italics - Thoughts

Bold underlined - Spells/Sword Skills

[Bold] - Ddraig

[Ddraig] - Ddraig mental speech

[Issei] - Issei mental speech with Ddraig

Underlined - Timeskips/Flashbacks

Disclaimer: I do not own Highchool Dxd, Sword Art Online, or any of its characters. All rights belong to their creators.


Chapter 6:Cats, Dragons, and fights! Pt. 1

This was the first time that the Gremory Peerage had gathered in over two weeks. Everyone had separated after getting their training menus from Azazel(sans Kazuto and Asuna), so this was something to see.

After the ones who had trained outside, Issei, Kiba, and Xenovia had taken showers and changed their clothes, they all gathered in Issei's room. For Kazuto, it seemed that gatherings in the Pawn's room was not only easier, it was also becoming something of a habit for everyone.

So, they had all gathered and talked about the contents of their training. Kiba gave a detailed account of his training with his master. Xenovia also recounted the contents of her training. Issei also spoke about hid life of survival with Tannin the dragon too.

Kiba and Xenovia had trained outside, but they seemed to have trained while living at a mountain cottage and a villa belonging to the Gremorys respectively. Issei, however. had a life-style of hunting animals and plants in the mountain and avoiding the fire breath of a dragon. Hang on, why was Issei's…

"Umm, sensei, wasn't I the only one living a cruel lifestyle…?" Issei voiced out the question that was in Kazuto's mind.

"I was also just as surprised that you could survive on the mountain. I thought that you would run home midway. That you would begin to live normally on that mountain was also completely outside my expectations." Azazel replied with a smirk on his face.

"Eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeh!? What's with that…? I-I hunted, judged, baked and ate rabbit-looking animals and wild boar-looking animals native to the Underworld, you know…? I kept water in a water canteen after boiling and sterilising it once on an iron pan I found on the mountain…"

"That's why I was surprised. You're too sturdy. In some ways, you have surpassed devils."

"How cruel! I lived while being chased around everywhere day after day by a dragon on that mountaaaaain! Do you know how many times I was close to death!? Ueeeeeeeeeeeh!" Issei began to cry.

Oi oi, are you really gonna cry?

"I wanted, I so wanted to see Buchou! I wrapped myself in leaves and slept while remembering Buchou's warmth every niiiiiight! It was so hard! The dragon Ossan wouldn't go easy on me and also attacked while I was sleeping! He blew off roooocks! I was assailed by forest fiiiiiire! I ran awaaaaaay! If I didn't run away, I would have diiiiiiiied!"

"Poor Ise…You endured a lot, didn't you? Yes. Ise, you became so sturdy…That Mountain doesn't have a name, but I'll name it Mt. Ise from now on."

Rias pulled his head to her chest and hugged him. In response, Issei also hugged Rias back and cried enormously.

"Now that I think about it, Issei was kidnapped, right?" Asuna spoke out the disguised truth. Issei seemed to cry even harder when he heard that. It seemed that his fears had been confirmed. Well, sucks to be you, I guess. Kazuto thought without an ounce of pity.

In a couple of months, Kazuto would look back on this and curse himself, as he was also kidnapped and put into a machine to save his life.

"No, even so, your physical strength seems to have improved considerably. With this, the time when you can wear the armour in Balance Breaker has just about arrived. But, you weren't able to attain Balance Breaker, right?"

"You're not disappointed, Azazel-sensei?"

"Well, the possibility of you not attaining it was also within the range of my predictions. Yeah, you didn't receive any shock, Ise. I mean, it's impossible to attain Balance Breaker when there are no dramatic changes. I thought that something would be changed in you through the survival lifestyle and by coming into contact with a Dragon King-class dragon, but the time wasn't enough. If it was at least for one more month…"

Issei buried his face in Rias's breasts and shook his head in refusal. Rias also gently caressed his head. Kazuto could almost hear Issei thinking "Ueeeh! Buchoooooou!"

"And speaking of training…" Rias looked at the couple. "Would you like to share about your training, Kirito-san, Asuna-san?"

"We are about as powerful as Issei in terms of strength when he is boosted by 5 times, and as for demonic energy, we are about...Asia-san's reserves now, right?" Kazuto looked to his girlfriend for confirmation. She nodded. "And as for training, we brushed up on our sword skills, as well as demonic arts. So we can help all of you in battle as much as possible, if we have to." Asuna added as she listed the things down on her fingers.

"Well, it's fine." Azazel stood up from his seat. "The report meeting ends here. Tomorrow is the party. You're all dismissed for today."

And thus, the training camp of hell ended officially.


It was the evening of the next day. Issei was currently wearing the summer uniform of Kuou Academy while waiting in the parlour. It was the day of the party.

He had slept for a full half-day earlier that day, so he was feeling quite refreshed, all his built up fatigue having been removed via that long and deep sleep

It really has been a long time since I had last worn this uniform. Issei looked down on his own body. Until recently, he had been dressed in the remains of his jersey. In fact, it could have been called rags!

Issei felt that before, his shirt had been a little loose, not too much that it looked ill-fitting. Just enough to make him feel comfortable. Now, however, his shirt fitted his bod quite nicely. Just in case, he was also wearing an armband that has the Gremory pattern inscribed on it. He did one more look over of his attire. With this, it seems like I will be okay for the party.

