Chapter 52 Searching for Another Way
Edited by: Kanaa-senpai
Holding her scorching, delicate body close, Aki surged his vast Essence into her. Augmented by the stimulation of his lightning element, Kurumizaka Ruri finally experienced the same transcendent peaks as Hamazaki Reina and Sasaki Yukina.
Before one wave could settle, another crashed over her. With her small tongue lolling and her eyes rolling back in ecstasy, Ruri collapsed against Aki in a daze, her frame racked with tremors.
Sensing a slight swell in his internal Mana, Aki picked up Shinomura Yuki and resumed his cultivation¹.
The four girls-Reina, Yukina, Ruri, and Yuki-possessed strengths ranging between C and D-rank. While the boost wasn’t massive for Aki, who had already integrated a Devil lineage, they were significantly more effective partners than the Takamine sisters. He had intentionally revealed his Inner World² to the sisters to encourage them to begin their own Mana cultivation.
The thought took a firm hold in his mind. It wasn’t just about optimizing their Dual Cultivation; it was for their own safety. Regardless of their natural talent, if they could harness Mana with his help, they would at least be able to protect themselves from common street thugs.
Aki’s Dual Cultivation ability replenished his mind, body, and spirit, while his Devil lineage and Basic Body Mastery provided him with near-limitless stamina. Combined with his Enchantment skills, he found managing four women simultaneously to be an effortless task.
It wasn’t until the first light of dawn began to creep across the horizon that Aki finally stopped.
Four nude bodies lay scattered across the living room floor, their snow-white legs sprawled open as a pale fluid slowly leaked from their reddened, swollen depths. Looking at their slightly distended bellies and their glazed, vacant stares, Aki murmured to himself, “I might have been a bit too enthusiastic… I think I went too far.”
While Aki spent the night in cultivation, Rias Gremory and Shitori Sona had not been idle.
After the failure to convert Aki into her Peerage, Rias had handed over her local affairs to Himejima Akeno for a few days and rushed back to the Underworld. If she couldn’t find the answers in the family archives, she would seek out her brother-one of the current Four Devil Kings. If all else failed, she would find a way to circumvent the standard Peerage contract…
Fiddling with an Evil Piece that still carried Aki’s lingering scent, Rias’s eyes burned with resolve.
As for Shitori Sona, she listened intently to Shinra Tsubaki’s report. With one hand she flipped through ancient texts, while the other rapidly noted down every detail regarding Aki.
Based on a single ‘injection’ into Shinra Tsubaki, they had already deduced the mechanics of Aki’s Dual Cultivation, in addition to his ability to mimic talents and skills. This was the terrifying power of a Great House’s legacy-and a testament to the personal insight of Shitori Sona and Shinra Tsubaki themselves.
”Similar abilities have existed in history,” Sona said, closing a heavy parchment tome. “But one this clean, with zero side effects? It’s an investment we can’t ignore.”
”I wouldn’t say it’s entirely without side effects,” Tsubaki replied with a wry, somewhat troubled smile. “My strength improved, but this feeling… it’s like I’ve been marked. Like I belong to him now.”
The stronger a Devil becomes, the more sensitive they are to their own physical changes. If Aki could sense the truth of his cultivation after only gaining an Intermediate Bloodline, Shinra Tsubaki could certainly feel the shift in her own soul.
”I think that’s perfectly natural,” Sona countered, adjusting her glasses with clinical calm. “Doing it with Aki doesn’t just satisfy the flesh; it elevates your Mana. Even without that ‘marking,’ I doubt any other man could ever interest you again.”
The rush of power was its own aphrodisiac, especially the growth of Mana. To a Devil, Mana and spirit were the true self; as long as they remained, the flesh could always be restored.
Shinra Tsubaki nodded slowly. “True. Aside from being tied to him for life, there really isn’t a downside.”
”And once Aki grows stronger than you, the benefits will only increase,” Sona mused. “A constitution that empowers both parties without any drain… I don’t believe that’s ever been recorded.”
”Do you think the failure of the Peerage conversion is linked to this constitution?” Tsubaki asked.
Sona shook her head, uncertain. Logically, the two systems shouldn’t conflict, yet Aki had rejected the Piece.
Shinra Tsubaki frowned slightly. “Actually… it might not have been a total failure.”
”What do you mean?”
”When I dropped him off at home, I thought I smelled ‘one of us’ on him.” Tsubaki’s expression wavered. “It was faint. I might have been wrong…”
”The scent of a Devil? Specifically?” Sona asked, leaning in.
”It felt like a Devil from my own lineage-the Sitri family bloodline.”
Sona took out the Evil Piece saturated with Aki’s aura and chuckled softly. “Then it wasn’t a failure at all.”
Aki’s Intermediate Demon Bloodline had been siphoned directly from Shinra Tsubaki, making it identical to her own source. By a stroke of fate, Shitori Sona and Shinra Tsubaki had mistaken this for a successful conversion.
”But will the Rating Game officials recognize him?”
