The sunlight filtered through the curtains as a gentle breeze entered through the half-open window.
With a slight start, Daniel slowly opened his eyes. After staring at the ceiling for a few seconds, he ran his hands over his arms and abdomen. Feeling no wounds, he let out a relieved sigh. Unlike last time, he was much calmer. The reason was simple: before losing consciousness, he had seen Koneko, and he trusted that she would help him.
He carefully sat up, reflecting on how he had come to rely so much on that delicate girl. Was it because she was the first supernatural being he had ever met? Shaking his head, he lowered his gaze to his abdomen. The wound had vanished completely, leaving no trace behind, not even a scar. His arms also showed no marks.
It seemed that the devils' healing magic was truly powerful. Yet, with some unease, he wondered why he was naked.
Unbidden, a few daring images of a white-haired girl flashed through his mind. Daniel quickly shook his head to drive them away—he didn't want to feel awkward in front of Koneko.
Once he managed to clear his thoughts, his expression grew serious.
The sensation in his body had changed. With just a thought, his right hand became enveloped in black-and-red energy effortlessly. Raising his left, he manifested a gray energy, resembling mist.
"Has the system finished updating?" he murmured, trying to communicate with it.
A sigh of relief escaped his lips as messages appeared before him:
[Mutation detected in user's body… eliminating… error… analyzing… assimilating and combining… 1%...]
They seemed like delayed messages, generated right before the update, at the moment he reincarnated as a devil. Daniel kept reading:
[Update successful. Connection restored with &$#^#.]
[Sufficient devil energy assimilated.
Exchange module unlocked:
It is now possible to transform devil energy into duel energy.]
Daniel nodded calmly. His theory had been correct: the system had needed to update. However, the part about connecting to "something" left him puzzled. What exactly had the system linked to? Had it always been there, or did it arise after his reincarnation as a devil?
Despite his doubts, he chose not to worry for the moment and focused on testing his new abilities. Even with the system, he couldn't help but feel a tinge of insecurity. He had begun to suspect that he possessed a strange body that provoked others' urge to stab him. Although, in truth, most of his wounds had been caused by demonic monsters and bird-men armed with energy spears.
He made himself a promise: he would not let that fallen angel escape. With the system, he would show who the real bird-men were. One day, he would get his hands on a Black Wings deck.
With a sigh, he began to inspect the room. His clothes were nowhere to be found. As he climbed out of bed, another system window lit up:
[Calculating…
Rewards obtained:
Blue-Eyes Deck.
Combat module added.]
"Eh?"
Daniel was stunned. Were these the prizes for defeating the stray devils? Apparently, the rewards had been delayed because of the update.
Smiling, he carefully examined his new cards, unaware that the door was slowly opening. A delicate white-haired girl froze upon seeing the scene.
Koneko stared at him in shock, her eyes wide. Still surprised, Daniel turned toward her and greeted her enthusiastically.
"Oh, Toujou-chan… what are you doing here?"
At that instant, a mental click jolted his sluggish brain, and instinctively, massive black wings wrapped around him like a cocoon.
Hurried footsteps echoed in the room.
"Clothes… your new uniform," Koneko stammered, retreating as she slammed the door shut.
Peeking past his wings, Daniel sighed, a little embarrassed. Still, he quickly let it go. He didn't think there had been much to see; after all, his physique was rather ordinary for a boy his age.
Putting aside the awkwardness, he headed for the shower with the clothes Koneko had brought him.
---
Daniel trudged down the stairs reluctantly. He had seen the time on the hallway clock and wasn't in a rush: it was already too late to go to class. He decided to skip school that day.
When he reached the living room, he found Koneko sitting on the couch. She looked at him briefly before turning her gaze away. Daniel could have sworn he'd seen a blush on her otherwise expressionless face.
With a hint of frustration, he scratched his head. Shouldn't he be the embarrassed one? He had tried to downplay it, but Koneko's behavior only made him feel more uncomfortable.
After a while, Koneko calmed down and said:
"You slept a lot. Buchou already left. She wanted us to go to school together."
Daniel was a little surprised. Had Rias-senpai really been there? It seemed that every time she showed up, he was unconscious. A shame—he had never actually seen his supposed "master" face to face.
"Why didn't you wear the uniform I gave you? There are still classes," Koneko scolded.
Daniel grimaced. School? He had been stabbed two days in a row; he felt he deserved a vacation.
If Issei had heard his thoughts, he would have complained: "I got stabbed twice too, and here I am, obediently sitting in class!"
"I don't think I'll go today, Toujou-chan. I'm still recovering," Daniel excused himself.
"Buchou healed you herself. I don't think what you're saying is true," Koneko retorted.
"Tch…"
Daniel clicked his tongue, trying to think of another excuse.
When nothing came to mind, he resorted to bribery. After a few minutes of haggling, Koneko agreed not to say anything in exchange for two tiramisus, a castella, and three lemon mousses.
Daniel couldn't help glancing at the girl's flat stomach, wondering how she could possibly eat all that with her tiny frame.
Since they didn't have the ingredients—because Daniel had had to stop a spear of light with his abdomen—they decided to go out shopping.
"By the way, Buchou said we have to be at the club room this afternoon," Koneko suddenly remarked. "It'll be the first meeting since your reincarnation, and she wants to do the introductions."
Daniel simply replied, "Okay," and began thinking about what to bring. Would the other demons like muffins? Since Koneko loved them, he decided to bake some.