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Their conversation turned out more fruitful than expected. For Jack, it felt like he had just opened the door to a brand-new world.
After quickly helping Asia tidy up, he reluctantly left under her unwilling gaze and headed back home.
He dialed Rias and told the high-class devil about his discovery. She was just as surprised as he had been.
"You figured it out this fast? I was planning to wait until you ranked up to a high-class devil before telling you."
On the other end of the phone, Rias sighed in amazement. "Your talent really is something."
Jack was confused. "Why wait until then?"
"Because this path is extremely difficult. The evolution process comes with huge risks, and since you're not that strong yet, the chance of dying is even higher. I wanted to wait until you reached high-class so you'd at least have the ability to protect yourself."
Rias was genuinely thinking for his sake.
As much as she wanted Jack to grow stronger quickly, she insisted on the safer approach for now: signing contracts to steadily build power. It was easy and safe.
She never imagined he'd be so gifted that he discovered a path of evolution on his own.
Maybe this was fate.
"Anyway, the only thing I can tell you is this: resonating with your Sacred Gear can be maintained through sheer willpower. But the price is heavy. If you push too far, your body might collapse. Remember this well. Don't overdo it."
Jack finally understood and chuckled. "Got it. Don't worry, I'll be careful."
"Good. Do your best, my cutest servant. You're amazing."
After the call ended, Jack tried sensing the resonance again. His magic power surged violently, and his explosive strength really did shoot up, but the energy nearly rampaged out of control.
He held on for a moment before giving up, feeling as if his whole body had been torn apart.
Once the pain subsided, he could faintly tell that his magic had indeed grown a tiny bit stronger.
So the method worked, but the danger was real. He could force himself through it, but he'd end up hurting himself more than it was worth. Hard to say if the gains balanced the losses.
Looked like he had no choice but to take it slow.
He also thought that maybe he could use Asia's Smile of the Saintess to help him train. With that, maybe he could afford to push himself just a little further…
He ran a bath, slid into the steaming water, and let out a long, content sigh.
His mind drifted back to the morning, when he and Rias had gotten a little too intimate in this same bathroom. The memory left him a bit dazed.
If not for his last bit of self-control, he probably would've gone all the way with her…
Thinking about it, who would've believed his life would turn out like this?
Tomorrow he'd be looking for a familiar too. Who knew what kind of adventure awaited him?
Life as a devil really was full of surprises.
Jack was starting to doze off when his phone buzzed from the side of the tub.
He flicked the water from his hand, picked up the phone, and saw a message from Sakurajima Mai.
Before he even opened it, he suddenly remembered: Mai was technically his girlfriend now. And he hadn't called or texted her at all…
Was she mad at him?
He opened the message. Mai said she had switched agencies, and she included a link.
So that was what she'd been busy with these past two days.
She didn't seem angry about him not contacting her?
He tapped the link. It opened into an article about her—an interview.
Actually, it was her comeback announcement.
After regaining the daily life she'd lost, she was finally walking forward again toward her dream.
The press conference was overflowing with people. After all, the name Sakurajima Mai alone was enough to draw a crowd.
Before he finished reading, his phone rang. Mai was calling.
Jack ended the article and picked up.
"Hello?"
"What do I do if I'm really annoyed?" Mai's voice carried clear irritation.
Jack sighed inside. So she was mad he hadn't contacted her.
Girlfriends really were hard to handle.
"…Sorry?"
No matter the reason, starting with an apology seemed safest.
"It's fine," Mai replied immediately.
"Huh? That easy?" Jack laughed.
"So why exactly are you apologizing?"
Mai's one sentence shut him down completely.
"Mai… you're not actually mad at me, right? Then why accept my apology?"
"Well, you must have done something wrong. Even if I don't know what it is, I'll forgive you anyway."
Jack: "…"
Her calm tone somehow made him sweat.
"I thought you were mad because I didn't contact you."
"Now that you mention it, I remembered that too." Mai's voice didn't change at all, but Jack's heart skipped a beat.
Then she giggled softly.
"But I didn't contact my boyfriend either, so we're even."
Jack felt warmth spread through his chest.
Having a girlfriend like Mai really was something special.
"Mai, hurry up and summon me."
"Why?"
"I want to fly over there and hug you and kiss you."
Mai went silent. Maybe she was blushing. After a moment she spoke again, pretending to be calm.
"Well, in that case, I'm definitely not summoning you."
"Just so you know, I'm in the bath right now."
"All the more reason not to summon you," Mai replied instantly.
Jack smiled, put the phone on speaker, set it beside the tub, and sank his arms back into the hot water.
"So… why were you really upset?"
Mai hesitated.
"…I got into a fight with my mom."
"I see. So things still aren't fixed."
"It's not that easy, idiot," she snapped, queenly tone flaring so strongly it almost blasted through the phone.
Jack didn't mind at all. "Sorry. I don't have parents, so I really can't understand."
She went quiet for a moment. Hearing that, she couldn't bring herself to blame him anymore.
"But I think the fact that you can argue, talk, and see each other at all means you already have a normal mother-daughter relationship. Compared to before, this is already a big improvement."
Jack added gently.
He was right. Her mother had regained her memories of Mai. That alone was a huge relief.
On the other end, Mai froze for a second before smiling softly.
"Yeah… that's true."
"Mai, you're smiling?"
"Mm. Talking to my demon boyfriend… it does make me feel better."
"Is that so? I'm honored."
"..."
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