The following day after Issei's birthday and the discovery of the System was an interesting one. Following the message regarding the Quest, Issei went to sleep, waking up the next morning next to Kuroka. The two had breakfast, but that is when he told her about the Quest.

"Return to Kuoh?" She echoed, looking at him with an innocent gaze. "Isn't that where you lived before coming to Mei?"

"It is, and the Quest is telling me to return there." Issei said, continuing. The two of them sat at a classical tatami table, their legs underneath. "I do not know how I should do this, the Quest was not really giving me details, but maybe I could enroll in the school there. I think I read online that Kuoh Academy has recently become Co-Ed, so maybe I could apply there?"

"But wouldn't that mean you also need to move?" Kuroka asked, sounding worried. "You'd have to leave and find a place to stay there and I doubt you will have the time to return here, to me." She was saddened about the possibility of Issei leaving, being afraid to be left alone. Issei was the only one who accepted her, even knowing that she was a wanted criminal and even listening to her selfish desire to use him as protection. However, her thoughts, and Issei's, were interrupted when they heard Solomon clear his throat. The two of them still didn't quite know how he was talking to them, but they mostly assumed it was a form of telepathy.

"May I suggest using another of my treasures to purchase a house in Kuoh?" Kuroka's ears perked up at the suggestion. She still had the earrings from before! "That way the two of you could move in together. Granted, this would mean leaving this place that has served us for so many years, but it is not like you may never come back. During breaks and whatnot, you can always use teleportation to return here just like that. Not to mention this place can still serve as a safe Heaven if we find ourselves in dire waters."

"Solomon is right." Ddraig said, backing up his old friend. "There is no need for you two to be apart. Also, Issei, I was looking with Solomon over the System stuff, and...Well, it turns out you can only keep your Balance Breaker up for around 45 minutes with full Stamina currently. But with that being said, I also took notice that you have 60 Stat Points you can use to boost up your stats." The dragon continued, sounding somewhat giddier about that detail.. "Maybe you could do that now for a more decent amount of boosting and since we learned that your DUR grants you more Stamina when leveling up that would be two birds with one stone."

"Well, you are not wrong…" He said, agreeing with Ddraig. Looking over his Stats and Title, he did get bonus SP every five levels, meaning he should be able to increase his DUR quite a bit in order to get more Stamina and HP when he levels up again. Not to mention the ability to use [Boost] more, like Ddraig said, making this a two-birds-with-one-stone situation.

"Actually, Issei, may I recommend holding on to doing that?" Solomon said, which confused them.

"Solomon…" Ddraig growled.

"Look, the system says you can gain more stats by doing certain actions, correct? That means training should increase your stats, so you won't need to use your Stat Points to only increase your DUR stat just to have more use of your Sacred Gear!" Solomon said, his wisdom once again shining. Issei and Ddraig had to admit he had a point there, but that didn't remove the fact he still had pretty low stats and he couldn't exactly use his Sacred Gear a lot. "I am not saying NOT to use them, only to be mindful of them. Try this: put 6 in DUR, then use 34 points as you wish. However, my advice is to always keep 20 emergency points in storage, as you never know when you might need a quick Stat increase."

"I guess that does sound fair." Issei replied, and Kuroka was the one to back it up.

"Nya! That means you don't need to worry about putting points in a bad stat!" She said,

"Not quite, but if he ever needs more of a SPECIFIC stat, then yes." Ddraig said.

"Anyway, let us get back on track, shall we? We can worry about distributing the points later, right now we have to move!" Solomon said, getting them all back on track regarding their plan.

"But where?" Kuroka asked. "We first need to find a house in Kuoh to stay at and it has to be a place that won't attract attention! We cannot get a penthouse, nya!'

"I might be able to find some selling offers online." Issei said, bringing out his phone and searching for any available house or large two-person apartment in Kuoh. "While I search, Kuroka, could you start packing? I will join you shortly as soon as I find something."

"Nya, of course!" She replied and they got to work. Fortunately, Issei was able to find a place rather quickly that didn't really stand out. He found a normal house a good distance from Kuoh Academy, meaning he doesn't need to worry about using the Comune train or something. However, he also needed to register for the following year, which started this fall. Kuoh followed a more Western system it seemed, so he needed to be ready. He managed to find a form online which he filled out with all the needed information and submitted. He will need to take an exam to get in, however, he noted down that he was home-schooled in order to get in, but that was not concerning to him since he had both Solomon and Ddraig. With their help he should be able to get in easily, right?

"You cannot rely on us to cheat a test, Issei." Ddraig said, shooting him down.

"Ddraig is right. You need to learn to make do without us, you cannot use our help for every little thing such as a simple exam." And Solomon backed him up too...Great. With that plan out the window, Issei resigned to simply accepting the fact he might need to study a bit to get in.

He was not that worried about getting into Kuoh overall, but he knew he had to remain hidden. No one could find out he was the Red Dragon Emperor, so he had to see about further increasing his [Aura Suppression] skill. He figured that he would need to use it to actually level it up.

With that thought in mind, Issei then went to look for Kuroka, finding her packing up some clothing. He began to help pack as well, the two of them finishing by the time the afternoon was upon them. After that, they went outside and Kuroka began to focus on bringing forth another one of Solomon's treasures, Issei offering her a boost of power to better manage. Soon after their bank accounts increased again and they had enough money to purchase the house in Kuoh, but they had to get there first.

Only issue? Based on what Kuroka said about Kuoh, it was a place with high supernatural activity, so teleporting there, while possible, did entail a risk if they are detected, but Issei was not worried and they teleported anyway, leaving their stuff here.


