Chapter 14: Unlocking Koneko’s Heart, Meeting Shigeo Kageyama

"What's wrong?" Roy asked, noticing something off.

"My bloodline's fully awakened," Koneko said, pointing to the cat ears atop her head.

"They're pretty cute," Roy said, reaching out to touch them.

Last time, he'd been too busy fighting, and Koneko, flustered after going berserk, had bolted. Now, he finally got his chance.

"Roy-senpai, don't just touch them," Koneko said, her body trembling, a faint blush spreading across her face. "And it's not about being cute. Awakening my bloodline could cause serious problems."

Serious problems?

Roy thought back, recalling Koneko's past struggles. "You're worried that fully awakening your bloodline might overwhelm you, make you lose control to its power, right?"

"…Yeah, I don't want to hurt any of you," Koneko admitted.

"No need to worry," Roy said, thumping his chest. "With your strength, even if you go wild, you're no match for me."

Koneko blinked. "?"

Was that supposed to be comforting?

She stared at him, words caught in her throat.

At that moment, Rias, overhearing, approached. "Koneko, I think Roy's got a point. You don't need to keep suppressing your bloodline like before. Even if you lose control, Roy and I will find a way to bring you back."

"Exactly," Roy nodded, chiming in.

As a Nekomata, a top-tier yokai, Koneko's potential was limitless. If she kept bottling up her bloodline, her growth would be painfully slow. Roy was counting on her strength for future dividends—how could he let that slide?

"Koneko, if you're unsure, ask me. I can teach you how to use Senjutsu," Roy offered.

"Senjutsu? Roy-senpai, you know Senjutsu?" Koneko's eyes widened, surprised.

Not just her—Rias and the others, hearing this for the first time, turned curious gazes his way.

"I'm not an expert, just know a bit," Roy said modestly.

A bit?

Rias recalled the previous night. When Sona asked if Roy knew tracking magic, he'd given the same answer. Then, in under ten minutes, he'd located Hana-Mi during a curse spirit cleanup. Her confidence in him surged, and she issued an order.

"Koneko, train with Roy to learn Senjutsu."

"…Understood," Koneko said after a moment's hesitation, nodding.

In the past, no matter how Rias urged, Koneko wouldn't touch her bloodline's power. But after Roy pushed her to her limits days ago, she'd realized the importance of strength. Weakness was terrifying. To avoid repeating past mistakes, it was time to step out of her shadows and move forward.

"Roy-senpai, I want to learn Senjutsu," she said firmly.

"No problem," Roy replied. "First, try sensing your Life Flame. It's the foundation of all Senjutsu."

"Life Flame?"

"It's like a fiery energy inside you. Focus your mind, and you'll feel it."

"…Roy-senpai, I think I failed," Koneko said after several attempts, realizing a grim truth: a naturally gifted teacher wasn't always the best choice.

"Don't rush, take it slow," Roy said, catching on and easing his pace.

As a Nekomata, Koneko's innate talent was impressive. After a few corrections, she soon sensed her Life Flame. It was the cornerstone of Senjutsu—master it, and the rest would follow easily.

Over a few hours, Roy shared the basic Senjutsu techniques he'd figured out. "Got it all?"

"Got it," Koneko confirmed.

"Good. Practice these basics until you can use them instantly. That's when you've built a solid foundation," Roy instructed. "Then I'll teach you how to use Senjutsu to tap your potential, growing stronger even while resting."

Koneko's eyes widened. "Roy-senpai, you're amazing, developing Senjutsu like that."

It wasn't anything complex, but seeing Koneko's awestruck look, Roy held back the truth. No need to dent her confidence—encouragement worked better.

"Roy, you've got a job," Rias said, approaching.

"What's this one?"

"Educate a psychic. Make him understand he's not special and shouldn't abuse his powers."

"A psychic? That's rare," Roy said, eyes lighting up, enthusiasm kicking in.

Devils had to work, and Roy was no exception. As a Gremory servant, he could pick his tasks. After discussing with Rias, he'd set his summoning condition to combat. This job, sourced through Rias's connections, fit perfectly.

Stepping into a teleportation circle, Roy entered coordinates and arrived in an unfamiliar room. "You're the client, right?"

He looked at a middle-aged man in a suit with a beer belly, standing nearby. After a brief exchange, Roy learned the man was the principal of Black Vinegar Middle School, and they were in his office.

"Mr. Roy, your target is a student here, Teruki Hanazawa," the principal said. "Teru's a born psychic with strong powers. He's been forming cliques, disrupting others' studies. I want you to teach him a lesson—show him he's not above everyone else."

Roy accepted the task. "Can I go hard?"

"As long as you don't kill him or cause permanent damage, do what you need," the principal said, nodding. The school's reputation had tanked because of this kid, and he was livid. If not for a friend tipping him off about summoning devils, he'd still be stuck.

Boom!

A loud crash sounded from outside. The principal flinched, tense. "What was that? An explosion?"

"Not an explosion. The target's fighting," Roy said, stepping to the window and spotting a blond teen on the school field.

No wonder the name Teruki Hanazawa sounded familiar—straight out of Mob Psycho 100. "Stronger than I expected," Roy noted, his gaze shifting to another boy nearby, radiating a faint but deadly aura, with a bowl-cut hairstyle.

A natural psychic monster, Shigeo Kageyama.

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