Free The Devil Is a Part-Timer!, Vol. 1 by Satoshi Wagahara Page B

in well-lit, populated areas, they were both physically and mentally exhausted.
    “So what…
was
that?”
    Emi heaved a sigh of relief, brushing the sweat-heavy hair off her brow as she asked no one in particular. Maou struggled to catch his breath as he responded.
    “I don’t know…but that wasn’t just some random sniper. Those were bolts of magic energy.”
    “Magic…?”
    Emi’s eyes opened wide.
    “That shot aimed at your head near the building? It came from the angle we ran in from. It had to change direction to aim for us, that much I’m sure of.”
    “You mean…”
    “Whoever’s behind it, he’s got a lot of power behind him. That, and he knows who both of us really are.”
    “Both of us? There’s someone like that
here
? Besides Alciel?”
    “Guess so. Don’t know who, though. I didn’t even feel anyone else nearby.”
    Maou stretched his body. The tension had finally started to drain away.
    “Man. Look at all this trouble you’ve gotten me into.”
    Emi fired back at Maou’s accusatory tone.
    “Me?! You think this is
my
fault?!”
    “This wouldn’t have happened if you chose a more normal time and place, would it?”
    “I chose that because that’s when you got off work!”
    “Morning would’ve been just fine. Better, even.”
    “I
work
in the morning!
And
the afternoon!”
    “Not my problem.”
    “Hey! Where’re you going?!”
    Emi stopped Maou as he attempted to walk off, a hangdog look on his face.
    “Home.”
    “You’re leaving by yourself?!”
    “Well, yeah. You should go home, too. I’m sure it’s nearby if this is where you’re hanging out all the time. Later.”
    “Hey…!”
    Maou set off, leaving Emi’s frantic shouting to dissolve into the background murmur of the Sasazuka night. He hated to abandon his bike so soon after purchasing it, but there might be more attackers stationed nearby. His faithful Dullahan would have to wait for morning to be reunited with its master.
    He hadn’t mentioned it to Emi just now, but this attack had kindled a small sense of hope within Maou’s mind.
    The fact that their enemy had the freedom to wield magical power to a certain extent was an immense discovery. Regardless of who he was fighting, he was still Devil King—lord of the underworld, the demon who was within moments of conquering all of Ente Isla. If it appeared to be worth the exertion, he would gladly call upon his own magical reserve to fight and claim his enemy’s force.
    That, after all, was how he gained such vast magical strength in the demon realm.
    Tomorrow was his regular day off. He was ready to scour the neighborhood for clues. There was a spring in his step as he dwelled on it, walking briskly through the dark residential neighborhood toward his apartment.
    Suddenly, he realized someone was following him.
    An attacker? Perhaps, but there was no sense of magical force, no murderous intent with this pursuer. Probably some drunk staggering home in the same direction as he was. Still, whoever it was seemed to be paying an unusual amount of attention to Maou, making sure to keep a prudent distance away.
    The apartment building was in sight, but with Ashiya’s magical force long depleted, Maou wanted to avoid involving him in a fight.
    Ashiya was too valuable a resource to squander—for the subjugation of Ente Isla, and for life in Sasazuka as well.
    Quickly, Maou ducked into a side alley that ran across the neighborhood, into an area unlit by streetlamps. If the person behind him lived nearby, he’d probably walk right past—and if he didn’t, he’d be too spooked to continue the pursuit.
    The footsteps continued unabated. The figure proceeded onward, not noticing Maou in the darkness. Maou raised his head a little, wondering if he had made a mistake.
    What he saw instead was the figure heading straight for Villa Rosa Sasazuka, the apartment Maou called home. He seemed to hesitate for a moment in front of the stairway, but quickly made his way