Chapter 1: Love That, You Are Really Full of Yourself
"Tea, coffee, or cola?"
Sona and Rias stared silently at the can of cola in front of them.
Wasn't this basically not a choice at all?
"Sorry, I think cola is all I have."
Sona: "…"
Rias: "…"
Lynn leaned back on the sofa, ignoring their speechless expressions.
Sona Sitri and Rias Gremory.
Having watched two seasons of High School DxD in his previous life, Lynn was naturally familiar with these two.
But that was all.
Since arriving in this world, he had never crossed paths with them.
The sudden visit today still left him confused.
Lynn asked, "So, why are you two here?"
"Rias Gremory. Just call me Rias."
After briefly introducing herself, Rias shot Sona a look, signaling for her to speak first. Meanwhile, she stared at the can of cola in front of her, as if debating whether to open it.
"Sona Sitri."
After stating her name, Sona placed a parchment on the table.
Lynn glanced down, his eyes narrowing slightly.
The parchment was filled with intricate text, none of which belonged to any human language.
Demonic script…
Seeing the familiar writing, Lynn felt momentarily dazed.
It had been a long time since he'd last seen devil script after settling in the human world.
And then…
Lynn's gaze sharpened as he shifted his focus toward the bottom of the parchment.
"The Valefor family crest…"
Valefor—once a noble house of devils in the Underworld.
His full name was Lynn Valefor.
A reincarnated soul, now living his second life.
In this life, he wasn't purely human, he was a hybrid of human and devil. However, when he was just seven years old, he had been exiled from the Valefor family due to his mixed heritage and forced to live in the human world.
And now…
It seemed that his surname had finally caught up with him.
This parchment was a marriage contract.
The two parties involved: The Valefor family and the Sitri family.
Lynn's expression turned odd. No wonder they had come looking for him.
Under normal circumstances, as a half-blood devil, a marriage contract with the Sitri family should have had nothing to do with him.
However—
The Valefor clan had been completely wiped out overnight several years ago.
As the last surviving member of his bloodline, the marriage contract had naturally fallen onto him.
But…
Lynn glanced at Sona Sitri, whose face remained emotionless. He could already guess her intention.
She wasn't here to fulfill the engagement.
So, she was here to break it off?
A reincarnated soul, abandoned by his noble lineage, now facing an arranged engagement being annulled…
This was just like BTTH protagonist's script!
Lynn spoke bluntly, "You want to cancel the engagement?"
Sona and Rias were momentarily stunned. After exchanging a glance, Sona nodded and said, "Yes. I'm sorry. I will compensate you."
A flicker of guilt flashed in her eyes.
With the Valefor bloodline reduced to just one person, her coming here to break off the engagement was undoubtedly rubbing salt in the wound.
But she really didn't want to spend her life with someone she had never met and had no emotional connection with.
"Alright, I agree."
Lynn accepted without hesitation.
It wasn't because of so-called compensation, he simply didn't want any unnecessary trouble.
If he remembered correctly, the person backing Sona Sitri was a well-known sister-obsessed Maou (Demon King), wasn't it?
He had no intention of reenacting the cliché "three-year agreement" drama, fighting the younger sister only to end up challenging the older sister.
Sona blinked in surprise, clearly not expecting Lynn to agree so readily, nor for the process to be this easy.
An engagement with the Sitri family was not something just anyone could obtain.
In the Underworld, anyone who had the opportunity to be engaged to the Sitri family would never let go of such a chance so easily.
Especially a fallen noble house like Valefor, which only had one heir left.
If Lynn successfully married into the Sitri family, he might have had a shot at rebuilding his clan.
Yet—
The man in front of her agreed to the annulment without hesitation?
This wasn't at all what she had expected before coming here.
What she didn't know was that, as a half-blood devil, Lynn had always been treated like air within the Valefor household.
Moreover, he had been exiled to the human world when he was only seven, he had no emotional ties to the Valefor family at all.
The thought of using the Sitri family's power to restore the Valefor name never even crossed his mind.
Rias, observing from the side, was also surprised. She hadn't expected Lynn to be so easy to talk to.
"So, what's the next step?"
Lynn didn't care about their reactions. "Do we need to sign an official agreement to nullify the engagement, or…"
He picked up the parchment. "Can I just tear this up?"
Rias coughed and whispered, "The contract is acknowledged by the Four Great Maou of the Underworld. Unless you have more power than the Four Demon Kings, you won't be able to destroy it."
"…."
Lynn silently put the contract back down. "Alright, let's talk about drafting an annulment agreement instead."
Rias pursed her lips, trying not to laugh.
This Lynn is pretty interesting.
Black hair and red eyes—his presence carried an air of nobility.
Sona's unexpected fiancé… though he might not be particularly strong, he was far better than the Phenex.
But when she thought about her own arranged marriage, she suddenly couldn't laugh anymore.
Meanwhile, Sona's thoughts were in complete disarray.
Lynn's straightforward, unexpected approach had thrown her off completely.
She hadn't anticipated that Lynn would immediately agree to break off the engagement. Her initial plan was to use a Rating Game as a formal excuse to settle it.
But now, Lynn's reaction made that plan feel… ridiculous.
After hearing his words, she subconsciously muttered, "Ah… I didn't prepare an annulment contract."
Lynn sighed. "You're seriously unprepared for canceling an engagement. There's a print shop downstairs—go get one printed and bring it up."
"Ah… okay."
Sona instinctively stood up.
"No!"
She shook her head and sat down again.
Lynn raised an eyebrow, puzzled.
Sona took a deep breath, steadying herself. "I'm sorry. Our situation is complicated. A written annulment won't work."
She explained, "This visit is my personal decision, my family doesn't support canceling the engagement. So, even if we draft an annulment contract, the Four Great Maou won't recognize it."
Hearing this, Sona sighed internally.
She knew why her family refused to break off the engagement.
During the Underworld's civil war, the Valefor family had contributed greatly to securing her sister's position as one of the Four Great Maou. This engagement had been part of that arrangement.
But a few years ago, the entire Valefor family was destroyed overnight.
This not only humiliated the Sitri family but also disrespected the Four Great Maou.
If the Sitri family publicly canceled the engagement now, their reputation would take a massive hit.
So, she could only settle this herself.
"So?"
Sona said seriously, "Please duel me in a Rating Game!"
Lynn's expression turned cold as he interrupted Sona.
"You should know the reason for the Valefor family's destruction."
Sona's body stiffened. After a brief hesitation, she answered, "The revenge of the Old Maou Faction."
Lynn continued, "Then do you understand what will happen if my surname is exposed?"
Sona's heart trembled. A single answer surfaced in her mind.
Death.
Lynn crossed his legs and spoke indifferently, "You're the type of person who only thinks about yourself."
"I… I…"
Sona looked shaken.
"You only care about your own concerns…"
"You're only focused on your own problems…"
"You only—"
The air in the room grew oppressively heavy.
Sona felt as if something was pressing down on her, making it difficult to breathe.
Suddenly—
Crack!
The sharp sound of a soda can opening broke the tension.
Lynn shifted his gaze, and Sona's suffocating pressure instantly eased.
Rias had cracked open the can of cola and was smiling at Lynn.
"I've never had carbonated drinks before, but I suddenly feel like trying one."
She took a sip. The next moment, her tongue flicked out slightly, and she made a face.
"Ah… I really can't get used to it."
Setting the can down, Rias turned to Sona.
"Sona, if you're done here, it's my turn now."
Hearing this, Sona felt as if she had been rescued. She quickly stood up.
"I apologize for my rudeness!"
