The afternoon sun was just right, casting dappled patterns of light and shadow through the sparse branches of the old residence's courtyard, falling gently onto the gravel path below.
Shin Kagami sat quietly beneath the veranda, his mind sinking into his Dantian as he guided the faint yet increasingly pure True Qi through slow circulation, nourishing his meridians.
The Purity Formation and Breath Concealment Formation operated silently, separating the courtyard from the outside world as if it were an entirely different realm.
Only the sound of wind and birdsong remained, making the place feel even more secluded.
However, this tranquility did not last.
Just like when Shiro Tsubaki had arrived before—yet far more clearly this time—the protective formations surrounding the courtyard began to fluctuate again.
This fluctuation was no tentative brush.
It was gentle, continuous, like ripples spreading across water.
It indicated that the visitors were anything but ordinary, and that their own powerful energy fields were naturally interacting with the formation's outer boundary.
Shin Kagami opened his eyes abruptly. A sharp glint flashed within them before quickly fading, returning to his usual gentle composure.
His heart tightened.
Anyone capable of causing such a reaction from the formations was no ordinary Student Council member.
He stood quietly and walked to the window, peering out through a narrow gap.
Outside the courtyard gate stood two girls.
The one in front was tall and graceful, with long, fiery crimson hair like a blazing sunset, shimmering brilliantly beneath the sunlight.
She wore the Kuoh Academy girls' uniform, yet carried herself with the elegance of a noblewoman attending a grand banquet.
Her exquisite face bore a confident, charming smile, and her emerald eyes sparkled with undisguised curiosity and scrutiny.
Just standing there, she seemed to command the world's attention.
A noble, powerful aura radiated naturally from her.
Rias Gremory.
Shin Kagami's heart skipped a beat.
Even though he had been mentally prepared, the moment this core character of the original story—the Gremory Family's princess—appeared at his doorstep, the impact still felt surreal.
Standing slightly behind her was another unforgettable presence.
She had long, glossy black hair flowing down to her waist, delicate features, and a gentle smile tinged with subtle meaning.
She stood quietly, yet a powerful magical fluctuation faintly surrounded her—
Along with an eerie aura that blended holiness and corruption.
Akeno Himejima.
The president and vice-president of the Occult Research Club had arrived together.
Shin Kagami took a slow, deep breath, quickly steadying his mind.
What had to come had come.
Avoidance was impossible—only calm confrontation remained.
He tidied his clothes, ensured the Breath-Hiding Method was running smoothly, and then unhurriedly walked to the courtyard gate.
Creak—
The old wooden door opened.
Shin Kagami revealed a polite smile tinged with mild confusion, meeting the gaze of the two uninvited guests.
"Excuse me… may I ask who you are?"
"Good afternoon."
Rias spoke first, her voice clear and pleasant, carrying natural warmth along with an unspoken authority.
"I apologize for the sudden visit. Are you Shin Kagami, classmate?"
"That's me," Shin Kagami replied calmly. "And you are…?"
"We're your seniors from Kuoh Academy's Occult Research Club."
Rias smiled as she introduced herself.
"I'm the club president, Rias Gremory."
"And this is our vice-president, Akeno Himejima."
"The Occult Research Club?"
Shin Kagami showed just the right amount of surprise.
"May I ask… what brings you here?"
His gaze subconsciously swept behind them, as if puzzled by the sudden appearance of two such outstanding seniors.
Rias's smile didn't change, but her emerald eyes carefully observed every subtle shift in his expression.
"We heard that a transfer student from a mysterious Eastern cultivation family had joined the academy," she said calmly.
"Our club specializes in researching supernatural mysteries, so we came to visit and learn more about ancient Eastern culture. I hope we haven't offended you."
Her explanation sounded far more refined than the Student Council's excuse the day before.
Shin Kagami knew full well that this was no simple cultural curiosity.
But on the surface, he showed sudden understanding mixed with faint flattery.
"I see."
"Senior Gremory, Senior Akeno, welcome. Please come in. My place is rather simple—I hope I won't be neglectful."
He stepped aside and gestured invitingly.
"Then we'll take you up on that."
Rias nodded with a smile and stepped into the courtyard.
Akeno followed, inclining her head slightly.
The moment the two crossed the threshold, both of them paused—almost imperceptibly.
