Even Rias and the others couldn't hide their curiosity as they gazed toward the small lake glittering through the trees.
None of them had ever seen a Water Spirit before.
As they watched, the calm surface of the lake began to ripple.
Zatouji raised a hand dramatically.
"Stand back! The Undine is about to appear!"
Light burst from the center of the lake, and a figure slowly rose from the water.
Long golden hair shimmered in the glow; from the back, the silhouette looked… promising?
Then the spirit turned around.
"HYAAH!"
The roar that followed could have shattered the calm of the entire forest.
Ryuichi froze. His heart skipped a beat.
What in the world—!?
The "beautiful spirit" was built like a heavyweight fighter, every muscle bulging with terrifying strength.
If she punched a cow, the cow would not survive.
"That's the Undine!" Zatouji announced proudly. "You're lucky, young man—she's a rare type!"
Ryuichi's expression went completely flat. "No. Please allow me to refuse."
"Eh? You don't want her?"
"What happened to the graceful, fair-skinned water spirit I was promised? This one… I'll pass."
He sighed in despair. So much for the legends about elegant elf-like beauties…
Zatouji scratched his head. "But this Undine also has powerful healing abilities! She's perfect for support!"
"I'm afraid I'd be defeated by her looks before getting healed," Ryuichi muttered. "Words can't describe this level of shock… it's like the silence of ten thousand empty valleys."
Everyone: "???"
Rias giggled. "So you do care about appearances, Ryuichi. Guess you're like most boys after all."
Akeno and Koneko couldn't help smiling too.
It was rare to see him this shaken—he really wanted nothing to do with that Familiar.
"…Men may admire a woman's heart," Ryuichi said tiredly, "but their eyes still betray them. I used to think I was above such superficial things. Turns out I was wrong. My apologies."
He sighed again. My self-control clearly has its limits…
The group moved on, leaving the frustrated Undine behind.
An hour passed as they continued searching through the Familiar Forest.
Besides the unforgettable Undine, they encountered all kinds of creatures—Shadow Bats, Burrowing Worms, Gale Birds—ordinary Familiars that didn't really catch anyone's interest.
Fortunately, Zatouji was patient. "If we don't find the right one tonight, I'll return next full moon," he assured them.
Suddenly he stopped and motioned for silence.
"Shh!" He pointed toward the treetops.
There, perched on a branch, was a tiny dragon with shimmering blue scales.
"Wow, it's so cute!" Asia gasped, eyes sparkling.
Zatouji's eyes widened. "A Cang-rai Dragon! A young dragon that commands blue lightning—very rare!"
Rias and the others were astonished. "We've never seen one in person before!"
"Master Zatouji," Ryuichi said immediately, "please catch that one for Asia."
He wasn't about to steal something she liked—and besides, a Familiar had to choose its own master anyway.
Zatouji nodded and leapt into action, but the little dragon was wary; with a flap of its wings, it darted away.
"After it!"
Zatouji sprinted through the forest, the others following as best they could.
The terrain was tricky, and he quickly vanished ahead of them.
So that's why everyone fights for his help, Ryuichi realized. Without him, catching a Familiar here would be impossible.
Just then, startled voices echoed nearby.
"W-What's this?" Asia gasped.
"Ara ara… sticky…" Akeno's voice followed, uneasy.
Ryuichi turned—and froze again.
A green, jelly-like slime was dripping down from the trees, splattering over Rias, Akeno, Koneko, and Asia.
The creatures clung to them, coating their uniforms in shimmering goo.
Then, in a flash of light and magic, the slime began to dissolve the girls' enchanted clothing—an instant later, the four of them were enveloped in a cloud of sparkling energy, shrieking in surprise as the slime sizzled away.
When the light faded, the girls stood behind a conjured mist barrier, safe but visibly flustered.
Rias groaned. "Ugh… slimes. They're always such a nuisance—and my magic won't form properly!"
Koneko scowled, swatting at the remains. "These things only go after enchanted fabric… so unfair."
Akeno sighed, still laughing softly. "Ara ara, looks like we've been slimed."
Asia whimpered, cheeks red. "It's so sticky…"
Ryuichi blinked, then—despite himself—grinned.
"You know, these slimes are kind of impressive. Rias, maybe I should take one of these as my Familiar?"
"…Excuse me?" Rias deadpanned.
He gestured toward the quivering puddles of goo. "Come on, the scene's kind of perfect, don't you think?"
Four voices shouted in unison:
"Absolutely not!"
Ryuichi raised both hands in surrender, still chuckling.
"Worth a shot."
The search for their Familiars would have to continue…
but one thing was certain—
this night in the Familiar Forest would be unforgettable.