Sona dismissed the concern with a wave of her hand. “There are many ways to bind a Peerage, and most are far more stable than the Evil Piece system. Historically, a Peerage is simply a servant, and the one holding the King piece is the Master. We can use an older ritual.”
”Right. And even if you were mistaken, we’ll just try another way,” Sona added. “We’ll have to register it eventually, which might cost us a piece, but with my sister’s position as a Devil King, we have some leeway.”
Though their motivations differed, the two friends, Rias and Shitori Sona, had once again arrived at the same conclusion.
* * *
Aki used the girls’ phones to send out texts excusing them from their classes, then began the task of cleaning up the wrecked living room. Before that, he had to wash the four sluggish, naked bodies.
By the time the Takamine sisters woke up, Aki was just finishing the cleanup.
”Ayame-nee, Sayuri-nee, take the day off today. I need you to look after them,” Aki said, carrying a limp Sasaki Yukina toward the bedroom. “Sasaki, when you’ve got some energy back, I want you to help me. I’m going to have Ayame-nee and Sayuri-nee start learning magic.”
Sasaki Yukina looked at the sisters with heavy-lidded eyes and playfully licked Aki’s neck. “I don’t mind teaching them, but I can’t guarantee they have the spark for it~~”
”Don’t start with me,” Aki warned. “If you light a fire in me right now, you’re the one who has to put it out.”
Yukina’s body stiffened as she felt the fullness still within her. She snuggled obediently into his arms. She couldn’t play around even if she wanted to; her Flower Valley was still tender and throbbing.
Once he had tucked all four girls into bed and extracted a promise that they would help the sisters once they recovered, they quickly drifted off into a deep sleep.
”Ma… Master, who are they?” Takamine Sayuri asked, looking at the four beautiful girls huddled under the blankets. She sounded hurt. “Did you sneak off and do this all night while we were asleep?”
”They’re my classmates. They can use magic too,” Aki said, pinching Sayuri’s cheek. “Technically, they were ‘with’ me before you two were.”
”Counting that Shinra-senpai from yesterday, that’s five,” Sayuri pouted. “How many more women do you have out there?”
Aki thought for a moment. “That’s it for now. But there will probably be more.”
”Hmph!” Sayuri puffed out her cheeks. She knew she couldn’t keep him to herself, but the sting of jealousy was still there.
”Don’t worry. No matter how many there are, I’ll never neglect you.”
—
Summary:
Aki completes an intensive all-night dual cultivation session with four classmates, significantly boosting his Mana. Meanwhile, Rias and Sona investigate the failure of the Peerage conversion, discovering that Aki has unintentionally siphoned the Sitri bloodline. Aki decides to begin training the Takamine sisters in magic for their own safety.
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Trivia:
- Aki’s bloodline is specifically linked to the Sitri family now.
- Dual cultivation provides a feedback loop where Mana growth provides its own form of pleasure.
- The ‘mark’ Tsubaki feels is a unique side effect of Aki’s specific constitution.
- Aki’s Enchantment skill is what allows him to maintain such high physical performance
—
Character Insight:
Sona shows her pragmatic side by viewing Aki as an ‘investment,’ while Tsubaki experiences a loss of autonomy due to the ‘marking’ effect. Aki displays protective instincts toward the Takamine sisters.
—
Lore And Worldbuilding Context:
The author notes that the story is approaching a ‘premium’ or ‘上架’ status, indicating a shift in release frequency and length.
—
Glossary:
Notes:
• Kurumizaka Ruri – Silver‑haired, twin‑tailed, large‑busted girl with a pointed chin, petite and cheerful. Former gray‑blonde teen from Imaizumin Chi wa Douyara Gal no Tamariba ni Natteru Rashii, now at Hidden Academy, member of Reina’s trio. Clingy, affectionate, teases Aki, offers her empty house, wears black pantyhose, contributes Mental Resistance, pragmatic yet curious about mixed‑blood races. Classmate and cultivation partner of Aki, recently passed a test thanks to him.
• Hamazaki Reina – Blonde hair, emerald eyes; wears a modern school uniform with a miniskirt and black silk stockings. As the Big Sister/Boss of Kuoh Private Academy’s trio, she commands Aki, now obedient, using Insight Eye to exploit his bloodline. Part of a four‑person group tied to Aki’s constitution, summoned by phone late at night, and one of his partners whose stimulation can cause loss of bladder control.
• Sasaki Yukina – Freshman at Kuoh Academy with long peach‑pink hair, purple eyes, statuesque athletic build, large chest, fair legs and white ankle socks. Red‑eyed, physically dominant, she wields Physical Activation to boost Aki’s strength and endurance, prefers close‑combat and is highly durable. Strongest of Reina’s trio, Aki’s long‑term partner, she tests him by knocking him out, supplies intel on Shinomura Yuki, and pushes honesty within Hamazaki’s group.
• Aki – A reincarnated Devil-lineage student with an athletic build and A-rank potential, Uesugi is the charismatic male protagonist of Kuoh Academy’s Occult Research Club, wielding Dual Cultivation and Mana-Lightning Flash while resisting full Devil rebirth. He possesses memories of anime/manga from his past life and unique knowledge of the crossover world, adopting the persona of a “considerate scumbag” with a cold, pragmatic edge toward enemies. He bears the “Little Aki” trait—a mysterious member tied to his Essence, coveted by Succubi—and dates Rias Gremory alongside the Takamine sisters, navigating his evolving power and identity amid supernatural politics.