An indescribable sensation washed over them.
It felt as though they had stepped into a completely different space.
External noise vanished.
The air became astonishingly fresh.
Each breath brought a sense of purification, and even the circulation of magic power within their bodies grew smoother and more stable.
It was a deep, soul-level peace.
A flicker of surprise passed through Rias's eyes before she concealed it behind her perfect smile.
Her certainty deepened—this transfer student was definitely not simple.
Akeno's gentle smile remained, but her eyes narrowed slightly as her gaze swept casually across the courtyard corners, stone tiles, and the shadows beneath the eaves.
Her perception was sharper.
She sensed that this "cleanliness" wasn't entirely natural.
Instead, it followed a precise and refined order.
As though an invisible system—utterly unfamiliar to her—had formed a delicate domain around the residence.
It wasn't a Western magic circle.
Its principles were different.
More restrained.
More harmonious with nature.
Yet undeniably effective.
"Your home is truly wonderful, Classmate Shin," Akeno said softly, her tone carrying sincere admiration.
"It makes one feel very calm and at ease."
"Oh my, indeed," Rias added, smiling warmly.
"Is this the effect of Eastern feng shui?"
"Or perhaps the uniqueness of a cultivation family?"
Facing their casual yet razor-sharp probing, Shin Kagami felt a silent alarm ring in his heart.
Yet his expression remained gentle and slightly bashful.
"You flatter me, seniors."
"It's just that this house is quite remote, with many trees around. The air is probably better."
"As for a cultivation family…"
He gave a wry smile and spread his hands.
"Our family declined long ago. By the time it reached me, there was only an empty name and some scattered books left—nothing worth mentioning."
He attributed everything to geography and emphasized his fallen legacy once more, deliberately lowering expectations.
Leading them to sit beneath the veranda, he added apologetically, "I'm afraid I only have plain water."
"That's perfectly fine," Rias replied.
Her attention was clearly more focused on Shin Kagami himself.
Shin Kagami went inside, poured water, and returned with two cups, placing them in front of the guests.
Rias and Akeno exchanged a brief glance.
Their judgment aligned.
No magical power.
No Sacred Gear.
No demonic aura.
Shin Kagami himself appeared utterly ordinary.
Yet the residence radiated undeniable abnormality.
His explanation didn't fully account for it.
"Thank you for visiting, seniors," Shin Kagami said sincerely as he sat down again.
"I'm just an ordinary transfer student. I didn't expect to attract the attention of the Occult Research Club."
"Curiosity toward the unknown is the joy of our club," Rias replied lightly.
"Especially when it comes to the Eastern Dao—a path that emphasizes inner cultivation rather than external power."
"Since you come from such a background, you must know something about it, correct?"
"Would you mind enlightening us a little?"
Her words were gentle, but the pressure behind them was unmistakable.
Shin Kagami knew he could not reveal the truth.
Yet outright denial would raise suspicion.
After a moment's thought, he answered carefully.
"I only know fragments from my family's old records."
"They say ancient cultivators pursued the unity of heaven and man."
"Through breathing, meditation, and self-discipline, they sought to comprehend nature and temper both body and mind."
"As for anything deeper… I'm afraid I don't know much. The legacy was broken long ago."
He offered only the most superficial concepts—enough to satisfy curiosity without revealing substance.
"Unity of heaven and man… tempering body and mind…"
Rias repeated softly, crimson light shimmering faintly in her eyes.
This path was completely different from devils relying on bloodlines and magic, or Sacred Gear users depending on external power.
Akeno smiled faintly.
"It sounds like a very gentle philosophy."
"No wonder this place feels so calming."
Once again, she subtly guided the topic back to the abnormality of the residence.
Shin Kagami sighed inwardly.
Neither of these women was easy to deal with.
He could only continue attributing everything to environment and personal perception.
Thus, a seemingly peaceful—
Yet quietly perilous—
Water-only "tea party" unfolded beneath the veranda.
The visiting Crimson-Haired Princess and Thunder Shrine Maiden harbored deep curiosity and investigative intent.
While the host, guarding his secrets, walked a razor's edge—
Facing his first direct encounter with the true powerholders of this world.
And here, within this quiet courtyard, the threads of fate silently began to intertwine.