The daily life of the Occult Research Club was not always filled with discussions of grimoires and strategic meetings.
More often than not, it served as a private space for its members to cultivate, relax, or handle their own affairs.
Although Rias, as President, held high expectations for the club, she understood the importance of balance.
That afternoon, a calm and leisurely atmosphere filled the clubroom.
Rias reviewed documents related to the Gremory Family.
Akeno experimented with a newly blended floral tea behind the bar counter, its gentle fragrance spreading through the air.
Kiba Yuto was absent, likely attending his daily kendo practice at the dojo.
Shin sat by the window on the sofa, a book titled Principles of Basic Magic Arrays resting open in his hands.
His eyes traced the intricate geometric formations and energy-flow diagrams on the pages, yet his thoughts wandered elsewhere.
Since brushing past Asia Argento the day before—and subtly introducing the idea of forced Divine Artifacts during the previous club discussion—an invisible tension had settled in his heart.
Rias was no ordinary noble devil.
Behind her relaxed demeanor lay razor-sharp perception and an extensive intelligence network. She would not dismiss his words lightly.
Was she already investigating?
Was she waiting for confirmation?
What moves were the Fallen Angels making now?
And what was Asia's condition at this very moment?
The questions lingered like a low hum in his mind.
He needed more information.
And greater strength.
But acting prematurely would only invite disaster.
For now, silence and routine were the safest camouflage.
Just then, Koneko Toujou quietly rose from her corner, slipped her handheld console into her pocket, and headed toward the clubroom door.
Her movements were as silent as ever, drawing little attention.
Shin's gaze followed her briefly.
He knew the sign.
This was Koneko heading to the specialized training grounds behind the Old School Building for her daily practice.
Possessing immense physical strength and inherited Senjutsu from the Nekomata lineage, Koneko required constant conditioning and control training.
Though similar in name, her Senjutsu differed greatly from the Daoist cultivation Shin practiced.
A thought surfaced quietly in his mind.
Remaining in the clubroom speculating served little purpose.
Why not observe firsthand how power in this world was wielded?
Observation, after all, was a vital form of intelligence gathering.
With his decision made, Shin closed the book, stood up, and nodded politely toward Rias and Akeno.
"President, Akeno-senpai, I'm going out for some air."
Rias glanced up from her documents, a faint smile curving her lips.
"Go ahead, Mister Advisor. There's a good open area behind the Old School Building—the view is quite nice."
She seemed to see through his intent but chose not to expose it.
Akeno smiled warmly and handed him a small thermos.
"Ara~ I brewed a little extra calming herbal tea. Take it with you, Shin-kun."
"Thank you, Akeno-senpai."
Taking the still-warm thermos, Shin felt a subtle warmth settle in his chest.
He left the clubroom and followed the faint energy fluctuations toward the back of the Old School Building.
Soon, he reached the semi-enclosed training grounds nestled beside a small wooded area.
The space was wide, the ground layered with impact-resistant material.
Large stones and reinforced targets—many cracked or shattered—stood as silent proof of intense training sessions.
At the center of the field—
Koneko Toujou was already in motion.
She wasn't striking stones with raw strength.
Instead, she practiced high-speed movement techniques.
Her petite frame flashed across the field—stepping, pivoting, lunging—with movements so light they seemed weightless, yet each carried explosive precision reminiscent of a predator.
At intervals, she struck the air with punches and kicks, sharp cracks echoing as compressed force tore through space.
Even more striking was the faint cyan Qi swirling around her palms.
At times it formed a defensive barrier; at others, it condensed into Qi bullets that shot forward, pulverizing wooden stakes into splinters.
This wasn't Western magic.
It was closer to Qi—wild, natural, and spiritually charged.
So this is the Senjutsu of this world…
Shin stood beneath a tree at the edge of the field, completely silent, observing without disturbing her.
Compared to his own Daoist Qi refinement, Koneko's energy was more external—focused on combat efficiency and immediate application.
It relied heavily on instinct and bloodline rather than structured internal refinement.
Yet its essence was unmistakable.
Different flow.
Same source.
Time passed quietly.
Koneko clearly sensed his presence but did not stop. Her focus never wavered, fully immersed in her rhythm of cultivation.
Shin watched calmly, adjusting his breathing unconsciously to align with the environment, his aura growing increasingly restrained—as if blending into the scenery itself.
Finally, after an intense sequence of rapid lunges and successive Qi bullet releases, Koneko slowed to a halt.
She exhaled deeply, a faint white stream of Qi escaping her lips.
Fine beads of sweat dotted her skin, silver strands clinging to her forehead, her cheeks lightly flushed from exertion.
As she steadied her breathing, Shin moved.
He didn't praise her.
Didn't comment on her strength.
He simply walked forward, picked up the thermos Akeno had given him, and approached her.
Koneko raised her head, amber eyes meeting his calmly. She showed no wariness—only quiet acknowledgment.
Shin stopped one step away and unscrewed the cap, a gentle herbal fragrance drifting out.
"Akeno-senpai made this," he said evenly. "She said it helps calm the body."
There was no forced concern, no awkwardness—just natural goodwill.
Koneko stared at the thermos, then at his face.
After a brief pause, she reached out, accepted it, and murmured softly:
"…Thank you."
The words were barely audible, but unmistakably sincere.
She took small sips, the warmth easing the fatigue in her body.
Shin said nothing further.
He simply stood beside her, gazing toward the distant trees, silently keeping her company.
Sunlight filtered through the leaves, scattering soft patterns across the ground.
Only the wind and the faint sound of sipping broke the stillness.
A quiet, wordless harmony settled between them.
After finishing, Koneko tightened the cap and held the bottle for a moment before returning it.
She didn't immediately leave.
After a pause, she turned her head and asked flatly, yet unexpectedly:
"What… book were you reading?"
Shin blinked, then smiled faintly.
"Principles of Basic Magic Arrays. I want to understand this world's systems better."
Koneko nodded.
Silence returned—but the invisible distance between them had subtly diminished.
After a short while, she turned and walked back toward the clubroom, her training complete.
Shin watched her small yet steady figure disappear around the corner before letting out a quiet breath.
Silent companionship was often more effective than conversation.
And a well-timed bottle of water could sometimes open doors words never could.
Looking up at the sky, Shin noted the perfect evening light.
It was time to return.
And for the challenges ahead, his heart felt just a little steadier.
...
Author's Note
Hello, readers! Welcome to my second Webnovel account.
My first Webnovel account is Shadow_demon_007, where I uploaded 20 fanfics. Due to Webnovel's upload limits and rules, I created this second account so I can continue uploading more fanfics for you all.
Please also check out my first account, where many of those 20 fanfics are available. Some of them are already fully completed, and I have uploaded those completed fanfics on my Patreon
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— Shadow_demon_007