Silver W. King
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Returning Welsh Dragon Hero - Chapter 2
🕑 Added 2024-06-11 19:00:15 +0000 UTCAs a new school day began Rias couldn't help but feel... anxious? Not in a bad way. Mostly. She simply didn't know how things will go.
She had tried to talk to Issei after the confrontation with the fallen, and his utter annihilation of them, yet Issei just rebuked her with a simple excuse.
"Sorry, but I have a guest at home, and it would be rude for me to stay out too late. We can talk tomorrow during the day whenever you're free."
However that's not what threw her off. It was the way Issei spoke.
With quiet confidence that showed through his relaxed stance. He simply greeted everyone and walked away, with a utter surety of himself in a situation, where he was facing an unknown element. And Rias was sure Issei had no idea what they were, since when Rias asked him if he knew he was living on her territory, he just looked at her confused.
"I'm pretty sure I've lived here my whole life and never heard about you being in any way related to the mayor or government office of Kuoh."
A bit funny but it showed he didn't know about her being the supervising devil of Kuoh. He did notice that she and her Peerage weren't human but he didn't comment or act upon it.
And then he walked away. He didn't run, he didn't try to hurry up--well no, he jogged a bit since he had to get home for his guest, the ex-nun, Asia Argento.
But he never, not even once showed worry or fear toward Rias or her Peerage, even thought they were an unknown.
It was something she couldn't help but notice and think on, because... he was the Red Dragon Emperor of this era. He was strong enough to be able to masterfully use his Longinus, and maybe even his Balance Breaker, and he didn't know about the local supernatural scene around him.
What does that mean?
And so, a new school day came, and Rias' only thoughts were about the upcoming meeting with Issei.
As soon as the lunch period came up, Rias send for Kiba to get Issei as she and Akeno and Koneko waited in the Occult Research Club house. She had told Sona about the encounter, and the oddities she noticed. She told Sona to be ready to accept a summoning from her... just in case.
Heh, look at me, feeling nervous at meeting the Perverted Lover of Boobs Issei, of all people.
"Buchou, I've brought him." Kiba announced as he entered the room, followed by Issei.
Again, the moment Issei was away from school and other people, the excitable aura he projected, dimmed down to just being neutrally pleasant.
"Hello, Issei, thank you for coming to meet us." Rias said with a calm smile.
"Heh, thank you for having me, Rias-senpai." Issei said with a smile back, rubbing the back of his head.
Issei took his own seat on the couch, opposite to Rias and her Peerage, who proceeded to introduce everyone.
"As you know Kiba, is part of the Occult Research Club, along with Koneko-chan here, and my Vice-President, Akeno." Rias said.
"Hello~." Akeno said with a slight sultry smile. "You really cause quite a lot of noise last night. Honestly, that blast was quite shocking. There weren't even ashes left." She said, before licking her lips. "How violent, Issei-kun~. Are you normally that rough in dealing with... problems?"
Rias sighed at Akeno playful attitude.
"Akeno." Rias said pointedly at her Queen's flirty attitude. It would likely throw Issei off too much, but maybe it would help him relax. Plus she expected Issei looking flustered would be quite cute.
"Ah, my bad. It's just that they were a danger to Asia and probably wanted to harm her or worse. Plus that Fallen Angel woman who was their leader, I think, tried to kill me last week." Issei said back with a chuckle.
The Gremory Peerage and King blinked at Issei's reply.
He wasn't even phased by Akeno's flirting, which made the Thunder Priestess pout at being ignored like that. But then Issei's admission at the fallen's action threw the tone of the meeting off from the get go.
"I am sorry, Issei." Rias said right away. "That shouldn't have happened. Kuoh is mine and Sona's territory, they shouldn't have acted like that here. I can't believe they almost got away with attacking innocent people." She said with a serious expression.
"Hey, hey, Rias-senpai it's okay." Issei held his hands up. "All's well that ends well and all that."
Rias pouted at how distant Issei felt, now that she was dealing with what she felt like, was the real him.
"No, really, please tell me if there's something I can do to fix my lapse in vigilance." Rias said seriously. Issei looked a little surprise for the first time since this meeting began.
"You should take her up on that offer, or she'll be sad and pouty for the rest of the day. Buchou is too much of a responsibility worrywart." Akeno said in a mock-whispering way, with one hand held next to her mouth.
