The meeting finally ended… Actually, it wasn't really a formal meeting—at best, it could be called a secretive conversation.
Such small-scale discussions were already routine for Sirzechs and Azazel. As leaders of their factions in this peaceful era, they no longer needed to fight on the frontlines; instead, they frequently attended meetings or prepared for the next round of talks.
Unlike Azazel, Sirzechs shared his workload with three other Maou. Ajuka Beelzebub handled technological research, Falbium Asmodeus oversaw military strategy, and Serafall Leviathan, Sona Sitri's elder sister, was responsible for diplomacy.
Jeanne had only met Ajuka and Falbium a few times and wasn't particularly familiar with them, so she set them aside. The real question, however, was Serafall… During Kokabiel's attack on Kuoh Academy, Rias and Sona had silently agreed to only inform Sirzechs and deliberately keep Serafall in the dark. The reason was simple: if Serafall had known, she would have impulsively declared war on the Fallen Angels.
Jeanne could never quite understand why Sirzechs entrusted diplomacy to someone as easily provoked as Serafall.
Her mind went blank. Suddenly finding herself with nothing to do and nowhere particular to go, Jeanne stood alone, spacing out in the spacious and luxurious corridor.
At that moment, a small "kitten" darted out from the corner. As if she'd been waiting patiently for Jeanne's arrival, she sprinted forward and gracefully climbed onto Jeanne's shoulder.
Cat ears, a cat tail, and even a cute little "meow"—who could say Koneko wasn't truly a kitten?
"Jeanne-senpai… are you done talking with Lucifer-sama?"
"Done… I think? It was nothing serious, just a casual chat. Honestly, it felt like a waste of time."
"Senpai… you're being rude to Lucifer-sama."
Koneko's voice was as flat as ever, devoid of any emotional fluctuation. Yet, her heart wasn't nearly as calm as her outward appearance suggested. Her slightly flushed cheeks and the tail affectionately coiled around Jeanne's arm revealed a closeness that the old Koneko never would've shown.
And certainly, the old Koneko wouldn't have boldly perched herself on Jeanne's shoulder.
Have I somehow become a cat tree? Jeanne wondered inwardly.
She'd definitely noticed that after Koneko awakened her Nekomata powers, she became notably more clingy, or perhaps… simply more kitten-like?
"Koneko, how did you even find me here?" Jeanne asked curiously. The conversation with Sirzechs was supposed to be confidential.
Koneko answered calmly, "Because… I could sense Senpai's life force."
"Oh? I see, you've already reached that stage, huh? Looks like you've really been putting in effort—I'm proud of you."
At Jeanne's encouraging words, the warmth on Koneko's cheeks deepened slightly, her blush creeping upward to the tips of her ears. An indescribable sense of satisfaction welled up in her chest.
Ever since accepting her identity as a Nekoshou, Koneko had gradually learned how to manipulate "Ki"—the flow of life force. Detecting it was the simplest of abilities. Her sister, Kuroka, could even sever someone's life force or hide her own entirely. Koneko still had a long way to go.
Yet, there was one detail Koneko chose not to mention: perhaps because she'd once lost control due to Jeanne's intense aura, Jeanne's life force was now the easiest for her to recognize. It was why she'd found Jeanne so quickly today.
And more importantly, after awakening her true powers, Koneko found herself irresistibly drawn to Jeanne's aura. Merely being close to her, enveloped by that reassuring presence, filled every cell in Koneko's body with a sense of bliss and tranquility.
It was so comfortable that Koneko felt drowsy, wanting nothing more than to fall asleep right here in Jeanne's warmth.
Unknowingly, Koneko's lips curled into a contented smile. Today, Asia and Ophis weren't around to interfere. Jeanne-senpai belonged solely to her. The thought filled her heart with a secret, gleeful delight.
Overcome by excitement, Koneko's white cat ears trembled lightly, and she unconsciously tightened her hold around Jeanne's arm.
Senpai's scent… it's so nice.
Whether it was the rich, alluring life force or the delicate floral fragrance of Jeanne's hair, Koneko found herself utterly intoxicated, comfortably closing her eyes.
