"…Haahaa…although I'm fairly confident in my own stamina, running around back and forth like this is quite harsh."
I gasped heavily, enduring the pain that intensified at the sides of my abdomen. For a partial transformation of Dragon Deification, only the final part of the chant was required each time to change one part into the black armour…of course, it would still consume a considerable amount of stamina. However, I was still able to use it several times. In terms of the current situation, a partial transformation was more suitable than a full transformation. —Both sides were reaching the limits of their endurance, and the battle was finally progressing into its final stage. The score was…[141 – 146]. After using that move earlier, Dulio, the Aces and the other reincarnated Angels all used their combined formations against us. But we didn't allow ourselves to be outdone, and we fought back against every move they made. Our opponent's score was currently greater than ours…but there was still time for a reversal.
"Ise-sama, the next goal has appeared in F6 again."
Ravel informed me of the location of the newly-appeared goal. We constantly drove and urged on our physically exhausted bodies towards our aim of victory. …There was a large volume of sweat perspiring from my body underneath my armour. No matter how much water I drank, it wouldn't be enough to replenish this. But, the game was coming to an end. —We must win at the end!
"Let's win this!"
I loudly declared, and my comrades responded with
[Yeeaaahhh!]
Dulio was currently in possession of the ball. He held onto the ball as he flew straight towards the next goal. We were following right behind him. Based on the remaining time in the game, I was afraid that with the next goal, or perhaps the one after that, the game would end. —If we didn't score consecutively, then we wouldn't stand a chance! After gradually regaining their own rhythm, Irina and Xenovia closed in on Dulio while he held the ball and they planned to snatch it off him. If we allowed the [King] Dulio, or the [Queen] Diethelm-san to score, the difference in our points would widen even further. But the swordsman Shinra Kiyotorsan stood in the way of Irina and Xenovia wielding two ethereal katanas that had been given to him by the Vatican. In order to support those two, Rossweisse-san fired off large bursts of offensive magic. Miransan created an extremely large spear of light (its power was almost on the same level as a Fallen Angel Cadre) to easily obliterate her spells. Griseldsan then joined the fray with her bow and arrows. The arrows fired off by Griseldsan were incredibly accurate, forcing Rossweisse-san to retreat from acting as their support. As the commander, while Ravel issued orders to everyone, she released flames towards her opponents to prevent them from passing the ball. The female reincarnated Angel — the other Queen Jessica Lagerkvist-san (a Church warrior with blonde hair and blue eyes who always seemed rather sleepy, but was also a beautiful woman!) used the power of light to create a solid barrier-type technique several times to block Ravel's attacks. Nakiri and Bova's highly destructive attacks were intended to penetrate the gaps in the enemy team's formation, but the opposing male Angel — Ryuu Heikan who was a 10 (a Chinese martial artist who used the power of light as the core of his fighting style) and Nero blocked those. Amidst the intense battle, Binshi calmly gave me a signal with her eyes, and she accompanied me as we charged towards Diethelm-san who held the ball — but at that time, Dulio yelled out as he intervened
"I won't hand the ball over to you!"
And a battle involving the [King] and [Queen] of both sides broke out. Like this, we competed for the ball back and forth with no rest, and the endurance of both teams was reaching its limits, so all of our movements slowed down, and our breathing grew quicker and heavier. Regardless of whether it was the opposing side or our side, everyone had reached their limits. At that time, a gasping Xenovia spoke to me whilst clad in armour.
"…I still have a final trump card! …Ise! I have a way to make use of my true power!"
"..Really!? Well, hearing such news is music for my ears! Please let me see it!"
I never expected that Xenovia would still have another technique hidden up her sleeve. Hearing me say that, Xenovia seemed to gain a strange sense of enthusiasm all of a sudden.
"…Alright. I'll get ready then. By the way! Depending on your response, there's a possibility that I may collapse and I won't be able to get back up again, Ise!"
—What!? What did you say!? You might collapse because of my response!? What kind of secret technique have you been hiding from me, Xenovia!? Xenovia took a deep breath, and then
"My [King]! Hyoudou Issei! Please!"
Xenovia's voice echoed throughout the entire venue.
"MAKE ME YOUR BRIIIIIIIIIIDDDDDDDDDDEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!"
"...!"
....
…W-What did you saaaaaaaayyy!? B-B-B-Briiiiiiiddddddeeeeeee!? The unprecedented confession petrified me! But, the announcer was still commentating live!
>
Right you are! How is it possible to have two consecutive reverse-proposals in a Rating Game!? The announced continued
>
Aaaahh, even Beelzebub-sama is joining in!
"So these kinds of engagements also exist! I-I see, I have learned something!"