The girls had been taken away by all the maids, saying that it would take some time for them to get ready.

Hmm, Kiba and Gasper has also gone off somewhere for some kind of business… Issei looked around nervously. As well as Kirito…

"Hyoudou?"

When Issei turned to look towards the familiar voice –Saji. Why is Saji here!?

"Saji, why are you here?"

"Ah, Kaichou will be going to the meeting place along with Rias-senpai and I followed her here. So, Kaichou went to meet with senpai and after that I inevitably ended up wandering aimlessly around the mansion, until I arrived here." Saji took a seat while he was speaking, a serious expression on his face.

So he arrived here after losing his way, huh. This place is pretty large, after all.

"The game will be taking place very soon now."

"Yeah."

"I trained."

"Me too. I was chased around by a dragon on a mountain every day."

"I-Is that so? You've had a hard lifestyle as usual. Well, I also did an extremely hard menu."

I see. He also put forth great effort in his training. Naturally, it will affect our masters' victory or defeat. I also have a strong fighting spirit!

Saji spoke while scratching his cheek. "Hyoudou. Do you remember the time when the young devils gathered a month ago?"

"Yeah. What about it?"

"We were serious then…M-My…d-dream is to become a teacher!"

Saji said that with a red face.

"Teacher? What will you teach?" Issei was shocked. Why would this person dream to be a teacher? Or rather, what is there to teach?

Even though he was flushed red, Saji answered Issei's question sincerely.

"Kaichou is trying to establish a Rating Game specialty school in the Underworld. It isn't an ordinary school. It's an open school for anyone and that accepts devils regardless of whether they are high-class or low-class, aristocrat or commoner. I heard from Kaichou that things like discrimination and traditions have been softened in the devil industry little by little, but there is still a part at the root of it all that refuses to accept these changes. That's why the current Rating Game School only accepts high-class devils from aristocratic families. 'The games have to be equal for everyone.' This is what the present Maou-samas have decided. Though it's equal, the path of the games is far for low-class devil commoners. That's strange, right? Though even a non-aristocratic devil may be promoted to a high-level devil depending on the method. The possibility shouldn't be zero!"

Although he was surprised, Issei also admired the serious opinions of Saji. This guy looks seriously towards the future in his own way, huh.

"Kaichou has told me that she wants to do something about that. That she wants to teach so that even low-class devils can participate in the games. That's why she'll make a school that anyone can enter in the Underworld! Kaichou is even studying in the human world as well for the sake of that! To give a chance to the ones who never got into the spotlight! Even if it's just by 1%! Even if it's almost zero! As long as it's not zero, one might be able to become a high-class devil! Hyoudou! Even we believe in that possibility and try to become high-class devils, right?"

"Yes, that's exactly it."

'That's right. I had set my sights on becoming a high-class devil. Even if the possibility is zero, I have the fighting spirit to make it 100%.' Saji made that type of declaration while raising his fist.

"T-That's why, I will work as a teacher there. I'll study a lot, fight in a lot of games, and store up various things. I'll become a teacher who teaches about Pawns with that. Kaichou also said that she wants to help me. Even someone like me may be able to become a school teacher…I-I've only done stupid things in the past. I've also caused trouble for my parents and was disliked by the people around me. But, if it's Kaichou, I can see a dream! I will stay by Kaichou's side and help her for life! Kaichou's dream is my dream!"

Saji spoke while feeling embarrassed.

"Hehehe. I kept the fact that I became a devil secret from my mother, but even so she cried when I told her about my future dream. "You, become a teacher!" She may have said that because it doesn't suit me. But, it wasn't bad, the relieved face of my mother."

So that was Saji's dream. Issei realized. It's a different path from me. Since we're the same Pawns, I had thought we might be the same, but people really are respectively different after all. He has his own dream. I wanted to become independent of my master in the future and had set my own goal. He intends to serve his master his whole life. Even if we became devils at the same time, the paths we aim for are truly different.

Issei felt that there was something a little miraculous about such a simple thing.

"I think that's a wonderful goal, Saji. Become a good teacher."

"Yeah, it's also for the sake of that goal that we have to beat you guys this time!"

"Ah, I see. Then, it's no good. Since we're the ones who are going to win!"

"No, it's us. Since we acted so stupidly before, we have to prove ourselves with our results."

Though they laughed at the same time, Saji's eyes were serious. He won't back down. Issei then recalled something that a teacher of his once said.

"By the way, Saji."

"What is it?"

Issei poked the air with his finger.

"It seems a woman's nipple is like a buzzer when poked."

"…W-What's with that?"

"I heard about it from Azazel-sensei, that the possibilities of breasts are infinite. It might not be good to go on to the next world with not only lacking the experience of rubbing them, but also of doing other things like poking them. But, to poke…"

"…Hey, Hyoudou. What about me? When will I be able to rub my master's breasts?"

Saji asked that seriously.

"W-Who knows. Even I have never rubbed them. After one piles up luck upon luck, one can rub them."

When he heard that, Saji drew near the owner of the voice with eyes of anger!

"What's with that 'luck'! None of it has been coming to me, you know!?"

"No, I said too much. Usually, I'm only at the extent where we sleep together and go into the bath together–"

The moment Issei said that, Saji gave an expression which showed the shock he received in the depths of his heart. He unsteadily moved away from his fellow Pawn and feebly sat down in a chair with a loud sound. He was in a terrible state. His eyes were opened wide, and his whole body was trembling.