"Akeno!" Rias said scandalized and blushing, to which Akeno chuckled, while Kiba and Koneko smiled at their antics.
Issei found himself smiling a bit, as he let out a breath. Feeling himself relax slightly in the friendly atmosphere.
"Then I'll get back to you on that one. How about that, Rias?" Issei asked calmly.
"Sure!" Rias beamed in response.
And with that the meeting continued on a more pleasant note.
"So, I'm guessing you have some questions for me." Issei said, getting to the heart of the matter, to which Rias happily nodded at.
"Of course, but don't you have some questions for me too?" Rias said back, slightly confused. "You know that we're not humans, right?" But not what species. Rias continued mentally.
"Devils." Issei said plainly, making the Peerage blink in slight surprise, raising their assessment of him. "Ddraig told me all about it."
Issei raised an eyebrow as the ORC looked at him with visible shock.
"You can communicate with the sealed dragon already?" Kiba asked.
"Yeah, I've been able to talk to him for a while now." Issei said with what looked like a sly smile, he was too lazy to commit to.
"Issei, if you don't mind me asking, how long has it been since you've awakened your Sacred Gear?" Rias asked, looking more focused now.
"Hmm, technically a week." Issei thought, then nodded to himself.
"Technically?" Rias blinked at the wording.
Issei closed on eye, as held a finger to his mouth.
"Sorry, but even I have things I like to keep a secret." Issei grinned.
Rias blinked at this playful confident reply. Since when was Issei this calmly brave with girls.
"Oh my," Akeno walked around the table to sit next to Issei. "Can't you tell little ol' me? It will be our secret--" Akeno tried to lean against Issei as she asked this, only to be interrupted.
"Boop."
"E-Eh?" Akeno stopped and sat back, thrown off by Oppai Pervert, smoothly and without hesitation booping her nose button.
"Huh. You're kinda cute when you're flustered, Akeno-senpai." Issei said back with a chuckle.
"...W-Wha, what?" Akeno found herself blush, not because she wasn't sure to being flirted to, but because she didn't expect it.
"Ah, I see. You're strong on the offense, but weak on the defense." Issei said with a wide grin, but it sounded like he was quoting someone. The memory of that quote making his smile more genuine.
"B-Buchou, Buchou," Koneko said tugging on Rias' sleeve. "What's happening? Issei is suave and flirty. Akeno is blushing. Something is wrong with the world."
"I want to say Koneko-chan is exaggerating it, but honestly I feel the same." Kiba added.
Issei and Rias shared a looked before both found themselves laughing.
"Moou, it's not nice to tease a lady, Issei-kun." Akeno said crossing her arms under her chest, before looking at the smirking Rias. "Et tu, Rias?"
"S-Sorry, sorry." Rias said through her giggles. "So," she continued, putting the focus back on Issei. "I didn't realize this is what you're really like Issei."
Issei wiggled his hand in a 'so-so; gesture. "It's, uh, kinda recent sort of thing."
"Very well, then." Rias nodded, understanding some people wanting to reinvent themselves after a life altering event. "Can you at least tell me, how your first encounter with the Fallen happened?"
"Sure." Issei nodded. "A week ago, I was asked out on a date by a girl named 'Amano Yuuma', who was a Fallen Angel in disguise. We went on a date, and then at the end at the park with the famous fountain, she stabbed me with a magic light spear."
The Gremory devils frown, angry at the fallen's actions being so callous to human life, and feeling sympathetic to the boy.
"After that she left, and while I was bleeding I awakened Boosted Gear, stuff happened, I healed and went back home. I ended up talking with Ddraig and figured some things out." Issei summed things up.
Rias and her Peerage blinked at the barebones explanation, however no one objected, or asked for more information. Rias saw that Issei had went through a traumatic event, and thus had the right to his privacy.
"Very well, then," Rias nodded. "I suppose your use of excessive force with the Fallen yesterday is understandable, given what they put you through."
"Honestly, I did not expect them to be that weak." Issei shook his head, actually looking surprised at how weak the fallen angel and their group were.
""Huh?"" The Gremory Peerage said.
"I mean, I was walking into an enemy base, so first objective was to confuse and disorient them. So I just launch a basic AOE attack at full power, so I could scatter them, then take them out one by one." Issei explained. "Instead they all died right away. I was kinda shocked."
