Genichi leaned against the headboard and stared at the ceiling as his breathing gradually steadied.
Sunlight streamed through a gap in the curtains, casting several patches of light across his body.
His fingers tapped lightly against the sheets in a steady rhythm, as though he were thinking about something.
Haruno lay beside him, her hair spread across the pillow and a lingering flush still coloring her cheeks.
One arm rested across his chest, her fingertips unconsciously tracing circles against his skin.
Her eyes were half-closed, her lashes trembling softly. She looked like a well-fed cat, languid and content.
Genichi closed his eyes and sensed the magic within Haruno.
The power was unmistakable to his perception. It was like a stone had been dropped into the surface of a tranquil lake, sending ripples outward one after another.
Her magic was growing, expanding, and gradually becoming denser.
The increase was small, but it was definitely there.
He could say with certainty that Haruno possessed more magic than before.
This was already the third time.
Every time they slept together, her magic increased slightly.
The amount might be insignificant each time, but those small gains would eventually accumulate. Sooner or later, the quantitative change would lead to a qualitative transformation.
There was one thing he couldn't understand, though.
Demeter.
Back in the DanMachi world, he had slept with Demeter more than once.
Yet nothing had happened. It was as if they had done nothing at all.
Why?
Genichi frowned slightly.
The same thing worked on Haruno, Rias, Akeno, Sona, and Draiden. Why had it failed to affect Demeter?
Was there something unusual about her?
Was there something unusual about that world?
Or perhaps...
Genichi shook his head.
He didn't know. But he did know that he would find the answer someday.
"What are you thinking about?"
Haruno's languid, husky voice reached his ears.
Genichi lowered his gaze to her.
She was looking up at him with those dark eyes, which were filled with such tender affection that they resembled pools of melted honey.
Her finger continued tracing circles over his chest, one after another, as if she were playing a song only she could hear.
"Nothing."
Genichi's voice remained calm.
"I was just thinking that your magic has increased again."
Haruno's eyes lit up.
She abruptly sat upright, causing the blanket to slip from her shoulders and reveal her pale skin and delicate collarbones.
She looked down at her hands, opening and closing them as she tried to feel the newly awakened power.
"Really?"
Disbelief colored her voice.
"Really."
Haruno closed her eyes and concentrated, sensing the magic within her.
She could feel that the power had indeed grown denser. What had once been a thin mist now felt like a viscous liquid flowing through her veins and settling into her bones.
The corners of her lips slowly rose. Her smile grew wider and wider until she was grinning like an idiot.
"Hahahaha!"
She burst out laughing. Her laughter was crisp and unrestrained, utterly unlike her usual elegant and composed demeanor.
She laughed so hard that her body rocked back and forth. Tears nearly gathered in her eyes before she finally collapsed into Genichi's arms.
Genichi watched her foolish display, the corner of his eye twitching slightly.
This woman was always putting on airs and presenting herself as noble and aloof. So she could laugh like this too.
After Haruno had laughed to her heart's content, she raised her head and looked at him.
Tender affection nearly overflowed from her dark eyes.
She reached out and gently caressed his face. Her fingertips traveled from his forehead to the bridge of his nose, then from his nose to his lips, and finally down to his chin.
Her movements were soft and slow, as if she were touching a precious work of art.
"Genichi."
Her voice was as soft and gentle as a spring breeze.
"You're so good to me."
Genichi looked at her without answering.
Of course he knew why she had suddenly become so affectionate. Her magic had increased, her strength had grown, and she had gained something valuable from him.
This woman was incredibly calculating.
He raised a hand and gently pushed her away.
Haruno swayed, a trace of surprise flashing across her face.
Genichi sat up, pulled back the blanket, and placed his bare feet on the floor.
He picked up the clothes scattered across the floor and began putting them on one piece at a time.
His movements were quick and decisive, without the slightest hesitation.
"Don't just enjoy the benefits without doing any work."
His voice was calm, but it carried an unmistakable note of command.
"I want you to find those people who can see spirits as quickly as possible."
Haruno's smile stiffened.
She stared at Genichi's back, his broad shoulders, and the smooth lines of his muscles as a complicated emotion welled up inside her.
She knew he was discussing something serious. She also knew how important it was.
But only moments ago, she had been in his arms, feeling his warmth and savoring the memory of his touch. Being pushed away so suddenly inevitably left her feeling disappointed.
"This will benefit you, me, and the Yukinoshita family."
Genichi fastened his buttons without looking back.
"Even Yukino will benefit from it."
Haruno's disappointment instantly vanished.
"Understood!"
Her voice carried excitement, enthusiasm, and a hint of impatience.
She leaped out of bed, completely unconcerned about her lack of clothing, and ran barefoot to the wardrobe to search for something to wear.
Her movements were quick and efficient, making her seem like an entirely different person from the languid woman of moments ago.
As she dressed, she planned her next steps.
First, she would call her subordinates and confirm Mitsue's whereabouts. Then she would personally visit the people capable of seeing spirits. After that, she would organize every clue she found and deliver the information to Genichi.
Watching her suddenly brim with motivation, Genichi couldn't help shaking his head.
"She really is calculating."
His voice was quiet, carrying a hint of helplessness, amusement, and another emotion even he couldn't quite describe.
Hearing him, Haruno turned to look at him.
The excitement remained on her face, but a crafty glint flashed through her eyes.
She walked over with a bright smile, stood on tiptoe, and planted a forceful kiss on Genichi's cheek.
The kiss landed with a loud smack, almost as if she were declaring something.
"I'm not calculating. I'm practical."
She smiled.
"Your business is my business, and my business is your business. Why bother separating the two?"
Genichi wiped the saliva from his cheek without replying.
Haruno smiled and turned back to finish dressing.
She moved quickly, slipping into her skirt, blouse, and jacket one after another.
Finally, she stood before the mirror, fixed her hair, straightened her collar, and confirmed that she looked presentable enough.
"I'm leaving, then."
She turned and looked at Genichi.
He nodded.
"Go."
Haruno walked to the door and opened it, but before leaving, she glanced back at him one last time.
There was tenderness in her dark eyes, along with reluctance and a trace of determination that Genichi couldn't quite understand.
Then she turned and walked out.
Her footsteps echoed through the hallway. She was limping slightly, clearly still feeling the effects of their earlier exertion.
Even so, her steps were light and resolute, without the slightest hesitation.
Genichi stood by the window, watching in the direction she had left.
Sunlight fell across his body and cast a long shadow over the floor.
His expression remained calm, revealing no emotion.
Yet his thoughts had already turned to something else.
Love.
What was his attitude toward love?
Did he love Rias?
Did he love Akeno?
Did he love Sona?
Did he love Tsubaki?
Did he love Haruno?
Perhaps he did.
But more than anything, it was lust.
To him, love was merely a touch of seasoning, something that kept the road toward greater power from becoming unbearably lonely.
(End of Chapter)
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