Soon after parting with the student council, we teleported deep into a forest.
"This is the Familiar Forest," Rias explained. "Many creatures suitable for becoming familiars live here."
This is the Familiar Forest…
Newly turned devils can't usually travel to the Underworld unless they're formally registered, so that must mean... this place is somewhere in the Human World? Maybe it's a designated protected area or something.
As I pondered this, a voice suddenly called down from above.
"Gotchaaa!"
"Eeep!"
"Who's there!?"
Issei scanned the area while Asia quickly hid behind him.
"I am Zatouji from Madara Town! I'm gonna become a Familiar Master, just you wait!"
Standing confidently on a tree branch was none other than the so-called Familiar Master himself! …Though honestly, he just looked like some laid-back middle-aged guy you'd see hanging around town.
If I were a fan of Pokémon, I'd probably have a few complaints.
"Zatouji, it's been a while. As I mentioned in advance, I'd like your help today choosing familiars for these two new members of my peerage."
Rias placed a hand on Issei and Asia's shoulders.
"Um… who exactly is he?"
"Fufu~ this is Mr. Zatouji. He's a professional when it comes to familiars."
"Today, with his guidance, we'll help the two of you find familiars that suit you best."
The two upperclassmen responded to Issei's question with cheerful smiles.
"Alrighty! So what kinda familiars are you two looking for, huh? Strong ones? Fast ones? Maybe something venomous?"
"Yes! I want something cute that won't mind doing sexy things too!"
Wow. He just let that desire spill out without hesitation. It's almost impressive... Not that I'd want to follow his example.
"This is why amateurs are hopeless! The ideal familiar is one that compensates for its master's weaknesses. Looks are secondary!"
Zatouji sighed in exasperation. But when Asia chimed in with, "I'd like a cute one too," he did a complete 180 on the spot.
…Are you sure you're a real Familiar Master?
====================
A short walk from the original teleportation point brought us to a lake, where Zatouji stopped.
"A water spirit called an Undine lives in this lake."
"Whoa! An Undine!"
Issei's eyes sparkled with excitement, but I had a feeling what was coming next…
The lake suddenly lit up, and out emerged an Undine clad in glistening, rippling muscle armor.
"Lucky you, kid! That one's super rare! A brawler-type Undine isn't half bad!"
"Yes it is! That thing looks like a bodybuilder on break from water aerobics!!"
Issei cried out, devastated, he'd clearly been imagining a delicate, ethereal maiden.
I didn't want to see that kind of Undine either, but there was something else bugging me.
"Um, Zatouji... Do you really think that Undine is cute?"
"Of course I do! A true Familiar Master finds beauty in all familiars!"
"...I see."
That's some impressive all-encompassing love. Like someone who gushes over Gurdurr or Jynx in Pokémon.
In the end, we gave up on the Undine and ventured deeper into the forest.
"Hold it. Look up."
We all tilted our heads to see a small, plush-looking blue dragon perched on a branch.
"That's a young Sprite Dragon, one of the Azure Thunder Dragons. Once it grows up, catching it will be impossible. Now's your only shot."
"Aww, it's adorable!"
"A dragon, huh? I am a dragon too, looks like fate! I'm taking that one as my familiar!"
Issei stepped forward confidently, but just then, we heard screams from the girls behind us.
"What the!?"
[Boost!!]
Whoa! Issei shifted into combat mode instantly. He really has grown stronger through all those battles.
But… what the hell is this!?
A green slime had fallen from above and started dissolving everyone's clothes. Even my and Koneko's senjutsu detection hadn't picked it up, why?
Looking closely, I realized this thing wasn't really a creature in the normal sense, it was more like a manifestation of nature itself.
"Guh!"
"Gah!"
Both Issei and I were promptly sent flying by Koneko's punches.
"Lewds must perish."
No, wait! Koneko-chan, you've got it all wrong! I was just analyzing the slime! Sure, there may have been a lot of skin in my line of sight, but that was just coincidence! So please blame Issei, not me!
"That slime feeds on women's clothing. Normally it acts alongside tentacles that target bodily fluids, but today it seems to be working solo."
Zatouji explained this with a slime stuck to his face, completely blocking his vision. Judging by the nosebleed, though, he did get an eyeful.
Yuuto was similarly blinded and swinging his sword randomly off to the side… That's dangerous, man!
Meanwhile, Rias and the others managed to free everyone from the slime's grip, and Akeno used a wide-range lightning attack to fry the slimes into charcoal.
"Wait, Akeno-san! President! I've decided, I'm making this slime my familiar! Our meeting, me and Slimey here, was fate!"
"Issei, you'll find a better familiar. Akeno."
"Yes, President."
Despite Issei's desperate plea, Akeno prepared another bolt of lightning.
"No! Slimey!! I won't let you go!!"
[Dragon Booster Second Revelation!!]
Issei's power surged, and the Boosted Gear on his arm began to transform.
Wait, he's evolving now!?
Before Akeno could fire, Issei shouted:
"Gift of the Red Dragon Emperor! Boosted Gear Gift!!"
[Transfer!!]
A green light enveloped the slime just before the lightning struck, but miraculously, the slime survived!
"Haha! I did it! I boosted my power, converted it into lightning resistance, and transferred it to Slimey! Akeno-san's lightning won't work anymore!!"
"BZZZT!!"
…Oh. Rias just erased the remaining slime with her demonic magic.
"Slaaaaiiiimeeeeyyyyy!!!"
Issei's anguished cry echoed through the forest.
[This is the first time I've seen such a foolish level-up…]
Even Ddraig sounded fed up.
Incidentally, while Issei was being an idiot, the young Sprite Dragon had taken a liking to Asia. She named it "Rassei," and it officially became her familiar.
In the end, Issei was too heartbroken over losing Slimey to pick a new familiar that day.
"Damn it! One day I'm gonna get a familiar so awesome it'll leave everyone speechless!"
"...What kind of familiar?"
"A sexy one!!"
Yeah, and you'll probably just get blasted again.
====================
Note: Now, it's finally time for the Riser Arc.