— — — — — — —
Kuoh Academy
"Huh?"
Just as Rias and Sona were about to step in and calm things down, both of them froze when Serafall's attitude suddenly did a complete 180.
She became so polite to Lynn.
Sona was really stunned. "Wait a sec... does sis know Lynn?"
Rias raised an eyebrow, sensing that this situation was a lot messier than it looked on the surface.
Even Lynn frowned at Serafall's strange reaction. "You know me?"
"Eh?"
Now it was Serafall's turn to be stunned, hiding behind Sona like a kid caught stealing cookies.
Did I... get the wrong guy?
But...
Serafall narrowed her eyes, carefully sizing up Lynn.
Looks the same...
Same name too, Lynn Valifer!!
She always thought the Valifer name was just a nostalgic tribute or something...
But this... this is way too much of a coincidence, right?
Could someone really look this similar?
And yet... Lynn's genuinely confused expression didn't look fake at all.
Now even Serafall was starting to feel a little lost.
Well, at least it looks like her butt was safe for now.
Awkwardly scratching her cheek, she quickly put her usual carefree expression back on.
"Haha... maybe I mistook you for someone else... hehehe..."
---
...Really?
Rias didn't look fully convinced.
Sona, on the other hand, didn't think too deeply about it. Seeing the tension between her sister and Lynn ease up, she finally let out a breath of relief.
Lynn narrowed his eyes slightly.
Nah, Serafall definitely knows him.
But this was 100% his first time meeting her.
Then it hit him.
Could it be... the Underworld from 500 years ago?
Did his future self do something over there?
Speaking of the past... it's been a while since he visited that timeline.
Wasn't there still a maid he hadn't "collected" yet?
Might be worth making a trip soon.
He glanced at Serafall, a playful smirk tugging at his lips.
Who knows? Maybe something fun would happen.
Serafall shivered out of nowhere.
C-Creepy... why do I have such a bad feeling about this...
Meanwhile, Rias filled Sona and Serafall in on what had just happened.
When Serafall heard that Lynn had obliterated Kokabiel using the power of light...
"L-Light Magic!!"
She instinctively clutched her butt and stared at Lynn in horror.
And you're still telling me you're not that Lynn Valifer?!
"Ahaha... haha..." Serafall forced a very awkward laugh. "W-Well, since everything's wrapped up here, I-I think I'll be going now!"
Without waiting another second, she quickly cast a teleportation spell and fled back to the Underworld like her life depended on it.
Sona stared blankly. "Sis...?"
W-What the heck was that? Why do I feel like something's really off with her today?
She actually left without clinging to me?!
That's... suspicious!
Strangely enough, Serafall's sudden exit made the other Devils visibly relax.
Tsubaki adjusted her glasses, her sharp gaze landing on Lynn. A strange glint flashed in her eyes as she looked over at Sona, her tone carrying a weird undertone.
"President... I didn't expect your husband to be someone on par with a Maou like Lady Leviathan."
"H-H-Husband?!"
Sona's face went up in flames, her brain completely short-circuiting at the word.
"Eh? She's right!" Another of Sona's peerage chimed in with wide eyes. "Doesn't that mean we technically have a new Maou's husband in our club now?"
Reya Kusaka's face turned bright red, her mind spiraling into strange territory.
If President Sona gets pregnant... would she, as part of the peerage, have to help out with her master's... ehem... "needs?"
Just imagining that scenario was already making her nose bleed.
Rias squinted at Sona and her peerage, feeling a bit sour inside.
But...
Right now, Sona was technically Lynn's fiancée.
Thinking of that, Rias bit her lip.
Why does Sona's engagement feel so damn perfect?
Akeno, noticing Rias' subtle mood shift, shook her head and smiled slyly.
"Ara Ara~ if I recall, isn't President Sona currently in the process of annulling her engagement with Lynn-san? I wonder how that's going?"
Thud!
Akeno's words hit Sona like a hammer, snapping her out of her daze. Her peerage all froze in place.
Cancel the engagement?
They exchanged looks of utter confusion.
No one... had ever mentioned this before?!
Sona's face turned deathly pale.
R-Right... she did say she was going to annul the engagement...
Rias quickly scolded Akeno, "Jeez, Akeno, that's a private matter between Sona and Lynn, don't go poking your nose in it."
(Akeno, you're the best!!)
(Absolutely the best!)
(You really are my most reliable wingwoman!!)
(Us girls gotta stick together if we're gonna steal Lynn from Sona!!)
— — —
Lynn, seeing that Serafall had already fled, he didn't bother doing anything extra.
Instead, he tilted his head up, glanced at the sky, waited a few seconds...
Nothing happened.
"Tch."
So stingy.
He thought for sure that old crow Azazel would show up after he took down one of his cadres.
Shaking his head, Lynn turned to leave.
Not like there was anything left for him to do here anyway. He'd leave the cleanup to Sona and Rias.
"Kuroka, let's go."
"Coming, nya~~!"
Kuroka instantly leapt from Koneko's side and clung onto Lynn.
"Nyaaa~ sniff sniff~"
"Ahehe~ Nya~ Nghh~"
She buried her face in his chest, sniffing like a crazy cat in heat, making all sorts of sounds.
This scene immediately drew the attention of both Rias and Sona.
S-So shameless!!
This horny cat!!!
But...
Aside from cursing Kuroka in their hearts, Sona couldn't help but feel a flicker of doubt in her eyes.