• Shinomura Yuki – Blonde, sharp‑eyed punk with yellow hair and tsundere vibes, outwardly a bandaged male thug at Kuoh Academy but actually a petite mixed‑blood demon girl in disguise. She despises men, uses Disguise talent, joins Aki’s group after a magic surge, targets him, and secretly likes the Hamazaki trio.
• Rias Gremory – Rias Gremory, a pure‑blood high‑class devil, sports striking crimson hair, blue eyes, a curvy elegant figure in the Kuoh Academy uniform, and a large bust. She heads her household’s local affairs, rules the school’s hidden hierarchy, and wields top‑level demonic power.
• Shitori Sona – Shitori Sona, Kuoh Academy’s student council president, sports short black hair, glasses, a stern expression and formal attire. She speaks in a flat, professional tone, is highly competent, and hails from a pure‑blood demon family. As a tactical leader of the Sitri lineage, she handles local supernatural issues by deferring to Rias Gremory.
• Rias – Rias Gremory, the 17-year-old pure-blood High-Class Devil and President of Kuoh Academy’s Occult Research Club, is the authoritative Crimson Ruin Princess of Kuoh Town—long crimson hair, crystal-like crimson eyes, and an explosive, elegant figure always clad in her school uniform. Determined and observant, she fiercely protects her peerage, mentors Aki as a big-sister figure, oversees his training, and is currently frustrated by her inability to reincarnate him, driving her to meticulously facilitate the ritual as both leader and guardian.
• Sona – Shitori Sona, Kuoh Academy’s Student Council President, sports short black hair, glasses, a stern expression, and formal attire. A serious, analytical pure‑blood devil, she seeks a cure for Aki’s unique constitution and handles local supernatural issues by deferring to Rias Gremory.
• Himejima Akeno – Akeno Himejima is a senior member of the Occult Research Club in High School DxD. She has long black hair, a graceful aura, and often wears school attire. Known for her elegant, mature beauty, she can generate golden lightning from her palms, possesses an icy temperament when provoked, and hides a sadistic streak behind a kind smile. She is Rias Gremory’s trusted retainer and confidante.
• Akeno – Himejima Akeno, Rias Gremory’s Queen and vice-president of the Occult Research Club, is a stunning A-rank devil with long silky raven hair tied in a hip-length ponytail, purple eyes, and a voluptuous figure often clad in her school uniform—red pleated skirt, sheer black stockings, and elegant “purple armor” attire. Though dominant and teasingly maternal toward Aki, she hides a bashful, maidenly side, still possessing her first kiss and easily overwhelmed by lust or embarrassment. A member of the prestigious Himejima clan, she wields lightning magic, mentors Aki with a kind smile concealing a sadistic streak, and balances regal poise with vulnerable, endearing moments of innocence.
• Shinra Tsubaki – Dark-blue-haired and refined, she serves as vice-president of the student council in a uniform befitting her status, childhood friend and “Queen”-type retainer to President Shitori Sona; a middle-class reincarnated devil with the Mirror Reflection talent and later the Demon Bloodline, she is an A-rank peerage member whose mana was significantly enhanced after encountering Aki, solidifying her role as both a strategic ally and loyal subordinate to Sona.
• Tsubaki – Shinra Tsubaki, Vice President of the Student Council and Sona’s Queen. A stoic Devil with black wings who wears a standard school uniform paired with a black lace bra and silk stockings, her glasses framing a serious, intellectual gaze. A master of privacy-bound magic, she aids investigations with razor-sharp analysis, masking deep jealousy of Aki’s time with the Occult Research Club—her hidden affection culminating in their first kiss. Though a distant senpai to others, she shares an intimate, unspoken bond with Aki, her composed authority concealing vulnerable, devoted emotion.
• Sayuri – The younger sister in the Takamine family, with short brown hair, a gentle expression, and always tidy in her school uniform. She appears in ‘Garden: Takamine‑ke no Nirinka – The Animation’ and is known for her excellent household chores and ‘Flexibility’ talent. As a maternal figure, she cares for Aki, showing a submissive, masochistic tendency toward him.
• Ayame – The eldest Takamine sister is tall, confident, with long pink hair, a slender waist, large breasts and an athletic build. Bold and open‑minded, she’s a flexible swimmer and appears as Aki’s host‑family older sister in Garden: Takamine‑ke no Nirinka – The Animation. Playful yet resistant to younger sister Sayuri, she is ultimately submissive and now being trained by Aki.
• Takamine Sayuri – Younger Takamine sister, short brown hair, gentle eyes, always in a neat school uniform. Appears in Garden: Takamine‑ke no Nirinka – The Animation. Excels at chores and has a ‘Flexibility’ talent. Maternal toward Aki, showing submissive, masochistic devotion.
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Edited by Kanaa-senpai.
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