Without looking back at Lynn, she hurriedly left the room, head lowered the entire time.
Seeing this, Rias shook her head and chuckled.
She had known Sona for years, but this was the first time she had seen her act like that.
As the entrance door closed behind Sona, Rias turned back to Lynn and said apologetically, "Sorry, Sona didn't properly consider how to handle the annulment process."
Lynn simply acknowledged it with a neutral "Hmm," accepting the apology without further comment. Then, he asked, "Miss Rias, is there anything else?"
"Just call me Rias."
Correcting his formality, Rias casually waved her hand above the table. In an instant, a purple magic circle materialized out of thin air.
The next moment, a chess set appeared on the table.
Lynn's eyes flickered slightly.
Although he was a devil and possessed magic power, he lacked the resources or training necessary to wield it with such precision.
He carefully observed the runes inscribed in the magic circle, analyzing their structure until the magic dissipated. Only then did he shift his attention to the chess set before him.
"I wonder, Lynn-kun, have you heard of the Evil Pieces?"
"I know a little."
Rias smiled. "That makes things easier."
After giving him a brief explanation of the Evil Pieces and their role in reincarnating devils, Rias continued,
"Because the Valefor family is nearly extinct, the Four Great Maou have entrusted me with this set of Evil Pieces to deliver to you."
"I hope that you'll make good use of them, to form your own peerage and rebuild the Valefor name."
Having explained everything, Rias prepared to leave. Before she walked out, she exchanged contact information with Lynn, mentioning that he could reach out to her if needed.
Lynn didn't hesitate to accept. After all, he had long envied those who could manipulate magic with such precision.
"Evil Pieces, huh…"
Lynn glanced at the chess set on the table but wasn't particularly excited.
If he had received these pieces just a few days ago, he might have been thrilled.
But now, things were different.
He focused his thoughts, and a status panel appeared before him.
---
[Lynn Valefor]
[Race: Devil]
[Level: Mid-Rank Devil]
[Power: None]
[Peerage: None]
[Skills: 'Evil Pieces,' 'Devil's Summoning,' 'Magic Release']
---
Lynn's gaze landed on 'Evil Pieces' and 'Devil's Summoning.'
'Evil Pieces' allowed him to create chess pieces similar to the Evil Pieces Rias had given him.
The function was the same, it enabled non-devils to be reincarnated as devils and become his subordinates. However, unlike the standard Evil Pieces used in the Underworld, his pieces had additional effects.
Not only did they offer a chance to create special devils, but they also granted a system of blessings that could enhance his subordinates' abilities over time.
Furthermore, he could receive power feedback from his followers, strengthening himself as his peerage grew.
'Devil's Summoning' was a skill that allowed him to issue contracts across different worlds.
As long as someone accepted his summoning request, he could traverse worlds to meet them.
However, Lynn hadn't had the opportunity to use these skills yet.
After all, who in their right mind would trust a mysterious stranger who suddenly appeared and asked, "Want to become my servant?"
That would sound way too much like a chuunibyou roleplay.
Not to mention, not everyone could withstand the Evil Piece' effects, even the weakest Pawn Piece required certain qualifications.
The beginning is always the hardest.
Still, with these two abilities, Lynn had the potential to rise to the top of this world.
---
Bzzzt. Bzzzt. Bzzzt.
Just as he was thinking about how to recruit his first follower, his phone suddenly vibrated.
Caller ID: Nanami Aoyama.
Lynn's eyes widened.
"Aoyama-san?!"
And then—
"Oh no! My half-price bento!!"
Chapter 2: Just a Devil's Lazy Mind
Kuoh Academy.
Occult Research Club.
Rias and Sona sat across from each other.
After some time, Sona had finally calmed down.
She adjusted her glasses and spoke in a low voice, "Rias, I was wrong this time."
"Sona…"
Rias wanted to console her, but Sona cut her off.
"Just like he… Lynn said."
A complicated look flashed in Sona's eyes as she continued, "I… I was only thinking about myself. I never even considered his situation."
Rias remained silent for a moment before taking a sip of black tea. Then, she chuckled softly.
"This is the Sona I know…"
When others made mistakes, she never hesitated to call them out. But when she was the one at fault, she admitted it without excuses.
Sona also took a sip of her tea, regaining her usual composed demeanor.
"What about your engagement?"
Rias asked curiously.
This attempt to annul the engagement had been a complete failure.
Although Lynn hadn't resisted the annulment, he had even been quite cooperative—the outcome was clear.
Sona hesitated for a moment before replying, "Forget the Rating Game. That would only expose him to the Old Maou Faction's attention."
"I'll try to convince my family."
Rias could hear the determination in her voice and teased, "Honestly, Lynn isn't bad. Why not just keep things the way they are?"
"..."
Seeing Sona fall silent, Rias who knew her well was immediately taken aback.
"Wait… are you actually considering it?"
"My first impression of him wasn't bad."
Sona admitted honestly, "If convincing my family doesn't work, I'll try to develop feelings for him."
Rias' eyes widened in shock.
Something was off.
Something was very off!
Lynn's indifferent gaze and his cold, piercing words from earlier flashed through her mind.
"You're so full of yourself."
Hiss—
A chill ran down Rias' spine.
"Sona, you're not… that type, are you?"
"That type?" Sona raised an eyebrow, confused.
"N-No, haha, never mind."
Rias laughed nervously, avoiding eye contact.
…It should be impossible, right?
Sona frowned but didn't dwell on it. She finished her tea and prepared to leave.
"Oh, right."
Sona suddenly pulled a keyring from her pocket and placed it on the table.
"I don't think his living conditions are very good. The Sitri family owns a property in Minato, Tokyo. This is the key to one of the apartments. If you get the chance, pass it to him for me. Consider it an apology."
With that, Sona activated a magic circle and disappeared.
Rias opened her mouth, hesitated, then swallowed back the words she wanted to say.
"Why don't you give it to him yourself?"
---
Kuoh Academy – Student Council Room.
A red light flashed briefly, signaling Sona's return.
Tsubaki, her queen and closest subordinate, turned toward her.
"President, welcome back."
"I need a bath," Sona stated.
"Understood."
"And… I need to wash my clothes."
"Yes, President."
"…Wait! I'll wash my panties myself!"
---
"Thanks for the help, Aoyama."
"I'll treat you to ice cream next time."
Carrying the half-price bento he had successfully snatched, Lynn left the convenience store in triumph.
By now, the sky had darkened.
Holding the plastic bag in one hand, he idly twirled a black chess piece in the other.
"Aoyama has the qualifications to be reincarnated as a devil."
"Unfortunately, she's not too keen on me putting this thing inside her."
Lynn sighed in disappointment.
Suddenly—
"Can you see me?"
A grotesque, long-tongued Cursed Spirit blocked Lynn's path, its sticky saliva dripping onto the ground, corroding the asphalt with a sharp sizzle.
Lynn gave it a bored look.
The Cursed Spirit, noticing his reaction, shrieked wildly.
"You can see me!"
"You must be able to see me!!"
"YOU—!!!"
Before it could pounce, a sudden burst of red flames engulfed its body.
In the blink of an eye, it was reduced to ashes.
"You've got the wrong person," Lynn muttered.
"I'm not a normal human…"
"I'm a devil."
As his gaze swept across the area, the surrounding Cursed Spirits instinctively recoiled, trembling in fear.
Lynn sighed and ignored them.
There were too many of these low-level creatures. He couldn't be bothered to exterminate them all.
However, with everything that had happened recently, he had finally figured out where he was.
A chaotic fusion of multiple anime worlds.
For example.
His identity?
The last remaining bloodline of the Valefor family, a devil from the Underworld.
