DxD: Building A Demon Clan From Scratch.

Chapter 49: Sweet Talk

"Is this… the light attribute?"

Rias narrowed her eyes as she observed Mahiru continuously testing the effects of her light-based attacks on the stray devil.

"…Lynn, did you kidnap an angel to be your follower?"

"An angel?"

Lynn thought about Mahiru's nickname and chuckled.

"You could say that."

Rias: "…."

She was starting to admire him a little.

No wonder he wanted to find a stray devil.

So this was all to test how much the light attribute could affect devils?

Wait—

Rias's expression stiffened.

Why was Lynn testing this?

A sudden sense of unease crept into her mind.

This is to counter the Old Maou Faction, isn't it?

Her guess was spot on.

Lynn was indeed preparing for that possibility.

Seeing the effectiveness of Mahiru's attacks would help him gauge their potential in future battles.

If those fanatics ever came knocking.

This could be his trump card.

---

As Rias continued watching, another thought surfaced.

If an angel reincarnated as a devil, would they retain their light-based abilities?

Come to think of it.

She, too, had a half-Fallen Angel in her Peerage.

Yet she had never seen Akeno use light-based magic.

Pretending to glance at Akeno, Rias noticed her sudden silence.

Was it because of her mixed blood that she refused to use it?

Or… had she lost the ability entirely?

Regardless of the answer, Rias chose not to bring it up.

Akeno's identity was a painful subject.

She had no intention of forcing her to relive it.

---

A while later—

Rias turned back to the stray devil.

It had stopped breathing.

Her eyelid twitched slightly.

Brutal.

Meanwhile, Mahiru was exhausted, panting lightly from exertion.

Rias glanced at the weapon in her hand and commented,

"A human weapon isn't really suited for her."

"Oh?"

Hearing that, Lynn's eyes lit up with interest.

"Then, what would be suitable, Rias?"

Rias: "…"

She gave him a long look.

"…Do I look like Santa Claus to you?"

Lynn shrugged.

"Can't help it, I happen to know a beautiful, kind-hearted, wealthy, and powerful young lady."

Rias: ".…"

Flattery, huh?

With a sigh, she stretched out her hand, summoning a magic circle in the air.

A moment later, a rifle appeared in her grasp, elegantly designed, intertwined with white and gold.

"Take this Blazing Spear."

Lynn's eyes gleamed with interest.

"Does it have a holy attribute?"

Rias: "…?"

You're picking weapons now?

---

Kuoh Academy – Occult Research Club.

Back in the clubroom, Rias let out a deep sigh and rubbed her forehead.

"I can't believe I just gave away the Blazing Spear like that…"

Akeno approached, setting down a fresh cup of tea.

Picking up her drink, Rias complained,

"Akeno, why didn't you stop me?"

Akeno simply smiled.

"At that moment, Buchou was already under the influence of a spell called sweet talk."

"As for me?" She chuckled. "I was powerless."

Rias sighed again.

"Fine… Let's just think of it as an investment."

Yes—an investment.

She did have high hopes for Lynn.

Though they communicated frequently over the phone, they had only met three times in person.

And yet, each time she saw him, he had changed in some subtle way.

Especially this time.

With a serious expression, she turned to Akeno.

"Akeno… don't you think Lynn has become more…"

"More unfathomable?"

Akeno finished her sentence for her.

Rias hesitated.

That was exactly what she wanted to say.

Lynn's strength seemed far greater than before.

It wasn't just an illusion.

"Unfathomable, huh…"

Akeno's expression shifted slightly.

She still remembered the black lightning that had flickered at Lynn's fingertips during their last meeting.

She spoke softly,

"Buchou, isn't it possible…?"

"That he's always been unfathomable?"

"And you're only noticing it now?"

Rias was momentarily stunned.

"…Really?"

She wasn't sure anymore.

The first time they met, she had only been impressed by his personality and appearance.

But today—

Today felt different.

And—

Her gaze darkened slightly.

She thought about Lynn's Peerage.

Utaha, Mahiru…

Both of them had ridiculously high potential.

An Archivist Devil and… an Angel-turned-Devil?

What about the others?

Could it be… all of Lynn's followers are children with special abilities?

She muttered to herself.

"I really need to get to know Lynn better."

Rias had made up her mind.

At the very least, she needed to ask him about his method of recruitment.

Akeno narrowed her eyes playfully.

"Buchou~ wanting to get to know a man deeply… Isn't that a sign of love?"

"You're overthinking things, Akeno."

Rias smiled and shook her head.

"Lynn is Sona's fiancé. Why would I have any thoughts about him?"

Akeno raised an eyebrow.

"Oh? But isn't President Sona planning to annul that engagement?"

"Heh…"

Rias let out a knowing chuckle.

"I don't think she wants to cancel it anymore."

Knock, knock.

A knock on the door interrupted their conversation.

Rias: "..."

Speak of the devil.

She exchanged a look with Akeno.

Then, sighing, she said,

"Akeno, go invite Sona in."

Akeno: "...Yes."

She could barely suppress her amusement.

Shaking her head, she walked over and opened the door.

A moment later, Sona entered the clubroom, taking a seat across from Rias.

For a while, she was silent.

Then, after some hesitation, she finally spoke.

Rias didn't bother pretending to be surprised.

"You came to ask about Lynn, didn't you?"

Sona's face reddened slightly.

"Ah… um… um."

Her eyes darted around awkwardly.

Seeing this, Rias rubbed her temples.

Then, after a brief sigh, she gave Sona a rundown of Lynn's latest activities.

Hearing this, Sona frowned in concern.

"Five followers already… isn't that too fast?"

She wasn't sure how she felt about it.

What if they were all mediocre recruits?

Rias, however, withheld certain details.

Just as she hadn't told Sona about Utaha's abilities last time.

She wasn't about to reveal Mahiru's abilities now, either.

Lynn had trusted her with that information.

She wasn't going to casually share it.

Still, seeing Sona's worried expression, Rias smirked slightly.

"Isn't this a good thing for you?"

"If things really do come down to a Rating Game to settle your engagement, wouldn't it be easier for you to win?"

Sona fell silent for a moment.

Then, with a firm expression, she declared.

"I won't participate in a Rating Game."

If she did, it would expose Lynn's surname to the Old Maou Faction.

She—

She would never do that.

Rias remained silent for a few seconds.

Then, she gave her a gentle reminder.

"You do realize, Sera knows about the engagement, right?"

"If this situation drags on, who knows what she'll do?"

Sona's expression froze.

She thought of her sister.

"I'll go talk to her."

(To be continued.)