— — — — — — —
Shuchiin Academy, Sports Field
Sasasaki Misaki watched as Natsuki approached with two Devils in tow, her face full of resignation.
"So... you just sold me off to the Devils like that?"
Natsuki remained calm. "Sold? That sounds terrible. No, this is you being hired as a teacher for the Devils."
Misaki blinked. "Does that mean I get paid per class?"
Natsuki's expression didn't change. "You can try applying for it. Or…"
She pointed her folding fan in Lynn's direction and continued, "You could ask them?"
A shiver ran down Misaki's spine.
Her mouth twitched. Ask a Devil?
She glanced at Lynn, who seemed gentle on the surface, but just standing there, he exuded an overwhelming presence that sent chills down her back.
This guy was definitely insanely strong.
Asking someone like him for a salary?
Might as well just sign her own death warrant.
Misaki slumped in defeat.
Natsuki patted her shoulder reassuringly. "Don't look so down."
"Soon enough, people will be calling you the Devil's Teacher. That's something to be proud of, isn't it?"
Misaki shot her a glare. "Wow, thanks. Really appreciate it."
"You're welcome." Natsuki hid her mouth behind her fan, but her lips curled up in amusement. She couldn't help but chuckle—this idiot's reaction was priceless.
"Ahem!" Misaki cleared her throat, forcing herself to regain her composure.
"Alright, no use complaining. Let's start with some sparring!"
She firmly placed both hands on Hana's shoulders and declared loudly, "Are you ready, Hana?!"
"Ah, y-yes!" Hana flinched at Misaki's sudden burst of enthusiasm, instinctively straightening her posture.
Misaki nodded in satisfaction. "Ohh, not bad, not bad at all!"
"You've also got the perfect build for martial arts training."
Hana's face turned red from being praised, and then, as if suddenly realizing something, she blurted out, "Wait… hold on…"
"Uh… um… so, Miss Natsuki and Miss Misaki … you're not normal humans, are you?"
Now you realize that?
Lynn, Natsuki, and Misaki all had the exact same thought.
Misaki finished assessing Hana's physique and nodded approvingly. "Not bad. Now let's see your Ki Flame ability."
As the P.E. teacher of Shuchiin Academy, Misaki had a strong impression of Hana.
After all… Anyone would remember a student who stuffed their face with food while running laps in gym class.
Back then, Misaki had taken note of this girl with a seemingly endless appetite.
Never would she have guessed that the next time they met, Hana would already be a Devil.
It was kind of surreal.
But still… Hana had just been a regular student before. And now she had mastered Ki Flames?
Misaki was skeptical.
But surely, Devils wouldn't bother lying about something like this.
Natsuki had her doubts as well, which was why she had decided to tag along.
Otherwise, she would've just let Lynn and his people find Misaki on their own.
She knew Lynn wouldn't joke about something like this.
But the idea of Hana possessing Ki Flames was still hard to believe.
If Hana weren't a Shuchiin student, Natsuki probably wouldn't have reacted so strongly.
But, this happened right under her nose.
Hana hadn't even been part of Lynn's Familia for that long.
After receiving Lynn's message yesterday, Natsuki had looked into Hana.
Before becoming a Devil, she had been nothing more than a regular person.
Natsuki narrowed her eyes and observed Hana carefully.
Lynn, noticing this, smirked slightly.
"Hana, show them what you've got."
Hana's eyes sharpened, and in an instant, she activated the life energy within her.
In the next moment, golden flames erupted from her body, completely enveloping her.
She looked just like a Super Saiyan!
Misaki's eyes widened in shock, and she exclaimed, "The quality of this Ki Flame is incredible!"
Natsuki squinted, analyzing Hana's aura.
There was no doubt about it—Hana had definitely mastered Ki Flames.
And at this level of quality…
Natsuki's gaze shifted to Lynn, her brows furrowing.
She muttered under her breath, "Just what the hell did he do?"
She had a strong feeling that Hana's rapid growth had everything to do with Lynn.
Was he actually being selective about who he recruited from Shuchiin?
Her eyes held a hint of surprise.
Before, she had thought taking in ordinary students as Familia members was pointless.
