Reincarnated into the Anime Multiverse, but High School DxD

If that was the case, then that really was... wonderful.

Ren glanced at Akeno Himejima, whose gaze had suddenly softened. He could guess with his toes that she had been reminded of something and was wondering whether her father had his own unspeakable reasons.

Unfortunately, based on what Ren knew...

Baraqiel did indeed have unspeakable reasons, but not many.

As a high-ranking officer among the Grigori, he had been injured in his youth and ended up near a shrine in Kyoto, where he was saved by Akeno Himejima's mother, Shuri Himejima.

Shuri Himejima tirelessly cared for Baraqiel. Over time, the two fell in love and had a daughter, Akeno Himejima.

Later, when the matter was exposed, the Himejima Family considered it a disgrace. Yet because of Baraqiel's presence, they did not dare make a move.

That was until Akeno Himejima was in her early teens. Baraqiel was recalled due to matters at headquarters, and while he was away, the Himejima Family came to Shuri Himejima's door and forced her to cut ties with Akeno Himejima, who carried fallen angel blood.

Naturally, Shuri Himejima refused as her mother. In order to beg the family to spare her daughter, she slit her own throat before the clan members.

Yet the Himejima Family still refused to spare Akeno Himejima, pursuing her all the way to the outskirts of Kuoh Town.

During Akeno Himejima's escape, Baraqiel secretly protected her, though no one knew.

In Ren's eyes, it was perfectly normal for a father to protect his daughter. But he found it difficult to understand how Baraqiel could ignore Shuri Himejima's death and not seek trouble with the Himejima Family.

Even knowing the clan rules, Shuri Himejima had cared for Baraqiel until he recovered. Yet after his wife was put in danger, Baraqiel had not even dared utter a single harsh word.

As for why he had only protected Akeno Himejima from the shadows after she was hunted down, the reason was apparently guilt. He did not want his fallen angel identity to implicate his daughter.

That was even harder to stomach.

They were already hunting down your daughter, and you were still worrying about whether you'd implicate her?

Ren looked at Akeno Himejima and decided not to tell her the truth for now.

Otherwise, if this broke her mentally, Rias might really become a turkey's wife.

"By the way, why did only you two come?"

Ren asked.

"Where's Rias?"

"Rias doesn't know about this for the time being. After I returned that day, I didn't tell her about your suggestion. As for Kiba Yuuto, you said yourself that he wasn't like us."

"He isn't. He's hardworking, but his potential is lacking."

By the middle of the story, Kiba Yuuto developed a Balance Breaker called the Twin Holy Demonic Swords, and then he vanished from relevance.

"If Kiba Yuuto heard you evaluate him like that, he'd definitely be devastated."

"Can't be helped. In this world, power depends on bloodlines above all else. If your bloodline isn't good enough, then you can only make up for it with Sacred Gears."

Ren spread his hands.

"Also, when you go back today, repeat my words to Rias exactly. You and Koneko have understandable reasons for not wanting to use your bloodline powers, but Rias is really just moping around for no reason."

"Uh... Rias works very hard too. She reads lots of books every day, especially tactical books about Rating Games."

Though Ren's assessment was still harsh, Akeno Himejima knew he was doing this for their sake.

But what was wrong with Rias?

Did she also have bloodline power she refused to use? Or some past emotional trauma?

That was impossible, wasn't it?

Her family was Gremory nobility, and her brother was even the Lucifer Demon King. Who could possibly traumatize her?

If someone bullied her, they would probably disappear right after.

"So when you get back, tell her to stop reading those useless trash books all day and honestly improve her control over her Power of Destruction. She hasn't made any progress in over ten years. Forget Riser—she probably can't even beat Sona Sitri now, can she?"

"Uh... I'll, I'll do my best."

Akeno Himejima pursed her lips.

Ren's words were far too sharp. If she simply repeated them verbatim, she was afraid she might anger Rias into getting sick.

She needed to choose her words carefully, lest Ren's good intentions be taken for malice.

Though if those words were directed at her, she would definitely be angry too.

"...And one more thing."

"Huh? There's more?"

Akeno Himejima froze.

A bitter expression appeared on her face.

Please, I beg you.

He had evaluated all of them already. Who else was left?

"I mean, when can you start training? Or should we hold off for now?"

"You scared me. I thought you were going to say something else again."

Akeno Himejima patted her chest.

"We came here today to find a solution, and it's the weekend. I'll tell Rias those things after I get back."

"Fine. Since things have come to this, let's go after lunch."

Ren and Lavinia had only returned from sparring in the countryside that morning when they ran into the two of them. If they had not explained why they came, he would have thought they were here specifically to mooch a meal.

Elsewhere.

Ever since the three fallen angels learned that Akeno Himejima's father was Baraqiel, their attitude toward her had softened considerably.

Although they were now Ren's slaves, they still feared the authority of the fallen angel higher-ups deep down.

"I want to sit with Shirone, meow!"