"I must say, Miss Toujou, that I am more than glad to be selling you the house." The selling agent said. They arrived in Kuoh a while ago, still in the afternoon, and immediately went to meet up with the sales agent in order to purchase the house. They were there right now, actually, looking over the place. "The price is fairly accessible, considering the neighborhood, and it has a good distance to Kuoh Academy. I take it your…"

"Oh, he is my boyfriend." Kuroka said, not even lying to the woman. She had a coy smile saying it, and Issei didn't correct her. Not like they needed to hide, they were doing enough of that already. Kuroka was hiding her ears and tail, being dressed in jeans and a rather tight top on her generous chest, simple clothing considering she will mostly wear her Kimono around the house. The only times she wears more modern clothing like that is when they need to blend in.

The woman was a bit surprised by the news, looking at the two. It was not like she had something against the two, but the papers said that the woman before her was in her mid-twenties while the boy was in his late teens. She knew some boys prefer older women, so maybe she shouldn't ask questions. "A-alright then. If the house is to your liking then we can finish the transaction, I have the necessary documents with me in my briefcase."

"Marvelous." Kuroka said, but was interrupted by Issei.

"Wait, Kuroka, I must ask something." He said, approaching the selling agent. "Is it possible to bring modifications to the house? It wouldn't be against our contract, right?" The saleswoman perked up a bit, the boy before her asking a good question.

"Well, it should! As long as the modifications are done at your own expense and you have permission from the local town hall, then you should be allowed to alter the house as you desire as long as you also keep within the limits of the property." They clarified. "Is that all you needed to know?"

"Yes, thank you." He replied, then Kuroka went with the agent to finish the transaction, Issei staying behind in the house and opening up his Quest Menu.


Revenge of the Dragon

Main Objective: Find out who killed your parents when you were 8 and get revenge in any way you see fit.

Additional Objective: Return to Kuoh, the place where it all started, and begin your journey there.

Quest Time Limit: N/A

Main Objective Reward: ?

Additional Objective Reward: 1000 Yen, 2000 EXP.

Failure Penalty: Death.


The main objective of this quest had its rewards hidden, but the additional one was not. Though, Issei recognized that the additional reward was not very high, considering the simplicity of the request. Still, the money and experience were welcomed.

Then a ding sound was heard and he looked again at the quest as another window popped up.


Quest Updated!

You have completed the Additional Objective for the Quest: Revenge of the Dragon. Do you wish to collect the rewards?

Y/N


Issei didn't linger much on the matter and pressed 'Y', taking the rewards. 1000 Yen and 2000 EXP was not much overall, but it was still much better than nothing, so he took them. Not like he had anything to augment the reward like a skill that doubled it. That would be way too overpowered for something like this, even if this system could make a simple straw dummy indestructible, it had to have some limits right?

Regardless, he faced a new issue; his Boosted Gear. Due to how the system was damaged before, he couldn't progress normally with it, but now, if this stuff was to be believed, he can be expecting himself to BOOM regarding power.

"Finally…" But later. "I thought that agent will never leave." Kuroka said as she allowed her ears and tails to breathe once again. Her taking a human disguise is somewhat uncomfortable for her, as she prefers keeping them out in the open. "So, what now, nya?"

"Now, well, I need to prepare myself for Kuoh Academy." Issei said, looking out through the window towards the direction of the academy. He knew it was not going to be easy, as the place apparently had prestige and didn't accept anyone into it. If Issei wanted to, he had to study and pass an exam, as previously mentioned, but to pass he needed to pass with at least an 85% score. Any less and he won't make it in. "Ddraig and Solomon will not help me cheese it, so I need to prepare myself."

She went to him, standing beside him. "Don't worry, Ise. I am confident you can do it and pass. In fact, how about we make it a bit more interesting." Kuroka said, her voice drifting off to a more seductive tone which caught Issei's attention, the feline having a coy smile on her face. "If you can pass with 100% and get the top score, how about we take our relationship to the next level, nya?" She traced a hand to the hem of her shirt, pulling it and revealing more cleavage to him.

Message received.

"I WILL CRUSH THAT EXAM!" Issei declared loudly and with a fiery determination, earning a giggle from Kuroka.

"At least he is pumped up about it." Solomon commented, talking to Ddraig in the privacy of the mindscape. Only Issei could hear them, since they were not communicating directly with the outside for Kuroka to hear as well.

"Indeed. I must admit, the cat knows how to get him fired up for something. Seriously, partner, all it takes is some gal promising you some and you would jump off a cliff." The dragon commented, feeling quite...worried, he was not about to deny the feeling. His current host, while promising - no, scratch that, now that he had this Void System or whatever he was bound to eventually spank Sirzechs like the bitch demon he was. He shared Solomon's opinion regarding the Gremory line, a bunch of seducers, but at the same time also too big-hearted regarding their own servants and blood.

Kuroka giggled, a blush over her face. "Then better start studying, Ise. Do not disappoint me, alright? It would be a shame if-"

However, before Kuroka could finish her sentence, she remembered something. Something she should have probably mentioned first before returning to Kuoh. "Something wrong, Kuroka? You are not usually one to freeze mid-sentence like that." Issei said, taking note of her strange pause.

"Well, I might have forgotten to mention the people here…" She said, a drip of sweat running down her face. "You see, Kuoh is officially owned by the Shinto Pantheon, as they own entire Japan, but Kuoh has been..lent."

"Lent? You mean that they gave it to someone or something?"

"And that someone is named Rias Gremory and Sona Sitri…"

"AH, HELL!" Ddraig said, not bothering to stay silent this time around. "So you are saying the SISTERS of TWO Satans are in Kuoh?!"

"I have to admit, this is a big oversight." Solomon commented

"Guys, please, we cannot blame her for forgetting this...Well, not entirely." Kuroka was relieved that Issei was understanding of it. "However, this does bring up issues, since they are likely to feel the presence of my Boosted Gear if I am not careful. Suppressing my aura might help somewhat, but I don't think it will work against High-Ranking Devils very well."

