Under Koneko's gaze, Akuto spoke slowly:
"Koneko, you're misunderstanding Rias—she never told me your story.
"The reason I know about your sister… is because of the White Dragon Emperor."
"The White Dragon Emperor?" Koneko tilted her head. Who was that?
"The White Dragon Emperor is the mortal rival of the Red Dragon Emperor. In every generation, when the hosts of the Red and White meet, they clash until one side dies," Akuto said calmly. "In my Revelation, this generation's White Dragon Emperor isn't alone; he has several powerful companions.
"Your sister, Kuroka… is one of them."
"Big Sis Kuroka! She's the White Dragon Emperor's companion?!"
Koneko's pupils trembled.
Before she became "Tachibana Koneko," she had borne many other names—among them, the one paired with Kuroka… Shiro.
Over a decade ago in the Underworld, there were two stray kittens. The older black cat was Kuroka, the younger white cat was Shiro.
They lost their parents early and relied on each other. Later, in a certain branch household, the elder sister's unusual potential led the master to reincarnate her as a devil using two Bishop pieces.
After becoming a devil, Kuroka's talent in youjutsu and senjutsu blossomed—and then spiraled out of control.
In the end, the berserk Kuroka killed her master and became one of the most dangerous Stray Devils.
That was all Koneko knew—her sister lost herself to power, killed her master, abandoned her, and turned stray.
After Kuroka fled the Underworld, Koneko received the protection of the Lucifer and became Rias's retainer, choosing never again to open the door to her own nekomata power.
All this time, she had feared that Kuroka still harbored possessiveness toward her little sister, that Kuroka would return and forcibly take her from Rias's side.
So when Akuto said he had a Revelation tied to her sister, of course she was shocked—and afraid.
"That's right. Your sister Kuroka is indeed the White Dragon Emperor's comrade," Akuto concluded. "And if I'm not mistaken, it won't be long before the White Dragon Emperor brings Kuroka here to seek us out."
"Why?" Rias couldn't help asking.
"I'm guessing it's because Akuto-kun used the Red Dragon Emperor's power on stream," Akeno answered with a wry smile.
"I see…"
Rias looked at Koneko with guilt—so this was, in a way, her fault? If not for the broadcast, the two Dragon Emperors might not be forced into contact so soon.
Koneko's lips tightened; her face went pale. The thought that Kuroka might soon appear alongside the White Dragon Emperor made her stomach sink.
"Akuto-kun, how strong is this generation's White Dragon Emperor? Can you handle him?" Compared to Koneko, Grayfia focused on the crux.
She understood Koneko's stance and power wouldn't decide this; the key was Akuto. If Akuto could defeat the White Dragon Emperor, then even Kuroka wouldn't be able to take Koneko away from Rias.
"Hm… if I fought him right now, I can only guarantee I won't be defeated," Akuto said after a moment's thought.
"Huh? This generation's White Dragon Emperor is actually stronger than Akuto-kun?" Grayfia was surprised.
"He isn't much stronger—he simply started honing his power earlier than I did. Give me a month, and I'm confident I can beat him with ease."
"That's good. If you run into trouble, come to me or Sirzechs at once—we'll arrange support as fast as possible," Grayfia reminded.
"Understood. If I need it, I'll ask," Akuto smiled, accepting her kindness.
Truthfully, he didn't think he'd need aid from the Lucifer or Grayfia. Because… if he couldn't win, he could still run, right?
With his Gold-rank "Avatar of God: Vāmana," he had space-type movement and concealment below the Dragon-king tier to fall back on.
After explaining, Akuto turned back to Koneko.
"Koneko, because we're facing a real threat, I want to ask you something.
"Can you release your self-imposed seals and begin training your nekomata bloodline?"
"Eh? That…"
Koneko bit her lip; conflict flickered in her eyes.
"If you're afraid you'll lose control like Shiro, then trust me." He leaned in, voice warm but firm. "With my strength, no matter how far you slip, I'm confident I can suppress you and bring you back."
Half a minute of silence.
At last, Koneko nodded slowly. "Okay. I'll try to develop my bloodline."
Akuto was preparing to face his destined rival—Koneko didn't want to dump all responsibility on his shoulders.
"Good. That's enough," Akuto nodded, satisfied.
