The Rating Game loomed over us for the rest of the week, and we took ample time to prepare for what was coming. It wasn’t quite as intense as our training over the break, but none of us slacked off as the days passed us by, bringing the looming confrontation with Riser closer and closer.
Issei and Aika lagged behind, of course, but even they seemed to understand just how serious this event was going to be as they didn’t complain while they were out through their paces. Even Issei, who could usually only be motivated by a peek or at least the promise of cleavage, seemed to have a fire lit underneath him. Probably just from his desire to, as he put it, “punch that pompous prick in his perfect jaw.”
Not the words I’d use, but I wasn’t far behind him.
The days ahead passed by quickly, and soon enough, the Rating Game was looming just over the horizon, only a day or two away. In order to ensure that we were fully rested for the event, Rias ordered us to take those two days to relaxed and recover, saying that she had something planned.
That was how I found myself standing in the middle of a forest smack dab in the middle of the underworld.
The full moon shined down through thick leaves and hazy air as we stepped out of the teleportation circle. The trees around us stretched endlessly in all directions, full of all manner of creature known to man, and many unknown.
The Familiar Forest was briefly visited in canon, but their twenty minute stint in the area didn’t really do it justice. Being here, actually feeling it was a completely different notion. From the moment I stepped out of the circle, I could tell that there was nothing like it on earth.
Creatures skittered through the underbrush around us, their presence announced by the rustling of leaves and the occasional flash of movement in the shadows. I couldn’t see them clearly, but I could feel their eyes watching us as we walked.
“The Familiar Forest is home to hundreds of different kinds of creatures,” Rias explained, leading us deeper into the woods. “Spirits, sprites, dragons; all manner of beings call this place home. If you’re lucky, one of them might choose to bond with you.”
“Bond?” Aika asked, stepping over a gnarled root.
“A familiar forms a contract with a Devil,” Akeno answered, walking just behind her. “They serve as companions, scouts, and occasionally combatants. They’re basic requirements for our kind as they can act with autonomy. Kind of like a pet that’s also your secretary or bodyguard, depending on what kind you manage to get.”
“Not everyone gets one, of course,” Rias added, his eyes scanning the treeline. “It depends on whether a creature finds you suitable. Some devils search for years without finding a familiar, and some never find one at all.”
Issei perked up at that. “So there might be a dragon out there that wants to be my buddy?”
“Theoretically,” Rias said with a small smile. “Though dragons are quite rare. Most familiars tend to be a bit... tamer.”
“You probably wouldn’t want one anyway, Issei,” I said, keeping a careful eye on the foliage around us. He deflated, but quickly rallied as a thought occurred to him.
“Wait, is there a chance I can get a sexy babe like the one you have, Rias?” He seemed eager by the proposition, and I exchanged an amused glance with Akeno as Aika sighed behind us.
“Maybe,” Rias replied, her smile turning amused. “Though whether or not they’ll choose you is another question entirely.”
We continued deeper into the forest, the path winding between the trees. I could feel eyes on us as we walked, creatures curious about our presence in their domain.
I was about to ask how far we’d be walking when movement in the branches above caught my eye. It was a strange, gelatinous mass that caught the light.
The slime, I realized, tensing as it slid out of the tree. I opened my mouth to warn the others, but by then it was far too late and with a wet splat, the creature landed on all of us
Oh no, I thought, grimacing as the viscous creature splashed across my shoulders and chest. My skin immediately began to tingle strangely.
“Ah!” Rias cried as the slime clung to her form. Nearby, Koneko and Akeno were in similar positions, struggling against the sticky mas.
“What’s that!?” Issei shouted.
The slime was already working, its acidic properties eating through fabric like tissue paper. I looked down just in time to see my shirt dissolve into nothing, followed quickly by my skirt. Within seconds, I was standing in nothing but my tattered skirt and bra, and even that wasn’t lasting long.
Aika was the only one who hadn’t been affected as the girl, already on edge from our surroundings, created a barrier around herself the moment things kicked off. The slime that had landed on her barrier slid off harmlessly, unable to find purchase on her magic. Lucky her.
The men, meanwhile, were completely untouched. Kiba, gentleman that he was, turned away as he realized what was going on. Issei had no such manners, watching the show in front of him with avid interest as our clothes dissolved into nothingness.
As if on que, my bra gave up the ghost, dissolving into nothing and leaving me completely topless. I crossed my arms over my chest, my face heating up.