His school?
A first-year student at Shuchiin Academy.
His campus?
It even had a Totsuki Culinary Department.
Oh, and that convenience store girl?
Nanami Aoyama.
And now, judging by the sheer number of Cursed Spirits infesting the streets.
There's probably a Yotsuya Miko somewhere in this world too.
"Hmm?"
Lynn suddenly stopped, his gaze sharpening.
On his status panel, his 'Demonic Chess' skill flickered slightly.
This was one of its effects, whenever someone qualified to become a part of his Peerage was nearby, the skill would notify him.
Lynn immediately released his magic power to scan the area.
After a few seconds, his eyes gleamed.
"Found one!"
Confirming the direction, Lynn swiftly moved.
At the moment, his Peerage was empty, and his current strength wasn't enough to stand at the top of this world.
Recruiting strong subordinates was his highest priority.
Right now, someone nearby was being hunted.
By a devil.
Yes, a devil.
But not every devil followed the rules of the human world like he did.
Of course, it could also be a stray devil.
Through his perception, he estimated that the enemy was only a Low-Rank Devil—no threat to him, someone on the verge of reaching High-Rank.
---
"Haa… haa… haa…"
The sound of ragged breathing echoed in the empty alley.
Kasumigaoka Utaha gritted her teeth, forcing her exhausted legs to keep moving.
Her black stockings were torn, her legs scraped, but she didn't care.
She only had one thought.
Run! Faster!
She could feel it.
The thing chasing her wasn't in a rush.
It was toying with her. Enjoying the hunt.
She didn't know if she could survive.
But she knew that if she stopped running, she would die.
So—FASTER!
BAM!
She collided into something warm but there was no comfort, only dread.
Her mind went blank.
It's over.
"You look like you could use some help."
Just 'look like'?!
Gasping for breath, Kasumigaoka Utaha looked up.
A handsome face entered her vision, but she had no time to process it.
"Run! There's a monster behind us!"
The impact had drained the last of her strength. If she weren't leaning entirely against the boy in front of her, she would have collapsed.
She couldn't run anymore.
But he still could.
"Monster? You mean that?"
Lynn gestured behind her and instinctively pulled her into his arms to keep her from falling.
Utaha turned her head.
A naked woman with the lower body of a spider was staring at her, drooling.
Swallowing hard, Utaha gave a bitter smile.
"It's too close… Looks like you won't be able to escape either."
"Escape?"
Lynn smirked.
"Why would I run?"
"It's just a Low-Class Stray Devil."
Chapter 3: Inside You
Low-Class Stray Devil?
Is that what this monster is called?
"Wait!"
Utaha snapped out of her thoughts and quickly asked, "You know what kind of monster this is?"
Lynn responded with a simple "Hmm."
Hope flashed in Utaha's eyes. Could he be a devil hunter?
If something like a Low-Rank Devil exists, then it wouldn't be strange for a devil hunter to appear, right?
That must be it!
Utaha unconsciously nodded to herself.
Lynn glanced at her, somewhat baffled by her thoughts. Checking his status panel, he confirmed that she had the qualifications to become a member of his Peerage.
Despite looking like an ordinary person, as a main character in an anime setting, she naturally had some degree of luck.
"Hey, I'll take care of that thing for you, but how about you promise me something in return?"
Utaha froze for a moment before asking, "What is it?"
Lynn casually took out an Evil Piece and said, "Let me put this inside you."
Utaha's eyes widened in shock, her face turning red with a mix of shame and anger. "Are you even a real devil hunter?!"
"Devil hunter?"
Lynn looked at her strangely before grinning. "No, I'm a devil."
"Huh?!"
Utaha's brain shut down.
"Food! Food!!"
But the Low-Class Devil behind them wasn't interested in their conversation.
The stench of decay thickened in the air, pressing down on them. In a panic, Utaha hurriedly shouted, "Okay! I promise!"
"Then, the contract is established."
Lynn raised his arm.
A surge of magic power erupted.
Boom!
A red cyclone spiraled from Lynn's right arm, condensing into a blinding crimson beam that instantly engulfed the monstrous spider-like devil.
The shockwave from the magic blast sent a gust of wind tearing through the alley, whipping Utaha's long black hair around wildly.
"Ahhh—!"
A piercing scream echoed from within the red light before fading into nothingness.
A few seconds later, the glow vanished, and Lynn lowered his arm.
Utaha's lips trembled. "J-Just now…?"
"Basic magic release."
Gulp.
Utaha swallowed hard.
Was this still Earth?
"What about that spider monster…?"
"Dead. If you're lucky, maybe there's something left of it."
Utaha exhaled in relief—only to realize she had let her guard down too soon.
"Now, let's talk about our deal."
Lynn held up the Evil Piece, casually shaking it in front of her.
Utaha immediately tensed up, instinctively crossing her arms in front of her chest. "Are you… seriously going through with this?!"
"Of course. We devils pride ourselves on our contracts."
"Hehe… Hehe…"
Her lips twitched.
Could she run?
For a brief moment, she considered it.
But then she recalled what had just happened, the overwhelming power gap between them and instantly gave up on the idea.
There was no escape.
Resigning herself to her fate, she shut her eyes and braced herself.
'Just think of it as a mosquito bite.'
'But at least it's better than getting eaten by that thing…'
'Damn it! My first time is going to a… chess piece?!'
'Speaking of which, he is kind of handsome…'
Even as complaints filled her mind, she couldn't help sneaking a glance at him.
"Wait!"
Her eyes suddenly widened in alarm.
"Why are you unbuttoning my shirt?!"
She shot him a fierce glare, her wine-red eyes filled with rage. "I knew it! A devil like you wouldn't be satisfied with just a game prop!"
"Wait—where are you trying to put that thing?!"
"You got the wrong spot!"
"Did I?"
Lynn ignored her protests.
A glowing red ripple spread across her chest, absorbing the Evil Piece into her body.
Lynn's expression flickered with surprise.
"It actually… went in?"
Utaha's voice trembled.
Lynn scratched his head. "I mean… probably?"
"Probably?!"
She stared at him in disbelief, as if looking at an irresponsible scumbag.
Lynn shrugged. "Hey, it's my first time too. I don't have any experience with this."
Boom!
Boom boom!
Utaha's body froze.
Her heartbeat pounded violently as heat surged through her veins. A flood of power erupted from deep within.
"W-What now?!"
She gasped.
"Probably… your reincarnation ceremony?"
"Probably again?!"
---
[Ding! Congratulations, you have obtained a new Peerage member: Kasumigaoka Utaha!]
[Ding! Your Peerage member, Kasumigaoka Utaha, is undergoing the reincarnation ceremony!]
[Ding! Your Peerage member, Kasumigaoka Utaha, has successfully reincarnated as a special demon: 'Archivist Devil'!]
[Ding! You have acquired the skill: 'Archivist Devil'!]
Chapter 4: Go get 'em, Utaha!
Archivist Devil?
Lynn's eyes lit up, it seemed like a special type of devil.
And the moment Utaha became part of his Peerage, his physical fitness and magic power experienced a significant boost.
It felt as if he had hit a critical threshold, and now, he had smoothly advanced to the level of a High-Class Devil.
As the transformation on Utaha's side was still ongoing, Lynn opened his status panel.
[Lynn Valefor]
Race: Devil
Rank: High-Class Devil
Abilities: None
Peerage Member: Kasumigaoka Utaha
Skills: Evil Pieces, Devil's Summoning, Magic Release, Archivist Devil
Lynn confirmed his rank before shifting his focus to the newly acquired Archivist Devil skill.
