Knight of Humanity (High School DxD/FGO - Mash Kyrielight SI Chapter 5)

"Now, we have talked about the stories of Kintaro, Minamoto, and Shuten-doji. As we have seen, while there are many different versions they do share a commonality." Mash was leaning against the desk in front of the class with her arms cross. Big Sister tended to not write on the green board, beyond basic keywords related to the lesson, and books for us to look through, or the pages in our school textbooks. "Now can someone tell me why do different versions exist?"

A girl raised her hand. I didn't know who she was, as I didn't get everyone's name.

"Sensei, isn't this English Literature?" She asked.

"Comparative English Literature. The comparative part doesn't necessarily mean between two English texts. We're doing Japanese stories now to compare them to English ones in a few days. Any other question, or will someone answer my question?" Big Sister replied.

"Sensei!" Issei's friend, Motohama raised his shouted and raised his hand. "Cheerful, refined or wild. Is that a hint to which is your type?"

SWIFFF!

A white chalk zipped through the air and slammed into Motohama's head with enough force to break into dust, and knock him with his chair back on the floor.

"MOTOHAMA, NO!" Issei's other friend shouted, and kneeled next to this friend, trying to shake him awake.

"Dude, I told you not to do that. Kyrielight-sensei doesn't joke around." Issei hissed to his downed friend.

"Discussion only relevant to the class topic, please." Big Sister said with a menacing smiling. "Anyone else? Good. Now, is someone going to answer me, or should I start picking at random?"

Another girl quickly raised her hand.

"Yes, Nimura-san?"

"Because the stories were altered as they travelled through different regions, and because some people wanted some characters to shine more than others. That's why you have versions of Kintaro being found by a fisherman, another being Usui Sadamitsu, and another being General Minamoto himself." Said the twin-tailed girl with green stripped colored thigh-high socks.

"Good answer, Nimura-san." Mash nodded approvingly. "Anyone got another idea?"

Answers went around till it was nearing the end of class.

"So, given everything the varies reasons why the story had different versions, can anyone give me an example of a different version of the story, and how it could have possibly come to be, and why it hadn't circulated?" Mash asked.

"Like what, Sensei?" Asked a boy.

"For example, what if Shuten-doji, being an oni, used their shapeshifting abilities to turn into a loli with ASMR voice, due to having an interest in Kintaro, and thus the reason why they fought in their stories. You could even say that in the version were Kintaro caught Shuten before he went to the Capital, was one were they actual fucked, before Kintaro ran away with his life." Looking around the room, anyone that was feeling bored with the lesson was suddenly very awake.

"Errr, what's going on?" Issei muttered under his breath. "I feel like the lesson took hell of a different turn."

"And the reason why this version of the story came to be, could be that it was drunken tales made by people that wanted to corrupt the original version, it's no longer kid friendly, or that this was the original version. As for why it didn't circulated. And was gone to history? As the stories were told orally, they were told more as dirty jokes and thus were frowned upon, this ended up being changed to one of the currently known versions." Despite how nonchalant she acted, I could feel Big Sister feeling very amused through out bond.

"So, for your homework, I want each one of you to write a version of the stories about one or more of the three characters we discussed, and how they could have came to be, and said stories would be told, and why they wouldn't be known and passed down. Of course, I do expect the story you write to be in English, as you will be reading it in front of the class, and then will have to explain your other answers." Mash said, and then the bell rang out, signaling it as time for lunch. "Well, that's it for today, I'll see you all tomorrow."

Big Sister collected her stuff and left, waving me good bye on the way out, which I returned. Some of the students were talking about how thankful they were that Mash let them record the lesson, as she didn't mind equipment in class, as long as it's used for education.

"Yo, Asia-chan," Aika Kiryuu, the glasses twin-braided girl, came and leaned on my desk. "So, did you get permission for karaoke this weekend?" She asked with an excited smile. Aika was one of the few girls that easily became my friend since coming to Kuoh Academy. She was also one of the few I like as she didn't seem too...mean toward Issei.

"Hmm," I nodded with a smile. "Big Sister said it's fine as long as we come back before evening."

"Cool." Aika nodded. "You sure you want me to come along with you and Issei?" She asked with a knowing smile. Knowing what, I don't know.

"Of course, the 'more the merrier', right? Why would I exclude my friends?" I asked.

Aika just looked at me for several moments before sighing. "You have a long way ahead of you, Issei." She sighed.

What did that mean?

