"Hehe… Master's finally back, but you didn't bring a new girl home?"
The moment Ren returned, Kuroka immediately ran up to him and clung onto him like an accessory. Ren didn't mind at all, and even when he groped her a little, Kuroka showed no reaction, as if she had long since given herself completely to him.
When she felt Ren's touch, Kuroka even narrowed her eyes in enjoyment.
Too bad there were still other people around—otherwise, she and her master would've surely gone further by now.
When she saw Raynare walk out from behind Ren, Kuroka's eyes subtly changed.
The power in this girl had grown significantly… what a lucky brat…
Raynare's gaze locked onto Kuroka. Her eyes flickered coldly with a touch of gloom.
She hadn't forgotten how their first meeting ended with Kuroka intimidating her with force.
Light and darkness bloomed in each of her hands—the power now undeniably at the level of a high-ranking fallen angel.
Ren simply shook his head, uninterested in Raynare's desire for revenge. After all, not all of his "pets" got along. Didn't Ophanimon and Duftmon also have issues? One was the emperor of the Digital World, the other a Royal Knight loyal to Yggdrasill. According to Ophanimon, her rise to emperor was partly because Huanglongmon rebelled against Yggdrasill.
If Ophanimon raised the flag of rebellion, then Huanglongmon's fate was likely her own.
In truth, Ophanimon had long been itching to stomp on Yggdrasill.
So, yeah… she and those in the Yggdrasill faction were never going to get along.
"Master, is that all the improvement that Fallen Angel's Heart gave her?"
Tilting her head, Kuroka felt Raynare's aura and couldn't help but ask Ren.
This strength… seems weaker than I used to be… and that's after she fused light and dark?
Ren just rolled his eyes.
"Everything takes time. She hasn't fully drawn out its power yet."
Given the tenfold feedback he had received, the power granted by the Fallen Angel's Heart was definitely more than this.
It's just that Raynare's base aptitude was limited—she needed time to gradually tap into it.
Hearing that, Kuroka's face lit up with realization, followed by mockery.
"So it's just this little fallen angel's poor talent holding her back, huh…"
Raynare's face twisted with fury, her anger spiking rapidly, but—
She couldn't win… really couldn't… Deep down, Raynare still had some self-awareness.
After spending so much time here, she'd also figured out parts of Ren's personality.
You could act displeased on the surface, but if you really pissed him off, you'd be the one to suffer.
He could strip her of her bloodline—surely, he could also take away this newly gained power.
Thinking that, Raynare silently withdrew her aura.
Even though she always called Ren hateful, her fear outweighed her hatred.
And after being granted this powerful strength, she wondered if she was developing Stockholm syndrome. Her hatred toward Ren had diminished noticeably, and her burning desire for power made her find him strangely more attractive…
Not just Raynare—Mittelt and Kalawarna were the same. While constantly tormented by Raynare, they secretly hoped Ren would bless them with power too.
As for rebelling… just looking around at the "monsters" nearby made it clear—that was not an option.
"At least you know your place… Anyway, Master, how was tonight? I thought you'd bring back some new girls."
Ignoring Raynare, Kuroka shifted her full attention back to Ren.
Pulling her off, Ren said in exasperation:
"Do I look like the type to grab every random girl I meet?"
Most of them weren't even good-looking. Why waste contracts on them when they couldn't even give back power?
Besides, those girls were just tools for setting someone up.
Kuroka didn't reply, just glanced at Mittelt, Kalawarna, then at Raynare.
"My dear Master, do I even need to say it?"
Noticing her glance, Ren's lips twitched. He really couldn't argue with that.
"Cough… I have my reasons. They're just tools."
To him, those girls were merely for giving Sona a convenient explanation.
After all, he'd killed Saji. Though he made it look like the fallen angels did it, Rias knew he had fallen angels under his command. So Sona might suspect him, but for political reasons, even if she knew the truth, she had to pretend not to.
Since he lived in Kuoh Town, they'd definitely interact more in the future. Giving her an out by letting her vent on those fallen angels gave both sides an excuse to move on.
To Ren, those girls were just fragments collected to satisfy his OCD.
Now that they'd been synthesized, the excess fallen angels were just tools for Sona to lash out at.
"Hihihihi…"
Kuroka didn't push it further. Jokes were fun, but if she crossed the line, she'd be the one to suffer.
She knew her limits. After all, the fallen angel stuff had nothing to do with her.
So she struck a seductive pose and leaned into Ren.
"Well then, welcome home, Master. Do you want to bathe first, eat first…"
As she spoke, she clung to Ren again, her scent wafting, her whole body dripping with temptation.
"…or would you rather eat me first~~? My beloved Master!"
Licking her lips, Kuroka—who had long accepted her current role—was ready.
She'd been stuck watching over her sister with no opportunities—until now!
Yes! In Kuroka's mind, this was serious business!
Raynare and the others twitched slightly at the display.
Should we… not be here for this?