She had already been suspicious when she first saw Kuroka.
But she thought Kuroka was here for Koneko.
Turns out... she was actually here for Lynn?
She wanted to ask, but for a moment, didn't know how to bring it up.
After all, Kuroka was an SS-rank dangerous individual!
Meanwhile, Rias, watching Kuroka being so clingy with Lynn, subconsciously clenched her fists, her eyes narrowing slightly.
Then suddenly, she thought of Koneko, and her eyes lit up.
As she saw Lynn activating his teleportation magic, Rias quickly grabbed Koneko and shoved her forward.
"Lynn, Koneko's yours now!"
"Huh?" Koneko blinked in confusion.
"Wait, what is this, President?!"
Sure, she did want to go to Lynn-senpai's side...
But she hadn't finished helping the President with her wish yet!
"Ha?"
Even Lynn was caught off guard, causing the magic circle beneath his feet to halt.
"You sure about this?"
Rias nodded firmly. "Absolutely!"
As much as it pained her to let Koneko go...
Lynn had just solved a huge problem for her!
Compared to her past little favors for Lynn, this was nothing!
Without Lynn's help... She might've died!
Well, if Serafall had arrived in time, maybe things wouldn't have been that bad...
But still!
She couldn't ignore the fact that Lynn saved her life.
Koneko... please repay Lynn for me.
Of course, the main reason was...
Rias knew very well. She wouldn't be able to keep Koneko by her side forever.
Might as well use this chance to score some goodwill with Lynn.
Plus...
Rias's eyes narrowed slightly. She had already figured out how to handle her own situation.
She snuck a glance at Lynn, then quickly looked away, secretly making a decision in her heart.
Lynn rubbed his chin, a little surprised at how things turned out.
But since Rias was handing Koneko over on a silver platter, he wasn't about to refuse.
Lynn chuckled. "Then I'll gladly accept."
"Ugh..."
Being so easily "sold off" to her senpai, Koneko felt a little lost.
And... She was still worried about Rias's situation.
Seeing this, Rias smiled gently at her, then turned to Lynn.
"Mind if I have a quick word with Koneko first?"
Lynn shrugged. "She's still your peerage member, after all. Besides..."
"I'm not going to force Koneko to transfer schools or anything. With teleportation magic, she can come and go anytime."
Lynn grinned, rubbing his chin again. "If you really can't bear to part with her... Koneko can stay with you for a while longer too."
After all, she wasn't exactly at a "harvestable" age yet anyway.
But...
The corners of Lynn's mouth curled up slightly.
"Actually, here's a thought..."
"Why don't both you and Koneko become my peerage members?"
Rias froze.
Her heart shamelessly skipped a beat!
But...
After thinking it over, she shook her head. "Sorry, I'm the next head of the Gremory family. My family, especially my brother, would never allow me to become someone else's peerage member."
"Ho~ Is that so..."
Lynn's smile deepened.
So it's just because of your family and your brother, huh...
Lynn reached out, ruffling her head casually.
"Don't worry, I'll make them agree eventually."
Once he became a Super Devil existence, combined with Rias's own will, even Sirzechs wouldn't be able to say no.
As for her engagement?
Neither that turkey nor his chicken family had ever been worth his attention.
Rias blushed bright red.
He really was that eager to claim her?
Her heart started pounding faster, and in a bit of panic, she quickly dragged Koneko off to whisper privately.
Completely oblivious to the complicated look in Sona's eyes.
Right then, Tsubaki quietly leaned over and whispered in Sona's ear.
"President, if I'm not mistaken... Lynn-sama is your fiancé, right?"
Sona felt like her heart just got stabbed.
Momo Hanakai added softly, "Honestly... they do look good together."
"Pfft—"
Another stab.
Sona was starting to feel faint.
---
Meanwhile...
Rias was secretly whispering to Koneko.
"Koneko, I've treated you well all this time, haven't I?"
Koneko blinked in confusion but still nodded obediently. "President, you've been very good to me."
Rias smiled and patted her head. Raising her wasn't in vain after all.
Then, her eyes flashed with a sly glint. She snuck a glance at Sona before whispering again.
"Koneko, after you go over to Lynn's side, help me keep an eye on....."
"Huh? President Sona?"
Hearing Rias's request, Koneko was puzzled, but still agreed.
"Ho~ ho~"
Rias grinned to herself in satisfaction.
Sona, if you don't hurry up... don't blame me for cutting in ahead of you.
Then, Rias took out the Devil's Piece from within Koneko's body, officially releasing their master-servant contract.
When Lynn saw the piece, his eyebrows lifted slightly.
For some reason... this piece felt oddly familiar?
Why?
Lynn's eyes flashed with suspicion but pushed the thought aside for now.
His magic circle lit up beneath his feet. "See you next time."
With those parting words, Lynn, Kuroka, and Koneko vanished.
Leaving Rias, Sona, and the others staring blankly at the empty spot where they'd disappeared.
...
After a long silence... Sona finally spoke.
"Rias... you crossed the line."
Turning to look at her with utmost seriousness, she declared:
"Lynn is my fiancé!"
Rias feigned surprise. "Oh? Really?"
"Didn't you say you were going to break off that engagement?"
Resting her chin on her hand thoughtfully, she added: "If I remember correctly... wasn't I the one who went with you to negotiate that?"
Sona bit her lip hard.
If only she hadn't taken Rias with her back then...!
.
.
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