“This... What is this beautiful creature,” Issei sniffed, staring at the slime with stars in his eyes. “I’ve decided. This is the one. This is going to be my familiar!”
“In your dreams, pervert,” Koneko said, clutching her own meager chest with a blush on her slightly annoyed face.
Rias, much less bothered by her impending nakedness than the rest of us, sighed and raised her hand. Crimson energy gathered in her palm, and with a sharp gesture, she unleashed a wave of destruction that vaporized every slime in the immediate vicinity, leaving us, and the rest of our clothes, intact.
“No!” Issei cried out, dropping to his knees in despair. “My beautiful familiar! Why!?”
“Letting you have that thing would be a crime to all women,” Koneko stated, staring at him flatly.
I subconsciously shuffled backward, moving until I was standing between Akeno and Issei. The Queen giggled softly, placing a comforting hand on my bare shoulder.
“Don’t worry, Nero,” she teased. “I’m sure Issei appreciates the view.”
“Well he can keep his peeping to Rias,” I said, keeping my arms firmly crossed. “I’m the only one allowed to look at you like that.”
“Oh my,” Akeno giggled, draping her arms around me and pressing her breasts into my back in a shameless display. My face heated up as her breath caressed my ear. “Defending my virtues, are you? How noble. I’ll have to reward you for it later.”
She nipped my ear and withdrew, leaving me standing there frozen. I looked to the others but they were thankfully preoccupied with Issei’s meltdown. I glanced back at Akeno and was met with a wink.
That tease, I thought, already missing the warmth of her pressed against me.
Once we had all redressed—courtesy of Rias conjuring new outfits for those of us who had been thoroughly molested by slime—we continued deeper into the forest. Issei mourned the loss of his “visual buffet” the entire way, earning himself a smack from both Koneko and Aika before he finally shut up.
We walked for maybe a few more minutes when a voice called to us from up above.
“So you’re looking for a familia, eh?”
We looked up as one to see a middle-aged man standing in a high tree branch several feet off the ground. Wearing a blue snapback over spikey red hair and wielding nothing but a bright yellow backpack and a white T-shirt, he looked like a knockoff Ash Ketchum at best, and someone you’d steer your kid away from if you crossed him on the street at worst.
Of course, despite looking like a borderline pervert, the man was nothing of the sort. Or at least I hoped so.
“This is the Familiar Master,” Rias introduced us to the man with a slightly uncomfortable smile. “He’ll be guiding us through the forest to help us find your familiars .”
“That’s right!” The man jumped out of the tree, landing in front of us with surprising spryness. “I know this forest like the back of my hand. We’ll find you your familiars in no time!”
Aika leaned slightly toward me, her voice low. “He’s kind of creepy.”
I nodded, keeping my expression neutral. “He looks like someone’s weird uncle who hangs around playgrounds.”
“I heard that!” The Familiar Master turned to look at us. He didn’t seem offended, though. If anything, he seemed amused. “Don’t worry, I get that a lot. Comes with the territory when you spend decades in a forest talking to animals.”
He turned his attention to Issei, who had raised his hand. “So, what’ll it be, kid? What kind of familiar are you looking for?”
Issei pumped his fist. “A hot one!”
The Familiar Master grinned, tipping the brim of his cap. “There’s plenty of beauties all around this forest if you know where to look. Follow me!”
He spun on his heel and marched deeper into the woods with a pep in his step that was frankly obnoxious given the ominous atmosphere. We followed, though I couldn’t help but feel like we were being led on a wild goose chase.
The forest seemed to stretch endlessly around us. Every few minutes, the Familiar Master would stop and point out a creature hiding in the brush or perched in the trees. Most of them scattered before we could get a good look, clearly spooked by our group.
“Ah, look here!” The man stopped beside a bush, gesturing to a creature perched on a low-hanging branch. “A harpy! Excellent scouts and messengers. Very loyal if you can win them over, but it ain’t easy. They’re pretty skittish.”
The harpy in question was indeed beautiful, with the upper body of a woman and the wings and talons of a bird. Her body was covered in feathers that protected her modesty, and a pair of snow white wings fluttered behind her as she stared at us curiously.
Issei’s eyes went wide. “Hello, beautiful!” he called out, stepping forward with his hands raised. “Would you like to—”
The harpy’s eyes narrowed into slits at the sound of Issei’s voice. She let out an ear-splitting screech and took to the air, disappearing into the canopy before Issei could get another word in.