"…Sleeping?…Bath…?…What's with that…? I-I…have never done those things with Kaichou…"

"S-Saji? Hey…"

Issei, blinking his eyes in worry, called out to him, but there was no reaction, he just kept murmuring those quiet words.

"Ise, sorry for making you wait. Ara, so Saji-kun came."

When Issei looked behind him, there was a dressed-up Rias there, as well as all the other club members. Including the two new unofficial members, Kirito and Asuna.

Akeno was wearing a western dress, similar to Rias. Asia was also embarrassed, but her dress, a simple nun-like attire, really suited her. Xenovia also appeared to be unfamiliar with wearing such things, but she had been sufficiently taught in being an ojou-sama. Koneko wore a dress that was a size smaller, but she had a cuteness that would inevitably have her kidnapped by a lolicon.

The main problem however… …

"Why are you also wearing a dress!?"

Yes, Gasper was also dressed up in a dress! In fact, it was so suitable that Issei could say nothing. He had thought he had disappeared because he had some business to take care of, but it was for this instead!

"B-But, I wanted to wear a dress too."

This guy is so…His girl clothes-wearing habit is so considerable even to this point.

"Saji. Saji, what's wrong?"

The likewise dress-upped Sona was dubiously looking at Saji's state.

So you're shocked to that extent, Saji…

Soon, the other members appeared. Kiba was also dressed up in the summer uniform of Kuou Academy, while Kirito and Asuna were dressed up. Kirito was shifting uncomfortably in a suit. As for Asuna…

She was dressed up in a Kimono. It was white, with red accents and roses decorating its sleeves. When Kirito saw her, he stared at her form. As did Issei.

"Kirito-kun, do I-" "Asuna-san, you look so-"

Asuna's words were cut off by Issei's exclamation, who was looking at the girl with a perverted face.

The result: Kirito smashed Issei's face in in a protective fit.

Owwww…Issei groaned in pain as he slowly got up nursing his bruised face. His new strength is nothing to scoff at! It felt even stronger than before! Perhaps me in the past with 9 Boosts!

At that moment, here was the massive sound of something flying in the garden along with a soft tremor in the ground. A butler then came in not too long afterwards. "Tannin-sama and his family have arrived."

Ossan had come to greet us just as promised!

When they went out to the garden, the saw 11 dragons, all of around the same size.

"I came just as promised, Hyoudou Issei." The lead dragon, Tannin, spoke.

"Yeah! Thanks, Ossan!"

"While you all ride on my back, I'll place a special barrier around you. With that, your hair and clothes won't get messed up by the wind. Since those things are important to women."

"Thank you, Tannin. We'll be relying on you until we get to the meeting place. The people of Sitri are also here, is that okay?"

"Ooh, Miss Rias. You're especially beautiful tonight. Please leave that matter to me."

Thus, they got on the dragon's back and flew off into the sky of the Underworld. Issei got to ride on top of Tannin's head. A special seat! I held onto the edge and surveyed the sky!

[For me to see this scenery from on top of a dragon, it's an experience that can't be described.]

Ddraig gave a rare bitter smile. Ddraig originally had the body of a dragon too, after all.

"Hahahaha, that is an interesting experience, Ddraig. However, there are only three mighty dragons that are still active left, including myself. No, since I was reborn as a devil, the only real ones remaining are Ophis and Tiamat. The rest have either been sealed, or have retired. Yu-Long and Midgardsormr never come out onto the surface anymore. And Ddraig, Albion, Fafnir and Vritra have been sealed into Sacred Gears. —In all ages, strong dragons have been suppressed. Strong dragons are a fearful existence, after all."

Tannin said that in just a slightly lonely tone.

"Now that you mention it, why did dragon Ossan become a devil?"

Tannin seriously responded to my question. "One reason is that, in this era where there aren't any big battles anymore, I thought that I would get to fight various guys if I participated in the Rating Games. And there's another reason."

"Another reason?"

"…Do you know of a fruit called the dragon apple? It's an apple that dragons eat."

"No, it's my first time hearing of it. Rather, it's a very blunt and obvious name."

"There is a certain race of dragons that can only live by eating that dragon apple. However, the ones that grew in the human world have become extinct because of sudden environmental changes. Now, that fruit only grows in the Underworld. But, dragons are hated in the Underworld. They're detested by both devils and fallen angels. There's no way they would give it away for nothing, right? —That's why; I became a devil and so the territory that grows the fruit was all made my territory. When you exceed a high-class devil, you can receive a part of the Underworld from the Maou. I had my eyes on that place."

"Then, do those dragons that have food trouble live in Ossan's territory?"

"Yeah, thanks to that, they avoided becoming extinct. And I also performed research on how to artificially grow the dragon apple in my territory successfully. It's a special fruit, so the research takes time. Still, if it lets there be a future for that race, it's better to continue."

"Ossan really is a nice dragon."

'Ossan' laughed loudly at his words.

"A nice dragon? Gahahahahahahahaha! That's the first time I've been told such a thing! Moreover, I'm greatly obliged to receive praise from the Sekiryuutei! However, boy, the desire for the continuation of one's race is the same among all living beings. It's the same, for humans, devils, and dragons. I only thought of saving my fellow dragons as well. That is what a dragon who has power does for dragons without any power."

