Spring in Kuoh Town quietly drew to a close in tranquility, and the air began to carry the slightly warm embrace of early summer.
The plants in Shin's courtyard, silently nourished by the spiritual qi gathered by the Purity Formation and Asia's increasingly meticulous care, appeared even more verdant and vibrant.
Mint leaves stretched out, glossy and emitting a cool fragrance. Mugwort stood tall. Daylilies produced slender flower buds, poised to bloom. The several dwarf pines also grew more robust, their needles pristine.
This small piece of heaven and earth seemed to form a serene and peaceful small world of its own, isolating itself from the external hustle and bustle. It had become a secret garden for the Occult Research Club members to heal physically and mentally after the battle and quietly strengthen their relationships.
Shin's recovery had entered a stable phase. The rare elixirs provided by the Gremory Family were remarkably effective. Combined with the continuous gentle nourishment of spiritual qi gathered by the courtyard's formation, the stagnation and stinging sensation in his meridians had mostly disappeared. The faint wisp of True Qi in his dantian also began to circulate and strengthen slowly and steadily on its own.
Although still some distance from complete recovery, he was out of danger. His complexion was rosy, and he moved freely. However, Rias's prohibition remained strict, forbidding him from any active cultivation or exhausting himself by making talismans. So he was content to relax and truly live a life of "recuperation."
Every afternoon, he mostly sat in his usual spot on the veranda—either poring over the Classic of Hundred Herbs and Elixirs, which he already knew by heart, trying to glean new insights from the basics, or simply closing his eyes to rest, feeling the Heaven and Earth spiritual qi naturally seep into his limbs and bones like a trickling stream, nourishing his Dao Foundation. Sometimes he would also take out ordinary brushes, ink, paper, and an inkstone, casually copying simple talismanic patterns. He did not seek to infuse spiritual power, but merely to practice his wrist movements and calm his mind.
And the most diligent "gardener" of this courtyard was still Asia Argento. She practically made caring for these flowers and plants her daily mandatory task, and it was also an important source of inner peace for her.
Her skills became more proficient. She could accurately judge the water needs of each plant, knew how to prune to make the plant shape more aesthetically pleasing, and could even distinguish which weeds needed to be removed and which wild flowers could coexist. Her movements grew more confident and composed, yet the focus and gentleness when her fingertips brushed against the leaves remained undiminished.
Her conversations with Shin also increased, no longer limited to flowers and plants. She would curiously ask about some customs and habits of the East, and Shin would choose interesting anecdotes unrelated to cultivation to tell her. She would also share some past memories from the church orphanage; those simple and warm recollections often made her eyes gleam with a mix of nostalgia and a touch of sadness. Shin always listened quietly, occasionally offering gentle words of comfort.
In this tranquil atmosphere, a sibling-like closeness and trust quietly took root and sprouted between the two.
Visits from other club members had also become part of this daily rhythm.
Kiba Yuuto usually arrived after his sword practice, carrying the refreshing scent of sweat and neatly organized class notes. His discussions with Shin gradually extended from course content to broader domains. Once, he saw Asia giving extra fertilizer to a slightly weaker daylily and curiously asked if there was a unique philosophy behind Eastern plant cultivation. Shin pondered for a moment, then briefly expounded on a superficial aspect of the Way of Nature, using examples like "following the four seasons, adapting to local conditions, not forcing things, and not pulling up seedlings to help them grow."
Kiba listened intently, his emerald eyes thoughtful, seemingly connecting it to his own sword dao and magical cultivation. As he left, he repeatedly pondered the difference between "following" and "guiding."
Akeno Himejima's weekend tea parties almost became a regular event. She always conjured up a variety of exquisite and delicious pastries and aromatic herbal teas. This weekend, she brought pale purple cookies, said to be a new trend in the Underworld, baked with "Moonlight Flower" petals, and a calming Bodhi leaf tea.
She elegantly poured tea, enjoying the lazy afternoon sun in the courtyard. Her topic suddenly jumped from commenting on Senior Koneko's new game to asking Shin if there were any predictive arts in the East similar to "Tarot divination" or "tea leaf divination." Shin smiled, mentioning the profoundness of the I Ching, but also emphasized that he only understood the most basic coin divination method. "Divination is to resolve doubts. If there is no doubt, why divine?" It was more about deduction of situations and reflection of one's mindset, rather than prying into fate.
Akeno's eyes lit up. She lightly covered her mouth with her fan and chuckled, "Oh my, oh my~ That sounds like it requires more wisdom than our magic divination. Advisor Shin truly always brings new knowledge."
Her gaze shifted between Asia, who was quietly preparing tea, and Shin, who was calmly narrating, and her smile deepened.
Rias's arrival always came with a clear purpose. This time, she brought good news: Based on her report, the Family highly affirmed Shin's outstanding contributions and great sacrifices in the rescue operation. They decided to allocate an additional batch of top-tier resources specifically for nourishing the Soul Origin and consolidating the life foundation, which would be delivered through special channels soon.
She carefully checked Shin's recovery and reiterated, "The repair of the foundation is more important than the recovery of strength. You must not be greedy for speed. These resources can greatly shorten the time for your complete recovery, but the absorption process must be gradual. I will have Akeno come regularly to assist you in guiding the energy."
