Author's note : Soji Okita looks like Souji Okita from Type-Moon (I'll make some changes to certain chapters later).
…
'Damn supernatural.'
After the destruction of the house and surroundings, Gorou used a similar trick to the one he'd employed against Kiba and Koneko back then.
He had fled through the sewers.
'Despite my calculated actions and taking the initiative, I still lost resources.'
He had lost Freed alive, but also part of the repaired or invented gadgets.
Sure, he had defeated an official branch of Grigori single-handedly, but...
'Damn it, they were all low or intermediate class.'
This situation motivated him even more to complete his Stanford Pines model... and find another one.
Yes, the abnormal scientist from Gravity Falls literally allowed him to threaten supernatural dimensions or reality itself.
He had even opened the path to the multiverse for him.
But he had limited resources, physically speaking.
Today, he had understood this painfully.
His only chance to make up for this: intensive physical training and using the human magic system, which he had neglected because of his various projects.
The other option is to avoid too versatile a path and stay focused on science, but that would require retreating from the public.
So, avoiding exposure to supernatural creatures and staying in the shadows to evolve slowly.
A path demanding reduced interaction with his family, which is out of the question.
'Anyway, I still have time before the real important events of DxD and I no longer have problems with supernatural knowledge or money...'
Gorou now possesses ordinary robots and artificial creatures to assist him, as well as future supernatural knowledge from the Grigori branch.
Currently, the Grigori branch installed in Kuoh town has no real security.
Gorou planned to confiscate all their knowledge, and that includes the method for stealing Sacred Gears.
All these elements gave him confidence to finalize the Stanford Pines model, before the events related to the Phoenix clan.
'In the end, I'm complaining about my evolution, but in a month and a few days, I've reached a frightening level, haha.'
Thanks to the Stanford Pines model, he acquired a high enough intellect level to create Rei and his two other servants.
He was able to defeat Raynare and her subordinates; there's also his base with his future projects, like the dimensional door.
Apart from his human mortality, he's already formidable in the supernatural world.
Especially since he could have easily changed races with his current knowledge.
A free power gain, but he's reluctant about that.
"Sir... are you alright?"
Gorou was lost in thought while taking a small break in his escape from the terrorist scene.
He was currently sitting on the ground, holding one hand pressed against his wound.
An attempt to stop the bleeding caused by Raynare's lance composed of Holy Power.
The latter inquired about his condition with a worried face, which shows the effectiveness of the Memory Gun against her.
Gorou had been a bit worried about the nature of fallen angels, who are creatures endowed with Holy Power.
An energy focused on light or miracles, as it embodies good in the Heaven system.
'Fortunately, she seems to have completely lost all information related to Heaven and Grigori.'
Gorou decided to try using the Memory Gun on a pure angel later, for scientific purposes.
"You can clearly see he's injured, tch."
After clicking her tongue at her colleague's attitude, Kalawarna grabbed Gorou by the arm.
She began helping him walk.
"...Gently."
Even though he didn't really feel the pain thanks to the injections, the wound was still there.
"Don't be a wimp. You're supposed to be our boss, right?"
Gorou nodded at Kalawarna's words.
With the help of two young women, who had become his temporary subordinates.
He eventually arrived at his laboratory.
"Stop trying to stop me, or I'll destroy you."
Once arrived at the laboratory, a woman wearing a scientist's coat burned in certain places was blocking Rei's path.
It was easy for Gorou and the others to guess the subject of the conversation, but the woman's identity was unknown.
At least, at that moment.
Once inside the laboratory, Gorou came across a girl the age of a Japanese high school student.
The latter had a nonchalant expression, despite Rei's threats.
"See? It was impossible for the master to lose against just some Fallen and Exorcists," she declared as Gorou and the Fallen approached.
The woman with Asian features reduced the distance between herself and Gorou with a quick gesture after her words to Rei.
Cold.
A white and delicate hand caressed Gorou's stomach, precisely at the location of the wound.
'Wait a minute?! I'm being caressed by a girl with the biological age of my son?!'
An alarm bell rang in his mind, but it was quickly muffled because of the... bloodthirsty aura emitted by the person identified as Soji Okita.
(Image)
"I see... you're injured, since I misjudged the threat..."
No one answered.
Why?
Dangerous...
After touching Gorou's injured stomach, the girl with adolescent appearance brought the blood on her hand to her cheek.
Marked.
She traced it on both her cheeks, before directing her attention toward Rei.
"Rei... I'll clean up this trash myself later, but the priority is elsewhere, right?"
Everyone wanted to talk about the... bold gesture, but no one had the courage.
Soji emanated something threatening, which strangely disappeared when facing Gorou's face.
"You're right... Asia?"
The former church sister nodded hastily at Rei's words, before going to heal Gorou.
'So this is healing via Sacred Gear? This is cheating!!'
Usually, he would be out of service in a capsule filled with medical liquid.
At worst, he would even be plunged into a small coma, or even a deep one.
However, Asia single-handedly reversed this eventuality.
"Whoa, that's crazy."
Soji glanced between Asia and Gorou's stomach before nodding with satisfaction, like a big sister congratulating a good deed.
With a surprisingly familiar and quick gesture, she wrapped her arm around the young girl's shoulder.
"You, I like you!!"
"What?! No, it's..."
Asia was confused, faced with the artificial creature's sudden declaration and her lack of real social interaction.
"She just wants you to be her friend."
After checking his condition, Gorou decided to intervene.
Thanks to the original Soji's memories, he had a correct understanding of the creature's extroverted personality.
'Soji... a swordsman and cold murderer, but possessing a high sense of camaraderie.'
With a quick glance, he quickly noticed the unusual state of the laboratory.
Damaged.
'There must have been a complex interaction between Rei and Soji during my absence.'
After understanding this, he silently decided to punish the former samurai with various tasks.
After all, Rei isn't the type to look for trouble, and he's the one with the most injuries here.
"Friend? ...hmm, I thought of a mission partner, but that's good too."
Gorou nodded toward the duo, then looked toward Rei.
The red Devil had various laceration wounds on his body, undoubtedly Soji's work.
A strange mystery for Gorou, since the samurai had no weapon on her at that moment.
"You saved Asia. Good job, Rei."
Gorou gave a small friendly pat to the Artificial Devil's shoulder, who didn't hesitate to show a reassured smile.
No more shadow of frustration.
Why isn't Issei this simple?
"Soji?"
At Gorou's call, the young girl stopped bombarding Asia with questions related to her power and rushed over.
'Back then, I hadn't paid much attention, but... she's short.'
Soji Okita had a small stature, slightly taller than Koneko's, or simply 5'2".
Unlike the demonic Nekoshou, she didn't emanate a distant aura.
She even seemed extremely approachable toward her entourage, but that remained her 'normal' mode.
The subsequent threatening aura and combat mode that Gorou was trying to restrain were part of her nature.
As he thought about how to approach the urgent subjects related to her birth...
Soji tilted her head to one side, to show her confusion.
A surprisingly cute gesture, but Gorou didn't let himself be fooled by the Kyoto murderer's ruse.
"Do you need help?"
At the girl's question, he nodded firmly.
"I'm going to stay here with Asia, but I want some help with the rest of the Exorcists in town and..."
He didn't have time to finish before Soji had already rushed toward the exchange cabin.
A dark future awaits the remaining members of Grigori in this city, but it was no longer Gorou's problem.
They wanted to play — now they'll lose.
'One of the most infamous murderers in Japan… I would've liked to see that.'