"…Amazing! I just blindly wanted to become a high-class devil. A-And, I try dashing forward just because I want to form a harem. Is this kind of mental attitude no good?"

"That kind of thing is fine while you're young. If you're male, it's inevitable that you come to want women and wealth. It isn't good to overdo it, but it's fine if that becomes the driving force that moves you. However, Hyoudou Issei, it's so wasteful to just make a harem your final goal. If you become strong, it's natural for females to approach you. The problem is after getting both women and wealth…It may still be too difficult for someone young like you to understand."

Yeah, it may be a bit difficult for me. Issei thought that as he looked at the scenery once more. However, because of the various devils I've met since coming here, I've come to think just a little.

Everyone lives while having a goal.

Wanting to win in the tournament, wanting to become Maou, wanting to save dragons, wanting to become a teacher. They're all devils, yet what they aim for is completely different. For me, it's to become a Harem King. That still hasn't changed, but it may be no good to not move towards that realistically and away from my ordinary delusions.

Various things are needed to become the Harem King I aim to be.

In this way, Issei passed the short hour, occasionally chatting with Tannin or his Peerage mates, until they reached their destination.


The high-class high rise hotel that was being used as the meeting place for the party was located in a wide clearing within a huge area of forest that was on the edge of Gremory territory.

The dragon they were riding on alighted down to a place that was like the grounds used for a sports match. When Tannin came to the skies above these match grounds, lights were simultaneously concentrated on him from below, making him look like something out of a monster movie.

"Then, we'll be going to the waiting space exclusively for large devils."

"Thank you, Tannin."

"Ossan! Thanks!"

Rias and Issei gave our thanks to Tannin. Him and the other dragons then flapped their wings again and moved towards another area of the party grounds. Then, they were led by the hotel employees who had come to pick them up at the sports grounds…and they got into an expensive-looking limousine. Hahaha, It is truly an astonishing way of continuing on after coming this far.

The dress-wearing Rias and Asia sat down next to Issei. Everybody from the Sitri family sat in the back of the limousine.

Rias started to give an explanation while fixing his collar.

"There are also facilities located around the hotel, and the army is also standing by here. It is much stricter here than in the lower urban areas, you know?" Rias took a comb out from an expensive-looking bag and combed Issei's hair. His hair had become dishevelled because he had rode on Tannin's head instead of on his back. Though he didn't feel any truly strong wind thanks to the barrier Tannin mentioned.

"Buchou, what about Azazel-sensei?"

"It seems that he will head here after joining up with Onii-sama and the others on another route. Since they're really close friends, after all..."

Rias gained a serious face. "Ise, you couldn't hear because you were on Tannin's head, but just before, I declared war on Sona. -Saying that 'we will beat you for the sake of our dream'."

So such a thing happened on Ossan's back! I was too absorbed in looking at the scenery from the air then.

"A school-A Rating Game school. For the sake of building that, Sona studied the school system of the human world while living as a student there. The schools of the human world, which anyone can enter, are important for Sona, after all."

Issei recalled that Saji said the same thing. That Sona was attending Kuou Academy for the sake of her dream.

"Buchou, Saji also said it. That he would 'become a teacher'. His eyes were shining as he said it, but it's a serious goal to him…"

"Even so, we will win. We have our own dreams and goals as well."

Rias's determination was firm. She wouldn't go easy on her opponent, even if it was a friend.

In that case, I will also strike against the opponent in front of me. Right, Saji? I'm going to come straight at you.

As Issei was thinking this, the limousine arrived at the hotel. They were welcomed by many employees, and once Akeno confirmed them at the front desk, they went into the elevator. Once the doors closed, Rias turned to face Issei.

"It seems the party is on the huge top floor. Ise, if you're called out to by any people from distinguished families, make sure to greet them properly, okay?"

"Y-Yes. But, Buchou. Tonight's party…was prepared by Maou-sama for the young devils, right?"

Rias grumbled with a displeased face. Next to Issei, Akeno and Kiba also gave bitter smiles. "That is the official stance. In truth, people won't get very excited even once we enter the room. This is an annual custom. If anything, it's more like a gathering for the members of all the distinguished families to meet. We, the next family heads, are just extras, while it's really a party for our fathers to enjoy themselves. In reality, they've made reservations at the nearby facilities until the fourth or fifth after-parties. Proof of that is that they arrived at the meeting place separately from us. They probably gathered together before the young people arrived and may have already finished their alcohol."

To Issei, Rias seemed fed up with this party, or rather, with the actions of her father and the others. Kirito spoke up. "So, although this party is sponsored by the Maou, it is a very casual type of party, right?"

"In a word, yes." Kirito pressed a button, causing the elevator to stop. "…Kirito-san?" Rias gave a confused expression.

"If that's the case, why dress the girls up?" Kirito's hard look caused Rias to sigh a little. "It is because what the servants do or dress as is reflected on the master. So, if dressed badly, the servants would reflect badly on the master."

"…I see…" Kirito beckoned them out of the floor they were now at. "Issei should just change attire now then."

"Eh?" Issei felt that Kirito was not making sense. "Change into what?"

