When Rias realized she'd been spotted by Kuroka, she fell silent for a moment, exchanged a glance with Akeno beside her, then stepped forward.
"President?"
"Akeno-senpai?"
Koneko was a bit surprised to see Rias and Akeno appear.
She remembered that when she left earlier, she hadn't attracted much attention—right?
Why…? But now wasn't the time to think about that!
Her sister had been discovered!
She absolutely couldn't let Rias find out about the relationship between her sister and Lynn!
Koneko grew nervous.
Rias, seeing Koneko so anxious, misunderstood and thought Kuroka was pressuring her too much. She gave her a gentle, reassuring smile.
Then turned toward Kuroka with a cold expression.
How frightened was her Koneko?
Rias narrowed her eyes and spoke firmly. "Koneko is now a member of my peerage. I, Rias Gremory, won't let you take her away!"
"Oh?"
Kuroka looked at Koneko with a playful gleam in her eye, then narrowed her eyes and said, "Shirone, where do you think I am right now?"
"You should know, right?"
Koneko was stunned.
What did she mean by that?
Could it be… Sister wants to take her to Lynn's place?
She was confused.
But then, Kuroka's voice softly echoed in her ears.
"Shirone, you don't think…"
"…that master's bed is mine alone to enjoy, do you?"
Koneko: "!"
Her face flushed red.
S-Sister, what nonsense are you saying?!
Rias and Akeno were also stunned, expressions turning strange.
What kind of vulgar words were those?!
Was Koneko's sister… that bold?
But...
She was clearly trying to lead Koneko astray!
Unforgivable!
There was no way she could let Kuroka take her Koneko away!
Rias glared coldly at her. "You damn woman! Koneko will never go with you!"
"Kuroka!"
"Don't forget who you are!"
Rias's tone carried power as she said, "Do you really want to keep living as a fugitive from the Underworld, dragging Koneko along with you?!"
"And…"
She looked at Kuroka with a complicated expression. "You don't know just how much pain you've caused Koneko!"
Kuroka fell silent for a moment. Then, she suddenly chuckled.
"I can't undo what happened in the past…"
"But!"
Her golden eyes burned with intensity, and her tone turned fervent. "This time, I'll take Shirone on an unparalleled journey to heaven, nya!"
She didn't just want Shirone to raise her tail.
Because Shirone had feelings for the master, and once she received his mark...
The shared source of power within her would resonate positively.
With Lynn's Blessing, she could absolutely rise to unimaginable heights!
Rias frowned at Kuroka's words. She sounded like a madwoman, like some kind of fanatic.
Her expression chilled. "I won't let Koneko leave with someone as dangerous as you."
"Nya?"
Kuroka blinked. A glint of danger appeared in her golden eyes.
"Dangerous?"
She smiled coldly. "And yet… this place…"
"Isn't safe either, is it?"
Rias froze.
Kuroka continued. "I heard…"
"A certain Fallen Angel has set his sights on this place."
Rias pressed her lips together. "I'll protect Koneko."
"You?"
Kuroka sneered and raised a hand, tapping the air lightly.
Buzz—
A wave of dark purple mist spread out in an instant.
"No…"
As soon as she inhaled it, Rias's eyes widened and her body weakened.
Thud!
She collapsed to the ground.
Akeno's body also began to falter, but thanks to the Fallen Angel blood within her, she was faring slightly better than Rias.
At the very least…
She could still barely stand.
But...
Akeno gritted her teeth, her expression dark.
Why… did she have to have this disgusting bloodline?
At this moment, she would have rather dropped to the ground like Rias.
"Sister!"
Koneko rushed to stand in front of Rias, untouched by the dark mist.
Or perhaps...
Kuroka had deliberately avoided her.
Seeing Koneko tense and alert, Kuroka waved her hand casually. "Relax, your sister's very reasonable~"
"After all…"
She smirked. "She's Lucifer's sister, nya~"
Rias bit her lip.
Kuroka hopped down from the tree, hugged Koneko close, and looked at Rias with a smile.
"See…"
"Even you are so easy to handle."
"So how can you protect Shirone?"
"Damn it!"
Rias glared at Kuroka.
"So…"
"I'm taking Shirone with me~"
A purple teleportation array formed behind her, ready to whisk Koneko away. But...
Koneko hesitated for a moment, then shook her head. "I'm sorry, Sister."
"I can't go with you right now."
Kuroka was stunned.
"Nya?"
Koneko said seriously, "Rias-senpai once saved me. I can't just abandon her like this!"
She also wanted to become Lynn's true pet. But...
Thinking back on the past.
If it hadn't been for Rias-senpai...
She might not have even lived long enough to meet Lynn.
"Koneko…"
Rias was moved.
But...
Akeno caught the loophole in Koneko's words.
Right now…
Which meant...
She might go later.
Akeno frowned and thought of Lynn's face.
Could it be because of him? But...
Now that she thought of it, she remembered something.
Earlier, Rias had received a Devil flyer sent by Lynn.
It was probably the first thing she ever received from Lynn.
Even though it was just a simple flyer, Rias always kept it close.
Akeno had seen her take it out and look at it occasionally, wearing a complicated expression.
Right now…
Should she use it?
Akeno's gaze drifted subtly to Rias's chest.
When she spotted the familiar black corner peeking out, she felt relieved.
Still in the same spot.
If all else failed, they'd have to ask Lynn for help. But...
Would Lynn really be able to stop Kuroka?
Akeno was uncertain.
Even though she could no longer read Lynn clearly...
He was still the same age as her and Rias. He couldn't be that much stronger, could he?
Tsk…
What a headache.
Fortunately...
Kuroka didn't seem like she wanted to hurt them. But…
If she took Koneko away…
Akeno recalled Kuroka's earlier words.
"Master's…"
Even she had been shaken by those words!
There was no doubt!
If Koneko was taken, she'd be in hell! Absolutely not!
In those few short seconds, Akeno thought of many things.
Then, she turned to look directly at Rias's chest.
She remembered the first time she met Lynn.
That black lightning… it was still vivid in her mind!
At a time like this, they needed outside help...
"Shirone, you're really loyal~"
Kuroka rubbed her head. "But!"
"Sister has to take you with her this time~"
The earlier you receive the Blessing, the sooner you can follow Master!
Shirone…
If you fall behind now, you'll be left far behind later~!
Kuroka held Koneko tightly and was about to pull her into the teleportation array.
"Ah!"
Suddenly, Rias cried out, clutching her chest and looking toward Akeno.
Then, she saw the Devil flyer in Akeno's hand.
She instantly understood her intention and quickly stopped her. "Wait!"
"Don't drag Lynn into this!"
Even if he came, he probably wouldn't be able to deal with Kuroka.
Akeno said calmly, "We have no choice, Rias. You don't want your Koneko to get screwed by some random man, do you?"
Rias: "?"
Akeno, have you been infected by Kuroka's nonsense?
Lynn?
Kuroka's face suddenly froze.
Wrong move.
If Koneko and her Master were that close...
There's no way Rias Gremory wouldn't know who her Master was.
"Wait—!"
She tried to stop it, but the Devil flyer in Akeno's hand flashed with brilliant light.
The next moment, a man with black hair, red eyes, and a mysterious aura appeared out of thin air.
Upon seeing the scene in front of him, Lynn paused, then looked at them with a strange expression.
"So…"
"What's going on here?"
Kuroka smiled awkwardly, raised her hand, made a cat-paw pose, and said coyly, "Heh… nya?"
(To be continued.)
Junkdog's Note: Do you like the new cover 😌? Now let's see what happens to this.