251 Sun

"Koneko-chan, don't hide, okay? Don't be scared, nyaa~!" 

Li tried to coax Koneko as there was nothing scary and everything would be okay. It might be scary at first, but it would become comfortable soon. 

However, Koneko wouldn't listen to Li and hid under the table after she was about to learn the knowledge Ni and Li were about to teach her. Everything was smooth at first, but when she knew what they would teach her, the terror in her heart swallowed her, and she was unable to hide her panic, running away and hiding in fear. 

Senjutsu.

As a Nekoshou, a youkai, she was naturally able to master this power, but unlike Ni and Li, who were neutral and could handle this power well, Koneko was different as she thought this power was nothing but a curse. 

If it wasn't for Senjutsu, then would Koneko be separated from her older sister and be a devil under Rias?

If it wasn't because of this power, Koneko knew that her past wouldn't be miserable, but at the same time, she also knew how strong this power was. After all, by using this power, her older sister could kill her master, gain incredible power, and become an SS-Class criminal. 

Being affected by her sister's crime, Koneko was helpless and could do nothing as she was surrounded by many who also wished to kill her. Even now, that scene was like a nightmare for her, and she didn't want to become a demon that would kill anyone because of this cursed power. 

However, Koneko also knew if she didn't master this power, she wouldn't be able to do anything. She would be weak, and she wouldn't be able to help Rias.

Koneko also didn't want to stay weak like now, and she wished to become strong, but facing this power?

"Koneko, are you here?" 

Koneko was startled when she heard this voice and saw Riser squatting as he was looking at her. 

"Ri-Riser-sama..." 

As she was startled, she also didn't dare to look at him as she was afraid to disappoint him. Rias had enthused her to train under Riser, and she also wished to show her worth, telling him that she had been a good girl, working hard with the guide of Ni and Li, yet the result was disappointing. 

"I-I am sorry, Riser-sama..." 

Her tears dropped as she was ready for his scolding, but her hands suddenly stretched into her and hugged her in his arms. 

"Ri-Riser-sama...?" 

Koneko was confused as she was ready for him to get angry with her, but—

"It's okay. If you don't want to learn it, you don't need to. If this is something that is painful for you, there is no need for you to force yourselves. You don't need to feel afraid to make a mistake since I won't hate you for this. Let's search for another way for you to become stronger, okay?" 

"Um..." 

Koneko hugged him tightly, clinging and crying. 

Riser glanced at Ni and Li, who were behind, and made a gesture for them to leave, which they nodded. 

While Ni and Li were curious about what was happening to Koneko, they gave her time so she could properly sort her emotions. 

Still, due to Koneko's outburst, Riser stayed by her side, gently caressing her hair and coaxing her until she calmed down. Looking at this petite girl, he wondered whether she realized how luxurious her situation was as she was personally coaxed by him. However, she also gave him a reason to skip his work, which he was glad for. 

The two spent time in the room together for quite a while, as Koneko was sleeping after that cry. Meanwhile, Riser took out his book and read it quietly until he felt a movement in his arms. He looked down and saw she was blushing, clearly embarrassed. 

"Ri-Riser-sama... I-I'm sorry." 

"It's okay. Are you okay now?" 

"Um." 

Even so, Koneko didn't want to separate from him. Still, she peeked at him, and somehow, courage was born from her heart. "Riser-sama..." 

"Hmm?" 

"Are you not going to ask why I was scared of Senjutsu?" 

Her voice was trembling as she said those words. 

"Do you want to tell me?" 

"..." 

Koneko fell in silence for a moment, then nodded. "I want to tell Riser-sama." 

"Then, let me hear it." 

Koneko then told him about her story of how she lived happily with her older sister before everything changed when her older sister killed her master, leaving her behind and making her persecuted by everyone. 

Listening to her story quietly, Riser sighed and thought that the Gremory House really loved to make trouble, but at the same time, he also realized that he might still be kinder than anyone in the Underworld. 

While the Gremory House might not hesitate to make an innocent girl face much darkness and almost killed, when they saved her, she would be loyal to their family, working hard blindly for them as if they were her savior. 

Yet, even if that was the case, the Gremory House was still unable to solve the problem hidden deep in her heart and just let her be in pain until the protagonist came out, solving her problem, and then made her fall in love. 

—or was it the power of the plot to make this girl fall to such a perverted boy?

However, since Koneko was in his place, there was no such chance at all. 

Nevertheless, Riser wished to meet Koneko's older sister. 

"I see... that's the case." 

"Hm..." 

Koneko snuggled into his arms as she told her story, clinging to him tightly. 

"But Koneko, I think you make a single mistake." 

"Mistake?" Koneko looked at Riser in confusion. 

"I am the Lucifer. I am the strongest devil in the Underworld. Do you think even if you have gone on a rampage due to your Senjutsu, you can hurt me?" 

"....." 

Koneko was in a daze as Riser tapped her cute, pointy nose. 

Could she hurt Riser even if she used Senjutsu?

When she thought how powerful he was, such a possibility didn't exist at all. Even if her older sister also went on a rampage, she also didn't think her older sister could do anything to Riser. 

Riser was strong. 

Probably the strongest, too. 

"....." 

"That's why there is no need for you to be afraid as long as I am here." Riser knew that his job was over. "However, if you don't want to learn Senjutsu, I can teach you something else." She felt that if Rias' group lost too badly, it wouldn't be interesting, so she wished to make Koneko into an element of surprise. 

"No... it's okay. I wi-will learn Senjutsu, Riser-sama." 

Riser was surprised by Koneko's answer, so he asked again. "Are you sure?" She might appear nervous, but somehow, he could feel the firm will within her. 

"Yes." Koneko nodded. "As long as you are here, I know that I will be alright, but... but... if I do well, can you give me a reward?" She didn't dare to look at him, blushing. 

"...." 

While Koneko wasn't his peerage member, Riser didn't mind giving her a reward.

"What do you want?" 

"Well..." 

Koneko opened her lips, then closed them again. "L-let's wait until I can do it." 

"Okay." Riser didn't think as much as he patted Koneko's head. "Let's go. I am sure everyone is waiting and worried." 

"Un." 

Riser stood up, but he saw Koneko hold his hand without letting it go. Yet he didn't say anything, holding her hand, and left the room together. 

Holding his hand firmly, Koneko stared at his profile and smiled as she thought it was so warm to stay by his side.