🎉DxD: Chapter 217/220

Chapter 217: Devil Transformation
Yukari stared at the can of milk in Yukina's hand with a complicated expression.

At a time like this… she's drinking milk?

Yukina, since when did you develop this strange habit?

And…

Fine, drink it if you must, but why are you blushing?

Yukina pursed her lips, eyes fixed on the can of milk in her hand. Her long lashes trembled slightly as her cheeks flushed red.

This was one of the perks of joining Lynn's Peerage. According to Mahiru, it was a magic recovery item?

But…

Recalling Mahiru's reminder, Yukina hesitated.

This… really came from a senior member of the Peerage?

Her gaze subconsciously dropped to her chest. Her face grew even redder.

Do I really have to drink this?

Yukina wavered. But…

A violent gust suddenly blew past, messing up her hair.

Yukina looked up and saw an ocean of pitch black surging toward her like a tide from the abyss.

From another direction, a massive golden snake twisted its body, crushing the earth as it charged at her!

There was no time to hesitate!

Yukina decisively popped the can open and chugged it down in one go!

Boom boom!!

The instant the milk entered her body…

Yukina could clearly hear the pounding of her own heart.

Moments later…

A powerful force surged from deep within her!

Her depleted magic was instantly restored!

Boom—!

Magic power erupted from Yukina. Her black hair whipped in the wind as she raised her Snowdrift Wolf spear without a moment's pause!

Buzz—

A fierce gale coiled around the tip of the spear once more.

"This is…"

Yukari was stunned as she watched Yukina's condition.

Magic… it actually recovered?

And at such an absurd speed!!

Yukari looked down at the can of milk still in Yukina's hand. A thought crossed her mind.

Could this be some kind of magic-recovery item?

Her knowledge allowed her to see through the milk's nature in an instant.

But… wasn't the effect a little too insane?

And…

She was certain Yukina didn't have an item like this before.

Lynn…

The name flashed in Yukari's mind.

Then she recalled the Lynn Group that specialized in extraordinary items.

Could it be…

This was one of their products?

With that thought, Yukari had the sudden urge to place an order.

If every member of the Organization had one of these cans, it could literally save lives during emergencies!

Keeping that in mind, Yukari turned her focus back to the battlefield.

She had no intention of letting Yukina handle both familiars alone.

But…

Her offensive capabilities weren't suited to killing familiars with one strike.

Her role leaned more toward support.

So…

Yukari lightly tapped the air with her index finger, forming a golden, obscure incantation that shot into Yukina's body like an arrow.

Yukina flinched, then suddenly felt the quality of her magic surge.

It was like… she had broken through a barrier within herself?

Yukina's mind sharpened.

The cyclone at the tip of the Snowdrift Wolf suddenly expanded!

"Descendant of Suanni and High-Ranking Sword Sorceress, hear my call.
Dawnbringer of Devil Slaying, Snow Cloud's divine wolf, wield your steel and help me destroy these evil gods and devouring demons!"

She subconsciously chanted the incantation for Snowdrift Wolf's attack.

Buzz—

In an instant, the spear flared even brighter than before!

Dimitrie Vatler narrowed his eyes, instinctively feeling a surge of fear toward the light.

Just Monas and Shuji may not be enough…

Dimitrie immediately shouted, "Drakshaka, Nanda!"

As the words fell—

The two massive snakes behind him opened their eyes, which gleamed with eerie light.

Green and purple beams shot from their eyes and mouths!

Yukari quickly stepped forward and deployed a barrier.

Boom!!

The green and purple beams twisted into a spiral and slammed into the barrier.

Buzz—

The barrier groaned and trembled violently under the pressure!

But…

Despite the intensity, Yukari remained calm.

Yukina, meanwhile, was focused on the two attacking snakes.

Top of the head and lower jaw?

Using her [Eye of Divine Punishment], Yukina locked onto the weak points of both familiars, then launched herself with a powerful push from her feet.

Swoosh—

Without warning, she vanished!

A split second later!

Yukina reappeared above the black snake's head!

Without hesitation, she stabbed the Snowdrift Wolf down into its skull!

At the same time, she activated the spear's special ability.

