The day after the press conference, I sighed heavily in the clubroom, holding the Underworld's morning paper.
"Oppai Dragon to Poke Master's Chest!?" screamed the headline.
Brutal. Rias, face red, sighed, "I can't walk in the Underworld anymore."
Sorry, Rias.
Miu, peeking at the paper, said, "So that's why Rias-san and Alice-san were teary…"
I hadn't told Miu. Not something to share. "Yeah, Rias got the worst of it. She's Switch Princess, but Alice is the original. Azazel stirred this mess."
That boss-teacher blabs too much—spilling about me and Miu to Venerana, and the Oppai Dragon backstory to reporters. He's the root of this chaos. I've already dealt him some justice, though.
In the clubroom: me, Miu, Kiba, Gasper, Reyna. Others hadn't arrived. The church trio was fetching fabric for the festival.
"How're Koneko and Ravel in class, Gasper?" I asked.
"They bicker constantly," Gasper said. "Koneko helps Ravel, despite complaints, and Ravel follows her, grumbling."
They're managing, then. Good.
"They clash because they know who they care about. Same year, so it's intense," Azazel said, entering with a bandage on his face.
"What's that?" Reyna asked.
"Got punched by a merciless hero," Azazel grinned, pointing at the bandage. "I deserved it, but did he need Tenbu?"
"That was for Rias too," I said.
"Respect your elders, twenty-year-old hero!"
"Cure your gossip habit, bachelor governor!"
Sparks flew, our auras clashing. Time to settle old scores—his weird inventions, like that time I got turned into a girl!
"Calm down, or the school's gone. No festival, no UFO exhibit," Miu said, stepping in.
Tch. I backed off. Azazel grumbled, "Fine," calming his aura.
"Governor, I've reported your work-dodging to Shemhazai," Reyna added.
Azazel twitched. Nice one, Reyna! Critical hit!
He coughed, continuing, "Koneko will keep helping Ravel, who'll rely on her to adjust to human life."
Agreed. Gasper's take confirmed it.
"I can't help Ravel like Koneko… or anyone, in life or battle," Gasper said, downcast.
"Don't give up. You've got guts. Remember the summit? We stopped Khaos Brigade's time freeze together," I said. "You're capable, I guarantee it."
"Issei-senpai… you're too kind!" Gasper sobbed, hugging me.
"Don't cry!" I patted his head. "Men protect girls. Even without power, if you want to protect someone, you'll get strong."
"I'll try!" Gasper said, fired up, snot on my uniform. Miu and others chuckled.
Rias and the rest entered. Rias saw the paper and sighed. Sorry again.
Azazel scanned us. "Let's start the meeting."
The game prep meeting began, but Azazel's face was grim.
"What's up?" I asked.
"Before game talk, there's an issue with factions and Sacred Gears," he said.
"Trouble?" Kiba asked.
"Hero Faction's increasing Balance Breaker users," Azazel said.
"We fought them," Kiba replied. In Kyoto, we faced their executives and other Balance Breaker users. I took on three—tricky, especially since I wasn't at full strength.
"They're teaching Balance Breaker methods to non-affiliated Sacred Gear users and reincarnated devils," Azazel said.
"That's bad," I said.
"Very. Sacred Gear users often face persecution. Some live harsh lives," he said.
True. Asia and Gasper suffered because of their gears. They're happy now, but their pasts were rough.
"Some reincarnated devils were forced into servitude unfairly," Azazel added.
"Not all devils are kind. Some high-class devils are heartless, despite modern diversity," Rias said.
I chose to join Rias, who confirmed my decision repeatedly. Not all devils are so considerate.
"Oppressed users reaching Balance Breaker could seek revenge—humans against persecutors, devils against cruel masters. That'd spark global riots, total panic," Azazel said.
I clenched my fists, blood seeping. If we'd crushed Hero Faction in Kyoto…
Miu touched my hand, calming me. Everyone noticed my mood.
"I get your anger, Issei. Everyone from that mission feels it," Azazel said.
"Sorry…" I said.
He shook his head. "We're all furious. You're not alone."
Right. Azazel, Kiba, everyone's raging. I can't lose it alone.
"We'll watch Hero Faction closely. They'll trip us up if we're not serious. Be ready," Azazel said.
"Yes!" we replied.
No more letting them run wild.
Azazel cleared his throat. "Now, for Sairaorg's game."
Right, the main topic.
"Does Sairaorg have an advisor like you?" I asked.
"Yeah, Emperor Belial himself," Azazel said.
"Diehauser Belial!" Rias reacted. Her dream's to dominate Rating Games; he's her goal.
"You'll face him if you go pro. Also, Sairaorg's been training daily with Tannin," Azazel added.
"What!?" My turn to react. Tannin's intense!
"Sirzechs said Sairaorg felt his limits sparring with you. Next day, he begged Tannin for training," Azazel said.
Explains his boosted aura. He's coming to crush me. His team's leveled up, but Sairaorg's a different beast now.
"He's fought Khaos Brigade too, gaining real combat experience. Sirzechs' 'no young devils in wars' rule feels hollow with you lot always in battles," Azazel said, wryly.
Seriously, wars are rare, yet we keep facing tough foes. I just want peace.
Rossweisse pointed at a video. "This 'Pawn' wasn't in past game footage."
A cyber-masked figure, "Pawn." Sairaorg's team mirrors ours: one Queen, two Rooks, two Knights, two Bishops, one Pawn.
"Reporters asked Sairaorg about the Pawn," Kiba said.
True, but he wasn't at the conference.
"Rarely used, almost no info. Masked, identity unknown. First time revealed," Azazel said.
"Like my debut?" I asked.
"Yep. Rumor says he consumed six or seven Pawn pieces."
"Six!? Seven!?" we gasped.
A heavy hitter or high potential, then.
"Lack of data means caution. He's Sairaorg's ace, his lion cub," Azazel said.
Lion cub—fitting, with Misura from lion-ruling Vapula. Speaking of, how's her treatment?
We discussed game tactics and counters, Miu and others listening keenly, Ravel taking diligent notes. Studious girl.
Meeting done, we relaxed in the clubroom. Kiba, Xenovia, and Irina talked swords. Miu, Akeno, Asia, and Gasper browsed fashion magazines—Gasper picking girls' clothes (for himself) seamlessly. Impressive.
Reyna and Koneko planned a sweets outing, checking shops.
I sipped tea alone. Time to ask Rias about Misura.
"Rias, got a sec?"
No reply. She stared at a book's spine, zoned out. She was sharp in the meeting…
"Rias?"
"Huh? What?" She snapped back, flustered.
Something's bothering her.
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T/N: While I am an inexperienced Translator, I have a Patreon! While it may seem empty as of now, webnovel will get 2 Chapters Every Day, and advanced chapters will be uploaded on Patreon.
There should be... around 20+ advanced chapters?
[email protected]/Greyhounds
If you guys wanna check it out.