Rise of the Strongest Exorcist (DxD parody)

Leo sighed. 'They could at least be circumspect about spying on me.'

Wherever he walked in the school, he sensed the eyes on him. He often caught Maria staring at him. If it wasn't Maria, it was a blonde guy. There were also several girls who, from their stylish burgundy jackets, were in the Occult Club.

It wasn't that he minded the stares. Not really. With five girls for every guy in this school, he almost always had someone staring at him. What bothered him most was that they wouldn't even let him enjoy a moment's respite from all the attention.

Leo was lying down on the roof of the school's administration building after sneaking up there to enjoy the fall afternoon sunshine. He sensed that he'd been followed by a devil. He had to admit that he was becoming worried about it.

He'd even wondered if he should simply send an anonymous call to the exorcists and sic them on the school. At the same time, as far as devils went, the group seemed rather harmless and pretty forgiving to humans in general. This was the only reason Leo hadn't simply exorcised them himself. 

'Three of them are median tier, with the rest being all lower tier devils.'

Even though he was weaker than he'd been in the past—mostly because he'd elected not to use certain aspects and forms of his powers—he'd have no problem subduing a high-class devil if push came to shove.

The cold light in his eyes flashed only for a brief instant before diminishing as he let out a troubled sigh. "I shouldn't let things continue like this," he muttered.

Being constantly spied upon as if he was some kind of criminal was annoying, infuriating, even. It grated on his nerves. At this rate, he might truly declare war on them and simply annihilate Occult Club just to be free of the extra attention.

'I think… It's time to put a stop to this this.'

***

Munching on a bit of bread, the young man with short blonde hair and gray eyes observed the transfer student relaxing in the sun on the room from where he leaned against the entrance to the roof. This mission had been given to him by his King, Sharon. 

As such, while he didn't really understand why he needed to keep an eye on this man, he didn't complain. If she said he had to waste his time like this, then he would waste his time spying on another student. Inwardly, though, he could grumble. 

'I hope Sharon rewards me for wasting my time doing this.'

Thinking about the beautiful and cold woman who was his King, the boy couldn't help but lick his lips. "Heh heh heh," he chortled.

"If you are going to spy on me, at least be serious about it."

"Wha—!?"

BAM!!

Before the gray eyed man had the time to understand what was happening, his back smacked into the wall beside the door. The shock was so powerful that it practically emptied all the air out of his lungs. He suddenly had difficulty breathing as the person he'd been spying on lifted him off the ground by the tight grip the young man had around his neck.

Opening his eyes with difficulty, he blinked at the person slowly cutting off his air.

'It's the transfer student!'

"Wh-who are…you?" he gasped, then shivered under the cold green gaze of the student that was a year or two younger than him.

How could such cold eyes belong to a student? 

Leo was in no mood to play. He spoke curtly. "I have no reason to answer any of your questions. Let me make things clear. I'm only going to say this once, so listen up. Contact your King and let her know I am not opposed to meeting with her. I will not, however, suffer you and your friends to continue spying on me." He relaxed his grip.

When Leo relaxed his grip, the young man fell down, gasping for air.

'I shouldn't kill him… I'll just give him a warning.' 

In the end, he just turned around and walked to the doorway. When he reached the stairs, he stopped and turned, staring back at the other student. Glaring at him, Leo narrowed his eyes as he thought of something. 

"What is your name?" Leo growled.

The other student did not want to answer him, but he was afraid. Their contest of wills only lasted a moment—the gray eyed man understood the person in front of him wasn't someone he could afford to make his enemy.

Gulping audibly, he answered carefully, "Sp-Spencer… Spencer Greene."

"Spencer…huh? Got it. I will remember you." Leo scowled. "Stop spying on me. Next time I won't be as nice." With that warning, he walked down the stairs, leaving a stunned and bitter Spencer sprawled on the roof.

'I didn't even have time to summon my Divine Gear.'

He would never know how lucky he was, because if he had, then Leo would have broken his bones or made him suffer even more. Leo's draconic nature would never accept another dragon looking down on him.

***

In the Occult Club's rooms over the Student Center, Sharon Sitrin listened to the report of the newest member of her circle, Spencer Greene. Even though he was only a relatively weak, newly reincarnated devil, she believed he had potential. The gray eyed blonde had a dragon-type Divine Gear, and it had cost her four of her pawns to change him into a devil.

To think that he'd been so clearly outmatched…

Tapping a finger against her lips, she turned to her best friend, Miyu Shinobi. Her friend's name meant 'gentle flower' in Japanese, but the one who served as the Queen of her Circle was more of a rebel than a gentle flower.

"What do you think?" Sharon asked Miyu. "Is he the one?"

Like Sharon, Miyu was also slender. Unlike the blonde haired, blue eyed Sharon, Miyu had long, straight black hair that extended beyond her waist and dark eyes—though both of them wore glasses. 

