Draconis's answer must've caught Rias off guard. She blinked, then smiled and nodded in understanding.
"Well, you're the one turning me down. Don't blame your master for neglecting your feelings."
"You don't have to cover every base," Draconis replied, steady as ever.
This was all so different from what he'd imagined. Who'd have thought that after becoming a devil, his master would treat him with genuine care instead of squeezing him dry? Hell, she'd even unlocked the "sleeping companion" perk. Too surreal—TV wouldn't dare write it this way.
"I'm going to shower," he said quietly. The sticky, dried sweat on his skin was driving him nuts—his devil senses were way too sharp.
He ducked into the bathroom, let the hot water wash away the exhaustion, then returned to the bedroom. Rias was still lounging, completely at ease, legs crossed on the sofa as she sipped her tea.
"Took you long enough," she complained, then darted past him into the bathroom.
Draconis caught a glimpse of her under the shower, humming a tune, body outlined in steam. He shook his head, closed the door behind her to keep the fog in, then tidied up her clothes, folding them neatly on the guest bed.
Back in his own room, he didn't even glance at the bathroom door's foggy reflection of Rias's perfect curves. He just collapsed onto the bed, feeling drained.
The fight today was short, but it had pushed him to death's edge—especially the part where he forced himself to attack while resisting the light's poison. The stress was brutal.
But he'd survived.
As soon as he relaxed, exhaustion crashed over him. He was out in seconds.
Somewhere in the fog of sleep, the mattress shifted—Rias must've slipped in beside him, burrowing into his warmth.
Half-awake, Draconis instinctively pulled her closer.
—And, without thinking, gave her a gentle squeeze.
Even in his haze, he registered the soft, warm sensation in his palm. His fingers couldn't quite contain it all—like clutching a water balloon filled with hot water.
He heard Rias's soft, surprised moan—half pleasure, half shock—before sleep claimed him again.
Morning.
Traffic noise seeped in from outside, rousing Draconis from deep sleep.
First thing he saw: a tumble of vivid red hair—Rias's signature color.
She was curled up against him, back pressed to his chest, still sleeping peacefully.
He realized his right hand had wandered a bit too far around her waist, and his brow twitched. It really was like those water balloons he'd played with as a kid—warm, yielding, impossibly soft.
He remembered last night's half-conscious groping and sighed. He'd set up a guest room for her, but here she was in his bed.
Whatever. At this point, the details didn't matter.
So he tightened his hold, enjoying the feel of her warmth and softness. Her skin seemed to wrap around him, soothing him back toward sleep.
A gentle pat on his hand. Rias's voice, soft and teasing:
"Draconis, you can't sleep all day. Time to get up."
"…Sorry, I dozed off again." He released her, stretching out lazily, eyes half-shut.
Sleeping in was heaven. Every morning, he wished he could stay in bed forever.
Rias rolled over to face him, propping her head up with one hand, reaching out to tap his cheek with her finger.
"Last night, you were pretty eager for me."
Draconis cracked an eye, turning his head to see her grinning at him.
"…Didn't I set up a guest room for you?"
Rias just laughed, sat up, and stretched—her figure distractingly gorgeous.
"The guest room's too far," she said.
"It's just a few extra steps," Draconis deadpanned.
She shrugged. "It's so warm and cozy being held by you. I couldn't resist sneaking over."
He groaned. "Couldn't you at least wear pajamas?"
Rias blinked in honest confusion. "Eh? I can't sleep like that… Can you sleep wearing clothes?"
"…No."
"See?"
He was speechless. He'd always slept naked. Apparently, so did Rias…
She settled against the headboard, looking smug. "Go fetch my clothes, will you?"
"Yeah, yeah."
He brought her clothes back, watching as her beautiful body disappeared beneath layers of fabric. Only then did he ask:
"President, are there a lot of Fallen Angels and angels in this city?"
"Not really," Rias replied. "After the Great War, all three factions took heavy losses. Their numbers are way down."
She caught the worry in his voice and smiled reassuringly.
"Last night's run-in was just bad luck. Normally, you'd hardly ever see one. And if we move together, they'll steer clear."
She stepped closer, adding, "But what happened last night reminded me—I need to upgrade our insignia system. Can't have barriers randomly blocking our connection."
Absolutely. Draconis nodded. Right now, he wasn't strong enough; sticking close to Rias was the smart move. No shame in that.
He spoke seriously. "I'll get stronger as fast as I can."
Rias beamed. "You already exceeded my expectations. Akeno sent word—the Fallen Angel you killed had four wings. She used to be a high-ranking angel! Normally, only mid-level devils could fight one."
She sounded genuinely proud. No wonder she'd spent ten Evil Pieces on him—he'd tanked light poisoning as a low-ranked devil. That kind of grit and potential was rare.
"Relax," Rias said, sweeping her hair back and glancing at the clock. "No need to rush your training. Take it slow."
Realizing they were about to be late, she activated a teleportation spell, whisking Draconis straight to the clubroom at school.
Teleportation—now that was something to envy…
…
⚠️ This chapter ends here, but the story is FAR from over...
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