Chapter 41 That is good.

Issei felt a few punches actually hurting him but there was more pride in his body than anything else.

Koneko had her arms dropped to the side while her legs trembled. Her muscles ached and her lungs were on fire. It hurt to even breathe. But Koneko just felt something else. Issei walked up from the crater to the breathing junior.

With a gentle finger flick, Koneko Toujou fell down to the ground.

But before her body could even hit the floor, Issei had captured her and gently scooped her up.

"You've done well. Stamina training?" Koneko just tried to nod but felt that she couldn't even do that.

The Dragon scooped her up and sat down like he was handling a cat. Opening his wings, he touched her body while he focused on his own energy.

Divine Dividing wouldn't help here but Issei had learned tons of tricks. One of them was energy gifting.

Slowly, Koneko felt how her body was somewhat healing. Her stamina came back, her strength returned and she felt like a light again.

"I'm impressed and proud you are using my training. Do you want to hear my thoughts?"

Koneko felt like she wanted to get away but she felt that at this moment, the only thing she longed for was to snuggle in his warmth. His strength. It was comforting.

"Just a second, Chief. I'm healing up."

Issei remained quiet while he allowed Koneko to heal herself on him. It felt nice and he liked what she was doing.

There was something that he swore he heard purring. They remained in comfortable silence until she felt better.

"I did follow your tips. During my days off, I went for stamina training. Did I do good on that?"

"Spending time on physical exercise is never lost. es explain your hting. What I am also happy with is that you decided to change from different angles. You didn't stay in one spot at the same time. That is good."

Koneko tapped on his arms and he let her go. When Issei was seated, their eyes just met on the same level.

She stood before him while he continued his thoughts.

But the [Rook] cut him off.

"Chief, why didn't you fight back? If you wanted to, you could have landed me knocked out." Issei smiled at her while he felt that it was right.

His large hand landed on her head and he ruffled her head. His smile was the same gentle one she had usually seen. Normally, she would bite him off but the guy who could do the carnage wasn't someone Koneko wanted to piss off.

And the action, while patronizing for some, felt actually rather pleasant for Koneko.

"Koneko-chan, I could have done so. But what are we doing here? Training you and the other Peerage Members. You learn jack of crap if I do what you asked. Besides, you heard what I told Rias. Your [King] needs to earn this victory. And you and the other members want to be the ones who carry her there."

Koneko didn't know why he would use her first name but she had given him the nickname so she would let him use it.

"Now, you're healed up. Let's see how you play on defense." The eyes of Koneko bulged out of her skull when Issei got up and he shook his arms.

"Don't worry, I'm not going to wreck you. But you'll still need to be carried home."

Scene skip

Koneko bravely stood her ground and Issei did keep his word. He held back to a degree that she could handle. Her body was already tired from the fight that it was in.

Still, Issei carried her back to the mansion. A good meal, bath, and good night of rest did miracles on a body.

In his mind, she was doing really well. Instead of tanking the hits, she had learned to avoid them. She had often jumped back and then got right at him.

Issei felt she was doing a great job. When they got back to the house, he was pleasantly surprised that all were much like Koneko.

Asia was facedown in the grass and it appeared she was asleep. Meanwhile, Kiba and Kalawarner were catching their breaths. Issei noticed they were a bit closer.

Rias was covered in dirt while Akeno was in a shoulder carry by Raynare.

"Okay, it appears that you all have been good in practice. Now, it's time to relax. We can have a chat later but first. I'll get you something to eat." Issei walked into the house while Rias found that she could let him take charge of cooking.

She found that Koneko looked very happy.

"How did it go, Koneko?"

"Chief gave me a real hard time. But he's proud of the progress. I think. I like it. I like him. He'll be the same for you, Rias-Buchou." The Crimson-Haired Princess took the words in pride.

Inside the house, Issei began to cut vegetables and was glad that meat was in abundance. The stew wasn't hard to make but they could all use it.

Eventually, the rest of the group began to make their way inside the place while Issei was cooking. Like a guy who knew what he was doing, he was focused on the food.

The Peerage and the rest let him be as the minced meat was sizzling in the pans. The rest of them just set the table while he cooked.

"Now, we are settled in the house. How did it go? Kalawarner?"

The blue-haired bombshell nodded to Kiba while she recounted the story.

"Yuuto-kun certainly knows his way around the sword. Fast and agile although there can be things done about his ruthlessness." Issei nodded while the spices were added to the stew.

"We have started on that. One more day before yours. Now, Asia. What is the reason for you being barely awake?"

The [Bishop] was dozing off again and it was Rias who answered the question.

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