"Well then, bye-bye, Shirone. Nee-san is looking forward to the day you come to me on your own to learn Senjutsu."
Kuroka Toujou said it with a playful lilt, then lightly tapped the tip of her foot against the ground and vanished into the white mist.
As Kuroka Toujou left, the surrounding mist dispersed as well. Koneko Toujou remained where she was, staring blankly in the direction Kuroka Toujou had gone, her thoughts unreadable.
"Koneko-chan, what are you planning to do now?"
Cid asked while petting Delta's head.
Only after hearing Cid's voice did Koneko snap out of her daze. She looked at Delta, who was sprawled over Cid like an oversized dog, with a slightly speechless expression. She seemed about to say something, but in the end, she only shook her head.
"I think… I should go tell President Rias that my sister appeared. After all… Kuroka Nee-san is a wanted criminal in the Underworld."
"I get the feeling… you really don't want to tell anyone about this, Koneko."
Noticing Koneko Toujou's hesitation, Cid raised an eyebrow.
"I… used Senjutsu just now. I don't want President Rias to know."
Koneko Toujou lowered her head, her voice full of unease.
What kind of reason was that? Senjutsu was clearly a pretty decent power.
"Koneko-chan, I've been wondering since earlier. Why do you keep calling Senjutsu a dark power? Your sister seems pretty strong when she uses it."
Cid had noticed it from the start. As a member of the Nekomata clan with an extremely high talent for Senjutsu, Kuroka Toujou's opening move, which could practically be called healing the enemy, had actually managed to trap Koneko Toujou.
He had previously thought Koneko never used Senjutsu because it had some kind of side effect. But judging from what she had just done, it seemed Koneko Toujou simply did not want to use it.
"Senjutsu is an evil power. It corrupts people's minds."
No, Koneko-chan, that explanation doesn't help me understand at all. Life energy is indeed addictive, but the Senjutsu Kuroka showed is nowhere near the level of the life "Core."
"Kuroka Nee-san killed her master after awakening the power of Senjutsu, then fled and became a wanted criminal in the Underworld…"
Through Koneko Toujou's explanation, Cid finally understood the whole story. In short, Koneko Toujou and Kuroka Toujou had lost both parents when they were young, and the sisters were taken in by a branch family of one of the Underworld's 72 Pillars of Devils.
After being adopted, Kuroka Toujou, a Nekoshou of the Nekomata clan, quickly displayed her talent. In a short time, she reached the level of a High-Class Devil and was taken in as a Peerage Member.
At first, everything had been fine. Kuroka Toujou became the Peerage Member of a High-Class Devil and had a bright future ahead of her. But all of that changed after Kuroka Toujou awakened the Nekomata clan's innate talent, Senjutsu. She killed her master and defected.
As Kuroka Toujou's younger sister, Koneko Toujou naturally drew attention after Kuroka Toujou's defection. The Devil higher-ups judged her to possess the same danger as Kuroka Toujou and intended to dispose of her. In the end, Rias saved her and gave her the name Koneko Toujou.
"So, Koneko-chan, you decided that Senjutsu is a dark power that devours the mind and makes people lose themselves in power, right?"
"It's a power that brings misfortune. If it weren't for Senjutsu, Kuroka Nee-san wouldn't have defected, and she wouldn't have abandoned me alone in the Underworld."
Cid's mouth twitched. He really did not know how to describe Koneko Toujou's way of thinking.
"Koneko-chan, you need to understand something. If someone has a twisted heart, even the most radiant power can be used for evil. But if someone has a firm mind, then even the most wicked power in the world can be used for good."
"Senpai, are you saying… I should accept Senjutsu, that dark power?"
Koneko Toujou looked at Cid suspiciously, and the atmosphere grew strangely tense.
"Personally, I don't think your sister is that kind of person."
"That's just your misconception, Senpai. She is that kind of person."
Koneko Toujou looked away. Clearly, she had not taken Cid's explanation to heart.
"Fine, that's your business, Koneko. Still, judging from what your sister called you, your original name was Shirone Toujou."
"That was my old name. My name now is Koneko Toujou."
As she said that, Koneko Toujou looked toward Delta again, who was lying in Cid's arms. Seeing the blissful look on Delta's face, she could not help but frown.
