— — — — — — — —

  The so-called "magic restoration" was a method of restoring magical power through the exchange of bodily fluids.

  Among Devils, magic restoration was often considered a reward from the master to their servant.

  "So... that's why you stuck your tongue out? Right?"

  Utaha Kasumigaoka's eyeshes quivered slightly. Her cheeks were burning red, and her lips were tightly pressed together. Her crimson eyes flickered between looking at Lynn and avoiding his gaze entirely.

  "To maximize the effectiveness of magic restoration, of course," Lynn responded confidently.

  He was being completely serious about restoring her magic.

  It's just that... since Utaha had overexerted herself, the intensity of the restoration had to be a bit stronger.

  "Oh my, how unexpectedly pure."

  Himejima Akeno narrowed her eyes, a teasing smile pying on her lips.

  Utaha's body tensed up instantly.

  'Wait.'

  'Did that mean they had all been watching the whole time?!'

  'Social death.'

  Utaha was internally losing her mind, but she forced herself to appear calm. Taking a deep breath, she suppressed all her chaotic emotions.

  Still... her heart was pounding uncontrolbly.

  She stole a quick gnce at Lynn and muttered under her breath, "Well, I guess my first kiss is his now."

  "How are you feeling now?" Rias asked with concern.

  "I think... I'm fine?"

  Utaha gave a slightly awkward smile.

  Rias examined her briefly before nodding with a grin. "Looks like Lynn's magic restoration was quite effective."

  Utaha froze.

  Did she really have to bring that up?!

  Rias, however, wasn't done marveling. "I can't believe Utaha-san was able to master an Ultimate-Css Spell so quickly. What an extraordinary ability."

  Just this single power alone gave Utaha immense potential.

  Once she fully grew into it, she could easily rival Akeno.

  Even Rias herself was envious of such a servant.

  Hearing this, Utaha finally recalled what she had just done and turned her gaze toward the crater left behind by the Lightning Strike.

  She fell into thought. "It's powerful, but I feel like it's still cking something."

  That was why she had poured all her remaining magic into that one attack.

  "Of course."

  As a lightning specialist, Akeno expined, "A fully unleashed Lightning Strike can affect the weather itself. Right now, Utaha-san, your magic power isn't enough to bring out its full potential."

  "I see..."

  Utaha nodded in understanding.

  As an Ultimate-Css Spell, the technique was complete, but she couldn't yet wield its full might.

  Still... this was good enough.

  Lynn raised a finger, and a tiny, bck lightning snake danced at his fingertip.

  The moment Utaha's Devil's Grimoire recorded the Lightning Strike, Lynn had silently mastered it as well.

  As a High-Css Devil, he could do much more with it.

  For example—Silent Lightning.

  No sound. No magical fluctuations.

  All of its energy locked within this tiny, crackling bck spark.

  Only when it hit its target would all that destruction be unleashed in an instant.

  And so, no one present noticed his actions.

  Except…For Akeno, whose sensitivity to lightning was unparalleled.

  Her violet eyes widened slightly, staring at the bck lightning in Lynn's hand in shock.

  This lightning… it felt like Rias's magic.

  Lightning imbued with the aura of destruction…

  Lynn simply smiled at her before casually dispersing the lightning in his palm.

  Akeno, too, smiled faintly and averted her gaze, but her heart was anything but calm.

  Even though it was bck, the structure of that spell was undoubtedly Lightning Strike.

  And the bck color wasn't an issue either.

  As much as she hated to acknowledge it, her own bloodline had given her lightning that was different from normal.

  What confused her was—Lynn had only gnced at the spell scroll, hadn't he?

  Then why did he already seem so proficient?

  That level of mastery over Lightning Strike… even she couldn't replicate it.

  Lynn Valifer.

  The st remaining bloodline of House Valifer.

  He was definitely not as simple as he seemed.

  — — —

  Meanwhile…

  Rias was still deep in thought, sighing with a hint of regret. "Even an Ultimate-Css Spell wasn't enough to test the limits of Utaha-san's ability."

  Lynn chuckled. "It's fine. If you ever want to test more, just let me know."

  Rias shot him a gre. "No thanks. I already lost an Ultimate-Css Spell. Who knows what I'd have to give up next time."

  "Tch. What a shame." Lynn clicked his tongue in disappointment.

  Given the Gremory family's resources, he was sure they had more than just one Ultimate-Css Spell.

  Not to mention, Rias had a big brother who was a Maou. That was a gold mine waiting to be tapped.

  Since he had gotten all he could for now, Lynn prepared to leave.

  Before they left, Rias asked Koneko to show them around Kuoh Town.

  "So... why are we at an arcade?"

  Utaha looked at Lynn and Koneko in disbelief.

  "K.O.!"

  "Lost again." Koneko stared bnkly at the screen as her character colpsed.

  "Senpai, you're strong."

  Her tone was as ft as ever, but Lynn could hear the sincerity in her voice.

  "Hey, haven't you two pyed enough? If we don't hurry, we'll miss the st train home."

  Utaha checked the time, her right leg bouncing impatiently.

  For some reason, seeing Lynn and Koneko having so much fun annoyed her.

  "You're right." Lynn decided to end the session.

  Although he had learned Teleportation Magic, he hadn't pced a coordinate at home yet, so they still needed to take the train.

  "See you next time, Koneko."

  "Senpai." Koneko tugged at his sleeve and handed him a piece of paper.

  It was a summoning contract.

  A personal one, exclusive to her. "Senpai, I want to learn martial arts!"

  Koneko gazed at him with absolute seriousness.

  Lynn gnced at the Street Fighter machine beside them.

  Ah.

  So that's the kind of "martial arts" she meant.

  "No problem. If you ever want, come over to my pce."

  As they walked away, Utaha crossed her arms and followed closely behind.

  "Tsk! Calling her Koneko now, huh."

  Lynn gave her a confused look. "Why do I feel like you're jealous?"

  "Hah? Me? No way—"

  Utaha started to retort but then... her mind froze.

  Wait.

  Was she jealous?

  Her gaze flickered to Lynn's lips.

  Oh no.

  She was falling for him!

  But… they had only known each other for two days?!

  Her mind raced through everything that had happened, lingering on the magic restoration incident. Her heartbeat quickened uncontrolbly.

  "Why'd you stop walking?" Lynn turned back to her.

  Utaha snapped out of it, ran up, and grabbed his arm, tilting her head slightly. "Fine. I admit it. I might be a little jealous."

  Lynn blinked before ughing. "Well, try to hold back. I am, after all, a harem-building Devil."

  "...You really are a lustful Devil, huh."

  .

  .

  .