Saji's Reason

"Are you sure it was a good idea to take him as yo. r disciple, my lord?"

One of Susanoo's loyal servants, the current leader of the aqua squad, Takai Kappa asked.

"Soon." Susanoo recalled. "There will be a meeting when the major factions will meet. Especially the ones present in Japan."

The Kappa nodded. "It was indeed prophesied by the Kudan." 

Kudans were human-faced cow Youkai who were known for their prophecies.

"We need a variable for that. And this boy fits the requirements perfectly." 

The Kappa nodded, he knew that the Kudan did list out a few requirements.

"And the boy is a blank slate." Susanoo's face softened. "We need someone like him."

Susanoo was well aware that the boy was on good terms with the devils, but so were they.

More specifically, the devils owed to them. Kuoh was not cheap, and while the heiresses had no clue what Lucifer and Leviathan had to pay for it, the Shinto faction did.

And they profitted greatly from it.

Factions were just like the government.

Similar to how one country's government made deal with other countries' governments, the supernatural factions and pantheons did the same.

"But there is still a month before his training begins." Susanoo looked at the Kappa. "A month before he experiences hell."

…

…

<<{Flash Steps (A)}: Allows the user to move at a speed that is difficult for the eyes to follow. The user can cover massive distances in a limited number of steps.>>

'This can combine greatly with my physical ability based skills like {Horo-Kanu} and {Master Swordsmanship}.' After the entire encounter with the lord of the storms, Kento finally had the time to look at his stats and abilities.

'{Whirlwind} is mostly a long distance skill, so I cannot combine it with my physical skills.'

Whirlwind was his most devastating skill at the moment but because of that, it was also difficult for him to figure out a way to apply it in his fights. 

But there was something that he was mostly interested in.

<<[Bow of Artemis (A+)]: The bow created for the Greek goddess of the hunt, Artemis. It allows the host to create arrows by manipulating the matter around him. 

The arrows can be provided with different elemental features as long as the host possesses the ability to manipulate those elements.

Damage from the arrows is directly proportional to host's strength and agility.>> 

'This is a really great bow.'

And it was. 

However, Kento understood that it was not a direct counter to anyone unlike his Tessaiga and the fact that his strength and agility had to be high to deal higher damage was mostly the reason the bow's grade was dropped to A+.

'Otherwise, it could have easily been an S grade item.'

But for now, he had to focus on obtaining points for his stats.

He already had Tessaiga for close range and the bow for long range.

Similarly he had skills for both close range and long range.

'But my stats are pathetic.' He felt a bit disappointed. 

Currently, he was a glass cannon that could deal out a good amount of damage with his skills and weapons but did not possess the ability to tank attacks.

And if he ever came against an opponent that could nullify his skills, he would be at a very bad spot without good stats.

In truth, he tried different ways to increase his stats points. But nothing worked.

He knew that he had surpassed the human limits ages ago and it was because of that he could not increase his stats in natural ways.

It was just like how many bodybuilders took steroids, it was to surpass their natural limits. 

'But the difference is that my increased stats don't go away if I stop.' 

And those people still had to workout to grow while Kento didn't.

At least not in terms of strength.

He still had to train to improve the efficiency of using his skills and items and to get used to his new stats.

<Points: 940> 

Kento had previously used the fifty points that he obtained from an earlier quest.

He had the 490 points that he was left with after getting all his stats to 100. And the other 450 came from the quest and bonus from his encounter with Susanoo.

'If that fight with the Tengu dragged on for longer, I would have used my points.'

Thankfully it did not and he didn't have to spam all his points in strength and agility.

Kento preferred alloting his points according to the situation at hand. And while it did not matter where he alloted the points in the past, now things were different.

His opponents were stronger and each of his move had to be calculated.

At first, 940 points seemed like a lot but after realizing the difference between each class he understood that those points were nothing.

'At least there is a way to gain another thousand points.'

And that was exactly the reason he sent the letter to Riser. 

If the Phenex gave in to his taunts, it would help both him and Rias.

And he knew that he would get the answer soon.

"It's quite surprising how you get so many leaves."

Kento smiled hearing this.

The one who said this did not sound jealous, but instead curious. 

"I have never seen president Sona allow it to even us." The boy said. "Then again… You did help us a lot. If not for you, the Asia girl might not have made it."

"It was just luck that I was around and there was only one enemy." Kento answered. "If the fallens would have jumped on me from the start, I would have been most certainly dead, Saji."

Saji agreed to that. He knew that Kento awakened his abilities only recently and going against fallens with possibly hundreds of years of experience, was suicidal.

"I feel bad for making you cover for my part." Kento was a little disappointed at himself for putting all the work on Saji. 

However, Saji laughed at his statement.

"You don't have to be. Before you came here, I was the only one doing everything regarding the discipline part. With you around, even if you don't stick around for long, I have been able to take quite a few breaks."

Kento knew that the boy was quite hard-working and determined, but he did not know why he followed the orders so seriously.

"I never asked." Kento looked at him. "But what made you join Sona's peerage?"

At the question, the boy scratched his head in embarrassment.

But despite the embarrassment, he still answered. "For money."

This made Kento surprised. He knew that Sona and Rias were rich and working for them would help one in earning a lot. But he did not expect Saji to fold just for money.

'But money does change people.'

However, Saji's had more to his story.

"When I was a kid, I lost my parents which resulted in me and siblings living with my grandma." He said, a little sad as he remembered his past. "But even then, we were able to survive. However, soon my grandmother also passed away."

"I am sorry." Kento felt bad reminding Saji about his past.

"Don't be." The blonde said. "Because this all led to me meeting with Sona."

"How did you two meet?"

"One day, I got a scam looking pamphlet saying that all my wishes will be fulfilled. But I was so desperated and tired of everything, that I tried summoning the devil as instructed on the pamphlet." Saji said.

"And Sona appeared?" Kento asked, making Saji nod.

"I was certain it was a scam but I was also desperate for a better life for me and my siblings. I did not mind selling my soul if needed." He explained. "And when Sona appeared, I was stunned."

Kento could understand how shocked a normal human would be to see someone teleport in front of them.

"I was willing to sell my soul for a better life, but Sona did not want my soul. Instead, she realized that I possessed a Sacred Gear and gave me the choice of joining her peerage. Which was definitely a better deal than selling my soul."

Kento smiled hearing this. "That was definitely not the worst trade."

Even if he did not like peerages, for someone like Saji who had no way to support himself and was willing to sell even his soul –joining Sona's peerage was an acceptable choice.

"You said your Sacred Gear is Absorption Line, right?" Kento asked, at which Saji nodded.

"It is a piece of one of the five great dragon kings, Vritra." Saji explained. 

"What does it do?" Kento asked, aware that he might not want to answer that.

"Since you are someone that has helped me, I don't mind telling you." Saji stated. "The Absorption Line allows me to form a type of tentacles that can attach itself to people to bind them or to suck their power. One of the ways I use it is by sucking one's power and putting in into another in a way to overload them."

"That's quite impressive." Kento realized why the gear was listed as A+ in his status, it was definitely going to be S rank and even above as Saji grows stronger.

"Rich coming from you." Saji laughed. "Just like President Sona, you can manipulate water. Not to mention you can fight using a style that we have never even heard about. And how do you fly without wings? That is still a mystery to us."

Kento found it nice that Saji talked so freely with him. "I would definitely tell you once I figure it out myself."

This caused both the boys to laugh.

"Anyways, you should go to the Occult Research Club." Saji said. "I heard that they were looking for you."

"Yeah, I should be going." Kento said, realizing why they were looking for him. 

'It's about time Riser gave an answer.'

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