Divine Resonance Vibration Technique!

Facing two familiars at once, Yukina didn't waste magic. She used [Divine Core Vibration Critical Breakthrough] precisely.

Not to mention…

With Lynn's boost and Snowdrift Wolf's enhancements.

Even if she couldn't kill it outright, she could at least deliver serious damage.

And she had targeted its weak point.

"Roar—!"

The black snake let out a pained roar as its massive body slammed to the ground!

Seeing that, Yukina turned toward the golden snake.

Its lower jaw wasn't as easy to hit as the top of its head…

So…

She used the same tactic—throwing the Snowdrift Wolf like a javelin!

But the golden snake was agile. It shook its head and dodged the strike.

A trace of arrogance flashed in its eyes. But the next second, the spear reappeared in Yukina's hands.

She flung it again without hesitation.

Golden Snake: "?"

Not gonna play fair?

It instinctively tried to dodge again, but Yukina preemptively activated [Divine Core Vibration], distorting space around the spear.

Whoosh—

Like it was equipped with thrusters, the spear's speed surged dramatically!

Slick—

This time, the golden snake failed to react in time. The spear pierced straight through its jaw!

"Hiss—!"

Its eyes turned bloodshot as it shrieked, its massive body collapsing backward!

Witnessing this.

Yukina exhaled in relief.

Even she hadn't expected to wield her new power so skillfully on the first try.

She could actually control it with such precision.

This time, she used [Divine Core Vibration Critical Breakthrough] efficiently, not only conserving magic but also greatly increasing the spear's speed.

Of course.

Its power wasn't on par with a full-on breakthrough.

That much was clear from the fact that the two giant snakes, though injured, were still alive.

But Yukina didn't mind.

She needed to conserve magic for what mattered most.

Her gaze shifted toward Dimitrie Vatler.

If they didn't take him down soon, who knew how many more beasts he could summon?

She understood the principle of cutting off the head of the enemy.

At the same time.

In the Organization's meeting room.

Shirona Kuraki and Koyomi Shizuka watched the battlefield unfold.

"Are we really just going to keep watching?"

Koyomi's tone was calm.

With her strength, she could probably end the battle.

But…

"Keep watching."

Shirona's voice held a trace of anticipation.

She hadn't expected Yukina to return so suddenly.

Even more surprising was the power Yukina now displayed.

Why?

Shirona was curious.

Meanwhile.

In the Soul Reapers' World.

Hueco Mundo.

Miko and the others were still exploring the vast wastelands.

Lynn wasn't particularly interested and just observed their movements through his [Evil Pieces].

This was a newly unlocked ability after he became a Transcendent.

It allowed him to observe each Peerage member through their Evil Piece.

For example, at the moment, the view before Lynn showed Miko's group.

But that wasn't all.

Using the [Evil Pieces], Lynn could also teleport to any of his Peerage members.

Even across worlds.

As he was watching Miko and the others—

Yukina's Evil Piece flickered slightly, drawing his attention.

He nodded, and a virtual screen opened to his right.

The image showed Yukina and the current battlefield.

"This is…"

Lynn narrowed his red eyes.

He had some memory of the person opposing Yukina.

If he remembered correctly.

It was that vampire who showed up frequently?

As he thought about it, Yukina's image on the screen suddenly shifted.

Her long black hair turned snow white. Her pupils glowed silver like the Snowdrift Wolf's tip. A chain engraved with runes wrapped around her neck.

Lynn's crimson gaze narrowed.
"Devil Transformation…"

(To be continued.)

Chapter 218: Faux Angel?

Lynn stroked his chin, eyes gleaming with interest.

This was the first time he'd seen a Peerage member achieve Devil Transformation as quickly as Himeragi Yukina.

He glanced at another screen, and seeing nothing unusual happening with Kikunojo and the others, he turned his focus back to Yukina.

---

Main World.

Himeragi Yukina's white hair fluttered as the Snowdrift Wolf Schneewalzer in her hand vanished.

Behind her, a pair of metallic wings, formed by spells, shimmered faintly into view.

The wings flapped gently, leaving traces of divine light in their wake.

Everyone present was stunned by the sudden transformation.

"Yukina?"

