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"Partner, do you know where the rest of that bastard's soul fragments are?"
Ddraig asked.
"Of course."
Anos casually unfolded a world map and began marking locations with calm precision.
Ddraig watched as one point after another appeared across the map.
What is he doing?
"This is one of my abilities," Anos explained evenly. "I can predict certain outcomes within a defined scope."
In only a short time, he had identified the remaining four fragments of Vritra's shattered soul.
He wasn't exaggerating. His power wasn't omniscience. It only worked within the boundaries of possibilities he could logically evaluate. Within that framework, however, his conclusions were absolute.
Calling it "limited foresight" was accurate enough.
"Oh? That's… interesting."
Ddraig found his new host increasingly mysterious. He had assumed Anos was simply a wielder of a God-Slaying Longinus. He hadn't expected something like this.
Which raised a question.
Had his previous host's death also been within Anos' projections?
Was that how Anos had known exactly when to claim him?
"Then let's move."
A formation flared beneath Anos' feet, one unlike anything Ddraig had ever seen. A complex pattern of light pulsed once—
And the room emptied.
Ddraig recognized the effect immediately, Spatial transference But the structure… this wasn't from any known pantheon or faction.
His anticipation grew.
"Maybe… he really can change the fate of the Two Heavenly Dragons."
That was the hope Ddraig allowed himself.
---
The next day.
Anos' house.
"Senpai? Why do you look so exhausted?"
Koneko had taken leave and come over.
Yes, taken leave.
For the foreseeable future, aside from mandatory exams, she wasn't planning to return to school. She intended to train under her sister full-time.
"Did you go out hunting Stray Devils last night?" she asked, offering the most charitable explanation she could.
Because her first thought had been much less charitable.
"No... I was practicing swordsmanship."
Anos yawned.
The Secret Sword Art was newly acquired. Naturally, he had to test it.
Add in collecting Vritra's remaining soul fragments, and sleep had been… optional.
Koneko's eyes widened slightly.
Even with that kind of strength, he's still this diligent…
Then I can't afford to fall behind.
She believed him without question. She always did, A sudden pulse of dark energy flared inside the house.
A teleportation circle.
"Well, well I didn't expect to see little Shirone this soon, nya Big sis is sooo happy, nya~!"
A voluptuous figure emerged from the black formation and immediately tackled the petite girl onto the sofa.
Kuroka.
After hearing Koneko's intentions, she had agreed.
Partly because she wanted to teach Shirone how to protect herself.
Partly because she intended to see whether Anos Kanzaki was truly dependable.
"So you want power too, Shirone? Looks like we're more alike than I thought, nya~"
True to her nekomata instincts, Kuroka affectionately nuzzled and licked her sister.
Koneko clearly wasn't used to that level of intimacy.
"I want to become stronger, Please teach me. I want to help the President."
Despite the embarrassment burning on her face, her voice was steady, Kuroka blinked, surprised by the firmness in her tone.
Then she smiled and licked her cheek again.
"Of course I'll help you, nya~"
She was also carefully assessing Shirone's aura.
From what she had seen earlier, she'd worried Shirone might already be entering heat.
Among their kind, once that instinct awakened, the desire for a chosen mate's child could become overwhelming.
And men?
Kuroka knew full well that male desire wasn't dependent on love. If a girl threw herself at them, most would gladly play the wolf.
Absolutely not.
Shirone hadn't even reached full maturity yet, A pregnancy now would be disastrous.
Which meant Kuroka's final objective was simple.
Supervision.
---
"Anos-onii, those two really get along," Le Fay said softly, watching the sisters with starry-eyed admiration.
She wished she had an older sister who doted on her like that, Her own brother was far too strict and painfully serious.
Last time she came home with rope marks on her wrists, he'd lectured her for an entire day.
"They do," Anos replied with a faint smile.
He had just returned from arranging leave for himself. He might be gone for a while, and preparations were necessary.
Still…
Anos-onii.
Only Le Fay called him that.
It was oddly refreshing.
"Oh! Anos-onii, there's something I want to ask you!"
She gave him a slight bow enthusiastic enough to make her sincerity… very visible.
Before he had arrived, she'd explored his room.
She had found many very interesting things.
"What is it?"
"I want you to take me to buy some games!"
"…What?"
That wasn't what he'd expected.
"Sure... If that's what you want."
It wasn't exactly a difficult request.
And he did know a thing or two about games.
After Anos and Le Fay left—
"Senpai…"
Koneko stared at the door, a faint sense of emptiness settling in her chest.
"Shirone, you can't let your focus wander during training, nya~"
Kuroka understood that Anos had become one of Shirone's emotional anchors.
But she also believed Shirone needed independence.
No matter how strong the one protecting you is, you must first become strong yourself.
Only then could Kuroka relax enough to pursue what she truly wanted.
After settling Shirone's situation—
She would go find the man she wanted and start a family.
Having fully matured, Kuroka had made up her mind.
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