Honestly, neither of them needed glasses. As devils, their vision was better than anything humanly possible. Sharon simply liked the style, and Miyu liked to imitate her King.

Studying the photo of Leo that Spencer had taken with his phone and sent to everyone in their Circle, Miyu nodded at Sharon's question. "He has changed a great deal… but from his name and the color of his eyes, I believe this is the same Leo Karteros I knew when we were children."

"Hmmm…why is Rayne having such difficulty identifying him?"

"Even though both Shuri and I were both part of the five clans and ostracized by them," Miyu replied, "I was at least able to remain in the main compound."

In Japan, five families stood above all when it came to exorcism. Each of these five families was related to the Shinto Gods and Guardian Spirits, often called Sacred Beasts. 

The Shinra family, which she had once been part of, was guarded by the Sacred Beast, Byakko—the White Tiger. The Himejima family, which Shuri had once been part of, were guarded by Suzaku, the Vermilion Bird. To honor these sacred beasts, the heads of the five families gave up their given name to take on the name of one of the beasts—the name of the one they worshipped.

About seven years ago—long before Miyu changed her surname upon accepting Sharon's invitation to become her Queen—the new head of the Suzaku family, Saori Suzaku, had invited Lane Karteros to participate in the ceremony. It was there that she had met the young Leo Karteros.

"Back then," Miyu continued, "Lane-dono asked to meet me because he interested in the ability of my Divine Gear." She still remembered how excited she had been to meet the legendary exorcist.

Even now, she didn't know why he had asked to observe her power, but she couldn't forget how the great man had teased her, saying that she could be a good match for his son because of the similarity of their abilities.

'If I was matched with Leo-san, I really wouldn't mind.' Miyu had a thing for younger men, and Leo fit her tastes to a 'T'.

The Japanese girl pressed the heels of her palms to her face as she felt her cheeks heat.

"Miyu?"

Miyu coughed into her hand and cleared her throat. "S-Sorry, Sharon-sama." Adjusting her glasses to hide her embarrassment at her straying thoughts, she continued, "I can say with certainty that the transfer student is the Leo Karteros I know was expelled from the Vatican five years ago. Unfortunately, the reason he was cast out by the church remain a mystery. As you might expect, the clergy are very tight-lipped about those expelled from the church."

Sharon furrowed her brow. "Do you think he would join me? From what you have told me, he is an excellent swordsman. He would make the perfect Knight for my circle."

Miyu shook her head. "Perfect is an understatement. Karteros-san is a genius… a prodigy amongst prodigies. At age five, he was already strong enough to go with exorcists on their missions. When I met him, when he was only ten, he was the equivalent of a median tier devil. I wouldn't be surprised if he was upper tier by now."

It was Sharon's turn to be shocked.

Humans were extremely limited in terms of power. To hunt lower tier devils, it typically took an entire team of elite exorcists. They would have to work together flawlessly. Even then, it was not a sure thing that they would succeed without suffering many casualties. Few humans could ever dream of reaching the median tier without being born with a Divine Gear or wielding one of the holy swords.

Even when considering devils, upper tier wasn't a level just anyone could reach. Sharon, for example, was only barely considered an upper tier devil—and she was one of the strongest in her generation.

"As for him joining us…" Miyu fidgeted as her voice trailed off. "I…I honestly don't know. Lane-dono is a powerful hero—very powerful. Even if Karteros-san was banished from the Vatican, would he accept becoming a devil? I doubt it."

Sharon frowned at her Queen.

Miyu ducked her head and pushed her glasses back up on her nose. "Then again… I don't know him well enough to give you an accurate assessment." 

Miyu was very careful with her words. She didn't know exactly how powerful Lane Karteros was, but she knew that he was at least at Peak level and possibly at the Transcendent level. There was no reason to provoke such a man by converting his son into a devil—even if Leo agreed to it.

Because of his father, if Leo was reincarnated as a devil, it would be like pulling one of the strongest soldiers on the side of heaven to the side of devils. Such an action could be considered a diplomatic incident—even if the church had cast him from their ranks. 

No one wanted a new Great War. This was reason enough not to stir the pot, especially with the precarious balance the three factions were currently at.

"Famine-sama might intervene if we bring him into our Circle. I have heard that Lane-dono once fought against her, so they might have bad blood between them."

Sharon shuddered at the mention of her sister having to intervene. 'I'd rather die than let that walking embarrassment intervene in my affairs,' she thought.

She sighed and immediately canceled all plans she might have had about making Leo a Knight in her Circle. "I guess we will have to give up on him."

Yet…

"Still…" the petite blonde tapped a finger against her lips. "He did say he was open to meeting me. Set up an appointment, please. It seems I must apologize for our behavior. It won't hurt to be friendly."

She may not be able to recruit him but, having him as a friend could be helpful. She could also see that Miyu was interested in him. If Sharon couldn't take advantage of the situation, she could still help her best friend.

Brushing a strand of her blonde hair behind one ear, she smiled at Miyu.