Senjougahara Hitagi stared in shock at everything before her.
Snow-covered mountains layered one upon another, and small rivers in the forest merged into a single expanse.
Such a beautiful sight had completely captivated Senjougahara Hitagi.
But very quickly...
ferocious beasts rampaged forth.
In an instant...
the mountains trembled, sending out ripples, and the small rivers churned like a stormy sea.
The beasts invaded recklessly, destroying everything.
"This..."
Eririn was completely startled awake.
She saw several seniors, seemingly crying from pain.
As if in fear, or perhaps regret, they were wailing.
"I was wrong, I was really wrong."
"We shouldn't have thought that with the strength of a few people, we could challenge Master."
"Next time, next time I will gather more people and let Master witness our strength."
Hearing the faint words of Miyano Shiho and the others, Linde sneered.
"Weight Manipulation," "Rubber Body," and "Steel Body" merged into one, concentrating power at a single point.
They spoke so nicely.
They even wanted to gather forces to attack him.
It seems he must assert the Master's authority once and for all.
To let them know the price of insubordination.
With the combined force of the three skills and perfect body coordination, everyone was knocked helter-skelter.
"Ah ah ah ah!"
Amidst the ear-splitting sword cries, several figures successively fell to the ground. 257
At this moment, Eririn completely came to her senses.
She now realized that she had ultimately been drawn into it.
It was also her own fault; she had delayed for too long.
The only consolation was that her goal had been barely achieved.
On this point, Senior Shiho had indeed kept her promise.
In this situation, she could only blame herself for being too slow.
And at this moment...
A long, warm hand reached out and gently cradled Eririn's head.
The moment of contact, Eririn's pupils deeply constricted.
Like a squab returning to its nest, she threw herself into Linde's embrace.
Immediately, Linde felt the impact of the young girl.
"Master, I'll still be in charge of cleaning, okay?"
Eririn looked up, gazing piteously at Linde, her ears slightly flushed.
Participating in her companions' battle...
She still hadn't mentally prepared herself enough.
Linde lowered his head, gazing into Eririn's eyes.
"That won't do. To increase your strength, you must have a strong mind."
"Since you've already taken that step, don't fall behind others, am I right, Eririn?"
His gentle and warm words made Eririn's eyes unfocused, and tears welled up from her developed tear glands.
"Master... you're right... Eririn must also take another step forward."
A timid voice rang out, yet it was filled with determination and resolve.
Linde smiled slightly, his large hand already pressing down on Eririn's head.
Without any hesitation, Eririn gave her most resolute response.
After fully integrating into the Familia, a sense of happiness, from within and without, filled her entire body, and the joy of becoming stronger transformed into tears.
Watching this scene, all the other Familia members showed knowing smiles.
Knowing that Linde was helping their companion integrate into the group, none of them interrupted.
On the other side, Senjougahara Hitagi was completely bewildered.
Who am I?
Why am I here?
What in the world is happening to this world?
She covered her face, but her eyes were wide open, peering through the gaps in her fingers at everything.
Senjougahara Hitagi's cheeks were flushed, and she felt her face burning fiercely.
Beside her, Izuki Shima, who had been motionless, finally came to her senses and approached Linde.
"You..."
Senjougahara Hitagi started to speak, then stopped, her eyes filled with complexity.
If this continued...
Wouldn't she be the only one who didn't fit in?
Upon closer inspection, Izuki Shima knelt down, performing a standard dogeza.
"Master, Shima also wants to continue getting stronger, together with everyone in the Familia..."
She grabbed Linde's pant leg, her face filled with humility and flattery.
After everything that happened yesterday...
Her heart had already been broken.
She understood that Linde was the true deity she should worship.
For the great goddess, she was willing to dedicate everything.
Although...
both her body and soul already belonged to her Master.
Looking at Izuki Shima, Linde's lips curved upwards.
He pinched her pretty face: "How about this, you can assist Eririn first. You both just broke through to Lower-Class Devil, so your strengths should be just right."
"As you command, Master."
Hearing their conversation, Eririn gasped.
She felt Izuki Shima's help, and it was indeed much easier.
However...
all this time...
she had been the assistant.
Now that the roles were reversed, it felt inexplicably shameful.
But all of this was her Master's command, and she couldn't object.
[Experience 15]
[Experience 36]
[Linde Lucifugus]
[Race: Progenitor Devil]
[Level: LV61]
[Authority: Progenitor Devil Transformation]
[Familia: Grayfia, Miyano Shiho, Miyano Akemi, Esdeath]
[Skills: Devil Contract, Devil Summoning, Infinite Magic Power, Magic Heart, Magic Gunner, Devil's Gun, Devil's Mask, Absolute Zero, Corpse Manipulation, Slash, Beast Familiar, Super Regeneration, King of Beasts, Curse of the Holy Mother, Power of Light, Fallen Angel Form, Devil's Brush, Natural Holy Sword User, Rubber Body, Destruction Magic Power, Destruction Devil Eyes, Live to Die, Phoenix Body, Phoenix's Tears, Steel Body, Stealth, Weight Manipulation, Bewitching Eye.]
Looking at the text information, Linde felt his understanding of power deepen further.
"Finally, a breakthrough."
Linde sighed.
After becoming a Super Devil King, the leveling speed was truly getting slower and slower.
Sensing the change in Linde's aura, the Church Trio also quickly gathered around.
"We want to help too, we also want to be able to help Master."
At this moment, Linde was touched.
His achievements today...
were all inseparable from his and his Familia's efforts.
Thinking of this, he turned and looked at Senjougahara Hitagi.
"How about it? Currently, you're the only Lower-Class Devil in the Familia. Do you need my help to break through?"
Hearing Linde's words, Senjougahara Hitagi seemed to snap back to reality, her delicate body trembling violently.
B-b-b-breakthrough?
What a joke.
She abruptly stepped back a few paces, twirling her hair with her fingers, and stammered:
"Um, Master, everyone must be hungry now, right? I'll go prepare breakfast for you all."
Linde's eyes were playful as he looked at her and said, "In that case, I'll leave it to you."
"Th-this is what I should do."
As her words fell, Senjougahara Hitagi, moving awkwardly, clumsily ran towards the stairs.
Thud!
As soon as she reached the kitchen, Senjougahara Hitagi plopped down onto the floor, feeling like her heart was about to leap out of her chest.
"It's so hot," she said.
She took a breath, fanning her flushed cheeks with both hands.
Also, that damp feeling was too unbearable.
"This damn weather."
The young girl, who had picked up a kitchen knife, could only rage helplessly.
That afternoon.
Soft sunlight streamed through the French windows.
Linde walked into the restaurant feeling refreshed.
His Retainers' skills had indeed made significant progress this month.
But he was still superior.
"Master, where are the other seniors?"
Senjougahara Hitagi, who was preparing the meal, saw Linde, and her expression became complicated.
That long?
Her Master was simply not human.
Wait.
Her Master was a demon, so it was fine.
Just as Linde was about to reply, his expression shifted slightly.
He saw the Demon Summoning skill shining.
"Excellent…"
A smile appeared on Linde's lips.
"I wonder what kind of world it will be this time?"