"Nya, that is true." Kuroka said, feeling still a bit guilty for forgetting that. "However, we still have plenty of time until the first day of Kuoh Academy, which should allow you plenty of time to practice and whatnot. Kuoh is infamous for its large concentration of strays."

"Like you?" Issei asked.

"No, I mean BAD strays," Kuroka said, correcting him. "You see, Issei, not all Strays are the same. Some of us can handle our demonic power, but others cannot, causing them to usually mutate and turn into a monster as a result. They are carnivorous, ravenous monsters, and the world will truly be better without them!"

"I see…" Issei replied, thinking about the situation. "So, in essence, I have to study for the exam, train myself by hunting those Strays, keep myself hidden from not one, but two High-Ranked Devils, and somewhat still make it in time for dinner?" He said, joking at the end which made Kuroka drop a slight chuckle. "Men, good thing I didn't sit on my ass all this time then."

"But unfortunate that you couldn't advance much." Ddraig added, which was true, something which still irritated the dragon.

"That as well."

"Regardless of planning, we need to get our stuff in. I will teleport it from our home in Mei; since it is not as great of a distance like Israel as Solomon's treasures will mean no need to use your Boosted Gear on me, so be ready to unpack, nya!" Kuroka said, going to the middle of the living room and preparing to cast her magic while Issei leaned against a wall and waited. Although very skilled in her spatial magic, she still needed a few moments to teleport that much stuff in.

So Issei decided to do something in the meantime and look over his Stats and Skills, mainly to improve them as previously stated. He had 60 SP, but he knew he would need to keep 20. He looked at his [Boost] skill and its cost and limitations. It cost him 50 Stamina per boost, and he currently had 1850, meaning he could use it about...37 times. However, there was also the limit set by his DUR stat, which lowered that number to 3 since his DUR was 16 currently. That also meant he could only afford 1 stored bonus to use later with [Explosion]

Luckily, his Title offered him an additional 10 Skill Points (SP) every 5 Levels, and he was level 10, which explained why he had 60 when you do the math. He normally gains only 5 SP per level-up and his Stats gain 1 by default each time he does level-up.

One of Solomon's lessons, thinking before acting.

He looked at his MGI stat, seeing how low it was, along with ACC. [Dragon Shot] was a long-ranged attack, so he was certain of the importance of his accuracy, making him use five points for each, then dumping 6 into DUR, meaning he still had about 24 points to spend. His WIS and CHA were buffed as is, so he put 10 into his INT so his Mana increased more as well in the future. Ok, 14 more points to go! He decided to evenly split them between his STR and AGI. Now, if his math was correct, he could [Boost] four times and store two. Not to mention his STA was going to increase when he leveled up, so that was a bonus. Not long after he was done Kuroka finished teleporting their stuff, which meant the part where they unpacked was here. Goodie.


He had been unpacking mostly by himself at some point as Kuroka offered to make dinner once the kitchen was finished, and Issei had just barely finished putting down the couch in the living room and collapsing on it.

"That took forever. Remind me again why you couldn't use magic?"

"Because, old friend, the presence might have attracted unwanted guests. We must stay hidden, remember?" Solomon said, enlightening the dragon to the reason. "Can't exactly flaunt our might everywhere, as much as I am certain you want to, Ddraig."

"Says the one who had a thousand women at his call." The dragon muttered bitterly, pointing out Solomon's very eye-catching detail. The King dared make no reply, as he knew he would be heading into a losing battle.

"Dinner's ready, nya!" Kuroka shouted, coming into the living room with two steaming bowls of rice. She set them down on the table in front of them and took a seat on the couch, cuddling up to Issei's side. "Tired?"

"A bit. Took a bit to unpack everything and set it all up." Issei replied. "Shall we eat? I'm starving."

"But of course. However, how about watching a movie as well while we cuddle on the couch?" Kuroka suggested, knowing full well, in her mind, that she won't stick to simple cuddling, but tease him along with her chest. Issei was also aware of this, but he didn't mind. He nodded and the two began to enjoy their evening, but rings broke out in Issei's head, resulting in him gaining new quests.


Academic Beginnings!

You need to pass an Exam to get into Kuoh Academy, and luckily for you, the system has your back! Kind of.

Main Objective: Dedicate 10 hours of studying to the following subjects:

Literature (0/10)

Mathematics (0/10)

English (0/10)

Social Studies (0/10)

History (0/10)

Additional Objective: Score 1st in the Exam!

Quest Time Limit: N/A

Main Objective Reward: +10 INT, Perk: Bookworm, and 3000 EXP

Additional Objective Reward: +5 Relationship with Kuroka, 5000 EXP.

Failure Penalty: -10 Relationship with Kuroka and locking away access to any future Quests related to Kuoh Academy.


However, this was not the only quest he was getting.


Stray Hunter & Secret Dragon

Main Objective: Level up and grow stronger by defeating Stray Devils and other possible enemies around Kuoh! Reach level 15 before starting to attend Kuoh Academy!

Additional Objective: Your actions are bound to attract attention from unwanted parties, so you must remain hidden at all cost! Level up your [Aura Suppression] to 10 and make sure to not blow your cover as the Red Dragon Emperor or attract the direct attention of either Rias Gremory or Sona Sitri!

Quest Time Limit: 4 Months.

Main Objective Reward: 20 SP, Title: Stray Hunter, 20000 EXP

Additional Objective Reward: ?, 5000 EXP.

Failure Penalty: Possible death.


This was going to be an eventful 4 months, huh? Regardless, Issei knew what he had to do, and with the stakes being the loss of his V-card, there was no way he was going to lose! Watch out, Kuoh, the Red Dragon Emperor is back!