Rossweisse-san also seemed to have gained some kind of strange courage!
....
…But, bride huh. I proposed to Rias and Akeno-san. I swore to them that I would make them happy. So, do I like Xenovia and Irina? Do I cherish them? ...Of course I love them! I've already kissed them several times! It's impossible not to realise this! Of course I value them! Xenovia has already become one of my peerage members! Irina is also my childhood friend…she didn't choose the reincarnated Angel team, but me instead! Like this, they proposed to me because they want me to take them home as brides—. Since my aim is to become a Harem King, I'm obviously not going to withdraw here, isn't that right, Azazel-sensei!? I steeled my determination, took a deep breath, and then let everything out in one breath
"…Geez! I get it! I'll take full responsibility! Come with me, Irina, Xenoviaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!"
There was a moment of silence. And the next instant, from the bodies and holy swords of the two female swordsmen — an unbelievable aura surged forth!
"…Fufufu, fufufufufufufufu."
"Ufufu…ufufufufufufufufu♪"
Xenovia and Irina couldn't help but laugh out with joy—.
"We succeeded!"
"We did it!"
""We're engaged to him!""
As if all of their fatigue was blown away, the two of them flew about in the air and charged towards the other team with incredible momentum. The two of them chased the Angel holding the ball, while the remaining Angels stood in front of them to block their path…. But with their superb coordination, the Angels standing in their path were all blown away! Seeing this, the other Angels were all stunned.
"Kuh! At the end of this when we're all supposed to be dead tired, they can actually…!"
"This power! These movements! It's difficult to believe that this is the appearance of two people who are on the verge of exhaustion!"
Xenovia took out Excalibur and then pointed its tip towards the player holding the ball.
"Hmm!"
She seemed to say something — and then the ball actually moved by itself, and flew in a straight line towards Xenovia! At this final juncture, they were still able to demonstrate such energy! Xenovia spoke whilst filled with confidence
"As I am right now, I could even take down a Maou!"
"It'll be troublesome if a Devil defeats a Maou! But, I get you! I understand, Xenovia!"
Irina was also full of energy, and she used the holy aura of Hauteclere to send Angels flying left and right. Xenovia said to me
"Ise! We need to have at least five children! Three boys and two girls! I absolutely won't retreat on this!"
"I-I actually want at least two children as well! A boy and a girl at the very least!"
W-W-What are you two saying!? Are we still in a game right now!? This immense embarrassment made me want to hide in a corner! But, Xenovia still continued to express her dreams with a flushed red face.
"They'll go to a private school! And of course, starting from kindergarten! Education is the most important thing, and that comes from my personal experience!"
"Eh!? Xenovia has already thought about things so far ahead!? I-I…should I choose public, or private…!"
Just as they were conversing with each other like that, Griseldsan from the opposing team flew over, and she began to lecture Xenovia!
"Geez, what a child you are! You didn't even say a word about this proposal to your older sister, what on earth were you thinking!?"
"Sister Griselda, this is the beginning of your little sister's journey in a new life. Please rejoice!"
"When we get back, I'll give you a good lecture!"
And then a showdown between the Quarta sisters began! Xenovia was marked by Griseldsan, and the ball — was passed to Elmenhilde. Although Elmenhilde was exhausted, she still caught the ball.
"…..Haahaa…"
But the Angels on the opposing side all marked Elmenhilde immediately as they made plans to take the ball away from her. Seeing Elmenhilde's weary look, an Angel said
"Have you reached your limit, Vampire? Based on your behaviour, you must be a high-class Vampire, so I suppose it's already amazing that you were able to last until now in a physically-demanding game."
"…As a special envoy, I constantly travelled all over various countries…so I have a fair amount of stamina."
Whilst holding the ball, Elmenhilde extended a hand into her pocket.
"…I also have a special technique of my own, so please allow me to demonstrate it here. Strategist-san, may I use it?"
After asking for permission to use it from Ravel, she also readily agreed.
"…Yes! Please go ahead!"
Elmenhilde removed a small vial from her pocket which was filled with red liquid. It was blood.
"This isn't as simple as any ordinary blood. This bottle is first."
Elmenhilde popped the cap of the bottle open with one hand and then gulped it down in one go. Instantly, an enormous pulse radiated from her body, blazing flames emerged behind her, and those flames shaped themselves into wings. It almost seemed as though Elmenhilde herself had caused those flames to manifest. Seeing this, the Angels were shocked.
"—Those flames! Are those the flames of Phoenix!?"
"That's right, I got this from Strategist-san. The effect has also been strengthened because she's a virgin."
Elmenhilde wasn't done yet as she took out yet another vial.
