Hearing that, Akeno also glanced over. She'd noticed something different about Koneko too.
Koneko casually popped another snack into her mouth. "Maybe it's because I've learned to control Youjutsu and Senjutsu."
Rias blinked in disbelief. "Already?"
Koneko nodded.
"But..." Rias frowned in concern. "Isn't messing with Youjutsu and Senjutsu kinda dangerous? Doesn't it risk going out of control?"
Koneko shook her head. "It's fine. Senpai already helped me take care of that."
Thanks to her new skill, [Yokai-Sage Resonance], which she acquired after joining the Familia, the problem of energy rampage was practically resolved.
—
[Yokai-Sage Resonance]
Stabilizes the fusion of yokai energy (Youjutsu) and senjutsu.
All yokai-based attacks inflict "Ki Corrosion" effect, gradually weakening enemy's magic resistance
—
"That's good to hear."
Rias let out a breath of relief.
Her feelings were complicated.
She'd always known Koneko had great potential... but honestly, while Koneko was under her care, she never really managed to help her develop that potential properly.
Looks like...
Leaving her to Lynn was the right call after all.
Meanwhile, in the Underworld Capital City, Lilith.
After hearing Rias's report, Sirzechs rubbed his temples with a helpless look. "He really said that?"
Rias's projection nodded. "Yeah. Every word."
Sirzechs fell into deep thought for a moment before finally saying, "Alright... let's do it his way."
Once the discussion was over, Rias's projection slowly faded away.
On the side, Serafall propped her chin on her hand. "So, he's planning to make a move against the Old Satan Faction?"
Sirzechs nodded. "Pretty obvious, isn't it?"
Otherwise, why would he deliberately make such a huge scene?
"Using himself as bait, huh... that guy's got guts."
Serafall clicked her tongue, but her heart leaned even more towards the guess she'd been holding onto for a while now.
This level of confidence... it really is exactly like that person.
"Well, it makes sense," Sirzechs said calmly. "Rather than constantly being stalked by snakes in the dark, it's better to lure them out into the open."
The Old Satan Faction had always been good at hiding.
Searching for them was not only annoying but also a waste of time.
Lynn's approach? Extremely efficient.
After all...
Just hearing the name Valifer was enough to set the Old Satan Faction's hatred meter straight to max.
But still... Pulling this off required enough strength to back it up.
Even though Lynn was already at the level of a Maou (Satan-class), and he even had light-based powers that specifically countered Devils, Sirzechs still couldn't help but feel a little worried.
"Relax."
Serafall waved her hand casually, "It'll be fine."
"Hope so."
Sirzechs fell silent for a moment, then added seriously: "Just in case if the Old Satan Faction makes a move, I want you to go support Lynn in the human world."
Serafall: "?"
Her face stiffened slightly, and for some reason her butt started feeling a little tingly, like something bad was about to happen.
...
MeanwhileDeep in some remote mountain forest
A white cat lay lazily on a tree branch, being gently stroked by Iwanaga Kotoko, who wore a mysterious smile.
The white cat, staring at Kotoko with wide eyes, spoke in disbelief.
"Princess are you seriously gonna sell me to a Devil?"
"Hey, hey, don't make it sound so awful..."
Kotoko said with a completely straight face, "I'm not selling you off I'm finding you an owner."
"Himari, don't you wanna have a proper master too?"
Kotoko's tone turned soft and persuasive, trying to talk the cat into it.
Himari Noihara flicked her tail, obviously unhappy. "But it's not like I'm the only yokai around, right?"
(A/N: Himari Noihara from Omamori Himari.)
Kotoko fell silent.
(Yeah, but you're a cute female cat, and most importantly you don't have any weird drama attached to you.)
(A good yokai like you should test the Devil's gun first, right?)
Himari felt Kotoko's strange lookthe kind that meant something bad was about to happen.
.
.
.
Catgirls Are the Best
A few days later Underworld, Lilith.
Sirzechs made a high-profile announcement regarding the ownership of the territory previously sealed off from the House of Valifer.
And then a totally unexpected name caught everyone off guard: Lynn Valifer.
—
Grigori Headquarters
Azazel leaned back in his chair, muttering, "Valifer tch."
He remembered Vali mentioning a devil who could use light powersthat alone had raised some red flags.
Turns out, he was right.
Wasn't the Valifer clan supposed to be completely wiped out?
How's there still someone carrying their bloodline out in the world?
