Chapter 7: The Hunt Begins

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The day had passed uneventfully after the bell rang. Kazuki sat through his classes, appearing to be the perfect transfer student—polite, attentive, and effortlessly charming. Nothing out of the ordinary had happened, and that suited him just fine. He had far bigger plans for the night ahead.

As soon as classes ended, he made his way home. His mansion, large and empty, was a stark contrast to the busy halls of Kuoh Academy. Kazuki didn't mind the solitude, though; it gave him space to think, to plan. And tonight, his mind was racing with ideas.

'It's time,' Kazuki thought, stepping into his home and immediately heading to his study. 'I need to test how much I've improved.'

[Are you thinking of going after stray devils again, Host?] the system asked, its tone curious.

'Exactly,' Kazuki replied, pulling on a black coat and heading toward his garage. 'I need to see just how much stronger I've gotten. After all, it's been a month of training, and I feel my control over my abilities increasing every day.'

Kazuki's power had grown significantly since his arrival in this world. Not only had he refined his abyss manipulation abilities, but his innate Asmodeus talents had also flourished. The two powers, though seemingly unrelated, complemented each other in unexpected ways. Where abyss manipulation gave him control over dark, ethereal energies, his Asmodeus abilities enhanced his charisma and charm—perfect for seduction and manipulation.

As he prepared to leave, he felt a familiar presence outside his home. Turning toward the window, he saw the small black cat again—the one that had been watching him for the past few days.

'There you are again,' Kazuki thought, smirking to himself. He knew exactly who the cat was, but he wasn't about to let on. Instead, he decided to play along, pretending not to know her true identity.

He stepped outside, slowly approaching the cat with a calm and gentle demeanor. "Well, well, what do we have here?" he said, his voice soft as he crouched down beside the feline. "You've been watching me, haven't you?"

The black cat blinked up at him, its green eyes shining in the moonlight. It let out a soft purr as Kazuki reached out to pet it.

'Let's see how you like this, little spy,' Kazuki thought, his smirk widening. 'You think you're being subtle, but I know exactly who you are.'

As he ran his fingers through the cat's fur, Kazuki activated his passive ability to read the stats of those around him. Immediately, the system responded.

[Name: Kuroka

Race: Nekomata (Devil)

Power Level: High-Class Devil

Abilities: Youjutsu (Nekomata Magic), Transformation, Senjutsu, Master of Stealth

Affection Level: 3(Neutral)

Likes: Sweets, teasing people, being free

Dislikes: Restrictions, being controlled]

Kazuki smiled, stroking the cat gently. 'So it's her. Kuroka. One of the key characters in this world. A powerful nekomata who's gone rogue. Interesting.'

He looked down at the cat, his expression softening. "Come here," he said in a coaxing tone, lifting the small creature into his arms. "I'll take care of you." His voice was kind, but beneath the surface, he was already plotting his next move.

'You will be mine eventually, Kuroka,' Kazuki thought, his smirk returning. 'But for now, I'll play the kind and oblivious transfer student.'

The system chimed in again, clearly amused by Kazuki's inner thoughts. [Good job, Host. Keep this up, and she'll fall into your hands soon enough.]

Kazuki didn't reply, but the satisfaction was clear in his mind. He knew the system was right. Kuroka might be a rogue, but she was also vulnerable. Her desire for freedom and distaste for authority would make her a perfect ally—or something more—once he played his cards right.

'For now, I'll let her think she's fooling me. But soon enough, I'll turn the tables,' Kazuki thought, continuing to pet the cat, who had now relaxed in his arms.

As he walked back into his house, Kazuki felt his anticipation for the night's activities growing. The hunt for stray devils was one thing, but the true game lay in building relationships, gaining influence, and slowly dismantling Issei's Protagonist Halo.

Once inside, he gently set Kuroka down on a nearby couch, offering her a small bowl of milk as he prepared to head out. The cat purred and lapped at the milk, its eyes watching him closely as he moved.

Kazuki couldn't help but smile. 'Stay here, little spy. I'll be back soon.'

With that, he left the mansion and headed into the night, his senses on high alert as he tracked the energy of stray devils nearby. It didn't take long for him to find a group—a small pack of low-level devils, skulking around the outskirts of town.

'Perfect,' Kazuki thought, his eyes narrowing as he approached them. 'Let's see how well my powers work now.'

He didn't bother with subtlety. As soon as he was within range, Kazuki unleashed a wave of dark, abyssal energy. The devils barely had time to react before they were engulfed in the suffocating darkness. Their screams echoed through the night as Kazuki tightened his control, drawing the abyss around them like a noose.

"Too easy," Kazuki muttered under his breath, his eyes glowing faintly with the power coursing through him. His control over the abyss had grown significantly—he could manipulate the energy with such precision now that it felt almost effortless.

Within moments, the stray devils were reduced to nothing but ashes, their bodies disintegrating under the crushing weight of Kazuki's power. He stood there for a moment, letting the energy dissipate around him, then sighed.

'They were too weak,' Kazuki thought, feeling a sense of dissatisfaction. 'I need stronger opponents if I'm going to keep improving.'

[Don't worry, Host,] the system chimed in. [You'll face stronger foes soon enough. You've already made significant progress.]

Kazuki nodded, though the thrill of the hunt had left him wanting more. 'I'll keep pushing myself,' he thought. 'There's always more power to gain.'

As he made his way back home, Kazuki's mind drifted back to Kuroka, waiting for him in his mansion. He knew the cat would eventually show her true form, and when that happened, he would be ready.

'Just a matter of time,' Kazuki thought, smirking again. 'For now, I'll keep playing the role of the clueless student. But soon, Kuroka—and the others—will be mine.'

Back at his mansion, Kazuki found Kuroka still lounging on the couch, her feline eyes watching him intently. He walked over, sitting down beside her and giving her another gentle pet.

"You're a clever one, aren't you?" Kazuki said softly, his voice filled with false warmth. "Don't worry. I'll take good care of you."

The cat purred again, though Kazuki could sense the intelligence behind her gaze. She was watching him as much as he was watching her.

'Let the games begin,' Kazuki thought, his smirk widening as he settled back on the couch.

The system, as always, was there to echo his thoughts. [Indeed, Host. The games have only just begun.]

**To be continued...**