Chapter 125: Escape and S-Rank
After the furious thunder destroyed several large trees, the formation gradually began to collapse.
The empty space ahead rippled like water, and then the graceful figures of Yuuma and the other two slowly appeared before Haruto.
Gazing at the familiar scenery before her, Yuuma let out a long sigh. "Finally out."
"Yeah, yeah," Mittelt chirped, bouncing around. "I never expected to be so lucky~ Such a rare thing actually happened to me~~"
"Oh? It seems you haven't reflected on this at all?"
The golden-haired little maid guiltily avoided Yuuma's displeased gaze. "It wasn't entirely bad this time... Warna reached A-rank, and Master... Haruto's strength has greatly improved. He might even reach S-rank soon."
Haruto chuckled. "So it seems we should thank you?"
"No, no," Mittelt quickly replied. "It was all my duty!"
Thump!!!
"Ouch... that hurts..."
Yuuma delivered an iron fist to the mischievous little maid. Mittelt, with a tearful face, hugged her head and squatted to the side to reflect.
"I'm heading back first. I don't know how much time has passed. I hope it's only the next day..."
Looking at the fish-belly white dawn on the horizon, Haruto said, "One matter is settled. Once the other is done, we'll be even."
Yuuma nodded. "Let's discuss the other matter when I return. Since Warna is now A-rank, I want to take them back to headquarters. You don't need to go to the church during this time."
"No problem."
Haruto made an OK gesture, spread his bat wings, and flew into the sky.
"Wait!" Seeing Haruto about to leave, the aloof blue-haired beauty suddenly called out.
Haruto looked down at Kalawarna and asked, "What is it? Is there something else?"
"N-no, nothing," Kalawarna said, twirling a strand of her hair, her face slightly flushed. "I just wanted to thank you... Thanks to you, I didn't die inside and even managed to break through."
"Oh, that..." Haruto grinned. "If you really want to thank me, remember to wear those stockings I mentioned next time."
"I'm off. Remember to notify me when you return."
With a flap of his broad wings, Haruto turned into a black streak and vanished from the three women's sight.
Staring in the direction he disappeared, Kalawarna murmured with a red face, "Perverted stocking fetishist..."
After returning home, Haruto checked the time and felt considerably relieved.
Even though they had been in the formation for so long that Kalawarna was weak from hunger, only one night had passed in the outside world—to be precise, just six hours.
After washing up and changing clothes, Haruto went to the yard and sat cross-legged. With some time left before school, he wanted to try comprehending the true essence of heaven and earth while the feeling from earlier was still strong.
Drawing on his previous experience, Haruto comprehended smoothly this time. He could feel the S-rank bottleneck becoming increasingly fragile, but breaking through completely would require more accumulation. It would be best to have a few more practical sessions to fully absorb his insights.
"The effect is just average..." As the morning sun fully rose, Haruto stood up, stroking his chin. "Maybe I should try dual cultivation while comprehending later. Hmm... I'll ask Ayame-nee and Yuri-nee to try it tonight!"
...
Late October.
Over half a month had passed since they accidentally entered the natural formation. During this time, Haruto had been diligently comprehending heaven and earth.
He repeatedly used methods like dual cultivation comprehension and practical combat comprehension. Finally, during a practical session where Rias was chasing and beating him, he successfully broke through.
Only a few days after Haruto had reached S-class strength, Yuuma and the other two sent a message that they had returned from the fallen angel headquarters.
At ten o'clock in the evening, in the underground space of the cathedral, Haruto effortlessly handled the siege of three fallen angels.
"Hey now, Yuuma-chan, even though we haven't seen each other for so many days, you don't need to be this enthusiastic."
He blocked a vertical slash with his Lightning Spear and asked curiously, "It seems like quite a lot happened during this 'homecoming' trip of yours."
After venting for a while under the pretext of helping Haruto with practical combat training, Yuuma calmed down slightly. She dispersed her Light Spear and turned to walk toward the bedroom, "No more fighting. Hurry up and wash up so we can cultivate."
"That's it? No more fighting?"
Haruto looked at Mittelt and Kalawarna and asked, "What happened during your trip back?"
