DxD: Chapter 172/173

Chapter 172: Beauty Trap?

Shuchiin Academy.

Kaguya, who had been gripping her underwear, gradually calmed down and regained her composure.

But as soon as she thought about Lynn, her thoughts couldn't help but stir again.

She raised her eyes and looked at Hayasaka. Unable to suppress the question in her heart, she asked, "The president of the Supernatural Investigation Club… are you sure he's just an ordinary person?"

Hayasaka was momentarily stunned.

The topic shift caught her off guard, but she quickly regained her composure. Her eyes flicked toward the underwear in Kaguya's hand.

So… this has to do with the president of the Supernatural Investigation Club?

A few thoughts clicked into place in her mind, but she maintained a calm expression. "According to our investigation, there's nothing unusual about him, but…"

"I can't confirm that he's truly ordinary."

After all, someone capable of drawing the attention of Shinomiya Oko and being assigned to Kaguya, even without obvious abnormalities, couldn't be dismissed as just anyone.

When Kaguya heard that, her gaze grew distant, and she fell into silence.

She was now absolutely sure.

Lynn wasn't ordinary.

That kind of speed… completely defied common sense. No human could move like that.

And those eyes…

Just thinking about them made her feel unsettled again.

After a moment's hesitation, she asked in a whisper, "Hayasaka… do you believe in the supernatural?"

The supernatural?

Hayasaka was again caught off guard, but she observed Kaguya's expression closely.

Even though she kept her usual cool façade, Hayasaka could see the worry in her eyes.

Narrowing her gaze subtly, she thought to herself—

So that's it…

Supernatural powers?

And that Lynn?

Though Hayasaka had always been skeptical of such things, she had no reason to doubt Kaguya.

Especially considering how Shinomiya Oko had arranged for Kaguya to get close to Lynn, despite his lack of a notable background.

That would make sense… if Lynn was something more.

Everything suddenly clicked.

It all lined up.

Hayasaka's heart began to beat a little faster.

Still, it needed to be verified.

Maybe…

She could use Kaguya to investigate further.

"I believe it," she finally said.

"Huh?"

Kaguya blinked.

She'd been thinking of how to explain things to Hayasaka, but…

Wait, did she already know?

Kaguya looked surprised. "You've seen it too?"

Hayasaka tested the waters. "Lynn?"

"...I knew it," Kaguya muttered, then asked in a low tone, "If you knew, why didn't you tell me?"

"Ah…"

Hayasaka kept her expression neutral, even though she felt a little awkward. "I only just found out too."

It really was him.

Still…

Kaguya didn't press any further. Instead, she clutched Hayasaka's arm and recounted everything that had happened earlier.

Hayasaka's eyes twitched slightly at the touch.

Can we… use another hand?

She really wanted to say it.

But… she was the lady's attendant. She had to endure.

After Kaguya finished recounting everything, she looked anxious. "Hayasaka, do you think…"

"Did I offend him?"

Kaguya had always thought that, as a Shinomiya, there was no one in Japan she couldn't afford to offend—even with her brother's warnings.

After all…

She had always been proud, looking down on all equally.

But now…

No one ever told her supernatural beings existed!

Hayasaka fell silent for a moment, then looked her straight in the eye. "Without a doubt. You offended him."

"…"

Kaguya stiffened. "Then… will there be consequences?"

Hayasaka shook her head. "I don't know either."

It was her first time dealing with anything supernatural too.

But one thing was certain—

You never treat the unknown lightly.

Kaguya bit her lip. Her usual calm had long since shattered.

"Is there…"

"Any way to make up for it?"

"Money? A house?"

Hope flickered in her eyes.

Hayasaka hesitated. "Can someone like him really be pleased with material things?"

"Then what are his interests?"

Kaguya tightened her grip on Hayasaka's arm.

Hayasaka fell silent again.

Then…

The rumors about the harem popped into her head.

She looked at Kaguya for a long moment.

No doubt about it. Kaguya was a stunner.

No wonder Shinomiya Oko had pushed her into Lynn's path.

After a moment of deliberation, Hayasaka said slowly, "Maybe… try using a beauty trap?"

"...?"

Kaguya fell silent.

She had once publicly declared she would abolish the Harem Department.

And now…

She was about to offer herself to expand it?

Still—

After witnessing Lynn's power firsthand, the arrogance she'd clung to had already crumbled.

So…

If a beauty trap was necessary...

Then who should be the one to go?

She instinctively excluded herself, then turned to Hayasaka, her eyes sparkling.

Clutching Hayasaka's shoulders, she said with emotion, "Hayasaka… I didn't expect you to make such a big sacrifice for me!"

"…?"

Hayasaka froze.

—

Meanwhile.