Yukari, still maintaining the barrier to block the beam attack, paused, her gaze filled with shock.

This…

"A faux angel?"

Yukari and Shirona Kuraki exclaimed almost in unison from two different locations.

This form of Yukina was far too familiar.

The former wielder of the Snowdrift Wolf, Fujisaka Fuyuka, had become a faux angel and ascended after absorbing too much divine power.

Now…

Was the new wielder of the Snowdrift Wolf repeating that path?

But…

Wasn't this a bit too fast?

"No."

Koyomi Shizuka pushed her glasses up, a strange light flashing in her eyes as she stared intently at Yukina.

"It looks very similar to a faux angel, but…"

"If you look closely, there are differences."

Yukina's current state wasn't quite the same as Fujisaka Fuyuka's.

And more importantly…

Koyomi said in a serious tone, "Don't forget, Himeragi Yukina has been infected with devil blood."

Shirona calmed down upon hearing that.

That's right.

The current Yukina had already become a devil.

It was practically impossible for her to become an angel.

But…

Then what was going on?

Even if this was just a faux angel state, appearing on a devil was completely unnatural.

For angels, wouldn't this be considered blasphemy?

If they knew about it, wouldn't they bring down divine judgment?

Shirona was a little uneasy.

And more than that…

She couldn't understand something.

How did Yukina undergo such a drastic transformation just by joining Lynn?

"Haa…"

Shirona let out a long breath, suppressing her chaotic thoughts.

Whatever was happening, watching would eventually reveal the truth.

Besides…

She also wanted to see just how far Yukina could go in this form.

Elsewhere.

Yukari looked worried and muttered, "Yukina…"

Yukina's angelic appearance made her worry that the girl might ascend to heaven at any moment.

Although…

Being an angel didn't sound like a bad thing?

But…

From what she knew, the situation in Heaven wasn't exactly ideal right now.

Even their belief system was shaky.

You could imagine the headaches they were dealing with up there.

Thankfully—

Yukari remembered that Yukina was now a devil.

She likely couldn't ascend, and Heaven might not even recognize her.

That thought allowed her to fully relax.

But…

Her expression grew strange.

A devil with a faux angel characteristics…

Hiss—

Was that even possible?

And…

Where was the Snowdrift Wolf?

Only now did Yukari notice the key detail in Yukina's transformation.

With the precedent of Fujisaka Fuyuka, it should have taken an excessive amount of divine energy for Yukina to reach this form.

But…

Yukina showed no signs of absorbing divine energy.

Not only that…

The Snowdrift Wolf was gone.

A thoughtful look appeared in Yukari's eyes.

Yukina's current state…

Was it really that of a faux angel?

Yukari remained skeptical.

Additionally…

Her gaze locked onto the golden wings behind Yukina.

Wisps of divine aura floated through the air, while obscure runes glowed across the wings like flowing streams.

Within them, Yukari faintly sensed the traces of the Divine Resonance Vibration Technique.

But it was clearly a far more evolved version.

Seeing such a form for the first time, Yukari was completely lost.

Near the golden snake.

"Faux angel?"

Hearing Yukari's earlier exclamation, Yukina frowned in confusion.

Angel?

She was on full alert, amber eyes scanning her surroundings.

She was a devil now.

Having accepted her new identity, Yukina remained wary toward anything angelic.

But…

Yukina: "…"

She didn't see any sign of an angel?

A bit baffled, she shook her head.

Forget it.

She turned her full attention back to Dimitrie Vatler, her expression serious.

After undergoing Devil Transformation, she felt more than ten times stronger than before.

She lightly clenched her fists and a surge of explosive strength coursed through her hands.

This feeling…

Was truly intoxicating.

Yukina's eyes dazed for a moment, then refocused.

And…

The Snowdrift Wolf had fused with her.

The silver glow in her eyes and the metal wings on her back were proof of the Snowdrift Wolf's presence.

Now she could do things she never could before.

But…

This state couldn't last long. She needed to finish this quickly.

With that thought, Yukina narrowed her eyes and locked onto Dimitrie Vatler.

Under her gaze, the pressure around him dropped sharply.

He paused, then grinned, eyes gleaming with excitement.