The Gremory Peerage looked at the Hyoudou boy slack-jawwed. Not just at his strength, rather what was more surprising, was that Issei seemed to have a tactical mind for battle from the get go.
Maybe he plays a lot of strategy games? But that's not something you can easily translate to real life, as you can't act with the calmness of playing a video game. Rias thought.
"From the concentration magical energy I felt, you went in there in full Balance Breaker mode." Akeno said, as she had studied the residue of energy left after Issei's battle with the fallen.
"I have no frame of reference for how strong or weak they are." Issei shrugged in amused panic.
Rias giggled, causing the group to smile again. "Issei, why don't you join us in some Stray Devil hunts later on, so you can see what level of force to use against whom."
In one week since awakening his Sacred Gear, he achieve Balance Breaker and can communicate with the Red Dragon. Rias thought. He has to be about the most talented Red Dragon Emperor this millennia. Maybe ever?
Rias didn't want to bring up the recruiting subject just yet, but...
"Hmm, maybe." Issei tilted his head, before giving a half-nod. "Is there anything else you wanted to know?"
"Say, Issei, do you know what a Peerage is?" Rias asked.
Issei raised an eyebrow and shook his head.
Akeno held back at giggle at how overeager her King was.
Rias proceeded to explain the Evil Piece system. The power of each piece along with their numerical value in pawn pieces. She also added in the explanation of what a Contracted Magician was.
The red haired devil expected Issei's reaction to be intrigued, bored, or more likely excited as she explained how if he became a High Class Devil he can get his own Evil Pieces Set and have his harem as his Peerage. Yet Issei's expression just grew more serious and concerned, before finally asking:
"Rias, only High Class Devils get their own Evil Pieces, right?"
"Ah, yes." Rias blinked at the question.
"And how many High Class Devils there are in the Underworld total?" Issei asked, an undercurrent of... something in his tone.
Rias' expression perked up at that.
Ah, he's worried that getting to High Class status is likely not possible if there are too many High Class Devils. While it is difficult, it would be possible, much, much more so for the Boosted Gear holder.
"Probably less than three hundred--But!" Rias quickly added. "As the Red Dragon Emperor, it would be much easier for someone of your strength to rise up quickly and get his own harem."
"I don't really care about getting a harem." Issei shook his head. "It's just that--"
The gasp that went through the Occult Research Clubroom made Issei blink and look around in surprise.
He saw the shocked and paled faces of the devils around him.
"I-Issei, are you okay? Do you need a hug? How about touching my boobs?" Akeno said from next to him.
"Huh?" Issei blinked in surprise.
"Issei," Kiba spoke up next. "Maybe you should take a vacation from school and spend it with family and friends." He advised.
"What?"
"Issei-senpai, please don't cry." Koneko spoke up next.
"I'm... not crying?" Issei tilted his head in confusion.
"Do you want a cookie? You can take one. Just only one." Koneko offered from her dessert plate.
"Um, thank you--Rias-senpai! Why are you crying?!" Issei shouted in shock.
"I am so, so sorry for whatever those Fallen Angels did to you, Issei. Please don't abandon your dream or give up on life." Rias said passionately.
"WOULD YOU ALL CALM THE FUCK DOWN!" The Red Dragon Holder shouted in panic at the devils trying to comfort him.
===x===
After things calmed down in the ORC room, with Issei repeatedly telling the devils, that he was fine. That he wasn't suicidal, or any other negative thing they thought of, they finally were able to continue their discussion.
"So you are fine." Rias asked for what seemed like the tenth time.
"Yes! Seriously, the near-death experiences just gave me a different perspective on things, that all." Issei insisted. Originally he planned to slowly turn away from telling people that he wanted a harem, but maybe he should keep it up, if only to avoid this type of reaction.
"Right, right, good." Rias nodded. "You were asking about High Class Devils, right?" She said to try and bring back the discussion to point they were on.
"Yeah, I was just kinda worried you'd overwhelm the human population, and all that." Issei stated, making Rias raise an eyebrow, but nodded in approval at Hyoudou's hindsight.
"Ah, there are provisions against that made by the Satans. Not just on the bar for the Class Promotion Exam, and needing to be a High Class Devil, but also because we don't wish to antagonize other Factions, such as the Church and Heaven, or other Pantheons due to their believers." Rias explained.