But today, she was proven wrong.
Just based on the quality of Hana's Flames alone, she was already among the most gifted humans in existence!
And now, she was a Devil…
Wait.
If Lynn wasn't just randomly collecting members for his Familia, then…
Could it be that Utaha, Miko, and the others also had an amazing talent?
Natsuki fell into deep thought.
If that's the case…
Then what does that make her, someone who failed to recognize their talents?
So many talented individuals at Shuchiin…
And they were all taken in by this Devil?
Rather than dealing with this reality, Natsuki would actually prefer if Lynn was just fooling around.
---
Meanwhile…
Misaki stared at Hana with a complicated expression.
She's… exactly the type of student I'd want to train…
But she's a Devil now.
Misaki took a deep breath.
Well, since things have already come to this…
The Devil Teacher is officially on duty!
Her eyes turned serious. "Alright, show me a few punches."
Hana nodded, equally serious. "Haa! Hah!"
Misaki: "…"
Watching Hana's awkward movements, Misaki's expression turned speechless.
That's… some impressively clumsy punching…
Still, their training session gradually found its rhythm, and after observing for a while, Lynn and Natsuki left the scene.
On the way back…
Natsuki's tone was complicated. "So you're really not just fooling around?"
Just seeing Hana alone was enough to shatter her previous belief that Lynn was simply building a harem at Shuchiin.
Lynn shrugged. "I'm a Devil with ambition."
Of course, that didn't mean the harem part wasn't true.
But there was no need to share that with Natsuki.
She hesitated. "So, Utaha, Miko, and Mahiru … they're all talented in some way too?"
Lynn gave her a knowing smile. "Want to find out?"
Seeing that expression, Natsuki remained expressionless. "No thanks."
Yeah, this guy was definitely going to try recruiting her into his Familia.
— — —
At a bench in Shuchiin Academy
Yukino sat with two other girls.
"Huh?" Miura Yumiko frowned, looking confused. "What are you guys even talking about?"
Supernatural this, harem club that…
"Are you guys… chuunibyou?"
She narrowed her eyes and placed a hand on Yui's forehead. "Yui, did you catch whatever weird disease Yukino has?"
"I always knew that weird Service Club was suspicious!"
"Ahaha…" Yui laughed awkwardly, waving her hands. "It's not like that, Yumiko…"
She had no idea how to explain.
Yukino, on the other hand, remained expressionless. "Yui, there's no point reasoning with someone who doesn't have a brain."
"…You wanna fight?"
"Alright, alright." Yui quickly stepped between them.
After arguing for a while, Yumiko finally huffed. "So, in the end, you're saying that the president of this so-called Supernatural Research Club is openly building a harem at school?"
Ah…
She completely ignored the supernatural part.
So they were just seen as chuunibyou after all.
"If that's the case, then I'll just report him."
"Wait!"
"No!"
Yukino and Yui panicked and immediately stopped her.
Yumiko frowned. "You guys… you're not being threatened by this club, are you?"
"It's none of your business," Yukino said with a slight scowl.
She didn't want any outside interference messing up her dynamic with Lynn.
"Please, just let it go." Yui pressed her hands together, pleading.
Yumiko clicked her tongue, clearly annoyed, but she secretly made a mental note.
Supernatural Research Club, huh…
— — —
Meanwhile, at the Fallen Angel headquarters…
News from Kuoh Town had arrived.
"A branch got wiped out?"
Azazel rubbed his messy hair, sounding a little annoyed.
Hah… wasting his precious Sacred Gear research time for something like this?
"Just send someone to clean up the mess."
"Yes, sir!"
The subordinate turned to leave, but Azazel suddenly stopped him.
"Wait."
He opened his eyes and scanned the report carefully. One particular name stood out.
Sitri was involved…?
Of course, it wasn't the Sitri Clan he was concerned about—it was Serafall.
"Hmm...."
"Never mind, just clean up the mess."
"Understood."
Elsewhere, a certain Fallen Angel officer who heard the report had a dangerous glint in his eyes.
"A branch destroyed…"
"Now that's big news…"
"Big enough… to start a Three Faction War."
.
.
.