The next day after their cuddling, Issei and Kuroka decided to go shopping to scout out the surrounding area, not to mention this offered Issei a chance to level up [Aura Suppression]. Why? Because he needed 3200 EXP to level up! He also checked a small tutorial on how Skills DO level up and found out that they gain 100 EXP per use, but more passive ones like [Aura Suppression] require being used around a person for a minute against individuals it WORKS against, meaning Kuroka was not an option since her Youkai nature lets it bypass it. That meant he can gain around 6000 EXP per hour if he uses this constantly when around one person, which he was currently doing by being outside with Kuroka on the streets, but it was bound to take some time. However, a perk of this was that it took EXP PER PERSON! It wasn't long before he saw the EXP bar of the Skill almost full and on the brink of level 5.

"Kuoh is a really nice town." She said, suppressing her usual verbal tick by saying 'nya' as they were in public. Although Issei could tell she was having a hard time restraining herself from it at times. "Too bad it is full of unsavory characters."

"True, but we cannot judge them by their covers like books, can we?" He replied, realizing she was talking about the Devils in town. They have not even met them, but Issei realized they needed to be wary of them. Gremory and Sitri, two clans Solomon offered information upon. The Sitri were masters of water magic and some are even born with powerful ice magic. The Gremory are known for their abilities to, in short words, seduce weak-willed individuals. Those who are weak and hollow can easily fall prey to their ability, turning them into slaves, but one can break out of it by simply growing a spine. More easily used by the women of the clan than the males.

As for the girls themselves, Rias and Sona, they knew nothing about. Well, next to nothing, they knew they were in town and likely with their entire peerage groups to boot.

"I guess, but that doesn't mean I need to like them." Kuroka replied, standing by her point. They eventually walked by a clothing store and Kuroka's eyes wandered. "Here, Issei!" She called out to him and the boy felt despair wash over him, a feeling shared by the two inhabitants within him. One thing even Solomon knew, which was a truth unchanged for centuries; women going shopping for clothing was a man's nightmare.

But they had to go, for there was no way to dodge this. Damn thee, manly duties to stick by your ladies!

Issei resigned himself to the fate which was to likely be the next two or so hours of his life, walking into the shop with Kuroka in tow. Even if he knew jack shit about women's clothing, he tried giving his best opinion on them, giving the best advice possible. Solomon was many things, but a fashion expert he was not. Ddraig was out of the question as well. His advice was mostly either turned down or questioned, but possibly because of his increased WIS stat, he started to learn from each mistake.

He actually listened to Kuroka's muttering on some of the clothing, piecing stuff together. It was either about some stuff making her look too fat in some way - mainly the area of the buttocks - or too slutty. He was slightly shocked to hear her worry about the latter, considering how she walks around the house, but he guessed she was not an outright slut. God strike him for thinking that! But her demeanor was a bit misleading. But she was just a playful tease. Slowly but surely, he began to make good suggestions, and there, when she went to the changing room, he heard a ding.

For helping out Kuroka and honing your fashion sense a bit, you have gained the Skill: [Fashion Novice]!

Seriously, this stuff had to be messing with him in some way or another. "Oh, Issei, what do you think?" She came out of the changing boot, wearing a pair of black jeans combined with a red turtle-neck red sweater. The clothing fit well on her body, making a good job of not attracting attention. It was overall more conservative clothing than he was used to seeing her in.

"I think it looks very nice on you, definitely different from the normal style you rock." he said, thinking it was likely the new skill he acquired at work. "The sweater does a good job at accentuating your bust, and the jeans look good as well. Then again, black is said to go with anything."

Kuroka put on a sly smirk. The 'Kuro' part of her name meant black, so she took it as Issei saying she looked good in anything.

Relationship with Kuroka has reached the MAX amount from independent increase, from now on the only way to increase her Relationship meter is by completing quests.

The notification came as a surprise to Issei, who had him check her page, seeing her Relationship points at 90/100. So, it seemed that the last 10 points in each Relationship meter needed to be earned via questing. That put forth a small issue, mainly that this meant he had to actively seek out opportunities for future relationship tabs. God damn it, it was that kind of game.

"Oh, Issei~" She called out to him, making the boy look in her direction and feel his gaze bulging from his eyes. She was bent over, and the jeans, as good as they looked on her, hugged her rear very, very well. He stared at her ass, long and well, and Kuroka was aware of that. She was teasing him again! He shook his head, the woman giggling and standing straight once again. "Some motivation in order to study for the exam, Ise. Remember, if you get first, rewards are in."

"Yes Ma'am!" He replied with enthusiasm, the original gloom of being in a clothing store fading and being replaced with vigor. Soon after they left the store, resuming their little walk around. Kuroka sent the things they bought home, having hidden in an alley and using her magic there, then continued on their road.

They had the chance to walk around for a good while, as time passed. While they were in the shop, his [Aura Suppression] did level up to level up.

Skill Leveled up! Congratulations, [Aura Suppression] is now level 5, and as a result, it has grown!


[Aura Suppression]: ( Level 5 100/6400): This Skill enables the Gamer to hide their Aura and Power from other beings, making them seem like a normal human being for the most part. At its current level, the Skill is able to hide the user's power from Low class, and Medium Class Devils, Angels, Fallen Angels, and other supernatural beings, allowing the user to pass unnoticed. Currently, the Skill can prevent the listed beings from detecting the user entirely, and even conceal the power of their Sacred Gear completely, however, High-class beings can detect his power, but not clearly, meaning they are unable to tell if he has a Sacred Gear or not, or if he is just a magician. Stronger beings are able to bypass this Skill at its current level. Additionally, Youkai are able to bypass this Skill entirely, no matter the level. This Skill has no cost. This Skill does not affect the bonus given by [Draconic Aura] to the Gamer's Relationship points


Nice! Progress! He shuddered to think about the next level, however, as he realized that the EXP requirement kept doubling after each level up with his skills until he hit the max.

