics who'd slaughter anything tainted in the name of 'purity.' They find joy in it—feel alive only when they're destroying."
"The Church treats them as dangerous heretics and quietly eliminates them. No exceptions."
"In this era where the Three Factions no longer wage large-scale wars, meeting a proper exorcist from the Church might not be too bad—you could walk away if they've got orders to avoid conflict. But if you run into one of those Stray Exorcists…" He gave her a meaningful look. "They won't hesitate to cut you down."
"So remember this: out there, your greatest enemies might not be the Church itself, but them."
Yukino drew in a deep breath.
This was uncharted territory for her—real blood, real danger. Her nerves were tight, her heart hammering against her ribs.
She'd never been part of anything like this.
To distract herself, she tried changing the subject.
"So… anyone can become a Stray? Even a servant could just decide to leave?" She forced a calm tone. "Aren't you afraid I'll become one?"
After all, she hadn't exactly chosen this life.
Yes, Leo had saved her, but she hadn't wanted to become a devil in the first place.
Who would? What sane person would willingly abandon their humanity to become something others call evil and corrupt?
From that perspective, Yukino thought it made perfect sense that some devils rejected their new existence and sought freedom—even through rebellion.
If Leo hadn't saved her, if she'd been forcibly turned without her consent, she probably would've done the same—fought against it, refused to serve anyone.
So she couldn't help but wonder: did Leo ever worry that she might betray him too?
But Leo showed not the slightest concern.
Because his servants weren't like others.
Ordinary reincarnated devils relied purely on the Evil Pieces' power. Leo also used Evil Pieces—but his Servant Conversion trait was fused with them, using the pieces only as a medium. The real process came from his unique trait.
Originally, the trait of the Eligos family influenced the wills of warriors. But his version had evolved—into a power that could conquer a warrior's soul.
In other words, when Leo used his Servant Conversion to reincarnate Yukino, her soul was branded with his mark.
She wasn't just his servant in body—her very soul belonged to him. Even if she died, her soul would return to him.
Because of that, Leo's servants naturally felt drawn to him, instinctively loyal. Being away from him would leave them restless, uneasy.
Yukino herself had experienced that, even if she hadn't realized it.
It was the outward sign of her soul's bond to him—a reflex buried deep within.
Unless Leo did something truly unforgivable, something that made Yukino's disgust overpower that bond, she would never feel compelled to leave him.
And even if she did run, Leo could always find her—he could sense the presence of his servants through their souls.
As long as Yukino didn't genuinely hate him, he had nothing to fear.
Leo turned to her then, a teasing smile tugging at his lips.
"So," he asked softly, "do you want to leave?"
His question made Yukino freeze.
"..."
Before she could answer, the sound of footsteps echoed through the darkness—slow, deliberate, drawing closer.
"Who's there?!"
The sound made Yukino's heart lurch. Some buried memory rose to the surface, making her voice tremble slightly.
The person didn't answer. Under Leo's calm, watchful gaze, a figure slowly emerged from the shadows.
"…I smell it. The scent of my own kind."
The voice was low, tinged with laughter—obsessive, unhinged, dangerous.
"So you found me already, huh? The Underworld's hounds!"
As he stepped into the light, Yukino's eyes widened. Her pupils trembled violently.
The figure's shadow twisted beneath his feet, warping, writhing—no longer remotely human.