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Chapter 302 ~ Lost Kitty

‘I need to cool off…’

Yuuji shook his head tiredly.

He was already at his limit. He was surrounded by devilishly beautiful girls in swimsuits, and touched their bodies all over to help them apply their sunscreen. 

No matter how used he was to sex and beauties, it was impossible not to be horny in this situation!

He took off his jacket, revealing the toned, sculpted physique beneath it. The bright morning sun cast a warm glow on his skin, accentuating every contour of his lean, muscular frame.

The moment his shirt came off, a stunned silence fell over the group.

All the girls turned toward him—eyes wide, cheeks flushed, jaws slightly parted. It was as if time itself paused.

Akeno blinked slowly, her cheeks turning a shade darker. Koneko stared with her eyes wide opened.

Rias unconsciously bit her lower lip.

Even the usually composed Xenovia froze mid-step, caught off guard.

Erika similarly felt her cheeks heating up at the sight. Even if she had made love with him frequently, she could never get used to how beautiful and perfect his body was.

Meanwhile, Aika was unashamedly staring at him, licking her lips as she “ate” him up with her gaze.

It wasn’t long before they were all staring—not subtly—and nearly drooling.

Noticing the attention, Yuuji quickly cleared his throat and dove into the pool in one fluid motion, vanishing beneath the surface to spare everyone further awkwardness. The splash broke the tension, but the image of him lingered in all their minds.

He swam a few laps to cool off. The cold pool water that touched his body felt refreshing. Even though he was immune to the cold, he could still enjoy the refreshing aspect of it. 

After swimming a few laps, Yuuji noticed someone sitting quietly at the edge of the pool.

Koneko.

She sat with her legs dangling in the water, gently kicking, her white hair catching the sunlight like threads of silver. But she wasn’t swimming. Her golden eyes watched the others from the sidelines, unreadable but slightly wistful.

Curious, Yuuji swam over and leaned against the pool wall beside her.

“You’re not coming in?” he asked gently.

Koneko looked away, her voice barely above a whisper. “I… don’t know how to swim.”

A smile tugged at Yuuji’s lips. “Then how about I teach you?”

Her eyes lit up for a split second. Her pale white cheeks blushing redder. 

“...Okay.” She nodded shyly. 

He offered her his hand, and she took it without hesitation. Slowly, he guided her into the shallow end of the pool. She gripped his hand tightly, nervous but excited, her feet paddling beneath her as she tried to keep herself afloat. He stayed close, never letting go.

“Just relax and try to move with the rhythm,” Yuuji encouraged. “Breathe in, dip down, breathe out. Like this.”

Koneko nodded and began mimicking his motions, dipping her head under and popping back up, trying to find the rhythm. Her tiny frame bobbed in the water with effort.

Eventually, they reached the far end of the pool, and Yuuji paused to check on her.

But when she looked up and saw how close his body was, her eyes widened in a panic. She immediately lost her balance—and without thinking, threw herself into his arms, wrapping both her arms and legs tightly around him in desperation.

“I-I’m sorry!” she squeaked, her face burning red.

But Yuuji simply chuckled and held her close, wrapping one arm securely around her waist and gently patting her head with the other.

“It’s okay. I’ve got you,” he said with a soothing voice.

Feeling his warmth, Koneko slowly melted into his embrace. Her arms stayed around him, but her grip softened. Then, in a move that caught him off guard, she began sniffing him softly. 

Her cheeks pressed against his chest, rubbing ever so gently—like a cat marking its territory.

Yuuji blinked in surprise but couldn’t help the fond smile forming on his lips.

“She’s way too adorable…” he thought, letting her stay like that for a while longer.

From the corner of his eye, he spotted Issei in the shallow end, nervously guiding Asia through basic swimming techniques. She clung to him, giggling sweetly as he tried his best to focus.

Yuuji chuckled internally. At least he’s giving it a shot.

After Koneko felt more confident and went to rest, drying off under an umbrella with a towel wrapped around her, Yuuji turned his attention to the others.

Aika and Erika called him over to play, splashing him mischievously. Akeno and Rias swam up behind him with matching smirks, clearly plotting something. Xenovia challenged him to a playful race across the pool.

And just like that, the afternoon turned into a blur of laughter, teasing, and sunlit splashes—each moment brighter than the last.

--------------------------------X--------------------------------

Afternoon.

Kuroka prowled silently through the streets of Kuoh in her sleek black feline form, her tail swishing with growing irritation. For several days now, she had been patrolling the area nonstop, searching—no, hunting—for any sign of the mysterious figure known as Mordred.

She couldn’t afford to be careless. Not with that man roaming freely in the same town where her beloved little sister lived.

‘Haaah… Just where the hell is this guy?!’ she thought, frustration creeping into her voice even within her own mind.

Kuroka knew her odds of finding him were slim, and the only lead she had was faint—a lingering trace of his aura that clung to Vali when he returned, battered and humiliated after their encounter. A trace so subtle, it nearly faded into nothing. Still, it was something.

That sliver of energy, and the knowledge that Kuoh was the last place he was seen, was all she had to go on.

As a Nekoshou—a rare and powerful species—and a master of Youjutsu, Kuroka was no amateur. She had honed her senses to a supernatural level, and her control over Senjutsu allowed her to amplify her physical and magical abilities using Ki. Normally, even the faintest remnants of an aura were more than enough for her to begin tracking someone across miles.

And yet now… nothing.

No matter how she enhanced her senses—be it through Ki or magical amplification—there wasn’t a single trace of Mordred’s presence left in Kuoh. Not even a fleeting whisper in the wind. No magical residue. No spiritual footprint.

It could only mean one of two things.

