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The next day.
As usual, Anos completed his high-intensity morning training before heading to school.
Today, however, he could clearly feel the difference.
The routine was the same.
The intensity was the same.
But the results had improved dramatically.
He had never expected to ascend in a single leap, so he found the Divine Authority's current effect acceptable.
What he had truly worried about was something else.
If he absorbed a god's core…
Would his personality change?
Would the Divine Authority dominate him?
If it did—
Would he still be himself?
He had attempted to judge it.
But the concept of "still being himself" was too abstract.
The ability returned no clear result.
"Hmm? A new chest?"
Anos noticed a green marker appear on the system map and stepped outside.
"The coordinates… Kuoh Academy?"
He instantly recognized the location.
He had memorized the entire town's layout long ago.
"Hm?"
The moment he stepped out, he spotted a white-haired figure.
"Koneko?"
He looked at Toujou Koneko.
Or rather—
Shirone.
Why would she come looking for him?
"Senpai... The game disc you lent me."
She handed him a small bag.
Anos, if nothing else, had money.
Which stocks would skyrocket, when they would rise or fall he could determine within seconds.
So when it came to games, he simply bought whatever interested him, He had accumulated an absurd collection at home.
Given his ability required binary judgments, sometimes he even bought dating sims.
Yes.
Quite a few.
"You didn't need to come this early, You could've returned it at school."
Anos smiled and invited her inside.
If even Rias couldn't detect anything unusual about his house, Koneko certainly couldn't.
"Senpai... Did you go out last night?"
The moment they entered, Koneko looked at him with her golden eyes, Within those golden irises, faint vertical pupils were visible.
A feline trait.
Though she was a high-tier nekomata, she had not fully matured yet.
She couldn't perfectly control her transformations, Hiding her cat ears and tail required constant energy.
If weakened, she couldn't conceal them properly.
Anos noticed the slit pupils.
In felines, that meant alertness.
"Why would you think that, Koneko?"
He smiled and retrieved a bag of dried fish from the fridge.
The moment she saw it, her eyes sharpened with interest.
Then she quickly composed herself.
Now wasn't the time.
"Here... Don't want it?"
Anos chuckled.
Through countless gaming sessions together, he had learned this was her favorite snack.
"…Since it's from Senpai, I won't refuse."
After a brief hesitation, she accepted.
Business could wait.
Food came first.
But the moment she took it—
Anos raised an eyebrow.
A green treasure chest had appeared above her head.
[Ding!]
[Green-tier treasure chest triggered.]
[Opening condition: Shirone's cat ears.]
"…Senpai... Is there something on my head?"
Koneko, nibbling like a small cat, noticed his unusual gaze.
Usually, he smiled at her the way someone would look at their pet.
Sometimes he even tried to pat her.
She always dodged.
But this time—
His eyes held surprise.
As if he had seen something unexpected.
"Let me answer your first question first."
"I did go out last night."
He smiled.
"As expected."
A faint glimmer passed through her golden eyes.
She had thought he would deny it until she mentioned Aika-senpai.
Aika had tried to conceal his involvement.
But lies from ordinary humans were useless against her senses.
"So the stray devil was eliminated by you, Senpai? And how did you evade the vice president's surveillance?"
She continued eating as she asked.
It wasn't intan errogation.
Just completing Rias's request.
And satisfying her own curiosity.
If he refused to answer, it would just make her later report more troublesome.
"That? I've been researching formations lately."
A small transfer formation appeared in Anos's hand.
Koneko nodded silently.
Even if only at the lower-class devil level—
He was clearly not ordinary.
"Senpai... Welcome to this side of the world, President Rias would like you to visit the Occult Research Club after school."
She delivered Rias's message.
At the same time, she felt slightly relieved.
Entering the supernatural world meant facing unimaginable dangers.
But it was better than being an ignorant human erased without understanding why.
"My questions are answered."
Anos smiled.
"Now, Koneko… It's my turn to ask you something."
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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!