Monday morning dawned with an entirely new energy. Thomas no longer wore a stiff business suit, but rather a neatly ironed white shirt with sleeves rolled up to the elbows, well-fitting cotton trousers, and comfortable leather loafers. He was the perfect image of a relaxed yet professional modern teacher.
Aya straightened his collar with an adoring gaze, as if she were sending off a knight to battle, not a teacher to school. "Have a good day at work, Master," she said. The role of a supportive "wife" came naturally to her.
"I'll have a blast," Thomas replied with a mysterious smile, before leaving the apartment.
Walking through the gates of Kuoh Academy this time felt different. He was no longer an intruder or a nervous candidate; he was part of this place. He nodded to the security guard, showed his staff ID, and stepped into the school grounds. He could feel the students' gazes on him. Whispers and murmurs followed his steps. A new face, especially a handsome foreigner's, was big news. The female students looked at him with shy admiration, while some of the male students stared with a mixture of curiosity and envy. Thomas absorbed all the attention, savoring it. Everyone here was part of his new landscape, pawns on his chessboard.
After a brief, formal introduction to the other teaching staff in the faculty room, he was escorted by Principal Tanaka to his first class. The classroom was bright and filled with noisy students, who immediately fell silent when the principal entered.
"Good morning, everyone," Principal Tanaka said cheerfully. "Starting today, you'll have a new Assistant English Teacher. Please welcome, Thomas Hill-sensei."
Thomas stepped forward with a friendly smile. "Morning, everyone. Just call me Hill-sensei. I hope we can have fun learning English together."
As his eyes scanned the faces in the classroom, he immediately recognized some of them from his reconnaissance. In the back row, sat Issei Hyoudou, elbowing his bald and bespectacled friends, Matsuda and Motohama. A few rows in front of him, sat a sweet and shy-looking blonde girl, Asia Argento. Jackpot.
The lesson began, and Thomas quickly showed why he was hired. He wasn't the type of teacher who just read from a textbook. He transformed boring grammar lessons into interactive games. He walked between desks, his charm fully at work, engaging students with humor and energy. He told funny anecdotes about his life in England to provide context for new vocabulary. In less than twenty minutes, he had completely captivated the class.
However, beneath his genial demeanor, his mind worked coldly. He was observing his primary targets. Issei Hyoudou was a case study in contradiction. On the surface, he was an idiot. His mind was clearly focused only on women, and Thomas could see his eyes occasionally glancing at other female students in an inappropriate way. Yet, beneath that clownish exterior, Thomas could sense that raw, unstable power.
{Warning: High-level sacred energy source detected. Inactive.} ...his system whispered. Sacred Gear, Thomas thought. A weapon with unlimited potential in the hands of a fool. How ironic.
Asia Argento, on the other hand, exuded an almost painful aura of innocence. Sacred power also flowed from her, but it was different. Hers felt warm, pure, and defensive. {Twilight Healing}. A healing ability. Useful, but not for him right now. Her sacred aura even felt a little uncomfortable, like a disturbing static hum.
At lunchtime, Thomas used the excuse of "familiarizing himself with the school environment" to take a stroll. Of course, his objective was one: the isolated old school building at the back of the campus.
As he approached, the difference was palpable. The air around the old building felt heavier, colder. Dense demonic energy emanated from it like heat from a furnace. This was their den, no doubt. He didn't dare get too close on his first day. That would arouse suspicion. Instead, he found a bench under a tree at a distance, pretending to read a book while observing.
As expected, one by one, the members of the Occult Research Club arrived. Yuuto Kiba, the handsome prince, with a friendly smile that didn't reach his wary eyes. His energy felt sharp and swift. Koneko Toujou, the petite girl, walked with a heavy gait unsuited to her size, radiating dense physical energy. Akeno Himejima, the sensual vice-president, moved with the grace of a cat, and her aura was the most complex: a thunderstorm of raw power combined with an odd mix of sacred energy and fallen darkness.
And finally, Rias Gremory. The king of this castle. Her red hair blazed even under the cloudy light. Her power was so immense it felt like physical pressure in the air. It was a calm yet limitless ocean of destructive energy.
Thomas closed his book. He had seen enough. He was completely outclassed. His Minor Physical Enhancement felt like a child's toy compared to the powerhouses in that building. His strategy was correct. Direct confrontation was suicide. He had to build his strength gradually, picking fruit from lower branches before attempting to climb to the top.
That night, after returning to the apartment and playing his part as a tired but satisfied teacher for Aya, he locked himself in his room. He opened the encrypted messaging app on his phone. A message from Viser was waiting.
Master, observation confirmed. The old building is the Gremory base. They enter but rarely leave through the door. Red magic circles are often seen inside at night. High activity.
Thomas smiled. Visual confirmation. The next message was more interesting.
Another anomaly detected. A very weak stray devil is often seen around the brown-haired student you mentioned, Issei Hyoudou. Seems to be stalking, but too afraid to approach due to Gremory territory. Awaiting your command.
Thomas's heart beat a little faster. A lead. Another stray devil, drawn to Issei's Sacred Gear power, but too weak to face its protectors. A perfect target. Isolated, weak, and lurking near a source of information.
He stood and walked to the window, gazing at the lights of Kuoh City. His first day as a teacher had been a resounding success. He had infiltrated the enemy's den, identified the main players, and now, he had found his next target for the hunt.
"Viser," he typed in reply. "Keep an eye on that stray devil. Give me its location and patterns. Do not approach."
He put down his phone, a cold smirk spreading across his face. The role of Hill-sensei was the perfect disguise, a stage from which he could observe his main actors. But behind the curtain, in the shadows, the hunt would continue. He needed more power. And he had just found his next source.