"Our daughter made these clothes for everyone." As he spoke, Kirito led them to the restrooms. "When we heard that there was going to be a party, Asuna and I thought to make all of us some clothes to wear. The girls already have some, so no need to bring them out. But for the boys…Just wearing the uniform is not enough." He drew out two boxes. "Inside are clothes for Kiba and Issei." A small twinkle in his eyes appeared. "You guys should change."

"Why?" Issei could not help but ask. "Isn't our school clothes good enough?"

"As Rias-san said, 'What the servants do and dress, reflect on the master'." Kirto pushed the clothes to the duo. "Just wear them."

"…Okay then?" Issei decided to go along with the flow.


"""Ooh."""

Everyone noticed Rias's entrance, and breaths of admiration were let out.

"Princess Rias. You've become more and more beautiful…"

"Sirzechs-sama must also be proud."

Everyone was looking at Rias. …Buchou had said that they wouldn't be excited, but they were plenty excited right now

"Uuu, there's so many people…"

Issei suddenly felt a pressure on his lower back. When he looked beside him, he saw the dressed-up Gasper tightly sticking to his back. You again…Aren't you wearing a dress for the sake of being seen in it? How can you enter here with that hikikomori spirit of yours…?

Ah, but, he's improved a little, hasn't he? Issei quickly retracted his previous thoughts. Even though he was exposed to the curious gazes of so many people here, he didn't try to run away. So he's also trained for this too, huh? That's great, Gasper. I'll give you some candy afterwards.

"Ise, we're making our rounds of greetings." Suddenly, Rias spoke to her Pawn.

"Heh?"

Issei had an idiotic face, but even so, it seemed the fact that the legendary dragon had become a devil was famous and there were many high-class devils who wanted to greet him. For that reason, he ended up being led around by Rias as they circulated the floor.

After a while, Issei was surprised by how the gentlemanly behaviour that Buchou's mother had taught him was more effective than he had expected.

I see, now that I've become a part of Buchou's group, it was an indispensable skill. Buchou's mother, thank you very much! Thanks to you, I wasn't embarrassing myself! And thank you, Kirito-san! For giving me something nice to wear!

Timeskip

"Ah, I'm so tired."

Having finished his greetings, Issei was freed, but…

Issei, Asia and Gasper sat down on chairs prepared in a corner of the floor. Rias and Akeno were a distance away conversing with some female devils. Kiba was surrounded by all the female devils. As for the two new devils, Kirito and Asuna, Issei could not find them in the crowd. Last he saw them, they had been talking to the Flauros clan heiress.

Issei, Asia and the others were all mentally fatigued and completely exhausted in a corner, this being the first time they had participated in such an event. Occasionally, there were male devils that greeted Asia. As I thought, Asia's cuteness is well understood even in the world of devils, because she's so extremely cute.

"Ise, Asia, Gasper, I've gotten some food, eat up."

Xenovia, who had gotten up from her seat a little while ago, was skilfully holding a massive quantity of dishes. On top of the dishes were various extravagant foods.

"Sorry about this, Xenovia." Issei felt a little bad, but Xenovia was the fastest to recover out of the five of them.

"No, it's nothing. This amount is inexpensive. Look, it's better for Asia to have a drink too."

"Thank you very much, Xenovia-san…Since it's my first time doing this kind of thing, I was nervous and my throat got dry…"

Asia accepted the glass of juice from Xenovia and started drinking it. Meanwhile, Issei started on the dish he'd been given…It came complete with chopsticks. Well, since there were reincarnated devils besides us in here, they must have been prepared for every way to pick up one's food.

And then, there was a silhouette in front of him. It was a girl wearing a dress. She was staring at Issei really hard. Who is she? Issei feel like I've seen her somewhere before…

"Ah, you're…"

"I-It's been a while, Sekiryuutei."

"The sister of that yakitori bastard."

It was the sister of Rias's former fiancé, Raiser Phoenix. Issei felt nostalgic. It has been several months since then. And he had grown quite a bit in that period of time.

"It's Ravel Phoenix! Geez, this is why low-class devils are so slow and disagreeable."

Ravel was really angry at how Issei remembered her. Issei quickly retracted his previous statement.

"Sorry. So, is your brother doing well?"

Ravel sighed. "…Thanks to you, he's been in low spirits. It seems that his defeat and having Rias-sama stolen away by you was a great shock. Well, since he had always relied on his talent and got cocky because of it, it should have been a good lesson for him."

Arara, how harsh. So, she severely cuts at her brother too. What a sharp tongue.

"Hahahaha…You're pretty merciless. You were also part of your brother's group, right?"

"About that, I've currently finished trading, and I've now become my mother's servant. My mother traded away an unused piece she had in exchange for me. Since my mother said that she would trade me again when I found someone whose family I want to become part of, I'm essentially a free Bishop now. Since my mother doesn't participate in the games."

"Trading?"

Issei gave a quizzically expression at the word that he wasn't familiar with.

"Huh? Don't you know?" Ravel Trading, according to the rules of the Rating Games, it's possible to exchange pieces between devils Kings. On the condition that they're the same kind of piece."

Heeh, so there was also something like that.

"B-By the way, Sekiryuutei-"

"Please stop it with the Sekiryuutei. My name is Hyoudou Issei. You're the same age as me, right? Then, speaking to me normally is fine. Everyone calls me 'Ise', you know?"