[Archivist Devil]
*The Devil Tome can record magic, mystical arts, and other abilities, allowing them to be cast through the tome. The more detailed the recorded information, the more complete the ability.
*Devil Transformation: The body and Devil Tome become one, enabling the user to wield everything inscribed within.
*Accelerated Magic Growth.
"This skill seems to have serious potential."
Lynn carefully examined the ability description and immediately recognized its immense value.
---
On the other side, Utaha's reincarnation ritual had just concluded. She stared blankly at a floating book in front of her.
The tome was jet-black, possessing an iron-like texture and appearing quite thick.
"The Devil Tome."
Lynn responded casually.
"Devil Tome?"
"Hold on a second."
Lynn took the tome from her hands.
As the master of Utaha and the one possessing the Archivist Devil skill, her Devil Tome was linked to his own.
Opening a blank page, he took a pen from his pocket, stared at Utaha's chest for a moment, then lowered his head and started writing.
Utaha's cheeks flushed as she suddenly remembered, she was still in the middle of adjusting her clothing from the transformation!
Hurriedly fixing her attire, she glanced around in mild panic. When she confirmed that no one else was present, she exhaled in relief.
As for Lynn?
Well, he probably wasn't human anyway.
At this point, what hadn't he already seen?
Utaha muttered internally.
"Alright, done."
Lynn finished writing and handed the Devil Tome back to her.
Utaha took it curiously and flipped it open.
[Kasumigaoka Utaha]
Rank: Low-Class Devil
Race: Devil
Master: Lynn Valefor
Stats:
Strength: i0
Agility: i0
Durability: i0
Magic Power: i0
Inherent Ability:
[Archivist Devil]
*The Devil Tome can record magic, mystical arts, and other abilities, allowing them to be cast through the tome. The recorded abilities are stored within the tome. The more detailed the information, the more complete the ability.
*Devil Transformation: The body and Devil Tome become one, enabling the user to wield everything inscribed within it.
*Accelerated Magic Growth.
---
Staring at her own stats, Utaha's voice carried a complicated emotion.
"So, I'm not human anymore?"
"Congratulations, the procedure was a success."
Utaha shot a glare at her master for his sarcastic remark before sighing helplessly.
What could she do now?
At the very least… it didn't feel bad.
She wasn't disfigured, nor did she end up with a grotesque appearance like the female devil she had seen before.
And more importantly—
Clenching her fist, she could feel power coursing through her body.
This Devil Tome…
A supernatural ability that only existed in fiction!
The benefits were undeniable, and she quickly came to terms with her new existence, perhaps even looking forward to testing her abilities.
But first…
"What do the i0 values next to my Strength and Agility mean?"
Lynn explained, "Those are your stat values."
While slightly different from the Falna system in DanMachi, the fundamental logic was similar.
The stat values were ranked from i to S, with each rank divided into increments of 0–99, 100–199, and so on. The S-rank ranged from 900–999.
Beyond S-rank, there existed SS-rank and SSS-rank, which broke standard limitations.
Lynn's upgrade system was akin to this, with a few differences, like the lack of a magic skill slot or developmental abilities.
After a brief explanation, Utaha nodded in understanding.
She knew what that meant.
To level up—she had to kill monsters.
"So, where do we go to grind EXP first?"
Her eyes flickered with anticipation.
Supernatural power!
Who could resist the temptation?
She was ready, find a monster and start hunting!
"Hmm… maybe over there?"
Lynn pointed toward the alleyway in the distance.
The magic surge from earlier had completely evaporated the Cursed Spirits lurking in the shadows.
However, such dark places were always prime real estate for malevolent spirits.
Now, with the original inhabitants gone, the alley had become a free-for-all for wandering Cursed Spirits.
Utaha followed his gaze, and her face immediately twitched.
"What the hell are those?!"
She stared at the grotesque creatures, some with elongated tongues dragging on the ground—and felt an involuntary shiver run down her spine.
"They're ghosts, right?! Those are ghosts!"
Lynn corrected her, "To be precise, they're called Cursed Spirits."
"Cursed Spirits?!"
They were ghosts!
Without hesitation, Utaha took a step back and instantly hid behind Lynn.
"..."
Lynn sighed.
"Didn't you want to level up?"
Grabbing her by the wrist, he pulled her out from behind him.
"I-I'm not ready yet!"
"Can you see them?"
"Yes!"
"Then that means they can see you too."
Utaha stiffened.
At that moment, the spirits turned their attention to her, their eerie, twisted smiles growing wider.
"Ah—yeah, they definitely see you now."
Lynn struggled to pry his arm free from Utaha's tight grip, giving her an encouraging smile before mercilessly pushing her forward.
"Go get 'em, Utaha!"
Chapter 5: Let's Go To Your Place!
Utaha's eyes widened in disbelief.
Lynn—this devil!
He actually pushed her, a beautiful girl, straight into danger without hesitation, leaving her alone to face the cursed spirit?!
She wanted to curse at him.
But as the cursed spirit lunged closer, her heart tightened, and there was no time to complain.
What do I do?!
Think! Think!
That's right!
The Devil Tome!
She was an Archivist Devil now!
How could a mere cursed spirit intimidate her?!
With newfound confidence, Utaha quickly opened the Devil Tome, preparing for battle.
Snap!
She shut it just as fast.
The pristine white pages made her despair.
She had only just reincarnated as an Archivist Devil, there wasn't a single recorded ability yet!
"You can see it!"
The cursed spirit's guttural roar echoed closer.
Its rancid breath blew against her face, sending shivers down her spine as her long black hair fluttered.
Her mind went blank.
"D-Don't come any closer!!"
Acting purely on instinct, Utaha swung the Demonic Tome in desperation!
Boom!
A powerful gust of wind tore through the alley.
It wasn't a casual swing, it was a full-force strike!
Even Utaha herself was momentarily stunned.
The cursed spirit?
Gone.
---
Lynn, watching from the sidelines, smirked.
Utaha exhaled in relief and turned to glare at him with resentment.
Lynn, however, showed no guilt whatsoever.
What a joke.
As a Peerage member, wasn't it her duty to level up and support her master?
Besides, he wouldn't have let her die.
This cursed spirit was weak, even if Utaha just stood still, it likely wouldn't have even scratched her defense.
After all, she was a Low-Class Devil now.
"How do you feel?"
Utaha shot him a glare, took a deep breath, and composed herself. Then, with practiced calm, she said:
"Not bad."
Lynn chuckled.
If he hadn't seen her flailing moments ago, he might have believed her.
"Since it's 'not bad,' let's keep going?"
"…Huh?"
Utaha blinked in disbelief.
"Just kidding."
She gave him a deadpan look.
"That wasn't funny."
Ignoring her complaints, Lynn continued, "Get used to it for today. We'll start serious monster hunting tomorrow."
Utaha's expression twitched, but she remained silent.
Seeing that she had no more objections, Lynn turned and walked out of the alley.
Utaha instinctively followed.
Once they stepped onto the street, Lynn tilted his chin forward, motioning ahead.
"Don't you want to get stronger?"
Utaha looked up.
And immediately regretted it.
Everywhere—on sidewalks, street corners, alleys, cursed spirits loomed.
Some stood. Others squatted.
But they all asked the same chilling question to passing pedestrians:
"Can you see it?"
Utaha's lips parted, but she found herself speechless.
After a long silence, she finally muttered:
"…Has Nippon fallen?"
So many cursed spirits…
It was worse than she imagined.
"These ones, just like the one you killed are merely low-level cursed spirits," Lynn explained.
Low-level.
Utaha clenched her fists.
She understood what he meant.