In truth, whether Koneko trained or not wouldn't change his main plan—he didn't expect her to decide the battle's outcome.
But he didn't want her to remain a timid nekomata. He wanted to help her grow, untie her heart's knots.
And yes—he wanted her heart as well. Ideally, both sisters, Koneko and Kuroka, would someday be in his arms.
"Koneko, take this."
Akuto tossed her a sigil engraved with the crest of Leviathan.
"What is it?" Koneko asked, puzzled.
"A shortcut to contact me," he explained. "If you run into Kuroka or any enemy you can't handle, use this. I'll come immediately."
"Are you saying, Akuto-senpai, that the moment I call, you'll appear in front of me?" Koneko gave a helpless little smile.
"You can try me," he chuckled. He knew she wasn't confident in his 'instant arrival' promise. That was fine—he'd prove it with action. Akuto's words were promises he intended to keep.
After breakfast, Akuto and Rias's group lingered at the Gremory estate a bit longer, then returned to the human world.
Kuoh Academy — Student Council Room
Clinging to Akuto's arm, Ravel bowed slightly to the bespectacled girl ahead.
"Hello, Sona-sama. I am Ravel Phoenix. From today, I'll transfer to Kuoh Academy as Lord Akuto's fiancée. Please take care of me."
"Mm… your enrollment is complete. This is your student ID. From now on, you're a student of Kuoh Academy," Sona said, expression complex as she handed it over.
Just then, she was pondering a very serious question—
If she, like Rias, asked her own mother to stay as family head for decades—or centuries—until she bore a child and let that child inherit… would Mother want to beat her to death?
After seeing the pace of Ravel and Akuto, Sona finally understood her own problem:
Her resolve wasn't enough.
She neither had Ravel's courage and initiative to pursue what she wanted, nor Rias's audacity to cast aside maidenhood before marriage.
Thus, things had ended in this half-baked state.
She thought back—Akuto had initially been her fiancé.
It was her fault.
If she'd believed in Akuto from the start—believed he'd grow strong quickly—she wouldn't have dissolved the engagement herself.
After sending Akuto and Ravel off, Sona's eyes shifted from dim to determined.
So what if there's no man?
When she chose her dream, she'd already prepared to never marry. No young devil dared marry a fiancée who openly challenged the Underworld's system.
Why did she lose her previous fiancé? Partly because she used chess to thoroughly humiliate his intellect; partly because she laid her dream bare—bluntly.
After witnessing Sona's terrifying intellect and grand ideals, that man simply ran.
She had once thought Akuto—whose brain seemed closer to hers—could be a partner in pursuit of their dreams, even a trusted ally beneath the surface.
But now that he was engaged, there was no more "what if."
So, she would devote everything to her career.
"Perfect timing. The Sacred Gear transplantation tech and the Evolution Core are about to be in my hands," she murmured. "If possible, I want to reach Maou-class before the upcoming young devils' gathering."
"Given the uproar Akuto-kun just caused in the Underworld, if I, like him, attain Maou-class, it'll greatly aid in realizing my ideals."
Sona didn't worship brute strength, but she admitted: once the gap was two full tiers or more, almost all strategy and tactics ceased to matter. Even if she disliked crushing others, she had to prevent being crushed.
"The Black Dragon King Vritra's Sacred Gear avatar… It's far beneath Akuto-kun's Longinus, but it's enough to boost me significantly in the short term."
Decision made—once she obtained the Evolution Core, she would begin the transplantation.
Akuto's side
After finishing a date with Amano Yuma, evening had fallen.
That night, after feeding his two fiancées, Akuto also "fed" all of his retainers.
In a very good mood, he soaked while Aisia's healing system finished a heavy maintenance cycle.
"5, 4, 3, 2, 1…"
The moment ten days expired, Akuto opened the System's Instance function.
[Ding!]
[Detected: Host at High-Class Devil. Drawing a Mid-tier Instance World…]
[Congratulations! Instance Unlocked: Akame ga Kill World.]
[Proceed to the Instance now?]
"Akame ga Kill, huh? Of course I'm going."
Before crossing over, Akuto had plenty of bones to pick with that so-called "New Sis" world.
Now that he had a chance to reshape it with his own hands, there was no way he'd pass it up.
(End of Chapter)
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