"Besides, it doesn't have to be the Underworld; maybe the whole world? Or even beyond?"
Takumi's mind was not restricted to this world. He possessed the incarnation of Matsya, the spirit fish, which served as a cosmic ark. Once his strength was sufficient, it would be easy for him to wander through the Boundary Sea.
With such thoughts in mind, Takumi adopted this stance.
"Eh? ...Eh?"
Rias and Sona looked at these two, who had suddenly formed a direct teacher-student bond, and fell into a state of total confusion. Who am I? Where am I? What does what you're saying have to do with me?
"Okay, Takumi. Then as teacher and student in the future, please give each other your best guidance."
Ajuka spoke with a smile.
Seeing that Takumi didn't want to call him 'Master,' Ajuka didn't press the issue; he just smiled graciously. His attitude showed that he and Takumi were not like an ordinary teacher and student, but more like equal friends. Indeed... it seemed he truly wasn't qualified to be Takumi's 'Master.'
Ajuka saw a little more into the truth than Serafall did.
"Okay, Ajuka-sensei."
Since the other party showed him respect, Takumi would not snub him. He knew that Ajuka must have perceived something that Serafall had missed.
"Yes, and there's this."
After Takumi finished speaking, he disappeared from in front of everyone using teleportation.
"Takumi-kun? Takumi-kun, where did you go?"
Sona spoke with a hint of unease, while Ajuka narrowed his eyes slightly. Takumi's movement just now did not use any magic circle, alchemy, or artifact. It was as if... it were pure instinct!
However, before everyone could react, Takumi's figure flashed back into existence. Now, he held a small sample of a magic circle in his hand.
"This is my apprentice's gift. Please accept it."
Takumi handed it toward Ajuka's projection. This was his formal tribute. The etiquette of giving an apprentice's gift followed the traditions of the human world. He wondered if Ajuka would understand the weight of his intent.
Ajuka frowned as he looked at the gift in front of him. He already understood what Takumi meant.
This kid is really a little stubborn, but if such a relationship exists, it will be of great benefit to the future of the devils.
After silently complaining in his mind, he made his move. A teleportation circle appeared under the gift. With the circle's glow covering it, the small magic circle disappeared from the human world and reappeared on Ajuka's desk back where he was handling official business. This act signified his formal approval of Takumi's approach.
In the projection, Ajuka looked at the magic circle on his desk.
"This is!..."
He showed a look of shock for a moment. Yes, shock!
What Takumi had sent was a magic circle that Ajuka had included in the study materials earlier. And Takumi had already transformed it! The efficiency of the modified version was 5% higher than his own!
Don't underestimate this 5%; Ajuka is a Transcendental, and a Transcendental who specializes in mathematical formulas and spells! Takumi, who had only just started learning magic, was already able to optimize his work?!
"I will come to the human world in a few days. You should finish learning the contents of the crystal ball first."
Putting down the magic circle in his hand, Ajuka's voice was very gentle. However, Takumi heard the implication through his actions. Takumi had used human etiquette—a human apprenticeship ceremony—to express that he remained a human from beginning to end. Although Ajuka accepted this practice, he did not complete the ceremony according to human etiquette, meaning he still intended to try and pull Takumi to the side of the devils.
Rias and Sona were also shocked by the interaction between the 'teacher' and 'student.' There is a strict order among devils, and the formal apprenticeship ceremony is highly valued. Although Ajuka is a new-generation Maou who overthrew the old regime, and his ability to accept new things is much stronger than the elders, this kind of informal behavior was essentially an act of disrespect to a Maou. Yet, Lord Ajuka actually ignored it?!
Besides, there was one more thing that surprised Sona.
"Study hard for a few days? Lord Ajuka, what do you mean? Can Takumi-kun learn all those things in just a few days? Is he almost done?"
"I remember... Lord Ajuka, you said that if I were to study them, it would take hundreds of years?"
Sona's mouth opened slightly. She thought she and Takumi were at most one level apart. If that were the case, wouldn't this be a dimensional gap in talent?
"Well, for Takumi, it can indeed be done. In just two or three hours yesterday, he completed one-tenth of the course."
Ajuka frowned. In fact, he told Takumi to study hard for the next few days... mainly because if he wanted to create the follow-up in-depth courses, it would take him at least a few days of work.
"Senior... is your potential really that amazing?"
There was a mix of relief and worry in Koneko's eyes. The relief was because her senior had the strength to protect himself, protect the President, and fulfill Rias's wishes. As for the worry, she feared that such an overwhelming talent would become a burden, and he might be swallowed by power just like her sister.
At this time, Ajuka also thought of a very important thing. If the speed at which he produced the courses couldn't keep up with Takumi's learning progress, wouldn't it be embarrassing for him as a master?
Decided!
He would go back and make every effort to produce the courses Takumi needed to learn! As for the official business he needed to handle? He would just throw it to Serafall and Sirzechs! Anyway, Takumi was technically part of their sisters' peerages; shouldn't those two siblings do something for their sisters?
Without further ado, Ajuka decided to start production after contacting the two of them!
"I still have things to do, so I'll go back first. All of you here, fight for your future."
"I see the future of the devils in you."
"Then... bye-bye."
After saying these words, Ajuka cut the communication.
"Huh? Ajuka?"
At the same time, Serafall also received a message from Ajuka.
"Ah? ...Huh? ...This... okay~"
After hesitating for a few seconds, thinking she might have done so many things to make Sona angry, Serafall felt she had to do more for her sister.
"Sona-chan? There is still a little thing I need to handle, so I'll go back to the Underworld first!"
Serafall quickly prepared to leave. Even if she wanted Sona's forgiveness, now wasn't the time. Since Sona was still angry, it would take time to earn her way back in.
"If Sona-chan knew that her sister had done so much for her, she would definitely accept her apology with joy!~~" Serafall's idea was actually correct. Even Sona was now secretly thanking her sister for what she did yesterday. If it hadn't been for her sister, the possibility of Takumi-kun being snatched away solely by Rias would have been very high!
"Oh... by the way, there's one more thing."
Just as Serafall disappeared, a magic circle suddenly appeared on the floor. Ajuka, who had just left, was back!
"What's the matter?"
Takumi was a little puzzled. What else do you have to do? Aren't you going back to prepare for class?!
"Sona Sitri, the next head of the Sitri family, the transaction between us can be voided. For an existence like Takumi, even if you hadn't offered anything, I would have taken the initiative to help."
Ajuka's voice was still very gentle, but carried a hint of urgency. He... had to rush back to finish the lessons.
"Lord Ajuka?..."
"Okay, that's it. I'll leave first."
Seeing that Sona was about to say something, Ajuka simply disappeared. I'm not listening, I'm not listening!
"You two can catch up on your feelings; I'm slipping away first~~"
"..." Sona stretched out her hand with a helpless expression. She had just heard that Maou Ajuka was looking for her sister and wanted to ask if there was something important, but she didn't expect him to just vanish.
"Sona? You made a deal with Lord Ajuka?"
Rias asked incredulously. For someone in their position, there was only one thing that could be used as a bargaining chip with Ajuka!