Low-level meant there were stronger ones.
And more importantly.
She had no other choice.
She was now a Devil.
And she had a Master.
Closing her eyes for a moment, she took a deep breath.
When she reopened them, her gaze was steady and resolute.
"I understand."
She turned to Lynn and spoke firmly.
"Make me stronger, Lynn."
Lynn raised a brow, amused.
"Hmm? What should you call me now?"
Utaha paused, then narrowed her eyes at him.
"Perverted Master."
Lynn mulled it over.
…Not bad.
It had a certain charm to it.
Smirking, he pulled out his phone.
"Here, add me on LINE. It'll be easier to stay in touch."
Utaha frowned slightly.
"Sigma man?"
A moment later—
> Kasumigaoka Utaha has entered the group chat.
Utaha glanced at the group name and immediately stiffened.
"What… is this?"
"Our Peerage group chat."
"I understand that. But why is it called this?"
Holding up her phone, she pointed at the group title:
"Lynn's Peerage Harem Group."
Lynn tilted his head.
"Isn't it accurate?"
Utaha stared at him, utterly speechless.
Was this guy serious?!
Lynn then added, "Don't worry. You're my first Peerage member, so right now, you still have me all to yourself. Consider it a perk for being first."
"Who the hell wants that kind of perk?!"
Utaha felt like she was running out of energy to complain today.
Still…
Lynn was right about one thing.
She was his first Peerage member.
If more joined in the future, she would automatically hold seniority.
And if a harem war broke out, she would be at an advantage.
The thought made her lips curl slightly.
Wait—
What the hell am I thinking?!
Utaha quickly shook her head, banishing the ridiculous notion.
It's all because of that stupid group chat name!
---
After exchanging contact info, Lynn stretched.
"Alright. It's late. Let's go home."
Utaha hesitated, glancing at the cursed spirits littering the streets.
"What about… them?"
"Don't worry. As long as you pretend not to see them, they won't attack."
Utaha blinked in realization.
"So that's why normal people don't get attacked?"
It made sense now.
That explained why, despite the sheer number of cursed spirits, the pedestrians walked by completely unaware.
Thinking back, before she became a devil, she couldn't see these things either.
But now that she knew they were always there, a chill ran down her spine.
Especially when she noticed some particularly nasty spirits clinging onto people's heads.
Goosebumps.
"If you're still nervous, I can walk you home. Consider it another first Peerage member benefit."
Lynn thought about it, he was indeed a bit worried about Utaha going alone.
Even though she was now a Low-Class Devil, she was a special type—an Archivist Devil, reincarnated with unique abilities.
But this was still her first day experiencing the supernatural.
Her mindset was still human.
She lacked combat experience.
If something unexpected happened, she might not be able to handle it.
Before Lynn could press further, Utaha spoke up.
"No need."
Lynn raised a brow.
Before he could question it, she added.
"Let's go to your place."
Lynn: "…?"
Chapter 6: Black Lace
"Don't get me wrong, I just feel safer around you."
Utaha crossed her arms, her eyes constantly scanning the cursed spirits lurking nearby. She didn't feel safe at all.
She had carefully considered her decision.
First, after entering high school, she had chosen to live on her own.
Second, she never believed her home was free of evil spirits.
Rather than going back and sharing a space with them, it was far better to stay with Lynn.
At least here, she felt secure.
Well... it was also pleasing to the eye.
Thinking of this, Utaha couldn't help but steal a glance at Lynn.
If she didn't know he was an actual devil, she might have mistaken him for some noble heir.
Uh... wait.
Maybe he really was a noble among devils?
"That's all?"
Lynn looked disappointed.
Utaha's eyelids twitched.
No, this guy, with his head full of ridiculous thoughts, was definitely not a noble!
Then again, most nobles were trash too.
---
Utaha slipped into a pair of Lynn's slippers and glanced around his home in surprise.
"What? Is my place weird?"
"No, just... unexpected."
Utaha set her bag down. Earlier, she'd been too busy running for her life and had abandoned it in an alley. After everything was over, she had gone back to retrieve it.
"It's just... you're a devil, yet you live in such an ordinary place."
Lynn pulled out two cans of Coke from the refrigerator. "Devils need money to live in human society too."
At that, Lynn let out a sigh.
He had come to the human world at the age of seven. Life had been tough.
Fortunately, his status as a devil had some advantages.
By taking on odd jobs as an exorcist, he had managed to earn a decent living.
At the very least, this house was fully his.
He popped open a can and handed it to Utaha.
She took it with a quiet "thanks" and took a sip.
Sitting on the sofa, her gaze drifted into the distance.
Too much had happened today. The sheer impact of it all left her exhausted.
Though her physical fatigue had vanished when she was reincarnated as a devil, her mental exhaustion hadn't lessened in the slightest.
She wasn't sure how long she sat there in silence before a sharp ding snapped her back to reality.
"The bento's ready."
When she saw the half-priced convenience store bento on the table, she couldn't help but grumble, "So this is the great master's idea of a proper dinner?"
"Do you want it or not?"
Seeing Lynn offer the bento to her, Utaha took it without a word and started eating.
Judging by how smoothly she handled it, she had clearly eaten this kind of meal a lot.
Yet she had the audacity to complain?
After finishing her meal, Utaha finally remembered the real issue at hand.
"By the way, what exactly are we supposed to do as part of your Peerage?"
Lynn paused before replying, "Since the Peerage is just starting out, your first goal is, of course, to kill monsters, level up, and most importantly make money to support me."
"…?"
"…Me?"
Utaha widened her eyes, pointing at herself, then at Lynn. "Support you?"
She was just a high school girl!
Since when was she old enough to be supporting a man?!
"Relax. Once you get stronger, you'll be able to take on exorcism jobs, which will help you level up at the same time."
That much was true.
Utaha was successfully convinced.
What else could she do?
Lynn was now her master in every sense.
Even if she protested, it wouldn't change anything.
"Speaking of getting stronger..."
Utaha activated her demonic energy, materializing her Devil Tome. "Are there any magic spells I can learn?"
She planned to fill this tome with magic!
Hitting evil spirits with a book was way too crude for a refined lady!
"Uh..."
Lynn opened his system panel, glanced at his skill list, and then fell silent.
Seeing his reaction, Utaha suddenly had a very bad feeling.
"You... you can't be serious..."
Lynn shrugged. "I came to the human world when I was seven. I never had the chance to learn any magic techniques."
Smack!
Utaha slapped her forehead.
It was over.
It looked like she would have to keep relying on hitting enemies with her tome for now.
"Don't worry. As a devil, I do have some connections."
Well... even if they had just become acquaintances today.
Lynn hadn't expected the contact information he had gathered to come in handy so soon.
Tomorrow was the weekend.
---
The next day.
Utaha yawned as she walked out of the bedroom and down to the first floor.
She found Lynn sitting on the sofa, lost in thought.
For a second, she was stunned.
Huh?
When had there been a man in the house?
Wait!
She snapped awake, memories of yesterday rushing back.
"Yo! Black lace."
Utaha instinctively yanked down the hem of her shirt to cover the exposed area.
Tsk tsk, Lynn clicked his tongue. "Didn't expect you to be wearing something underneath."
His gaze swiftly shifted to her upper body, which had become more exposed due to her tugging at the hem.
Utaha quickly crossed her arms to cover her chest, only for the black lace underneath to become visible again.
Utaha: "..."
Forget it. Kill him.
As she turned back to change clothes, Lynn muttered regretfully, "If I had known, I would've bought a smaller house."
After getting dressed, Utaha shot him a cold glare. "Did you enjoy the view?"