Issei may have said that, but since Ravel's a devil, she can freely choose her appearance. Though she may look the same age as me, could she be older? No, judging from the times we've met each other, I get the sense that she's the same age.

"I-Is it really okay for me to call you by your name!? Go-hun. T-Then, I'll oblige and call you Ise-sama without reservation."

"Sama? No, no, it's fine without such a thing."

"No, this is important!"

Issei sweatdropped at Ravel's words. …Hahaha, I understand this girl even less than Xenovia. It's difficult keeping company with her.

"Ravel-sama. Danna-sama's(1) friend is calling for you."

A new devil entered the scene once again! This time, it was someone Issei recognized quicker. If I remembered correctly, this person is from Raiser's family. An Onee-san called Isabella, who hurt my face badly with a flicker. Her naked body that I saw when her clothes fell apart is still preserved inside my brain.

"I understand." Ravel faced Issei once more. "Ise-sama, the next time we meet, would you like to have some tea with me? A-A-A-And if it's okay with you, would you like to have a homemade cake p-p-prepared by me?" Ravel raised the hem of her dress, curtsied and then left.

Somehow, I don't understand that girl very well.

"Hey, Hyoudou Issei." This time it was Isabella who spoke to him.

"You're Isabella-san of the Phoenix family, right?"

"Yes. You gave me a good blow back then. I still remember it. It seems you've become even stronger. When you become even stronger, I'll be able to boast about my story as well."

"Umm, are you that girl's…Ravel's escort?" Issei asked Isabella.

"Well, something like that. Because that girl has things that she can't grasp as a child, like our master Raiser-sama…Since that battle during the engagement party, Ravel has only talked about you. She seems to have found the fight between you and Raiser-sama very impressive."

"Isn't she just complaining? Since I interfered in her brother's engagement, and made some thoughtless remarks to her too."

"…No, it's the opposite. Well, it's fine. You'll understand eventually."

"?" Issei showed a questioning face. "In any case, please tell her that having tea with her would be okay with me."

"Really?" Isabella's face remained impassive. "Thank you for that. Ravel will be happy. Now then, please excuse me now. Please have a good time at the party." With that, Isabella waved her hand and left.

I really don't get it…Well, there's no use being troubled about it anymore, tea is fine, right?

"…Ise-senpai, you surprisingly have a lot of devil friends…" Gasper spoke that with a look of admiration.

Does it really look like a lot? Issei wondered. Hmm, I don't know. But, I have met various devils since coming here. However, my encounters with devils besides Buchou and my friends have a lot of value to me. The things I now know like about the problem of discrimination, and about dragons were a lot. I think that I'm glad to know these things now. Not only power, but such things may also be important for me to catch up to Vali. But, the stupid me also has a limit to my brain capacity! Haaah, I wish I had been born smart…

As Issei sighed and lamented his lack of intelligence, a small shadow came into his sight.

–It was Koneko.

For some reason, she was quickly heading out of the party room. Her expression also seemed absorbed in something. Was there something wrong? Issei was suddenly seized with anxiety. He had a bad feeling about this.

"Asia, Xenovia, please wait here."

"Ise-san, what's wrong? The Maou-sama's greeting will be starting soon."

"No, there's a little acquaintance of mine here that I want to go see. I'll return by the time of the greeting!"

"Alright. We'll stay here."

"Yeah!"

Issei had lied to the two of them.

He wanted to keep them safe. He knew that if he had said that he was worried about Koneko, the two of them would have followed him. Asia, because of her nature of wanting to help others, and Xenovia, because she too wants to help her friends. He traced Koneko's footsteps, just managing to catch sight of her form disappearing into an elevator.

Koneko-chan went down on the elevator? Is she going down to the bottom?

Once Issei confirmed that the elevator next door opened, he boarded it. Then, someone else got on the elevator. When he turned around, He saw that his new passenger was his master, Rias Gremory!

"What's wrong? Your expression changed."

"I saw Koneko-chan suddenly leave as if following something." Issei explained to Rias. She nodded.

"I see, so you were worried. I understand, I'll go too."

"Yes! But, how did you know that I was going to board the elevator?"

Rias smiled in response to Issei's question, her answer making him feel very happy.

"It's because I'm always watching you."


The elevator arrived on the first floor. After Issei and Rias stepped out, they described Koneko to nearby devils and asked if she had passed by. There, they discovered that Koneko had been seen by various people going outside. Rias then hurriedly called forth a bat familiar and sent it out into the sky.

"As I thought, Koneko-chan's behaviour is abnormal."

"Yes. However, what was Koneko-chan following all the way out here?"

As they waited in front of the fountain that stood outside the hotel until the bat returned Rias brooded deeply over Issei's question, but she said with just a grim expression that she suspected that Koneko had come across something serious. To Issei, it seemed like Rias had just realized something. After a little while, her bat returned.

"…It seems it found her. The forest? So she's gone to the forest surrounding the hotel?"

The forest! Issei and Rias began to chase after the bat, it leading them to Koneko's location. Why on earth would Koneko-chan go there?

After they left the familiar places behind, Rias and Issei ran through the forest in the dark night. Somehow, although they were in a hurry to find her, they didn't have any trouble running like this. Thanks to the results of his survival lifestyle, Issei was a little surprised that he could now move relatively easily. …Sensei, I'm somehow scared that I may have grown in a different sense!