“Well that could have gone better,” the Familiar Master laughed.
Issei slumped. “Why does this keep happening?”
Koneko stared at him flatly. “You give off a vibe.”
“A vibe!? What kind of vibe!?”
“The bad kind.”
We continued on, leaving Issei to nurse his wounded pride. The next creature we encountered was familiar to me. It was a small dragon, deep blue in color with an angular head that reminded me of a bird. It eyed us from a tree branch, wings curled against its body as it lounged like a cat.
“Sprite dragon,” the Familiar Master explained. “Clever little things, and very rare, like most dragons.”
“You’re basically part dragon, Issei,” Rias said as I suppressed a smile. “Why not see if you can bond with this one?”
Issei perked up, looking at the creature who stared back with narrowed eyes. He grinned and stepped forward with a smile, seemingly oblivious.
“Hey there, little guy,” Issei said, reaching a hand out to it. “How’d you like to come home with me? Me and you would make an awesome team.”
The moment Issei got close, the dragon hissed, baring tiny but sharp teeth. Before anyone could react, it spun around and spat a stream of sparks directly at Issei’s face.
“Whoa!” Issei stumbled backward, barely avoiding getting zapped. The dragon took the opportunity to spread its wings and zip away into the trees.
Issei stood there, mouth agape. “What the hell!? I wasn’t even being creepy that time!”
“Maybe it’s your face,” Koneko suggested.
“My face!? What’s wrong with my face!?”
“Everything,” Aika muttered, earning a wounded look from Issei.
“Et tu, Aika?”
We moved on, leaving Issei to lament his apparent inability to connect with any creature that wasn’t trying to dissolve his clothes. The Familiar Master led us through winding paths, pointing out various creatures that seemed to have no interest in any of us. A few of them even fled the moment they caught sight of our group, which the Familiar Master assured us was normal.
“They can sense intent,” he explained, pushing aside a low-hanging branch. “Some creatures are just naturally skittish. Others are picky about who they bond with, so it’s all about finding the right match.”
As we walked, I found myself scanning the underbrush, searching for something that caught my eye. Most of the creatures we’d seen so far were either too skittish or simply not interested in a contract.
Aika suddenly stopped in the middle of the trail, forcing me to veer to avoid running into her. I gave her a curious look, but she didn’t seem to notice, gazing intently into a small cluster of bushes just off the path.
“Something’s in there,” she said, a small frown on her face. I followed her eyes, squinting through the darkness to try and see what she did.
For a moment, I didn’t see anything. Then, a pair of glowing red eyes peeked out from between the leaves.
“Oh ho! What do we have here?” The Familiar Master sidled up beside us, staring at the bushes as Aika stepped closer, her movements slow.
The bushes shuddered as whatever was inside them tensed.
Aika crouched down slowly and we all backed away as she approached the bush. The creature in the bushes watched her every move, its red eyes tracking her hand as she extended it forward, palm up.
The bushes rustled again, and the creature finally emerged into the light. It was a puppy, small and thin with dark fur that blurred into the shadows around it. Its body was lean and wiry, with paws that looked too big for its frame and a stubby snout. A pair of small horns poked through the fur on its head, and its eyes glowed with a fire that flickered like candlelight.
“Aww,” Rias cooed. “It’s adorable.”
“It’s a hellhound,” the Familiar Master said. “And a young one, by the look of it.”
The pup regarded her warily, its body low to the ground as it sized her up. It was clearly nervous, its thin tail tucked between its legs as it watched her.
The Familiar Master scratched his chin thoughtfully. “Hellhounds usually travel in packs. Seeing one this young on its own...” He shook his head. “It’s likely the runt of the litter. Probably abandoned by its mother.”
Aika’s expression flickered with sympathy. She didn’t move, keeping her hand extended and her posture non-threatening. “She just abandoned it?”
“Nature’s cruel,” the Familiar Master said with a shrug. “A runt is a liability to the pack and the forest is a dangerous place The mother will often leave them behind if they can’t keep up.”
The pup let out a small whine, its ears flattening against its head. It took a tentative step toward Aika, sniffing at the air between them. Aika remained perfectly still, letting the creature come to her.
“It’s okay,” she said softly. “I’m not going to hurt you.”
The hellhound pup took another step, then another. Its nose twitched as it caught Aika’s scent, processing it. Then, slowly, it pressed its head into her open palm.