"One more bottle—"
After gulping it down in an instant — she seemed to enter a trance as her expression changed.
"…Ah, an exquisite taste…! Sweet, mellow, and rich, it's absolutely addictive…I can't, my brain is melting from this ultimate deliciousness!"
Suddenly, a boom resounded as the ground around Elmenhilde lifted up into the air, and a red and black aura intertwined around her body. The Angels were all so astonished that their voices were high-pitched as they reacted.
"—Red and black dragon's aura!"
"It's the Sekiryuutei's blood…!"
Indeed, what she just drank was my blood. Hosting the power of the infinite and the dream within it, my blood—. Vampires could trigger a variety of different abilities when they drank blood, and my blood was not something that could be compared to any ordinary stimulant. Although Elmenhilde was from a family of high-class aristocratic Vampires with historical roots, she wasn't particularly superior in terms of the abilities of normal high-class Vampires. In other words, she was quite ordinary as a pure-blood. However, as a True Ancestor of Carmilla, her ancestry did not betray her—. Only in this was she extraordinary and prominent. That is — so long as she drank someone's blood, she was able to invoke their abilities. By drinking Ravel's blood, she was temporarily able to use the flames of immortality. By drinking my blood — she was able to use the Sekiryuutei's aura to wield the tremendous power of a dragon. It seemed as though all of Elmenhilde's fatigue disappeared as she released an enormous ball of aura, while the large spear of light that Miransan threw from a long distance was easily deflected. The immense pressure made it impossible for any of the reincarnated Angels to get close. —If you're going to pass, then now's the time! I gave instructions to Elmenhilde.
"Pass! The free people are—"
"Over here!"
Beside the goal was — Asia, who had already gotten in place a while ago. After Elmenhilde noticed the direction of my gaze, she threw the ball in Asia's direction. There was no one marking Asia. The focus of all of the reincarnated Angels had been drawn away by me, Xenovia, Irina and Elmenhilde, so they hadn't noticed that Asia was already right beside the goal. —At this final stage, Asia had found an opening in the opponent's defence all on her own. Asia caught the ball. Looking at Asia with the call, I cried out
"Asia! Shoooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooot!"
Asia prepared to throw. And in that instant, I recalled the words that Asia had spoken to me before.
—…Because I'm always dragging behind, I want to help Ise-san a bit, so all I can do is practice like this.
—… Whether or not I've become a good buchou, I always feel uneasy….
—Rias-oneesama had her own style as buchou.
—Ise-san also hasn't followed Rias-oneesama's style of work, you've found your own way to perform your Devil's job.
— My good friends and the person that I like already have such notions, so I too — should set that as my goal.
The ball that Asia threw drew out a beautiful arc in the air as it went into the hoop, and we scored. I — couldn't help but give her a thumbs-up.
The announcer excitedly yelled out.
>
Along with that announcement, the venue erupted with cheers.
....
…After knowing that it was over, I fell down on the spot. …I don't know it if was because of the outcome, or because we knew that the game was over, but there were many players who collapsed. …I looked at the score once more. …But, the score didn't change. ...I see. …I lost. …Really, we didn't make it by just a bit. …But, it doesn't feel bad. It feels so strange even though I clearly lost. It was the first time that I was able to enjoy a battle like this. It wasn't about life or death, it was just a contest in which we fought with our honour on the line—. Dulio dragged his swollen and tired body to my side.
"...I lost."
After I said that, Dulio sat beside me.
"Hehe, it was very close. You were able to do that because you guys had so many secret techniques hidden up your sleeve."
"Are you afraid? Our strategist-sama prepared various tactics to make use of our strengths."
All of our techniques were basically Ravel's ideas. But, we had also been amazing for being able to actualise them.
"Ise-kun, the talent of your team is certainly terrifying given that you were able to prepare all that."
Dulio seemed fearful of us. While the two of us spoke to each other harmoniously as the [King] of our respective sides, Xenovia and Nero, on the other hand, were gasping and arguing with each other.
"…You're still the same power idiot as always."
"I don't want to be told that by the original power idiot."
But, the two of them smiled as they shook hands.
"Thank you, Nero."
"Yeah, same here. —Also, call me [Captain Angel]."
On another side, Diethelm-san who was also a healer shook hands with Asia.
"…It is truly a flawless healing ability, Sister Asia."
"…No, I also feel honoured by the diversity that I have been able to encounter in healing."
"It seems you didn't get a chance to summon Fafnir."
Diethelm-san was right. That dragon sat in the commentary box from beginning to end. Whatever, that dragon should only come out in critical situations where life and death are at risk.
"Although it was passionate and fiery, it was still a peaceful match."
—Asia said.
