"…What was that?"
A small voice—cold, flat, yet sweet—echoed beside Rian's ear. Rian looked down to find Ophis standing at his side.
The girl tilted her head, staring up at him without blinking.
Those gray-slit pupils, usually empty and quiet, now held a faint glimmer of curiosity—something almost never seen from a being like her.
"Oh? Ophis-chan could feel it too?" Rian said as he placed a hand on top of her head.
"That was Infinity Void, the peak of my technique. Similar to spatial manipulation."
Ophis stayed silent for several seconds, then softly repeated, "...Infinity Void."
"That technique bombards the target's mind and soul with information," Rian explained.
"In just 0.2 seconds, they experience the equivalent of half a year's worth of knowledge and sensation."
Rian paused for a moment, looking up at the sky before adding, "In simple terms… inside that space, it's noisy from the flood of information, yet it feels absolutely silent."
Then he gave a faint smile.
"In other words, a sad irony. Sometimes people desire all the knowledge in the world—yet the moment they receive it, they no longer know what to do with it."
After saying that, Rian lowered himself slightly and gently patted Ophis's head, his touch soft yet warm.
Not long after, he noticed his two beloved cats—Koneko and Kuroka—gliding closer from afar, with Koneko leading the way.
Rian stopped his hand from patting Ophis and turned toward their approach.
He lifted his right hand and gave them a small wave.
And with that, the night of the battle between Vali and Rian truly came to an end.
***
"Nyaa~! I still can't accept this. Vali got beaten by a human… even while using Juggernaut Drive, nyaa~!"
Kuroka folded her arms, her tail lashing rapidly—clear signs of her rising frustration. Her eyes blazed with protest as she pointed accusingly at Rian, who stood not far away.
"Just who are you supposed to be, huh!? You arrogant human!"
Rian took a short breath, then shrugged casually—as if all he heard was a grumpy cat throwing a tantrum.
"Well, whatever the case, that's the result."
He looked at Kuroka calmly. "Don't be mad, my cat. You'll get stressed. Your fur might fall out."
"Three things!"
Kuroka instantly held up three fingers, her face turning red with irritation.
"One—don't talk like you're reading the weather forecast, nyaa~!"
"Two—I'm not your cat, nyaa~!!"
"And three—you dragged me here without permission, nyaa~!!!"
Just as Kuroka said, they were no longer in the forest outside Kuoh Town. Instead, they were now standing inside one of the luxurious Galaxy Lake guest rooms—Rian's private mansion in the DxD world.
The walls were painted in a blend of soft blue and white, creating a refreshing yet calming atmosphere.
The furnishings were complete: a wardrobe, a vanity table with a mirror and drawers, a double-sized bed with storage underneath, and a warm bedside lamp mounted above it.
A large window stood directly in front of the bed, allowing natural light to pour in and gently illuminate the room.
The bathroom door was on the left side, while the exit door stood on the right.
Overall, the guest room carried a luxurious design while still maintaining a minimalist feel.
As for how Kuroka ended up here, the explanation was simple: after leaving the forest, Rian asked Alice to bring Vali to Galaxy Lake so he could rest after enduring the effects of the Infinity Void.
According to Rian, one night of rest would be enough for Vali to regain consciousness—although it would take roughly a month for him to return to peak condition.
Meanwhile, Kuroka, who had planned to escape and refused to follow Rian, was gently yet forcefully carried away by him—or more accurately, slung over his shoulder like a sack of rice.
It should be noted that Rian had wanted to bring Kuroka from the very beginning.
So when the gentle approach failed, he didn't hesitate to be a little… mean.
Naturally, Kuroka resisted with everything she had, and Koneko even more so.
To Koneko, this was outright kidnapping.
She was currently in another guest room within the same mansion, still sulking because she couldn't convince Rian to change his mind.
Rian chuckled softly as he stepped closer to Kuroka.
Immediately, Kuroka became defensive, lifting both hands in front of her, ready to punch or fire magic at any moment.
"W-what!? What are you trying to do, nya~?" Kuroka muttered, cold sweat forming.
"D-don't you dare try anything weird, nya~!"
Even though she acted tough, Kuroka knew very well that no matter how much strength she used, defeating Rian was impossible.
Rian had already defeated Vali in Juggernaut Drive—so what chance did she have?
Even as a rare Nekomata who mastered Senjutsu and Youjutsu, she still wasn't on the same level.
Right now, Kuroka was no different from a frightened cat cornered in her own territory.
In her defensive stance, she could only step back slowly as Rian continued approaching, until she eventually found herself pressed against the corner of the wall.