—
Meanwhile
The Old Satan Faction practically exploded when they heard the news. They were seething with rage, like they couldn't wait to charge out and slaughter the last of the Valifer bloodline once and for all.
Clearly, their hatred for that clan ran deep.
Shalba Beelzebub's gaze was dark and cold. "Don't worry. He won't live long."
Then, in an icy tone, he added, "Get in touch with the Khaos Brigade. I want that Valifer's exact locationnow."
The moment Lynn Valifer's name was revealed, the entire world seemed to shake.
And yet, right in the eye of the storm, Lynn himself was still chilling, living like a completely average student.
Shuchiin Academy
Miura Yumiko approached Yui with a weird look on her face, clearly struggling with what she was about to say.
She whispered, "Yui... are you really part of that guy's harem now?"
Her voice trembled, disbelief written all over her face.
She'd been watching for a while, and there was no doubt now:
The Supernatural Research Club? It was totally a harem club!
They were all beautiful girls! And the only guy in the club? The presidentLynn.
If this wasn't a harem, what else could it be!?
What hit her the hardest though was seeing Yui going in and out of that clubroom regularly.
Even that usually icy Yukino was there!
Wait, wait, waitthey weren't joking that day?!
"Ahaha"
Yuigahama Yui scratched her face awkwardly, then mumbled, "Well, for now I wouldn't really call it a harem yet"
As she said it, she looked kind of down.
A harem? Honestly, she didn't even feel like she was really in the running.
Even Yukinoshita Yukino didn't have a chance after her sister got all the attention!
"Not a harem yet?"
Yumiko's voice got louder, earning her some looks from nearby students.
But she couldn't be bothered anymore.
What the hell did "not a harem yet" even mean when Yui looked so disappointed!?
Unacceptable!
She decided right then: This disgraceful harem club needed to be purged from Shuchiin!
—
At the same time
Another corner of the Academy saw a similar scene unfolding.
"Milady, I've pretty much gathered all the info."
A blonde gal with short hair was reporting seriously to a girl who looked as cold as ice.
"Why'd it take so long, Hayasaka?"
Shinomiya Kaguya's voice was chilly, her crimson eyes fixed on Ai Hayasaka.
Hayasaka didn't react much, staying calm as ever. "Apologies. Things turned out way more complicated than expected, so it took longer."
"Hm?"
Kaguya raised an eyebrow. "Alright. Tell me what you found out about this guy."
Hayasaka paused for a moment to organize her thoughts, then began explaining the situation with the Supernatural Research Club.
The more Kaguya listened, the more animated her face became. Her usual icy expression crumbled as her jaw dropped in disbelief.
After a long moment of stunned silence, she finally managed to say one word: "Harem?!"
Hayasaka nodded. "From what I've seen, he has very close relationships with every girl in the club."
Kaguya fell into silence again, then looked up with disbelief. "My brother wants me to get involved with someone like this?!"
Hayasaka said nothing.
Kaguya took a few deep breaths, trying to calm her fury, then said coldly:
"I will not allow someone like himor a club like thatto exist at Shuchiin!"
Lynn's side
Lynn had just received some rather odd news from Minamiya Natsuki.
He stared at the message with a weird expression.
[Natsuki: "You're in trouble."]
[Lynn: "Huh??"]
After a moment, he messaged Yukino and Yui, telling them to handle the situation.
—
Service Club
Both girls were utterly confused after reading his message.
Yui facepalmed, then slumped over the desk with a groan. "Ugh"
Yukinoshita Yukino let out a sigh, stood up, and said, "Let's go. We need to have a serious talk with her."
She put a little extra weight on the word talk.
Yui flinched.
"Yukino you've changed"
With Yukino and Yui now handling Yumiko, Lynn was back to being free.
...
Right then, a message popped up from Devil Link.
It was from Nakiri Erina.
After tons of inner struggle (and a serious battle with her God's Tongue), she finally gave in and reached out to the devil againbegging for another delivery of high-grade ingredients.
Of course, she promised to offer something in return again.
But
"Why are these payments getting harder and harder!?"
Erina blushed furiously as she stared at the devil's new demand.
AHEGAO PHOTOS?! OF HER?! The devil might as well ask for a snowball in hell!
How the hell was she supposed to make that kind of face?! And what kind of devil asks for that kind of thing!?
This devil was definitely a perv!
"H-H-Hisako y-you have to get a good shot, okay"
Nakiri Erina, cheeks flaming red, stared nervously at the camera in Hisako Arato's hands.