"It would be better to discipline that dragon a bit. —Doesn't he value underwear too much?"
"…H-He isn't a bad person."
But you still think he's a pervert, right? Miransan and Irina then gave their respects to each other after the game.
"…Ah, umm…"
Irina reached out to Miransan, who seemed slightly fearful.
"A handshake! We're comrades, so you don't need to feel so concerned from now on. —Miransan, let's be friends!"
"…Ah, okay…Irinsan…!"
…From the looks of things, we had gained various things in this match, and we had also gained a deeper understanding of each other. …It was still the first time that we had experienced a game like this. It was wonderful that we were able to have feelings like this after the battle. Dulio and I exchanged a handshake. With our faces covered in injuries, we both said to each other
"I won't lose next time."
"I won't lose again next time."
That's right, as expected of the Joker! The leader of [DxD]! The announcer cried out
Like this, the curtain was closed on the battle between the [Sekiryuutei of Blazing Truth] team and [Trump Card of Heaven] team which concluded with the [Trump Card of Heaven] team being victorious—.
Part 2
"Oooooooooooooooooooohhhh!"
After the game finished, the [Sekiryuutei of Blazing Truth] team gathered in the waiting room. What echoed about in the waiting room — was Bova's wailing. Bova pounded on the walls of the waiting room over and over again.
"Even so! I! I was clearly ordered to become the [Fang of the Sekiryuutei]…! If only I moved around better! If only I fought harder…! I wouldn't have let My Lord fail…! Even though My Lord is much stronger…!"
I pat Bova as I said
"—Don't say that Bova. The opponent was strong. That's how simple it is."
Bova lay flat on the ground as large tears streamed down his face and he spoke his true feelings.
"…I…if I could fight in a match like the one that you and Sairaorg-dono had…that's the kind of match that I'd like to have…!"
...I see, so he wanted to make it similar to how it was in my battle against Sairaorg-san. To me, that was also a special battle for me. I felt truly fortunate to be able to look forward to a fight like that.
"Thank you Bova. But a loss in the preliminaries is not a total defeat. We still have the upcoming matches. It's no big deal, I've also been defeated a few times. —We must become stronger before the next match. To catch up to them. I, all of us, we're always chasing after something."
Bova looked at me with a smile as I said that, and then he shed manly tears.
"…Ooh, oooooooaaah…"
…Bova, you will become stronger. You're a dragon with the blood of Tannin-ossan flowing through you, so you'll definitely become stronger. I looked towards Nakiri.
"…Nakiri, you've had to participate in a real battle right off the bat. Thank you for your efforts. If we didn't have that awesome technique of yours, the difference in our score would have widened and we would have had a more convincing loss."
"…No, I still lack training. But — you're the most disappointed aren't you, senpai?"
Nakiri wiped off his sweat with a towel as he spoke.
"..."
…Seriously, I was left speechless by a single sentence that my junior had said. —But, I won't let you see that. I won't allow my junior to see my regretful expression. I — was not only his senior, but also his [King]. If I was going to cry in the tournament, then it would be after I was victorious. Just as Rias did to me, as his senior as well as his [King], I cannot show regret in front of my comrade.
"I am indeed disappointed, but we have learnt a lot in this game. In my view, phrases like 'there's no meaning in losing' or 'there's nothing to be gained in losing', are not true okay? Listen up, Bova, Nakiri."
That's right, this is from my experience. Having tried the taste of defeat—. And standing amidst a dilemma—.
"Self-attribution is what makes the people who are defeated more powerful. Because — in order to erase any regrets, you must obtain victory."
This was an important thing. Only victory and success can blow away the disappointment and regret of the past. To some people, what I'm saying might be taken for granted…but to the people who are filled with deep regret, they will realise that this is the most important thing. After Nakiri finished wiping his face with a towel, he stood in front of me and said
"…I have long since resolved myself in this tournament to struggle through victory and defeat under your command. And now I've decided. —I won't lose next time. Even if the opponent is a god."
"Yeah, of course!"
That's right, even if they're god, all we have to do is defeat them if we encounter them in a match! Nothing more! I originally wanted to say something to Elmenhilde as well…but it was unfortunate that due to her fatigue, she had already fallen asleep on the bench whilst wrapped in a blanket. I said to Ravel and — Binshi
"I also have a new possibility for myself, something that I may have grasped in the match just then."
"…Could it be [Dragon Deification]?"
Ravel asked me, and I answered her directly
"—There is something in that direction, but there's also something else. [AxA] — I will show you in this tournament. I was finally able to grasp it, and the hint was — in the bath."
My words caused Ravel and Binshi to become speechless…. I can still continue to become stronger, and them — I want to fight against them.
Chapter end
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