Either he had left long ago… Or his concealment abilities were so advanced that even she, a master tracker, couldn’t sense him.

Both possibilities infuriated her equally.

Just as she was about to abandon the day’s patrol, a sudden shift in the air made her fur bristle.

A presence emerged—calm yet overwhelming. Not one of brute strength, but of divine authority and barely contained malevolence.

A few meters ahead, standing in the golden-orange glow of the descending sun, was a woman. The dying light framed her figure in a halo of crimson and gold, casting her like an angelic sculpture carved in dusk.

Kuroka’s feline eyes widened.

She was beautiful—unnaturally so. Silken raven hair cascaded down her back, and her pale skin almost glowed in the light. But it wasn’t her beauty that shocked Kuroka—it was her features.

Twin white horns curved gracefully from the sides of her head, and her golden, slit-pupiled eyes held a quiet, terrifying power. Her black dress flowed like liquid shadows, regal and perfectly fitted, and from her lower back extended not the leathery wings of a devil, but a pair of soft, feathery black wings—twisted, elegant, and unnervingly serene.

Kuroka had never seen anyone like her.

More importantly… her aura. It was oppressive—like a vice tightening around her throat. Her instincts screamed to flee. Every fiber of her being told her she was standing before a predator of the highest order.

But the moment their eyes met, Kuroka couldn’t move. Her limbs locked. Her breath caught. One look was all it took.

“Why has a Nekoshou been skulking about these streets for days?” the woman asked, her voice smooth and unhurried, like velvet draped over steel.

Kuroka couldn’t answer. Her voice faltered. She trembled.

The woman’s gaze sharpened.

“Searching for someone, perhaps?” she continued. “Someone… who defeated that little white lizard?”

Kuroka’s breath caught in her throat. Her eyes widened in disbelief.

She knows.

The only one that fit that description was Vali—the strongest White Dragon Emperor in history. Yet this woman called him a “little white lizard” with a tone that was half amusement, half disdain… and not a shred of doubt.

Kuroka remained frozen in silence.

The woman turned her back to her, her long hair swaying softly.

“If you wish for answers,” she said, her voice calm and regal, “then don’t sneak around. Show yourself directly. And perhaps… in his greatness and kindness, he will allow you an audience.”

As she finished, a swirling black portal opened before her. Without another word, she stepped into the darkness and vanished. The portal faded behind her, leaving no trace.

Kuroka remained rooted in place.

A thousand thoughts ran through her mind—but one above all.

There’s another monster in Kuoh… and she knows about me.

If she continued to lurk around, who’s to say they’d let her go next time? The woman hadn’t attacked her, but the warning had been clear.

Perhaps it was better to face this “Mordred” directly… if he would even grant her an audience.

But at the very least—this confirmed one thing.

Mordred was still in Kuoh.

And the only reason she couldn’t find him…

Was because he didn’t want to be found.

--------------------------------X--------------------------------

The warm orange light of the afternoon filtered through the windows of the Occult Research Club, painting the room in a cozy glow.

Rias sat behind her mahogany desk, her crimson hair cascading like silk over her shoulders as her eyes scanned the letter in her hands. A faint sigh escaped her lips as she slid the paper back into its envelope.

Across the room, Yuuji lounged on one of the armchairs, his laptop balanced on his knees. His fingers danced lazily across the keyboard, the faint clack of keys blending with the hum of the air conditioner. Instructions delivered through a secured VPN to Estelle capable of sending waves through the global economy were sent one after another like any other simple text message between colleagues. 

Right after, he returned to trading some of his stocks, strengthening the positions of companies and subsidiaries under Linked Horizons. 

He didn’t look up until Rias’s sigh reached his ears.

“What’s wrong?” he asked without pausing his work, his eyes still on the screen as numbers scrolled past.

Rias glanced at him, hesitated, then answered, “It’s a letter from my brother. He says that since I’ve grown stronger, it’s time to unseal my first bishop. He thinks his power might prove useful for the upcoming summit.”

Yuuji’s fingers stilled for a fraction of a second before resuming. A faint smirk tugged at the corner of his lips.

“Ah,” he said casually, “so that presence I’ve been sensing really was your bishop.”

The shift in atmosphere was immediate. Rias’s eyes widened. Across from Yuuji, Akeno froze mid-sentence, her conversation with Aika forgotten, and turned to him with surprise.

“Y-you noticed?” Rias asked, her voice a mix of disbelief and caution.

Yuuji tilted his head, looking almost confused by her reaction.

“Hm? Of course. He’s not exactly subtle. A half-vampire with a potent Sacred Gear—hard to miss. You’re lucky to have him.”

“...”

Rias leaned back in her chair, her expression shifting from shock to resignation. 

“Hah… if you already know that much, there’s no point in keeping it a secret.”

“Ufufufu~,” Akeno chuckled softly, covering her mouth with one hand, clearly amused by the exchange.

“I’ll introduce you to him,” Rias said, looking directly at Yuuji, “when I introduce him to the rest of the group.”

Yuuji nodded. “Alright.”

Just then, the sound of the clubroom door opening drew everyone’s attention. Erika stepped in, dressed in a simple exercise shirt and pants, with Xenovia, drenched in sweat, right behind her. Their sparring session in the courtyard had left a faint trace of excitement in their eyes.

A few moments later, the rest of the team—Issei, Asia, Kiba, and Koneko—returned from their contract work, chatting among themselves as they stepped inside.

Rias stood, her crimson eyes sweeping over her gathered servants. “There’s something I want to show you all,” she said. “It’s time you met my other bishop.”

Without another word, she led them out of the clubroom, down the hall, and toward the sealed room deep within the building.