Asuna returned to the student council room in a daze.

"President?"

Yuki looked over from her black tea, surprised. "You don't look so good..."

Asuna was silent for a long moment, then said, "I feel like… I need to reevaluate everything I know about the world."

Yuki immediately understood.

Seems like she encountered something supernatural while with Lord Lynn.

She stood up, walked behind Asuna, and patted her shoulder like a senior comforting a junior.

"You'll get used to it."

Then, blinking excitedly, she added, "President... would you be willing to share with your most loyal member?"

Asuna sighed, held her forehead, and began recounting her experience.

When she got to the part about Lynn's battle with the Heavy Stone Crab, Yuki's eyes sparkled with awe.

As expected of Lord Lynn. The future hope of the Suou family!

"Hmm…"

Chika puffed out her cheeks unhappily. "President! You didn't even bring me for something so cool!"

Asuna rolled her eyes. "If you're that curious, why not go to the Supernatural Investigation Club?"

Chika's eyes lit up.

"You're right!"

Like waking from a dream, she stood up.

"You're the best, President!"

Then she turned and dashed out the room.

"Supernatural Investigation Club, here I come!!"

Asuna opened her mouth to stop her but ended up mumbling helplessly, "Lynn isn't even there right now…"

—

Lynn's Apartment.

At the entrance.

After changing into slippers, Hitagi glanced around curiously.

"This place…"

She frowned slightly. "Why are there so many things that clearly belong to girls?"

"It's the Harem Department, after all."

Hearing Lynn's response, the corner of Hitagi's eye twitched, but she still nodded. "Makes sense."

"So…"

"What exactly are we here for?"

Her face flushed a little.

Even though she had boldly declared she would join the harem...

She hadn't expected things to move this fast!

Did he really just bring her straight home?

Lynn didn't answer. He simply walked to the living room.

Hitagi hesitated, took a few deep breaths, then followed.

—

In the living room.

Inukimi was lying lazily on the sofa. The moment she spotted Lynn, her tail swayed excitedly.

But the moment she noticed Hitagi…

The tail drooped.

Inukimi muttered, "Another annoying woman…"

Himari, on the other hand, didn't care. As soon as she saw Lynn, she jumped into his arms.

Inukimi: "…"

Such a clingy cat…!

"So cute…"

Hitagi's eyes lit up when she saw the two pets. She reached out to pet Himari.

Only for Himari to nimbly dodge her hand.

Her face froze.

Then she turned to Inukimi.

Inukimi gave her a cold glance. "I'm not some pet of the Peerage."

She was Lynn's personal companion!

As royalty of the dog demon clan, she would never allow anyone else to touch her!

"...?"

Hitagi blinked. "A talking… dog?"

She was stunned.

Lynn explained calmly, "Inukimi and Himari are also members of the Peerage. Think of them as your senpais."

After a quick explanation of monsters, Hitagi nodded in understanding.

So they were girls too, huh?

She glanced between them, expression subtle, and began to revise her understanding of what the Harem Department really entailed.

—

After a while, Lynn sat down on the sofa and looked at her.

"Take it off."

"…?"

"Here?"

Hitagi hesitated, her lashes trembling slightly. She glanced toward Inukimi and Himari.

Wait, could it be…

He likes being watched?!

But Lynn's next line interrupted her thoughts.

"Just your back is fine."

"…?"

Even more confused now.

After Lynn gave her a proper explanation, she finally understood.

The ritual for reincarnation as a devil. The seal of blessings.

"I see…"

She pouted, whispering, "I thought…"

"What?"

Lynn looked at her, amused.

She smirked. "Because the way 'Dad' said it was so misleading."

"…"

Lynn was speechless.

Inukimi and Himari froze.

Dad?!

What kind of role play was this?!

An immediate alert was raised.

They had a new top threat on their hands!

(To be continued.)

Chapter 173: New Apartment

Lynn's Apartment.
Living Room.

Hitagi took off her shirt neatly and reached behind her back.

Click.

Her smooth back was instantly exposed before Lynn.

She pursed her lips, clearly feeling Lynn's gaze. Her toes curled slightly in discomfort.

Seeing this, Lynn summoned the Evil Piece.

"…Mmm."

The cold touch made Hitagi let out a faint hum.

[Ding! You have acquired Peerage member Hitagi Senjougahara!]
[Ding! Your Peerage member, Hitagi Senjougahara, has been reincarnated as a Special Devil!]

At the sound of the prompt, a dazzling light flashed across Hitagi's back.

In the next second, her Blessing information appeared.

----

[Hitagi Senjougahara]
Rank: Low-Class Devil
Master: Lynn Valefor

Stats:
Strength: i0
Agility: i0
Endurance: i0
Magic: i0

Innate Abilities:
[Stationery Mastery] – Expert handling and manipulation of stationery-based tools.

