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The experience of a first kiss was… surprisingly great. And along with it, Jack had learned about the rival he would one day have to face.
Rias's fiancé. Definitely a high-class devil, a powerful enemy. And right now, the gap between Jack and someone like that was just way too big.
He had to get stronger. Fast.
With a quiet sigh, Jack reminded himself of the pressure that had been clinging to him ever since he came to this world and brushed up against the realm of devils. He was getting stronger at an incredible pace, sure, but that sense of danger had never really faded.
Because the enemies he'd met, or would soon meet, were only getting stronger.
For now, he still had to rely mainly on signing contracts to power up, though he couldn't afford to slack off on actual training either.
Training on his own was risky, but it did work. And Jack wasn't the type to back away from difficulty.
As for devil contracts, Mai Sakurajima's contract had already been completed. Next, he'd have to spend time searching for the next potential partner.
Speaking of which, he really needed to get himself a familiar soon.
Otherwise he'd have no time to be handing out flyers day after day. That work was boring and a huge time sink…
With that in mind, he found himself genuinely looking forward to tomorrow's trip to the Familiar Forest.
"Sleep. We're heading to the Familiar Forest tomorrow," Rias murmured as she pulled him into her arms, enjoying the warmth radiating from him.
Jack was speechless for a second. This woman got him all worked up, then told him to go to sleep?
Fine. Whatever.
This kind of small issue wasn't enough to bother him anymore.
Devils indulged desire, but that didn't mean they were ruled by it. Quite the opposite. A devil could keep absolute control over their own impulses.
In just a moment, Jack managed to calm himself again. Holding Rias's devilishly gorgeous body, he drifted back to sleep.
This time no one disturbed them. Jack and Rias slept tangled together all the way until sunrise.
When morning came, Jack opened his eyes to a breathtaking sight.
Rias was sprawled beside him, the blanket barely covering her waist. One long, flawless leg rested across his body, and her beautiful, alluring figure lay exposed right before his eyes.
Her chest, her waist, her legs—every part looked sculpted to perfection.
Waking up to a view like that would energize anyone.
His only issue was that his arm was completely numb from being used as her pillow, leaving him in that strange mix of pain and bliss.
He used his free hand to gently shake her shoulder.
"Rias. Wake up."
The sleeping beauty slowly blinked awake, brushing away a few strands of fiery red hair that had stuck to her cheek. Her voice was soft and lazy.
"Morning already…"
"It's light out. I need to go do my morning practice."
He tapped her smooth, toned thigh to signal her to move it off him.
Rias reluctantly sat up, letting the blanket slide off without caring at all. She stretched with a yawn that was almost criminally seductive.
Jack took one look at her bare figure and forced himself—really forced himself—to turn away and start getting dressed.
Rias, smiling knowingly, leaned onto her side like a lounging queen and watched him with open interest.
Apparently it wasn't just men who enjoyed the view of someone getting dressed. Women did too.
His morning training went much like the day before. With Rias participating, Jack trained with even more enthusiasm.
Time passed quickly, and before long, it was time to enter the Familiar Forest.
Although only Asia and Jack actually needed familiars, Rias and the others joined them. The five of them gathered in the clubroom and used a teleportation circle to arrive directly at the forest.
The Familiar Forest existed in a separate space, somewhere between the domain of the gods and the realm of the Underworld. Countless strange creatures lived there.
A blood-red moon hung in the sky, coloring the entire forest in shades of dark crimson. The trees were black and twisted into unsettling shapes that radiated an eerie, bone-deep chill.
"It's so dark and creepy…" Asia said, shivering a little.
"This side of the forest is closer to the Underworld," Rias explained with a smile. "There are areas closer to the God Realm, but the holy energy there is way too strong. We're devils, so naturally we come to this side."
Her eyes scanned the surroundings.
"It's the night of the full moon. He should appear here."
"Who?" Asia tilted her head, puzzled.
"The master of the familiars."
Before she even finished speaking, Jack felt magic stir nearby. A moment later, a voice echoed out.
"Well now, looks like we've got newcomers!"
Jack looked up and saw a middle-aged man standing on a tree branch like he'd been there all along, dressed like some kind of wilderness explorer.
Asia nearly jumped out of her skin. "Eek… who is that?"
"Heh! I am Zatouji, master of familiars! Ah, what a beautiful moon tonight. Perfect for catching familiars! With me here, you can get any familiar you want!"
…Really? If he was the master, did familiars even need to be "caught"?
He sounded like he was bragging.
Jack shot Rias a questioning look.
She laughed and nodded. "He's the expert."
"Alright, introductions done. What kind of familiar are you looking for? Power type? Speed type? Poison type?"
Jack smiled. "I want one that can help me with homework."
Everyone: "…"
Rias pressed a hand to her forehead. Familiars were supposed to be important assets. And he was thinking about homework?
Could he aim just a little higher?
"No joking. I think a support-type for combat would suit you," Rias said seriously.
"We'll see what we can find," Jack replied.
Asia's eyes sparkled as she thought of Koneko's adorable cat-like familiar. "Um… I want something cute…"
"No problem at all! Leave it to me, young lady!" Zatouji said, hopping down from the tree with a grin.
For all his boasting, he did have skill. At the very least, his ability to track familiars was impressive. It didn't take long before he led them to one.
"Here we are. This lake is home to a water spirit named Undine! Water spirits are extremely capable fighters!"
Jack's eyes lit up.
After angels, devils, and dragons, the legendary race of elves was finally about to make its appearance.
If the legends were true, elves were always pale, beautiful, long-legged and sharp-eared…
He wondered if this one would be the same.
"..."
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