The blue-haired mature woman maintained her usual serious expression and shook her head, "I'm not too sure either, but it's probably because of Dohnaseek's betrayal."
"Not just that guy Dohnaseek, even though all three of us have reached A-class, and Lady Raynare is considered strong even among A-class, Lord Azazel still acted the same way..."
Dohnaseek... Azazel...
Haruto pondered these two unfamiliar names, but couldn't recall anything about them in his mind.
He wrapped his arms around Warna and Mittelt's slender waists, "Come on, let's take a bath together. While washing, give me a proper explanation. You don't want Yuuma to stay like that, do you?"
"Master~~" the golden-haired tsundere loli giggled, "Is this bath of yours... proper?"
"I can definitely keep it proper, but I'm worried you might not stay proper when the time comes."
Haruto shrugged, completely unabashed, "There will be plenty of opportunities for dual cultivation. Right now, I'm more interested in what happened during your trip back."
He had never given up on the idea of subduing Yuuma. Compared to cooperation, he wanted to completely make the three women his own.
This was clearly a good opportunity - even if he couldn't subdue her, he could at least use this chance to deepen their relationship.
...
"Stop it, don't keep playing with my mouth like that."
In the bathroom, Mittelt's face was flushed pink as she complained coyly, "How can I explain things to you like this~"
"No, I'll listen to what Warna has to say."
As he spoke, Haruto reached out and pressed down on the girl's head, his dragon once again entering her cherry lips, enjoying the licking and sucking of her soft, fragrant tongue.
Compared to the lively, tsundere golden-haired fang loli, the words of the serious, big-breasted blue-haired mature woman were more trustworthy.
Who knew if Mittelt might mix in some personal biases once she got emotional.
"Mmm..." The twin-tailed golden-haired loli rolled her eyes at Haruto and worked hard at her sucking and swallowing.
Kalawarna smiled and said, "Actually, the matter isn't complicated, it's just that it might have upset Lady Raynare..."
Leaning against the blue-haired mature woman's soft, large breasts, Haruto gradually gained a deeper understanding of Yuuma's situation.
First, Dohnaseek was Yuuma's third subordinate, that strange uncle from the original work who wore a thick overcoat in summer and a bowler hat.
Apparently, dissatisfied that Yuuma had only brought Kalawarna and Mittelt to A-class through dual cultivation, he directly betrayed her and joined forces with fallen angels who didn't get along with Yuuma.
As for Azazel, he was Yuuma's superior and also the governor of the fallen angel central organization "Grigori."
Listening to Kalawarna's account, long-buried memories gradually resurfaced.
Azazel's interest lay in researching and collecting Sacred Gears. He had deep knowledge of various Sacred Gears and was familiar with most existing ones in the world, making him a true Sacred Gear enthusiast.
Additionally, he had created many artificial Sacred Gears.
Yuuma greatly admired Azazel. She continuously worked to improve her strength, and even conspired behind the backs of the high-ranking fallen angels to seize the young nun's Sacred Gear, all to catch Azazel's attention and earn his recognition.
Unfortunately, even after her death in the original story, Azazel showed no reaction. After the three major factions reached a peace agreement, he even entered Kuoh Academy as the advisor for the Occult Research Club.
He placed great importance on teaching Rias and the others, instructing them not only in combat training but also in many other areas of knowledge.
As for Yuuma, his former subordinate, he showed not a shred of emotion.
Thus, even when Yuuma completed her mission and reached A-rank, he couldn't even be bothered to offer a word of praise. He simply waved his hand, assigned another task, and sent them back.
Coupled with Dohnaseek's betrayal, Yuuma's mood was utterly miserable.
If she could previously console herself with the thought that her low strength made her unworthy of Azazel-sama's notice, this time she finally began to face reality.
Yuuma was no fool; on the contrary, she was quite intelligent. Having spent so much time with Haruto and now comparing it to Azazel's attitude toward her, many things became clear.
The budding affection she held for Azazel in her heart vanished completely before it could even develop.
It had nothing to do with the side effects of the dual cultivation ability—the more wicked and selfish a woman was, the clearer she often saw matters of the heart.
If there was no love, there was no love.
But once she confirmed her own feelings, compared to ordinary girls, she would become even more persistent.