For several days after the Rating Game ended, Kuoh Town was unusually peaceful.
The sun still shone each day. Students continued laughing and fooling around in the streets, and life in the Occult Research Club carried on as usual.
Everything appeared exactly the same as before.
But Genichi knew it was only an illusion.
A three-way balance of power.
That was why no one had made a move after the Rating Game.
The Angels were waiting. The Fallen Angels were waiting. Even the Devils who didn't want to see him grow stronger were waiting.
Whoever struck first would shatter the balance and make themselves a target for the other two factions.
That was why no one acted. That was why everything remained peaceful.
But Genichi knew this calm wouldn't last forever.
Sooner or later, the balance would collapse. When that happened, he needed enough strength to handle whatever came next.
At best, his current strength allowed him to contend with an Ultimate-class Devil.
Against someone of Satan-class power, he probably wouldn't even have the chance to fight back.
He was too weak.
Weak enough that any Satan-class being could crush him.
Weak enough that he could only hide in this town, clinging to life beneath the protection provided by the three factions' uneasy balance.
Genichi sighed softly.
"This really pisses me off."
Akeno approached with a teacup in hand, smiling as she looked at him.
"What's wrong, Genichi-kun?"
Genichi shook his head.
"Nothing. I was just thinking about a few things."
Akeno didn't press him. She simply offered him the cup.
"Have some tea and relax."
Genichi accepted it and took a small sip.
The aroma spread across his tongue, carrying a hint of sweetness.
He closed his eyes, feeling its warmth flow into his body and spread through his limbs.
That was when he sensed it—the power lying dormant inside him.
Ddraig's soul.
The soul of the Red Dragon Emperor, containing the strength of a Heavenly Dragon—power on the level of a transcendent being.
Ever since Genichi had devoured it, it had remained dormant inside him like an immense treasure that he could see but couldn't touch.
Genichi opened his eyes and lowered his gaze to his right hand.
The Boosted Gear rested silently on his arm, its green jewel giving off a faint glow beneath the sunlight.
He could feel that power sleeping deep within the jewel, waiting to be awakened.
His thoughts returned to the day he had devoured Ddraig.
He had only just reincarnated as a Devil back then, and his demonic power had been pitifully weak. He hadn't even been capable of fully activating the Boosted Gear.
He had assumed that devouring Ddraig's soul would immediately grant him the power of a Heavenly Dragon.
Instead, his demonic power had only increased slightly. Most of Ddraig's strength had been stored inside him because his body couldn't withstand it.
It was like a child swallowing an elephant. He could digest and absorb only a tiny portion, while the rest remained in his stomach to be broken down little by little.
What he needed to do now was accelerate that process.
Then he remembered something else.
After the night he had spent with Rias—and again after the night he had spent with Akeno—he had sensed another sliver of that dormant power being digested.
The sensation had been so faint that he had almost dismissed it as his imagination.
But after noticing it several times, he became certain that it was real.
Being intimate with them accelerated the absorption of the Red Dragon Emperor's power.
Genichi's expression turned strange.
How was that supposed to work?
He thought about it for a long time, but couldn't come up with a reasonable explanation.
Then he remembered Demeter.
He and Demeter had also been intimate during his time in the DanMachi world.
Yet back then, he hadn't felt his power increase at all.
Why did it work with Rias and Akeno, but not with Demeter?
Was it because their races were different?
Rias and Akeno were Devils, while Demeter was a goddess.
Or was it because their power systems were fundamentally different?
Demonic power and divine power were two entirely different things.
Could it have something to do with his Schrift?
Rias and Akeno had both drunk his blood wine, creating a connection between their souls and his.
But Demeter had drunk the blood wine as well, so why hadn't it worked with her?
Genichi considered the problem for a long time without reaching an answer.
Eventually, he decided to stop thinking about it.
"There's only one way to find out whether I'm right."
He rose and walked toward Rias.
She was handling some paperwork. When she looked up at him, confusion flickered in her eyes.
"What is it?"
Genichi didn't answer. He simply took her hand and led her toward the door.
Rias blushed slightly, but she didn't resist and allowed him to pull her along.
Watching them, Akeno's lips curved upward.
"Genichi-kun, it's the middle of the day. You should be mindful of appearances."
Genichi glanced back at her.
"You're coming too, Akeno-senpai."
Akeno's smile froze for the briefest instant before becoming even brighter.
"Of course."
Inside the clubroom, Yuuto pretended he hadn't heard anything.
Koneko lowered her head and concentrated on drinking her milk, though the tips of her ears had turned faintly red.
Asia tilted her head, looking completely puzzled.
"What are Genichi and the President going to do?"
Yuuto cleared his throat.
"It's nothing. They have something they need to discuss."
Asia nodded despite not fully understanding, then returned to her prayers.
In the hallway, Genichi held Rias's hand while Akeno followed behind them, wearing an enigmatic smile.
Rias's face had turned nearly as red as her hair, and she kept her head lowered without saying a word.
Akeno leaned closer to her ear and whispered, "Why are you blushing, Rias? It isn't as if this is your first time."
Rias shot her a glare.
"Be quiet."
Akeno's smile grew even wider.
They entered the room and closed the door.
Genichi turned to face them.
Rias stood beside the window, sunlight spilling over her and making her crimson hair resemble a burning flame.
Akeno leaned against the door with her arms crossed, smiling at him.
"Genichi-kun, what exactly did you bring us here to do?"
Her voice carried a teasing note.
Genichi didn't answer. He merely stepped forward and drew Rias into his arms.
He didn't understand the principle behind it, nor did he particularly care.
All he knew was that this was an opportunity—one that could help him grow stronger more quickly.
He needed power. Enough power to protect himself.
If deepening their intimacy could make him stronger, then that was what he would do.
The reason didn't matter. Neither did the mechanics behind it.
The curtains were drawn, and what followed remained theirs alone.
Within Genichi, Ddraig's dragon soul slowly began to dissolve.
He could feel strands of power being drawn out and absorbed into his blood, his bones, and every inch of his muscles.
It wasn't his imagination.
It was real.
A portion of that power flowed through Genichi and entered Rias and Akeno as well, strengthening both of them.
The corners of his mouth curved upward.
Some of Ddraig's power would be consumed in the process, but that didn't matter to Genichi. His most urgent priority was becoming stronger as quickly as possible.
Potential only meant something while he was alive. If he died, all that potential would be completely worthless.
Even if he were killed in the arena, it would only benefit another version of himself.
Therefore, even if it meant sacrificing some of his future potential, Genichi would use it to increase his strength right now.
(End of Chapter)
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