After they had advanced through the forest for several minutes, Rias suddenly stopped, having seen something. She pulled Issei's arm and made them hide in the shadow of a tree. When he peeked his face out just a little, Issei saw Koneko's form in the dim light. Koneko was restlessly turning her head back and forth in the middle of the forest, as if she was looking for something. Then, she noticed something and turned her gaze in that direction. They also followed Koneko's gaze and looked.

"It's been a while, hasn't it?"

An unfamiliar voice resounded through the quiet night.

Appearing without making a noise was a woman wearing a black kimono. Issei felt that she seemed similar to Koneko. Then he noticed the black cat ears on the new woman's head. I-It couldn't be...

"Buchou, is that-" Rias quickly shushed Issei, indicating for him to calmly watch.

"! …You." Koneko's whole body shook in violent surprise when she spoke.

"Hello, Shirone. It's me, your onee-chan."

Shirone? Issei thought to himself as he continued to watch the scene. That's the first time I'm hearing that name, but is it perhaps Koneko-chan's true name? I knew from Buchou's mother that 'Koneko' was a name given to her by Buchou.

"Kuroka-neesama…" Koneko's voice squeezed out those words.

Issei's suspicions were confirmed. The black haired woman in-front of Koneko was Koneko's blood sister. So this beautiful nekomata onee-san is the "exiled demon" that killed her master…In the future, will Koneko-chan look like her sister? Issei's face became a little perverted when he imagined Koneko's body in the future, but it was quickly dispelled when he reminded himself the seriousness of the situation.

"Onee-chan is very impressed that you came this far following after this black cat that sneaked into the party-nya." As Kuroka spoke, a black cat snuggled up to her feet.

I see, Koneko-chan came across that black cat at the party and came here following it.

"…Nee-sama. What is this about?" There was anger in Koneko's voice. But, Kuroka just smiled.

"Don't make such a scary face. I just had some minor business to take care of. I heard that the devils were holding a big party here, you know? That's why I was a little interested. Nyan~"

Kuroka waved her hand like a cat and winked cutely. Issei, overwhelmed by the cuteness and the body of Koneko's sister, had a small nosebleed.

So cute! Rias, seeing her perverted Pawn's face and nosebleed, wordlessly pinched her Pawn's face, a small pout on her face. Ooooooooow…please don't pinch my face like that, Buchou…

"Hahahaha, could it be that you're a member of the Gremory group?" A familiar voice that Issei had heard before spoke out.

A good-looking man wearing what looked like ancient Chinese Armour came out from the shadows. Issei recognized him instantly. Son Goku Bikou! Vali's comrade! What is he doing here? Issei's mind came to a horrifying conclusion. Wait. He's a member of the Khaos Brigade. Is this a terrorist attack aimed at the party hall!?

Suddenly, Bikou's gaze turned to look in the direction of Issei and Rias. So he noticed us!?

"Even if you erase your presence, it's useless. With people like me and Kuroka who know senjutsu, we can approximately detect you with just a slight variation in the flow of your spirit."

Tch! We've been found out! Even though I would have preferred not to fight! Even thought they had wished to resolve this without fighting, Issei's wish was not granted. Preparing themselves, Rias and Issei stepped out from the shadow of the tree.

Koneko was surprised to see the pair pop out from behind the tree. "…Ise-senpai, Buchou."

"Yo, damn monkey-san. Is Vali doing well?" Issei spoke to the monkey in question, a little pissed that he had been forced to come out to fight. …Even though I wanted this to be resolved without fighting...I am not a battle junkie, you know!

"Hahahaha, pretty much." Bikou laughed out. "As for you…Heh, so you've become a little stronger, huh?"

Hmm? Did he understand my strength just from looking at my body a little? While Issei thought that in puzzlement, Bikou spoke while smiling.

"Didn't I tell you? I also have an interest in senjutsu, and I know the flow of your spirit to a degree. The volume of aura that covers you has risen since we last met."

I see. When other people said it, it seemed that my training really had given me results. Issei then thought of something. "By the way Buchou, what is senjutsu? Is it different from magic and the sorcery used by magicians?"

Sighing, Rias gave an explanation to Issei's question.

"Yes, senjutsu is different from magic and sorcery. The biggest difference is that senjutsu stresses the importance of something called chakra, the aura that is the great original power that flows into one's spirit, in other words one's life-force, and turns it into a constant current. It's a power that is both similar yet different from the magic of demons and the light power of angels. Its direct destructive power can't match that of magic or the power of light, but senjutsu can make use of the unknown part hidden within plants, animals and people. For example, if one learned senjutsu, it's said that they excel at reading the flow of someone's spirit, of their aura, and that they can also grasp the movements of a faraway target to a certain degree."

"We can also control the flow of spirit and can reinforce both the interior and exterior of our bodies, or disturb the spirits of all the surrounding trees, make them bloom, or make them wither-nyan~. Senjutsu is a skill that manipulates the flow of life, after all. We can disturb our opponent's spirit, and inflict damage to their life-force by cutting it. Because the methods for repairing the disorder to one's life-force is limited for the magic of demons and the sorcery of magicians in comparison, this attack method almost always results in death-nyan~" Koneko's onee-san explained this while winking.