"I'm done talking about myself. Now let's talk about you, Senpai. Who exactly is she?"
"Weak female, watch your tone. Do you want Delta to hunt you down?"
Sensing Koneko Toujou's gaze, whether it counted as hostility or not, Delta immediately bristled. Her fur stood on end as she glared fiercely at Koneko Toujou.
"You mean Delta? I met her a few days ago while I was out shopping. After a bunch of weird things happened, we became friends."
Holding Delta back before she could pounce, Cid smiled as a thin thread of Magical Power flowed into Delta's body, suppressing the Magical Power that was about to erupt.
"Delta, let me introduce you. This is Koneko Toujou. My friend is your friend too, so you need to get along with her. Come on, say hello."
Hearing Cid's order, the Magical Power building inside Delta came to a halt. She looked at Koneko, then at Cid, before finally jumping down with an unhappy expression.
"Fine. Since Cid said so, weak female cat, Delta will allow you to become Delta's servant. Now hurry up and show your belly in submission."
"Smack!"
Cid slapped a hand hard over his own face. Why had he thought Delta had normal logic and would understand what he meant? Wasn't she clearly picking a fight on purpose?
"Guh…"
Just as Cid expected, the moment Koneko Toujou heard Delta's words, she was so startled that she jumped back, putting distance between herself and Delta while watching her warily.
"Hey, weak female, what are you doing? Do you want Delta to hunt you?"
Triggered by Koneko Toujou's defensive reaction, Delta also began staring at her with the eyes of a predator watching its prey.
"Don't start fighting out of nowhere. Koneko-chan, don't hold it against Delta. Her head is a little…"
Cid jumped between the two girls and explained to Koneko while signaling Delta with his eyes to stay still. His main goal was to keep Koneko from getting killed by one swipe of Delta's claw. At this distance, there was basically no distance at all for Delta.
"Senpai, get away from her. She's dangerous."
Koneko Toujou did not believe Cid at all. She stared nervously at Delta, channeling Magical Power to reinforce her whole body.
"Grr…"
Delta badly wanted to tear Koneko Toujou apart with one swipe, but because of Cid's order, she could only stand there unwillingly, glaring viciously at Koneko Toujou and letting out a beast-like snarl.
"Koneko, you don't need to be so tense. Delta doesn't mean any harm. She's just not very good with words. See for yourself."
Cid stroked Delta's dog-like head, soothing her restless mood, then showed Koneko Toujou how quickly Delta had softened under his hand.
"…"
Koneko Toujou remained on guard, but seeing how completely defenseless Delta looked, she still lowered her attack stance and slowly walked toward Cid.
"See? Isn't Delta cute?"
Koneko Toujou looked strangely at Delta as she was being petted, then nodded stiffly before finally letting out a sigh.
"Mm… fine. I believe you, Senpai. But I still think you should keep your distance from her."
Even as she said that, Koneko Toujou kept herself ready to move at any moment. As a Therianthrope who believed in strength above all else, she truly did not believe Delta would befriend someone as weak as Cid.
From the moment she learned Delta had appeared together with her sister, she had suspected that Delta might be working with her. She did not know why her sister had not taken Delta back with her, but that did nothing to lessen Koneko Toujou's wariness.
She had appeared alongside her sister, and judging from what Delta had said afterward, it was obvious she was a Therianthrope who, like her sister, had fallen into a craving for power. There was every chance she might suddenly lose control one day and kill Cid.
"You weak female, Delta has been putting up with you for a long time. You've been trying to drive a wedge between Delta and Cid since earlier. Do you want to fight?"
Delta's body began struggling violently again. Powerful Magical Power stirred inside her, but before it could flow out, another equal force of Magical Power canceled it out within her body.
Koneko Toujou did not answer Delta's provocation. She simply took a fighting stance. If Cid's burst of Magical Power could restrain Delta's physical abilities, then how strong could she really be?
"I'm really sorry, Koneko. Delta just speaks without thinking. She doesn't mean anything by it. You still need to report to Rias, right? You don't have to escort me any farther."
Cid felt like his brain's CPU was about to start smoking. Making two different streams of Magical Power cancel each other out inside Delta's body at the exact same rhythm, without letting even the slightest disturbance escape, was worse than blowing up his heart ten times.
"Is… that okay?"
