Inside the apartment.
A complex purple magic circle appeared out of thin air.
Tap.
A slender and shapely leg stepped out, wooden sandals clicking crisply on the floor.
"Found you, nya~"
A lazy, sultry voice drifted out from the formation.
The next second.
A tall and voluptuous woman walked out. Her slender waist and full chest formed a striking contrast.
She wore a black and purple kimono adorned with golden accents at the waist, and her face was charming, seductive.
Her golden slit-pupiled eyes radiated a wild and dangerous aura.
Long, loose black hair flowed down her back, with lavender streaks at the ends that added a mysterious flair.
But the most eye-catching features were the black cat ears atop her head and the forked cat tail swaying from beneath her kimono.
Kuroka.
Lynn's eyes flashed with surprise. But...
He looked at Kuroka with an odd expression.
Was the original design always this... conservative?
His eyes drifted toward her proud curves.
Nothing was really on display.
Her legs were only exposed up to the knees...?
It was a little different from what he remembered. Still—
Only the level of modesty changed.
Koneko leaned into Lynn's arms. When she saw the figure emerging from the formation, her pupils contracted.
"Sister?!"
She was startled at first, but her expression quickly turned serious as she tried to get up.
But...
A hand rested gently on her shoulder.
"Relax, Koneko."
Lynn chuckled and pulled her back into his arms.
Koneko blinked, then slowly relaxed. Leaning into Lynn's chest, an inexplicable sense of security filled her heart.
The nervous tension faded instantly.
Koneko blinked slowly.
Senpai's body...
So warm.
So strong.
She quietly calmed down. But...
Watching her younger sister snuggled up in another man's embrace, Kuroka's golden pupils narrowed. A dangerous glint flickered in her gaze.
"Ho?"
"So you're Shirone's man, meow?"
Kuroka's face didn't show much emotion, but she recalled how Shirone nearly went into heat before.
It had to be him.
This man.
Her eyes grew colder.
Arrogant, aren't you?
To pull Shirone into your arms in front of her older sister?
Kuroka's ears twitched slightly as anger started bubbling beneath the surface.
"Sister, what are you doing here?"
Still leaning against Lynn's chest, Koneko remained composed. But...
She clenched her small fists subconsciously.
Her sister's strength.
It surpassed even Rias and Akeno-senpai!
She was a threat classified as SS-rank by the Underworld!
Absolutely dangerous.
I can't let my sister hurt Lynn-senpai.
Determination flickered in Koneko's amber eyes. She stared directly at Kuroka.
Kuroka was stunned by that gaze. A soft expression flickered across her face, and she chuckled.
"Nice eyes, Shirone~"
But...
You're showing that expression because of this man?
Kuroka's gaze turned deeper, and a hint of jealousy welled up in her heart.
"Sister!"
Seeing Kuroka's eyes fixated on Lynn again, Koneko became anxious.
"Geez~"
She frowned. "What's your purpose for coming here?"
Kuroka sighed a little, her golden pupils flashing slightly as she reached her hand out to Koneko.
"I'm here to take you back~"
"Take me back?"
Koneko was stunned. She frowned. "You didn't take me back when you first escaped. Why now?"
"Sorry, sorry~"
Kuroka scratched her cheek. "I was too focused on escaping back then. I didn't get a chance to bring you with me~"
"I'm not going with you."
Koneko's tone was firm.
"Ho~?"
Kuroka narrowed her eyes. "Is it because of him?"
Her golden pupils turned cold. "Shirone, you almost went into heat last time, didn't you~?"
Koneko jolted, her face flushing red. "Sister, why would you say that..."
"You don't have to say it."
"Either way, it's because of him."
Kuroka looked toward Lynn again. "Staying by his side is dangerous~"
"Who knows, one day you might end up pregnant~"
"With a big belly~"
Koneko froze.
"Snort~"
"Even if I have to fight, I'll take you away~"
Take her by force?!
Koneko's eyes widened. She remembered just how terrifying her sister's power was.
"No... I won't let it happen!"
I can't let Lynn-senpai get dragged into this because of me!
Thud!
Suddenly.
A large hand covered her head and gently rubbed.
That familiar sensation made Koneko's ears and tail pop out instinctively. Her eyes narrowed in contentment.
Seeing this, Kuroka's eyes twitched.
Shirone...
Completely domesticated.
She glared at Lynn, gritting her teeth.
"How dare you~"
Lynn kept one hand on Koneko's head, the other resting on the sofa. His red eyes calmly watched the girl enjoying his touch.
Then he slowly moved his lips.
"You've been talking to yourself for a while now."
Lynn raised his gaze, his wine-red eyes meeting Kuroka's golden ones.
She shivered.
What... was that?
Fear?
Her instincts screamed danger.
She couldn't figure out why.
There was nothing special about his presence, yet she felt a rising sense of dread.
Her toes curled subconsciously.
"I'm talking about you."
Lynn looked at her, his eyes emotionless.
"You're trying to take my pet without asking the owner?"
Pet.
Koneko, still enjoying the head rub, suddenly froze.
A surge of inexplicable joy bloomed in her chest.
Lynn-senpai... finally admitted she was his pet!
Owner? Pet??
Hearing the word "owner" triggered something in Kuroka.
Her golden pupils darkened.
"Owner..."
"Hehehe..."
"How dare you say that..."
