My stepsisters are sexy demons, and I must protect them-Chapter 85: Here comes trouble in the streets of Rome

«Please, Chantal, let’s go back and try on that red dress we saw earlier! With your super sexy body, I’m sure you’d look stunning in it!» Lucrezia pleads — a beautiful girl with long blonde curls and high-fashion clothes that scream she’s from a rich family. She’s one of the friends Rika and Yuzu made after moving to Rome.

Lucrezia, Chantal, Rika, and Yuzu walk down Via dei Condotti — Rome’s fashion street — going in and out of boutiques and coming out with more and more bags filled with clothes.

«I don’t need fancy dresses to be sexy! I look hot even in beggar rags!» Chantal snaps, resisting as Lucrezia grabs her arm and tries to drag her back toward the boutique they just passed.

Behind them, Rika and Yuzu laugh out loud.

But Lucrezia’s excitement vanishes in an instant, leaving Chantal visibly confused.

«Can we go back, please...?» Lucrezia murmurs, turning in the opposite direction.

«Did you just change tactics? I told you I’m not going back to that boutique!» Chantal complains.

But the worried, almost terrified look in Lucrezia’s eyes quickly tells her that’s not the reason for the sudden retreat.

«Lucrezia, what’s going on?» Rika rushes over, with Yuzu right behind her, both worried by the sudden mood shift.

Lucrezia tries to run, but Chantal holds her in place.

«Mind telling me what’s going on?!» Chantal grumbles, with zero delicacy.

Lucrezia barely turns her head, motioning toward a group of boys smoking on the side of the street.

There are six boys, roughly their age—around sixteen or seventeen—dressed in shiny leather jackets, jeans, and caps with curved brims.

Typical trapper style, trendy among teens lately.

They’re holding beer bottles.

«The guy with the white cap... Tony Caspada, my ex... we better take another street...» Lucrezia whispers, her voice shaking.

Chantal can feel her trembling under her grip as she keeps her from running.

«So what?» Chantal replies casually. «Did that guy hurt you? If so, just say it—I’ll make sure he never dares lay a hand on a girl again!»

Lucrezia silently nods—her red, puffy eyes struggling to hold back tears.

She lifts her shirt slightly—a fresh bruise on her right side.

Then pulls down her strap—a second bruise on her arm.

«We only dated for a few days—just long enough for me to realize what kind of person he was. I ended it right away. But he... as you can see, didn’t take it well... He threatened to hurt me and the people around me if I didn’t get back with him... That’s why we better not be seen together—I don’t want you to get dragged into this...»

«And why didn’t you call the police?!» Yuzu snaps, clearly angry after seeing and hearing that.

«If it were that easy, I would’ve done it... That guy comes from one of the most dangerous mafia families in Rome—calling the cops would be like signing a death sentence for my family and friends...» Lucrezia sobs, tears streaming down her face.

After facing powerful demonic beings capable of leveling cities and wiping out armies, a bunch of street punks is nothing to Chantal.

But she knows Lucrezia isn’t that strong—and she can’t live her whole life by her side to keep her safe from thugs.

Even though Chantal’s fists are itching to smash their faces in, she forces herself to go along with Lucrezia’s request.

«Alright, let’s go...» Chantal mutters—Rika and Yuzu let out a sigh of relief, knowing just how hot-headed she can be.

The girls turn around and start walking back the same way they came.

But it’s already too late.

One of the boys recognizes Lucrezia in the crowd, even from behind.

«Hey, isn’t that Lucrezia?» one of them asks, nudging Tony lightly.

«Yeah, that little slut... and she’s with those whorey friends of hers,» Tony mutters, wearing a nasty grin.

«I know them—they go to my school,» another chimes in. «The short-haired blonde and the one with the big tits are, like, millionaires—way richer than Lucrezia. And the redhead just moved here from France—she’s insanely hot, even if she’s kind of a bitch.»

«Then I say it’s time we go introduce ourselves. I swear, if any of you manage to score with the rich girls, drinks are on me,» Tony sneers, walking quickly toward the girls.

The other five follow right behind.

But when Chantal glances back out of the corner of her eye and realizes their intent, it’s already too late—they’re just a step away.

Tony grabs Lucrezia by the arm and yanks her violently toward him.

