Utaha never expected someone out there to be crazy enough to attack a girl just because she didn't like blonde hair.
Seriously—Who the hell does that?
That's not just petty.That's clinically toxic.
Fortunately, that kouhai of theirs—Izumi—had rushed out without hesitation and blocked the attack.Otherwise, Eriri, one of her very few actual friends, would've been erased right there.
When Rias and the others gathered around Izumi, Utaha followed silently behind them—and with zero hesitation dragged the "weakling illustrator" Eriri by the collar and tossed her to the side like a broken pencil before returning to the battle group.
Yeah, Utaha was terrified too.But she couldn't back out now.
She knew perfectly well what would happen if Kuoh Academy was destroyed.This school didn't just house devils—There were nobles' children, government elites, people whose mere injury would shift international balance.
If any of them died here, it would probably start a real war.
She might be timid, but even Kasumigaoka Utaha had enough awareness not to run away now.
Besides…Those rich kids stood up.The two high-ranking devil heiresses stood up.
At that point…What was she hesitating for?
And more importantly—Utaha had a feeling.A strong feeling.
That kouhai who saved Eriri earlier—he definitely still had cards up his sleeve.
No one would just dash in front of Kokabiel out of hot-blooded heroism.
And who the hell "heroically charges in" only to unleash a full-on keyboard-warrior verbal assault mid-battle?
Only that ridiculous kouhai.
Nobody else.
Down from the sky above—Kokabiel stared at the group that had clustered together.The ants dared show fighting intent?
He let out a deep, amused chuckle.
"Interesting."
"A group of bugs thinks they can resist me?"
"Interesting… so very interesting."
Then he burst into wild laughter.
"HAHAHAHAHAHA!"
He wasn't even angry—He genuinely thought their defiance was funny.
As he laughed, magic circles flared to life beneath him.
One after another, Fallen Angels stepped out—some four-winged, some six-winged, some even eight-winged.
A few carried Holy Swords.
Several more dragged two unconscious girls by the arms.
A leading Fallen Angel kneeled and bowed his head.
"Kokabiel-sama, we've already delivered the news to the Underworld. They will have no choice but to take action soon."
"And we also captured two little mice from the Church."
At his signal, the two unconscious girls—tight-fitting combat suits soaked in dirt and blood—were thrown onto the ground.
Kokabiel looked down at them, disgustingly pleased.
"Oh?"
"Church members, too?"
"How delightful."
"Very, very delightful."
"Wake them up."
The Fallen Angels obeyed immediately.A sphere of water magic formed—and was dumped over the two fainted girls.
SPLASH.
The girls jolted awake instantly.
And the moment they opened their eyes, they tried to reach for their swords.
But—
They couldn't move.
"Damn Fallen Angels!"
"Are you trying to start a war!?"
Same line.Again.
Kokabiel laughed harder.
"HAHAHAHAHAHA!"
"You people—can you say anything else?"
"Is that the only sentence the Church teaches you?"
"If I didn't want to start a war, why on earth would I be here PLAYING!?"
Izumi sighed deeply.
Is everyone here missing a few screws?
And these two Church girls—they got captured the moment they arrived?Seriously?
That was pathetic.
The two were Xenovia and Irina Shidou—sent to Kuoh to investigate the Holy Sword incidents and the explosion at the local abandoned church.
But before they could even greet the "landlady" of the town,they were caught by Fallen Angels.
And now Kokabiel mocked them openly.Their faces burned red with humiliation.
Once he had laughed enough, Kokabiel sneered down at the two Church girls.
"What pathetic creatures."
"You cling to angels and worship a god—who's been dead for a long time without you even knowing."
"It's laughable."
Everyone froze.
God… dead?
Especially Irina and Xenovia.
Their expressions turned blank and hollow.
Kokabiel grinned nastily.
"Oh?"
"Are you breaking already?"
"Come now, children, don't disappoint me."
"HAHAHAHAHA!"
He was getting increasingly excited.
These ants—helpless under his fingers—made him feel euphoric.
Irina finally burst out:
"That's impossible!!"
"You're lying!!"
Kokabiel scoffed.
"Lying?"
"Why would I lie to a bunch of insects?"
"You overestimate your worth."
Their faces went white.
Their entire worldview was cracking.
And Kokabiel?He was enjoying every second.
Even Rias and her peerage, who had been watching silently, were shaken.None of them expected such a massive revelation in the middle of a battlefield.
At that moment—
A weak, hoarse voice spoke.
"Cough… Kokabiel…!"
"Are you here… to spout nonsense… cough, cough…!!"
It was the principal.The man Kokabiel had stabbed earlier.
Supported by several teachers, blood dripping from his mouth,the old man still tried to speak.
He looked miserable.
Kokabiel raised a brow.
"…Not dead?"
"What a persistent fossil."
"Whatever. I'm bored now."
He snapped his fingers.
"Grab the two heiresses. Kill anyone who tries to resist."
That was the real objective—Rias and Sona.
Everything else was just entertainment.
He had played enough.
The Fallen Angels moved at once.
Izumi watched the scene—and let out a long, annoyed sigh.
"So that's it? They wanted us all here just to let Kokabiel show off?"
This was getting irritating.
Izumi slipped a hand into his pocket—and crushed a card hidden inside.
If this clown wanted to posture—he could crash the performance.
Worst case?Use the Fallen Angels as offerings.He'd still get a profit.
The moment the card shattered—
The atmosphere shifted.
Meanwhile…
Eriri glanced over at Gabriel.
"Gabriel… I want to reincarnate as an angel."
Gabriel looked at Eriri with dead-fish eyes.
"No, you don't. You're too impure."
Eriri froze—then pointed accusingly at Gabriel's blackened halo.
"Then what about you!?"
Gabriel looked up at her halo.
Pulled it off.
Wiped it clean.
Put it back.
"There. Clean. No problem."
Eriri: "…"