Early summer in Kuoh Town quietly deepened, amidst the peaceful yet fulfilling recovery and daily lives of the Occult Research Club members. The sun grew brighter, cicadas began to chirp, and the air was filled with the vigorous scent of growing plants.
Shin's courtyard, located on the town's outskirts, after nearly a month of meticulous care and spiritual qi nourishment, had transformed into a lush, tranquil, and idyllic haven, becoming the club members' unspoken "second base."
In the courtyard, mint grew luxuriantly, its fragrance wafting everywhere. Mugwort stood tall and green. Daylily flowers bloomed in full glory, their orange petals shimmering under the sunlight. The dwarf pines grew more robust, their needles dense.
The entire courtyard was enveloped in a unique aura of peace, freshness, and natural vitality, making anyone who stepped into it feel their mind calm and their fatigue dissipate.
Shin's recovery was nearing perfection. With the support of top-tier resources from the Gremory Family and the gentle nourishment of the courtyard's formation day after day, his damaged Origin of life had been completely restored. Although the True Qi in his dantian had not fully returned to its peak state, it had formed a stable and fluid stream, circulating through his body, warming his meridians, and strengthening him. That bone-deep sense of weakness had long vanished, replaced by a restrained and serene vitality.
After the final detailed check-up, Rias finally lifted his "rest-and-recuperate ban," allowing him to engage in some non-strenuous restorative cultivation and low-consumption talisman drawing. However, she still cautioned him to proceed gradually and not be reckless.
Reclaiming his "freedom," Shin was in a joyful mood, yet he didn't rush into cultivation. Instead, he savored the tranquility and companionship the courtyard offered.
Asia Argento had become the most proficient "gardener" in the courtyard. Her love for this land and these plants grew daily, and she managed their care with increasing ease. She even began to carefully cultivate some new herbs with calming or air-freshening effects, following the simple illustrations in the Classic of Hundred Herbs and Elixirs.
Her azure eyes always sparkled with focus and contentment, and her smile was warm and sincere. That dark memory seemed to have been completely dispelled by the sunshine and vitality here. Her relationship with Shin also grew closer and more natural. She often asked him various questions like a younger sister or shared interesting stories from school.
Kiba Yuuto and Akeno Himejima remained frequent visitors. Through daily interactions with Shin, Kiba developed a deeper interest in the concepts of "inner cultivation" and "harmony with nature" in Eastern culture. He often discussed them with Shin, verifying them against his own swordsmanship practice, and benefited greatly.
Akeno, on the other hand, had completely adopted this place as her favorite afternoon tea spot. The variety of desserts she brought was ever-changing, complementing Shin's brewed "Spiritual Tea." She enjoyed the serene atmosphere here. Her perceptive eyes often observed everyone with a smile. Occasionally, she would say something profound, making Asia blush and Shin give a wry smile.
Rias would also visit frequently in her spare time. Seeing Shin fully recovered, his aura even more steady and restrained than before his injury, she was very pleased. She was even more gratified to see Asia cheerful, lively, and completely integrated into the club. She knew that this courtyard, and Shin the "Advisor," had played an unexpectedly significant role in healing wounds and uniting hearts after the battle.
And amidst all this daily life, the most subtle and heartwarming change still revolved around Koneko Toujou.
Koneko's visits became more frequent, and her stays grew longer. She seemed to genuinely regard this place as a comfortable corner where she could play games, daydream, or even take a nap with peace of mind. Her usual spot had imperceptibly shifted from the stone lantern or tree branch outside the veranda to the edge of the veranda itself. Sometimes, she would even lean against a veranda pillar, curled up, engrossed in her handheld console, as if it were her exclusive seat.
The silent understanding between her and Shin regarding sweets also continued. Shin would always prepare a dessert to her liking in advance and place it in a fixed spot. Koneko would silently take it, sometimes eating it from a distance, sometimes enjoying it while leaning against the veranda.
However, a turning point occurred one peaceful afternoon.
That day, Asia and Akeno had gone to school for a club joint activity, and Kiba and Rias also had matters to attend to. The courtyard was unusually quiet, with only Shin and Koneko present.
Shin was carefully attempting to draw an elementary "Clear Water Talisman" under the veranda, designed to gather moisture from the air for watering flowers and plants. It was a restorative practice, consuming very little qi.
Koneko, as usual, sat in her "exclusive seat," engrossed in her game.
Shin finished drawing, felt the faint spiritual power flowing within the talisman, and nodded in satisfaction. He put away the talisman paper, his gaze sweeping over the plate of newly bought soy milk cream biscuits on the small table next to him, specially prepared for Koneko today.
He looked at Koneko. She was fully focused on the game screen, seemingly unaware of the sweets for the moment. Shin's heart stirred slightly, and a thought flashed through his mind.
He didn't push the dessert plate to her usual spot as he normally would. Instead, he made a small, tentative gesture. He picked up a soy milk biscuit and very naturally offered it to the side, within Koneko's reach, yet his gaze remained on the talisman he had just drawn, as if he had simply placed it there casually, without deliberately looking at her.
This seemingly casual action, however, broke the previous silent distance of "placement-self-retrieval."