A shiver ran down her spine.
Rian was still smiling faintly as he raised both hands, making Kuroka squeeze her eyes shut in panic.
Rian's right hand lifted, gently touching the back of Kuroka's head.
"Nyaa!? What are you— hngg~"
Rian's face moved closer, and the distance between them disappeared, something warm and soft meeting—boiling in pleasure.
"Nyah~ ♡ higi~ ♡ Chu~ slurp~ sthop it. Don't kyiss me~ ♡"
Rian's touch deepened, sharing a sensation like two layers of warm pudding melting into perfect harmony. Kuroka's cheeks flushed, her eyes wide with surprise.
A subtle vibration coursed through her body, like a stream of chi rippling to the most sensitive of her senses.
Inside, she felt tiny—as if she were a tiny kitten standing before a primordial being, one eye half-lidded, observing her without judgment.
"Puhaa~ ♡"
When the two finally separated, the air between them broke in a faint, crystal-clear shimmer—a trace carried by the passing breeze before it vanished completely.
Kuroka remained still, her mind filled with a single repeating question:
"Just who… is Rian, really?"
In silence, her gaze shifted.
Something deep and instinctual stirred within her—an old, primal part of herself awakening.
Seeing this, Rian chuckled softly, allowing her to sink deeper into that whirlpool of emotion.
Only after several seconds did Rian's light, relaxed voice pull Kuroka's consciousness back, bringing her fully into reality again.
"Good grief… how can you stand wearing something like this?" Rian asked calmly. "Your body is almost completely exposed."
Gently, Rian adjusted the sleeve of Kuroka's kimono so her shoulder stayed covered.
Rian's eyes lowered, glancing downward. "You're not wearing any underwear under this, are you? Isn't it cold?"
Kuroka snapped back to awareness, staring at Rian with a mix of emotions, her face still burning red.
"I–I don't need any! ♡" Kuroka blurted out quickly, her voice shaking slightly. "And… how did you even know, nyaa~!? ♡ Just who are you!?"
Rian simply lifted both shoulders in a casual shrug. "Take a guess."
Kuroka furrowed her brows tightly, her frustration bubbling over. Instead of guessing, she pointed at him accusingly, her tail flicking in irritation.
"You totally like me, don't you!? Nyaa~! You— you were the one who… who… that! ♡ That thing! ♡ Just admit it!"
Rian smiled slightly—almost like he was watching a kitten trying its hardest to act fierce. But her face and arousal didn't support it.
Slowly, he reached into his pocket and pulled out a credit card.
Instead of touching Kuroka again, he held the card up in front of her face—the distance respectful, without any excessive teasing in the gesture.
"Not really," Rian replied, voice flat but gentle. "Take this. Go buy yourself some proper underwear—and wear it. I already set the budget."
"If you want, I can bite your ear again. Maybe your neck this time?" Rian added lightly, "Or perhaps… kiss you somewhere else?"
Kuroka jolted, taking several steps back, her cheeks glowing red.
Her hands came up on instinct, as if to shield herself, while that strange lingering warmth from earlier hadn't completely faded.
"D-don't just say things like that, nyaa~! ♡" she grumbled, her tail stiffening behind her.
Rian only let out a soft chuckle, clearly entertained by Kuroka's panicked reaction.
"The instincts of a handsome man were right after all. You really are like your little sister."
With no dramatic motion, he flicked the card lightly. It glided through the air and landed gently on the small table beside the bed.
"You know," Rian continued casually, "I only want to adopt you… and maybe take care of you. I'm not after your body, so you're misunderstanding things. That kiss earlier was simply… a mark of ownership. Now? You are mine, Kuroka."
Kuroka stared at him, eyes wide—caught somewhere between anger and disbelief.
"...You… you—nyaa~!"
"Handsome, right? Naturally," Rian replied without missing a beat, making Kuroka bristle even more. "Now go to sleep."
Without waiting for a response, Rian walked toward the bedroom door and stepped out, leaving Kuroka alone.
Kuroka hissed lightly, grinding her teeth.
"What is wrong with that human, nyaa~!?" she shouted in frustration.
She then walked over to the bed, sat down, and touched her own cheek—still warm and flushed.
In a faint whisper, Kuroka muttered to herself, "Annoying… weird… terrifying human. I… really, really don't like him."
With that tangled feeling twisting in her chest, Kuroka lay down on the bed and pulled the blanket over her body, burying herself beneath it.
___
Note:
Yup. Rian is now officially a cat tamer. Hahaha.
BTW, keep supporting me! Give me all the power stones, your best comments, and your reviews too!