Caleb didn't know how difficult magic was to learn, but he had his Dual Cultivation ability. With good luck, he could nail it in one try, learning it in three hours, not three days. But the prerequisite was a beautiful girl who knew magic and was willing to have sex with him.
"Ahem..." Rias snapped back to her senses, reverting to her mature older-sister demeanor. "You don't need to rush with magic. The difference between Rank C and Rank D is actually minimal."
She looked at Caleb and advised, "Compared to magic, focusing on improving your combat skills will lead to faster power gains."
Compared to races like Youkai or Pure-Blood Devils, Caleb's physique wasn't exceptionally strong, but he still held an advantage in most situations. Even hybrids, like Yuuki Shinomura, didn't have the same physical strength as Caleb. Beginner Physique Mastery not only allowed perfect muscle control but also targeted muscle strengthening.
"Hmm, I've considered studying Karate or other fighting techniques," Caleb replied. "But I checked out a few dojos, and they weren't satisfactory. The progress is too slow, and it takes too much time."
Commercial dojos for Karate, Judo, etc., teach from the basics, focusing on tournament moves. Learning the true essence for real-world combat requires a significant time investment. Of course, it also costs a lot of money. Poor in literature, rich in martial arts—it has always been that way. Besides tuition fees, nutritional supplements after physical training also represent a large expense.
"There's another simple and direct way to quickly improve your combat skills," Rias said mysteriously. "I just don't know if you can keep up."
"What is it?"
"Right now, there's someone here who excels at close combat." Rias looked at the white-haired Loli and smiled. "If you spar with her often, your close-combat skills will definitely improve quickly."
Caleb rubbed his chin thoughtfully. Taking hits while receiving instruction would indeed be like getting double experience. However, Koneko Toujou (Koneko Tasogare) had the characteristic of immense strength. He wondered if he could withstand it...
"President, the person you're talking about isn't that little girl, is it?" Caleb wanted to minimize trouble and maintain his persona as a supernatural novice. "Speaking of which, I've been meaning to ask why there's a young child in the club."
Rias beckoned the white-haired Loli. "Koneko, come over here. This is Caleb Uesugi, our future comrade whom I mentioned last time."
Koneko Toujou nodded faintly at Caleb. "Hello."
"Hello."
The plain white-haired Loli was less remarkable than the white cat ears on her head. They looked fine on screen, but seeing them in person made Caleb intensely want to reach out and pet them.
As if sensing the desire in Caleb's eyes, Koneko Toujou took two steps back and looked at him warily.
"Caleb, this is Koneko Toujou, my Familiar. Her rating is Rook (Castle)." Rias ignored Koneko Toujou's resistance and pulled her over. With Caleb in her left arm and Koneko Toujou in her right, she buried both their heads in her massive chest.
"You're family now, so don't be strangers." Rias proudly pushed her chest out, bringing the three of them closer. "Uesugi, Koneko is just petite, not a young child. She's the same age as you, sixteen this year."
"Mmmph... Mmmph mmmph..."
Caleb tried to answer, but all he managed to do was moisten the fabric over Rias's chest; he couldn't form a single word. She's really huge. Even through the clothes and with another person competing for space, she completely sealed his mouth. A wave of numbness went through Rias's chest. An electric sensation flashed from the sensitive tips, and her cheeks flushed pink. She quickly released her arms.
Successfully escaping the seal, Caleb wiped the drool from the corner of his mouth, feigning innocence. He genuinely didn't do it on purpose. Rias was just too sensitive. She became excited and stiffened up after he accidentally touched her nipples a few times through two layers of fabric—her uniform and bra.
"President, Koneko, just call me by my name." Caleb said. "Koneko, can I call you that?"
Rias was a little embarrassed by the intimate contact with a male and her own reaction. She tried to keep a straight face, not wanting Caleb and Koneko Toujou to laugh at her.
"Okay, Caleb." Rias quietly shifted closer to Koneko Toujou. "But Koneko's real name is Shirone. Koneko is just a nickname."
"Aww." Caleb nodded. He knew not only that her name was Shirone but also that she had a sister named Kuroka. He also knew that she changed her name from Shirone to Koneko Toujou because of her sister.
"Koneko is..."
The white-haired Loli tugged on Rias's sleeve, stopping her from continuing the story. Rias looked at the bowed head of Koneko Toujou, feeling both pain and helplessness. Even after so long, she still hadn't moved past the incident involving her sister.
"That incident wasn't your fault, and Caleb isn't the type of person who..." Koneko Toujou still held Rias's sleeve tightly, head down and silent.
"Alright, I won't say anymore." Rias had to stop, reaching out to stroke her silver-white hair. Only then did Koneko Toujou release her sleeve.
Rias gave Caleb an apologetic smile. "I'm sorry, Koneko..."
"It's fine," Caleb interrupted. "Who doesn't have a secret they don't want others to know?"
"Oh? So you have one too?" Rias caught the key detail and was immediately interested.
Caleb shrugged. "Who knows?"
He had too many secrets: his transmigration, his Dual Cultivation ability, the future plot... If he actually told her, Rias might not even believe him.
"Hmph hmph hmph."
Rias narrowed her eyes, her beautiful, seductive gaze becoming even more captivating. "I want to make you my Familiar even more now."
Caleb rolled his eyes at her. "Why do you have to copy Akeno-senpai? One sadist is enough."
"Oh, I'm telling Akeno that you called her a sadist."
"Uh... Slip of the tongue, slip of the tongue, dear President! Please don't tell Akeno-senpai." Caleb flinched. The atmosphere had been too relaxed, and he accidentally said what was on his mind. It was a good thing Akeno Himejima was out, or he'd be in for a rough time.
"Pfft."
Rias couldn't help but laugh. "Alright, I won't tease you anymore. Now, to business."
"Koneko, you're responsible for guiding Caleb in close combat for the next few days."
Koneko Toujou had heard the general gist of the situation before and readily accepted without asking further questions.
"Caleb, don't underestimate Koneko," Rias turned to instruct Caleb. "Koneko not only has the bonus of the Rook rank but is also a Nekomata."
After being reincarnated by the Devil Chess Pieces, Koneko Toujou became a hybrid possessing the strengths of both Devil and Cat Youkai bloodlines. The most powerful Japanese cat Youkai, the Nekomata, is also called a Cat Spirit (Nekomata-Shou). With the rank's bonus, she possesses powerful physical combat, attack, and defense capabilities. Despite her small size, she is a solid all-around warrior.