Kuoh Academy — Occult Research Clubroom.
A flash of light radiated from the summoning circle.
Koneko appeared in the room, her school uniform torn in several places, her shoulders rising and falling with fatigue.
"Koneko... what happened to you?" Rias asked, setting her pen down.
Looking up from her desk filled with paperwork, Rias Gremory's crimson hair shimmered in the lamplight. Her sharp blue eyes softened with concern.
Koneko's aura didn't seem damaged, but her disheveled state spoke volumes. It had been a simple contract request—how had she ended up like this?
"President, I…"
The younger girl stood frozen by the doorway, her expression a tight knot of conflicted hesitation.
She opened her mouth to speak, but the words caught in her throat.
As a fresh wave of embarrassment washed over her, the blush that had barely faded from her cheeks flared up once more, painting her entire face a brilliant, burning crimson.
A girl's silent flush speaks louder than a thousand words.
Taking in the disheveled state of her trusted Rook, Rias let out a long, sympathetic sigh.
She stood from her desk, crossed the floor, and gently gathered Koneko into a soft embrace, patting her silver-white hair.
"Take the rest of the evening off, Koneko. You can tell me the details once you return to normal."
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The Next Morning
On the other side of town, Satoru Mikami was busy putting the furniture back in place after last night's spar. A fleeting twinge of guilt pricking his conscience.
"Did I push things too far last night?"
He hadn't meant to push her so far. He should have let her land a clean hit, at least once. A sparring partner like Koneko wasn't easy to find. If she lost heart, it would be troublesome.
I'll stop by Akikubo Sweets and pick up a double batch of matcha daifuku tomorrow as a peace offering.
He resolved, pulling up his internal system interface to review the night's spoils.
[System Notice]
Target defeated: High-Class Devil (Koneko Tojo).
Acquired Purple-tier Trait — [Senjutsu].
Effect: Manipulates the primordial flow of life energy (Senjutsu/Ki). Highly versatile across physical conditioning, perception, and in other fields.
Satoru's eyes lit up. Now this is an exceptional pull.
Without hesitation, he allocated the new entry into his active grid.
However, the moment he equipped it, a sharp, golden warning banner dropped over his field of vision.
[System Alert]
Active Traits capacity has reached its maximum limit (5/5). To equip [Senjutsu], you must consume 10 White-tier Traits or sacrifice an existing higher tier Trait.
"So it's capped at five…"
His gaze swept over his current Traits. He removed Spiritual Vision (white)—a useful ability once.
While useful for tracking residual mystic traces, it was entirely redundant now that he possessed a purple-tier mastery over life force and sensory qi.
The moment he equipped the new Trait, his body changed.
For the first time, he could feel the faint river of Qi flowing within him—the essence of life itself, usually hidden deep in unknown channels. His stronger body allowed more of it to flow than an ordinary person.
He closed his eyes, experimenting. The Senjutsu Arts guided the Qi like gentle streams coursing into his meridians.
---
He spent the remainder of the night sitting cross-legged in a meditative lotus posture, a subtle, pearlescent glow radiating from his skin.
When morning finally broke, Satoru exhaled a long, dense plume of white mist that instantly fogged the windowpane.
A symphony of sharp cracking sounds echoed from his spine as his muscle fibers compressed and densified, humming with raw, refined energy.
"Not bad. Even better than I imagined."
A satisfied smile formed.
Senjutsu Arts weren't just perception—they could refine the body, regulate life force, and awaken hidden potential.
For ordinary people, the effect would be slight. But for him—someone with infinite potential—the results were staggering.
In one night, his growth equaled several days of brutal training.
"And with this, I don't even need to sleep to maintain peak energy."
[System Notice]
Host's comprehensive physical tier has broken through to Level 2.
New Function Unlocked: Trait Quality Evolution.
Satoru paused mid-stretch, pulling up the newly unlocked subroutine.
The mechanic was wonderfully straightforward.
By sacrificing ten Traits of identical rarity, he could permanently upgrade an existing entry's tier.
For instance, ten purple-tier Traits could theoretically elevate [Senjutsu] into a terrifying red-tier capability.
Satoru's eyes narrowed. "So it encourages me to fight more, huh? Collect Traits, fuse Traits… a grind system."
He closed the panel and laced up his running shoes.
"Fine. Let's finish morning training first."
---
Kouh Academy
Because the institution was a notorious nexus for stray devils, fallen angels, and peerage members, it remained the single most efficient farming ground for high-tier entries.
During the lunch break, Satoru walked down to the first-year instructional block, leaning casually against the doorframe of Class 1-B.
"Koneko-chan. You've got a visitor," a classmate called out.
Koneko, who was busy packing her bento box, froze.
She slowly turned her head toward the corridor, her Golden eyes widening slightly as she spotted Satoru waving a small, brightly branded pastry box in the air.
"Senpai... what are you doing here?"
"Fulfilling yesterday's promise," Satoru said smoothly, placing the box of premium sweets on her desk.
"Freshly baked matcha daifuku. Consider it a sincere apology for treating you badly yesterday."
Koneko stared at the box, her fingers twitching instinctively toward the sweets before she caught herself. "...Thank you."
Her hesitation was brief. Though she'd been furious at him yesterday, reflection told her it wasn't truly his fault.
He had summoned her for training, and she had failed to meet his expectations. If anything, she was the one who had come up short.
"Actually, Koneko, I need a quick favor," Satoru said, lowering his voice slightly.
Koneko's guard instantly shot back up, her cat ears flattening in suspicion. "If you're asking me to spar again during off-hours, the answer is a hard no."
"Relax, I'm not here to spar with you," Satoru chuckled.
"You mentioned you have peers, right? Other devils operating in this sector. Can you introduce me to a few more sparring partners?"
She opened her mouth to issue a flat refusal, but a sudden memory of Rias's instruction from the previous evening flashed through her mind—"Guide him, don't alienate him."
Swallowing her objections, Koneko let out a tiny, resignation-filled sigh.
"I can't make that call unilaterally. But... if you actually want to follow me to the old school building. I'll take you straight to the President."
"Lead the way," Satoru replied brightly.
A few minutes later, the two traversed the shaded, overgrown courtyard path leading toward the dilapidated western wing of Kuoh Academy.
Koneko pushed open the heavy wooden doors bearing the polished brass plaque of the Occult Research Club.
Inside, the spacious parlor-style room was bathed in afternoon sunlight filtering through stained glass.
Rias sat regally at the center table alongside her Queen Akeno, both of them looking up as the door clicked open.
"Koneko, you're back early—oh?" Rias's crimson gaze shifted past her Rook, locking instantly onto the tall, composed teenager standing in the doorway.
"President, I have brought Mikami-senpai," Koneko announced.
Inside, only Rias and Akeno were present. Yuki was absent.
After studying the boy before her, Rias set down her teacup and rose gracefully.
"Satoru Mikami-kun, welcome to the Occult Research Club. I am the president, Rias Gremory."
•
[Rias Consoling Koneko-chan]
•
******
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