Rias noticed the change in Koneko's expression and felt a headache coming on.
Are you here specifically to mess with my peerage's emotions?
So what, are you going to pull out another letter next?
Still, Rias seriously doubted whether Koneko's runaway stray-devil sister could even read.
And if Rod really did produce a letter, then his identity would become even more complicated.
After all, Koneko's sister, Kuroka, was currently ranked SS-level danger on the Underworld's wanted list, a status that meant she had killed at least two High-Class Devils. If she were captured, execution would be immediate.
But if Rod truly knew Kuroka's whereabouts, Rias wouldn't be able to say much about it. Even setting aside Rod's own standing, she had to consider both Akeno's and Koneko's feelings. Akeno's cousin was Rod's friend, and Kuroka was Koneko's sister, she couldn't very well coldly demand that Rod reveal the location of a wanted criminal.
"I don't like her."
Koneko's body trembled slightly, but she answered firmly.
"Meow?!"
The black cat resting on Asia's lap immediately raised its head and cried out.
Rod had expected this. Reaching out, he gently patted the cat's head and firmly pushed it back down.
"I figured as much. She's mischievous and always hissing, never treating anyone like a master. You're so well-behaved, Koneko, of course it's normal that you don't like your sister."
He chuckled softly.
Noticing the cat struggling under his hand, he pressed down a bit harder to keep her still.
"What exactly are you trying to say?" Koneko asked coldly.
She felt Rod was making fun of her past. She might not like her sister, but that didn't mean she appreciated others speaking ill of her.
"Nothing much. When I was in Kyoto earlier, I saw an injured black cat. She said she had a younger sister named Shirone working under a devil. I figured that must be you."
When Rod mentioned that the black cat had been injured, Koneko's expression shifted slightly. She looked at him as if she wanted to say something, yet remained silent.
"Koneko, let's go back."
Seeing her mood change, Rias spoke immediately. Without giving Rod another chance to say "Wait," she activated the teleportation circle and left at once.
After Rias and the others departed, Rod finally released his hold on the cat.
With a flash of white light, the black cat instantly transformed into a beautiful girl in a black kimono. She glared at Rod angrily.
"Why didn't you let me transform just now, nya? Shirone was right there, nya!"
"Didn't you say you'd help me before, nya? Are you suddenly going back on your word, nya?!"
"Just like that rotten devil, you people love breaking promises! If that's the case, I'll go myself, nya!"
Seeing Shirone had made Kuroka extremely emotional. She had wanted to return to human form and reunite with her sister immediately, but Rod had restrained her until the others left. Naturally, she couldn't calm down and hurriedly prepared to chase after them.
But as she stepped forward, she noticed Rod not only made no move to stop her, he had casually leaned back on the sofa, comfortably lounging between Asia and Lavinia, looking completely at ease.
"What's wrong? Weren't you going to chase after them?"
"I was, nya… but normally, shouldn't you be the one stopping me, nya?" Kuroka blinked in confusion.
"No need. If you want to go, then go. Just be prepared to remain a wanted criminal. When the time comes, it won't just be one stray black cat wandering around, you'll have a stray white cat with you too."
"And honestly, I doubt Koneko would be willing to leave with you right now."
Hearing this, Kuroka fell silent in thought.
She had heard Koneko's attitude earlier as well.
After all, when she killed her former master and fled, she had forgotten to take her sister with her.
"I… I didn't do that on purpose, nya! After I killed that bastard, other devils discovered me right away! If I had delayed even a moment, I wouldn't have escaped, nya! If I had gone back for Shirone, we both would have been captured and executed. By leaving alone, I could take all the blame myself, I never meant to abandon my little sister, nya!"
Shirone was Kuroka's only family in the world. There was no way she would intentionally harm her.
Rod understood that perfectly well.
Unfortunately, reality was often far harsher than ideals.
Though Kuroka was a nekomata, she was still, at her core, a cat, with her own instinct-driven "operating system." Back then, young and reckless, she had been enraged by her master and entered a full berserk mode, acting without regard for anything else. Rod believed she cared deeply for her only family, but the situation had been too chaotic, she probably hadn't even realized what she had done until after escaping the pursuit.
By then, it was already too late.
Rod continued, "If you reunite with Shirone now, it'll only deepen the misunderstanding. Rias won't let you take her away either. But if you can build a decent relationship with them first, you can gradually work toward reconciling with Shirone. Once the time is right, you can explain everything properly."
"Alright… I'll listen to you, nya."
Kuroka gave up the idea, though she still looked downcast.
"That's right, Miss Kuroka. As long as you're patient, your sister will definitely accept you again!" Asia encouraged her from the side.
"Now then, let's talk about the matter of you hissing at me earlier," Rod said with a friendly smile.
One couldn't go easy on a hissing kitten, otherwise she might really start thinking she was the master of the house.
"Huh? Th-that was an accident, nya! I didn't mean it, nya!"
"I think you accidentally did it on purpose."
"No, please, nya!"
The night was quiet all around.
Fortunately, the room was well soundproofed, otherwise, hearing Kuroka's cries might have made outsiders think a murder was taking place.
Half an hour later, Rod rubbed his slightly sore hands and looked at the black cat, now with a reddened backside, curled up tearfully in Asia's arms. A satisfied smile appeared on his face.
"If you do it again, the punishment time doubles. Also, starting now, no fish for you for a week."
"What?! No, anything but that, nya!"
Kuroka's expression turned utterly despairing, her wails even louder than before.
Rod showed no sympathy. If she dared hiss today, tomorrow she might start climbing over his head, better to discipline her early.
After dealing with Kuroka, Rod picked a bedroom and went to sleep. The past few days had been rather busy, and since there were no immediate missions, he planned to take the opportunity to get some proper rest.
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