They suddenly stopped as Kuroka stopped walking, looking ahead with a stunned expression. "Kuroka?" Issei called out to her, seeing her widened eyes and a small shake growing in her. He looked in the direction she was looking at, seeing a white-haired girl enjoying some ice cream while leaning against a shop's door, likely waiting for someone. Issei didn't get that good of a look at her when Kuroka pushed them into the alley, shaking. "Kuroka, was that-?"

"Yes…"

"The hair and judging from her looks, it all matches. That is Shirone, isn't it?" Issei asked, figuring it out. Out of all the individuals, Kuroka had to find her sister in Kuoh. She was shaking, and Issei placed his hands on her shoulders. "Kuroka, calm down." He told her softly, hoping they were not attracting any attention. It was not working, so Issei did the next best thing he could think about and raised her chin, taking her lips into his.

They kissed before, of course, even made out. They had been 'dating' for a while after all. This seemed to calm down the shaken woman, so when she pulled back she took a deeper breath. "Thanks for that…" She said, regaining her composure which allowed her to think. "If she is here, then I assume she must be part of one of the peerages around the area."

"Hmm. Let me use my [Observe] Skill, maybe I can get some information." Issei said, but then he realized something. Since Shirone was a Youkai like Kuroka, she can bypass his [Aura Suppression] Skill, meaning she would be able to tell he is more than meets the eye. Shit! This just got ten times harder if she really is part of a peerage group! Granted, Kuroka once told him Youkai can get distracted and not pay attention to the Ki around them, so it was possible to observe her without being detected.

Slowly, he peeked over the corner and used the Skill, [Observe], on Shirone, trying to see if he could get any useful information. One stamina per use was really cheap, after all.

[Koneko (Shirone) Toujou]

[Nekoshou/Reincarnated Devil (1 Rook)]

"Interesting." Issei muttered, going back to Kuroka before being spotted. "I didn't get much, except that she is a rook, but I did read something peculiar. Her name is different."

"What do you mean?" Kuroka asked, confused

"It is Koneko, not Shirone." Issei said, and Kuroka seemed to catch on quickly after that.

"A name." She muttered. "Sometimes, Devils give their servants a new name if they request it. She might have done that. Regardless, to me she will remain Shirone, no matter what other name she gets."

"Understandable." Issei said, then he and Kuroka went through the alley, making sure to avoid Shirone, AKA Koneko. Once they were out on the streets again, Issei began to use [Observe] on the people around, realizing he should probably level that up as well. Besides, it was quick! At first.

Skill Level up! Your Observe Skill is not Level 2!

Skill Level up! Your Observe Skill is not Level 3!

Skill Level up! Your Observe Skill is not Level 4!

By the time it hit Level 4, Issei noted that it would need to be used on 32 people in total, which was still easy to do. He just walked around with Kuroka, leveling up his skills and waiting for [Aura Suppression] to level up as well. Granted, at some point, while he was using his [Observe] skill, something else caught his eye.

They were just walking down the street when they saw a blonde guy, the pretty-prince type that Issei assumed he would have hated for hogging all the attention of the girls in school. He wore a simple white shirt and pants, then simply walked past them, but Issei managed to observe him and found information, again.

[Yuuto Kiba]

[Reincarnated Devil (1 Knight)]

Another devil, this time a knight. It was not hard to believe there was some connection seeing two of them so close, both a knight and rook. Issei notified Kuroka about it, and she replied that devils usually keep their peerages close, meaning that if two of them are around, the master, the King, must be close as well. They assumed it was one of the two sisters, which they couldn't tell as Issei's [Observe] was not high enough in level.

Still, this had them quicken their pace through the city a bit to put some distance before they pick up anything, all the while trying not to seem suspicious. Seeing not one, but two peerage members did mean the King was around, after all, and Issei didn't want to fail his quest already. They had already spent a good amount of time in town, so on their way back his [Aura Suppression] should level up again.

Not to mention he did need to study...Oh goodie.


In the end, Issei and Kuroka returned to their home and managed to relax some more, Kuroka drawing the draperies and letting her ears and tails breathe, letting out a long sigh of relief." Much better, nya." She said, walking around the house a bit as Issei sat on the couch, preparing himself to study. She pouted a bit seeing him prepare. "Must you really study now? You have four months for that, and you must only study 10 hours for each subject, right?"

"Yeah, but I have a total of five subjects, which is 50 hours of studying." Issei replied, doing the basic math. "At least I managed to get [Aura Suppression] to level up twice today." He was thankful for that, but looking at the EXP requirement for level 7 had him worried when he saw it. Granted, it was to be expected if you did the basic math, but even then…Oh boy.

"I guess that is true, some progress is better than no progress, nya." Kuroka said. "Too bad, I was hoping to cuddle with you on the couch and watch a movie."

Curse this need to study for the exam!

"Sorry, Kuroka, maybe another time. I also need to go out tonight." He said, deciding not to hide it from her. "I also need to level up myself, and the only way to do that is by going out and either completing quests or fighting and defeating enemies."

"Nya! Isn't that dangerous?" She asked, worried. "What if you meet the devil who has Shirone in their peerage? Your skill cannot hide your presence from a Youkai, you know that well!"

"She has a point." Ddraig said, making his presence known.

"True, Shirone is an issue, but what if we make it so she cannot tell the difference?" Solomon suggested. "[Aura Suppression] hides your presence, true, making you invisible when it comes to feeling for your power. But what if you mask your presence with Ddraig's?"

"I see." Issei said, understanding what he was intending to say as he listened. "So, instead of suppressing, I should be masking?"

"Exactly" Solomon confirmed.