Aika’s face lit up. She gently stroked the pup’s head, running her fingers through its dark fur. The hellhound let out a small noise between a whine and a purr and pressed harder into her touch.
The Familiar Master let out a low whistle as he saw the behavior, “I’ve never seen a hellhound take to someone that quick, pup or otherwise. You must be good with dogs, girl.”
“I’m actually more of a cat person,” Aika said as she stroked the puppy’s head. “But I’m starting to second guess that now. This little guy is adorable.”
“And yours, if you want,” the Familiar Master said. You still need to form the contract, but I’d say you could probably walk out of here with him and he wouldn’t fight you on it.”
I stepped forward, reaching out to give him a scratch behind the ears. “He really is adorable. Mind if I—”
The hellhound pup’s head snapped toward me as I drew close, a low growl rumbling in its throat. A small tuft of flame flickered at the corners of its muzzle, and its glowing eyes narrowed into slits. I jerked my hand back, stepping away before those tiny teeth could find purchase.
“Okay, okay, message received,” I said, holding my hands up in surrender.
Akeno giggled behind me, covering her mouth with her hand. “It seems you’re not as popular as you thought, Nero.”
“Apparently not,” I muttered, eyeing the pup warily as it watched me in kind.
Issei, meanwhile, was practically bouncing with glee. “Finally! An animal that hates someone other than me!”
Aika soothed the pup by running her fingers through the thick ring of fur around its neck. The hellhound’s eyes slid shut, a contented rumble replacing the growl as it leaned into her touch. She looked up at Rias. “I want him.”
Rias smiled warmly. “Then all you need to do is perform the ritual.”
Aika nodded, straightening up and holding the pup gently but firmly. Rias stepped beside her, guiding her through the process. It was a relatively simple affair, and soon enough, Aika was the first member of our little trio to form a bond with another creatures
“There,” Rias said, stepping back as the contract was formed. “He’s yours now.”
Aika looked down at the hellhound in her arms, a genuine smile spreading across her face. “I think I’ll call you Garmr.”
“Hel’s guard dog?” Kiba questioned, eying the pup. “He doesn’t really live up to the name, does he?”
“He’ll grow into it,” Aika said. Garmr let out a tired yip, his tail wagging lazily as he snuggled into the girl’s arms.
“Well done,” Akeno said, reaching over to give the pup a scratch behind the ears. Unlike with me, the pup didn’t seem to mind, leaning into her touch with a happy rumble. “He’s a cute one.”
“He’s perfect,” Aika agreed, cradling the sleeping pup against her chest.
With Aika’s familiar secured, we set off once more, the Familiar Master leading us deeper into the forest. Garmr was wrapped securely in Aika’s arms, snoozing contentedly as we walked.
The forest seemed to grow denser as we progressed, the trees pressing closer together and the canopy above growing thicker until only thin slivers of moonlight made it through.
“Is it normal for it to be this quiet?” I asked, glancing around. The earlier parts of the forest had been teeming with life, but this section felt more subdued somehow.
The Familiar Master hummed thoughtfully. “Some parts of the forest are more active than others. The deeper you go, the more territorial the creatures get. Most of the smaller ones clear out when something big is nearby.”
“Something big?” Issei echoed, suddenly looking nervous. “Like how big?”
Before the Familiar Master could respond, a loud crash echoed through the trees ahead of us, followed by the sound of something heavy hitting the ground. Birds took flight from the canopy above, their cries echoing through the forest as they scattered.
“That,” the Familiar Master said, pointing forward. “Probably something like that.”
We moved toward the source of the noise, pushing through a thicket of bushes to find ourselves at the edge of a large clearing. A massive tree had been knocked over, its roots torn from the ground and its trunk splintered, forming a bridge across the clearing. The ground around it was torn up, deep gouges carved into the earth.
Two creatures stood in the midst of it all. One was a massive, snakelike beast, almost as long as a small bus with scales the color of obsidian. A fiery red mane ran down the length of its body, flickering and dancing like actual flames. Its head was wedge-shaped, with a pair of burning yellow eyes and a mouth full of fangs that dripped with something that sizzled against the ground. It was coiled around itself, its body tensed as it loomed over its prey.
Said prey was, somehow, even stranger that the snake.
It was a chimera, that much was obvious, though not like any I’d seen before. The front half of its body was that of a big cat with deep purple fur and glistening fangs that caught the moonlight. The back half was reptilian, covered in scales with powerful legs that dug into the ground as it cowered. A long, thin scaled tail waved behind it, twitching erratically with fear.