Issei was troubled by how Kuroka acted so brightly while creating such a dangerous atmosphere at the same time. He also didn't really understand the explanation that he could more or less grasp the concepts the black haired female was talking about. So, in other words, she's a blooming jii-san equipped with a scouter, right? And moreover this blooming jii-san can influence the life of his opponent with a single fingertip, right? Well, leaving that aside, the problem is the reason why these guys are here.

"Why are you here? Is this a terrorist attack?" Issei asked this in a frank tone, but the two of them just smiled.

"No, we didn't come down here for such a thing. It's just that we got a standby order. Me and Kuroka are technically off-duty right now, so Kuroka thought of getting her sisiter to come here. There is a certain someone visiting your Maous right about now. Not that we want said person to be here, but he just so happened to have common goals with Ophis, or something like that."

Bikou chattered on pointlessly, but Issei got the gist of it. While Kuroka was told to wait here as some sort of backup, she decided to get her sister, Koneko, to meet up with her by getting her to notice the black cat familiar, which led to Koneko chasing it to their current location.

"Bikou, who is this boy?" Suddenly, Koneko's sister pointed at Issei and asked the monkey a question.

"The Sekiryuutei."

When she heard that, Kuroka's eyes widened. "Really-nyan? Heh~. So this is the current breasts-loving Sekiryuutei who repelled Vali before."

So that was how I was described to her. Well, since it's true. A breasts-loving Sekiryuutei, huh? That's also fine.

"Kuroka~, let's go back. Since we can't participate in that party anyway, it's a waste to stay here." Bikou spoke while yawning.

"Yes, let's return. But, I'll take Shirone with me-nyan. Since I didn't bring her with me that time~"

"Arara, if you bring her back with you of your own accord, Vali might get angry, you know?" Bikou smiled lightly while he leaned against against nearby tree.

"When they know that the same power as mine flows within her, both Ophis and Vali will be convinced, right?"

"Well, that may be so."

Koneko's onee-san smiled widely with narrowed eyes when she heard Bikou's reply. Seeing that, Koneko-chan's small body shivered.

When he saw that, Issei stepped in between the two of them and spoke right in front of them. "This girl is an important friend among us of the Gremory group. I won't allow you to take her away."

Seeing my actions, both Bikou and Kuroka laughed. "No, no, that's very brave of you, but do you really intend to make me and Kuroka your opponents? This time, we'll leave immediately once we take this girl, so it'll be fine for you, right?"

What kind of nonsense is Bikou saying!? This damn monkey!

"This child is my servant. I won't let you put even a single finger on her." Rias had stepped forward, speaking with an angered expression on her face.

"Ara-ara-ara-ara, what are you saying-nya? She's my little sister. I have the right to love her. A high-class devil like you doesn't have that privilege."

*Biri.*

Issei immediately understood that this place's atmosphere had completely changed. Rias and Koneko's onee-san were glaring at each other, and the atmosphere now carried the aspect of an explosive situation!

It was onee-san who stopped glaring first. She spoke while giving a wide grin. "Since you're so troublesome, I'll kill you-nyan~"

""!""

At that instant, everyone was seized by an indescribable sensation. What is this, this feeling of having transported to another space? Even though the scenery hadn't changed, it was like the air and mood had changed or something…

"…Kuroka, so you learned not only senjutsu, youjutsu and devil magic, but also the skill to control space?" Rias said this while making a sour face.

"I didn't go as far as learning how to control time, but I have fairly picked up on how to control space. If I use the essentials of barrier techniques, it's relatively easy, after all. I covered this entire forest with a barrier and isolated it from the outside world-nyan. That's why even if we do flashy things here, it won't leak outside and devils from outside won't come in. You're going to get pleasantly killed here by us and say goodbye-nya~"

What!? Issei looked left and right, searching for a way out. Then, we've been imprisoned in this forest! What's more, even if we fight, no one outside will notice it! Ooh! So these guys can't be defeated by just me and Buchou!? Should we run away? No, it doesn't seem like we can run away!

At that time…From high in the sky, a voice was heard.

"When I received information that Miss Rias and Hyoudou Issei had come to this forest and I quickly came to look, to think I would be sealed in by a barrier..."

"Tannin-ossan!"

Issei was happy. The monster dragon, Tannin-ossan, had arrived! What timing! Uwah, I'm really glad! It seemed that Tannin had entered their current location just before Kuroka spread out the barrier. "What an ominous aura. These visitors aren't suitable for this party." Tannin landed not too far from Issei's current place.

"Oh, oh, oh! If it isn't the former-Dragon King, Blaze Meteor Dragon Tannin! So you came! This is already a big problem, Kuroka! We have no choice but to fight now!"Bikou shouted out, a delighted expression on his face.

"You seem happy, monkey-san. Very well. If we take down two necks that are above Dragon King class, Ophis will also be silent on the matter."

"What the–"

A new, unexpected voice cut into the tense atmosphere. All heads turned towards this new person.

"Kirito!" Issei was shocked at the appearance of the SAO survivor. "What are you doing here?"

"…I got lost?"


(1)- Master, or something like that.

AN

I apologize to the guest who complained. This fic is following the canon closely, so it would also follow the LN contents closely. Any major changes would shift the entire direction of this story too much(For now), so I'm sticking to the canon, with additional characters for now.

Also, as a reminder, check my bio for info on my fics if you are worried I abandoned it. I would update my bio, depending on the situation.

Anime is life!