After eating their fill, Rod and the others returned to the outskirts of Kuoh Town.
While Lavinia set up a barrier, Kuroka continued clinging to Shirone.
"Shirone, why don't you stop worrying about that master of yours, nya? Senjutsu isn't easy to learn, especially for cat yokai like us. If you're not careful, you can get lost in the power, nya!"
"Onee-chan, I already told you. Rias saved me, so I want to save her too. If you keep saying things like that, I won't call you 'onee-chan' anymore."
Shirone's expression was serious.
Kuroka immediately raised both hands in surrender, putting on a pitiful face.
"I was just joking, nya! But senjutsu really is difficult. Beginners can lose control easily, nya! Oh! What if I transform into you and fight in the Rating Game instead, nya?"
"Onee-chan! I'm not a child anymore!"
"Okaaay, nya…"
With her ears drooping, Kuroka finally stopped dodging the topic.
"Alright. I'll guide out the power of the nekomata bloodline inside you. It might feel uncomfortable during the process, so you have to endure it, Shirone."
"I endured everything after you left me. This is nothing."
Shirone's face remained calm.
Seeing the resolve in her sister's eyes, Kuroka's expression also grew serious.
"Sit down. I'll use senjutsu to activate your bloodline first. Then I'll teach you how to circulate Ki. Once you can sense it, you can officially begin practicing senjutsu."
When Kuroka got serious, she carried a dignified air that felt unexpectedly reliable.
Onee-chan is actually pretty cool when she's serious… Shirone thought.
Compared to that somewhat complicated situation,
Akeno's issue was much simpler.
Her bloodline had always been active. She had simply suppressed it all this time. Even her lightning was derived from Baraqiel's bloodline.
"It feels strange," Raynare muttered. "This is my first time teaching a devil."
As the strongest of the trio, she naturally acted as instructor.
"I've seen fallen angel–human hybrids. I've seen devil–human hybrids. But I've never seen someone with fallen angel, human, and devil traits all at once. Honestly, I doubt our master's judgment. How is a devil supposed to use the power of light?"
"Don't worry. I'll bear any consequences alone," Akeno replied calmly.
"Easy for you to say. Your father's Baraqiel! If he finds out we corrupted his daughter, he'll definitely come after us!"
"Exactly!"
"But by then, Master will protect us… right?"
Kalawarna and Mittelt chimed in.
At the mention of that name, Akeno's expression darkened instantly.
"Don't bring up that name in front of me again. He is not my father."
"Fine."
Raynare didn't press further, though inwardly she couldn't help thinking that this girl didn't know how fortunate she was.
At least she had parents.
Raynare had none. If something happened to Akeno, she had a powerful backing. Raynare? A low-born fallen angel, everything she wanted, she had to seize with her own hands. That was why she had dared to invade devil territory in the first place.
Even if she died, Grigori wouldn't care.
Thinking that, Raynare glanced at Rod.
A complicated thought surfaced in her heart.
He had bound them through violence and curses… but at least these days were far happier than life in Grigori.
Was he… her new backing?
....
Meanwhile
"Clear your mind. Imagine the power you want to use. Since you have fallen angel blood, it should be holy light. Picture how you would wield it."
At the same time, Kuroka activated Shirone's bloodline using senjutsu.
A faint purple glow enveloped the girl's body. At first, nothing seemed wrong, but soon Shirone felt a strange itching sensation.
The itching spread to the top of her head and the base of her spine.
"Onee-chan… mmh… this feels… strange."
Curled up on the grass, her legs pressed together unconsciously.
"It feels like… something is about to come out…"
"It's normal, nya! That feeling is normal, nya!"
Kuroka was sweating. This was her first time guiding someone else's bloodline, let alone her own little sister's. She had to be extremely careful.
Rod, meanwhile, watched the entire process of a catgirl being "born."
"Impressive. After turning into a catgirl, her whole aura changes."
Cute. I want to pet her.
Shirone's face turned slightly red after stabilizing.
"Next is Ki. Ki is the foundation of all living things. As long as you're alive, you have Ki. The energy that drives senjutsu is Ki. You've watched God of High School or Dragon ball, right, nya? It's similar to mana, nya~"
"How do I sense Ki?"
"Uh… well… first calm down, close your eyes, and just keep thinking about the power of Ki!"
"…If Grandma were here, she'd teach better than me, nya."
Kuroka wasn't exactly a great teacher. Fortunately, Shirone was a rare nekomata talent, even among yokai, her potential was top-tier.
Listening to Kuroka's half-hearted instructions, Rod casually tried following along himself.
He was just playing around,
But suddenly, a progress bar appeared before his eyes.
[Receiving basic knowledge of "Ki" cultivation. Stopping will interrupt progress.]
"…You're serious?" Rod muttered.
He hadn't expected a bonus like this.
The downside? He had to keep going without stopping.
Luckily, the system didn't require him to truly comprehend Ki, just maintain the meditative state until the progress bar filled.
The process was long. And he couldn't do anything else in the meantime.
If he stopped, he'd have to start over.
Rod came here to relax, not torture himself.
But soon, he thought of a perfect solution.
"Lavinia, can I lie on your lap and take a nap?"
"Are you sleepy, Rod? Then that's fine."
Lavinia happily sat down on the grass, stretching her legs out straight and patting her lap.
"Come here, come here~"
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