"Well now…"

"This is getting more and more fun!"

As soon as the words fell.

Yukina vanished, leaving only a fiery trail in her wake.

Buzz—

Like crossing through space, she appeared behind Dimitrie Vatler and lashed out with a powerful kick!

Slick—

The air tore, and the shadow of the Snowdrift Wolf flickered faintly at Yukina's toes!

Bang!

A sharp thud rang out!

Dimitrie Vatler was blasted backward, but Yukina frowned.

In front of her, the shadow of a snake gradually faded away.

Another familiar had taken the blow for him, nullifying the damage.

Just how many familiars does this vampire have?

In the distance, Dimitrie lightly tapped down, landing like a feather. He smiled with a sigh of relief.

"That was close…"

He narrowed his eyes and stared at the silver aura swirling around Yukina.

"So cool…"

Dimitrie stiffened slightly.

If it were him, he'd definitely be on edge right now…

Sure, he loved battle.

But that didn't mean he loved dying.

He raised his hand and snapped his fingers.

Roar!!

The golden and purple snakes responded immediately, their massive bodies coiling together!

Hiss—

Hissing filled the air.

Next moment—

Gold and purple fused!

Roar—

A thunderous roar shook the sky!

Violent gusts swept the battlefield!

Then, a two-headed beast over a hundred meters long appeared!

Its left head was a massive dark purple snake with two dragon-like horns. Its right head was a black serpent clad in liquid metal scales, its tail wrapped in annihilation mist.

An overwhelming pressure surged from the beast, weighing on everyone's hearts!

"Haha, how about that?"

Dimitrie laughed wildly, arms spread wide.

"My masterpiece, Shakara!"

"Beautiful, isn't it?"

He continued laughing, clearly delighted.

"Tsk."

Yukari clicked her tongue in annoyance. This snake charmer really didn't hold back.

And…

Those others were just watching?

She was starting to get irritated.

Yukina raised her gaze toward the hundred-meter, two-headed serpent, her fists clenched tightly.

She took a deep breath, her eyes becoming sharp and resolute.

Buzz—

A blinding silver light shot skyward!

Spiritual energy erupted around her!

In the next moment—

The colossal shadow of the Snowdrift Wolf coalesced behind her!

Without any hesitation, Yukina raised her arms high.

Then hurled the Snowdrift Wolf's shadow straight at the beast!

Slick—

(To be continued.)

Special thanks to Kds89 for sponsoring this extra chapter 🎉🎉🎉
Chapter 219: Erased

The moment the massive shadow of the Snowdrift Wolf was hurled forward, Yukina chanted in a low voice:

"Using thousands of prayers as a blade, I will pierce through the impure world—destroy it!"

As soon as the words left her mouth.

The space trembled violently!

Wherever the Snowdrift Wolf's shadow passed, the fabric of space cracked audibly, revealing pitch-black voids!

The two-headed serpent sensed the threat instinctively, twisting its massive body in an attempt to evade the attack. But—

An overwhelming force locked it in place, leaving it completely immobile!

Dimitrie Vatler looked up, his golden hair tossed about by the roaring wind, and narrowed his eyes slightly.

"Spatial lock…"

Surprise flickered in his gaze.

This technique… was actually pulled off by such a young witch?

He was genuinely stunned.

Are all the high schoolers this terrifying?

Was he getting old? Or is the talent in this region simply out of this world?

Why was there never anyone of this caliber in the Warlord's Domain?

The shadow of the Snowdrift Wolf pierced straight through the enormous body of the two-headed serpent!

Crack—

Spiderweb-like fractures spread rapidly across its entire form.

Boom!

The creature shattered instantly, dispersing into a dazzling swirl of purple and green particles.

"Haa…"

Yukina gasped and collapsed to the ground, her Devil Transformation state lifting immediately.

That last attack had exhausted everything she had.

Now…

She didn't even have the strength to stand.

Dimitrie Vatler stood in silence.

The connection between him and his familiars had been severed again.

Clearly—

These two beasts were completely destroyed.

He had only been here for a short time and had already lost three of his prized familiars.

His expression turned sour.

He had expected a pleasant outing, but…

Now, all he felt was irritation.