«My sweet Lucrezia, what a coincidence running into you here. Rome is such a big city, and yet... could it be you were following me? Overwhelmed by your desire to see me again, right?» Tony grins, even creepier now.

«Stop talking bullshit! I turned around exactly because I saw you!» Lucrezia snaps, trying to sound firm and confident, though her voice trembles with fear.

Tony tightens his grip on her arm—Lucrezia has to hold back a cry of pain so her friends don’t worry.

«You know I hate it when you lie to me...» Tony growls, teeth clenched.

Then his gaze shifts to Rika, Yuzu, and Chantal—he studies them carefully.

«You never told me you had such hot friends... I bet my guys are dying to meet them, right boys?»

Laughter and approving noises echo behind him.

«Come on, join us. It’s dangerous for pretty girls like you to walk around Rome alone... you know, bad people are everywhere...» Tony continues, as more laughs erupt from the group.

Once again, Chantal has to make a superhuman effort to keep her fists in check.

But she can’t stop her mouth.

«You better thank the God of Light that we’re in a crowded place... otherwise, you’d all be in an ambulance by now,» Chantal warns, her voice cold and threatening.

Tony glares back at her, just as menacing.

«And you better thank the God of Light that you’ve got a pretty face and I’m a gentleman... otherwise, you’d be picking up your teeth off the ground with a spoon!»

Chantal takes a deep breath.

After the brawl with the MMA team back in that bar in Ashiya—and the massive scolding from Shin and Kagura—Chantal had promised herself she’d never pick fights again.

«The duty of those who carry the Sacred Flame is to protect humans from demonic beings, not hurt them more than the demons would!»

Shin’s words echo in her head.

But how is she supposed to stand by and do nothing in a situation like this?

Exactly—she can’t.

Chantal lowers her gaze slightly.

«This is gonna earn me another lecture... but at least I’ll get the satisfaction of watching you crawl on the ground like a worm...» she mutters, voice low.

«What did you just say?!» Tony snaps, reaching toward her, trying to grab her ponytail.

But when she lifts her gaze to meet his, Tony freezes for a second—paralyzed by the cold fury in her ice-colored eyes.

Even before, her stare alone could strike fear.

But ever since her blood turned vampiric, her eyes have become terrifying.

Chantal clenches her fist—ready to strike.

But Yuzu moves first.

She lunges forward, pushing Tony with a quick shove that sends him stumbling backward.

His friends catch him just in time before he falls flat on his back.

Chantal gives Yuzu a quick glance and nods—a silent thank you for stopping her rage before it caused irreversible damage.

But Yuzu’s move only delays the inevitable.

Meanwhile, Lucrezia—eyes swollen from crying—is being held by Rika, who tries to comfort her.

Lucrezia can only beg Chantal to stop provoking him.

But now, Tony is more furious than ever—his pride wounded from being pushed by a girl who looks so much weaker and smaller than him.

From his jacket pocket, he pulls out a box cutter—he spins the blade slightly, letting it catch the sunlight to make it gleam.

Despite the clear, overwhelming superiority of Rika, Yuzu, and Chantal, to outsiders it just looks like six boys harassing four girls—and no one lifts a finger.

On the contrary, passersby keep their distance, turning away in fear of being involved or facing retaliation from the infamous Caspada family’s eldest son.

Chantal glances slightly over her shoulder, toward Rika.

«You see that box cutter too, right? This officially counts as self-defense—Shin and Kagura shouldn’t be mad if I break a few bones, right?»

«Just try not to hurt him too badly... and please, don’t draw too much attention. You know what I mean...» Rika sighs, resigned—clearly, words won’t fix this anymore.

Chantal grins at her approval.

«Don’t worry, I won’t cause any permanent damage. Or at least... I’ll try.»

Blinded by rage, Tony charges at Chantal—the box cutter hidden under his jacket.

Chantal shifts into a guarded stance. She’s ready to defend herself, when...

—BOOM!

Tony crashes forward, rolling across the cobblestones before he can even reach her.

Someone hit him from behind.

Rika’s eyes light up—so do Yuzu’s and Chantal’s—as they see him.

Standing behind Tony, right in the middle of the group of boys—Hakuto.

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