Unpleasant memories surged up.
Whoosh—!
Dark purple flames coiled around her body like spirit serpents.
She vanished, leaving behind an afterimage as she charged straight at Lynn.
But—
A flash of cold steel stopped her mid-rush.
So fast!
Kuroka's pupils shrank. She immediately used a short-range teleport to dodge, leaving another afterimage behind.
Several talismans appeared in her hands, which she threw out rapidly.
Fwoosh—!
As they soared, a white flash of sword light slashed through the air.
The talismans were sliced cleanly.
The slash didn't lose momentum. It kept going straight for Kuroka.
She had no choice but to teleport again.
Saeko stood firm, her blade pointed forward. Her gaze was icy.
"If you want to harm my master, you'll have to go through me first."
Kuroka paused, then chuckled softly.
"Protecting your master, huh~"
But...
She's not just a High-Class Devil.
No, much stronger than that.
Kuroka narrowed her eyes, watching Saeko carefully.
Just the aura of Lynn's followers... was making her wary.
Who... exactly is this man?
In just a few seconds, her thoughts spun quickly. But—
She had to leave a mark today!
Even if she couldn't take Shirone, she had to make it clear:
Shirone had an exceptional older sister.
So no one would dare mistreat her!
With that in mind, Kuroka fired a rune-imbued white light bullet.
A flash of murderous intent surged in Saeko's eyes. She slashed clean through it.
The bullet was cleanly cut in half.
But—
Boom!
A slight explosion followed.
Saeko didn't flinch. She stepped forward, instantly appearing in front of Kuroka.
So fast!
Kuroka's pupils shrank again.
That speed!
The blade came crashing down.
It slashed right through her.
Only for the figure to vanish again.
Saeko frowned slightly.
High maneuverability.
Was it that teleportation-like technique?
In that case...
"Domain expansion."
Saeko muttered, "Unlimited Blade Prison."
Buzz—
The apartment was replaced by purgatory.
Swords embedded in the ground exuded a solemn, desolate aura.
The sudden change made Kuroka blink. But then she smirked.
"Just a change of scenery, meow~"
A purple formation rose behind her. She drew a ring formed of demonic and spiritual energy.
Just as she was about to release it.
Buzz—!
Her eyes flickered. Countless slashes surged toward her!
No time to cast. She teleported again.
But—
Buzz—!
"Again?!"
Another wave of sword energy chased her down.
What was going on?!
Kuroka frowned.
"Barrier!"
She cast a shimmering, bubble-like shield to block the attacks.
All she had to do was wait for the other side's magic to run dry.
But...
Kuroka's gaze sharpened.
The woman with the sword was clearly on the same level as her.
An ultimate-class devil...
Her golden eyes shifted toward Lynn.
That man... was at least on the same level!
Koneko, while still nestled in Lynn's arms, was starting to look confused.
Wasn't her sister the most dangerous devil in the Underworld?
Then why...
Was she being evenly matched by Saeko?
Suddenly, a possibility struck her. Her eyes widened.
Saeko is on the same level as my sister?!
"I want to play with the stinky cat too."
Inukimi narrowed her eyes at Kuroka.
She had wanted to join the moment Kuroka appeared, but was still weakened from using her power the day before.
Seeing this, Lynn summoned a magic circle and pulled out one of Shizuka's recovery items.
"Want to drink this?"
Though he wasn't sure if it would restore divine weakness, it was worth a shot.
Inukimi's eyelids twitched.
Having been in the Peerage for a while, she knew exactly what it was.
But...
She also knew there was a better way to recover.
Her heart started beating faster.
She'd attended so many "gatherings" with Lynn.
Always watching, always curious.
It was early.
No harm in trying.
Decision made.
Inukimi leaned on Lynn's shoulder, silver moonlight shimmering around her.
"I... I want to try another method..."
Lynn's expression shifted subtly.
But...
He never turned down a Peerage member's request.
Time to replenish magic.
"No—"
Inukimi's eyelashes fluttered. Her lips grew warm.
The weakness faded instantly.
Something warm poured in.
Her breathing grew shallow, her eyes hazy.
Then, full recovery.
Koneko looked up at Lynn's lips, her face flushing. She shifted uncomfortably.
Mana replenishment...
She repeated the phrase in her heart.
Her thighs rubbed together slightly. Her cheeks burned.
Inukimi, breathing steadily again, stood up calmly.
She looked at Kuroka with a soft smile.
Fairy Inukimi joins the battlefield!
Boom!
Her terrifying aura soared into the sky.
Koneko looked up in awe, her mouth slightly agape.
So strong...!
Lynn's Peerage.
They were all monsters!
Kuroka's eyes widened as she stared at Inukimi.
Another ultimate class?!
This was bad.
She came here thinking Kuoh Town would be hard to infiltrate because it was protected by devils.
But she chose to sneak in while Shirone was out.
Only to walk right into a den of devils!
Surrounded by Saeko and Inukimi's intense stares, Kuroka awkwardly raised her hands and laughed.
"Uh... maybe there's been a misunderstanding?"
Inukimi smiled faintly.
Seeing that, Kuroka didn't hesitate. She activated the purple array, ready to escape!
Can't stay here!
"Trying to run?"
Suddenly.
Her shoulder sank.
A cold voice whispered in her ear.
Kuroka's fur stood on end.
(To be continued.)