Of course—

Being pushed this far did let him enjoy the thrill of battle.

But…

He still couldn't accept returning to the Warlord's Domain in disgrace.

Just as Dimitrie Vatler was thinking this, a sharp hiss echoed from behind him.

The next second—

Dozens of glowing green eyes opened in the shadows!

Yukina, still trying to stay alert, froze.

One… two… three… four…

She couldn't even count them all.

A bead of cold sweat rolled down her temple.

Dimitrie Vatler grinned, raised his hand, and curled his fingers toward Yukina.

"Go, my beloved pets… devour her."

Whoosh—

The moment the command was given, a sea of snakes surged forth from a rift in space!

The night was swallowed whole, the moon hidden behind writhing scales!

Darkness engulfed everything!

Yukina propped herself up on shaking arms, trying to stand, but her legs faltered. She couldn't move.

And even if she could…

She raised her eyes to the wave of snakes overhead.

Where could she even run?

As a Mid-Class Devil, it was already hard enough going toe-to-toe with someone like this…

Yukina bit her lip, eyes filled with unwillingness.

If only…

If only she had met Lynn sooner, joined his Peerage earlier, and received the Blessing System sooner…

Would today be different?

Her thoughts drifted as regret flickered across her face.

If she had more time, and the system at her side, she was confident she could quickly become a High-Class Devil!

"Yukina!"

Yukari instinctively tried to rush over, but—

She was forced to raise her hand and erect a barrier.

Bang!

Snakes collided against her shield in a frenzy.

"Tch!"

Yukari clicked her tongue in frustration.

The target wasn't just Yukina.

At the same time.

In the Organization's meeting room.

"Hiina!"

Amid the tense situation, Shirona Kuraki blurted out Koyomi Shizuka's original name.

"Understood."

Koyomi remained calm and was about to activate her ability to break the silence.

But—

At the center of the battlefield.

The Snowdrift Wolf beneath Yukina's feet trembled slightly, then quickly stood on its own.

Yukina: "?"

She…

Hadn't done anything to the Snowdrift Wolf just now, right?

What was happening?

Just as she was about to question it.

A familiar, yet distant voice echoed in her ears.

"To already be using Devil Transformation after just joining the Peerage…"

"You've got potential."

Hearing that voice, Yukina's eyes widened immediately.

"L-Lynn…?!"

The next moment—

The [Evil Piece] on her back began to flicker.

Then, Lynn's shadow manifested beside her.

"Huh?"

Seeing him with her own eyes, Yukina was momentarily stunned.

The Snowdrift Wolf happily circled around Lynn's shadow.

Then leapt into his arms like a spoiled pet, eagerly nudging his hands, practically begging to be held.

Yukina twitched at the sight.

Hopeless…

Why was it always so cold and aloof in her hands?

It had never acted like a puppy with her.

Even now, as its master, she had never seen it behave like this.

Lynn calmly held the wolf, raised its spear form, and pointed it at the incoming sea of snakes.

"It has good potential, but…"

"This is how the Snowdrift Wolf should be used."

As the words fell.

Buzz—

A cold glint flashed from the spear's tip, followed by a ripple-like shockwave that erupted outward from Lynn.

A silver arc spread across the battlefield.

Zheng—

A soft sound echoed in everyone's ears.

Wherever the arc passed, the endless tide of snakes vanished without a sound.

No cries. No screams.

They simply faded away.

And it wasn't just the sea of snakes—l.

Yukari's barrier and Koyomi's silence-breaking technique were also nullified in that instant.

In a breath.

The entire world went still.

"…What is this…"

Yukina stared at Lynn blankly, the image of his earlier ability flashing through her mind.

Return the world to its origin.

She had seen it once when Lynn tested it using one of Mahiru's light bullets, but didn't grasp its full power then.

But now…

She understood how broken this ability was.

That endless tide of snakes.

Just a flick, and gone.

Yukina was dumbfounded.

Compared to her Divine Resonance Vibration Technique, her Core Resonance Breakthrough, and even Devil Transformation…

"Return the world to its origin" looked plain on the surface, but…

It was stronger than anything else she had.

But—

She couldn't use it!

