Arthur sat by the window in the guest room, the quiet hum of underworld mana, a steady presence in the air.
He had nothing pressing to do and could return to his own world at any moment.
But he chose to linger.
There was no need to rush, for in this world, time for him and his home had conveniently paused.
This world, on the surface, wasn't so different from his own.
Yet, in one crucial aspect, it was far superior.
The sheer density of the ambient mana was astonishing.
His dragon heart thrummed greedily, siphoning the potent energy from the air around him as if to slake a centuries-long thirst.
He could feel himself growing stronger with every passing minute, a passive, effortless cultivation.
"Arthur-sama, may I have a taste, nyann?"
Kuroka's voice, a soft, purring melody, came from right behind him.
She wrapped her arms around his waist and rested her chin on his shoulder.
Her womanly breasts pressed against him. Arthur felt the softness. Truly heaven.
She was curious why her little sister was so addicted to the taste of his Lifestream.
And she had found out why.
"Alright, but I won't give you too much. Least you won't be able to do anything for the day."
He gave her a small portion of his Lifestream, and the effect was instantaneous.
A blissful sigh escaped her lips as her body went pliant, her grip on him tightening ever so slightly.
It was like catnip to a cat, and Kuroka became an impossibly beautiful, clingy feline. Arthur didn't mind in the least.
He was a willing captive, a smile touching his lips as she nestled against his back, her purring a soft vibration against his spine.
"Okay, I think the time has come,"
Arthur said, breaking the peaceful silence.
Kuroka merely nodded in understanding.
Everyone else was busy. Rias and her peerage were occupied, and Sirzechs had finally done what was long overdue: he had told Koneko the truth about her big sister.
He revealed that Kuroka hadn't truly betrayed her, that she was innocent.
Koneko was now a whirlwind of confusion, torn between a lifetime of ingrained hatred and a crushing sense of bewildered guilt.
She had spent so long hating her sister, and now the foundation of that hatred had crumbled.
It was only natural for her to be lost.
Kuroka yearned to embrace her little sister, to comfort her and tell her she didn't mind what Koneko had felt before.
"I will always love you, Shirone…"
She wanted to say those words more than anything, but her courage faltered.
She didn't dare show up in front of Koneko, afraid that her presence would only cause more pain.
Arthur, sensing her inner turmoil, offered,
"Do you want me to help you?"
He knew exactly how to, but he also knew this wasn't his place.
Kuroka looked at him, her eyes filled with a familiar gratitude. She shook her head.
"This is what I have to do, nyan. Thank you for asking though."
She took a steadying breath, then with a flicker of black light, she was gone.
She had leapt silently from the window, heading toward where Koneko was.
Arthur watched from afar, the girl he saw a small figure alone, trying to manifest her nekomata ears and tail.
She was struggling, afraid of a part of herself she had long denied.
He could only hope that this meeting would mend the broken pieces of their family and finally free Koneko from her pain.
Sona was filled with worry. Despite her parents granting her freedom, her duty as the family heiress still weighed heavily on her.
A potential marriage arrangement was on her mind.
She knew her family might not arrange one for her, but she still believed she needed to find a husband.
"Maybe I should lower my standards,"
She mused.
Finding a man who could beat her in a game of chess seemed like a nearly impossible task.
Even someone as powerful as Sirzechs Lucifer, one of the leaders of the Devil faction, had lost to her.
Sona looked at the window of the second floor of the guest manor, her gaze falling upon a potential suitor.
She saw him and a plan began to form in her mind.
If she could make him hers, she wouldn't just gain a powerful husband; she would also secure a source of that addictive Lifestream.
She shook her head, realizing that he would never agree if he sensed her true intentions.
He was perceptive and would likely see right through her.
As if confirming her thoughts, Arthur looked up and saw her.
He waved, and she waved back, her expression subdued.
She made her way to his room, and as she entered, he greeted her with a warm smile and a familiar question.
"Regular or extra?"
He asked, as though offering a menu.
A genuine smile appeared on her face.
"Extra, please,"
She replied.
He let her in and began preparing tea, a simple act that always had a way of helping her relax.
After a session of taking in the Lifestream, Sona fell asleep on his lap, a sense of deep trust washing over her.
She knew he wouldn't do anything to harm her.
Even if he did, she believed it would all be part of her plan.
After resting, Sona woke up and found that he was reading something, it was a comic book.
"Arthur, I want to ask you something. Do you have lovers?"
She asked without showing any emotion on her face but her ears were red showing that she was embarrassed.
But embarrassment wouldn't stop her.
She used the plural form of the word "lovers" because in this world, polygamy was legal.
Many powerful devils had their own harems, so if Arthur had one, she wouldn't be surprised.
"Yes, why do you ask?"
Arthur responded, a little surprised.
He knew she had feelings for him, but he didn't think she would be so forward about it.
"I want to be one of them,"
Sona said, her conclusion after a long period of careful thought.
She had decided that she didn't need to play chess against him; he was someone she desired.
"Really?"
Arthur asked for confirmation. He was surprised she hadn't even asked him for a game of chess.
"Yes, can you give me permission to pursue you?"
Arthur burst out laughing.
"You are really something, Sona. Why not? Pursue me as much as you want."
Arthur didn't think much of her request, but what came next left him speechless.
He couldn't imagine her reaction.
Sona stood up, then sat on his lap, facing him.
She kissed him on the lips, wrapping her arms around his neck to deepen the kiss.
It was clumsy, as it must have been her first time.
As a man, Arthur wouldn't let her be alone.
He kissed back, and Sona moaned in pleasure.
He injected Lifestream into her mouth, making her even more sensitive.
"T-that's cheating…"
She complained, but she didn't stop kissing him.
This meant that he accepted her which made her heart flutter.