"It might be possible for you to use my raw power to create such a mask, but there might be a cost. With this system in play, we can expect a skill to be created as a result of our action, a new skill, which will mean there will be limits." The dragon then muttered something Issei couldn't really understand, but he was likely getting a headache from trying to understand this system.

"Still, you'd need to use this in the field to make it a reality. I have been looking through the system's functions, and the skills, and learned as much as I could about the way it works. I am still learning, but certain skills can be created at random by performing certain activities." Solomon said, rubbing his beard, even if only Ddraig could see him do so. "But it is not a guarantee, so be careful, Issei."

"No worries, I will make quick work of any stray who stumbles in my way and looks for a fight!" Issei said with confidence, holding his fist up. "Besides, we are also doing something good for the town, right? Those things are killers, so by doing this we also help out Kuoh, its inhabitants, and as a bonus the devils."

"Good, Issei. However, before we can engage in such activities, I think you have to study, am I right?" Solomon remarked, putting Issei on the spot as he felt like the king was gazing at him like an angry teacher. "Hopefully, those nightly escapes won't damage your studies."

"No worries, Solomon, I will make sure he studies!" Kuroka said, adding in her help. Issei, by this point, was feeling like trapped prey between two predators, so he looked at his hand, hoping Ddraig would help him and side with him. After all, he had a lot of EXP to gather! Surely Ddraig would want to help him reduce possible long hours of studying so he can go kick ass more, right?

"Sorry, partner, but Solomon told me to stand aside earlier and I am" The wisest of Kings to ever live, huh? Looked like that also included impressive foresight. Issei sighed in defeat, getting his stuff in order. He had to study, after all, he was not going to deny that, but truth be told he hoped he can get off easily by doing a bit of studying each day which would eventually stack up to the objective of the quest, but it looked like Solomon was going to make sure he gets a proper study session in, and Kuroka was also backing him up.

It wasn't even that late outside, barely late afternoon, around 5, maybe 6 in the evening. However, by the time he was done, it was 8 PM. Solomon had him study Social Studies all this time, which earned him no extra points in his INT stat, but did progress the quest. Kuroka also made dinner, so they sat and ate for a bit, but then came the time to depart. Issei decided to, and mostly thanks to his new [Fashion Novice] skill, use clothing that didn't attract a lot of attention. Since he was going out at night, the goth style was the way to go.

Minus all the makeup.

He put on a dark-gray hoodie and black pants, which was his main attire for those sessions. Under his hoodie, he wore a plain white shirt, which was not visible. With his attire all done, he said goodnight to Kuroka, the Nekoshou confident he'd return and see him in the morning. No need to pull a sleepless night waiting for him. Issei left his house around 9 PM, the sun had barely set as the days were growing longer for when summer came around. The street lights turned themselves on, and he proceeded to head wherever the night took him.

"Watch out, Strays, here I come!"


"Come on! Where are the Stray Devils?!" Issei asked himself in desperation as he has been walking around Kuoh for a good amount of time now and found nothing, not even a trace of a Stray. Seriously, those guys were rare or something? He expected them to be nearly everywhere!

"They are not like rabbits, partners. They are around, do not be worried, but they won't come out if you ask."

"Ddraig is right, Issei." Solomon added. "However, I think I know how to get them to show up. Try to turn off your [Aura Suppression] Skill."

"Wait a minute, won't that make it obvious I am the Red Dragon Emperor?" Issei asked in worry.

"Not entirely, no. From what Ddraig here has told me before, Strays are attracted by individuals with power; Sacred Gears; who are also an easy prey." Solomon explained. "If you keep the Boosted Gear in its Twice Critical form, it should fool them to think you are one such easy prey. Also, try to flare your aura and feel your surroundings."

"If you say so, Solomon. I trust you, but I better not wake up with the peerages on my head." Issei replied and did as Solomon told him, deactivating [Aura Suppression]. Since it had no real cost, he always had it on, even when it wouldn't give any real EXP gain. After that he tried to flare his aura, first deploying the Twice Critical stage of the Boosted Gear, then after that, he began to let his aura flare, surrounding himself with it. However, he heard a ding again, meaning the system kicked in.

For flaring your aura you have gained the Skill: [Aura Flare.]

[Aura Flare] (Level 1| EXP: 0/400): Flaring your Aura lets everyone know you are there, but also works to attract any curious being to you. This Skill costs 10 STA to use and 5 STA to maintain per minute.

"Huh. Not bad." Issei muttered as he then walked around for a bit, disengaging his Sacred Gear for now and continuing his search around Kuoh. He left the residential area and went towards the shopping district, seeing all the shops closed and barely anyone on the streets, par drunks, couples going out, and occasionally, street thots.

This did allow him to also train his [Observe] Skill a bit, but only a bit before he passed by an alley. "Hey, kid, over here." A man spoke from the alley, catching Issei's attention. The person in question was wearing pretty dirty clothing and was ripped in some places. Issei assumed he was either a beggar or homeless person, got into a nasty fight, and was looking to rob him. However, as he tried to use the [Observe] Skill on him, he took notice of the sudden quiet around the place.

"A barrier?"

Combat Mode, engaged!

Note: When you discover an enemy out in the open, the system will automatically deploy a barrier when combat is about to ensue. This will prevent any normal human being from interrupting or witnessing the fight, as the barrier will make them avoid it. Any damage done to the surrounding area will also be automatically fixed when the barrier is lifted. However, those who can sense the barrier and acknowledge its existence will not be fooled by it.

"Wait, but that means-"

"Come here, you punk!" The man lunged forth at Issei, drawing a knife at him and revealing his wings. However, Issei took notice that the man's left eye was larger than the right one, and the sclera was a sick yellow instead of white. This was likely a young Stray, one which has just left its peerage. Issei dodged the knife as he could, then he retaliated by using his leg to kick the stray in the stomach, sending them back.