Even as the Snowdrift Wolf's master, she couldn't even access this most fundamental ability.

Her expression dimmed with frustration.

At the same time.

Yukari and Koyomi were completely frozen.

Especially Koyomi.

Her ability had clearly been activated, and yet…

It had vanished without a trace.

And…

Not just her silence-breaking. The entire battlefield had gone quiet.

"What is this…"

For the first time, Koyomi's calm facade cracked with tension.

Since inheriting the title of Xian Guyong, she had never encountered a scenario where her power failed.

Shirona's gaze was fixed on the figure behind Yukina. Her eyes flickered as she whispered,

"Himeragi Yukina's new master… has arrived."

Koyomi turned her head sharply.

A figure with black hair and crimson eyes came into view.

She froze for a moment.

They had been analyzing this figure in detail for the past few days.

So he was unmistakable.

The room went completely silent.

Eventually—

Shirona stood and stepped forward.

"Let us go greet him together…"

"This powerful, terrifying Maou."

The moment she finished, Shirona took the lead and headed toward Lynn.

Koyomi said nothing and silently followed behind.

Dimitrie Vatler and the others could be ignored.

But when it came to this Maou…

They didn't dare.

Even if.

It was just his shadow.

(To be continued.)

Special thanks to Kds89 for sponsoring this extra chapter 🎉🎉🎉

Chapter 220: Not Bad

Opposite Yukina, Dimitrie Vatler stood in stunned silence.

Where was his massive sea of snakes?

Where did they all go?!

He tried reaching out to his familiars.

But…

Gone.

All of them.

Not a single one left.

Was he… alone now?

Dimitrie stood there dumbfounded, unable to accept this abrupt shift.

What just happened?

They were on the brink of victory. He was about to crush them.

But now, he was the one left stranded?

His eyes locked on Himeragi Yukina.

Then…

His gaze fell on the shadow standing beside her.

Lynn.

What drew his attention most was the spear in Lynn's hand.

It was the weapon wielded by that witch, but now…

It felt different.

Dimitrie narrowed his eyes at the brilliant, multicolored glow emanating from the Snowdrift Wolf Schneewalzer. A strange, unsettling feeling crept into his chest.

His instincts screamed that the disappearance of the snake sea was tied to the sudden arrival of this man and the changed form of that spear.

And…

This man looked familiar.

Where had he seen him before?

Puzzled, Dimitrie stared at Lynn and spoke in a low tone, "Was it you… who did something?"

Lynn didn't respond. He simply patted the body of the Snowdrift Wolf.

The Snowdrift Wolf immediately understood and charged straight at Dimitrie Vatler.

Dimitrie Vatler: "?!"

There was no time to think. He quickly shifted form.

Crack—

His pristine white suit tore apart, transforming into a massive snake to block the Snowdrift Wolf!

At the same time.

Shirona Kuraki and Koyomi Shizuka arrived from the meeting room and witnessed the clash.

A strange glint flickered in their eyes.

The Snowdrift Wolf…

It could be used like this?

More importantly.

The Snowdrift Wolf was clearly a weapon from the Lion King Organization, so how could a devil wield it with such mastery?

They felt a twinge of unease but quickly buried it, rushing to Yukina's side.

"Shirona, Koyomi?"

Yukina's eyes widened in surprise when she saw them.

Even with Shirona's face hidden by her veil, Yukina recognized her immediately from her distinctive hair and eyes.

Wait a second…

How did her former classmates end up here, in the Lion King Organization?

And…

Did they just come out from inside?

Yukari crossed her arms with an annoyed expression.

"So you finally decided to show up?"

She huffed. "You're the so-called Three Saints, yet you just sat back while my disciple and I fought that monster."

Shameless.

Yukari cursed them in her heart but didn't dare say it aloud.

Ahem…

It's not like she was afraid of Shirona's revenge or anything. Definitely not that.

"Huh?"

When Yukina heard her master refer to them as the Three Saints, she was stunned. She stammered, "Th-Three Saints?"

"That's right~"
Yukari nodded casually and answered for them. "These two are part of the legendary Three Saints of the Lion King Organization~"

Now that Shirona and Koyomi had appeared, there was no longer any need to hide it from Yukina.

