Jujutsu Service Club.
Ayato looked at Maki, who was holding her school uniform, and said, "Lower your arms a bit."
"Oh."
Maki nodded and lowered her arms slightly.
Seeing this.
Ayato didn't hesitate. He took out an Evil Piece and pressed it down.
"Mmph..."
The cold touch made Maki grit her teeth slightly.
A surge of magical power began to flow within her body.
Compared to her pitifully small amount of Cursed Energy...
The magical power was like a great river, incredibly strong.
In a daze.
Maki felt as if she was floating.
Her blood boiled.
Her heartbeat was thunderous.
It felt like every cell in her body was rejoicing.
Her originally weak body had become incredibly strong.
So this was what it felt like to become a Devil?
A flash of excitement appeared in Maki's eyes.
In the past...
The level of strength she could only achieve with external aids had now been easily surpassed.
The achievements she had worked so hard for...
Were even less than the improvement she gained from becoming a Devil.
Hum!
A dazzling crimson light shone before her eyes.
An even more vast power began to surge into her body.
What was this?
It seemed even stronger than the power gained from becoming a Devil.
A thoughtful look appeared on Maki's face.
"Hmm, a Special-type Balance Breaker. I wonder what ability it is."
Ayato stroked his chin and nodded inwardly.
"Special-type Balance Breaker?"
Maki caught the keyword. "What is it?"
"It's a power I developed for my servants."
Ayato explained. "It comes from the Boosted Gear, the power of a true Longinus."
"Hiss."
Hearing this, Maki sucked in a breath.
A Longinus?
For humans, that was practically legendary.
"Also, there's the power of a Blessing."
Ayato slowly walked forward.
"The power of a god?"
A look of anticipation appeared in Maki's eyes.
Wait.
Did he need to be this close?
"Mmph..."
Maki's eyes widened.
Her brain instantly short-circuited.
So this was how a Blessing was granted?
Why did the method seem a bit off?
Seeing this, as if realizing something, Nobara's eyelids twitched involuntarily.
Her thighs instinctively tightened.
Pop.
After a moment.
Ayato pulled away from Maki's lips.
"Haah, haah!"
Maki breathed heavily, her eyes dazed, as if oxygen-deprived.
"The power of the Blessing can give you strength comparable to a general Heretic God in an instant."
Ayato said calmly. "But each time you use it, you must replenish it."
Hearing this, Maki's eyes lit up.
"That's... simply wonderful."
This was simply the best power.
Even if it was only once...
As long as it was power, that was all that mattered.
Her hands clenched, her excitement impossible to hide.
"Ayato, no... Master."
Maki said. "I want to go home to my family for a while and settle some things."
With this power, she couldn't wait to fulfill her wish.
"Go ahead."
Ayato nodded. "I don't know what you want to do, but do you need me to go with you?"
"I'll trouble you then, Master."
A few hours later.
Zenin Estate.
Family meeting room.
All the higher-ups of the Zenin Clan had already gathered.
Besides Maki herself, almost all of them were old men.
Their expressions were all quite unfavorable.
"Maki, how dare you spread false orders from the clan head? Do you know what you're doing?"
"We're very busy. We don't have time to play with children."
Some of them spoke.
Creak.
Just then.
The door was pushed open again.
A middle-aged man carrying a flagon walked in.
"Clan head, you've finally arrived."
"Clan head, Maki must be severely punished this time."
Seeing this, the meeting room became even more lively.
But soon.
Some people noticed something was off.
They all looked at Zenin Naobito with some surprise.
According to reason...
The clan head should be angry.
But his current expression...
Had some excitement, some relief, some joy, but definitely no anger.
For a moment.
The noise grew quieter and quieter.
Under their watch.
Zenin Naobito quickly walked to a corner of the meeting room.
There...
Sat a young man in a school uniform, reading a book.
They had noticed this person long ago.
But hadn't paid him any attention.
But what happened next...
Left everyone utterly shocked.
Every single one of them, without exception, showed expressions of shock and disbelief.