Her tone was serious and responsible, and her crimson eyes showed genuine concern for her peerage and appreciation for talent. She also noticed that Asia's complexion and mental state were far better than when she was first rescued, and she cast an approving glance at Shin: "You've taken good care of this place and her. This is even better than I expected."
And what Shin found most interesting and fulfilling was still Koneko Toujou's "silent" transformation.
Koneko's visits quietly increased in frequency. She no longer always needed to come with others. Sometimes she would appear alone, silently, on an old tree branch in the courtyard or on the wall, holding her handheld game console and staying for an entire afternoon, as if just changing places to pass the time. But her stopping place had imperceptibly moved from the furthest wall to the stone lantern not far from the veranda.
Shin still maintained that unspoken understanding, always placing a snack in the fixed spot on the veranda's edge beforehand. The type of snacks also gradually became fixed—mostly less sweet, crispy, or matcha/red bean flavored wagashi, which seemed to better suit Koneko's preferences.
Koneko's way of taking the snacks also changed. She no longer snatched them away quickly like a startled cat as she did initially. Instead, she would first observe from a distance, confirming that Shin's attention wasn't on that side (though Shin actually knew everything), then lightly jump down, pick up the snack, sometimes even leaning against the veranda pillar with her back to Shin, eating it in small bites.
Until this afternoon.
Asia and Akeno had gone to the academy library to look up information. Kiba and Rias had other engagements and couldn't come. Only Shin and Koneko were left in the courtyard.
Shin was copying a simple "Calming Talisman" rune, while Koneko sat on the stone lantern, engrossed in her game, with only the faint sound of buttons clicking. Shin, as usual, placed a small plate of newly bought fish-shaped matcha cookies in the usual spot.
After a while, Koneko's game seemed to come to an end. She put away her handheld console, her amber eyes glancing at the plate of small fish cookies, then at Shin, who was bowing his head and concentrating on his calligraphy. She silently jumped down from the stone lantern.
However, this time she didn't walk directly toward the plate of cookies. Her steps paused slightly, as if she hesitated. Then she turned and slowly walked toward Shin.
Shin had already noticed but pretended not to, still focusing on the rune under his brush, though the tip imperceptibly paused. Koneko walked to the edge of the veranda, didn't take the cookies, but stood quietly for a moment. Shin could even feel her slightly cool gaze on him.
He stopped writing, looked up, and showed a gentle, unpressured smile, asking softly, "Senior Koneko, is something the matter?"
Koneko seemed not to expect him to suddenly look up. Her amber eyes flickered slightly, her gaze shifting away for a moment before quickly returning. She was silent for a few seconds, then did something that slightly surprised Shin.
She extended her small hand and, from her pocket which seemed to hold many things, took out a small bundle carefully wrapped in a clean handkerchief and placed it on the veranda in front of Shin.
"…A return gift."
Her voice was still flat and cool, almost without inflection. After saying these two words, she quickly picked up the plate of small fish cookies, turned, and with a few light leaps, returned to the stone lantern, her back to Shin, as if nothing had happened.
Shin was slightly stunned and looked down at the handkerchief bundle. He carefully opened it. Inside were several handmade cookies, slightly rustic in shape but clearly made with great care, with simple cat paw prints drawn on them with icing. A faint scent of milk and butter wafted out.
Shin looked at these obviously handmade cookies, then up at the small figure on the stone lantern, who was feigning composure but whose earlobes seemed slightly red. First he was surprised, and then an indescribable warmth and amusement slowly spread from the bottom of his heart.
He picked up a cat paw cookie and put it into his mouth. The cookie was perfectly baked, crispy and sweet, full of sincerity.
"It's delicious."
He said softly to the figure's back, his tone sincere.
The figure on the stone lantern seemed to stiffen slightly. She didn't turn back, but nodded almost imperceptibly, then focused more intently on eating the small fish cookies in her hand. Only, her previously straight back seemed to relax ever so slightly.
The lingering glow of the setting sun filled the courtyard, gilding everything with a warm golden edge.
Shin slowly savored the clumsy but sincere return gift, looking at the thriving plants in the courtyard, feeling the True Qi slowly growing within him, and the silent yet tangible, gradually warming bond beside him.
The days of recuperation were as plain as water, yet in this steady flow, wounds were quietly healed, and connections were forged. This hard-won daily life was becoming the most solid ground for him to take root and grow in this other world.
...
📢 Author's Note
The full completed version of High School DxD: The Quiet Immortal Who Guides Devils (Part 1) is now available on Patreon!
🔗 patreon.com/Shadow_demon_007
✅ Part 1 Complete — 116 Chapters
🔥 I also have additional **18+ fanfics** available for readers who enjoy exclusive mature stories. 😉
1. Dragon Ball: Oolong's Sex Adventure
2. Elements of Lust – ATLA & Korra Mixed Smut
3. Doraemon: Filtering with Nobi Tamako
4. The Naive Me Who Became Someone's Everyday Secret
5. High School DxD: Rias Gremory, the Phenex Bride
6. Versatile Mage: Awakening the Succubus System
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