Lynn gave her a big thumbs up. "A feast for the eyes!"
Utaha bit her lip, feeling her ears burn.
How the hell was this guy so shamelessly honest?!
Forget it…
"Let's go."
Destination: Kuoh Academy.
Chapter 7: 360 Ways to Use Magic
The location of Kuoh Academy wasn't exactly close to Tokyo Minato.
Lynn and Utaha had to take a train for nearly two hours before finally arriving in Kuoh Town.
This made Lynn even more envious of the teleportation magic that Rias had demonstrated in the anime.
Kuoh Town
Utaha looked around curiously.
"So, what exactly is this place you brought me to?"
"Uh... a devil family's territory?"
"Huh?"
Utaha stopped in her tracks, eyes widening in surprise. "A devil family's territory?"
Her pace suddenly slowed, and she lowered her voice. "Is it really okay for us to just walk in like this?"
Seeing how cautious she was acting, Lynn reassured her, "Don't worry, I have a good relationship with the people in charge here."
Well… probably.
"That's a relief."
Utaha let out a quiet sigh but still felt a little uneasy.
After all, they were devils.
So far, besides the spider Low-Class Devil, the only other devil she had encountered was Lynn.
"I have no idea what other devils are like..."
---
Kuoh Academy Gates
A girl with an almost floor-length black ponytail stood quietly near the entrance.
The moment she spotted Lynn, her eyes lit up. She quickly walked over, adjusted the hem of her skirt, and greeted him with a smile:
"You must be Mr. Lynn. I'm Akeno Himejima, a retainer of the President. She sent me to escort you."
"Sorry to trouble you, Himejima-san."
Stare—
Utaha couldn't help but fixate on Akeno, silently muttering to herself.
"Isn't this figure a little too supermodel-like?!"
She glanced down at herself. Normally, she was quite confident, but in this round… she had lost, no doubt about it.
Noticing Utaha's gaze, Akeno merely responded with a gentle smile, but subtly straightened her back just a little more.
Utaha felt even more depressed.
"This girl must be Lynn's Peerage member."
After teasing Utaha a little, Akeno led the two of them toward the Occult Research Club in the old school building.
On the way, she casually introduced various locations within Kuoh Academy to keep the conversation flowing and avoid any awkward silence.
---
Occult Research Club
"President, Mr. Lynn is here."
Rias shook her crimson hair, then stood up from the sofa to greet them.
"Lynn, welcome to Kuoh Town."
Rias assumed the demeanor of a gracious host and smiled. "You're a guest from afar. Have a seat—let's talk."
"Akeno, prepare some black tea for our guests."
"Yes, President."
As Utaha sat down, she noticed a petite girl sitting in the corner of the couch.
Rias introduced her, "This is one of my Peerage members, Koneko Toujou. She's currently in the middle school division."
"Hello, senpais."
Koneko greeted them in a flat, emotionless voice.
Lynn took a moment to glance around, quietly admiring the luxurious setting before asking curiously, "Rias, do you only have two Peerage members?"
Rias hesitated slightly, then tucked her hair behind her ear and smiled. "Yes. I focus on quality over quantity, so it's difficult to find suitable members."
Lynn fell into thought.
Kiba Yuuto isn't here? That vampire isn't around either?
Haven't they joined yet? Or is this because of the so-called 'butterfly effect'...
"This must be your Peerage member."
Rias turned her gaze to Utaha.
After all, the Evil Piece she had given to Lynn was used just yesterday. For him to already have a Peerage member, they must have had a close connection beforehand.
Rias silently assessed her.
No Sacred Gear aura.
No signs of combat training.
Just an ordinary person…?
"I'm Kasumigaoka Utaha."
Utaha introduced herself calmly, though her eyes lingered on Rias.
This dynamic between master and servant…
She glanced at Koneko.
Then, she suddenly felt a sense of relief.
Koneko: "?"
Kitten alert!
---
"I already know why you're here."
After all, they had discussed it over the phone yesterday.
Since Lynn had never received formal underworld education on devil society, Rias directly pulled out a very thick black book.
It was about the size of two bricks.
Lynn's eyelids twitched at the sight of it.
"This book, '360 Ways to Use Magic', is a general reference for the Underworld. It contains information on various common magic techniques."
Rias apologized, "I'm sorry, but I can only provide this standard compilation. More advanced techniques are the closely guarded secrets of individual devil families."
Lynn nodded in understanding. "This is more than enough."
Honestly, just reading through this one book would already take a long time.
Fortunately…
He had Utaha.
Lynn casually pushed 360 Ways to Use Magic toward Utaha with a grin.
"I'll leave it to you, Utaha."
"...?"
A giant question mark appeared over Utaha's head.
She wanted to complain, but considering they were in someone else's territory, she forcibly swallowed her protests.
Instead, she stared at the massive book in front of her with a headache.
Fortunately, she didn't need to actually understand or learn it.
She just needed to record it.
Utaha gritted her teeth.
"Fine. Copy!"
Chapter 8: Record It
After obtaining what he wanted, Lynn didn't rush to leave. Instead, he took the opportunity to ask Rias about the current situation in the Underworld.
For example—
The movements of the Old Maou Faction.
Even though Lynn wasn't a member of the Valefor family and had no intention of avenging them, simply carrying this surname would inevitably bring trouble.
Just like the arranged engagement with the Sitri family…
And the Old Maou Faction's revenge.
He had to prepare for the worst.
While recruiting Peerage members and increasing his strength, he also needed to keep track of their activities. Otherwise, he might end up like his so-called family, completely wiped out without even realizing it was coming.
At the core of it all, the real issue was a lack of strength.
He needed to speed up his recruitment efforts.
At the very least, he needed to reach the level of a Maou as soon as possible.
---
"Ever since the Valefor family was wiped out, the Underworld has intensified its suppression of the Old Maou Faction. They haven't shown themselves in quite some time."
Rias shared the latest intelligence, but her eyes were focused on Kasumigaoka Utaha, who was writing furiously.
That book…
It didn't seem to be a Sacred Gear.
It had to be some kind of unique ability.
But still…
"You can take that book home with you," Rias reminded her. "It's not exactly classified knowledge."
Lynn took a sip of the black tea that Akeno Himejima had brewed and replied casually, "That's fine. I was going to have it copied when I got back anyway."
After just a brief period of copying, he had already gained several insights into magic techniques.
More importantly, he noticed something interesting.
His Archivist Devil ability and Utaha's seemed to function differently.
For example, under normal circumstances, Utaha could only use recorded abilities through the Devil Tome.
But in his case, he seemed to be able to use them directly.
It was as if his Archivist Devil state had become permanent.
So when my Peerage members' abilities are applied to me, they come with added perks?
Lynn, caught up in his own thoughts, completely missed Utaha's resentful glare.
Easy for you to say… when you're just sitting there.
This book was nearly two thousand pages long!
The realization of her impending suffering made the light in Utaha's eyes dim.
"Why did I have to become the Archivist Devil…?"
A deep and heavy resentment filled the air.
Rias, noticing her expression, couldn't help but feel a little worried.
…Is she really okay?
---
Lynn also picked up on Utaha's growing frustration and chuckled. Then, he turned to Rias and asked,
"Miss Rias, does this book contain any magic for automatic writing?"
Utaha's head snapped up.
Her eyes, which had been lifeless just moments ago, now burned with hope as she stared at Rias.
"Yes," Rias nodded, thinking for a moment before adding, "I believe it's around page 130."
Swish—
The rapid sound of pages turning filled the room.
Lynn took another sip of tea, hiding his satisfaction.