This this is seriously the last time!!
Hisako: "..."
Is she in some kind of cult?
She had no idea what to feel about this anymore.
—
Ding!
Not long after, Lynn received the new message from Erinaphoto attached.
"Tsk tsk"
He admired it for a moment, saved it to his collection, and chuckled to himself.
At this rate, Erina was almost ripe for the picking.
Knock knock!
Suddenly
Someone knocked on the door of the Club.
"Come in."
Click
The door opened, and in stepped a familiar face.
"Hey there, Devil-sama~ I'm back!"
Iwanaga Kotoko strolled in, still in her Shuchiin uniform, beret on her head and a cane in her hand. The only thing different from last time was the white cat in her arms.
Lynn raised an eyebrow and smirked. "So what, you selling yourself to me now?"
Kotoko stiffened. "A-haha not quite."
She laughed awkwardly and replied, "More like I'm selling her to you."
She gestured to the cat in her arms and adjusted her grip slightly, earning a grumpy look from the kitty.
But Kotoko acted like she didn't see it and plopped the white cat right down on Lynn's desk.
"Her name's Himari. She's a purebred female catdon't worry, totally clean."
After much persuasion, nagging, and borderline harassment, Kotoko had finally worn Himari down.
"Himari?" Lynn raised an eyebrow. A catgirl?
He didn't stand on ceremonyhis hand reached out and began stroking her fur.
Himari flinched slightly under his touch, lips pursed, saying nothing but inside, her nerves were running wild.
'What kind of person is this guy? Is he going to be a good master or a nightmare?'
Kotoko plopped down into a chair and smiled. "She's my top girl, you know. Be gentle with her, Lord Lynn."
"Are you running a brothel now?" Lynn muttered.
But he nodded. "Don't worry. Anyone who joins my familia, I treat them all equally."
"Then I'm relieved."
Kotoko smiled back, though a hint of guilt lingered in her heart. Selling Himari to a devil? Yeah, not exactly the kindest move.
But heydead friends over dead me, right?
R-Right??
If she didn't sell Himari, she'd have to sell herself.
Himari, this is your moment to shine for the great and wise Goddess Kotoko!
...
Under Lynn's experienced hands, Himari's anxiety gradually melted away. Her eyes slowly closed, and she leaned into his touch, gently nuzzling his palm.
Kotoko: "..."
Wait, what?
Weren't you all moody and reluctant five minutes ago?!
Now you're all purring and cuddly?
Kotoko's expression twisted. That kind of pampering she never got any of it!!
This isn't fair! Does the mighty Goddess Kotoko not deserve love too?!
Taking a few deep breaths to compose herself, she forced a smile and muttered, "You're pretty skilled at that, Lord Lynn."
Lynn just nodded. "Yeah, I've had a lot of practice."
He did have a few cats at home, after all.
After chatting for a bit longer, Kotoko sensibly excused herself and left.
Lynn turned to Himari and started explaining the current status of his familia.
The more she listened, the more shocked Himari looked.
Different worlds divine blessings job openings in Hell?!
Gulp!
She swallowed hard.
If you want to soar, pick the right boss.
Kotoko-sama once you die, I swear I'll offer incense to your shrine every day!
Endless blessings to you, meow~!!
"All right, transform into human form," Lynn said, giving her a light tap.
A flash of light shimmered around Himari.
And just like that, sitting cross-legged on his desk was a beautiful girl in a purple kimono, long black hair flowing freely, curves in all the right places.
"Master," Himari said softly, blinking up at him.
Lynn rubbed his chin, giving her a once-over.
Not quite as sexy as Kuroka but definitely close.
He raised his hand, beginning to summon a devil's piece, but Himari instinctively leaned forward, resting her head against his hand and rubbing against it again.
He paused, then chuckled and started petting her again. "You're already used to being my familia, huh?"
Himari opened her eyes and said earnestly, "Us cat Yokai once we choose a master, we dedicate our entire body and soul to them."
"E-even if Master wanted me to have his children"
Suddenly she stammered, face burning red, voice getting softer and softer
"...Himari wouldn't say no."
Lynn's eyes lit up.
Catgirls
Man, catgirls are always the best.
"Wait..."
Lynn immediately fired off a message to Ryougetsu Senhime.
"Is the Leopard Cat Tribe still around? I'm suddenly in the mood to raise more cats."
Senhime: "???"
You're telling a doggy girl that you want more cats?!
Senhime read the message and just about had a mental breakdown.