After hearing Cid's suggestion, and after seeing him stop Delta several times with Magical Power whenever she tried to attack, without any powerful Magical Power erupting from her body, Koneko Toujou was clearly tempted. She knew her sister's ability to act all too well. For all she knew, her sister might already be attacking Rias by now.
"No problem, no problem. My house is pretty close to here, so I won't trouble you any further, Koneko-chan."
"Then… all right. Senpai, be careful around that Therianthrope. She really is dangerous."
After giving Delta one last look and leaving behind that warning, Koneko Toujou ran off in the opposite direction.
"Grr!!!"
Delta watched Koneko Toujou's retreating back with the eyes of someone looking at a dead woman. Then she stopped struggling, jumped down from Cid's arms, and twitched her nose.
"No. You are not following Koneko-chan's scent and killing her. No matter what, she's still your subordinate's little sister."
Cid slapped Delta on the head, interrupting her attempt to memorize the scent. He felt that killing someone over such a minor verbal clash was a little too extreme.
"Grr… Kuroka, can Delta kill your little sister?"
Delta let out a dissatisfied beast-like growl, then whipped her head around and shouted at the kimono-clad woman on the other side of the alley.
"Sigh… No. She's my only sister."
Hearing Delta's question, Kuroka Toujou's mouth twitched, and she sighed for her sister's sake.
That was right. She had not actually left. After disappearing from Koneko Toujou's sight, she had doubled back and hidden herself nearby.
And then she had witnessed Koneko Toujou's actions, which nearly made her heart stop several times in a row. Fortunately, the new boss had been reliable enough to stop Delta in time.
"Ah… seriously, why is everyone bullying Delta? Delta's angry now."
Kuroka Toujou's answer successfully set off Delta's anger. The Therianthrope girl leaped up and tackled Kuroka Toujou to the ground. After landing, she straddled Kuroka Toujou's slender waist and started wriggling around on top of her.
"Kuroka, hurry. Move for Delta."
Faced with Delta's anger, Kuroka Toujou simply lay flat on the ground without moving, her face completely expressionless.
"All right, Delta, stop playing. Come home with me obediently."
"Got it, Boss. Kuroka, hurry up and follow!"
Cid lifted Delta onto his back and walked toward the alley's exit. Delta obediently nodded, then turned and started ordering Kuroka Toujou around.
"Yes, yes, Shadow-sama."
Kuroka Toujou stood up, straightened the clothes Delta had messed up, and hurried after Cid with quick little steps.
...
"Please, Shadow-sama, save Gamma-sama."
Cid silently looked at the brown-haired beauty before him, took a sip of tea, and let out a quiet hum.
"Don't be so tense, Nu. Right now, you're like a string pulled tight. The slightest touch could make you snap. You need to learn how to relax."
Ignoring the commotion Delta was making in the kitchen, Cid poured Nu a cup of tea.
"…I understand, Shadow-sama."
Taking Cid's advice to heart, Nu drank the tea and took several deep breaths. Then she slowly opened her mouth, doing her best to explain in words that were tactful but clear.
In short, Gamma and Eta's little circle had gotten into their usual internal dispute, someone had discovered it, and now they wanted him to mediate, right? It did not matter. It probably was not anything serious. This was not the first time, anyway. He could just ask Eta about the situation later.
As he listened to Nu's explanation, Cid nodded and settled on that interpretation. He planned to ask Eta about it later. As for now…
"Nu, I think this is actually an opportunity."
"An opportunity?"
Cid smiled faintly at Nu's confusion.
"This comparison might not be entirely appropriate, but people only truly come to understand themselves and grow after they lose their parents' support.
Gamma told me she thinks highly of you, so this time, try solving it on your own. It's a simple matter, isn't it?
Go ahead and try. If something really happens, I'll step in."
Family shame should not be aired in public. He would take the blame for Eta and Gamma first. If something really went wrong, he could call the others over to handle it.
"No, Shadow-sama, that isn't what I meant…"
"What isn't what you meant?"
Eta's distinctively slow voice cut off Nu's explanation. Leaning against the doorframe, Eta quietly stared at Nu's suddenly stiffened back.
"…Shadow-sama, I understand. If this is your will, then I believe Gamma-sama will understand."
Nu placed a hand over her chest, bowed, and left without looking at Eta even once.