"Sorry, I got a little excited."
Grayfia took a deep breath, calming her slightly agitated emotions.
Under normal circumstances, Grayfia wouldn't get emotional over such simple minor matters. However, too many things had happened tonight.
After inexplicably giving Tatsuma some benefits, Grayfia had been wanting to get back at him.
But when they fought head-on, she was defeated by Tatsuma in just a few moves, suffering a complete loss.
Suffering repeated blows in a short period, no matter how good Grayfia's mindset was, she was still inevitably affected.
In this situation, Restia, who was considered a lifelong friend, also showed a tendency to be 'stolen away'.
The multiple blows combined, which led to Grayfia losing emotional control over a simple minor matter.
"Relax, Grayfia. I won't steal Restia away, at most I'll just borrow her occasionally."
Just then, Tatsuma finally saw Grayfia's state and spoke to comfort her.
"If you hadn't said that last sentence, I might have actually relaxed a little."
Grayfia sighed, feeling somewhat helpless towards Tatsuma's completely undisguised behavior.
"Anyway, thank you for Restia's matter. If you need help in the future, just ask."
"Really?"
"...Lewd matters are not allowed."
"Don't worry, I wouldn't go so far as to waste such a valuable favor on flirting."
"I'll tentatively take that as true."
"Looks like you still don't trust me."
Tatsuma shrugged, "Since that's the case, I'll use this favor now."
Grayfia nodded. "No problem, what do you need me to do?"
Tatsuma said, "Kill Hollows, kill Cursed Spirits, kill evil spirits, kill wanted criminals, kill artificial demonic beasts, etc."
Grayfia was taken aback. "Aren't these things you mentioned already being done by Akatsuki for you?"
Tatsuma shook his head. "It's different. Both Akatsuki and MAR are only capturing targets for me. What I need is someone to do the killing for me."
Grayfia: "?"
What a strange reason.
Seeing that Tatsuma didn't seem to be joking, a hint of doubt flashed in Grayfia's eyes. But after brief consideration, she still agreed to Tatsuma's request.
No matter what, favors eventually have to be repaid. Just dealing with some evil spirits and wanted criminals wasn't a big problem for Grayfia.
"Pleasure working with you." Tatsuma smiled and shook hands with Grayfia.
After that, he changed the subject and asked, "Grayfia, are you interested in owing me another favor?"
Grayfia was confused. "What do you mean?"
"Power awakening."
Tatsuma motioned towards Restia beside him.
"I can help you awaken the potential within you, allowing you to become stronger in a short period, just like her."
Grayfia: "!"
Grayfia was instantly tempted. She had seen Restia's strength change with her own eyes. Given the opportunity to become stronger, she didn't want to let it go.
"What do you plan to have me do for the favor owed?"
"Go to Hueco Mundo and hunt Hollows."
"Are there specific targets?"
"All Hollows within Hueco Mundo, regardless of their strength, are your targets."
"Oh right, when hunting and killing, remember to not kill the Adjuchas and Vasto Lorde level Hollows, just defeat them."
"..."
What kind of strange request is this again?
Grayfia felt that she understood Tatsuma's purpose less and less. However, where there's one, there's two. For the sake of becoming stronger, she agreed to Tatsuma's request.
"I'm ready."
"Same as before, shake hands." Tatsuma raised his hand and gestured.
Grayfia, who was already used to it, nodded slightly and raised her hand to offer it.
However, just after the two shook hands, Tatsuma's voice sounded again. "Grayfia, I have normal awakening and super amazing advanced awakening here, which one are you planning to choose?"
"Of course, the one with better effect."
"The super amazing advanced awakening requires paying an extra hug. Are you ready, customer?"
"...You're not trying to trick me, are you? The awakening effects are actually the same?"
"I'm not tricking you, but whether you believe it or not is up to you."
Tatsuma chuckled, his gaze passing over Grayfia to exchange a look with Restia behind her.
Seeing this, Restia instantly understood, coughed, and offered her suggestion, "Grayfia, don't hesitate. Hugging Tatsuma won't cost you a piece of flesh, strength is the most important thing."
"If your strength can't keep up, you won't be able to unleash my full power."
"..."
At least pretend a little bit.
Seeing through the true nature of the "plastic spirit", Grayfia felt increasingly helpless.
However, after hearing Restia's words, Grayfia was no longer so resistant to it.
