In this state, it was trivial for Rhode to destroy every single scrap of Kibutsuji Muzan's flesh. Until the moment he died, Muzan never even knew how he had been killed.
The Progenitor of Demons died a remarkably unceremonious death.
In truth, calling him a "Demon King" in this setting was a bit of a stretch. Muzan's power level in this universe was, at most, around the level of a Mid-Class Devil—perhaps a match for the Fallen Angel Raynare. In the grand scheme of things, he was just high-tier cannon fodder. It was a pity for a legendary Demon King; his screen time was even shorter than the Vampires Rhode had killed previously.
The awakening exorcists witnessed the scene of Kibutsuji Muzan being systematically dismantled before their eyes. Their expressions were filled with shock. They had initially thought a master from their clan had arrived to save them, but looking at Rhode's clothes, they realized he wasn't one of the Five Principal Clans. He didn't have the aura of a Youkai, either.
Rhode ignored the rookie exorcists for a moment. After Muzan's death, the System notification for the reward rang in his mind.
[You have successfully defeated the Demon King, Kibutsuji Muzan!] [Reward Calculation Successful: Presence Concealment EX.]
"Presence Concealment? Now that's a good skill."
A smile touched Rhode's lips. As a freelancer in this supernatural society, this passive ability was perfect for him. With this, whether it was for surprise attacks or playing the "pig to eat the tiger," things would be much simpler.
As Rhode was reflecting on his gain, another mission prompt appeared.
[You have eliminated every Demon in this world! Calculating rewards...]
"I only killed the 'Crap Boss,' didn't I? Oh, right." Rhode understood immediately.
Kibutsuji Muzan was the type where "if the head of the house eats, the whole family is full." Because he was excessively afraid of death and feared his subordinates might betray him, he had established a rule: if he died, every demon transformed by his blood would die with him.
Afraid of death, afraid of betrayal, yet unable to stop himself from killing—and then hiding in fear for a long time afterward. He really was a piece of work.
[Reward Calculation Complete. Random Skill Obtained: Judgment Cut.] [Judgment Cut: A god-speed Iai slash. After a brief charge, the user can release a powerful strike that tears through the atmosphere. Requires a sword-type weapon to use.]
Judgment Cut? The skill Vergil uses in Devil May Cry?
After feeling out the mechanics of the skill in his mind, Rhode confirmed it was indeed from DMC. He had only been a "cloud gamer" for that series, but he had seen plenty of clips. Specifically, the protagonist's Judgment Cut. It might not be the most damaging move, but it was easily the coolest-looking skill in the game.
Rhode was very satisfied. Strength is temporary, but "cool" is forever.
Having acquired two useful skills, Rhode was in a fantastic mood. This trip hadn't been in vain.
While lost in thought, Rhode noticed a sound nearby. The rookie exorcists, whom Muzan had pushed to the brink, were limping toward him, supporting one another.
"Thank you for your assistance. If not for you, not only would we have perished today, but that cunning demon would have continued to plague the world of man!"
The one speaking was a young girl with a trace of innocence on her face, appearing to be around Rhode's age. Rhode looked at her closely but had no memory of her—likely just a background character from the anime.
"Are you from the Five Principal Clans?" Rhode asked.
The girl blinked, and her companions' expressions shifted slightly. It wasn't for any specific reason other than the fact that Rhode had seen through their origin at a glance.
"Yes. We are disciples of the Himejima Clan, the head of the Five Principal Clans," the girl replied softly. A flicker of pride crossed their faces as she spoke.
"So it really is the Himejima Clan..." Rhode murmured. He had only asked casually, but he hadn't expected to stumble upon a faction with such significant weight in the original story.Hearing those words, the expressions of the several disciples became somewhat strained.
What did he mean by that? Was Rhode looking for the location of the Five Principal Clans? Was he an enemy? Or perhaps a spy sent by another faction?
The young girl hesitated, but quickly steeled her resolve. "...While we are deeply grateful that you saved us, if possible, you should leave Tokyo as soon as you can and head to another city."
"And if I don't leave, what are the consequences?" Rhode didn't follow her lead, instead asking with a hint of curiosity.
The girl was at a loss for words. Just as she was about to press her advice further, a figure emerged from the shadows not far away.
It was a beautiful young woman with long black hair. Her tresses were lustrous and sleek, appearing as dark and polished as if they had been dampened by water. She wore a form-fitting, suit-like outfit that was impeccably tailored, and she exuded an aura of commanding dignity—methodical, efficient, and entirely without excess.
However, the most noteworthy thing wasn't her presence, but her slender, feminine figure, which even her tightly buttoned clothing couldn't fully conceal. At the very least, Rhode found it difficult to stop his eyes from darting toward those "Mount Fujis" a few times.
There was no helping it; they were simply too massive.
Even though this was the world of High School DxD, seeing a scale that a normal woman could never hope to achieve in her lifetime still made Rhode marvel inwardly. What exactly do these women eat to grow like that?
The moment the rookie exorcists saw the woman, their expressions changed drastically. They quickly lowered their heads and spoke in a low, respectful tone: "Lady Suzaku."
"Himejima Suzaku?"
Rhode forced his gaze away and focused on the woman's face. No wonder she looked so familiar at first glance; she was Himejima Akeno's cousin. This character seemingly never appeared in the anime, only mentioned as a character in the side stories. She bore a seventy to eighty percent resemblance to Akeno, though she possessed far more composure and calm.
"I am the successor to the Himejima Clan, Himejima Suzaku," the beautiful woman began, offering Rhode a soft, gentle smile. "Regarding your question just now, I can give you an answer. If you remain in Tokyo, you are likely to attract surveillance and hostility. Asking you to leave is not due to any fault of yours, but simply the rules of this place."
"Oh? And if I insist on staying?" Rhode pressed with a light chuckle.
Suzaku paused for half a second before stating calmly, "...Those who do not heed the warning may find themselves an enemy of the Five Principal Clans."
The atmosphere plummeted to freezing point. The rookie exorcists looked like they wanted to speak but didn't dare to with their superior, Lady Suzaku, right there.
"..."
A few seconds passed. Rhode grinned. He had waited until now, yet no mission had been triggered. It seemed he wouldn't be able to open the Five Principal Clans' side-quest line for the time being.
At that moment, Suzaku spoke again: "However... you just saved members of the Himejima family. Therefore, we will not make things difficult for you. If you wish to stay in Tokyo, I can grant you permission. You may stay as long as you like."
"Of course, I must ask that you do not perform any... out-of-line actions."
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My : https://[email protected]/AuAuMon
High School DxD : Reincarnated into the Multiverse, but it's High School DxD (63 Chapters – Ongoing)
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