There were a few things I found out while training like this with everyone for several days in this mountain.
I have no talent in martial arts.
I am a genius at using swords.
I have good talent in demonic power. Not as good as Asia.
Considering all that, I am a mile ahead in power compared to Issei in canon.
And the most crucial one is that I started to think my love pheromone can affect males also, I think. Like seriously, I and Kiba have become good friends in the past few days. But he started making gay comments.
I am seriously starting to doubt his sexuality.
On the other hand, he hasn't said anything like 'smell,' which Akeno and Rias have previously mentioned.
But anyway, even with all this training, I realize that I won't be useful in the game. At least not without playing dirty.
And the only way for Overlord Riser's healing power to work is to use the same strategy that the original Issei used. Which is to use the cross and holy water.
But the problem is I use the Holy Water to bring the Rating Game, as Greyfia is sure to check us all. And the cross, I can't even touch it without getting burned. And since Cross will consider it a low-class artifact, it wouldn't be much of a cheat, and because of Riser's ego, he will allow it.
In the original, Issei was only able to touch the cross because he sacrificed his left arm to Ddrag, and it became a dragon, which is not part of his devil bloodline.
Since I have no intention to sacrifice my arm, I need to find an alternative.
What I'm doing all right is peeling off the vegetables. Well, that is also a part of the training.
•••
That night at the mansion.
I'm looking at the ceiling while lying down on my bed. A week has passed since we came to the mountains.
It's been raining from morning to night. We also repeated many offense and defense formations as well as combinations that we may use for the upcoming game.
I look towards Kiba, who is sleeping on the bed beside mine. He's sleeping peacefully.
... Not going to lie, Kiba is amazing. I realize the difference between us the more we train together.
His skills he attained with his own talent and loads of training.
Will I have swordsmanship on par with Kiba? After how many years will that be?
Ah, damn it! I feel like I am slowly becoming a training freak.
I got up from the bed slowly and headed towards the kitchen. When I was drinking a cup of water—
"Ara? You're awake?"
Rias's voice came from the living room. When I look, there is Rias, who is sitting where the table is.
"Ah, Buchou. Hello."
"Why are you so stiff? Good timing, let's talk for a bit."
The tealight makes a faint glow on top of the table. Devils can see at night, even if there are no lights. Thanks to that, we were able to train even at night. Then this candle is probably used for looks, then.
I then sit opposite Rias, where we have the table between us.
Rias is wearing a red negligee while wearing glasses and tying her crimson hair into one.
"Huh? Buchou, do you have bad eyesight?"
"Oh, this? It's just for looks. I can think more clearly while having my glasses on. Fufufu, this is the proof that I have been in the human's world for so long."
Rias chuckles. Rias with glasses looked beautiful... More like, she also looks wonderful when she wears a negligee.
On the table there are loads of papers that look like a map and battle formation. Was she making a plan by herself at night?
Rias closes the notebook with different strategies written on it.
"...To be honest, the only thing I will get by reading this is to have a peace of mind."
Buchou says it while making a sigh.
"Why is that?" I asked even though I already knew the answer.
"If the opponent is another high-class devil, then we could fight by reading this. This book is written with lots of research. But that isn't the problem."
"Then what's wrong?" I said once again to something I already know the answer to.
"Raiser himself. No, the biggest problem is that our opponent is the Phoenix."
Rias takes out a book after answering me and puts it on the table. She then points at an open page. There is a picture of a firebird with its wings spread wide open heroically.
"A long time ago the mystical beast, Phoenix, was looked upon by humans as a bird that governs life. It was so looked upon that it left its legend in many countries in the human world, where it's told that the tears of the phoenix can heal any wounds, and the blood that flows within its body can give eternal youth to those that drink it."
But there was also another clan that is different from the mystical beast Phoenix. They are the Devils that had the rank of Marquis and were counted as one of the "72 pillars." The "Phoenix" from the Devils' side.
"The humans named the Devils' Phoenix as "Phenex" to distinguish it from the mystical beast Phoenix; however, the mystical beast Phoenix has the same ability as Raiser's clan. — In other words, immortality. That's the opponent we must fight someone against."
Saying that she looked at me.
But she saw that there was no visible reaction or anything in Issei's face. And she was once again disappointed.
~~~
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