It was also less than a quarter of the size of the snake, around the size of a large dog. It snapped its jaws as the thing drew closer, and the sound was powerful enough to make the snake flinch back, but not enough to deter it completely as it hissed in turn.
“That’s an infernal python,” the Familiar Master said as we watched the spectacle. “Nasty temperaments, those things. Very territorial. And that...” He nodded toward the cowering chimera. “That’s a chimera pup. Rare creatures. Very powerful when they’re fully grown, but, ah... Not so much when they’re that small.”
The python lunged, an its fangs caught the chimera’s flank. The chimera screamed, a high-pitched sound that made my chest tighten, and I saw dark blood well up from the wound.
The chimera tried to fight back, swiping at the python with its claws, but it was clearly outmatched. The snake was bigger, stronger, and meaner. If someone didn’t do something, the little guy was going to die, and I wasn’t in the mood to sit back and watch that happen.
I broke cover and stepped out into the clearing.
“Nero, wait—” Rias started, but I was already moving.
My Devil Bringer flickered to life, the spectral blue hand materializing over my shoulder as I crossed the clearing in three quick strides. The python’s head snapped toward me, its burning eyes narrowing, but I simply thrust a hand forward, sending the spectral hand surging forth..
My Devil Bringer shot forward, fingers closing around the python’s body just behind its head. The snake thrashed and hissed, flames erupting from its mane as it tried to twist free, but my grip held firm. The heat of its body made the chimera shy away, so I pulled it back a bit, lifting it into the air.
“I know it’s cliche,” I said, giving the python a shake. “But I think you should really try picking on something a little closer to your size.”
The python coiled, trying to wrap itself the spectral arm and burn it, but it couldn’t quite manage to accomplish it. I reared my arm back and hurled the snake across the clearing. It flew through the air, crashing into the underbrush with a sound of snapping branches and hissing fury.
For a moment, I thought it might come back for another round. But the python seemed to reconsider its options as my Devil Bringer came to rest over my shoulder. It eyed me and hissed once more before slithering away into the forest, its fiery mane fading into the darkness.
I watched it disappear and let it out a breath once I was sure it was gone, dismissing my Devil Bringer. I turned to face the chimera, finding it pressed against the fallen tree, trembling from nose to tail. Blood oozed from the wound on its flank, and its breathing was rapid and shallow. Its eyes were fixed on me, one gold, the other a deep purple. Both were wide with fear.
“Hey there,” I said softly, crouching down to its level. “It’s okay. The mean snake is gone now.”
The pup let out a small whimper, pressing itself further against the tree. I didn’t move, keeping my posture as non-threatening as possible. Behind me, I could hear the others approaching.
“Nero,” Rias said, her voice gentle. “Be careful. It’s scared and injured so it might lash out. Chimera venom is no joke, no matter the species”
“I know,” I said, not taking my eyes off the pup. “But I can’t just leave it here.”
The chimera’s ears twitched, rotating toward the sound of my voice. Its nostrils flared, and it seemed to be scenting me, trying to determine if I was a threat. I stayed perfectly still, letting it take my measure.
After a long moment, the pup uncurled slightly, its body relaxing just a fraction. It was still watching me with wary eyes, but the trembling had subsided.
“That’s it,” I murmured. “I’m not going to hurt you.”
Slowly, carefully, I extended my hand, palm up, just like Aika had done with Garmr. The chimera’s eyes tracked the movement, and for a moment, I thought it might bolt. But then, ever so slowly, it stretched its neck forward and sniffed my fingers.
Its nose was cold and wet against my skin, and its breath was warm. It sniffed once, twice, three times, processing my scent, and I took the chance to slide my hand along its head. Its ears pinned back, as if afraid, but it soon pressed itself into my touch as I began giving it gentle scritches.
The chimera’s fur was softer than I expected, almost silky beneath my fingers. It leaned into my touch, its eyes sliding half-shut as I scratched behind its ear. The wound on its flank was still bleeding, but the pup seemed to have forgotten about it for the moment, more interested in the attention it was receiving.
“There you go,” I said quietly, continuing to pet it. “See? Not so bad, right?”
The chimera let out a small sound, something between a purr and a chirp. Its tail curled around my wrist, the scaled appendage surprisingly warm against my skin.
“Well I’ll be,” the Familiar Master said, stepping up behind me. “Never seen a chimera take to someone like that. They’re usually pretty standoffish, even with people they like.”