"Hmm," Issei nodded. So the stalemate with Heaven and other Pantheons protects humanity because no one wants to start a fight that would drag everyone in it. Issei thought. His dragon companion sent a feeling of nodding in agreement.
"I'm surprised that you're asking such a broad thing." Rias said.
"Curiosity. " Issei shrugged. "I tend to play a lot of RPGs with heavy worldbuilding, so I was intrigued."
"Oh! Which one is your favorite?" Rias asked, her eyes lighting up, as the other devils sighed in amusement.
"Hmm, I can't call any my 'favorite', but 'Stories of...' games were my favorite for a long while. Although funny enough Breath of Flames was also something I found myself gravitating to." Issei said with an amused chuckle, as he and Rias fell into their own discussion for a while, and the rest of the Peerage watched on fondly.
After ten or so minutes, Akeno coughed to get their attention again.
"Issei, you never told Rias your answer about joining her Peerage or not." Akeno pointed out.
"Oh, right," Rias said blushing, as she herself had forgotten.
"Ah, about that..." Issei began, however the answer came from someone else.
[I'm afraid you don't have enough pieces nor power to Reincarnate my wielder, Gremory Devil.] Ddraig spoke up, an emerald circle shined from Issei's left arm.
"The Red Dragon." Kiba said in awe, at the powerful being addressing them.
"W-Wait, really?" Rias said in surprise. "Issei, do you mind if I cast a small spell to check?" Issei shrugged and nodded. Rias casted some kind of diagnostic spell and her eyes widened at the answer. No, she most definitely can't Reincarnate Issei as she was now.
I really did not see that coming. Rias thought
"Actually," Issei spoke up. "I should probably clarify something." He said before looking Rias in the eyes. "Rias, I hope this doesn't affect our friendship, but with all due respect, I don't wish to become a Devil." Rias sat back, taking in Issei's words. "I wish to live and die as a human. I don't want to outlive my friends or family and I have other reasons for that as well. I'm sorry, I don't wish to lead you on or give you false hope, but I'm never joining a Peerage or becoming a Devil."
Rias would usually try to negotiate, say that he should take his time and think on it. Yet the firm determination in Issei's eyes reminded Rias of people who were absolute in the decisions they considered too important. The ones who make a stance and never move from it. His eyes reminded her of her brother at times, or even her cousin Sai when he said he's one day be a Satan, so no one else would suffer as he had.
"Alright," Rias smiled and nodded, accepting the answer. "If that's your decision I'll respect it." Rias playfully chuckled. "The offer for a Contracted Magician is still open."
"That," Issei sheepishly rubbed the back of his head. "Might end up looking bad for you. I really suck at magic. At least anything really complicated. I can understand it fine, but implementation, eeeeh, I'm better at breaking magic than doing it."
"...How would you know that, when you've only been aware of the supernatural side, and awaken your Sacred Gear for a week?" Akeno asked what was one everyone's mind.
"Secret." Issei grinned.
"Mooou, that's mean." Akeno pouted.
"Very well, then," Rias said back playfully. "Maybe you'll share with us later on." She then asked. "So, is there anything else anyone wants to add?" She asked her Peerage.
"No." Koneko shook her head.
"Oh, I think I'd rather take my time, getting to know our cute dragon Kouhai." Akeno licked her lips, trying to fluster Issei, but he only chuckled back, making her pout at the non-reaction.
"...I have something I'm wondering about, if you don't mind, Issei-san." Kiba spoke up.
"Shoot." Issei nodded.
"Who's 'Fujimaru'?" Kiba asked, making the others look at him in surprise. "Back when you got that phonebook, that was the page you stopped on. I was just curious, nothing more."
"Ah," Issei's face slowly fell blank, as he looked down, lost in his thought. The mood in the room suddenly turned somber. "Fujimaru is..." The words seemed stuck to Issei's throat. The heaviness in his eyes, that Rias saw after his battle with the fallen, was back. He looked up, meeting their gazes. "Someone that isn't here."
He said nothing else.
It felt too difficult to dare even ask, given the immense sadness emanating from the Hyoudou boy.
"...Do you want some?" Koneko asked, offering her whole plate. Surprise returned to the rest of the Gremory Peerage, as even Koneko was affected by Issei's mood to such a degree.