This gave him the time to use [Observe] on them, giving him some intel.

[Stray Devil]

[Reincarnated Devil - Stray (1 Pawn)]

A stray, finally. However, issei took a moment to examine the damage he inflicted, comparing it to his STR stat. He stood at 26 STR, meaning he dealt a default 2600 damage, which is reduced by the Stray's DUR, making his DUR stat 19.

Quick math problems, when simple, were simple.

"Damn, punk!" This Stray was no prime material for fighting, meaning he was likely only meant to be used as fodder or something in whatever peerage he was forced to join. Or joined willingly. Issei deployed his Sacred Gear, in the Twice Critical stage, seeing the Stray charge in again and likely try to come in for a slash again. Issei had to remember this was a Stray devil, a killer, and no longer human. Issei applied some of the moves Kuroka had taught him, once again dodging the knife by sliding to the side, but this time he kicked the knife out of the Stray's hand into the air, then used his covered hand to punch them back.

The knife came down from the air and Issei grabbed it, just in time as the Stray was recovering from the punch. Once they saw Issei holding the knife and sporting a Sacred Gear he knew he was out of his depth. "Wait, wait! Listen to me, kid, please don't do anything rash! I was...I was high, that's it! I am not usually like this-"

"No use bullshiting" Issei said, making the Stray flinch. He twirled the knife in his hand, then he used [Observe] on it.

[Kitchen Knife]

[Knife used in the kitchen.]

A kitchen knife, really? Well, it didn't matter now. He looked at the Stray again, and used [Observe] once more on him, which was accompanied by a ding.

Skill Level up! Your [Observe] Skill is now Level 5!

Your Observe Skill has grown! Now, additional information will be added when Observing, namely the level and health of the target. It will also now reveal the durability of weapons and items as well!

That was a good upgrade. Issei used the Observe Skill on Walton again, looking at his new information.

[Stray]

[Level: 4 E]

[HP: 400/1000]

[Reincarnated Devil - Stray (1 Pawn)]

If he punched him again, his HP might hit zero. Damn, is this how weak some beings are? He was over twice this guy's level! He felt like a bully…He looked down at the Stray, the pathetic being still holding on to some sense of ration as he tried to negotiate for his life. However, Issei knew what those Strays do, and he was not about to leave one running around. So he took the knife and walked to him. It felt strange, knowing he was about to end a life.

Normally, he was sure he'd be freaking out about this, but it was likely his [Gamer's Mind] helping him right now. It was concerning, in a way, but he didn't need to bother with it right now. He picked up Walton with his Sacred Gear-covered hand and lifted him up. "P-please, don't-"

[Boost!]

Issei drove the knife right into his, using the [Boost] to make sure it went through his sternum and stabbed his heart directly. He held on to him as life left his body, the stray jerking and struggling as his blood stained the ground and got on Issei as well.

FATAL STRIKE!

The words were clear and soon enough he stopped moving altogether, and Issei let go of the body. He looked at it and at the knife now in his hands and then felt a sense of vertigo wash over him for a second before he felt [Gamer's Mind] kick in, calming his mind. Still, he was troubled.

"Be at ease, Issei." Solomon said, making his presence known. "This Stray devil was no longer human or worthy of any pity. Had you left him alive, others would have died."

"Solomon is right, partner. You cannot lose your nerve each time you do this, because you will be doing this a lot." Ddraig pointed out as well, and Issei calmed himself. He looked at the Stray again, seeing his mutated body simply laying there. Then, he received a notification asking him if he wanted to loot the body. He also sincerely hoped this won't take his clothing as well, so he pressed the 'Y' button, and the information poured in.

-50 Yen added to your inventory.

-Bag of Cocaine was added to your inventory.

"Oh hell! This guy really was a junkie!" Issei exclaimed as he quickly took out the bag of drugs from his inventory, hoping the system would allow him to sell it. And luckily, it did, for 1000 Yen.

Thankfully he got rid of that shit, Issei left the alleyway, thankful for the late hour and shadowy place the Stray's body now rotted in. He didn't really have any other choice other than leaving it there, but he assumed the Devils won't be letting things get public seeing as the Stray had obvious mutations. They will likely cover up everything. He went to a neighboring alley where he hid, dumping the knife into a dumpster. With a little luck, no one would find it. But he now had another problem...He was stained with blood.

That was going to be an issue, but for now he checked the EXP he received from his first kill. He got 500 EXP from that kill, which was not that bad considering the low level of the Stray. He then looked down at his clothing, seeing the blood that splattered it. He couldn't walk around like this, so he began to wonder if there was at least some spell that could help him get clean. He tried to focus what little, pathetic amount of magic he had, knowing the [Boost] from earlier was still in effect, and tried to use magic to clean himself of the blood.

Eventually, a soft white light enveloped him for a quick second before the blood was cleaned, leaving his clothing stainless.

For actively trying to use your magic, you have gained the Skill: [Self-Clean].

[Self-Clean[ (Level 1| 98/400): Fights are bound to get messy and leave you dirty, but fred not! This handy skill will clean you right up! When used, this skill will remove any trace of filth from your clothing and body. This skill costs 50 Mana to use.

"Huh. Nifty." Issei muttered as he began to walk away, leaving the scene of the crime. Literally, in a way. He slipped through the alleys, thinking about turning on [Aura Suppression] again, but Solomon advised against it. He needed to find more targets tonight, but he did say not to use [Aura Flare] recklessly, as it took Stamina to function. It was around 11 PM right now, meaning he still had some time before midnight.