Rias moved to my side, her expression a mix of relief and amusement. “It seems you’ve made a friend, Nero.”
“Seems so,” I agreed, still petting the pup. “Poor thing was about to get eaten.”
“Speaking of which,” Akeno said, kneeling beside me. She held out her hand, and magic pulsed faintly at her fingertips. “May I? I can close that wound for him.”
I looked at the chimera, who was watching Akeno with cautious curiosity. “You mind if she helps you out? That cut looks pretty nasty.”
The pup didn’t pull away, so I took that as permission. Akeno moved slowly, letting the chimera sniff her fingers before she touched its flank. The magic that jumped from her hand was gentle, and the wound began to knit closed as she work.
“There,” Akeno said after a moment, sitting back. “Good as new.”
The chimera flexed its flank, testing the healed skin. It let out another chirp, this one sounding almost grateful, and butted its head against Akeno’s hand before turning back to me.
“I think he likes you,” I said with a small smile.
Akeno’s cheeks dusted pink. “He’s a sweetheart. Even if he is a bit strange looking.”
The chimera huffed, as if offended by the comment, and I laughed. “Don’t listen to her. You’re adorable.”
“Are you going to bond with him?” Aika asked, shifting Garmr in her arms. The hellhound pup had woken up and was watching the chimera with lazy interest.
I looked at the pup, who was now pressed against my side, its tail still curled around my wrist. It gazed up at me with those mismatched eyes, gold and purple, and something in my chest tightened.
“Yeah,” I said softly. “I think I am.”
Rias nodded approvingly. “Then let’s perform the ritual.”
She guided me through the process, and soon enough, I felt the bond form between us, a connection that branches out from my mind and sat at the back of my awareness.
The chimera chirped again, pressing its forehead against mine. I could feel its emotions through the bond—relief, gratitude, and a fierce, burning loyalty that seemed far too intense for such a small creature.
“I think I’ll call you Reiju,” I said, stroking its fur. “How does that sound?”
The newly named Reiju chirped in response, its tail curling against my arm like a cat’s. I smiled, scratching behind its ear one more time before standing up. The pup stuck close to my side, limping slightly on the leg that had been wounded, though Akeno’s healing had done its job well.
“Well, that’s two familiars secured,” the Familiar Master said, clapping his hands together. “Not bad for a day’s work. What about you, kid?” He looked at Issei. “Still holding out for something ‘hot’?”
Issei crossed his arms, his expression sulky. “Everything here either runs away from me or tries to kill me. At this point, I’m starting to think the forest just hates me.”
“It’s not the forest,” Koneko said flatly. “It’s you.”
“Thank you, Koneko. Very helpful.”
Rias placed a hand on Issei’s shoulder, her expression sympathetic. “Not everyone finds a familiar on their first visit. It took Kiba three trips before he found his.”
Kiba nodded, stepping forward with a small smile. “It can take time. The right familiar has to choose you, not the other way around. Sometimes it just doesn’t happen immediately.”
“That’s easy for you to say,” Issei grumbled. “You actually have one. Even if it is a lame bird.”
“What about that sprite dragon from earlier?” Akeno suggested, her tone teasing. “It seemed to have such a strong reaction to you.”
“It tried to electrocute me,” Issei deadpanned. “I don’t think that counts as a bonding moment.”
“I don’t know,” Kiba chuckled. “Most relationships start with a little spark.”
Issei shot him a withering look and the Familiar Master chuckled, adjusting his snapback. “Don’t worry, kid. Like your friend said, not everyone finds a familiar on their first go. Sometimes it takes a few trips. The right one will come along when it’s meant to.”
“Great,” Issei muttered. “My perfect familiar is probably out there somewhere, avoiding me like the plague.”
“Probably,” Koneko agreed.
“Don’t agree with me!”
Rias clapped her hands together, drawing everyone’s attention. “We should head back. Its late and we still have preparations to make for the Rating Game tomorrow.”
We bid the Familiar Master and his forest goodbye and teleported back to Kuoh. Our newly acquired familiars were kept in the club room for the time being as neither I nor Aika had what we needed to house them, and she had parents to worry about and I, a landlord. Luckily, neither Garmr nor Reiju seemed to have a problem with it, getting on just fine with their new environment.
All in all, a productive day, and even with the Rating Game just over the hill, we all went to bed that night, satisfied with our day of rest.
Well, most of us, at least.