Truly, he was too kind-hearted.
He simply couldn't bear to see his Peerage members suffer.
Found it!
Utaha exclaimed internally.
Seeing this, Rias smiled as well and said,
"This is a fairly simple spell. If you try learning it now, I can offer some guidance."
Utaha glanced at her before shaking her head slightly.
"Thank you, but I don't think I'll need any help, Miss Rias."
After giving her thanks, she immediately lowered her head and began transcribing the spell into the Devil Tome.
Rias blinked in slight confusion.
Wasn't the whole point of this spell to make copying easier?
Why is she still copying manually…?
She soon got her answer.
---
"Done!"
Utaha set her pen down, stretched, and then focused her magic into the Demonic Tome.
Buzz—
The Devil Tome suddenly emitted a dazzling glow!
A small white magic circle appeared on the page containing the Automatic Writing spell.
A white quill pen materialized in midair.
Success!
Utaha cheered inwardly.
Real magic!
Even though this was just a minor spell, it was still enough to make her excited.
"This is…"
Rias narrowed her eyes slightly.
It was definitely the Automatic Writing spell.
But had she actually learned it while copying…?
Or was the real key her ability to copy?
Her gaze shifted to the Devil Tome in Utaha's hands.
Rias fell into thought.
Moments later, she smiled slightly and said,
"I didn't expect you to master Automatic Writing so quickly, Kasumigaoka-san. Lynn's Peerage members are truly remarkable."
Then, she smoothly changed the topic.
"If I remember correctly, Lynn's residence is quite far from Kuoh Town."
"There's a Teleportation Magic on page 777 of that book. Why not learn it now and leave a mark here for easier travel in the future?"
Her interest had been piqued by Kasumigaoka Utaha's abilities.
She wanted to see whether Utaha possessed a high aptitude for magic or if she had some special power.
While Teleportation Magic was considered a basic ability in the Underworld, its complexity was comparable to the exclusive techniques of high-ranking devil families.
Even Rias herself had spent a considerable amount of time mastering it.
She highly doubted Utaha could grasp it so quickly.
Lynn immediately saw through Rias's thoughts.
But instead of stopping her, he pushed Utaha forward.
"Utaha."
Even though they had only been together for a little over a day, Utaha already understood what Lynn meant.
She flipped to page 777.
Teleportation Magic.
The white quill pen immediately began transcribing the spell into the Demonic Tome.
Rias didn't have to wait long.
Once the quill stopped, Utaha acting on Lynn's instruction channeled her magic.
Buzz—
A massive purple magic circle appeared above the Devil Tome, dozens of times larger than the one before!
Its intricate runes pulsed with energy, making it almost dizzying to look at.
Utaha had no idea what the symbols meant.
But it didn't matter.
She didn't need to understand.
That's the power of the Archivist Devil.
---
Rias stared at the teleportation magic circle in a daze.
A flicker of disbelief crossed her face.
Did she… actually learn it?
In such a short time?!
Even Akeno and Koneko were drawn in.
As members of Rias's Peerage, they had also learned Teleportation Magic and they knew exactly how difficult it was.
For someone who had just become a devil, someone who had never been exposed to magic before, to master such a spell in mere moments…
If it was purely due to talent, it would be absurd.
But clearly, Utaha hadn't learned it.
Rias's gaze landed on the Devil Tome, and the corners of her lips curled up slightly.
"What an interesting ability."
"Copying… or rather, recording?"
"As long as something is recorded in that book, she can use it?"
Lynn rested his chin in his hands, smiling.
"As expected of the heiress of the Gremory family, you figured out her ability so quickly."
"Allow me to formally introduce you—Archivist Devil, Kasumigaoka Utaha."
Rias murmured, "Archivist Devil… A fitting title."
She took a deep breath before asking tentatively,
"And what exactly are the limits of this ability?"
Lynn smirked.
"I have no idea."
"Why don't you find out for yourself?"
Chapter 9: Mmph
"So that's why you had Kasumigaoka-san demonstrate her abilities?"
Rias suddenly realized, then looked at Lynn with a complicated expression.
Was this part of his plan all along?
Lynn gave her a look that practically said, You've figured me out.
General skills alone weren't enough to satisfy him.
He flipped through the book a few times.
There was too much theoretical knowledge, long-winded, repetitive, and dull.
The remaining magical abilities were nothing special, just things like Automatic Writing and Illumination.
The most valuable one was probably the teleportation magic, Teleportation Magic.
As for powerful, large-scale, or highly practical spells? Almost none.
Since he was here, Lynn naturally wanted to learn something more formidable.
So, when he noticed Rias's curiosity about Utaha's abilities, he simply went with the flow.
Might as well try it first.
To be honest, Rias had already taken the bait.
She really wanted to know the full extent of Archivist Devil Kasumigaoka Utaha's abilities.
Rias sighed helplessly. "Alright, you win."
"Akeno, bring the Lightning Magic."
"Yes, President."
Akeno didn't hesitate.
She never questioned Rias's decisions.
Lightning Magic.
Rias slid a sheepskin scroll toward Lynn. "Super-tier magic—this is the highest-level magic I currently have."
Lightning Strike.
Lynn glanced at Akeno out of the corner of his eye.
If he remembered correctly, her specialty was lightning magic, wasn't it?
Rias had really taken out her best trump card.
Lynn opened the scroll and took a look.
…And immediately lost interest.
He couldn't understand a single thing.
Without hesitation, he handed it to Utaha.
"You take it, Utaha."
For once, Utaha didn't snap back. Instead, she eagerly accepted the Lightning Magic scroll.
Whoa!
Super-tier magic!
It sounded incredible!
For the first time, Utaha genuinely admired Lynn.
With just a few words, he had convinced Rias to hand over a super-tier magic scroll for her!
She forced herself to calm down and opened the scroll.
The densely packed Devil Script made her dizzy.
She couldn't understand it at all…
Fortunately, she had experience from copying Teleportation Magic earlier, so…
She'd just copy it again!
While waiting, Rias briefly explained super-tier magic.
"In simple terms, any magic capable of matching the power of a Maou is classified as super-tier magic." Straightforward and simple.
"Alright, done!"
Utaha stared at the freshly written text in the Devil Tome, her eyes filled with anticipation.
Almost instinctively, she prepared to activate her magic.
"Wait!!"
Rias's eyes widened, immediately stopping her.
"Lightning Magic is far too powerful—let's move outside first."
Otherwise, her Occult Research Club would be demolished in an instant.
Realizing her mistake, Utaha hesitated. "Uh… sorry."
Rias shook her head, signaling that it was fine before leading the way out.
---
The Open Area Behind the Club
The Devil Tome floated in front of Utaha, its pages turning with a soft rustling sound.
"Lightning Strike!"
Utaha called out softly.
The pages of the Devil Tome abruptly stopped.
A one-meter-wide, blue magic circle rose into the air.
Crackle!
Without any delay, a massive column of blue lightning—as thick as an oak tree—struck the ground.
BOOM!!
The impact left a one-meter-wide crater.
Lightning snaked across the ground, filling the air with an electric hum.
So strong…!
Utaha stared at the scene, unable to believe that she had caused it.
However…
I feel… exhausted…
Her legs gave out, and she collapsed backward into a firm, warm embrace.
Lynn looked down at Utaha in his arms, briefly assessing her condition.
His conclusion: She must have overexerted herself and depleted her magic power.
Rias stepped forward. "Kasumigaoka-san is still a Low-Class Devil. That spell likely drained all of her magic power."
She glanced at Utaha to ensure she was unharmed, then turned her gaze to the crater in the ground.
She actually pulled it off.
