Chapter 10: Chapter 10 - First Encounter—Malrik vs. Mittelt!
The cool night air carried an unspoken tension, a barely perceptible shift in the atmosphere.
I kept my pace steady, my sharp gaze flicking across shop windows, car mirrors—anything reflective that could give me a glimpse of my surroundings.
Someone was following me.
They weren't trying to be completely invisible—just slippery enough to stay out of direct sight.
I smirked.
"Supernatural stalker? Check. DxD world confirmed again."
Kuoh Town looked peaceful on the surface, but I knew better. Supernatural beings lurked in the shadows, observing, scheming, waiting.
And now, one of them had decided I was worth tracking.
But why?
I wasn't a Church exorcist.
I wasn't a rogue devil.
To the rest of the world, I was just a human.
Unless…
"Is Raynare already suspicious of me? Damn, I haven't even started flexing yet."
I considered my options.
🔹 If this was some random supernatural grunt gathering intel, I could lose them easily.
🔹 If it was Raynare or another Fallen Angel… this was a golden opportunity.
A chance to gauge my combat strength against a real opponent.
I exhaled through my nose, slow and controlled.
"Time to see if all this OP-ness is enough to beat a supernatural being."
Then, I made my decision.
Instead of heading directly to the bookstore, I changed course—veering toward a small, empty park at the edge of the shopping district.
I didn't rush. My movements stayed natural, as if I had no idea I was being followed.
The path darkened as I stepped off the main road, leading into the dimly lit park.
Tall trees rustled in the night breeze, their shadows shifting across the pavement.
A single streetlamp flickered, its glow uneven.
Perfect.
No witnesses.
No distractions.
Now, all I had to do was wait.
Stopping in the center of the park, I pretended to check my phone.
And in the reflection of the darkened screen, I saw it—
Movement from above.
My stalker was here.
My grin widened, my pulse quickening.
Not from fear.
From excitement.
"Alright. Let's see who you are."
My fingers twitched in anticipation.
Time to turn the tables.
————————
The park was eerily silent, the distant hum of the city reduced to a faint whisper.
A cool breeze rustled the leaves, shadows dancing under the flickering glow of the lone streetlamp.
Then—
A flutter of wings.
I tilted my head slightly as a presence descended behind me—a subtle shift in air pressure giving them away.
Graceful. Controlled. Predatory.
I turned slowly, my eyes narrowing as I took in the figure before me.
Petite, but radiating arrogance. Dressed in an elaborate Gothic Lolita outfit, her frilly black-and-white dress clashed starkly with the black feathery wings extending from her back.
Her blonde twin-tails bounced slightly as she placed a hand on her hip, a confident, mocking grin stretching across her lips.
Mittelt.
"Well, well, isn't this a surprise?"
I smirked, my hands slipping into my pockets as I tilted my head.
I'd expected a stalker.
But I hadn't expected her.
Mittelt sighed dramatically, shaking her head.
"You're either really brave… or really stupid for leading me somewhere isolated. Hoping to play hero?"
Her voice dripped with amusement, like she was talking to an insect already crushed under her heel.
I barely held back a chuckle.
This was DxD in a nutshell.
🔹 The moment someone looked remotely strong, the supernatural factions assumed they had a Sacred Gear.
I didn't confirm or deny it.
Instead, I matched her energy—smirking as I shrugged.
"Not really. More like testing my plot armor."
Her amusement flickered—a half-second crack in her mask.
Then, she scoffed.
"Hah! Plot armor? Cute. You must be new to this whole 'life-or-death' thing."
She took a slow step forward, her heels clicking against the pavement, her golden eyes gleaming with predatory amusement.
"Well, whatever gear you got, kid, hand it over. You don't seem smart enough to use it anyway."
She wasn't taking me seriously.
In her mind, this was already over.
I just rolled my shoulders, stretching my neck lazily—as if I were warming up for a casual workout.
"Cosplay angel, you sure you wanna go first?" I grinned, cracking my knuckles. "'Cause once I start, I'm not stopping until I get a boss drop."
Her mocking grin twitched.
A flicker of irritation.
There it is.
"Tch. Cocky little—"
With a snap of her fingers, a glowing light spear formed in her hand, crackling with energy.
The air hummed with holy power, sharp enough to make my skin prickle.
I grinned.
"There we go."
I took a step forward, rolling my wrists, feeling the thrill of imminent combat thrumming through my veins.
"Now let's see if you're worth the EXP."