Not to mention…

With Lynn present, secrecy wasn't even an option.

Hearing her master's confirmation, Yukina felt her mind go blank.

The elusive and mysterious Three Saints of the Organization…

One of them was her classmate from elementary school?!

Her vision spun for a moment.

She quickly straightened up and tried to maintain a respectful demeanor.

But…

Thinking about how they used to share snacks in school made it hard to hold that expression.

Her face twitched uncontrollably.

Shirona's brow twitched when she saw Yukina's awkward face.

She was also a little embarrassed now that her identity was exposed.

But…

There was no helping it.

Shirona composed herself, pretended not to notice Yukina, and turned toward Lynn.

"I was unaware that Lord Lynn would grace our humble domain. Forgive me for not welcoming you. I am truly filled with regret."

She lowered her head slightly, her voice and posture filled with deference despite the veil.

"Regretful?"

Lynn glanced down at her with a half-smile. "You sent agents into my territory and arranged for Himeragi Yukina to join my Peerage. Is that what you call regret?"

Shirona stiffened.

As expected.

She had anticipated that Lynn would confront her over these matters.

But she had already prepared her explanation.

She looked up with a sincere gaze.

"It was indeed our failure regarding Kirasaka Sayaka."

Regardless.

Shirona truthfully explained the Organization's internal decisions.

She didn't lie or make excuses. She simply admitted fault.

After all…

She had no confidence that lies could fool someone who surpassed even a Maou.

Sincerity was safer.

"I made a mistake," she continued. "And I will make it right as soon as possible. So…"

She looked toward Himeragi Yukina.

Lynn raised an eyebrow. "So you sent Yukina over to me?"

Shirona nodded. "I heard that all of Lord Lynn's Peerage members are exceptionally gifted. Himeragi Yukina is the chief priestess of this generation. I believed she might win your favor."

Himeragi Yukina: "?"

She blinked, confused. Then suddenly panicked. "Wait! Didn't you say I was being sent to rescue Sayaka?!"

Hearing this, Shirona gave her a gentle, apologetic smile. Hidden by the veil, her expression remained unreadable.

Yukina turned to her master, only to find Yukari gazing up at the sky and muttering wistfully, "The moon is really round and bright tonight."

Yukina: "…"

"Master, it's a crescent moon tonight."

"…Ah?"

Yukari laughed it off and waved her hands. "Y-Yeah, yeah…"

Seeing that reaction, Yukina finally understood.

Her master had known all along!

So…

She wasn't sent to save Sayaka?

She had been offered to Lord Lynn from the start as a prospective Peerage member?

"Hmm…"

Yukina puffed her cheeks slightly, a little upset.

Sure, it turned out to be a blessing in disguise. Becoming Lynn's Peerage member had already brought her a ton of benefits.

But it still left a bitter taste.

Yukari scratched her cheek awkwardly. "Sorry, Yukina…"

Meanwhile—

Shirona continued, "As for Kirasaka Sayaka…"

"If Lord Lynn is interested, she can also be offered."

Lynn responded flatly, "You're quite generous…"

If he remembered correctly—

Yukina and Sayaka were the top two shrine maidens in the Organization right now.

Still, Lynn didn't care much.

Even if Shirona wanted them back, he wouldn't return anything.

And more than those two…

What caught Lynn's eye now were the Three Saints standing before him.

He rubbed his chin thoughtfully, then turned toward Shirona and reached out.

He lifted her chin with his hand.

Shirona's body trembled violently, but…

She didn't move.

She remained frozen, allowing Lynn to do as he pleased.

Off to the side.

Koyomi Shizuka watched calmly, her face neutral even as turbulent emotions stirred in her heart.

Meanwhile, Yukari, still comforting Yukina, shot a glance at the stiffened Shirona and felt a small surge of satisfaction.

Serves her right, after everything she did to them and their disciples.

Karma.

Shirona's head was gently tilted upward. Lynn stared at the veil for a moment, then removed it without hesitation.

In the next second.

A delicate and refined face was revealed before his eyes.

Lynn nodded with clear satisfaction.

"Not bad. You're very suitable to become a member of my peerage."

(To be continued.)