[Four-Dimensional Skirt] – Space Storage.

[Gravity Devil]
• Mass Distortion – Not affected by gravity. Can freely alter her own and other objects' density.
• Gravity Paradox – Creates a 50-meter-radius gravity field. Applies both movement inhibition and gravitational pull to enemies.
• Devil Transformation: Crabfall

---

"…Gravity Devil."

Lynn stroked his chin in thought.

"Master, Master!"

Suddenly, Luna's voice rang in his mind.

"I got heavier again!"

Lynn's eyes narrowed slightly.

Was there a synergy between Gravity Devil and Cancer?

That meant.

Every time Hitagi's strength increased… Cancer would grow heavier too?

Lynn's eyes lit up at the realization.

He had been wondering where he could find something to increase the weight concept within Cancer. Now, there was no need. He only had to wait for Hitagi to grow stronger.

And...

The Gravity Devil.

Just by the name, it was clear how much potential it held.

Though the current skills weren't overly strong, that was simply due to Hitagi still being a Low-Class Devil.

Once she surpassed level 21, she might even be able to manipulate planetary gravity.

Lynn looked increasingly expectant.

—

After dressing, Hitagi looked at her Blessing interface, her expression somewhat complex.

She had actually turned a habit into a skill?

She took out a pen and narrowed her eyes.

She could now clearly feel the enhanced control.
And... the urge to throw it?

She suppressed the strange impulse and lifted her skirt.

Four-Dimensional Skirt…?

She glanced at Lynn, then at Inukimi and Himari.

With no outsiders present, she calmly reached in.

A moment later, her hand froze, and her eyes widened slightly.

"What is it?" Lynn asked.

"It feels like... I reached into another place," Hitagi said with uncertainty.

She then looked at him with a sly glint in her eyes. "Want to check it out for me, Dad?"

Lynn raised his brows, but didn't refuse. He naturally reached in.

"...Huh?"

Hitagi froze for a moment.

No hesitation at all?

She grumbled internally.

Lynn's expression was calm, almost like a scientist running an experiment.

After a moment, he withdrew his hand. "There's definitely another space there. It seems quite large too."

Whew…

Hitagi quickly lowered her skirt and exhaled.

That position just now had felt way too lewd.

Lynn stroked his chin. "Also… I think your skirt is currently in an unobservable state."

"…?"

She blinked.

Raising her skirt, she was stunned by what she saw.

Pitch black. Like a void.

"…Will I stay like this forever?" she muttered.

"Maybe not," Lynn guessed. "Try taking off the skirt. It might revert."

It was called Four-Dimensional Skirt, after all. The skirt had to be the key.

Hitagi didn't hesitate. She unfastened it.

Pure white panties with a cute pattern were exposed.

"It's back to normal," she sighed.

Lynn nodded with admiration. "Even though I've seen them before, I have to say—"

"They suit you."

Hitagi rolled her eyes, then put the skirt back on. "Perverted Dad."

"You're getting better at calling me that," Lynn remarked.

Her ears reddened slightly. Trying to shift focus, she turned back to her Blessing screen.

"…Gravity Devil."

Seeing the skill name stirred some complicated emotions.

Inevitably, her thoughts returned to the Heavy Stone Crab.

She never imagined that experience would turn her into a devil aligned with gravity.

Still…

She didn't resent the ability. On the contrary, she understood just how valuable it was.

Gravity Devil…
Even the name sounded powerful.

She raised her hand.

Buzz—

A wave of pressure surged out of her.

[Gravity Paradox]

The entire apartment was suddenly blanketed in gravitational force.

She narrowed her eyes and clenched her fist toward a Coke bottle on the table.

Whoosh—

The Coke shot into her hand like a magnet.

But not just that.

Whoosh whoosh whoosh—

Papers, towels, remotes—everything in range flew at her.

The living room turned into a whirlwind of chaos.

Clack!

She caught the Coke firmly.

Staring at the scene around her, her mouth twitched.

"…Gravity Siphon?"

Lynn's brows twitched. "Universal Pull?"

Although…

She lacked Almighty Push to go with it.

And she clearly wasn't very skilled yet.

Next, Hitagi tested the Low-Speed Shackles.
It simply increased the target's weight and slowed their movement.

Finally—

"…Mass Distortion."

She chose to manipulate her own weight first.

Lightweight.

Immediately, Hitagi began floating, like she had lost all gravity.
It was even stronger than her condition before the Heavy Crab was exorcised!

Then—

"…Super heavy."

BOOM!

She slammed into the floor, blowing straight through it!

And she kept falling!

