DxD: Building a Demon Clan from Scratch

Outside the door.

Rei 's hand froze mid-air just as she was about to knock.

She had come to call them downstairs for dinner, but instead, she ended up witnessing something extraordinary.

Her face instantly flushed pink.

She wanted to pretend she hadn't seen anything and leave quietly, but her legs felt as if they had been nailed to the ground, refusing to move.

As time passed, Rei's breathing became noticeably erratic.

After what felt like an eternity, she finally managed to compose herself, quickly tidied up her appearance, and hurried away.

---

Downstairs.

Saya narrowed her eyes as she watched Rei return, her face still flushed.

"You sure took your time. What were you doing?" she asked suspiciously.

"N-Nothing!"

Rei's gaze darted away as she quickly changed the subject. "You must be hungry. Let's eat first."

"What about them?" Saya frowned slightly, feeling that eating without the others didn't seem right.

"Well... Sensei fell asleep in the bath again."

"And what about Saeko and... and Lynn?"

They had learned Lynn's name from Shizuka earlier.

"They... are discussing sword moves," Rei answered awkwardly. "They got really into it, so they probably won't be coming down anytime soon."

"Is that so...?"

Saya still felt like something was off.

---

The next morning.

As dawn broke, the first ray of sunlight in the world of the dead pierced through the curtains.

Lynn opened his eyes and looked at the woman in his arms.

He had already seen Saeko's side that craved the thrill of battle, yet now, in this quiet moment, her sleeping face exuded an entirely different charm.

No matter how much she relished the battlefield, at the end of the day, she was still a woman.

"...Master..."

As if sensing his gaze, Saeko murmured softly in her sleep.

Lynn gently stroked her long, silky hair but didn't rush to get up.

Reaching for his phone, he opened Line.

Every half hour last night, Kasumigaoka Utaha had @mentioned him in the group chat.

But at that time, he had been too busy to pay attention.

Sigma Man: @Kasumigaoka Utaha, please ask Natsuki-chan for a leave of absence for me.

On the other end, Utaha, who had been anxiously waiting for Lynn's reply all night and hadn't slept well, felt her heart turn cold.

Last night had been completely silent, as if her messages had vanished into the void.

And now, first thing in the morning, he was asking her to request leave for him?

The meaning was obvious.

Utaha's grip on her phone tightened, her knuckles turning white. A heavy suffocating feeling settled in her chest.

Huff...

She took several deep breaths to calm herself.

Then, with sharp, deliberate keystrokes, she fired back a reply.

Kasumigaoka Utaha: ヽ(#`Д´)ﾉ?!

Lynn chuckled but ignored her.

---

Main World.

Utaha arrived at school with dark circles under her eyes, seething with frustration.

The entire way there, she muttered under her breath.

"Stealing cat... shameless woman... I was the first..."

Teacher's Office, Shuchiin Academy.

"That's the situation, Ms. Minamiya."

"Got it," Natsuki Minamiya replied without questioning further, approving the leave request immediately.

Leaving the office, Utaha slumped against the wall.

"Spineless..." she muttered, cursing herself.

Then, as if possessed by a sudden determination, she pulled out her phone and opened a shopping app.

Search: Bunny Girl Costume.

War.

This is a woman's war!

After selecting one that made her blush just looking at it, Utaha placed the order without hesitation.

Her eyes burned with fierce resolve.

"You may have rolled first..."

"But I'll let you have that head start this time."

Gritting her teeth, she whispered the words of a sore loser, her voice trembling ever so slightly.

Second.

At the very least, she would be second!

---

"Eh? Just the two of you here?"

Shizuka came downstairs, wearing only an oversized shirt while yawning.

Rei and Saya, who were sitting on the sofa, froze the moment they saw her appearance.

Saya's face turned bright red, and she stammered, "S-S-Sensei, c-c-clothes—!"

Shizuka tilted her head in confusion before glancing down at herself.

Realization dawned.

Tapping her forehead in distress, she sighed. "Ahh, I forgot! The only one that fits me is the one I wore yesterday..."

Then, as if remembering something, she asked, "By the way, where are Saeko and Master?"

Hearing how naturally Shizuka referred to Lynn as Master, Rei's eyelids twitched.

Saeko too…

But considering Saeko and Lynn's relationship, maybe it was to be expected.

After all, last night…

Rei's cheeks flushed red again at the memory. She quickly cleared her throat and answered, "They probably haven't gotten up yet. Last night..."

"They were up really late..."

Her voice grew quieter toward the end.

Shizuka, completely oblivious to their awkwardness, happily skipped toward Saeko's room.

"Wait—!"

Rei opened her mouth, wanting to stop her.

Wouldn't it be better not to disturb them right now?

Swish—

But before she could say anything, Shizuka had already pulled open the door.

"Saeko, the sun's already shining on your—"

Her words abruptly stopped.

She blinked, staring at the scene in front of her.

Saeko, looking particularly satisfied, turned her head toward Shizuka.

The corners of her lips curled into a soft smile.

Shizuka's cheeks puffed up like an angry pufferfish.

"Saeko, bad!"

"You actually did it without me!"

Saeko wiped the corner of her mouth and smiled.

"Sensei, you came at the right time."

Then, she extended an invitation.

To a team match.

(To be continued.)