Although the spell's full power wasn't realized due to her limited strength, its execution was flawless.
No price, no cost—just recording the spell's information.
And… it seemed like super-tier magic wasn't the limit of her Archivist Devil ability.
Wasn't this ability a bit too overpowered?
Setting her doubts aside, Rias turned to see Utaha—completely drained, collapsed in Lynn's arms.
She hesitated before suggesting, "Lynn, why don't you replenish her magic?"
"…That seems to be the only option."
Replenish magic?
How?
Utaha barely had the strength to speak. She could only open her eyes weakly to see what method they would use.
And then—
She saw Lynn's face getting closer.
…Wait.
Was something wrong here?!
Mmph—
Her lips were suddenly sealed by something warm…
Her body… was getting hotter…
And something… was flowing into her.
Chapter 10: Intense Kissing
The so-called magic replenishment is a method of restoring magical power through the exchange of bodily fluids.
Among devils, magic replenishment is considered a reward from a master to their followers.
Utaha felt Lynn's tongue roaming around her mouth like its owner.
"Why are you... ngh~ sticking out your tongue like that...?"
Utaha's eyelashes trembled slightly. Her cheeks were flushed, and she pursed her lips. Her crimson eyes seemed to be focused on Lynn, yet at the same time, they drifted past him, as if staring at the scenery behind him.
"To maximize the effects of magic replenishment."
Lynn responded righteously.
He was seriously committed to replenishing magic.
It was just that Utaha had consumed too much magic power, so the replenishment process had to be… a little more intense.
"Oh my, how pure."
Akeno, who had witnessed everything, narrowed her eyes and smiled with an amused expression.
Utaha's body stiffened slightly.
Just now, she had been completely focused on Lynn and had momentarily forgotten the presence of others.
It's over.
Had she been surrounded by people this whole time?
This was social death!
Utaha nearly exploded with embarrassment internally, but outwardly, she forced herself to remain composed.
She took a deep breath, suppressing all her emotions.
But…
Her heart was still pounding rapidly.
She stole a quick glance at Lynn and murmured, "My first kiss… I let him take it for free."
"How is she?" Rias asked with concern. "Has Kasumigaoka-san recovered?"
Utaha smiled awkwardly.
Rias studied her expression, then smiled knowingly. "It seems that Mr. Lynn's magic replenishment is quite effective."
Utaha froze on the spot.
W-What kind of joke is this?!
Rias, however, was looking at her with admiration.
"I didn't expect Kasumigaoka-san to grasp even super-tier magic so quickly. That's quite the remarkable talent."
With such an ability alone, Utaha had immense potential.
Once she fully developed, her strength wouldn't be inferior to Akeno's.
Rias was honestly envious of having such a capable peerage member.
After hearing this, Utaha was reminded of what she had just done.
She turned to look at the crater left by her previous lightning spell.
Utaha contemplated, "The power was decent… but I still feel like it wasn't enough."
That was why she had gambled all her magic power on that one attack.
"Of course."
As an expert in lightning-based magic, Akeno explained,
"The full power of a Lightning Strike can affect celestial phenomena. With Kasumigaoka-san's current magic reserves, she wouldn't be able to sustain its maximum output."
"I see…"
Utaha nodded in understanding.
Indeed.
Even though she had managed to execute a super-tier spell, she hadn't fully unleashed its potential.
However…
This was already a big step forward.
Lynn raised a finger, and a flicker of black lightning danced at his fingertip.
The moment Utaha's Devil Tome recorded the lightning spell, Lynn had simultaneously grasped full control over it.
As a High-Class Devil, lightning magic in his hands could be manipulated in countless ways.
For example, this Silent Thunder.
No sound, no visible magical fluctuations.
All of its power was tightly compressed into a single strand of black lightning.
Only upon impact would it unleash its devastating force.
Thus, no one present noticed what Lynn had just done.
Except…
Akeno, whose sensitivity to lightning was exceptionally high.
She widened her eyes, staring at the black lightning on Lynn's fingertip with shock.
That energy… it felt eerily similar to Rias's Power of Destruction.
Lynn simply smiled at her, then lightly clenched his palm, dispersing the lightning.
Seeing this, Akeno smiled as well and looked away.
But internally, she was anything but calm.
Even though it was black lightning…
There was no mistaking it—it was lightning magic.
Its color wasn't the strange part.
Although she didn't like to dwell on it, her own bloodline had also tainted her lightning with an unusual hue.
What was strange, however, was how quickly Lynn had mastered the spell.
Hadn't he only glanced at the scroll for Lightning Strike twice?
Yet the level of control he had just displayed…
Even she couldn't achieve that.
Lynn Valefor.
The sole surviving member of the Valefor bloodline…
He was definitely not simple.
On the other side.
Rias sighed regretfully. "It's a pity. Even with super-tier magic, we still couldn't gauge the upper limits of Kasumigaoka-san's abilities."
Lynn smiled. "It's fine. If you ever want to test again, Rias, feel free to call me anytime."
Rias rolled her eyes at him. "Forget it. This time, we only put in one super-tier spell. Who knows what kind of magic we'll end up using next time."
"Tsk, what a waste."
Lynn clicked his tongue in disappointment.
With the Gremory family's deep foundation, he doubted that a single super-tier spell was all they had to offer.
Besides, Rias had a Maou-level older brother. Surely, there were plenty of powerful techniques waiting to be borrowed.
After practically squeezing every benefit he could out of Rias, Lynn prepared to leave.
Before that, Rias arranged for Koneko to take them on a tour around Kuoh Town.
—Later, at the Arcade—
"…So, why did we end up at an arcade?"
Utaha looked at Lynn and Koneko in silent disbelief.
K.O.!
"…I lost again."
Koneko stared at her defeated character on the screen, her expression slightly stunned.
"Senpai, you're strong."
Though her tone was flat, Lynn could tell she was serious.
"Are you two done playing yet? If we don't hurry, we will miss the last bus back."
Utaha glanced at the time, her right leg tapping impatiently.
For some reason, watching Lynn and Koneko enjoy themselves irritated her a little.
"You're right."
At Utaha's urging, Lynn gave up on playing another round.
Since he had yet to place a teleportation marker at his home, he still had to rely on the bus to get back.
"See you next time, when you're free, Koneko."
"Senpai."
Koneko tugged on Lynn's sleeve and handed him a piece of paper. "Please accept this."
Lynn glanced at it.
A Devil Summoning Contract.
Specifically, one exclusive to Koneko.
"Senpai, I want to learn how to fight."
Koneko looked up at him, her golden eyes full of determination.
Lynn glanced at the nearby Street Fighter arcade machine.
Got it.
This was the kind of fighting she meant.
"No problem. If you have time, I'll invite you over to my place."
After parting ways with Koneko, Utaha crossed her arms and followed beside Lynn.
"You're calling her by her name."
Lynn looked at her oddly. "Why do I feel like you're a little jealous?"
"Hah? As if I—"
Utaha was about to deny it when her brain suddenly stalled.
Wait.
She was jealous.
Utaha looked at Lynn, her gaze unconsciously drawn to his thin lips.
Damn it.
She might be falling for him.
But… they had only known each other for two days?!
Memories of the past two days flashed through her mind, stopping at the moment of magic replenishment.
Her heart pounded.
"Why are you just standing there?"
Lynn stopped, waiting for her to catch up.
Utaha collected herself, brushed back her wind-blown hair, and walked forward, linking her arm with his.
"I admit… I'm a little jealous."
Lynn blinked, then grinned. "Well, you should control yourself. I'm a devil planning to build a harem."
"…You really are a shameless devil."