Just as Restia said, a contractor needs to have sufficient strength to fully utilize the power of the weapon form of the spirit. Grayfia didn't want to hold Restia back due to her own reasons.
Of course, there was also another point. With the previous experience in the bath, Grayfia's resistance to various things had increased significantly. Limited to Tatsuma, a hug wasn't something she couldn't accept.
"I've done everything you asked, shouldn't you help with the awakening now?"
Reaching out and hugging the man in front of her, Grayfia suppressed her shyness and reminded him.
"Don't rush, aren't I preparing?"
Feeling the soft touch from in front of him, Tatsuma chuckled softly and opened the trait inventory.
His gaze swept across the blue trait area, and then, he looked towards the purple trait area.
[Extraordinary Magic Power (Purple): Magic power quality increased moderately, total magic power increased moderately, magic power recovery speed increased moderately.]
You're the one.
After choosing a trait that increased basic stats and had a decent cost-effectiveness.
With a thought, Tatsuma pressed the confirm button and granted it to Grayfia.
[Trait granted successfully, click to view target panel.]
The system's prompt sounded, and a vast surge of magic power rose from within Grayfia. At close proximity, Tatsuma could faintly feel Grayfia's body trembling slightly.
He sent out a burst of Senjutsu to help Grayfia adjust her aura, and took the opportunity to glance at her panel.
[Grayfia Lucifuge]
[Race: Devil]
[Strength: Level 5]
[Traits: Extraordinary Magic Power (Purple), Dark Magic (Purple), Satan Bloodline (Red), Annihilation Queen (Red), Source of Darkness (Gold)]
[Dark Magic (Purple): Dark-type Magic talent +300%, Magic casting speed increased moderately.]
[Satan Bloodline (Red): Training effect +500%, total demonic power increased significantly, demonic power recovery speed increased significantly.]
[Annihilation Queen (Red): All stats increased moderately when entering combat, demonic power and stamina recovery speed increased significantly, causes a deterrent effect on enemies weaker than oneself.]
Aside from Extraordinary Magic Power and the power from the Darkness Elemental Lord, Grayfia's traits were two red and one purple. Compared to Restia, it was a bit lacking, but overall, it was still very good.
The only slight regret was that Grayfia didn't break through and step into the realm of transcendence in one go like Restia.
Closing the trait panel, Tatsuma looked towards the person in his arms.
At the same time, Grayfia adapted to the newly increased power and opened her eyes.
After the two looked at each other for a moment, Grayfia sighed and spoke first, "You can let go now, can't you?"
Tatsuma said, "I actually think we can just go back like this."
"...The first time I saw you, you were arrogant, but not this thick-skinned."
"People change."
"Then your change is very big."
Grayfia placed her hands on Tatsuma's chest and pushed hard.
Hmm... didn't push him.
However, just as Grayfia was about to say something else, Tatsuma released her first.
"What a pity. I thought after experiencing so much, you'd be a little closer to me."
"...I need some time."
Grayfia hesitated for a moment before replying.
Although many things had happened with Tatsuma, they all happened tonight.
As an old virgin who had been single for several hundred years, her current mood was very complex. But for some reason, Grayfia wasn't particularly resistant to Tatsuma. Vaguely, she even had a thought of wanting to submit to him.
No, I can't think about these things.
Shaking her head to suppress these thoughts, Grayfia looked at the man in front of her. "Do you still have anything to do?"
Tatsuma shook his head. "Not anymore today."
Grayfia replied, "Then I'll go back first, see you tomorrow."
She spread her wings, and flew towards Kuoh Town first.
"Keep it up, I'm rooting for you."
Restia left a sentence, also spread her wings, and disappeared from the spot.
"Looks pretty good."
After watching the two leave, Tatsuma looked at the Satan Bloodline on the trait panel.
His "pretty good" didn't refer to the rapidly warming relationship with Grayfia but rather the new ability derived after Satan Bloodline was promoted to the gold level.
A comprehensive suppression of Devils with a lower bloodline concentration than himself.
Because he had been training the past few days, Tatsuma hadn't tested the new effect of Satan Bloodline. This time, Grayfia came to him on her own initiative, so he used it a little. From the results, the effect exceeded expectations.
Grayfia was not a casual person. The fact that she could repeatedly accept his overstepping behavior could largely be attributed to the suppression of the bloodline.
"Let's stop the test here for now."