He walked through the streets, his Sacred Gear dismissed. He was bound to recover the spent Stamina he wasted back there in at least half an hour, which is what happened. He was looking for Stray devils, how hard could that be? Well, it was proven back there that it was bound to luck, and even though he had a stat for that, it didn't seem to do much. Regardless, as he walked around the street, trying to see about finding another Stray. Which, once again, proved harder than expected. Since they were murderous beings he expected them to be in places with a higher population, but maybe he should look at it differently. He was heading towards the industrial area of Kuoh, his feet killing him a bit from all the walking. He wished he could just use his Balance Breaker and fly, but that'd be too flashy and likely put a flag or something on him.

He walked around the industrial area, where most warehouses were located. This place had some houses as well, but mostly for the workers and their families who decided to live closer to work. He looked around, but he still saw nothing. As the results were not coming in he decided to use [Aura Flare] to attract some attention. If a Stray tried to jump him then he would need to just deal with it, but maybe it didn't hurt to be more aware of his surroundings. He never had to worry about someone jumping him out of the blue in Mei, but that didn't apply anymore.

He was like a light bulb on the street, attracting attention, so maybe being more aware of his surroundings was not a bad idea. He already got new skills, two of them, just tonight. Granted, they were more utility-oriented.

Skill Leveled up! Your [Aura Flare] Skill is now level 2!

Wait, if Issei was right, skills like [Aura Suppression] and [Aura Flare] would only level up if they affect a person, which means someone picked up his power signature. Drawing his hoodie over his head more, Issei deactivated [Aura Flare] and hid between some trash cans- thank God he had the new cleaning skill. He activated his [Aura Suppression] and waited, eventually hearing the flapping of wings.

It looked like another Stray Devil, this one being female with some strange, bird-like features. Her arms were replaced by wings and her legs were talons. If Issei didn't know better he'd say this was a simple harpy that got curious, but his [Observe] skill cast that doubt aside.

[Stray]

[Level: 5 D]

[HP: 1200/1200]
[Reincarnated Devil -Stray (1 Bishop)]

Jumping straight from a pawn to a bishop, Issei watched as she looked around, likely scanning for him. It was amazing how much the mutations to a Stray can differ, making them look like other species altogether. However, he was not about to easily leave and let them do whatever they wanted to the area. But he did hesitate when he saw her...front. Those were some nice knockers, but the scowl she wore on her face was not very inviting.

Her HP was only 1200, meaning that if he used his [Dragon Shot] he might be able to take her out easily. However, he thought again and realized that would be a poor choice as the light it made might alert her. Damn, it! He wished he didn't throw away that knife now, it would have been useful as a weapon. The Stray looked around, seemingly looking for him. "Come out, come out...I can smell you…" A shiver went down Issei's spine hearing that, thankful he was hiding in the thrash. Ok, maybe he SHOULD use [Dragon Shot], as flashy as the attack was, it might just land.

The stray went past the trash cans, still looking, and Issei took the chance to act. He jumped from the thrash, managing to tackle her to the ground. "GET OFF!" She snarled, thrashing around wildly, but Issei held her arms down so she wouldn't hit him with her wings. However, he failed to secure her legs, she managed to grab him with her talons and pull him off, throwing him away.

Issei looked at her as she got up, turning around to him and snarling, looking at him. Then she smiled, seeing that he only had a Twice Critical. "What? You jump like that on me and all you got is that puny thing? Pathetic! You will make for a quick meal, boy!" She charged at him, using her wings to boost her speed. Issei barely dodges as she launches forth with her talons, digging into the concrete.

In a hurry, Issei put his Sacred Gear forth and allowed it to reveal itself as the Boosted Gear, the [Dragon Shot] charging in his palm as he quickly used it, managing to nail her in the chest and launch her back. He heard a ding but didn't bother to check the notification yet as he got up, looking at the stray.

Only 500 damage was done to her, even if her stomach where he hit her was smoking a bit. She just looked at him, angry. She then let out a loud shriek and flapped her wings at him, sending out a gust of wind that struck Issei head-on, knocking him back all the way into the wall of the nearby warehouse. He took around 700 points of damage to his HP from that, meaning her MGI was likely higher than his DUR.

Of course, why wouldn't it? He learned from Kuroka that Bishops were gifted with high magical capabilities. He got up, seeing her charge in again to hit him with her talons, but he put his now armored arm up, grabbing her talon which failed to pierce his gauntlet, and knocked her into the wall.

Not wasting any more time, Issei charged another [Dragon Shot] before she could recover her bearings, striking her once more in the chest.

FATAL STRIKE.

The stray's body fell limp on the ground, and Issei took a good breath of relief. True, he is holding back, but this would have been easier if he had a weapon of some kind, even a knife. Granted, now that this was over, he activated his [Aura Suppression] again and checked the notifications he received during that small battle.

For attacking your opponent from behind you have gained the Skill: [Sneak Attack.]

[Sneak Attack] (Level 1| 100/400): Whenever you attack an opponent who has yet to register your presence and succeed in inflicting damage, this skill offers you a 20% damage boost when you land a successful strike. No cost required for this Skill.

(SUB-SKILL) [Wyvern Shot] (Level 1|100/400): A weaker version of [Dragon Shot] created by not properly charging up the attack. This attack charges faster than the normal [Dragon Shot], but lacks the same level of power. This skill inflicts an additional 50% of the Gamer's (Original) STR stat as damage when used instead of a stacking bonus like its parent skill. 20 Stamina per use, 2 second cooldown between uses.

This is why that [Dragon Shot] seemed weaker! In his rush to use it, Issei accidentally created another, weaker version of it, apparently a Sub-Skill called [Wyvern Shot]. He sighed a bit, admitting the skill might be useful as a quicker way to attack, and then he checked the EXP gain from this kill. 600, just a bit better than the last. He used his cleaning skill afterward, cleaning his clothing, then he decided he had enough for tonight and decided to head home to Kuroka, who was likely sleeping in his bed or something.