The roars, screams, and crashing sounds echoing through the abandoned entertainment complex vanished the moment the ice and dust filled the air.
"Haa…"
Yukino finally lowered her hand and exhaled softly, as though trying to release the turmoil churning inside her chest.
Clap, clap, clap!
Leo, who had been watching from the sidelines the entire time, began to applaud with a satisfied smile. His eyes shone with open admiration.
"Well done, Yukino," Leo praised warmly. "Honestly, I thought you wouldn't be able to go through with it."
"…Maybe it's because that thing didn't look human," Yukino murmured, her expression complicated. "If it had looked like a person, I probably wouldn't have been able to do it."
She wasn't trying to act fragile, but ending a living being with her own hands… there was no way to pretend that didn't affect her.
A month ago, she had still been an ordinary human girl. For someone like that, killing—even a monster—wasn't something you could walk away from without feeling anything.
Thankfully, the Stray Devil was no longer remotely human. It had become a monster through and through, committing crimes so abhorrent that Yukino could harden her resolve. Otherwise, her performance tonight would have been far less impressive.
"You did great," Leo said, clearly pleased. When he noticed her conflicted expression, he reached out and ruffled her hair with a faint smile. "For your first real fight, that was remarkable. Even people who've grown up surrounded by the supernatural can't always handle themselves that well."
"I can say with confidence—your performance tonight was better than ninety percent of all servant devils."
"And since your opponent was just some worthless scum, there's no need to look so conflicted."
Yukino stayed still for a few seconds under his hand before brushing it away and returning to her usual composed demeanor.
"I know. That thing deserved to die. What I did was right. You don't have to comfort me."
Her opponent was a being beyond the reach of human law, so it had to be judged by the laws of the supernatural world.
And in that world, the Stray Devil's death was already a foregone conclusion.
That made her role—his executioner—completely justified. Like a police officer carrying out a lawful sentence.
With that thought, the tightness in her chest began to ease.
But then, another question crept into her mind.
"That Stray Devil… he must've been a violent person even before he reincarnated, right?" she asked hesitantly. "Then why did he seem… kind of weak?"
Yes, weak.
This was someone who had given up his humanity, driven by the desire for power and indulgence. Yukino had expected someone like that to be extremely dangerous—just like Leo had warned her. She'd even been ready to summon Ice Princess and use her Sacred Gear if things got serious.
But the reality was underwhelming. Aside from his speed, nothing about him had been that impressive.
Was something like that really supposed to be "dangerous"?
Yukino couldn't help feeling that something didn't add up.
Leo chuckled.
"You think he was weak?" he asked, his tone teasing. "Then what if I told you that Stray Devil was actually stronger than the fallen angel who killed you a month ago?"
"What?" Yukino froze, her eyes widening in disbelief. "You mean… that monster was stronger than the fallen angel from before?"
No way.
Even now, the memory of Varden still haunted her dreams.
That day was burned into her memory—the way she hadn't even been able to run. He'd appeared behind her in a blink and speared her through the stomach, killing her instantly.
Sure, she'd only been human back then, but that didn't mean she was helpless. Yukino had always excelled in everything she did—smart, capable, and disciplined. She cooked, cleaned, rode horses, practiced aikido; she wasn't athletic, but she could still hold her own against club athletes when it came to form and technique.
And yet, against Varden, she hadn't even lasted seconds.
He'd been that strong.
So hearing that the creature she'd just crushed was stronger than him? That was hard to believe.
Seeing her disbelief, Leo continued with an amused smile.
"The fallen angel might've been able to kill you easily, but that was because he had supernatural power and you didn't. That's all. It doesn't mean he was that strong."
"Despite how arrogant he acted, that guy was just a two-winged Low-Class fallen angel—bottom of the barrel in every faction."
"The Stray Devil you just fought, though? Before he went rogue, he was already close to reaching the level of a Mid-Class Devil. After he corrupted his body, he actually crossed that threshold. He was much stronger than your average Low-Class devil, angel, or fallen angel."
"If the two of them fought, Varden would probably win only because his light powers counter devils. But in terms of raw ability, the Stray Devil was above him. His speed alone—thanks to that Knight piece—was something a mere Low-Class fallen angel could never match."
"You thought he was weak for two reasons," Leo explained, grinning. "One, he'd already fallen so far that he'd lost his combat instincts—nothing left but a beast's rage. And two…"
He poked her lightly on the forehead. "You're underestimating yourself."
Leo's voice carried the weight of certainty.
"From the moment you were reincarnated, you had enough demonic power to outclass most Mid-Class Devils. And this past month, you've been studying diligently—mastering every technique and principle of demonic power control recorded in our library."
"The books in the Eligos House collection aren't cheap manuals anyone can find. They're ancient tomes filled with high-grade knowledge, passed down for generations. Learning even a single technique from them can elevate a devil above the masses."
"You've absorbed all that—quietly, steadily—and transformed without even realizing it. Even without your Sacred Gear, you're already at a Mid-Class Devil's level."
Yukino stared blankly as Leo patted her shoulder, his expression proud.
"Your talent and intelligence far exceed my expectations. You were already a top student among humans, and now, even in our world, you're nothing less than a genius."
In terms of raw talent, even Leo—half pureblood himself—had to admit he lagged behind her.
When he'd first entered the supernatural world, it had taken him three full months of intense training just to reach the level of a Mid-Class Devil.
And that was with an adult's mind and focus. Magic had nothing to do with age—if your power and technique were refined enough, even a child could fight toe-to-toe with a High-Class Devil.
"If that fallen angel were still alive," Leo said confidently, "you could defeat him now. No—crush him, the same way you did that Stray Devil."
He smiled. "That's your current strength, Yukino. You have every right to feel proud—truly proud."
Leo's words slipped into her heart like a warm breeze.
Yukino looked up at him, seeing the faint smile in his eyes, and felt something unfamiliar stirring deep inside her.
"Um…"
She wanted to say something—but words didn't come easily to someone as socially awkward as her.
Leo didn't seem to notice. He just sighed in mock disappointment. "Too bad I didn't get to see you use your Sacred Gear. I still don't know how strong you are at full power. Guess I'll have to find you a tougher opponent next time—otherwise, it won't be much of a challenge."
Yukino fell silent again, expression unreadable.
"…It's over. Should we head back?" she finally asked after a pause.
"Hold on." Leo glanced toward the darkened building, narrowing his eyes. "Let's check inside first. Make sure there are no survivors—and see how many victims there were."
Hearing that, Yukino's face darkened as she remembered what the Stray Devil had said earlier. She nodded firmly.
Together, they stepped into the darkness of the ruined facility.