"You need to wash your hands before eating, and don't squat on your chair."

"Okay."

Once Lavinia woke up, everyone began enjoying lunch.

Raynare's cooking made Akeno Himejima and the other girl light up. "You clearly have such great cooking skills, so why insist on doing bad things? Why make things so difficult for yourself?"

"Did you hear that? A fallen angel who doesn't want to be a chef can't be a good maid."

Ren chuckled, and the room was instantly filled with cheerful air.

Koneko: Something's Coming Out

After eating and drinking their fill, Ren's group returned to the outskirts of Kuoh Town.

While Lavinia set up a barrier, Kuroka continued clinging to Koneko. "Shirone, why don't you stop worrying about that master of yours, meow? Learning senjutsu isn't easy, especially for cat yokai like us. If you're not careful, you'll become obsessed with power, meow!"

"Big Sister, I've already told you. Rias saved me, so I want to save Rias too. If you keep saying things like that, I'll never call you Big Sister again!"

Koneko's expression turned serious at those words.

Her warning immediately made Kuroka raise her hands in surrender, a pitiful expression appearing on her face. "Big Sister was only joking, meow. But senjutsu cultivation really is difficult, and beginners can easily lose control, meow! Oh, how about I transform into Shirone and participate in some Rating Game for you, meow!"

"Big Sister! I'm not a child anymore!"

"Fine, meow~~~"

No longer daring to change the subject, Kuroka's ears drooped as she continued, "Next, I'll guide the cat yokai power inside your body out. It might be a little uncomfortable during the process, so Shirone, you have to endure it well, meow!"

"I could endure the years after you abandoned me. What does a little pain like this amount to?"

Koneko said expressionlessly.

Seemingly sensing her younger sister's determination, Kuroka's expression became serious as well. "Sit down. I'll use senjutsu to activate your cat yokai bloodline, then teach you the flow of qi. Once you can sense it, you can officially begin cultivating senjutsu."

When Kuroka got serious, she looked imposing. For the first time, Koneko sensed a trace of an elder's authority from her.

Big Sister actually looks pretty cool when she's serious.

She thought.

Unlike the slightly complicated situation over there, Akeno Himejima's problem was much simpler.

Her bloodline power had always remained activated. It was simply that Akeno Himejima had always suppressed herself and refused to use it.

Yet even so, her lightning was still an ability derived from Baraqiel's bloodline.

"This feels strange. It's my first time teaching a devil."

Raynare was the strongest of the trio, so she naturally served as the main instructor.

"I've seen fallen angel-human hybrids, and devil-human hybrids, but I've never seen an existence with the traits of a fallen angel, human, and devil all at once. To be honest, I doubt Master's judgment. How exactly can a devil use the power of light?"

"Don't worry. I'll bear any consequences myself."

Akeno Himejima said expressionlessly.

"Easy for you to say. Your father is Baraqiel. If he finds out I taught his daughter wrong, he'd be strange if he didn't come settle the score with us!"

"That's right!"

"But by then, Master should protect us, right?"

Kalawarner and Mittelt chimed in.

Akeno Himejima's expression instantly darkened. "Don't mention that name in front of me again. He isn't my father!"

"Fine."

Raynare did not ask further.

She merely grumbled inwardly about this young girl who did not appreciate her blessings.

At least you still had parents, while she did not even know who hers were.

If you encountered trouble, you had a powerful backer supporting you. But what about her?

A fallen angel of the lowest birth had to fight for everything herself.

Otherwise, why would she have been willing to take such a huge risk and enter devil territory?

Even if she died, it would not cause the slightest stir in Grigori.

Thinking of this, Raynare suddenly looked at Ren.

A complicated feeling arose in her heart.

Although he had forcibly bound them through violence and curses, at least this period had been far happier than her time in Grigori.

Could he count as her backer in the future?

"..."

"Calm your mind and focus. Picture the power you want to use in your head. Since you have fallen angel blood in your body, it should be holy light. Try to imagine how you would use it."

At the same time, Kuroka used senjutsu to activate Koneko's bloodline power.

The girl's entire body was enveloped in a faint purple glow. At first, nothing seemed to happen, but Koneko soon felt an extremely strange itch spreading through her body.

The itching spread to the top of her head and the base of her tailbone, and soft moans that invited inappropriate thoughts escaped her lips.

"Big Sister, mm... it feels... it feels so strange."

Koneko curled up on the grass, her legs bent together beneath her school uniform as the skin of her inner thighs rubbed against itself.

"It feels like something is about to come out..."

"It's okay, meow. That feeling is normal, meow!"

Kuroka was drenched in sweat.

This was actually her first time helping someone else guide out their bloodline power. Moreover, the target was her own younger sister, so she had to be extremely careful.

Meanwhile, Ren stood nearby and watched the entire process of a catgirl being born.

"Amazing. After becoming a catgirl, her whole aura is different."

Cute. Wanted to pet her.