In the end, Caleb still didn't give a definitive answer. Rias and Sona Shitori were disappointed but also slightly relieved. As long as Caleb hadn't become anyone else's familiar, they still had a chance.
Before leaving the Student Council room, Caleb asked Sona Shitori to help him look into some information. The news leak and the exaggerated rumors made him suspect someone was targeting him. This was a gut feeling honed by his Cuckold-Bait template—a suspicion one might call paranoia.
Sona Shitori readily agreed. She had already planned to find the source of the leak herself. First, she was worried that there was an internal problem within the Student Council. Second, she wanted to punish the person who deliberately leaked the information. If the news hadn't been leaked, Rias wouldn't have known, and Caleb would have had no choice but to agree to become her familiar.
Neither she nor Rias had even considered the possibility of Caleb refusing. As direct descendants of pure-blood Devil families and powerful High-Class Devils, countless individuals yearned to become their familiars. Their familiar selection process was highly stringent, yet Caleb met all the criteria: weak in power but immense in potential, handsome, not fundamentally flawed in character (despite his womanizing), and young, inexperienced in the supernatural world, making him suitable for building a relationship.
Yes, it was that simple. Regardless of the context, attractiveness was always a bonus.
Unfortunately, a perfect opportunity had been ruined by some "rat" hiding in the corner. Sona Shitori was furious, and the consequences would be severe.
Monday.
The moment Caleb stepped onto the campus, he was again surrounded by countless stares. Due to the Student Council's intentional inaction, the rumors had intensified over the past few days, becoming even more exaggerated. The purpose was to flush out whoever was fanning the flames.
"Uesugi-kun, come with me for a moment."
Tsubaki Shinra looped her arm through Caleb's, looking utterly inseparable. Her display of affection made countless male students' eyes turn red with jealousy. Rias, Akeno Himejima, Sona Shitori, and Tsubaki Shinra were all high school sophomores. Their popularity was even higher than during their senior year in the anime. However, since they were only sophomores, no bored individual had yet bestowed upon them the title of the 'School's Most Popular Big Sisters.'
Tsubaki Shinra had been sticking close to Caleb and openly displaying affection for the past few days. Part of this was to execute the plan to flush out the "rat." Additionally, Sona Shitori was attempting to use a honey trap to persuade Caleb to choose her as his King.
Rias's counterattack was swift. Especially after hearing that Caleb seemed to possess the ability to boost the power of his sexual partners, she immediately sent Akeno Himejima to actively seduce him. Rias herself even occasionally made time to appear before Caleb. However, Rias was generally more reserved than the very forward Tsubaki Shinra and Akeno Himejima.
Even so, having three of the most popular campus beauties entangled with Caleb was enough to cause an uproar.
Caleb keenly noticed the difference in Tsubaki Shinra's demeanor and asked, "Tsubaki-senpai, have you made any progress?"
"We can't be certain yet, but it must be one of these three people."
Tsubaki Shinra nestled close to Caleb, using the intimate gesture to whisper into his ear.
The Student Council was the governing body of the Underworld Academy, and nearly every student was registered. Through covert investigations over the past few days, coupled with Rias's cooperation, they had narrowed down the suspects to three individuals.
Caleb's neck tickled from Tsubaki Shinra's breath, and he couldn't help but shift slightly, earning a playful glare from her.
"Akeno can do it, but I can't?"
"Tsubaki-senpai, I'm just ticklish..."
In the beginning, Tsubaki Shinra had been somewhat shy, but after her friend Akeno Himejima joined the fray, she gradually became bolder. Whether it was due to a strange female rivalry or her master's mission, she was becoming increasingly audacious. If this continued, Caleb felt he wouldn't be far from surrender.
Because of Tsubaki Shinra and Akeno Himejima, no other girl had dared to flirt with Caleb in the past few days. Even the Reina trio looked like they wanted to but didn't dare.
Their playful flirtation continued until they reached the door of the Student Council room. At the entrance, Tsubaki Shinra's tongue lightly flicked the corner of Caleb's mouth. She smiled. "Akeno hasn't kissed you yet, has she?"
"No..." Caleb's face fell.
That was a sore spot. Both of them were too high-level. He could occasionally manage to squeeze a breast or feel a leg, but going any further was completely impossible. After all this time, he still didn't even know if Tsubaki Shinra or Akeno Himejima had any talents. With his power level at a complete disadvantage, Caleb couldn't force the issue.
He had just tried to grab Tsubaki Shinra's tongue, but as soon as he opened his mouth, a slender finger pressed against the tip of his nose, pushing him away.
Faced with Caleb's pitiful act, Tsubaki Shinra was unmoved.
"Uesugi-kun, I can date you, but the condition is that you become my familiar."
Tsubaki Shinra wasn't opposed to Caleb. But her affection was perhaps only at the level of seeing a favorite toy. If it meant gaining Caleb as an asset, she wouldn't mind having a promiscuous, womanizing little boyfriend.
"Tsubaki-senpai, can't things just be simple between us?" Caleb pleaded, his voice full of feigned grievance.
Tsubaki Shinra opened the door and entered the Student Council room. She turned back, giving him a mischievous smile. "Dame~ (No.)"
"Tch..."
Seeing that Tsubaki Shinra was completely resistant to his advances, Caleb turned his head and muttered under his breath.
"Uesugi-kun, why are you standing at the door? Come in quickly."
Sona Shitori's voice urged him from inside. "And remember to close the door."
"Yes, yes, yes~" Caleb replied half-heartedly.
He closed the door and walked to Sona Shitori's desk.
Sona Shitori handed the list of suspects to Caleb. "Uesugi, these are the files of the three people. Do you have any recollection of them?"
Taisei Oida, Male, third year, Youkai bloodline, specializes in concealment.
Mika Anbiki, Female, third year, Beginner Magician, specializes in mental magic.
Tetsuya Hoda, Male, first year, Youkai bloodline, specializes in network technology.
Two males and one female. Apart from Tetsuya Hoda, who was a contemporary, Caleb had never heard of the other two.
Caleb casually put down the files and said, "No. Since you've identified them, why not just arrest all of them?"
Sona Shitori glared at him, tidying up the scattered documents. "The Student Council is not a vigilante organization. Spreading rumors falls under our jurisdiction, but if we arrest them without evidence, we will be the ones getting into trouble later."
"But these three aren't very strong, are they? Can't you just beat a confession out of them?"
"Can't you use your brain? Why are you always thinking of using violence?" Tsubaki Shinra couldn't help but complain. He looks like a refined, handsome boy, yet his mind is full of violence and fighting.