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Kuroka, meanwhile, appeared perfectly at ease.
The reason was simple.
Shirone wasn't wearing anything.
She was.
"What's this adjusting her energy pathways?"
Anos chose, quite deliberately, to ignore the fact that he had just seen far more of Koneko than intended.
If he didn't act awkward, then the awkwardness belonged to someone else.
And skipping past it entirely would spare Shirone further embarrassment.
Kuroka might tease her, but she wouldn't push too far.
"Of course, nya~ If Shirone wants to grow stronger quickly, this is necessary."
Kuroka nodded.
There were faster methods.
But they would damage Shirone's body.
This was the quickest approach that wouldn't leave lasting harm.
"Koneko," Anos said, meeting her eyes directly, "I need you to pass a message to your President."
"Hm?"
She tilted her head slightly.
She didn't know how she could help him but if she could, she would.
Kuroka, sensing how strange the scene looked, quickly dressed Shirone.
"Koneko, I'll be leaving for a few days. I need to escort her somewhere, I should be back within a month."
He gestured toward Asia.
"Oh."
Only now did Koneko properly notice the blonde girl beside him.
Earlier, she had been far too flustered.
"Y-yes… It's because of me, I'm sorry to trouble Anos-san."
Asia spoke timidly.
According to him, these were all good people.
Still—
The white-haired girl was fine.
The black-haired one, however, looked at her as though considering whether to eat her.
"If it's Senpai's request, I'll deliver it."
Koneko didn't ask why.
She trusted him.
He never acted without purpose.
He never moved without preparation.
So she would not question him.
---
At the same time.
The Underworld.
The Four Great Maou of the new generation convened.
"This is the intelligence I've gathered on the Khaos Brigade."
Serafall relayed everything she had learned.
The Hero Faction concerned them less than the Old Maou Faction, The Old Maou Faction carried historical and political weight.
Mishandled, it could ignite a second civil war.
Something none of them wanted.
Of course—
If they knew the Hero Faction housed someone capable of skewering a peak Maou-class devil, they might not be so relaxed.
Cao Cao's Balance Breaker could wound even transcendent beings.
Devils, being particularly vulnerable to holy weapons, would suffer heavily from such strikes.
Granted—
Any being who had reached the transcendent class possessed experience and talent enough to avoid simple ambush.
Still.
"Old Maou Faction…"
Sirzechs folded his hands thoughtfully.
He hadn't expected the descendant of Lucifer to possess the White Dragon Emperor's Light Wings.
True Lucifer blood.
The White Dragon Emperor's power.
If the two synergized perfectly—
Such a being could rival him.
"Let's not act yet," Ajuka said calmly, chin resting against his hand.
"I disagree," Falbium replied immediately. "If we know they're preparing something, inaction is unacceptable."
Ajuka smiled faintly.
"I didn't say we do nothing. I said we don't act openly."
They couldn't condemn the Old Maou Faction based on partial testimony.
"But we prepare," Sirzechs finished quietly.
Ajuka nodded.
"If they make a move, we end it immediately."
He had no intention of remaining passive.
Just discreet.
"I don't care," Serafall said cheerfully. "As long as they don't touch Sona-chan. Honestly, I'd rather go deal with the Hero Faction that bullied her."
Very much her style.
"Speaking of which," Sirzechs added with a knowing smile, "that incident was resolved before you arrived."
Serafall paused.
Right.
There had been someone beside Sona.
Someone who had intervened.
And—
Someone who had seen her browsing that game.
The memory made her cheeks heat faintly.
"It seems Rias has found herself a reliable ally," Sirzechs continued. "That puts my mind at ease."
He was careful with his phrasing.
He knew the young man used holy power.
Better to establish neutrality early.
Serafall crossed her arms.
"Hmph! Let Rias worry about him, Sona-chan doesn't need anyone when she has me."
She absolutely did not like the idea of Sona standing beside that man.
Something about it—
Felt dangerous.
Unsettling.
And she couldn't quite explain why.
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