"Manager Kurosawa, this is our club president..."
Standing at the entrance, Koneko was holding Kuroka and introducing Rias and the others.
At the same time, Koneko couldn't help but glance toward Raynare, who looked somewhat off. She was confused.
In this short time, had the manager already recruited a new employee? And with such a figure too...
Hmm... Koneko suddenly felt a malicious vibe from the world…
Why were all the women around her so well-endowed? Even her own sister was the same!
Thinking that, Koneko subconsciously squeezed the cat in her arms.
Kuroka: "Meow meow meow???"
Why do I feel like I'm suffocating?! Wait! Are you trying to kill your own sister?!
Hearing Kuroka's distress, Koneko panicked and quickly released the black cat.
Only then did Kuroka breathe a sigh of relief—she had almost been strangled by her own sister…
Rias wore an elegant smile as she gave a slight nod to Ren and spoke.
"My name is Rias Gremory, I'm Koneko's senior and guardian… Thank you so much for looking after her, even allowing her to take Kuro home to play..."
Objectively speaking, Koneko's action could be seen as disrupting store operations.
After all, Koneko and Ren had only met recently… Before meeting Kuroka, Ren didn't even know her.
Yet Ren let her take Kuroka home without complaint—that was already very generous.
As someone who now played a somewhat mother-like role to Koneko, Rias felt it was only proper to thank him.
Of course, that was just how Rias saw it… She couldn't possibly know that Ren was a transmigrator.
Ren just chuckled. He obviously couldn't say that it was so he could better interact with the key characters of the story.
Besides, Koneko was such a cute girl. Even without being a story-important character, just seeing Kuroka reunited with her sister would've been enough for Ren to not stand in the way…
He had initially subdued Kuroka because she was disobedient. Now that she had calmed down, there was no need to keep forcing things… The only reason he maintained her current state was purely for amusement.
"It's nothing… But it's pretty late. Koneko, why are you all here?"
Ren had planned to study the Boosted Gear he just reclaimed—why had they shown up now?
Saying that, Ren even glanced over at Raynare, signaling with his eyes.
Don't think I didn't notice you acting weird as soon as Rias arrived!
Can't be helped. That red hair of hers was just too attention-grabbing.
Even Raynare knew about the title of "Crimson-Haired Ruin Princess."
Rias, too, paid attention to Raynare, but once she confirmed the girl was just a human, she didn't give it much thought…
By the way, this store had always been in Kuoh Town. Ren inherited it from his family. Since Kuoh was Gremory territory, it was easy for Rias to investigate.
To prevent her people from being deceived, Rias had looked into Ren after learning about him.
That was why she hadn't paid him too much attention until now.
"Um… I came to bring Kuro back… Manager Kurosawa, you told me to return her personally."
Koneko spoke plainly while continuing to pet the cat in her arms.
"We just happened to come along for a walk, so we figured we'd stop by too," Rias added with a soft smile, glancing affectionately at Koneko.
Truthfully, they had just wrapped up the Issei incident, so this was on their way.
"I did say that… I didn't expect you to take it so seriously. Well, since you're here, take this back too. It's Kuro's cat food. You can feed it to her later..."
Saying that, Ren handed over a bag of special cat food.
It was one of his previous blue-tier prizes. Though not as strong as the Nekomata Bloodline Crystal, Ren had tested it. Unless it was white-tier junk, blue-tier food could still enhance pets like Kuroka—though barely, given how strong she already was.
Seeing the prize in Ren's hand, Kuroka looked dissatisfied.
Where's the Nekomata Bloodline Crystal? Gone already? I was only gone a few hours and my treatment drops this much?
Noticing her gaze, Ren rolled his eyes and began petting her again.
"You little glutton! You forgot how fast you go through your fancy food?"
Kuroka turned her head away in protest. Not her fault! The food was just too tasty!
Grumbling internally, she bit into the so-called special cat food again…
Blegh… definitely inferior to the crystal stuff.
Feeling the barely noticeable power gain, Kuroka pouted inside.
Koneko silently accepted the bag of food from Ren.
"It's late, we won't keep disturbing you. If you're ever interested, you're welcome to visit us sometime."
Though it was just a polite gesture, Rias still extended the invitation.
Koneko nodded along, then reluctantly glanced at Kuroka before leaving with the others.
On the way back, Akeno, who had been quiet the whole time, looked at Koneko with a teasing smile.
"Ara, don't tell me Koneko's fallen for that store manager… Though he is kinda handsome..."
"Manager Kurosawa is a good person."
To Akeno's teasing, Koneko responded calmly.
There was no need to say more. Rias and the others understood what she meant.
She was a devil. Ren was a human. She didn't want to drag him into the supernatural.
Hearing that, Rias affectionately patted Koneko's head.
"Koneko has her own thoughts. We won't interfere. And even if you do fall for that store manager, we'll fully support you."
"Mm… Thank you, President."
Koneko nodded, understanding exactly what Rias meant.
Once they were gone, Kuroka narrowed her eyes and glanced at Raynare.
"Meow~~~ Looks like my dashing master has added another member to the family… So this is the type he likes?"
Her words startled the silent Raynare.
Even in cat form, Kuroka could still speak clearly.
Raynare's eyes widened as she instinctively muttered, "You..."
"Ara... A Fallen Angel stripped of power really is pitiful..."
With a dangerous aura, Kuroka's voice sent chills down Raynare's spine. She felt as if something terrifying had locked onto her. Her mouth opened, but no words came. A suffocating dread gripped her body.
Her eyes were filled with fear.
Now she understood.
This place was full of monsters.
But just a few minutes after feeling proud of herself, Kuroka got a flick on the head from Ren.
At that moment, the suffocating pressure wrapped around Raynare instantly vanished.
Ren shot Kuroka a glance filled with annoyance.
"You're not much better than her. What gives you the right to say that kind of stuff?"
"Meow~ I'm the one who worships Master the most! I'm just helping Master discipline an unruly pet~"
"Stop batting your eyes at me when you haven't even regained your true form!"
"If Master likes my true form so much, why don't you help me get it back? Just getting my speech and powers back isn't enough… How can I properly serve Master like this?"
Kuroka had long accepted her current role. Besides, Ren wasn't someone she found unpleasant—in fact, he constantly helped her grow stronger and was her strongest backing. Why wouldn't she just lie flat and enjoy the ride?
"You little minx…"
Ren chuckled and moved his right hand slightly.
In that moment, Kuroka felt the shackles on her body dissolve.
Just as she was about to return to her original form in delight, Ren's voice stopped her.
"I think it's better if you stay like this around the your sister for now. Maybe it's the blood relation, but she really warms up to you in this form. Why not keep playing the role of her protective big sister until she's in real danger? Once that happens, you can transform back—it'll help rebuild your relationship. She might start listening to you more that way. Isn't that better?"
Kuroka's eyes widened.
So there was a strategy like that?!