Zaydas didn't know — and, to be ho, didn't even care — how much he had frightened poor Hyoudou Issei. In fact, he felt like ughing out loud at that moment.

  [-1,000 CP]

  [Success!]

  [You have obtaihe Sacred Gear: Boosted Gear!]

  [+100,000 CP]

  een attempts. Fifteen failures. One lucky win.

  Each attempt brought a tighto Zaydas's chest, a growing ay with every try.

  It was like a game of ce — spending the first few s, losing, trying to recover, spending more and more until there was nothi.

  To better uand, we o go back a little in time...

  During the break, Zaydas had a thought: 'Great Sage, is it possible to use CP to steal someone's Sacred Gear?'

  [Affirmative! There are several methods. But at the moment, the only one avaible to you would be spending 1,000 CP per invisible magic card, which gives you a ce to steal the target's Sacred Gear. The ces range from 0.01% to 10%. Due to this probability fluctuation, I do not reend pursuing this route!]

  Despite the warning, Zaydas decided to try. The main reason was the cost of replig Issei's Boosted Gear: 100,000 CP, with a 38% ce of success.

  If it was a game of probabilities, it made more seo bet on the cheaper method, even with unfavorable odds.

  [Warning! Since you've chosen this path, I reend using the invisible card while directly toug the person you want to steal from, as this increases the ces of success.]

  'Oh? There's something like that? How iing,' Zaydas thought cheerfully.

  The truth is, he tried to hypnotize Issei, but it didn't work.

  What happened afterward was a mix of improvisation and disfort. He had to e up with excuses to keep toug Issei with the invisible card without him notig. In the end, he used his own hand as a disguise... An embarrassing effort, but ohat paid off.

  'By the way, why is the CP I gained from stealing Issei's "golden finger" exactly the same as it would cost to create a replica of the Boosted Gear?'

  [Answer: I have no idea. But I specute if you wish.]

  'Never mind.'

  If it was just specution, Zaydas could make some guesses. For instance: without the Boosted Gear, Issei had no value at that point worth rec. Perhaps his record value had dropped to the point of being irrelevant.

  A bit harsh? Maybe. But it would make seo interpret it that way, wouldn't it?

  When a kind au simply appeared before him, Zaydas opened his personal dimensional spad stored the gau inside.

  Despite being useful, he had no desire to bind himself to it. It would be ideal to give it to someone who would be part of his Peerage in the near future.

  As for who, he already had someone in mind...

  ***

  ***

  The momeered the , Zaydas, alking toward his seat, was teased by Akeno.

  "Ara, you're finally back." Akeno gave him a teasing look as if she uood something: "You took your time~"

  What she was implying was easy to imagine.

  Sigh, "It 't be helped. The truth is, I was helping an elderly dy cross the—"

  "Zay-kun, stop. We're at school; how could that be the case?" Rias interjected.

  "Ah, yes, that was earlier this m." Zaydas smacked his forehead.

  "But didn't you e on your motorcycle?" Akeno asked, looking intrigued.

  "Well, I parked the motorcycle and got off the motorcycle." Zaydas ged the subject: "Anyway, do you still want to know why I was te?"

  "We're listening; take advantage of the fact that sensei hasn't returned yet~" Akeno said with a smile.

  "The truth is a bit embarrassing." Zaydas scratched his face as several students perked up their ears: "I went to buy a soda from the vending mae, but it ate my money. I had tue with it for five minutes until a soda was finally released. Sigh, it was exhausting~"

  "Ufufu. Iing, but I don't accept that excuse." Akeno made an "X" with her arms.

  "Not that either?" Zaydas sighed exaggeratedly and said: "Alright, then I have no choice but to tell the truth."

  He got serious, making several karate-style haures: "Actually, there was a giant bee in the hallway. Nobody noticed, but I fought bravely to avoid chaos. The school should thank me for this. Well, since I didn't want to show off, I didn't say anything."

  "Ara ara, so brave, I'm melting~" Akeno ughed softly, tilting her head slightly as her eyes sparkled with amusement.

  "But, Zay-kun, why don't I see any injuries ns that you came out of this epic battle?" Rias asked with a teasing smile.

  "You noticed that too? As expected of my Rias-nee." Zaydas gave a brilliant smile and sighed again, gazing out the window in a distant manner: "You know, there are moments when a man simply has to act..."

  "Ara, so mysterious, I like that~"

  Still gazing distantly at the sky, Zaydas spoke in a deep narrator's tone: "I saw a student mysteriously disappear. So, obviously, I went to iigate. And then, BAM! A portal simply appeared, and..."

  "Enough, enough, sensei is here and looking at you, Zay-kun," Rias interrupted, warning him.

  Turning robotically, Zaydas said, "Oh, sensei, you were there..."

  "Don't mind me; please tinue. I'm ied to know what happe." Sensei crossed her arms with a threatening smile on her face.

  Zaydas straightened up, trying to look more serious. "Well, what was I saying again? ht, the portal!"

  "Enough, enough!" Seeing that Zaydas was tougher to hahan she expected, sensei interrupted, pg her hand on her forehead, unsure what to do with him.

  "Really? Just when it was about to get iing..." Zaydas seemed disappointed.

  "Hahaha!"

  Nearly the entire css ughed, some even fanning themselves with their hands from ughing so hard.

  Sensei khe moment she challenged Zaydas and saw how he was utterly shameless and even wao keep talking nonsense, she had lost.

  Making a "V" sign toward Akeno and Rias, Zaydas returo his seat.

  ***

  ***

  When csses ended, Zaydas, who was in the "going-home club," got on his motorcycle with Ravel. Halfway through their route, they saw an elderly woman trying to cross the street but moving very slowly.

  Zaydas got off the motorcycle and helped her.

  "I didn't expect you to do that now..." Ravel said as he returned.

  "Huh?" Zaydas gave a distant look and said, "Sometimes, you have to be the oo take the step when no one else does."

  "So profound..."

  Seeing her love-struck expression, even Zaydas felt a bit embarrassed.

  He had said it as a joke, but if it worked, it lost its meaning...

  "Haha." Letting out an awkward chuckle, Zaydas said: "Anyway, let's go."

  Ravel nodded.

  Read more advanced chapters on my Patreon!Read up to 5 chapters ahead on Patreon. At least two chapters will be updated daily, with one free chapter every day.Patreon./Zaydas

  If you have any questions, feel free to leave them in the ents. Cheers, and see you soon~!