"Have you thought about what I should do to become stronger?" Koneko asked curiously.
"I think there are two points that I should focus on to train you."
"That is?"
"Your Evil Piece and your origin."
Unlike Kiba, whom Sato was clear about, considering they often spent time together, Sato hardly knew Koneko. As a result, instead of touching something he didn't know, it was better for him to focus on what he did know about Koneko.
All he knew about Koneko was the type of Evil Piece used to reincarnate her as a devil, and also her race, as she wasn't human.
"You mean the Rook Piece and my race?"
"Yup." Sato nodded. "Let's just improve that area first."
"Okay? But, what should I do?" Koneko agreed, but she wasn't sure what to do.
"As you are a Rook, of course, your physical ability is stronger, so let's improve your fighting strategy, since in a week, even if you train your physical ability, it won't improve you that much."
"Okay."
Koneko with the Rook Piece had a powerful attack and defense, especially in close combat.
While it was useless on him, as Sato had the Kinesis ability, which made him able to absorb all types of kinetic energy, which naturally included that which came from all types of blunt-type attacks, it was different with the others, since as long as they were hit by Koneko's punch, they would be as good as beaten.
So, all he needed to think about was how Koneko could use that advantage to the limit, and it would be even better if she could combine it with her race origin, which was—
"Nekoshou?"
"Yes."
"What kind of race is that? Is it similar to Nekomata?"
Sato wasn't sure about the folk of this country, but he knew that there was a youkai, a supernatural creature in this country, that had the shape of a cat, known as the nekomata.
"I am a special species of Nekomata."
Even if Koneko felt conflicted about her origin, she was still proud of it, as she was a rare species and the higher type of Nekomata, rather than the normal type.
"What's the difference?"
"I have two tails."
As she said so, she released her two tails that came out from her short skirt, which almost exposed her cute, round buttocks that were wrapped in simple white panties.
"...." Sato.
"Pervert."
"Why?!"
Yet, Koneko stared at him with a cute blush and asked, "...do you like butts, too?"
"...can we move on?" Sato didn't want to talk about fetish or anything else and wanted to focus on his training, as he was serious, wishing Rias' Peerage members to grow since the stronger they were, the better it was for him.
"You love it?"
"...except for two tails, what else?"
"Er... we should be able to use Youjutsu and..." Koneko's face was gloomy and filled with fear when she was about to mention her specialty.
"It's fine if you don't want to say it."
"...thank you."
"But, youjutsu, huh? It is a specialized type of magic used by a Youkai?"
"Yes."
"Can you use it?"
"...no."
"..."
Sato took a deep breath and said, "I will ask Grayfia-san whether the Gremory Family has a connection to ask someone to teach you about the Youjutsu."
"Thank you."
Koneko thanked Sato seriously.
"It's fine, but let's focus on the physical aspect of the cat within you, then."
"Physical aspect of the cat?"
Koneko looked at Sato curiously, as it was her first time hearing someone tell her to master her physical cat's aspect within her. "...do you want me to summon my cat ears, too?"
Before Sato even gave his answer, he saw her summon her two cat ears, making her into a cat-girl who was often dreamed of by many cultured men in the world.
"Nyaa~!"
"...."
"Well..." Sato tried to look away by focusing on something else, as she appeared so meek and cute somehow. "By the way, have you seen how cats hunt before?"
"...how does a cat hunt?"
Koneko thought for a while, and then thought of the cats she often saw in various places in Kuoh Town, which only made her more confused. "...should I mimic a cat?"
"You don't want to?"
"...will it make me stronger?"
"Of course."
"...." Koneko.
If Koneko's fighting style was based on using magics, spells, and all others, Sato wouldn't ask her to do this, but as she was a close-combat fighter, using her fists, instead of letting her train in martial arts, it was better to utilize her cat's features.
Yes, some might underestimate a cat, but this animal is the apex predator.
Whether it was enhanced strength, durability, speed, and agility, powerful teeth and jaws, retractable claws, stealth, enhanced senses, enhanced climbing, or jumping capabilities, a cat had all of them!
If Koneko trained further, combined it with her Rook Piece, and also the specialty of her race, Sato felt like she could become one of the best assassins!
"...should I change my Piece to Knight?"
Based on the logic that she would utilize the physical aspect of the cat, Koneko felt that maximizing her speed seemed to be better than increasing her attack and defense by using the Rook Piece.
"How strong are your claws? Can they cut through a rock or tree? If they are strong enough to do that without your Rook Piece, then it should be okay."
Sato didn't immediately agree with her idea, as the Rook Piece also had its own advantage.
"....."
Koneko blinked her eyes, then looked at her small hands, which she then released her claws that she had almost never used, as she often used fists instead, yet as she looked at how sharp and powerful those claws were, it was clear which she should use, right?
"How is it?"
"Can we train now?"
Sato looked at Koneko with a smile and nodded. "Okay, let's do it. I will stay with you till the end."
Koneko's blank expression also became warm as she moved closer and, for the first time, felt the joy that came from companionship, wishing for the time to continue forever, and—
"I don't mind if you sniff at my armpit later."
While Koneko said so, she let him peek at the loose sleeve of her shirt, which led him to—
"I DON'T HAVE SUCH A FETISH!"
Yet, while the training of Kibe and Koneko went smoothly, there was a problem with this one.
"Ara, ara~!"
Akeno showed a seductive, charming smile as she looked at him with a slightly distorted expression, expecting her body to be tormented in a way that she couldn't imagine. "I wonder how you are going to train me, Sato-kun?"
Yet, as she expected a hard training for him, Sato asked, "Are you good at mathematics and physics, Himejima-san?"
"....." Akeno.
Yup, the training was hard, but in a different direction than Akeno thought.