"I'll take one." Issei chuckled, and did so, taking a buttercream biscuit, eating it whole so as not to drop crumpets anywhere.
The group sat in silence for a few moments, before Rias looked at the hanged clock of the room.
"Classes are going to start again soon." Rias pointed out. "Is there anything you want to ask us, Issei?"
Issei thought about it, then nodded.
"Three things. And Rias I mean no insult, but please answer this," Issei began, making Rias raise an eyebrow. "How old are you?"
"Eh?" Rias blinked in shock.
"Oh my, asking a lady her age~." Akeno smirked.
"I retract my sympathies." Koneko said.
"I'm just saying!" Issei said back. "Is Rias-senpai 5000 year olds masquerading as a high schooler--"
"I'M EIGHTEEN!" Rias shouted back red-faced. Akeno chuckling, moved to Rias' side, and side-hugged her to comfort her.
"There, there, Rias." Akeno said, while looking at Issei with a sultry look for flustering her King. "Honestly, how could you be so mean, Issei~?"
"Sorry, sorry. I was just checking since I wasn't sure if Rias was the only Gremory, or is it a family, or was she the same Gremory that existed all the way from the start." Issei clarified.
"No, the Pillar Families are entire bloodlines with dozens of members usually." Rias said back.
"Right, right." Issei said back with an apologetic smile. "That was actually my second question. If Rias-senpai was The Gremory Devil, as in the one that's always been around, or A Gremory Devil, as in it's her family name." He clarified.
After things calmed down, with everyone chuckling or smiling at the mood, Issei continued.
"I just have one last question," Issei said, and suddenly his whole demeanor changed. "Are Devils Enemies of Humanity?"
The atmosphere became tense, like talks before a battle began on the fields of war.
The Gremory Peerage weren't talking to Issei Hyoudou anymore, but to the Welsh Dragon Hero.
===x===
The walk to his home was a quiet one. Issei was wondering what to do with his life now going forward, or what dreams to follow? Even asking what dreams did he have now?
[You didn't have to be so serious with them.] Ddraig said after a while.
"Maybe." Issei said back. "I just had to be sure. Sure that Devils aren't an active harmful threat to humanity in this world. The Evil Piece System is something that could easily be abused and a bit fucked up the more you think about it, but it's not an existential threat, thankfully."
"Of course not." Rias had spoken after what felt like a long silence, as she composed herself. "Devil in the past may have been antagonistic to humans, but nowadays we want nothing more than to co-exist and live side by side with mankind. We don't deal with souls, and give that the New Devils making up our population mainly come from humans, we want nothing more than to hold each other in good standing. It would be the height of idiocy to treat humanity badly, or try to harm your race as a whole." She spoke with all the diplomacy training her parents have given her, feeling that she was on the precipice of something big. Something that if mishandled would have disastrous consequences, thus she answered firmly and clearly.
[Still, it kinda felt like bullying.] Ddraig said with a shurg.
"Since when do you care about abusing your strength?" Issei joked.
[Ever since I met worthy opponents.]
Issei found himself smiling in nostalgia. "Fair." He conceded the point.
The two were silent, enjoying the night air as they headed back to the Hyoudou household.
Issei expected some excitable story his mom would tell him about her day with Asia, or how she tried to learn Italian to talk to the foregin nun.
"I-ISSEI!" Miki Hyoudou shouted to her son upon him returning home. "ASIA IS MAGIC!"
"...What?"
"I was cutting some vegetables, I got distracted with the language lessons and cut my finger. THEN ASIA DID MAGIC AND HEALED IT!" Miki shouted in a mixture of shock, worry and excitement. As she showed him her hand with... all her fingers looking fine.
Asia in the background was panicking, flapping her arms around, not knowing if she did something bad, or something bad was happening.
Issei sighed.
"Okay. Right. We're doing this."
Issei spend the rest of the evening sitting his excitable parents down, and explaining the supernatural world to them, along with Asia's powers and then his own.
"MY SON IS A SENTAI HERO!" Goro Hyoudou shouted to the sky with pride.
"Dammit, dad! That's... technically correct."
Issei had to spend the rest of the day getting his parent to calm down, and not call some TV station to come see their superhero son.
Asia excitedly chanting 'Sentai Hero' with his mom wasn't helping.