Lynn's eyes twitched. He quickly used the Gravity Devil's power and Cancer's weight concept to cancel the overweight effect, then pulled her back up with Gravity Siphon.

"…?"

Landing softly in Lynn's arms, Hitagi blinked in confusion.

Lynn used magic to repair the floor, then sighed. "Trying to destroy my apartment?"

Blushing, she buried her face in his chest.

"…Sorry. I'm still learning…"

As she spoke, she subconsciously took in Lynn's scent.

Her ears turned red.

Off to the side, Inukimi narrowed her golden eyes.

That spot was hers!
And that pose—she copied it!

A few moments passed.

Evening fell.

Hitagi slowly lifted her head and frowned slightly.

It was already this late?

She'd only just hugged him for a bit…

Dissatisfied, she glanced toward the door. Did she have to go home now?

That house was so empty…

Suddenly, her gaze swept across all the feminine products filling the room.

Her eyes lit up with an idea.

Sitting back up in Lynn's lap, she looked into his eyes with hopeful anticipation. "Can I stay here too?"

Lynn paused for a moment, then said, "Sure… but..."

He shrugged. "There's no room left."

"…Huh?"

Hitagi froze.

But then, biting her lip, she glanced away and mumbled, "If there's really no room, I could just… sleep with you."

After all, it's normal for a daughter to sleep with her dad, right?

Just imagining lying in Lynn's bed, inhaling his scent…
Hitagi felt an unexplainable heat build inside her.

But—

"My bed's full too~"

"…?"

Her fantasy collapsed.

She turned, dumbfounded. "Full?"

"Hmph."

Inukimi glanced at her smugly. "Master Lynn's bed is basically claimed. No space for you."

The corner of Hitagi's eye twitched.

This competition is intense?!

Lynn stroked his chin. "There's space at Mahiru's place next door."

"Then I'll stay there!"

She accepted without hesitation.

As long as she was close to Lynn, that was enough.

Speaking of which…

Was Mahiru also part of Lynn's Peerage?

After confirming Hitagi's residence, Lynn thought aloud. "There really isn't enough space in this apartment."

He sent a Devil Correspondence to Haruno.

"House?"

The moment she got the message, Haruno replied, "No problem! I'll handle it!"

Then she added playfully, "But Master, can I be the first to try the new bed?"

"My devil disguise skill can handle it now~"

Lynn's interest was piqued. "Oh? Then I'll have to test it thoroughly."

"…?"

Hitagi blinked. What do you mean by that?!

—

Tokyo. Café.

"Yesss!"

Haruno clenched her fists in victory.

Then narrowed her eyes.

Competition was getting fierce within the Peerage.

Just being a disguise devil wasn't enough anymore.

She needed a new edge.

Then suddenly, an idea struck her.

"…How could I forget!"

She smacked her forehead and sent a message to Yukino.

[Yukino, do you want to grow stronger?]

"…?"

—

Two Days Later.

Haruno's efficiency was unreal.

The moment Lynn gave the order, everything was handled.

263 contract signings.
Ownership transfers.
Renovations.
Furnishings.

In just two days.

Everything was ready.

At the foot of a mountain.

Lynn looked up and raised a brow. "You bought a mountain?"

Haruno smiled. "One-time investment."

There would be more and more members in the future.

Rather than worry later, why not prepare now?

Plus… she only used a bit of devil power.

"…Good."

Lynn nodded in satisfaction.

Much easier than moving constantly.

They soon arrived halfway up the mountain.

A European-style manor came into view.

Elegant architecture, a marble courtyard, a spring-fed lake… the scenery was serene and breathtaking.

The interior was even more lavish. High ceilings, fine decorations, and most importantly—plenty of rooms.

Lynn immediately got to work.

He set up portals, teleportation arrays, and then sealed the entire area with a barrier.

His personal barrier, nothing was getting through it.

A few moments later.

Buzz.
Buzz.

Flashes of light scattered throughout the castle.

The Peerage members arrived.

"Whoa!!"

Their eyes lit up.

This place was massive.
It even had an indoor hot spring!

Bathing with Master Lynn…?

Everyone had the same thought.

Then—

"Room dibs!!"

Utaha's eyes sparkled. She bolted to the rightmost second-floor room. "This one's mine!!"

Kisara was furious, chasing after her. "Utaha, don't hog it!!"

Chaos broke loose.

Meanwhile, Utaha slipped to Lynn's side.

"Master, may I see your room?"

She batted her wine-red eyes, rubbing against his arm with practiced charm.

Haruno raised a brow.

Trying to cut ahead?

She smiled coldly. "I've already set up Master's room. Let me show him personally."

Their eyes met.

Sparks flew.

(To be continued.)