Koneko's game operation clearly paused. The character on the screen made a mistake due to this momentary halt, but she seemed completely unfazed. Her peripheral vision caught the biscuit offered nearby, and she quickly glanced at Shin, who seemed to be intently studying the talisman paper.
The courtyard was silent, save for the rustling of leaves in the gentle breeze. A few seconds of silence stretched long.
Shin also felt a slight unease, worried that this somewhat presumptuous action might startle her, causing her to retreat back to a safe distance. However, to his surprise, after a brief pause, Koneko did not jump away or avert her gaze like a startled cat.
She merely… tilted her head slightly, her amber eyes looking at the biscuit within reach, then quickly raised her eyes to glance at Shin's seemingly focused profile. Then, she made a gesture that instantly filled Shin's heart with immense surprise and gratification—
She extended her free small hand and, very naturally, without the slightest hesitation, took the soy milk biscuit Shin offered. She didn't immediately put it in her mouth but held it in her hand, looking down at it, as if confirming the flavor. Then, she looked up, her gaze for the first time truly and calmly meeting Shin's. Though only for a brief moment, her eyes were still clear and placid, devoid of any repulsion or wariness.
She nodded gently, and with a voice almost imperceptible, uttered two words:
"…Thank you."
Her voice was very soft, carrying her usual coolness, yet it clearly and unmistakably reached Shin's ears. After saying these two words, she lowered her head and began to eat the biscuit in small bites, still sitting in her spot, not moving, as if she had simply completed the most ordinary of tasks.
But Shin knew this was far from ordinary! This simple "taking" and a "thank you" completely shattered the invisible, thin ice between them, formed by silence and distance!
It meant that Koneko no longer merely saw him as a harmless environmental factor providing sweets, but had begun to accept his presence and goodwill in a more direct, interactive way.
An indescribable warmth and sense of accomplishment instantly filled Shin's heart. He tried his best to maintain a calm expression, so as not to disturb this hard-won breakthrough, but the corners of his mouth couldn't help but curve slightly upward, revealing a warm and sincere smile.
"You're welcome, Senior Koneko." He responded softly, his tone as natural as usual, as if it were just part of an everyday conversation. "Do you like this flavor? It's soy milk, so it shouldn't be too sweet."
Koneko's chewing paused. She looked up at him again, then quickly lowered her gaze, nodding almost imperceptibly, and softly hummed a quiet "Mm."
Though still brief, this was undoubtedly a successful exchange!
From this moment on, the atmosphere in the courtyard seemed to undergo a subtle yet positive change. Koneko no longer completely immersed herself in her own world. She would occasionally look up to see what Shin was doing, or listen to the sounds around her. When Shin offered her another biscuit, her action of taking it was more natural and fluid. Once, when Shin tried to hand her a freshly brewed, moderately warm mint tea, after a moment of hesitation, she also reached out and took it, holding it in her hands and sipping it slowly. Although she didn't say thank you again, her tacit consent and acceptance spoke volumes.
When the others returned to the courtyard in the evening, they were surprised to find that Koneko was not in her usual spot on a distant tree branch or stone lantern. Instead, she was sitting under the veranda, close to Shin's position. Although they were still doing their own things, that invisible sense of separation had vanished.
Akeno was the first to notice this change. Her gaze swept between Koneko, sitting peacefully under the veranda, and Shin, with his calm expression. A knowing smile, filled with surprise and amusement, immediately appeared on her face. She lightly covered her mouth with her fan and whispered to Rias, "Oh my, President, it seems our Koneko has finally found a 'feeder' to her liking~"
Rias also noticed this heartwarming scene, and a hint of relief and appreciation flashed in her crimson eyes. She looked at Shin, the meaning in her eyes unspoken—this Advisor had once again demonstrated an extraordinary, subtle ability in harmonizing the team's atmosphere and welcoming new members.
Kiba Yuuto and Asia also sensed the change in atmosphere, and happy smiles appeared on their faces.
The lingering glow of the setting sun painted the courtyard in warm gold, as everyone, sitting or standing, enjoyed the tranquil evening. The last layer of thin ice between Shin and Koneko quietly melted, signaling that every member of the Occult Research Club had truly accepted this Eastern Advisor, with his unique power and peaceful heart-nature, from the bottom of their hearts.
The post-battle gloom completely dissipated, and their bonds deepened and became more harmonious through the daily interactions. This small courtyard witnessed the healing of wounds, and also the flourishing growth of trust and friendship.
Shin knew that his recuperation period had ended. In his own way, he had not only repaired his Dao foundation but also earned everyone's trust and friendship, truly integrating into this collective. The road ahead might still hold challenges, but with such companions and a place to belong, his heart was filled with peace and strength.
...
📢 Author's Note
The full completed version of High School DxD: The Quiet Immortal Who Guides Devils (Part 1) is now available on Patreon!
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✅ Part 1 Complete — 116 Chapters
🔥 I also have additional **18+ fanfics** available for readers who enjoy exclusive mature stories. 😉
1. Dragon Ball: Oolong's Sex Adventure
2. Elements of Lust – ATLA & Korra Mixed Smut
3. Doraemon: Filtering with Nobi Tamako
4. The Naive Me Who Became Someone's Everyday Secret
5. High School DxD: Rias Gremory, the Phenex Bride
6. Versatile Mage: Awakening the Succubus System
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