But Jeanne was oblivious to all this. She couldn't hear Koneko's internal monologue, nor could she see her flushed cheeks. Koneko's voice gave no hints, so Jeanne simply continued chatting normally.
"Senpai… did you watch our match?"
Koneko's golden eyes sparkled, filled with anticipation.
Jeanne casually nodded, somewhat distractedly replying, "Of course I did. You all did great, clearly showing the fruits of your training. Compared to before summer vacation, everyone's improved a lot, which is excellent."
Issei, Xenovia, Rias, Akeno, Gasper, Kiba—all of them had been rigorously trained by Azazel, then further tempered through battles with the Khaos Brigade and Loki. It would've been surprising if they hadn't grown stronger.
Koneko, although unconscious and thus skipping Azazel's brutal training sessions, had finally embraced her Nekoshou heritage, skyrocketing her growth potential. Her progress had even surpassed Issei's protagonist-like growth rate.
Yet, Koneko seemed dissatisfied with Jeanne's general praise, pouting slightly in discontent.
No… it wasn't enough. Hearing Jeanne casually mention others' names made Koneko's spirits sink. Even her ears drooped slightly.
I want Senpai to talk about me more. I want her thoughts filled only with me.
Driven by these emotions, Koneko interrupted Jeanne's words.
"Jeanne-senpai… what about me? How did you think I performed?"
"Hmm? Your performance?" Jeanne paused thoughtfully. "You were fantastic. In that match against Sona's team, it was clear they'd carefully researched your abilities and tailored their strategies against you. Xenovia and Gasper suffered precisely because of that. In terms of tactics, your 'King' Rias seemed to lose to their 'King' Sona. Honestly, without your surprise counterattack, you might have actually been in trouble."
Sona's team had cleverly exploited Gasper's weakness—garlic—and the obstructive terrain of a shopping mall to neutralize his [Forbidden Balor View]. Xenovia, lacking crucial intel on an opponent's reflect-type [Sacred Gear], accidentally took herself out with [Durandal's] overwhelming power.
Issei was targeted mercilessly, given his immense but short-lived combat prowess. After all, he had been their primary attacker and defender during the Loki fight, leaving him nearly half-dead when Jeanne finally arrived.
Jeanne's assessment was fair. Koneko had indeed shone brightest in the match. Her new powers had been completely unexpected by Sona's group, leaving them unprepared to handle her.
Ultimately, Rias's peerage had emerged victorious, mainly due to superior raw strength—but Sona's strategic advantage had nearly tipped the balance. Without Koneko, the result might've been uncertain.
"But really, you shouldn't care so much about my opinion, right?"
Jeanne continued walking, the crisp sound of footsteps echoing through the empty corridor. "How about your own thoughts? Or Rias's opinion? She's your 'King' and has spent the most time with you. Her evaluation should matter far more than mine."
"Buchou's evaluation is important… but your opinion, Senpai, is just as important. So, Senpai… were you satisfied with my performance?"
Koneko tilted her head slightly, staring earnestly at Jeanne's profile.
"Hmm?"
Jeanne felt something odd but couldn't pinpoint it, so she replied simply, "Of course I'm satisfied. Just seeing you overcome your struggles was enough for me. Honestly, you went beyond my expectations."
At those words, the faint crease in Koneko's brow instantly smoothed away. Her delight was so visible, it seemed as if tiny blossoms of happiness had bloomed behind her, forming an imaginary sea of flowers.
From this angle, studying Jeanne's face so closely was a first…
She really is beautiful… the more I look, the prettier she seems…
Koneko's eyes gradually lost focus as she stared at Jeanne's fair, delicate face. Her throat felt strangely dry, and she instinctively swallowed.
I want to kiss her.
The moment that thought emerged, it gripped Koneko's heart tightly, refusing to let go. No matter how she tried, she couldn't push the idea away—not even for a second.
It wouldn't be her first time. It was only a kiss on the cheek. Yet her mind, face, and chest burned intensely, her thoughts growing sluggish, clouded by heat.