I'm gonna go ask Issei.

=====

I found Issei and his friends beat up on the ground in the schoolyard behind the gym.

"Issei!" I ran toward him. "Are you okay?" I asked and kneeled next to him, setting my hands over his slightly bruised arm, ready to heal him.

"Yeah, yeah I'm fine." He just sheepishly grinned. "It's not that big of a deal."

"Finding out Murayama grew an inch...worth it..." Said the twitching form of Motohama.

"Dammit... Issei...why did you give us away?" Said Matsuda on his back.

"You're the ones who kept shouting...ow, ow, ow..." Issei said, before flinching at having to move and sit better.

"Hold still, Ise-san. I'll heal this right..." Why wasn't he healing? Why wasn't Twilight Healing answering...

Ah, right.

My Sacred Gear is gone. I forgot about that.

"Asia, are you okay?" Issei asked

"Umm..." I looked up to see Issei looking at me in concern, while his friends look on curious. Right. I don't have Twilight Healing, and holding my hands out like this is embarrassing. What should I... Oh I know! "Pain~ Pain~ go away." I lightly tapped his arm, then threw my hands up. "Poof!"

"..."

"..."

"..."

"Umm..." Why are they looking at me like that? "Are you feeling better?" I pushed myself to ask.

""OOOOOOH!""

"Eeeh?"

All three boys shouted as they stood up.

"I CAN TAKE ON THE WORLD!" Shouted Matsuda.

"I CAN LOOK AT A HUNDRED FIGURES AND TAKE A HUNDRED BEATING!" Shouted Motohama.

"WHAT PAIN? I'M REBORN!" Shouted Issei.

I found myself laughing at their antics, and stood up as well.

"I'm glad. Sorry I can only do this much." If only I could actually heal people again.

"What are you talking about? I feel better than ever." Issei raised an arm to flex it, and held his bicep with the other. "See? Completely A-Okay." He said with a grin.

I found myself laughing at his silly antics, but I was really happy that he was acting like that to cheer me up.

"Then I'll be seeing you this weekend, right?" I asked.

"Wouldn't miss it for the world!" Issei smiled widely.

With that worry out of my mind, I turned and left, my good mood staying.

=====

After Asia Kyrielight had left the Perverted Trio huddled together.

"Okay, so that was cute as fuck, right?" Said Motohama.

"Yep, I definitely get the appeal of why some things must never be lewded." Matsuda nodded.

"Guys, from now on, Asia is to be protected, not lewded. Agreed?" Issei proposed.

"Agreed." Matsuda said firmly.

"I dunno, I kinda like the appeal of corrupting a pure thing." Motohama said academically.

The other two perverts beat him up physically.

=====

"Mash?" I asked once I was back home.

"Yeah?" She was reading a book, having finished her schoolwork.

"Can you please teach me Healing Magic?"

Mash looked up from her book surprised. After a moment she smiled.

"Of course." Big Sister nodded.

=====

Three weeks later I was standing with Big Sister in a private land owned by the Gremory Family, along with Rias and her Peerage.

"Alright Dumb-dumbs. Given that a certain someone's brother," Mash gave a pointed looked to the embaressed Rias. "Wouldn't stop spamming my inbox, I have decided after some talks between us adults that I will train you, till that kid from the Chicken Family decides to come annoy Gremory with a Rating Game."

"Chicken Family?" Issei looked confused.

"Miss Mash, you really don't have to-"

"Did I give you permission to talk, Red Wailing?" Mash shouted like a drill sergeant. I watched a few funny american military movies yesterday with Big Sister to prepare for this training camp.

"'Red...' What?" Rias said confused.

"I asked you a question, cadet!" Mash shouted.

"Cad...What? This isn't the army, Mash-sa-"

"ARE YOU BACK TALKING ME, CADET?" Roared Mash.

"No!" Rias shrieked.

"NO 'WHAT'?"

"NO, MA'AM!" Rias shouted back, standing straight.

"ALRIGHT! Now, we'll start with something light and easy, boys and girls. 2000 laps around the mountain."

""TWO THOUSAND!"" Issei and others shouted.

"Yep, and don't worry." Big Sister made a Light Riding Crop. "I'll be very motivating, and if any of you rupture a muscle, it will give my baby sister a chance to practice her healing spells."

"Don't worry, everyone. I made sure to study well!" I said encouragingly and held my hands in a guts pose.

Sans Issei, why do the devils look worried?