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"President, your tea."
Akeno stepped forward with a graceful smile, setting the cup before Anos. Being acknowledged by him clearly pleased her.
"But if President Anos wishes to enjoy my tea," she added lightly, her tone shifting, "there's a condition."
"Oh?"
"I've heard you can identify a wine's age and brewing process just by tasting it. So tell me… how long was this tea steeped?"
Akeno had always found Anos fascinating.
Perfect academic scores. Flawless judgment. Uncannily precise reasoning.
Even now, he could undoubtedly deduce exactly what state Rias and Sona were in inside that room.
Yet he chose to watch.
How delightfully mischievous.
"Steeping time, hmm?" Anos lifted the cup thoughtfully. "It depends on the leaves, of course But this one… eleven minutes."
"Correct."
Akeno's smile deepened as she presented the tea properly.
Anos took a sip, savoring it while casually enjoying the spectacle of two beautiful girls arguing nearby. Honestly, it wasn't a bad way to spend the morning.
[Ding!]
[Green-tier treasure chest opened.]
[Reward obtained: Monster Card — Dark Magician Girl.]
Anos nearly sprayed tea across the floor.
"…Did I somehow get reincarnated into Yu-Gi-Oh instead?"
That was his first thought.
He examined the reward more closely.
"So… is this for battle? Or 'battle'?"
He paused.
"Well, regardless of the type of combat she specializes in, basic housework should be manageable."
He reviewed the combat evaluation.
Peak Mid-Class Devil level. She could unleash attacks comparable to a Low-Class High Devil at maximum output, but anything beyond that was out of reach.
In short—
Still weaker than him.
His formations could borrow the momentum of the world and earth, mobilizing ambient spiritual energy But they were also limited by the world itself.
Their ceiling was low.
Technically sufficient for now.
But low.
Natural forces were meaningless against beings who had transcended the world's framework unless he poured in enormous amounts of his own power to amplify them.
And that defeated his purpose.
He preferred minimal input, maximum return.
Seems like it's time to expand my options.
His thoughts drifted to a certain function of the Ark Sphere. If he could unlock that feature, it might solve the limitations he currently faced.
—
Meanwhile, after prolonged magical pressure and mutual glare-offs, Rias and Sona finally sensed something was off.
"Rias, what exactly is your issue?" Sona demanded, exasperated. "Why would President Anos' transferring schools affect you so much? As far as I'm aware, you aren't in a relationship."
"…Transfer?" Rias blinked. "You're talking about him transferring? Not recruiting him as your peer?"
They both froze.
So the entire explosive confrontation had been built on a misunderstanding?
Rias had heard rumors spreading like wildfire about Sona and Anos' "future together," rushed over at top speed—
Only to discover they weren't even arguing about the same topic.
"Recruiting him?" Sona's eyes sharpened. "So that's why you came here so urgently?"
"…."
Rias' gaze drifted for a split second.
Which confirmed everything.
Sona narrowed her eyes.
So Rias knew something she didn't.
And that knowledge had driven her here in such a hurry.
Rias decided hesitation was dangerous.
She lunged toward Anos by the doorway.
"Anos! Will you become my peer?"
Her sapphire-blue eyes locked onto his. There was both youthful charm and mature allure in her expression.
"Absolutely not."
A wall of water materialized between them, deflecting her advance.
Sitri Family water magic.
Sona's voice was calm, but her stance was firm.
Whatever Rias was planning—
Anos Kanzaki was the Student Council President.
Not the Occult Research Club's recruitment target.
Shouldn't internal matters be handled internally first?
Outsiders could wait for their turn.
"Sona! I brought this up first. Get in line!"
Rias shattered the water barrier with destructive demonic energy.
There were rules to these things.
"Actually," Anos interjected, gently placing his tea aside, "I don't think either of you needs to argue."
For a brief second, he recalled the earlier contact.
Rias' figure truly was impressive.
The sensation lingered faintly in memory.
"Anos?" Rias looked confused. "What do you mean?"
Did he misunderstand the benefits of reincarnating as a devil? Perhaps he was judging them based on stray devils like yesterday's.
"I'm a devil," Sona stated plainly. "So is Rias."
"I know," Anos replied calmly. "And the reason I said that is…"
He extended his hand.
A golden sphere of holy energy began forming in the air.
"Holy power?!" Rias stared. "Anos, are you connected to the Church? That's impossible you've lived in Kuoh your entire life."
Kuoh had no Church presence.
Only fallen angels occupy the abandoned chapel for their own amusement.
"Holy power and demonic power are fundamentally incompatible," Sona said quietly, sighing. "Is that what you meant?"
If Anos possessed holy power, reincarnating him as a devil would be nearly impossible.
And for Sona—
That was a genuine regret.
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~Support with 300 PowerStones = 1 Bonus Chapter
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Thank you so much for your support and for reading!