Even teachers stronger than her often overlooked Megumi Kato. It was a fact that left her a little bruised emotionally.
So, when she heard Izumi mention that she had been forgotten again, a rare scowl appeared on her usually calm face.
Still, she stood up, determination shining in her eyes as she walked toward Shizuka Hiratsuka.
No one—absolutely no one—would ever forget me, Megumi Kato!
…She really did have a soft spot for magic.
Izumi watched quietly as Megumi and Shizuka spoke, a faint smile tugging at his lips.
Her talent… it was so exceptional that people completely overlooked her. A sad truth, really.
Suppressing his smile, Izumi stood, stretching, and turned toward the changing rooms. The test had ended.
Unquestionably, he had claimed first place once again.
Second place went to the small cat-like creature he had knocked unconscious earlier.
No one had any objections to the results.
While changing, Izumi suddenly remembered something. In all the chaos of earlier, he had gotten so distracted by observing Neko that he had completely forgotten to check Rias's attributes.
What a shame… looks like I'll have to see next time.
He guessed it wouldn't be long before their paths crossed again.
After changing, the school bell rang, signaling the end of classes. Izumi didn't linger at school but chose to head home.
Before returning, however, he needed to stop by the supermarket to pick up some groceries.
Even in a world that had gone completely strange, people still needed to eat. That part remained unchanged from the normal world—except that on the way, one occasionally ran into "weird people." Izumi grumbled about that endlessly.
Having purchased everything he needed, Izumi set off home. But as he walked through a park, he suddenly spotted a familiar figure.
Issei Hyoudou.
Izumi grinned at the sight of Issei, shyly meeting a woman.
That woman—Raynare, disguised as Yuma Amano.
So… Sei-chan's about to be sacrificed to heaven, huh?
A spark of curiosity lit up in Izumi's eyes. This kind of entertainment? He couldn't possibly ignore it.
Besides, if Issei died, maybe he could trade it with the system for something useful.
In the original story, if Issei hadn't been saved by Rias, he probably would have died already.
Now, seeing him here, Izumi realized he could intercept the sacrifice himself—fully claiming Issei as a ritual offering.
Licking his lips, he didn't hesitate.
If Issei died, he died. Izumi would ensure the girls were properly taken care of afterward.
With that decision made, Izumi's thoughts shifted, and he calmly followed.
As he entered the park, the sky had been completely covered by a dark magical barrier. Izumi knew immediately—Raynare had started the ritual.
Reaching the pond at the center, he saw it: Issei Hyoudou pierced through by a golden lance.
Izumi clicked his tongue in amusement.
"Perfect timing."
"Never thought I'd witness something like this."
"Sei-chan… you're dying awfully, but don't worry. I'll make sure to take care of all the little sisters!"
Dropping his grocery bag, Izumi summoned a longbow in one hand and a spiral sword in the other.
"This fallen angel, could you perhaps explain what's going on?"
"Are you trying to start a war between humans and fallen angels?"
Raynare's brow furrowed. She sensed a threat radiating from Izumi.
Her power level? C+.
Izumi's? B-.
A full tier above hers.
Though not particularly strong, Raynare could clearly feel the danger emanating from him.
With that realization, she didn't linger. Her mission was complete anyway.
"Ugh… troublesome brat!"
Grumbling, Raynare stamped a magic circle beneath her feet.
The next moment, she vanished, the dark barrier in the sky slowly dissipating and the park returning to normal.
Izumi didn't stop her.
Just a fallen angel—letting her go was fine. Plus, she still had some use left.
A certain ultra-powerful "healer" might still want to recruit her. Izumi could handle her later and maybe even gain a favor from a foreign healer.
Approaching the still-warm body of Issei Hyoudou, Izumi noticed the young man's gaze lingering on him. Perhaps Issei had heard his words earlier.
The sight of a man refusing to die peacefully was… unsettling.
Izumi squatted beside him. No time for pleasantries—he placed his hand firmly on Issei's body.
Better to perform the ritual quickly. If Rias appeared, or the artifact inside him escaped, Izumi would truly be in trouble.
Rias arriving? He wouldn't be able to sacrifice him.
And if the Red Dragon Emperor's Gauntlet within Issei got activated… he'd lose his leverage entirely.
Izumi's interest in Issei stemmed entirely from that artifact.
The protagonist status? In this world, completely worthless.
Recently, some green-haired classmate had been devoured by a wandering demon on the street. Being a "main character" mattered only in novels.
"Come on… let's be sacrificed."
Izumi muttered softly. The system activated immediately.
Issei's body vanished in a flash, absorbed directly by the system.
A dragon-shaped spectral glow appeared, swallowed effortlessly. No resistance was possible.
This system was that domineering. Any dead object became a ritual offering.
As the system absorbed both Issei and the Red Dragon Emperor's Gauntlet, somewhere far away, Vali heard a voice.
"Partner… the red one's aura has completely vanished."
Vali furrowed his brow.
"The Red Dragon Emperor…?"
"Dead?"
The White Dragon King remained silent.
Not surprising—yes.
Previously, he could sense the red one faintly, though it hadn't awakened yet.
Now? Completely gone.
Vali smiled.
"Interesting… to actually kill an artifact? This world is getting more and more entertaining!!"
"Ha ha ha ha…"
Unbeknownst to Izumi, White Dragon King had sensed the sacrifice immediately.
He stared at the newly-acquired items appearing on his screen, dumbfounded.
This time… it was pure luck.